US3683575A

US3683575A - Wall structure and method of installing same

Info

Publication number: US3683575A
Application number: US871470A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walter G Meziere
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-10-23
Filing date: 1969-10-23
Publication date: 1972-08-15
Anticipated expiration: 1989-08-15

Abstract

A wall structure adapted for installation between floor and ceiling structures of a building. The wall includes ceiling and floor tracks with a plurality of vertical stud members located therebetween. Connector members are provided with each connector having a first leg adapted for being engaged in an end slot formed in the end of a wall panel, and with a second leg having hooked elements adapted for engaging the stud members through vertical slots formed in the stud members. The wall is constructed by connecting panels to adjacent stud members with access panels having the connector members releasably fastening panels to the stud members.

Description

United States Patent Meziere WALL STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF INSTALLING SAME [72] Inventor: Walter G. Meziere, 1221 S. Cobblestone Road, La Habra, Calif. 90361 [22] Filed: Oct. 23, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 871,470

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 747,305, luly 24, 1968, abandoned.

[151 3,683,575 51 Aug. 15, 1972 6/1966 Farmer ..52/481 392,825 5/1965 Switzerland ..52/51 1 Primary Examiner-John E. Murtagh Attorney-Joseph H. Golant [57] ABSTRACT A wall structure adapted for installation between floor and ceiling structures of a building. The wall includes ceiling and floor tracks with a plurality of vertical stud members located therebetween. Connector members are provided with each connector having a first leg adapted for being engaged in an end slot formed in the end of a wall panel, and with a second leg having hooked elements adapted for engaging the stud members through vertical slots formed in the stud members. The wall is constructed by connecting panels to adjacent stud members with access panels having the connector members releasably fastening panels to the stud members.

4 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAus 15 1912 sum 1 BF 2 l-al-q Wm. 152 6. MEZ/EQE INVENIUR.

PAIENTEDAus 15 I972 INVENTOR.

SHEEI 2 OF 2 W44. 7:5? 6. M5 ZAEQ'S BY 331 a 2' W WALL STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF INSTALLING SAME This application is a continuation-in-part of a previous application filed by the same inventor on July 24, 1968, Ser. No. 747,305 and titled Access Wall, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention This invention relates to a wall structure and more particularly to a wall structure which may be quickly and easily fabricated; installed and removed and which provides at least one access panel for entry to the interior spacing of the wall structure, and relates to a method of installing such a wall,

In many commercial building facilities the required allocation of floor space varies substantially during relatively short periods of time. In such facilities, where the size and location of rooms require frequent modification to adapt to the changing needs of the occupants, it is quite expensive and unnecessary to utilize interior wall structures of conventional permanent construction. Additionally, it is sometimes desirable to have a ready access to the interior spacing of the wall for such purposes as the addition, rerouting or repair of electrical wiring. Also, it is advantageous in such applications that the wall structure be adaptable for installation and removal in a short period of time so that disruption to the normal activities of the facility will be held to the minimum. Further with the increasing cost of skilled labor, access walls or room partitions which may be fabricated and installed with a minimum need for skilled craftsmen, would substantially reduce construction costs in general.

Quick assembled partition walls have been known in the prior art for many years with many different approaches being attempted in order to achieve an efficient and inexpensive structure. For example, in a US. Pat. to Bemis, No. 2,054,189, a rather complicated structure was illustrated which used a hook type arrangement incorporated into the wall panel to attach the panel to supporting structure. While the conceptual approach was good, the Bemis structure was far too complicated to be economically manufactured for a present day wall. In a US. Pat. to Olsen, No. 3,229,435, a hook type arrangement attached to slotted stud members was proposed. However, the hook structure itself was exposed beyond the front surface of the wall, thereby necessitating a finishing step of masking and covering with plaster. A more recent US. Pat. to Farmer, No. 3,256,666, illustrates a system of attaching wall panels to a slotted stud in a more uptodate and more efficient arrangement than shown by the Bemis patent. However, even Farmers system is overly complicated and thereby expensive both in manufacturing costs and in labor time necessary for installing the wall structure. Until the present application, no one has been able to bring together the proper combination of elements necessary to achieve an economical wall structure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above problems have been solved by the apparatus and method of the present invention which includes:

an easily installable and removable wall structure having an access to the interior spacing and said wall structure comprising in combination:

a first track for attaching to a ceiling;

a second tract for attaching to a floor;

a plurality of stud members for positioning between said tracks, at least one of said stud members being adapted to be fixedly attached to said first and second tracks, and each of at least two other of said plurality of stud members having a plurality of slots spaced in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of said stud members;

a plurality of wall panels for connecting to said plurality of stud members;

elongated connector members attached to at least three of said wall panels, said connector members terminating in hooked elements; and

said slots of said stud members for receiving two of said hooked elements one each of said hooked elements being from one of two of said elongated connector members, one each of said connector members being from adjacent wall panels which are in a linearly aligned relationship.

