DE69029041T2 - Partition wall construction - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to a device for internal wall fastening in building construction.

The traditional method of attaching an interior wall is a time-consuming and cumbersome process. Metal tracks with channels are attached to the floor and ceiling, and spaced vertical wall studs connect the tracks together. The wall substrate is then attached to the studs. If the substrate is drywall, the gaps between successive panels must be taped and plastered, after which the wall is painted. Finally, a baseboard is usually attached to the lowest part of the wall to create a finished appearance, and a crown molding can be attached to the highest part of the wall, which is either preformed or plaster.

Various improvements to the above technique have become known, some for many years.

CH-A-577,612 shows an arrangement in which metal studs are used in conjunction with an elongated metal stamping which acts as a combination of a skirting board and a panel support. The metal studs must be individually arranged and secured to the floor and ceiling.

US-A-1,981,239 makes use of a continuous support plate which is secured to the floor and is provided with a means for erecting metal posts. A number of separate elements are then secured to the support plate and/or posts; these elements may include a channel section for supporting a drywall panel and a skirting board. This arrangement uses a considerable number of separate parts and would be time consuming to assemble.

It is an object of the invention to provide a skirtboard and/or a ceiling strip for simplified construction of the interior wall of a building.

Accordingly, the invention provides a wall fastening device comprising a longitudinal support plate, a side edge extending from one side of the support plate and having a free edge which is bent inwardly and shaped to form a longitudinal channel extending along and spaced from the support plate, the channel opening in a direction perpendicular to the support plate and outwardly therefrom to receive an edge of a flat plate, and the outer surface of the edge forming a decorative edge on the finished construction of the wall, and which is characterized in that the support plate, the edge and the channel are integrally formed to provide a unitary construction and in that the support plate extends transversely of the channel at a sufficient interval to enable a plurality of wall studs to be arranged spaced from one another along the device, each stud resting on the support plate and laterally on a channel wall of the channel. is attached.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the attached drawings. In these:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a room in which locations of use of an interior wall fastening device for constructing an interior wall are indicated;

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the ceiling element of an interior wall fastening device for a double-sided interior wall taken along a line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the bottom element of an interior wall fastening device for a double-sided interior wall taken along a line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of an interior wall fastening device taken along line 4-4 of Figure 1 and adapted to provide a door frame;

Figure 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of an interior wall fastener taken along line 5-5 of Figure 1 and adapted to provide a window frame;

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the ceiling element of an interior wall fastening device for a single-sided interior wall taken along line 6-6 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the bottom member of an interior wall fastener for a single-sided interior wall, with a variation at the side edge support plate connection, taken along a line 7-7 of Figure 1;

Fig. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view similar to Figure 6 showing a carpet retaining device taken along line 8-8 of Figure 1;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of an interior wall fastening device of Figure 8;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the outside corner of the connection of two walls in the direction of an arrow 10 in Figure 1;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the inner corner of the connection of two walls in the direction of an arrow 11 in Figure 1;

Figure 12 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the ceiling element of an interior wall fastening device for use with a ceiling substrate;

Fig. 13 is a vertical cross-sectional top view of a ceiling molding in the form of a corner bead fastener for attachment to an interior wall and ceiling substrate at an interior corner joint;

Fig. 14 is a vertical cross-sectional top view of a ceiling strip in the form of a corner bead fastener for attachment to an interior wall and ceiling substrate at an exterior corner joint.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The exemplary embodiments of the invention shown in the drawings each comprise an interior wall fastening device with a ceiling element 12, a floor element 14, a door element 16 and a window element 18.

The ceiling element 12 shown in Figure 2 comprises a support plate 20 having a pair of spaced side edges 22 extending therefrom which are terminated by a pair of downwardly opening channels 24 which are spaced apart from one another by a gap corresponding to the thickness of a wall stud 33. The channels 24 are each defined by a downwardly projecting outer side wall 26 which is continuous with the side edge, a floor 27 and by an inner side wall 28 which lies in a plane perpendicular to the support plate. The support plate 20 and the inner side wall 28 have respective openings 30 and 32 for receiving fastening elements 34 which are shown as screws.

