US2258574A

US2258574A - Wall construction

Info

Publication number: US2258574A
Application number: US249545A
Authority: US
Inventors: Marshall L Leary
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1939-01-06
Filing date: 1939-01-06
Publication date: 1941-10-07
Anticipated expiration: 1958-10-07

Description

Oct. 7, 1941. M. .v LEARY WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 6, 1959 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 7, 1941 '1 UNITED STTES PATENT OFFICE WALL CONSTRUCTION Marshall L. Leary, Columbus, Ga. Application January 6, 1939, Serial No. 249,545 5 Claims. (01. 72118) This invention relates to wall constructions especially to wall constructions utilizing a plaster receiving base such as plasterboard or plaster lath. The invention particularly relates to such constructions utilizing a plaster receiving base supported on studs by means of a device fastened to the studs and engaging the edge of the plaster receiving base or plaster board.

. Many devices and constructions have been proposed in which a plaster receiving base such as a plaster lath or plaster board is supported upon the frame of the wall, usually constructed with studs and ceiling joists. In many of these constructions a clip of metal is fastened to the stud or the joist in such away that the board or lath may be held in place by the bearing of a portion of the clip upon the outer face of the board or lath. Some of the devices utilized have been formed so that the board may be slipped into place after the device has been fastened to the supporting stud or joist. In some cases such devices also have been used to engage the meeting edges of two adjacent lath or boards or other types of panels without being fastened to a support, the panels being fastened at other points, such as to intermediate studs or joists, as by nailing.

In such prior devices and constructions certain disadvantages and inconveniences in handling and erection have been experienced. In part these have been due to the particular method of fastening or the design and arrangement of the device in relation to the supporting stud or joist. Moreover, it has not been thoroughly realized in the prior art devices and constructions that the primary purpose for which they are intended, namely, the prevention of cracks in the plaster which is applied to the plaster base or plaster board or lath, cannot be attained unless movement of the supporting structure is provided for without transmission of said movement to the plaster receiving base and the plaster facing. The principal cause of such cracks, contrary to the conception of some or notrealized by others of the prior inventors, is the movement of this supporting frame rather than the movement of therelatively rigid and fixed plaster surfacing and its base, that is, movement of the studs or ceiling joists caused by drying thereof and contraction or expansion or settling thereof which causes strain to come upon the plaster facing if rigidly fastened thereto. If the support of the plaster receiving base can be accomplished with such lack of rigidity of fastening to the stud or joist as to allow for movement of the stud or beam relative to the completed combined plaster base and its facing without transmitting thereto the moving force, then cracking of the plaster facing over the joints between the abutted plaster boards or other base sheets. or panelswill be prevented or greatly minimized.

In some of the prior art devices which-have attempted to bring about this condition movement of the stud or joist has been permitted by a rather stiif though resilient spring member fastened to the stud or joist at the outer part of which spring member is attached a clip or device for engaging the edge or edges of the panels. In

most of the prior art devices, however, such'a somewhat resilientconnection between the clip and the stud or joist is absent as such devices become complicatedand difficult of attachment. Moreover, the position of such fastening devices must be predetermined upon the stud in order that the clip portions, that is, fingers or other portions of the device which engage the edges of the abutting plasterboard or lath, shall become correctly positioned to receive these plaster boards or lath for proper constructionof-the wall with these boards or lath in substantially abutting relation when the other end of the spring member is fastened to the stud or joist. .Other devices of the prior art have been attached rigidly to the stud or beam and either held by friction of a'fastening nail or in most caseswith the nail driven through the device and through the edges of the plaster board or lath itself. When the last mentioned condition obtains there is no,opportunity for movement of the stud or joist to take place relative to the plaster and relative to the plaster coating carried on the face of said base. Theresult is that cracking is not prevented. In certain of the prior art devices, also, friction of the plaster board or lath or other base sheetagainst the face of the stud or joist has not been eliminated, in fact, has been relied upon to hold the board in place, the clip or fastening device bearing on the outer face to hold the board against the stud or joist. I