A method of installing a wall structure comprising the steps of providing a first track;

providing a second track;

providing a plurality of stud members, at least two of which have U-shaped cross sections, at least one is an end stud member and the remainder of stud members have H-shaped cross sections, each of said U-shaped stud members having a plurality of slots;

providing a plurality of wall panels having lateral ends, each end having an elongated slot therein;

providing elongated connector members attached to six of said wall panels, two wall panels having a connector member in each of their end slots and four wall panels each having a connector member in only one of their end slots;

attaching said first track to a ceiling;

attaching said second track to a floor;

attaching said end stud member to said first and said second tracks;

. restraining the lateral ends of two wall panels with said end stud, so that the panels are parallel to each other and form wall portions of two separate walls;

mounting a stud member having an H cross section to said two wall panels by inserting the arm portions of said stud memberin the end slots of said wall panels;

mounting two of said four wall panels having a connector'member in only one of their end slots by insetting the arm portions of said mounted H-shaped stud member into the slot ends not having the connector members,

mounting a U-shaped stud member to said mounted two panels having a connector member in only one of their end slots by having said connector members engage the slots of said U-shaped stud members;

mounting said two wall panels having a connector member in each of their end slots to said U shaped stud member by positioning one of the connector members of each of said wall panels adjacent the corresponding connector member of the already mounted panels and within the slots of said U- shaped stud member;

mounting a second U-shaped stud member to said mounted two panels having a connector member in each of their end slots by having the remaining connector members of said panels engage the slots of said second U-shaped stud member;

mounting the remaining two of said four wall panels having a connector member in only one of their end slots by engaging the connector members with the slots of said second mentioned U shaped stud member adjacent the corresponding connector members of said wall panels having a connector member in each of their end slots;

mounting another stud member having an H' cross section to said remaining two wall panels having a connector member in only one of their end slots by inserting the arm portions of the I-I-shaped stud member into the slot ends not having the connector members; and

mounting two walls panels to said last mentioned I'lshaped stud member by inserting the arm portions of said I-l-shaped stud member into the end slots of said wall panels.

It is therefore among the objects of the invention to provide a new and improved wall structure which may be readily installed and removed in a minimum period of time and at a substantial cost reduction as compared to prior art systems.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved wall structure which incorporates a simple and sturdy supporting structure onto which wall panels may be releasably but firmly attached.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved room divider wall which may be constructed of a few basic types of structural members, which members may be inexpensively mass produced.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wall structure which is easy to install, remove and store, and which is not damaged by such installation or removal and is therefore reusable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wall structure which has an easily removed access panel allowing ease of entry to the interior region of said wall structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of installing a wall structure which is easily and quickly accomplished.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of various parts of the device, whereby the objects con-templated are attained as herein set forth, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view of a portion of a wall structure embodiment with several panels of the wall removed so as to show the supporting structure for the panels, and showing in cross section the ceiling and floor structures to which the wall is mounted;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the wall structure showing a partially installed wall panel thereon;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, transverse sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an elevation cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a connector member mounted in an end slot of a wall panel;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a stud member of the supporting structure of the wall;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a another embodiment of a connector member;

FIG. 8 is a transverse cross-sectional view illustrating another embodiment of a stud member of the supporting structure with a portion of mounted panels.

FIG. 9 is a front view, partially broken away, of another embodiment of a wall structure;

FIG. 10 is a plan cross-sectional view taken on line 10I0 ofFIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a connector member mounted in an end slot of a wall panel illustrating the connector member during distribution of a wall panel and, in phantom, during use of the wall panel in the wall structure;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of a connector member attached to a back surface of a wall panel;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary perspective view of a connector member attached to a front surface of a wall panel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS In one embodiment of the invention, chosen for the purpose of illustration, a wall structure indicated generally by the reference numeral 10, FIGS. 1 and 2, is shown mounted between a ceiling structure 12 and a floor structure 14. A U-shaped ceiling track channel 15, which may be constructed of galvanized sheet metal for example, is fastened to the ceiling structure 12 by means of any conventional fasteners, such as screws 16, so that front and

rear flanges

17 and 18, FIG. 4, respectively, project downwardly from the ceiling 12. A U-shaped floor track channel 20, which also may be constructed from galvanized sheet metal, is fastened to the floor 14 by means of any conventional fasteners, such as screws 21, for example, so that front and

rear flanges

22 and 23, FIG. 4, respectively, project upwardly from the floor 14.

A plurality of stud members 25 are positioned between the ceiling track 15 and floor track 20, either loosely or wedged into place at preselected spaced intervals. The stud members 25 may be constructed of U- shaped sheet metal channels having a front flange 26, FIG. 6, and a rear flange 27. Vertical slots 28 are formed in the front and

rear flanges

26 and 27, respectively, at intervals along the length of the stud member 25. The purpose and dimensions of the slots 28 will be explained subsequently.