The floor element 14 shown in Fig. 3 comprises a support plate 36 having a pair of spaced side edges 38 extending therefrom which are terminated by a pair of upwardly opening channels 40 which are spaced apart by a gap corresponding to the thickness of the wall stud 33. The channels 40 are each defined by an upwardly projecting inner side wall 42, a floor 43, and an upwardly projecting outer side wall 44 which is continuous with the side edge. The support plate 36 and the inner side wall 42 have respective openings 46 and 48 for receiving fastening elements 34.

A door frame member 16 is shown in Figure 4 and includes a face plate 50 having a pair of side edges 51 extending therefrom, each of which is terminated by a channel 52, the channels being spaced apart by a gap corresponding to the thickness of the wall jamb 33. The channels 52 are each defined by an outer side wall 56 continuous with the side edge, a bottom 57 and an inner side wall 58 lying in a plane perpendicular to the support plate which abuts the wall jamb 33. The outer end of the inner side wall 58 of each channel 52 terminates with a channel extension plate 60. A stop 64 projects from the face plate 50 and projects into the door area with an abutment surface 66 parallel to the surface of a closed door 68. The channel extension plates 60 are provided with openings 68 for receiving fastening elements 34.

A window frame member 18 shown in Figure 5 includes a front panel 70 adjacent the window having a pair of side edges 72 extending therefrom, spaced apart by a predetermined distance and terminating in a pair of channels 74. A window receiving channel 73 extends from the front panel 70 opposite the side edges 72. The front panel 70 and the window receiving channel 73 have respective receiving openings 75 and 752 for receiving fasteners 34. The channels 74 are each defined by an outer side wall 76 continuous with the side edge, a bottom 77 and an inner side wall 78 lying in a plane perpendicular to the support panel. The inner side wall 78 of the channel 74 has openings 82 for receiving fastening elements 34.

In using the embodiment shown in Figures 2 and 3, a ceiling element 12 is secured to the ceiling 31 with screws 34 through the openings 30. The floor element 14 is aligned perpendicularly with the ceiling element 12 and secured to the floor 35 by screws 34 through openings 46. Once the ceiling element 12 and the floor element 14 have been secured in place, the ends of the vertical wall studs 33 are placed into these elements in the usual manner. Then the ceiling element 12 and the floor element 14 are securely secured to the wall studs 33 with screws 34 through openings 32 for the ceiling element 12 and through openings 48 for the floor element 14. Then, if necessary, the door member 16 and window member 18 are secured to the wall studs 33 with screws 34 through openings 68 for the door member 16 and openings 82 for the window member 18. All members are now ready to receive a series of wall substrate panels 81 which are assembled by inserting the upper edge portions of the panels into the ceiling channel 24 which is deeper than the channel 40 in the floor member 14, the channel 52 in the door member 16 and the channel 74 in the window member 18 and then lowering the bottom of the panels into the channels 40, 52 and 74. The channels 24, 40, 52 and 74 are narrow enough to properly secure the panels 81. The screws 34 extending from the openings 32 and 38 may provide an additional means of securing the panel 81 by hollowing out and gripping the back of the panels 81 after inserting the edges of the panels into the channels.

A variation of the ceiling element 12, which is designated by the reference numeral 112 in Figure 6, has a support plate 120 and a side edge 122 extending therefrom, which ends with a downwardly opening channel 124. The channel 124 is formed by a downwardly projecting outer side wall 126, which is connected to the side edge. a bottom 127, and a downwardly projecting inner side wall 128 which lies in a plane perpendicular to the support plate 120. An upper abutment plate 121 projects downwardly from the support plate 120 in the plane of the inner side wall 128 of the channel 124. The support plate 120, the inner side wall 128 and the abutment plate 121 have respective openings 130, 132 and 133 for receiving fastening elements 34.