In the applicants invention a feature of certain devices of the prior art is retained, namely, that fingers or flanges are provided in the clip between which the edges of a plaster board or lath may be slipped. The device or clip of the invention is made of thin material, for example of sheet metal, so that conveniently these fingers may project from a supporting Web, which supporting web is of such limited thickness as not to require substantial separation of the abutting edges of the plaster boards or lath engaged thereby and between the edges of which the Web of the device is positioned. Thus plaster boards or plaster lath of normal or standard size may be used without trimming and may be erected with their meeting edges lapped properly upon a stud or joist without interference occurring because of the presence of the device. The boards need not be separated a greater distance than is usual and this 'separationdoes not therefore accumulate in a series of boards extending across the wall. The result of such accumulation of edge separation in a series of boards across the Wall or ceiling surface, namely, that at some studs or joists some boards cannot '-:be lapped upon the stud or joist .forsupport of their edges, is avoided.

The applicants invention further provides :for fastening of the device or clip by means of an ordinary fastener, such as a "nail, driven therethrough into "the stud or-ceiling joist. Because with the device of the invention it ispossible to drive the nail directly into the outer or edge face of the stud or joist, erection of the plaster boards or lath is greatly facilitated and more easily carried out than with prior devices, particularly at the ceilings where the securing -of any such device is more difficult because it is necessary to work overhead. Nevertheless in the applicant's 'devicet'he necessary flexibility of engagement with the supporting stud or joist referred to above is accomplished. The device may 'be placed in proper position without the necessity of making measurements for position or allowances to insure that the flanges which "are to engage the edges of the plasterboard or lath will 'be in correct position ready to receive these boards or lath. Moreover, the nail may be driven directly in its position so that it will lie "between the meeting I edges *of these boards or lath. A hail of ordinary size'but having no great diameter to occupy space between the edges of the boards may be used and =the thickness of this nail plus the thickness of the web of the clip will not take npso much space as to cause excessive separation of the panels or boards. The accumulative effect of this "spacing, referred to above, therefore is not experienced in constructions utilizing the applicants 'dev'ice.

in simple form the applicants device consists of a web having a pair of flanges extending genorally in the same direction at right angles to the plane of the web. One of "these flanges is intended "to bear flat upon the outer or front face of the s'tu'd or ceiling joist which is parallel to the face of the wall and the other flange is intended to bear or lap upon the outer face of the panel of plaster board or lath inserted between the flanges with an edge thereof closely ad'zjaoent the web. In both flanges of the device are formed holes in general alignment with each other perpendicular to the flanges. Through these holes the fastening nail is passed. The :hole in the outer flange is of sufficient size to pass the nail with only slight clearance so that the head of the nail is prevented from passing .therethrough and hears upon the flange surface. "The hole in the flange which is to bear upon the face of the :stud is substantially larger than :the shank of the nail so as to provide clearance andprevent contact :of :the mail with the material of this 'rflange, time to provide ior a substantial movement of the :stud relative to this .flange.

.In a practical embodiment -.of the device-of the invention the hole in the outer flange may be, for example, between and diameter to receive a nail of common size. A hole of diameter would conveniently receive a 4 d. nail. The length of the nail for ordinary lath and plaster board would be 1 The hole in the flange which bears upon the stud or ceiling joist may be, for example 2 to in diameter. If the hole in this flange is it will be clear that with a 4 d. nail having a diameter of .09375 a movement of the stud relative to the plaster faced base materials of approximately may take :place without any strain coming upon the plaster facing. .Not only may the stud move with the nail pivoting substantially at its head and bearing in 'the outer flange at the hole therein but no strain will come upon the clip for transmission to the base or to the plaster facing until the nail has touched the edge of the large hole at the inner flange. Even thereafter for further limited movement there may be no substantial strain placed upon the base and its facing because of the flexing which may take place in the metal of the web andin the nail. The outer flange of the applicants device substantially is embedded rigidly in the plaster facing which is applied over this flange and becomes bonded to the supporting plaster board or lath. Without breakage or cracking no substantial movement of the clip relative to the base or relative the facing therefore can take place as regards this outer flange. Some movement-of the inner'flange of the clip may take place relative to the plaster base and the facing thereon because of the flexing of the metal as just referred to. It also will be understood that, as the plaster base or plaster board or lath has its edgebetween the two flanges of the clip, it does not bear upon the face of the stud or joist and, "therefore, no friction of the inner face of the plaster base sheets 'upon the face of the stud or joist occurs which will prevent movement of the stud or beam relative to these base sheets. Great flexibility therefore is accomplished with a simple device which, as stated above, may be erected in position without calculation or measurement ready for the panels or lath to be slipped between the flanges thereof.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the description to follow taking into consideration the drawing, in which Fig. 1 shows an illustration of the clip of the invention,

