NZ527362A - A stud - Google Patents

Abstract

A stud (1) for a building element, such as a wall, ceiling or floor, has a profile with first and 5 second spaced apart faces (2, 3), substantially parallel with another, and connected by a third face (4), substantially orthogonal to the first and second faces (2, 3). With the stud (1) positioned across the building element, such as a wall, sound impacting on the wall will result in the first and second faces (2, 3) being compressed towards one another, so that the three faces (2, 3, 4) will tend to form a substantially curved profile providing a spring 10 action, and in utilising mass-spring mass principles of sound attenuation, provide an appropriate sound transmission reduction.

Description

527362 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICF 0«= " 2 9 JUL 2004 RECEIVED Patents Form No. 5 Our Ref: MH504338 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 Complete After Provisional No. 527362 Filed: 4 August 2003 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION A STUD We, FLETCHER BUILDING HOLDINGS LIMITED, a New Zealand company of 810 Great South Road, Penrose, Auckland, New Zealand hereby declare the invention, for which We pray that a patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: PT054098999 300276772 1 300257576 - MH504338 2 A STUD Background of the Invention The present invention relates to studs for use in buildings, in particular a stud to form part of a sound attenuating system of a building.

There is an increasing need in building construction to obtain an appropriate level of sound attenuation between different parts of a building which are hereinafter referred to as "building elements". This term includes, by way of example, walls, ceilings and floors. In New Zealand, and in many other countries, regulations or building codes are prescribed for the amount of sound attenuation required between, for example, the rooms of an apartment block. In New Zealand for example a Sound Transmission Class (STC) rating is set. An STC of 55 is the level which can be typically needed to be met in New Zealand domestic constructions.

Many proposals have been put forward in respect of the design of metal studs for use in buildings, or for fixtures to use with such studs, which have the intention of providing improved sound attenuation.

Objects of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to provide a stud for a building element (as herein defined) which can assist in providing improved sound attenuation or which at least will provide the public with a useful choice.

Further objects will become apparent from the following description.

Summary of the Invention According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a stud for a building element (as herein defined), said stud having a profile which includes first and second 300257576 - MH504338 3 spaced apart faces substantially parallel with one another and connected by a third face substantially orthogonal to the first and second faces, the profile including fourth and fifth faces extending respectively, and substantially orthogonally, relative to the first and second faces, and sixth and seventh faces extending respectively, and substantially 5 orthogonally, relative to the fourth and fifth faces, to define respective sides of the profile, the first and second faces being of less width than the faces defining the sides of the profile, which sides are adapted in use to engage with said building element across which sound attenuation is required, the first and second faces being of less width than the faces defining the sides of the profile, and wherein said first, second and third faces are adapted ^10 to resiliently compress together in use to form a substantially curved profile and to provide said sound attenuation across said building element.

Preferably the profile is such that it can be mated with another stud of a commensurate profile in forming a box section.

Preferably the third face forms a substantially central section adapted, in use, to engage by fasteners to part of the building element.

Preferably the sixth and seventh faces include respective inturned edges.

Preferably the third face is of a smaller width than the width of the first and second faces.

Optionally the third face is positioned off-set relative to a central longitudinal axis of the profile.

Alternatively the said third face is positioned so as to be substantially aligned with the longitudinal central axis of the profile.

Preferably the stud is of metal.

Preferably the stud is of steel. 300257576 - MH504338 4 Preferably the width of the first and second faces is less than that of the sixth and seventh faces.

Preferably the stud is adapted to be positionable within single or spaced apart pairs of floor and ceiling junctions when used in a wall system.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a stud having a profile substantially as herein described and with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.

According to a still further aspect of the present invention there is provided a sound attenuating wall system incorporating a stud as defined in any one of the preceding 15 paragraphs.

