CA2998656C - Espaceur metallique ajustable destine a l'interconnexion d'elements structurels allonges adjacents et methode d'utilisation - Google Patents

Abstract

An adjustable metal spacer serves to interconnect elongated structural members in parallel spaced alignment in an area spaced from the common interconnected ends of the wood or metal structural members. The adjustable metal spacer includes a telescoping spacer bar having end fixing plates. Opposing inwardly facing channel members are formed in the longitudinal edges of the spacer bar to provide structural rigidity and the connection of connectors between channels. The length of the spacer bar is adjusted and fixed to the length of the space between the elongated structural members, so that when the metal spacer is attached at a location spaced or away from the interconnected common ends, the structural members are interconnected to maintain a parallel relationship. one with the other. The metal spacer also provides uninterrupted passage between adjacent elongated structural members.

Description

ADJUSTABLE METAL SPACER FOR INTERCONNECTING ADJACENT
ELONGATED STRUCTURAL MEMBERS AND METHOD OF USE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to spacer for spacing attachment between adjacent elongated structural members and particularly, but flot exclusively, between wood studs and its method of use wherein the studs are maintained in substantially perfectly spaced parallel alignment regardless of variable spacings at a common attachment end of a plurality of studs. Aise, the spacer is constructed such as to provide clearance in the connected spacer area between adjacent studs for free uninterrupted passage of building material installed between adjacent studs.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] When constructing wood building structures it is common to secure wood studs, floor and ceiling joists in substantially parallel position and spacing distances whereby to facilitate the installation of construction material sheets of defined size, usually of four by eight feet. Due to high labor costs, restrained contracted time schedules and sometimes adverse climate conditions, it is necessary crews to work rapidly to erect the framework of the building structure and this leads to errors. Some errors can be minute, but can have an opponent effect on the quality of the finished product and lead to future problems.

[0003] The present invention addresses one of such nninor errors and namely tea inaccuracy of the spacing between studs, floor and ceiling joists. When constructing walls of a wood building structure it is common to construct walls on the floor adjacent the area where the wall is to be erected. This is done by attaching a common end of a plurality of studs to a wood foot plate, which is formed by one or more studs, at predeternnined intervals or spacing. Tea carpenter usually measures with a measuring tape the distances between the studs when installing each stud or will mark the foot plate with pencil marks and the studs are to the floor plate by driving fasteners in the end of the studs from under the foot plate and often the pencil marks are not cuite visible so the carpenter will simply judge the distance. The studs rests on the floor secured to the base plate and often not perfectly aligned with the spacing marks. When working quickly this results in small variations in the spacing between the secured ends of the studs. A top plate is secured to the other end of the studs with tea same procedure and the wall is ready to be erected vertically and secured to tea floor by driving nails in the base plate to engage it to the floor.

[0004] After the wall is erected, spacers are secured between the studs at a predetermined height from the floor, usually four feet from the floor surface.
These spacers are usually cut a common length, for example 14 and one half inch for studs spaced at 16 inch center. Also, the spacers are often cut from discarded pieces of studs which have imperfections or from entire studs of inferior quality which are put aside during the construction of walls, such as studs with slight distortion along its length. If the distance between the studs at their common secured end to the foot plate is not the same as the spacer which has been pre-cut, then when the spacer is immovably secured between adjacent studs t will displace the stud at its attachment location a distance which is tea difference between the distance between adjacent stud at their securement end to the foot plate. This will cause a deviation in the stud along its length causing the stud to bow along its length. Metal spacers of fixed length for wood joist spacing are known as described in US Patent No. 4,246,736. These are not of adjustable length and are further secured to adjacent faces of adjacent joist.
If used to space wood studs, they have the same disadvantages as wood spacers of fixed length. In addition, they also have a further disadvantage in that they are secured to the exterior side faces of the studs or joist and recuire fasteners causing an obstruction to sheeting material such as gypsum boards as described herein.

