AU2003204586B9

AU2003204586B9 - Metal nogging and building frame

Info

Publication number: AU2003204586B9
Application number: AU2003204586A
Authority: AU
Inventors: John Tadich
Original assignee: Mitek Holdings Inc
Current assignee: Mitek Holdings Inc
Priority date: 2002-06-25
Filing date: 2003-06-06
Publication date: 2004-01-22
Anticipated expiration: 2023-06-06
Also published as: AU2003204586A1; AU2003204586B2

Description

2 METAL NOGGING AND BUILDING FRAME Field of the Invention This invention relates to a metal nogging, and also to a building frame including such a nogging.

Background Art Building frame structures and, in particular, wall frame structures generally comprise a plurality of studs which extend in spaced apart and parallel disposition relative to one another between a top plate and bottom plate of the frame. Wooden noggings are located between the studs in order to strengthen the wall frame. The need to locate the noggings in place is time consuming and labour intensive.

Summary of the Invention The object of the present invention is to provide a metal nogging and also a building frame which overcomes this problem.

The invention, in a first aspect, may be said to reside in a metal nogging for location in a hole drilled through a building stud, comprising: a tube body; a slot extending along the tube body for at least part of the tube body so the tube body can reduce in transverse dimension; and stop means on the tube body for limiting movement of the nogging through the hole.

Preferably the tube body has a first end, the first end being tapered to facilitate insertion of one nogging into the tubular body of another nogging.

Preferably the tube body has a second end and the stop means comprises a flange at the second end of the tube \\melb files\home\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Mitek Prov Metal Nogging Building Frame.doc 18/06/03 -O 3 0 body.

Preferably the slot extends along the entire length of the Stube body.

Preferably the tube body has a first end and a second end, 00 the first end being tapered to facilitate insertion of the first end of the tube body into the second end of another Slike nogging.

M 10 0 Preferably the stop means comprises a flange at the second end.

Preferably the tubular body is circular in transverse cross section. However, in other embodiments, the tubular body could be rectangular in transverse cross section.

The first aspect of the invention therefore enables metal noggings to be located through studs by drilling a hole through the studs and locating the noggings in place. The slot also enables the tubular body to decrease in transverse dimension so that it is a tight fit in the hole. The slot also enables the tubular body to decrease in transverse dimension due to forces exerted by timber shrinkage after the nogging is located in the hole. The nogging can be formed in specific lengths. In one embodiment, the length may be the entire length of a building frame so that one such nogging is used to pass through all studs in the frame. In another embodiment, a plurality of noggings dimensioned in accordance with the spacing between studs in the building frame are used.

However, in both embodiments, no cutting of the noggings to length is required, therefore further decreasing the work and time required to install the noggings in place.

A second aspect of the invention is concerned with a building framework.

H,\Luisal\Keep\Speci\Mitek Prov Metal Nogging Building Prame.doc 20/12/06 O 4 0 This aspect of the invention may be said to reside in a Sbuilding framework, comprising: 0 a top plate; a bottom plate; a plurality of wooden studs extending between the 00 top plate and the bottom plate; each stud having a drilled hole, and the drilled holes of the studs being aligned with respect to one another; and 0 at least one metal nogging as described above extending through the aligned holes of the studs.

This aspect of the invention also decreases the labour and difficulty of installing noggings because all that is required is for holes to be drilled in the studs, and for the or each metal nogging to be located through the holes in order to install the noggings.

Preferably the noggings are secured by a nail hammered through at least one of the studs and through the metal nogging.

In one embodiment, a single metal nogging extends through the aligned holes.

In another embodiment, a plurality of metal noggings are provided and each metal nogging extends through the aligned holes of two adjacent studs.

Preferably each metal nogging comprises a first end which is tapered, the nogging body having a second end, and wherein the tapered end of one nogging inserts into the second end of an adjacent nogging.

Preferably the stop means comprises a flange at the second end of the tube body.

H s\Luial\Keep\Speci\Mitek Prov Metal Nogging Building Prane.doc 20/12/06 5 O-5 SPreferably the slot extends along the entire length of the C tube body.