Further aspects of this invention, which should be considered in all its novel aspects, will become apparent from the following description, given by way of example of possible embodiments of the invention, and in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings wherein: Brief Description of Drawings Figure 1: Shows the profile of a pair of studs according to one possible embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2: Shows the studs of Figure 1 boxed together to form a box section; Figure 3: Shows a cross-sectional view through the stud of Figure 1; Figure 4: Shows diagrammatically a perspective view of the studs of Figures 1 and 2, in use.

Figure 5: Shows studs according to further embodiment of the invention; Figure 6: Shows very diagrammatically the studs of Figure 5 in use; Figure 7: Shows diagrammatically a perspective view of the studs of Figure 5 in use: Figure 8: Shows very diagrammatically the studs of Figure 1 and 2 at a floor junction; Figure 9: Shows the studs of Figures 1 and 2 at an alternative floor junction. 300257576 - MH504338 Description of Embodiments of the Invention In New Zealand the building code STC requirement for inter-tenancy walls is currently 55. In typical houses, walls will typically be built so as to achieve an STC between adjacent spaces of at least 40; the higher the STC rating the better the sound attenuation between walls or floors.

In the development of the present invention it has been found that a stud, particularly of metal, and usually of steel, can provide improved sound attenuation in a wall system by the incorporation in its profile of at least three faces, two of which are substantially orthogonal to the third. It has been found that when the opposed first and second faces are compressed towards each other, the three faces together will tend to form a curve providing a spring action which in turn provides a suitable level of resilience. The present invention therefore utilises the mass-spring-mass principles of sound transmission attenuation. Typically the wall is designed as a dry wall system utilising such linings as Gypsum Plaster Board, each side of the resilient framing, forming the mass component of the system. It has been calculated that the present invention may be able to achieve a sound reduction of 5 db STC rating over standard C section steel studs, or common solid profile studs, using other commonly used construction material. This may also apply to other building elements such as ceiling and floors.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings a stud 1 according to one possible embodiment of the invention is referenced generally by arrow 1. It is shown having a profile including a pair of first faces 2, 3 which are substantially parallel one with the other and separated by a third face 4 substantially orthogonal to the faces 2 and 3.

Further faces 5 and 6, are shown extending substantially orthogonally relative to the respective faces 2 and 3. These in turn have substantially orthogonal faces 7 and 8, which in use will be side faces. These side faces 7 and 8 each have, in the embodiment shown, respective inturned flanges or edges 9 and 10. In Figure 2 a pair of studs 1 is shown boxed together to form a box section which will be suitable for opening and corner studs. It is emphasised that the studs of the present invention such as stud 1 of Figures 1 and 2 are suitable to be used as a stand alone stud or boxed together as shown in Figure 300257576 - MH504338 6 2.

It is seen that when boxed together as in Figure 2 the edge 9 of one stud can engage the face 5 of one stud with the edge 10 of the other stud 1 engaging with the face 5 of the other stud.

In Figure 4 the studs 1 of Figures 1 and 2 are shown in a substantially diagrammatic and perspective view as they would when forming part of a sound attenuating wall system.

Referring particularly to Figure 3 it is seen that the width L of the faces 2 and 3 is less than the widths M, K of the faces 7 and 8.

By way of example only, in a steel stud in which the overall width N may be of the order of perhaps 70mm - 150mm, the widths M and K could respectively be of the order of 45mm - 50mm and the width L could be of the order of 8mm less than the width M. The respective widths H, I and J of the faces 5, 4, 6, will be governed by the overall dimension N and will also take into account requirements to enable boxing of two studs such as in Figure 2. However in the above example it is envisaged that the width L would be no more than approximately 8mm less than that of M, the amount of difference being such as to suitably maximise the required spring effect.