[0005] If there is a deviation in some of the wood studs due to improper distances between adjacent studs, due to the above mentioned discrepancies, then some of the studs will not be vertically parallel to one another. This problem also occurs when installing floor or ceiling joists. Wood Studs or joists commonly have a width of one and half inch. The sheeting material, be it gypsum boards or plywood sheets or other sheet material, ail have a width of four feet and a length of 8 feet whereby when secured to the framework their abutment edges are meant to fall substantially central on the width of the studs or joists. If the spacing between he studs is accurate, this leaves three quarter inch edge area to each side of center of the width of the stud to secure the boards by the application of fasteners.
Therefore, a marginal error of a half inch or more makes it difficult for the proper installation of fasteners to secure a board and this often causes damage to tea board sheet along an edge section where there is a bow in the stud or joist and requires repair. If repair is flot done, then a defect will be permanent and form year irregularity which will be visible on the outer surface of the board.

[0006] Wood stud spacers are usually cut at the construction site by the use of a skill saw which is an electric hand saw as opposed to a bench saw which cuts perfect transvers cuts. It is common that the cross-cutis often flot perfectly at a 90 degree angle across the studs. It sometimes occurs when the cross-cutis flow perfect that the spacer will not be perfectly aligned between adjacent studs and will protrude slightly beyond a plane of the outside faces of the studs. Thesis spacers are usually installed by driving two nails diagonally from the top of tea spacer on opposed sides thereof and into adjacent studs. This type of securely causes an impact on the end of the spacer causing the spacer to deviate slightly as the cross-cut has an angle end wall. If this is ignored and flow remedied by the trades person that applies the spacer or the sheeting, for example gypsum boards, then a large area of the sheeting material will bow out of the plane of the wall and eventually be visible to the eye.

[0007] Stud spacers also form thermal and vibration conductors between the studs and are therefore flot good insulation material such as wool or many known synthetic insulation materials. They also form an obstruction to insulation material positioned between studs and cause insulation waste. lt would be desirable to overcome this problem and have continuous insulation between adjacent wood or metal studs with no obstruction by the spacer member.

[0008] Stud spacers also create an obstruction to wiring and conduits when installed between studs. Trades people will usually drill hales in the spacers to run wires and conduits. However, if the conduits to be installed are rigid conduits the conduit will need to be cut in shorter lengths to be fitted through the spacer and the shorter lengths reconnected by connector sleeves and this is time consuming and requires additional material. Also, when installing ducts between studs it is necessary to remove the spacer to accommodate the duct and strapping material or sheeting material is usually secured to the outer side edge of the studs to restrain the duct between the studs. Such material is also an obstruction to the sheeting material which is to be installed thereover.

[0009] All of the above disadvantages of wood spacers cause extra labor time and create imperfections in the finished product. If a gypsum board install does flot correct imperfections of the carpenter and hides the imperfection with plaster material, such plaster will eventually crack of fall off later revealing the imperfection and requiring repairs to the building occupant. Thesis imperfections are also visible to the eye revealing the inferior workmanship giving a bad impression of the quality of the entire construction of the building structure.

[0010] Another problem which arises when studs are not perfectly aligned in vertical parallel relationship, is when installing wall cabinets or other objects to a wall surface which have been painted and where it is necessary that such cabinetry be anchored directly to the studs which are concealed behind painted wall surface. The location of the studs is usually detected by stud detectors gold metal detectors which detect screw heads. From that detected location it is assumed that the stud is perfectly vertical in which to attach the cabinets, etc. If the detected screw was offset from the stud due to imperfect alignment or the screw having been secured to an edge of the stud, has above described, then there is the risk that the screw securing the cabinet will flot have engaged a concealed stud and this is difficult to predict when the screw fasteners are installed through a backing wall of the cabinet which offers resistance to the screw giving the impression that the screw has penetrated into the rear concealed stud.
Also, if the screw misses the stud and it is continuously drilled, it will strip the surface of backing wall of the cabinet requiring repair and the attachment of at further screw to the left or t the right of the stripped hole to locate the stud. This is an example of future problems which occur when studs are flot perfectly straight and parallel to one another.

[0011] lt would also be desirable to replace wood spacers with spacers formed differently and with material other than wood for ecological reason to save trees and to provide further benefits to the wood structures.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] It is a feature of the present invention to provide a stud and joist adjustable spacer which Substantially overcomes ail of the above mentioned disadvantages of prior art wood spacers.