A further aspect of the invention is concerned with a frame unit which is used in the fabrication of a wall 00 frame.

pC This aspect of the invention may be said to reside in a C 10 frame unit for use in the fabrication of a wall frame, the 0 frame unit comprising: a wall stud having a hole; a nogging as described above located in the hole and extending transversely outwardly of the stud, the nogging having a first tapered end remote from the stud and a second hollow end at the stud; and wherein two like frame units are coupled together by locating the studs in substantially parallel disposition relative to one another, and inserting the tapered end of the nogging of one frame unit into the hollow end of a nogging of another like frame unit.

Preferably the stop means comprises a flange at the second end of the nogging.

A further aspect of the invention resides in a method of forming a building framework.

This aspect of the invention may be said to reside in a method of forming a building framework, comprising: locating a top plate and a bottom plate in position relative to one another; providing a plurality of frame units, each frame unit having a stud provided with a hole and a metal nogging as described above located through the hole and projecting transverse to the longitudinal axis of the stud, the nogging having a first end remote from the stud Hi\LuiBal\Keep\speci\Mitek Prov Metal Nogging Building Frame.doc 20/12/06 O 6 0 cg and a hollow second end at the stud; U locating one of the frame units in place between the top plate and the bottom plate, and securing the stud 0 of the frame unit to the top plate and the bottom plate; locating a further one of the said frame units in place between the top plate and the bottom plate, and 00 inserting the first end of the nogging of one of the frame Sunits into the second end of the nogging of the other frame unit; securing the stud of the further frame unit to 0 the top plate and bottom plate; locating at least one additional said frame unit in place in the same manner as recited in paragraph and securing the stud of the additional frame unit to the top plate and bottom plate.

Preferably the method also includes securing the noggings in place by a nail hammered through the stud and the nogging.

Preferably the step of providing the studs with the noggings comprises locating the nogging through the hole in the stud by reducing the transverse dimension of the nogging, inserting the nogging through the hole in the stud, and allowing the nogging to expand in transverse dimension, so that the nogging is a tight fit in the hole in the stud.

Preferably the studs are wooden studs and the holes are formed by drilling the holes through the wooden studs.

Preferably the insertion of the first end of the nogging into the second end of another like nogging also facilitates reduction in transverse dimension of the nogging, so that after insertion, the first end of one nogging is a tight fit in the second end of the another H.\Luial\Keep\Speci\Mitek Prov Metal Nogging Building Frame.doc 20/12/06 7 Q like nogging.

SPreferably the reduction in transverse dimension is 0 achieved by providing a slot extending along the length of the nogging so the nogging can be slightly compressed by virtue of the slot to decrease the transverse dimension of 00 the nogging.

The invention also provides a frame system comprising: M 10 a plurality of studs; and Sat least one nogging as described above extending between two Hs\Luisal\Keep\Speci\Mitek Prov Metal Nogging Building Prame.doc 20/12/06 8 adjacent said studs, the nogging comprising a metal tube body which is adapted to resiliently compress in diameter.

Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a metal nogging according to the preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a side view, in part, of a building frame using the noggings of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view along the line III-III of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a large view of a building stud including a metal nogging used in the preferred embodiment of the invention; and Figure 5, Figure 6, Figure 7, Figure 8 and Figure 9 are a sequence of drawings showing the formation of a building framework according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment With reference to Figure 1, a metal building nogging 10 is shown which comprises a tubular body 12. The tubular body 12 can be formed from rolling or pressing a flat blank of metal so as to form a generally circular cross-section, and with the two opposed longitudinal edges of the blank forming edges 14 and 16 between which is defined a slot 18. As shown in Figure 1, the slot 18 extends from one end of the tubular body 12 of the nogging 10 to the other end of the tubular body 12.

The tubular body 12 has a first end 20 which is tapered inwardly, and a second end 22 which is provided with an outwardly extending flange 24.

Although in the preferred embodiment the tubular body 12 \\melb_files\home$\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Mitek Prov Metal Nogging Building Frame.doc 18/06/03 9 is circular in cross-section, other cross-sectional shapes, such as rectangular, could also be used.