A variation of the floor element 14, designated in Fig. 7 by the reference numeral 114, comprises a support plate 136 having a side edge 138 extending therefrom, which terminates in an upwardly opening channel 140. The channel 140 is defined by an upwardly projecting outer side wall 142 continuous with the side edge 138, a floor 143 and an upwardly projecting inner side wall 144 lying in a plane perpendicular to the support plate 136. An upwardly projecting abutment plate 146 extending from the support plate 136 is arranged to abut the wall stud 33. The support plate 136, the inner side wall 144 and the contact plate 146 are provided with respective openings 147, 148 and 150 for receiving fastening elements 34. In this embodiment, the connection point of the support plate 136 and the side edge 138 is recessed to form a cavity 137.

When using the embodiment shown in Figures 6 and 7, the ceiling element 112 is attached to the ceiling 31 by means of screws 34 through openings 130. The floor element 114 is aligned perpendicularly with the ceiling element 112 and is then attached to the floor 35 by screws 34 through openings 147. The wall studs 33 are inserted into the elements 112 and 114 in a known manner. The ceiling element 112 is attached to the wall studs 33 is securely fastened to the wall studs 33 with screws 34 through openings 132 and 133 and the floor member 114 is securely fastened to the wall studs 33 with screws 34 through openings 148 and 150. If required, the door member 16 and window member 18 are appropriately positioned as described above. All members are now ready to receive the wall substrate panels 81 which are assembled by bending and inserting the edge portions of the panels into the channels 124, 140 and if required into the door and window member channels 52 and 74. The wall substrate panels 81 are then secured to the wall studs 33. The edge of the carpet 160 is then inserted into the cavity 137 to enhance the appearance of the combination. It should be noted that the abutment plate 121 of the ceiling member 112 and the abutment plate 146 of the floor member 114 are two aspects of the same concept, and either may be used as desired, ie, the abutment plate may be arranged to abut either side of the post 33.

A carpet support device 84, shown in Figures 8 and 9, connected to the floor element 14 or 114, comprises a separate further plate 86 which supports an abutment rail 90 which is perpendicular to the plate and runs along the length of the plate. A series of barbs 88 extend from the plate 86 on one side of the rail 90 at an upward angle towards the rail and a group of barbs 92 extend from the plate on the other side of the rail at an upward angle towards the rail. The support plate 94 has a series of openings 96 for receiving the upwardly extending series of barbs 88.

When using the embodiment shown in Figures 8 and 9, the base element 114 (or floor member 14) and the retaining means 84 on the floor, the retaining means being below the floor member, with barbs 88 engaging openings 96 and with a bearing rail 90 abutting the base of the side edge 138. The floor member 114 (or floor member 14) is secured to the floor with screws 34 through the openings 146 (or openings 46). Then the ceiling member 12 (or member 112) is aligned perpendicularly with the floor member and the procedure described above is followed to secure the wall substrate panels 81, after which a carpet 160 is laid on the retaining means 84 with its edges held down by the set of barbs 92.

The corners of the side edges 38 and 138 of the floor elements 14 and 114 can be mitred, as shown in Figure 10 and Figure 11 for an outside corner and an inside corner respectively. The same miter can be used for the corners of the ceiling element.

A variation of the ceiling element 12 is shown in Figure 12 of the drawings. This embodiment comprises a ceiling element 212 having a support plate 220 with a side edge 222 extending therefrom which terminates with a downwardly opening channel 224. The support plate 220 is recessed at each side edge to form a ledge 223. The channel 224 is defined by a downwardly projecting outer side wall 230, a floor 232 and a downwardly projecting inner side wall 234 which lies in a plane perpendicular to the support plate 220. The support plate 220 and the inner side wall 234 have respective openings 236 and 238 for receiving fastening elements 34.

When using the embodiment shown in Figure 12, a ceiling member 212 is secured to the ceiling joists 240 by means of screws 34 through openings 236. The floor members 14 or 114 are attached to the floor as described above. The wall studs 33 are inserted into the members 212 and into either the floor members 14 or 114 in the usual manner. The ceiling member 212 is securely fastened to the wall studs 33 by means of screws 34 through openings 238. The wall substrate panels 81 are secured by inserting them in the usual manner. The ceiling substrate panels 242 are installed by inserting the edge portions of the panels into the cavity formed by the ledge 223 and the ceiling joists 240, and then securing the panels to the ceiling joists.