[0013] Another feature of the present invention is to provide a method of forming an adjustable spacer for interconnecting adjacent elongated wood structural members in spaced parallel alignment in at least one or more intermediate regions between adjacent wood structural members.

[0014] Another feature of the present invention is to provide an adjustable metal spacer for wood and metal studs which does not cause obstruction to the space between adjacent wood studs to permit the installation of continuous insulation material and Other construction material members of long length, such as wiring and flexible and rigid conduits.

[0015] Another feature of the present invention is to provide an adjustable metal spacer for wood and metal studs and joist and to which connectors are easily removably attached to restrain wiring and conduits thereto.

[0016] A still further feature of the present invention is to provide an adjustable metal spacer which is economical to manufacture and easy to adjust the length thereof and easy to install between studs or joists.

[0017] According to the above features, from a broad aspect, the present invention provides an adjustable metal spacer for interconnecting adjacent elongated structural members in spaced parallel alignment in at least one predetermined region spaced from an interconnected common end of the elongated structural members. The adjustable metal spacer is comprised of a rigid telescopic spacer bar formed by two telescopically interconnected bridge arms. Fastening means immovably interconnects the bridge arms to adjust the length of the spacer bar to a length common with the spacing between adjacent ones of the elongated structural members as measured at the interconnected common ends. A transverse attachment plate is provided at an outer free end of each of the bridge arms for immovable securement to a respective one of the adjacent ones of the elongated structural members in the at least one predetermined region thereof.

[0018] According to another broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided the method of interconnecting adjacent elongated wood structural members in spaced parallel alignment in at least a region spaced from an interconnected common end of the elongated wood structural members. Tea method understood the steps of:
i) providing an adjustable metal spacer comprised of a rigid telescopic spacer bar formed by two bridge arms telescopically interconnected together, the bridge arms each having a transverse attachment plate at an outer free end thereof;
ii) positioning the adjustable metal spacer between an inner side face of tvvo adjacent ones of the elongated wood structural members at the interconnected common end;
iii) adjusting the length of the telescopic spacer bar by displacing the bridge arms to position the transverse attachment plate against an inner surface of the adjacent elongated wood structural members;
iv) innmovably securing the arms together to fix the length of the spacer bar equal to the spacing between the adjacent elongated wood structural members at the interconnected common ends;
v) positioning the adjustable metal spacer of fixed length at a predetermined intermediate location between the adjacent elongated wood structural members spaced from the interconnected common ends;
vi) immovably securing the transverse attachment plates at opposed ends of the adjustable metal spacer against the inner surface of the adjacent elongated wood structural member whereby the distance between the elongated structural members at the predetermined location is the same as the distance therebetween at the interconnected common ends, and vii) repeating the steps (i) to (vi) for each adjacent ones of the elongated wood structural mem bers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the adjustable metal spacer of the present invention showing the construction of the rigid telescopic spacer bar and they transverse attachment plates;

[0020] Figure 2 is a top view showing the adjustable metal spacer secured between two adjacent wood studs and recessed from an outer plane of the stud outer faces;

[0021] Figure 3 is a top view illustrating one manner of securing the telescopic bridge arms together against a foot plate member between adjacent studs where the adjustable spacer is to be secured but at a different location spaced above the foot plate at substantially mid-height of the studs;

[0022] Figure 4 is a side view showing wood studs of a portion of a wall structure and wherein adjacent studs are secured spaced apart by the adjustable metal spacers of the present invention and wherein there is illustrated a variation of the spacing between adjacent studs;

[0023] Figure 5 is a side view of a section of a wall structure constructed with wood studs and illustrating how a deformed stud is realigned along a straight vertical axis by the adjustable metal spacer of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 6 is an enlarged illustration showing a wood stud which is not installed perfectly vertical and showing a problem that arises from such imperfection;

[0025] Figure 7 is a fragmented sectional view illustrating an imperfection resulting from a screw head flot engaged in of the stud of Figure 6;

[0026] Figure 8 is a perspective view showing another imperfection that arises by the installation of wood spacers which are flot end cut at a perfect right angle and improperly installed;

[0027] Figure 9A is a perspective view of a connector which is detachably securable across the channels of the bridge arms of the telescopic space bar;