Fig. 2 shows a modification of this clip for a boundary edge of the wall construction,

Fig. 3 shows a further modification for engagement of panels meeting atra corner of a room,

Fig. 4 shows a clip embodying a further feature of the invention,

Fig. '5 shows a wall construction utilizing the :devices of the invention,

Fig. 6 shows in section the wall construction utilizing the clip of the invention.

In Fig. 1 is illustrated a clip I having

flanges

2 and 3 of generally rectangular shape extending from the web 5 in a plane generally at right angles to the plane of the web 5. A flange 1 also extends at right angles to the plane of the Web 5 and .in the particular embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1 this flange 1 is substantially of the same plane as the plane of the

flanges

2 and 3. As will be "seen from Fig. 1, flange .2 and 3 are spaced apart in their plane and the flange 1 extends from the web 5 at the portion thereof which is between the region at which the flanges .2 and 3 join said web 5. Similarly, from the opposite edge of said web extend flanges 8 and 9, having their outer ends curved or bent outwardly from the plane in which said flanges 8 and 9 are in common positioned. Said flanges 8 and 9 are spaced apart in said plane and from the portion of the web 5 between the points at which flanges 8 and 9 join the web 5, flange II extends in the opposite direction, although substantially in the plane of said flanges 8 and 9. The outer end of said flange ll likewise is curved or bent slightly out of the plane of said flange I I.

It will be apparent from Fig. 1 and the above description thereof that the clip there shown may be made of sheet metal or other sheet material capable of retaining its form when bent or formed. The

flanges

2 and 3 may be bent at right angles in one direction from the web 5 and the web 7 may be bent in the opposite direction, these flanges being separated from each other in the initial sheet by cutting or slitting therethrough along lines forming the edges l3 and I4 and edges l5 and I 6 of said flanges. Similarly, the flanges 8, 9 and H may be cut by cuts or slits in the sheet along lines forming edges l1 and I8 and edges l9 and 20, the flange H being bent in opposite directions to the flanges 8 and 9. The clip of the invention, as illustrated in Fig. 1, when made of material such as sheet metal, may be produced by means of a suitable forming die to cause the flanges to be bent relative to the web 5 and to bring them into the relation described.

In order to accomplish the fastening of the clip to the stud or ceiling joist in the manner which has been described above, and to insure the advantages in the wall construction which have been referred to, the flange II is provided with a hole 2! positioned close tothe web 5. Through the flange I and close to the web 5 and in position to be in general alignment with the hole 2| is drilled or formed a hole 23 for receiving a nail passing through said hole 2|. The alignment of these holes is such that the nail passing therethrough is in a position generally normal to the planes in which the flanges lie and to the face of the stud or beam into which said nail is to be driven. As willbe seen from Fig. 6 the hole 23 may be drilled through the flange 1 of the clipso that its edge substantially is at the face of the web 5. The hole 2| may be drilled substantially upon the same axis as the hole 23 and the nail 25 may be set through these holes and driven directly into the stud or beam 26. As will be apparent from Fig. 6, the flange 1 and the

flanges

2 and 3, being flat, will bear against the face of the stud or joist 26. The flange H and the flanges 8 and 9, bear upon the face 28 of the plaster board or base 29, bein curved or bent out slightly at their ends, so that this board readily may be slipped between the flanges II and 1 or between the flanges 8 and 2 and between flanges 9 and 3. It will be clear that the plaster boards 23 do not bear upon the face of the stud or joist 26 but are spaced slightly therefrom by virtue of the interposition of the

flanges

1, 2 and 3. As the flanges ll, 8 and 9 as well as the nailhead 33 become embedded in the plaster coat 3|, and as the coating 3| adheres strongly to the plaster base 29, that is to its outer cover 35, the clip I and the nailhead 33, together with the plaster board or base 29 and the plaster coating 3| thereon, are firmly gripped and bonded together so that movement of the plaster boards or of the nailhead or the clip relative to each other substantially is impossible, except by cracking of the plaster or shearing of the paper or other portion of this construction.