In Figures 13 and 14, a variation of a ceiling element 12 includes an inner corner cap in the form of a bead 312 and an outer corner bead in the form of a bead 412. In Figure 13, the bead 312 includes a curved front panel 320 whose side edges terminate in channels 322 and 324. The channel 322 is defined by an outer side wall 326, a bottom 328 and an inner side wall 330 adapted to abut the wall stud 33. The channel 324 is defined by an outer side wall 326, a bottom 328 and an inner side wall 332 adapted to abut the ceiling joist 240. The channels 322 and 324 open in a direction perpendicular to and away from each other, and are provided with openings 334 for receiving fastening elements 34. In Figure 14, the bead 412 has a curved front panel 420 having side edges thereof terminating with channels 422 and 424. Channel 422 is defined by an outer side wall 426, a bottom 428, and an inner side wall 430 adapted to abut exposed surface 450. Channel 424 is defined by an outer side wall 426, a bottom 428, and an inner side wall 432 adapted to abut exposed side wall 460. Channels 422 and 424 open in a perpendicular direction toward and away from each other and have openings 434 for receiving fasteners 34. Channels 422 and 424 are adapted to abut exposed surfaces 450 and 460 of frame 500 of a two-layer ceiling.

In the embodiments shown in Figures 13 and 14, the ceiling member 312 may be used with ceiling and wall panels where an internal corner joint is present, that is, at the junction of the ceiling joists 240 and wall studs 33, such that an inner side wall 332 abuts the joists 240 and an inner side wall 330 abuts the wall stud 33. The ceiling member 312 is secured to the ceiling joists 240 with screws 34 through openings 334. Any necessary floor members are then aligned vertically and secured to the floor in the manner described above. The wall studs 33 are then placed in the tracks of the floor member 14 with the sides of the upper ends of the wall studs abutting the inside side wall 330 of the ceiling member 312. The ceiling element 312 is then securely fastened to the wall studs 33 with screws 34 through openings 334. The ceiling element 412 can be used at an outside corner joint, ie, at the corner joint of the two exposed surfaces when a two-layer ceiling frame is mounted, and is arranged so that the curved front panel 420 forms the outside corner with the inner side wall 430 abutting the exposed surface 450 and the inner side wall 432 abutting the exposed surface 460. The ceiling element 412 is fixedly attached to the frame of the two-layer ceiling with screws 34 through openings 434. The wall substrate panels 81 are then inserted into the channels 422 and 424 in the manner described above.

It is worth emphasizing that the floor, ceiling, door and window elements of the wall fixing device can be preformed in various shapes, which is particularly effective when the elements are used to build toilet or shower rooms; otherwise the elements would have to be formed on site by rolling.

It should also be noted that the various elements can be roll-formed from any suitable material, such as sheet metal or aluminium, or the elements can be formed into suitable shapes using various plastics. The side edges of the various elements can be pre-treated with suitable materials, such as marble, paint or plastic.

The term "wall substrate" as used here refers to sheet materials such as drywall, gyproc, board and panels.

Claims (19)