The nogging shown in Figure 1 preferably has a diameter of about 24 mm, and a length which is selected to match the spacing between a pair of studs 30 (see Figure 2) with which the nogging 10 is to be used. If the stud spacing is 450 mm, the nogging 10 preferably has a length in the range 470 to 480 mm, and if the stud spacing is 600 mm, the nogging 10 preferably has a length in the range 630 to 640 mm.

If the nogging 10 is to be used in a frame which is built during construction of a building, the studs 30 are drilled to provide aligned holes 32, as shown in Figure 2.

The holes 32 have a diameter marginally smaller than the diameter of the nogging 10 shown in Figure 1. The nogging is inserted in place by forcing the tapered end through the aligned holes 32 in a pair of studs in the direction of arrow A in Figure 2. The pressure exerted by the holes 32 of the studs 30 on the noggings 10 as the noggings are pushed through the holes 32 causes the nogging to compress slightly with the edges 14 and 16 moving slightly closer together to decrease the size of the slot 18. Thus, the diameter of the nogging 10 is very slightly decreased. The natural resiliency of the nogging attempting to expand the nogging 10 back to its normal position ensures a very tight fit of the nogging 10 in the holes 32. The nogging 10 is forced in the direction of arrow A until the flange 24 abuts face 33 of the righthand stud 30 shown in Figure 2.

If the left stud 30 shown in Figure 2 is already provided with a nogging (identified by reference numeral 10' in Figure the tapered end 32 of the first-mentioned nogging 10 inserts into the second end 24 of the nogging The insertion of the tapered end 20 may further \\melbfiles\home\LisaNKee\Speci\Mitek Prov Metal Nogging Building Frame.doc 18/06/03 10 reduce the diameter of the nogging 10 in the vicinity of the tapered end 20 to facilitate location of the tapered end 20 into the second end 24 of the nogging The next stud 30 can then be located in the building frame, drilled and a further nogging 10 located in place in the same manner.

The noggings 10 can be secured in place by a nail 40 (see Figure 3) which is hammered through the stud 30 and also through the body 12 of the nogging 10. This ensures that the nogging 10 will not move relative to the studs 30 to therefore reinforce the studs 30 and lock the studs together.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the reduction in diameter of the nogging 10 is simply caused by the insertion of the nogging 10 into the hole 32 or end 24 of another like nogging. However, in other embodiments, a tool may be used to squeeze the nogging to reduce its diameter so that the nogging is then inserted through the aligned holes 32, and the tool released so the nogging can expand slightly to engage the holes 32 and form a tight fit in the hole 32 at the end 24 of the nogging In the preferred embodiment, a plurality of noggings etc. are used in the building framework. However, in other embodiments, a single nogging which extends through drilled holes 32 of all of the studs 30 in the framework could be used instead of a plurality of separate noggings.

The single nogging may or may not be provided with a slot 18 and could in fact be formed from a body 12 forming a completely closed tube. The nogging may or may not have the tapered end 20 and the flange 24 for facilitating insertion of the nogging through the holes 32, and limiting the movement of the nogging 10 through the holes \\melb_files\home$\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Mitek Prov Metal Nogging Building Frame.doc 18/06/03 11 32.

The nogging 10 shown in Figure 2, as is noted above, is preferably slightly longer than the maximum spacing of adjacent studs. Thus, a single sized nogging can therefore be used with any stud spacing, and if the stud spacing is less than the maximum stud spacing, the portion of the nogging 10 which passes through the stud at the tapered end of the nogging is simply inserted further into the end 24 of the nogging which is held in the hole 32 of that stud.

Figures 4 to 9 show a preferred embodiment of the invention applied to the prefabrication of wall frames in a factory which are then transported to site for location in a building. The method according to this preferred aspect of the invention utilises a plurality of frame units 45 (only one shown in Figure each of which comprises a stud 30 provided with a drilled hole 32 and a nogging 10 of the type shown in Figure 1, which is inserted through the hole 32 until flange 24 abuts face 33 of the stud 30. The nogging is held in place by the tight fit of the nogging in the hole 32.

The framework is built on a machine which is known per se, and which is schematically shown in Figure 5 and which comprises an indexing mechanism 50, 52 for indexing top plate 55 and bottom plate 56 relative to a work station W and a workman 100. The work station W includes nailing mechanisms 61 which nail the studs 30 to the top plate and bottom plate 56. According to the method of this embodiment of the invention, a first stud 30a is nailed in place by the nailing mechanism 61.