[0028] Figure 9B is a further perspective view of another example of the construction of the connector;

[0029] Figure 10A is a front view showing how the connector of Figure 9B is secured across the channels of the bridge arms;

[0030] Figure 10B is a side view showing the connectors of Figures 9A and 9B
secured across the channels of the bridge arms;

[0031] Figure 11 is a top view of the connector of Figure 9A secured across tea channels of the bridge arms and a restraining VELCRO, registered trademark, hooks and loops strap engaged under an attachment channel of the connector;

[0032] Figure 12A is a front view of another example of the construction of a wire connector secured across the channels of the bridge arms;

[0033] Figure 12B is a top view of Figure 12A showing the construction of the connector and the wire restraining cavities wherein electric wires are restrained in a bundle form;

[0034] Figure 13 is a top view showing the connectors of Figures 9A and 9B
secured to the telescopic spacer bar and to which is restrained a conduit and at bundle of electric wires;

[0035] Figure 14 is a top view showing the adjustable metal spacer secured between two adjacent studs and permitting free passage and installation of a duct between the adjacent studs, and

[0036] Figure 15 is a top view similar to Figure 14 but showing the installation of the spacer secured between adjacent metal studs and illustrating the benefit obtained by such spacer permitting the installation of a continuous insulation batt in the non-obstructing passage adjacent the adjustable metal spacer or the passage of long rigid pipes without having to remove the spacer or cut the smoking pipe in sections.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0037] Referring now to the drawings and more specifically to Figures 1 to 3, there will be described the construction and operation of the adjustable metal spacer 10 of the present invention. The adjustable metal spacer 10 is comprised of a telescopic spacer bar 11 formed by two telescopic interconnected bridge arms 12 and 13. The spacer 10 is formed from sheet metal having a gauge sufficient to provide rigid retainment of adjacent wood studs 14 and 15, as shown in Figure 3, or metal studs 80 and 80 'as shown in Figure 15, in perfect vertical spacing in at least a major portion thereof with the spacer lower common connected ends 14 'and 15' respectively as shown in Figure 4. A transverse attachment plate 12 'and 13' is integrally formed at an outer end of each of tea bridge arms 12 and 13, respectively.

[0038] Each attachment plate 12 'and 13' is provided with hales 16 for the passage of fasteners to immovably attach the plates flush with the inner face of a respective one of the adjacent studs 14 and 15, such as using fastener nails (not shown) projecting into the adjacent studs. The attachment plates 12 'and 13 ' have a length which is shorter than the width "W" of the side face 24 of the studs 14 and 15 as shown in Figure 2, whereby to position the outer side surface 25 of the bridge arms 12 and 13 recessed inwardly from an outer edge face 26 of the adjacent studs 14 and 15. This permits the fastener head 22 'of the fastener that interconnects the bridge arms 12 and 13, to be recessed inside the plane aligned with the outer edge face 26 of the studs 14 and 15 not to cause obstruction to sheet material to be later secured over the edge face 26 of the studs.

[0039] The bridge arms 12 and 13 are each formed by flat rectangular sheet metal plates 18 and 18 'having an inwardly formed channel 19 and 19' along opposed longitudinal edges thereof with the channels 19 and 19 'having an inward open end 20 and 20 ', respectively, facing one another. As shown in Figure 1, the inner bridge arm 13 is of smaller size and dimensioned for close sliding fit of its channels 19 and 19 into the channels 19 and 19 'of the outer bridge arm 12. The channels are of rectangular U-shape cross-section defining a transverse horizontal end wall 30 and depending transverse flange walls 31 extending substantially parallel to the f iat rectangular metal plate 18 and 18 'of the attachment plates 12 'and 13'. The channels thus form channel cavities.
Tea channels also provide structural strength and rigidity to the spacer bar 11 and to the transverse attachment pales 12 'and 13', respectively. A hole 21 is formed in the fiat wall of one of the plates 18 or 18 'to receive a short metal tapping screw 22 which is driven through the plates 18 and 18 'to immovable secure the two telescopic bridge arms 12 and 13 together. A suitable size rivet could also be used to secure the bridge arms 12 and 13 together, although a crew 22 provides for easy and quick securement.