The present invention, when in position providing part of the wall system, will be positioned across the wall with its side faces 7, 8 against the wall linings, as may be seen in Figure 6 to which reference will be made later. When sound impacts on the wall linings this will be accommodated in the present invention by a mechanism of what can be called a "flat spring" in which the faces 2, 3 and 4 will combine. In this regard the faces 2 and 3 will be compressed towards each other and the faces 2, 3 and 4 will effectively form a curve which will provide a required spring action and a desired resilience thus in turn providing a required level of sound attenuation. The faces 2, 3 and 4 will effectively bulge outwardly and inwardly relative to the normal, substantially open, rectangular shape shown in Figures 1 and 2. This bulging is shown diagrammatically in outline in Figure 1. It is seen that faces 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are all affected and change their normal position and shape, faces 2, 3 and 4 adopting a substantially curved profile. 300257576 - MH504338 7 Suitably, it is envisaged that the profile of Figure 1 could be roll formed, or bent, from steel, suitably galvanised steel, of a thickness range of ,3mm - 1,2mm BMT and able to be manufactured in sizes from 90mm up to 150mm wide to allow for greater wall heights or ceiling spans and improved sound attenuation.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4 the third face 4 is shown off-set relative to a central longitudinal axis of the stud.

Referring now to Figures 5 - 7, a further embodiment of the present invention has a stud referenced generally by arrow 10 which may be particularly suited to placement as an end stud where a wall meets another wall element or column. The profile is seen to have what is now a substantially central set of faces 11, 12 and 13 relative to the longitudinal axis of the stud 10. Once again it is seen that the width of the faces 11 and 12 is less than the width of the outer faces 14 and 15.

As shown in Figure 6 the studs 10 are positioned so as to define a cavity 17 between wall surfaces or linings 18 and 19 with the right hand stud 10 (in Figure 6) having packing 20 packing away the face 13 from the wall or column 21 and resulting in the edges 16 and 17 being also separated from that wall or column 21.

Again, in use, sound received on the wall linings or surfaces 18 or 19 will create a flat spring effect, with the faces 11 and 12 being compressed together and forming substantially a curve or partial curve, with the face 13 and providing a spring action.

In Figures 8 and 9, the studs of Figures 1 and 2, may, as shown, be located in a typical C section 30 at a floor and ceiling junction or as in Figure 9 within separate L-shaped profiles 31 where discontinuous floors and ceilings are desirable to provide a separation and reduce flanking.

Thus by this invention a stud is provided which may, as part of a sound attenuating wall, floors and ceilings system, provide resilience, and accordingly sound attenuating properties, resulting in improved noise reduction. 300257576 - MH504338 8 Where in the foregoing description, reference has been made to specific components or integers of the invention having known equivalents then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.

Although this invention has been described by way of example and with reference to possible embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that modifications or improvements may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 9

Claims (10)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A stud for a building element (as herein defined), said stud having a profile which includes first and second spaced apart faces substantially parallel with one another and connected by a third face substantially orthogonal to the first and second faces, the profile including fourth and fifth faces extending respectively, and substantially orthogonally, relative to the first and second faces, and sixth and seventh faces extending respectively, and substantially orthogonally, relative to the fourth and fifth faces, to define respective sides of the profile, the first and second faces being of less width than the faces defining the sides of the profile, which sides are adapted in use to engage with said building element across which sound attenuation is required, and wherein said first, second and third faces are adapted to resiliently compress together in use to form a substantially curved profile and to provide said sound attenuation across said building element.

2. A stud as claimed in claim 1, wherein said profile is such that it can be mated with another stud of a commensurate profile, in forming a box section.

3. A stud as claimed in either of the preceding claims in which said third face forms a substantially central section, adapted, in use, to engage by fasteners to said part of said building element.

4. A stud as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said sixth and seventh faces include respective inturned edges.

5. A stud as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the third face is of a smaller width than the width of the first and second faces.

6. A stud as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the third face is positioned off-set, relative to a central longitudinal axis of the stud.

7. A stud as claimed in any one of claims 1-5, wherein the said third face is positioned so as to be substantially central of a longitudinal axis of the stud.

8. A stud as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, adapted to be positioned within single, or spaced apart pairs of, floor and ceiling junctions, when used in a wall system. 10

9. A stud substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

10. A sound attenuating wall system incorporating a stud as claimed in any one of the preceding claims. ASPEC4367156