The top plate 55 and bottom plate 56 are then indexed by the mechanisms 50 and 52 in a manner known per se, to the position shown in Figure 6. The nailing mechanism 61 and \\melbfiles\home$\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Mitek Prov Metal Nogging Building Frame.doc 18/06/03 12 the indexing mechanisms 50 and 52 are not shown for ease of illustration. The workman 100 then obtains a first frame unit 45 and locates that frame unit 45 in place by inserting the tapered end 20 of nogging 10 of that frame unit 45 into the hole 32 of the first stud 30a. The nailing mechanism 61 then nails the stud 30 of the frame unit 45 in place.

As shown in Figure 7, the top plate 55 and bottom plate 56 are then further indexed, and the workman 100 obtains a further frame unit 45'. The workman then locates that frame unit 45' in place by inserting the tapered end of the nogging 10' into the end 24 of the nogging 10 of the first frame unit 45 to thereby produce the structure shown in Figure 8.

The top plate 55 and bottom plate 56 are then further indexed, as shown in Figure 9, and a still further frame unit 45'' is located in place in the same fashion by inserting the end 20'' of nogging 10'' into the end 24' of the nogging 10' of the frame unit 45'. This sequence continues until all of the studs 30 and noggings 10 are positioned and secured to the top plate 55 and bottom plate 56.

If the nogging 10, which locates in the first stud 30a at the end of the wall, protrudes beyond the stud 30a and interferes with other framing members, the nogging 10 is simply hammered back through the stud 30a so the end 20 is flush with outer face 30b of nogging 30a and so that its flange 24 moves away from the stud 30 and telescopes over the nogging The workman can then secure the noggings 10 in place by hammering nails 40 (see Figure 3) in place through the studs 30 and the noggings 10 to fix the studs and noggings together.

\\melb_files\home$\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Mitek Prov Metal Nogging Building Frame.doc 18/06/03 13 Alternative ways of dealing with the nogging 30 protruding beyond the stud 30a is simply to trim the nogging with a hacksaw or the like, or to provide an alternative way of commencing formation of the frame by locating two studs in place and then locating a modified nogging between those two studs which is inserted from the face 30b. The modified nogging would have an open end 20 rather than a tapered end, and when the first unit 45 is located in place, the tapered end 20 of the nogging 10 of that unit is simply located in the open end of the first mentioned nogging.

The fabricated framework can then be transported to a building site for installation in the building.

The fact that the nogging 10 is able to decrease in diameter because of the slot 18, and has a tendency to resiliently expand back to its original size, means that the hole 32 can have greater tolerance provided they are preferably slightly smaller than the diameter of the nogging 10 before it is located between the studs. The tolerance is taken up by the ability of the nogging 10 to decrease in transverse section and then attempt to expand under its own resiliency to firmly engage in the hole 32 and form a tight fit in the hole 32. The slot 18 also allows for some timber shrinkage after the nogging 10 is in place without fear of splitting or otherwise damaging the stud 10. The shrinkage again is taken up by compressing the nogging 10 to reduce its diameter, which is accommodated by the slot 18.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", is used in an inclusive \\melbfiles\home\Luisa\Ieep\Speci\Mitek Prov Metal Nogging Building Fraae.doc 18/06/03 14 sense, ie. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

Since modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention may readily be effected by persons skilled within the art, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiment described by way of example hereinabove.

\\melb_£iles\home$\Luisa\Keep\Speci\Mitek Prov Metal Nogging Building Frame.doc 18/06/03