[0040] As shown in Figures 3 to 5, atter a structural wall of wood studs, as shown partly in Figure 4, has been erected and secured vertically, the spacers 10 of tea present invention can now be installed. However, to achieve perfect parallel positioning of adjacent studs, in at least in the mid-length region thereof, if is important that the spacing between adjacent studs in that region be the same ace the spacing at their common connected ends 14 'and 15' to the foot plate 28.
To do so, as shown in Figure 3, the adjustable metal spacer 10 is positioned on tea foot plate 28 between the adjacent studs 14 and 15, and extended until the transverse attachment plates 12 'and 13' are abutting a respective one of the inner faces 14 "and 15" of the adjacent studs. Further, as shown in Figure 5, tea transverse attachment plates 12 'and' 13 'secured on opposed sides of a stud 14, 15, sandwich the stud there between preventing the stud to twist after the spacers are installed, see the stud to sandwiched between the transverse attachment plates 12 'and 13'.

[0041] Once the length of the spacer bar is adjusted the screw fastener 22 is driven through the bridge arms 12 and 13 to immovably secure them together.
The metal spacer now adjusted to the length dl, see Figure 3, can now be secured at the predetermined height "H" Of the spacer bar, usually at a 4 foot height. The stud 14 having been secured to an already vertically secured end stud 29, the adjusted spacer bar 10 will have its attachment plates 12 'and 13 ' secured to the opposed inner faces 14 "and 15" of the adjacent studs 14 and 15 and drawing in or pushing out the stud 15 if the stud 15 is flot vertical, as shown in phantom lines 34 in Figure 5, and parallel to the already secured stud 14 to create perfect parallel alignment between the stud 14 and 15. Figure 4 illustrates an improper spacing of the studs which spacing dl being perfect and equal to 1/2 inches, stud d2 being 14 1/4 inches and d3 being 14 1/8 inches, and therefore resulting in ail three spacers 10, 10 'and 10 "being of different lengths to maintain parallel alignment between the studs.

[0042] Referring now to Figures 6 to 8, there is illustrates some of the problems caused by prior art wood spacers cut of equal lengths, and often with less quality wood pieces with imperfection, and secured between adjacent studs. Ace illustrated in Figure 6, the stud 15 outer face 26 has a width of one and 1/2 inch and if the stud is misaligned by a distance of only 1/2 inch and if the stud 15 is at a position to receive the opposed side edges 40 'and 41 of the two gypsum sheets 40 and 41 the a joint 42 of the gyp boards 40 and 41 will align about 1/4 inch form the outer side face 24 of the stud 15. When gypsum screws 43 are driven adjacent the side edges 40 'and 41' it is very likely that the screw 43 'will not engage with the outer face 26 of the stud 15 and be left loose with the head

43 "
sticking out as shown in Figure 7. The will cause the plaster cernent 44 to bulge out over the screw head 43 "creating an imperfection in the surface of the gypsum sheet. Alternatively, if the screw does flot engage the face 26 of the stud 15 it will cause the drill head to puncture the surface of the gypsum board and the install to drive another screw at an angle to capture the stud sideways causing an irregularity which requires patching with plaster cernent material.
[0043] Figure 8 illustrates another problem with a wood spacer 45 having a deformation or distortion therein as shown at 46. When the spacer 45 is secured between adjacent studs 14 and 15 with nails or screws 47 driven at an angle from the top face 45 'of the spacer and into adjacent studs 14 and 15 the imperfection will often cause an end portion of the spacer 45 to project outside the plane of the outer face 26 of the stud. If the gypsum installer does net chip out the projection 46 with a hand saw or an ax, and the gypsum board is installed thereover, it will cause a large swell in the outer surface of the gypsum board which will be visible to the eye when viewed from the side of the finished surface of the gypsum wall.