While the hole 2| is made only large enough to receive the nail 25 so that it may just pass easily therethrough, the nailhead 33 limiting the movement of the nail through the hole, the hole 23 is made substantially larger than the shank of the nail 25. This shank of the nail being firmly embedded in the stud or joist 26 must move with said stud or joist. As no bearing upon the face of the stud or joist exists except that of the

flanges

1, 2 and 3, movement of said stud or joist caused by contraction or expansion or by settlement or drying out of the lumber or for other reason may take place without bringing destructive force upon the plaster coating and the portions which are gripped thereby and bonded thereto, as mentioned above. Movement of the stud 26 and the shank portion of the nail 25 may take place because the shank of the nail has room for such movement in the hole 23. As the nail is not driven through the plaster board or base but passes between the edges thereof, no resistance is given to this movement and no strain is brought upon the plaster boards nor on the clips supporting these boards which may be transmitted to the plaster coating to cause cracks. The invention thus provides a flexible but strong wall construction utilizing a plaster lath or other type of plaster receiving base panel.

It also will be apparent from Fig. 6 that the edges of the plaster boards 23 are brought into close proximity, there being interposed between these edges only the thickness of the web 5 and the shank of the nail 25, with slight clearance between the nail and the web. Moreover, without interfering with the action described, Sllglll; crushing of the paper or even of the plaster core of the plaster boards 29' might take place at the point Where the edges of these boards bear on the nails 25. It thus becomes possible, as has been referred to above, to erect the plaster boards of ordinary dimensions on the stud and ceiling joists at ordinary spacings, without trimming and Without causing the space between the boards to accumulate to the extent that at some portion of the wall the edges of the-two boards will not properly meet on the stud or joist;

In Fig. 2 is shown a clip mil intended for use at the boundary of a wall construction, for example, at the base or floor. This clip, as will be noted, has

flanges

2 and 3 and 8 and 9 corresponding to these flanges in the clip of Fig. 1. As in Fig. 1, these flanges extend from web 5 at right angles thereto. The clip 850, however, is not provided with flanges i and H because at the boundaries of the wall construction, as may be seen in Fig. 5, these flanges l and H are not required, because there is no panel or plaster to be engaged thereby.

The clip me of Fig. 2, however, is provided with portions (H and 42 which substantially are in the same plane respectiveiy' as the flanges 8 and 9 and the

flanges

2 and 3. In the portion 4| is drilled the hole Fit to receive the nail, as in the clip 5 of Fig. 1. In the portion 42 is drilled hole 23, as in Fig. 1. It will be apparent from the description given in connection with clip of Fig. 1 that these holes may be positioned with respect to the web 5 and function in the manner in which they do in clip i of Fig. 1, for receiving the nail and for permitting motion of the shank of the nail and of the stud or ceiling joist With respect tothe completed plaster and plaster base construction.

In 3 isshowh a "clip 2%!) intended to be used at the cor-nersof a room'and at the ceiling. In Fig. this type ,of clip is illustrated at the joint which is formed between the plaster boards attached to the wall and those attached to the ceiling. This clip has flanges '2 and 3 and -8 and 9 extending from the web 5 as in the clip 1 of Fig.1. Corresponding to the flange 13 of the clip I is flange 45., extending in the same plane as

flanges

2 and 3 but with portion 4! bent at right angles to portion and so as to be generally parallel to'tlre web 5. Instead of having a flange extending generally in the same plane as flanges 3 and -9as does flange H in Fig. 1, in the clip 20-9 of Fig. 3 the -flange'4-9 extends in the plane of the web 5, and generally parallel to the portion 4'. of the flange 46. It will be apparent from consideration of Fig.3 and the assembled construction illustrated in Fig. 5 that the plaster boards attached to the side wall may be e engaged between the clips 2 and 8 and between clips '3. and B. The portion 4! of the flange 46 may engage theirear sur 'face of the plaster boards attached to the ceiling, the flange 49 engaging the outer 'face thereof.