Claims

2. The nogging of claim 1 wherein the tube body has a first end, the first end being tapered to facilitate insertion of one nogging into the tubular body of another nogging.
3. The nogging of claim 1 wherein the tube body has a second end and the stop means comprises a flange at the second end of the tube body.
4. The nogging of claim 1 wherein the slot extends along the entire length of the tube body. The metal nogging of claim 1 wherein the tube body has a first end and a second end, the first end being tapered to facilitate insertion of the first end of the tube body into the second end of another like nogging.
6. The nogging of claim 5 wherein the stop means comprises a flange at the second end.
7. The nogging of claim 1 or 5 wherein the tubular body is circular in transverse cross section.
8. A building framework, comprising: a top plate; a bottom plate; a plurality of wooden studs extending between the H:\Luiaal\Keep\Speci\Mitek Prov Metal Nogging Building Frame.doc 20/12/06 IN 16 cg top plate and the bottom plate; 0 each stud having a drilled hole, and the drilled holes of the studs being aligned with respect to one 0 another: and at least one metal nogging according to claim 1 extending through the aligned holes of the studs. 00
9. The framework of claim 8 wherein the noggings are Ssecured by a nail hammered through at least one of the M 10 studs and through the metal nogging. The framework of claim 8 wherein a single metal nogging extends through the aligned holes.
11. The framework of claim 8 wherein a plurality of metal noggings are provided and each metal nogging extends through the aligned holes of two adjacent studs.
12. The framework of claim 8 wherein each metal nogging comprises a first end which is tapered, the nogging body having a second end, and wherein the tapered end of one nogging inserts into the second end of an adjacent nogging.
13. The framework of claim 12 wherein the stop means comprises a flange at the second end of the tube body.
14. The framework of claim 12 wherein the slot extends along the entire length of the tube body. The framework of claim 11 wherein the noggings are adapted for interconnection.
16. The framework of claim 15 wherein the noggings are constructed for partial nesting with each other.
17. A frame unit for use in the fabrication of a wall H.\Luisal\Keep\Speci\Mitek Prov Metal Nogging Building Frame.doc 20/12/06 ID 17 0 ^c frame, the frame unit comprising: O a wall stud having a hole; Q a nogging according to claim 1 located in the hole and extending transversely outwardly of the stud, the nogging further having a first tapered end remote from the stud and a second hollow end at the stud; and ID 00 wherein two like frame units are coupled together by locating the studs in substantially parallel Sdisposition relative to one another, and inserting the M 10 tapered end of the nogging of one frame unit into the hollow end of a nogging of another like frame unit.
18. The frame unit of claim 17 wherein the stop means comprises a flange at the second end of the nogging.
19. A method of forming a building framework, comprising: locating a top plate and a bottom plate in position relative to one another; providing a plurality of frame units, each frame unit having a stud provided with a hole and a metal nogging according to claim 1 located through the hole and projecting transverse to the longitudinal axis of the stud, the nogging further having a first end remote from the stud and a hollow second end at the stud; locating one of the frame units in place between the top plate and the bottom plate, and securing the stud of the frame unit to the top plate and the bottom plate; locating a further one of the said frame units in place between the top plate and the bottom plate, and inserting the first end of the nogging of one of the frame units into the second end of the nogging of the other frame unit; securing the stud of the further frame unit to the top plate and bottom plate; locating at least one additional said frame unit in place in the same manner as recited in paragraph H:\Luisal\Keep\Speci\Mitek Prov Metal Nogging Building Frame.doc 20/12/06 ID 18 (c and S(g) securing the stud of the additional frame unit to the top plate and bottom plate.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein the method also includes securing the noggings in place by a nail hammered 00 through the stud and the nogging.
21. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of C 10 providing the studs with the noggings comprises locating 0 the nogging through the hole in the stud by reducing the transverse dimension of the nogging, inserting the nogging through the hole in the stud, and allowing the nogging to expand :n transverse dimension, so that the nogging is a tight f:Lt in the hole in the stud.
22. The method of claim 19 wherein the studs are wooden studs and the holes are formed by drilling the holes through the wooden studs.
23. The method of claim 19 wherein the insertion of the first end of the nogging into the second end of another like nogging also facilitates reduction in transve:se dimension of the nogging, so that after insertion, the first end of one nogging is a tight fit in the second end of the another like nogging.
24. The method of claim 21 or 23 wherein the reduction in transverse dimension is achieved by providing a slot extending along the length of the nogging so the nogging can be slightly compressed by virtue of the slot to decrease the transverse dimension of the nogging. A frame system comprising: a plurality of studs; and at least one nogging according to claim 1 extending between two adjacent said studs. H \Luisal\Xeep\Speci\Mitek Prov Metal Nogging Building Prametdoc 20/12/06