[0044] With reference now to Figures 9A to 11, there will be described another feature of the adjustable metal spacer 10 of the invention and of value when used with wood or metal studs. Figures 9A and 9B show two examples of to connect 50 and 51 constructed for removable connection between opposed longitudinal channels 19 and 19 'of the telescopic spacer bar 11. The connect 50 is molded from plastics material as a unitary part and defines a bridge attachment portion 52 and opposed foot portions 53. The connect 50 has a length dimensioned for the foot portions 53 to frictionally engage between and into the opposed channels 19 and 19 'of the spacer bar. The outer corners 54 of the foot portions can be rounded to facilitate the frictional engagement of the foot sections of tea connect by a twist motion as illustrated in Figure 10A with respect to the connector 51. The bridge attachment portion 53 is elevated from the opposed foot portions 53 to define an attachment passage 55 thereunder for the passage of a restraining strap 56, as shown in Figure 11, for the attachment of electrical wires 57 or other type wires and conduits 58 'of different diameter, as illustrated in Figure 13. The restraining strap is a VELCRO, registered trademark, hooks and loops strap for easy adjustable attachment and detachment.

[0045] The signer 51, as shown in Figure 9B, is similar with the exception that its attachment portion 60 is a plate of substantially rectangular configuration with rounded end corners 61 and opposed flat surfaces 62 to frictionally engage with the inner surface 30 'of the cavity bottom wall 30. A bridge arm 63 is formed we the outer face 64 of the attachment portion 60 and defines a passage 65 thereunder to receive the restraining strap 56. The width of the attachment portion 60 is narrower than the distance between the opposed channels 19 and 19 'whereby to permit securement of the connect 51 between the channels and thereunder as illustrated in Figure 10A by rotation of the connect in either clockwise direction or counter-clockwise direction to engage end portions of tea attachment portion 60 into the opposed channels 19 and 19. The connect 50 is engaged in a similar fashion.

[0046] Figures 12A and 12B illustrate another example of the construction of tea connector, herein connector 70. It has an attachment base 71, similar to the attachment portion 60 of Figure 9B, above which is supported in spaced relationship by a spacer section 72 a restraining collar 73 defining a pair of inner captive spaces 74 in which is retained wires 75. The wires 75 are positioned inside the captive spaces 74 through a small slot 76 and a flexible arm 77 which flex inwardly to open the slot for the insertion of a wire 75 into the spaces 74. The attachment base 71 is engaged between the channels 19 and 19 'as illustrated in Figure 10A.

[0047] Figures 13 to 15 illustrate other important advantage of the adjustable metal spacer 10 of the invention as secured between adjacent wood or metal studs. As herein shown, because the spacer is installed with the flat telescopically interconnected bridge arms 12 and 13 disposed vertically and slightly recessed from a vertical outer plane of adjacent studs, there is created an unobstructed space between the adjacent studs 14 and 15 permitting the passage of a ventilation duct 78 between adjacent studs without having to remove a wood spacer as with the prior art. VVith the present invention the duct is installed with the spacer in position. Still further, the duct 78 can be connected to tea spacer 10 by driving metal screws 79 through the walls 18 and 18 of the bridge arms 12 and 13. Figure 15 shows another advantage of the adjustable metal spacer 10 as connected between adjacent metal studs is that the unobstructed space permits the installation of insulation batts 58 the full length of the space between adjacent studs or joists.

[0048] What follows is a summary of the method of interconnecting adjacent elongated wood structural members, such as studs and joists in spaced parallel alignment in at least one or more regions spaced from an interconnected common end of the structural members to the foot plates 28. First, the adjustable metal spacer 10 is positioned between an inner side face of two adjacent ones of said elongated wood structural members, such as the studs 14 and 15, at their interconnected common end and the length of the telescopic spacer bar is adjusted by displacing the bridge arms to position the transverse attachment plates against an inner surface of the adjacent elongated wood structural member 14 and 15. A fastener 22 is then positioned in the hole 21 and screwed into tea other bridge arm to immovably secure the telescopic bridge arms 12 and 13 together wherein the spacer now has a fixed length equal to the spacing between the adjacent elongated wood structural members at their interconnected common ends. The adjustable metal spacer of adjusted length is then secured at a predetermined location by immovably securing the transverse attachment plates against the inner surface of the adjacent studs whereby the distance between tea studs at the predetermined location is the same as the distance therebetween at the interconnected common ends. This procedure is repeated with the installation of spacers between ail adjacent studs.