In the erection of plaster boards and lath 'or similar panels it is common practice to erect these boards-or panels on the ceiling of the room before erecting them on the side walls. The clip Zilll illustrated in Fig. '3 may be slipped over the edges of the plaster boards applied at the ceiling at the place where the boards meet the side wall. Thus the clip may be carried by the ceiling board and be properly positioned while the plaster boards or panels to be erected on a side wall at the top thereof and adjacent the ceiling are slipped up between flanges 8 and 9 and

flanges

2 and 3. The plaster boards or panels may then be attached to the studding on the side walls and the construction may proceed with the erection of other panels successively below the top course of panels on the side walls. It will be seen from this description that it is unnecessary in the use of the clip 2'00 of Fig. 3 to provide for nailing thereof to the ceiling beams or to the studs. The clip affords a means of bringing the edges of the plaster boards or panels on the ceiling in co-operative relation "with the edges of the plaster boards or panels on the side walls to hold these boards in proper relation to receive the plaster coating. The plaster coating 3| applied over thesecorner clips gripsthe flanges 8, 9 and 49 and together with the bond to the plaster board or base acts to hold the base with its coating rigidly together about this corner. As no attachment to the supporting frame is necessary any movement of the supporting frame is not transmitted to the plaster coating and to the plaster receiving base provided by the plaster boards or panels. Cracking, therefore, of the plaster coating is reduced or eliminated.

If desired, the clip 2-00 of Fig. 3, however, may be otherwise positioned and so that the flanges 41 and 49 engage the panels erected on the side wall, with the

flanges

8 and 2 and 9 and 3 engaging the edges of the panels or boards erected on the ceiling. In this case also no attachment of the clip to the studdin'g or ceiling beams is necessary. The position as illustrated in Fig. 3, however, has the advantage that the edgesof the ceiling panels or boards rest upon and are supported by the side wall panels or boards.

In Fig. 4 is shown a modification of the corner clip of the type illustrated in Fig. 3. In the clip 3% of Fig. 3

flanges

2, 3, 8, 9, 46, 41 and 49 extend from the web 5 in the same manner as in 3'. In addition, in the particular embodiment of Fig. 4, clip 300 has an additional flange 5] with a portion thereof 52 formed to extend parallel to the web 5 as does the portion 41 of the flange 46. There also is provided an additional flange 54, similar to flange 49, extending in the plane of the web .5 and generally parallel to the flange 49.

A feature of the invention embodied in the clip Sil'il of Fig. 4 is that provided by the fingers 60 which are formed in flanges '8, 9, 49 and 54, these flanges being those which will bear upon the outer face of the panel or plaster board or base. The fingers 60 may be formed by suitably cutting or slitting the material of the flanges '8, 9, 49 and 54 and bending the tongue or finger thereby formed outwardly as shown in Fig. 4, with the end portion 62 thereof bent over so as to be in angular or even normal relation to the plane of the flanges. It will be apparent that the plaster boards or panels may be inserted between the flanges, as in the manner descrbed, and that the fingers 65 will be positioned outwardly of the outer faces of these plaster boards or panels. After the boards or panels are in place, and particularly with penetrable material such as gypsum plaster board or other common wall boards or plaster base panels, the fingers then may be caused to enter the plaster board or panel, for example, by striking the finger with a hammer to cause the 'end thereof to puncture the upper cover sheet of the plaster board and to enter the core material.