1. A wall mounting device comprising a longitudinal support plate (20, 36), a side edge (22, 38) extending from one side of the support plate and having a free edge which is bent inwardly and shaped to form a longitudinal channel (24, 40) extending along the support plate and spaced with respect thereto, the channel (24, 40) opening in a direction perpendicular to the support plate (20, 36) and outwardly therefrom to receive an edge of a flat plate (81), and the outer surface of the edge (22, 38) forming a decorative edge on the completed construction of the wall, characterized, that the support plate (20, 36), the edge (22, 38) and the channel (24, 40) are formed in one piece to provide a unitary structure (12, 24), and that the support plate (20, 36) extends transversely to the channel (24, 40) at a sufficient interval to allow a plurality of wall posts (33) to be arranged spaced apart from one another along the device, each post (33) resting on the support plate (20, 36) and being laterally secured to a channel wall (28, 42) of the channel (24, 40). 2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the edge (38) is a skirting board. 3. Device according to claim 1, wherein the edge (22) is a ceiling strip. 4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, with a second edge (22, 38) extending from the other side of the support plate (20, 36) and bent inwardly and shaped to form a second longitudinal channel (24, 40) extending along the support plate (20, 36) and spaced with respect thereto, the second channel (24, 40) opening in a direction perpendicular to the support plate (20, 36) and outwardly therefrom to receive an edge of a second flat plate (81), and the outer surface of the second edge (22, 38) forming a decorative edge on the finished construction of the wall, the second edge (22, 38) and the second channel (24, 40) being integral with the other elements to provide a unitary construction, and the space between the channels (24, 40) is such that the posts (33) can be attached to the side walls (28, 42) of both channels (24, 40). 5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the support plate (20, 36) can be fastened to a supporting structure (31, 35) through a plurality of openings (46, 30) in the support plate (20, 36). 6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device is attachable to the posts (33) through a plurality of openings (48, 32) in the inner side wall of each channel (24, 40). 7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, arranged on a floor as a floor element (14), in conjunction with a second wall fastening device according to one of the preceding claims, arranged on a ceiling as a ceiling element (12), the floor element (14) and the ceiling element (12) being aligned vertically one above the other to receive floor-to-ceiling posts (33) supported on their support plates (36, 20) and flat plates (81) received in their aligned channels (24, 40). 8. Apparatus according to claim 7, in which the floor member (14) has a pair of parallel spaced skirting boards and the ceiling member (12) has a pair of parallel spaced ceiling boards, whereby the plurality of vertical posts are arrangeable between and attachable to the channels (24, 40) of each member, and a pair of flat panels (81) are receivable in the channels (24, 40) and attachable to the posts to form a double wall. 9. Apparatus according to claim 7 or claim 8, in which each of the floor and ceiling elements comprises a single skirting board or ceiling board, respectively, and each floor and ceiling element has a single channel, the side edges connecting the channels at one end of the support plates of the floor and ceiling elements, and at the other end of the support plate an abutment plate (146) is mounted which extends substantially perpendicular to its respective support plate and which is arranged to abut against the posts on the side opposite the side edge. 10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, in which a single side edge connects a channel to the support plate at one end of the support plate and which has an abutment plate (146) attached to the other end of the support plate, the abutment plate extending substantially perpendicular to the support plate and arranged to abut against the posts resting on the support plate on the side opposite the edge. 11. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, which includes a carpet holding device (84) with an outwardly directed extension of the support plate (20, 36), the extension having a device (92) for holding a carpet arranged above the extension. 12. Apparatus according to claim 11, in which the extension is a further, separate plate (86) which is in contact with the support plate (20, 36) and which has means (88, 96) for attaching the further plate to the support plate. 13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the means for securing the further plate to the support plate comprises a plurality of barbs (88) extending upwardly from the further Plate, the support plate having a plurality of openings (96) to receive the barbs (88). 14. Apparatus according to claim 12 or claim 13, in which the further plate has a bearing rail (90) extending therefrom and spaced from the side edges thereof. 15. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, in which the support plate (20, 36) has a longitudinal shoulder projecting therefrom to form a doorstop (64). 16. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the channel wall is an inner side wall (58) lying in a plane perpendicular to the support plate for abutting first sides of the plurality of posts, the opposite end of the inner side wall having a channel extension plate continuous with the inner side wall and extending substantially perpendicular to the inner side wall of the channel for abutting a second side of the plurality of posts, and the channel extension plate having a plurality of openings (68) through which the channel extension plate is attachable to the plurality of posts. 17. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the support plate (20, 36) carries a channel (73) facing outwardly therefrom, which is adapted to receive an edge of a window glass panel. 18. Device according to claim 7, in which at least one side edge of the support plate (20) of the ceiling element (12) is laterally recessed to form a shoulder (223). 19. Device according to claim 4, in which the support plate (20, 36) is recessed at both side edges to provide a pair of shoulders (223) which open in opposite directions to each other and which are perpendicular to the openings of the channels (24, 40).