[0049] As shown in Figure 15, when the adjustable metal spacer 10 of the present invention when secured to adjacent metal studs 80, herein between stud 80 and 80, the spacer 10 provides the benefit of permitting the passage of insulation bats 58 in an uninterrupted manner in the area where the spacer 10 is secured. They also permit the passage of plumbing pipes such as pipe 58. As can be seen, metal studs are integrally formed studs of U-shape construction and installed with their open side 81 all facing in a common direction. They also have transverse end wall 82 terminating with an inwardly turned flange 83 to provide structural rigidity. The transverse attachment plates 12 and 13 of the spacer have a length which permits passage between adjacent flanges 83 of the metal stud permitting its securely between an outer face 84 and an inner face 85 of adjacent the metal studs.

[0050] It is within the ambit of the present invention to cover ail obvious modifications of the examples of the preferred embodiment described herein provided such modifications fall within the scope of the appended claims. It is also contemplated that a fire brake sheet metal plate can be secured to the spacer and span across the adjacent studs.

Claims (19)

15 1. An adjustable metal spacer for interconnecting adjacent elongated structural members in spaced parallel alignment in at least one predetermined region spaced from interconnected common ends of said elongated structural members, said adjustable metal spacer comprising a rigid telescopic spacer bar formed by two telescopically interconnected bridge arms, fastening means for immovably interconnecting said bridge arms to adjust a length of said spacer bar to a length common with the spacing between adjacent ones of said elongated structural members as measured at one of said interconnected common ends, and a transverse attachment plate at an outer free end of each said bridge arms for immovable securement to a respective one of said adjacent ones of said elongated structural members in said at least one predetermined region thereof, said bridge arms of said spacer bar are each formed by a pair of elongated flat rectangular metal plates, each said rectangular metal plates having an inwardly formed channel entirely along opposed longitudinal edges thereof with said channel having an inward open end facing inwardly of said rectangular plate, one of said pair of rectangular plates being dimensioned and configured wherein said channels thereof are received in close sliding fit within the channels of the other of said rectangular plates and with said channel open end facing inwardly. 2. The adjustable metal spacer as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fastening means is a fastener member to immovably engage said bridge arms together and wherein an outer face of one of said metal plates of said bridge arms is provided with a fastener receiving hole at a predetermined location for receiving said fastener member in close fit therein and to permit said fastener to be driven it into the face of the other of said metal plates. 3. The adjustable metal spacer as claimed in claim 2 wherein said elongated structural members are one of wood studs and metal studs. 4. The adjustable metal spacer as claimed in claim 1 wherein said transverse attachment plate is formed integral with said bridge arm of each rectangular metal plate of said pair of elongated flat rectangular metal plates, said attachment plate having connection means for immovable connection with a face of an associated one of said adjacent ones of said elongated structural members. 5. The adjustable metal spacer as claimed in claim 4 wherein said connection means of said attachment plate is formed by holes formed in a flat wall surface thereof to receive fasteners therethrough to immovably secure said attachment plate flush on said face of its associated elongated structural member. 6. The adjustable metal spacer as claimed in claim 4 wherein said attachment plate has a length shorter than a width of said face of said elongated structural member wherein an outer side surface of said rectangular plates of said telescopic spacer bar is positioned recessed inwardly from an outer edge face of said adjacent elongated structural members to position a head of said fastening means inside a plane aligned with said outer edge face of said adjacent elongated structural members. 7. The adjustable metal spacer as claimed in claim 1 wherein said elongated structural members are one of studs, floor and ceiling joists. 8. The adjustable metal spacer as claimed in claim 1 wherein said two rigid telescopically interconnected bridge arms when interconnected together by said fastening means, after length adjustment, being secured transversally between said adjacent vertical elongated structural members at a predetermined rental spaced from said one of said interconnected common ends with said flat metal plates disposed in a vertical plane between said adjacent vertical elongated structural members to provide uninterrupted passage between adjacent ones of said vertical elongated structural members. 9. The adjustable metal spacer as claimed in claim 8 wherein each said channels are rectangular shaped channels defining transverse horizontal end wall and a depending transverse flange wall extending substantially parallel to said flat rectangular metal plate to define a rectangular open-end channel cavity, and a connector detachably securable between said channel cavities formed in said opposed longitudinal edges of said rectangular plate, said connector having restraining means secured on an outer surface of said connector for attachment of one of electrical wires and conduits to be installed between said vertical wood studs. 