There is thus secured the grip or anchoring of the clip .300 itself to the plaster board or base so that when the plaster coating is applied thereto the coating and the base to which it adheres as well as the clip are strongly held together in rigid relation. As the clip of Fig. 4, similarly to the clip of Fig. 3, is not attached to the studding or ceiling beams, movement of this studding or beams with respect to the clip may take place without transmitting any destructive force to the plaster board and the plaster coating carried thereby. It will be apparent, as openings are formed in the respective flanges by virtue of forming these fingers 62, that the plaster to some extent may enter the space thus provided and assist, in the grip and anchorage .of the coating thereto. I

From the above description and a consideration of Fig. 5 it will be apparent that the clips of the several types may be applied to studding and to ceiling joists to fasten the wall construction to the framework and to secure together the corners of the wall and of the wall and ceiling construction. The flanges 8 and 9, cooperating with

flanges

2 and 3,, make possible the engagement of two abutting edges of adjacent panels or boards. In view of the staggering of the joints, as shown in Fig. '5, a single pair of flanges ll and [3 at the same time may engage the edge of the panel or board 'in the next course. Considerable flexibility inthe use of the clips is possible while at the same time obtaining secure fastening of the clip to the-framework and strong support for the plaster facing and its base, together with provision for movement, settlement or deflection of the studs or c'eilingbeams of the framework without transmitting the destructive forces of such movement to said facing and base.

Having thus described my invention I now claim:

1..A 'clip for .a wall construction composed of structural members and wall boards to be supported thereby which comprises a pair of flanges like-extending from a Web, said flanges being spaced apart a distance sufficient for the edge portion of a wallboard to be placed therebetween, said clip being provided with a hole in each flange adjacent said web and having the axes thereof in substantial alignment and extending in the direction transverse to the flanges, the hole in one of said flanges being substantially larger than the other hole in the other flange.

2. A clip for supporting plasterboards which comprises a piece of sheet metal cut and bent to form flanges like-extending from a web portion,

a hole in one of said flanges adjacent said web and a hole in the other flange adjacent said web and in general alignment with said first hole to position a nail passing through said holes transversely of the planes of said flanges, the hole in one of said flanges being substantially larger than the other to provide clearance with respect to the shank of said nail.

3. A Wall construction comprising a structural member, a plasterboard positioned with its edge lapped upon said structural member, a clip formed with a web, a pair of flanges like-extending from said web and positioned with one of said flanges bearing upon the face surface of said structural member which is parallel to the face of the wall, said plasterboard being positioned with its edge portion between said flanges and spaced from said web, and a fastener passing through said flanges and into said face of said member but not passing through the plasterboard to hold said clip against said face of said member and to hold said plasterboard in the plane of the wall.

4. A wall construction comprising a stud or a ceiling beam, a clip fastened to said stud or said ceiling beam, said clip being formed with a web, a pair of flanges extending from said web generally in the direction parallel to the face of the wall or ceiling and with one of said flanges bearing upon the face surface of a stud or ceiling beam which is parallel to the face of the wall or ceiling, a plasterboard positioned with its edge between said flanges and spaced from said web and lapped upon the stud or ceiling beam, and a nail passing through said flanges but not through the plaster board and driven into said face of said stud or ceiling beam to hold said clip against said face of said stud or beam and to support said plasterboard on the wall or ceiling, said clip having the flange thereof which bears upon the face of the stud or ceiling beam formed so as to provide clearance between said nail and the material of said flange, whereby substantial movement of the stud and nail relative to said flange in the direction parallel to the face of the stud or beam may take place Without contact of the nail with the material of the clip.

5. A wall or ceiling construction comprising a stud or ceiling beam, a clip formed with a web and flanges extending generally perpendicular to said web, said clip being positioned with one of said flanges bearing upon the face of said stud or ceiling beam which is parallel to the face of the wall or ceiling, said clip being provided with a hole in the other flange which is large enough to receive a nail passing therethrough but to prevent the head of the nail from passing therethrough, said clip in the flange bearing upon the stud or ceiling beam being provided with a hole which is larger than the shank of said nail to provide clearance between the material of the clip and said shank, said nail being driven through said holes into said stud or ceiling beam, a wallboard positioned with its edges inserted between the flanges of said clip and spaced from said web and lapped upon said stud or ceiling beam, and a facing of plastic material in set condition covering the face of said wallboard and covering the outer flange of said clip and the head of said nail and substantially rigidly bonding saidouter flange to said wallboard, said stud or ceiling beam and the shank of said nail being free for movement of said stud or beam with respect to said clip.

MARSHALL L. LEARY.