10. The adjustable metal spacer as claimed in claim 9 wherein said connector has a bridge attachment portion dimensioned to frictionally engage between opposed ones of said channel cavities, and an attachment portion dimensioned to be positioned between a free end edge of said depending transverse flange wall of said opposed one of said channel cavities, said bridge attachment portion having a length substantially equal to the distance between an inner surface of said transverse horizontal end wall of said opposed ones of said channel cavities, and a width smaller than the distance between a free end edge of said depending transverse flange wall of said opposed one of said channel cavities. 11. The adjustable metal spacer as claimed in claim 10 wherein said connector is a single-piece integrally formed connector having a length dimensioned to frictionally engage between opposed ones of said channel cavities, said bridge arm having end attachment tabs dimensioned for close fitting in respective ones of said opposed channel cavities and an intermediate bridge arm dimensioned to fit between said opposed channel cavities, and an attachment passage formed under said bridge arms. 12. The adjustable metal spacer as claimed in claim 11 wherein said bridge attachment plate has restraining means secured on an outer surface of said bridge plate for attachment to one of electrical wires and conduits to be installed between said vertical wood studs. 13. The adjustable metal spacer as claimed in claim 11 wherein said restraining means is comprised by a hooks and loops strapping secured to said outer surface of said bridge attachment plate at substantially mid-length thereof to immovably secure said one of said electrical wires and conduits. 14. The adjustable metal spacer as claimed in claim 9 wherein said restraining means is comprised by a restraining collar defining an inner captive space, said collar having a slot and a flexible arm section for entry and removal of one or more of said one of electrical wires and conduits to be restrained. 15. A method of interconnecting adjacent elongated wood structural members in spaced parallel alignment in at least one or more regions spaced from an interconnected common end of said elongated structural members, said method comprising the steps of:
i) providing an adjustable metal spacer comprised of a rigid telescopic spacer bar formed by two bridge arms telescopically interconnected together, said bridge arms each having a transverse attachment plate at an outer free end thereof, said bridge arms being formed from flat rectangular metal plates, said transverse attachment plate of each said two bridge arms having a length shorter than a width of an inner surface of said two adjacent ones of said elongated structural members;
ii) - positioning said adjustable metal spacer between an inner side face of two adjacent ones of said elongated structural members at said interconnected common end;
iii) adjusting the length of said telescopic spacer bar by displacing said bridge arms to position said transverse attachment plate against said inner surface of said adjacent elongated structural members;
iv) immovably securing said arms together to fix the length of said spacer bar equal to the spacing between said adjacent elongated structural members at said interconnected common ends;
v) positioning said adjustable metal spacer of fixed length at a predetermined intermediate location between said adjacent elongated structural members spaced from said interconnected common ends, and positioning said adjustable metal spacer with an outer side surface of said flat rectangular metal plates being recessed inwardly form an outer edge face of said adjacent elongated structural members to position a head of said fasteners inside a plane aligned with said outer edge face of said adjacent elongated structural members;
vi) immovably securing said transverse attachment plates at opposed ends of said adjustable metal spacer against said inner surface of said adjacent elongated structural member whereby the distance between said elongated structural members at said predetermined location is the same as the distance therebetween at said interconnected common ends, and vii) repeating said steps (i) to (vi) for each adjacent ones of said elongated structural members. 16. The method as claimed in claim 15 wherein said step (iv) included securing a fastener to immovably secure said two bridge arms together. 17. The method as claimed in claim 15 wherein said step (vii) included securing one or more fasteners through holes provided in a flat metal plate section of said transverse attachment plates and into said adjacent elongated structural members. 18. The method as claimed in claim 15 or 17 wherein said elongated structural members are one of wood studs and metal studs. 19. The method as claimed in claim 15 wherein said elongated structural members are wood studs, there being a plurality of said wood studs secured at said common ends, and wherein there is further provided the step (viii) of securing one or more detachable connectors between said rectangular shaped channels formed on said opposed sides of said bridge arms, said connectors having restraining means for detachably restraining one or more electrical wires and conduits between said wood studs.