The wall structure 10 includes a plurality of wall panels 30 which may be composed of an outer section 31 and an inner section 32, or may be composed of a single unit, as shown in FIG. 10. The panels 30 may be constructed of conventional wall facing materials, such as gypsum or plaster board. If two sections are used, they are bonded with an adhesive to form a compound panel having inner and outer sections. A connector member 34, FIG. 5, has a first leg member 35, which is adapted for being .forced' into a retained by a longitudinal slot 36 formed in each lateral end 33 of the panels 30. A second leg member 37 of the angle 34 terminates in a plurality hooked elements 38 formed along the length thereof. In one embodiment of the angle 34, shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the hooked elements 38 are formed by vertical cutouts 39 in the lower surface of tabs 40.

In one method of assembling the wall structure 10, the ceiling and floor tracks 12 and .14, respectively, are installed by being fastened to the ceiling and floor, respectively. Next the stud members 25 are placed between the ceiling and floor tracks with a spacing between stud members approximately equal to the width of an other section 31 of the wall panels 30. As shown in FIG. 4, the lower portion of the stud members 25 may be configured to be of a slightly reduced width so that the outer faces of the

flanges

22 and 23 of the floor track 20 will be flush with the upper section of the stud members 25, thereby resulting in a perfectly vertical support structure. However, it will be appreciated that in the interests of economy the floor channel 20 may be widened to accommodate the normal width of the stud members 25 with the resulting slight taper of the wall being of no practical consequence. Also in FIG. 4, the stud members 25 are shown firmly attached to the floor track 20 by means of sheet metal screws 39 which are threaded through the

flanges

22 and 23 and the stud members 25. However, satisfactory performance may be obtained without the use of the screws 39 with the studs secured in position by the force of being tightly wedged between the floor and ceiling tracks and by the support provided by the bottom edges of the panels 30 when installed.

As may be seen best in FIG. 5, a connector member 34 may be attached toeach lateral end 33 of a panel 30 by forcing the leg member 35 between the

panel sections

31 and 32 into the slot 36. Next, the panels may be mounted to the stud members 25 by positioning each panel so that the hooked elements 38 project.

through the slots 28 and by then lowering the panels so that the hooked elements slidably engage the surfaces of the

stud flanges

26 or 27. In the embodiment of the wall structure, shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the width of the slots 28 is such as to accommodate two hooked elements 28 of adjacent panels in a side by side parallel relationship. The wall is formed by sliding each panel 30 upwardly into the top section of the ceiling track until the hooked elements 38 are aligned with the slots 28, and by then allowing the hooked elements to project into the slots 28 and slide downwardly to engage the surface of the stud members 25. It is noted that since the outer sections 31 of the panels 30 are wider than the inner sections 32 that the outer surface of the resulting wall is substantially continuous, although the inner wall sections 32 are separated by at least the thickness of a pair of leg members 37.

In the embodiment of the connector member 34, shown in FIG. 5, it is necessary to utilize right and left hand connector members on opposite ends 33 of the panels 30, with the direction of the angle between the

legs

37 and 35 reverse between the two configurations. The embodiment of connector member 34a shown in FIG. 7 eliminates the requirement of stocking two sets of these members by incorporating a modified tab 40a which has

vertical cutouts

39a and 42 formed in the upper and lower edges, respectively, of the symmetrical tab 40a. In utilizing the connector member 34a, all that is required is simply inverting for insertion into grooves 36 on opposite edges 33 of the panels 30. It is noted that for member 34a the slots 28, formed in the stud members 25, are extended in length to accommodate the increased height of the tabs 40a.

' In the embodiment of the subject invention, shown in FIG. 8, the stud member 25a has elongated ridges 43 formed down the center of the

flanges

26a and 27a. Also, in the embodiment of FIG. 8 the slots 28a are reduced in width to accommodate but a single tab 40, and one such slot is disposed on adjacent sides of the ridges 43. Further, the width of the interior panel sections 32 is reduced slightly to conform to the spacing 41 between the double slot arrangement, and adjacent outer panel sections 31 are supported by the ridges 43.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that the panels 30 may be mounted to both

flanges

26 and 27 of the stud members 25 and that the wall may be readily disassembled by reversing the just described installation procedure. That is, the panels may be pried upwardly from the bottom until the hooked elements 28 are centered in the slots 28, and the panels may then be slid out from under the

flanges

17 or 18 of the ceiling track channel 15. Also, a baseboard trim 44, FIGS. 1 and 2, may be added at the bottom of the wall 10, if desired. The baseboard 44 may be of any suitable conventional type, such as the rubberized type that may be readily bonded to the panels 30.

Referring now to FIG. 11, another embodiment of a connector member is illustrated having a one-piece wall panel 60 with an elongated slot 62 positioned in a lateral end 64 of the wall panel. Positioned within the slot 62 is a connector member 66 which has two leg portions, a leg 68 within the slot 62, and a leg 70 projecting away from the slot and the end 64 and essentially perpendicular to the end 64. With the leg 70 in this position the wall panel 60 may be easily wrapped and shipped more easily and at less expense since a great many boards may be piled upon one another without interference from the connector member 66, as would be the case, for example, with the FIG. 5 embodiment where the hooked element 38 might mar an adjacent wall panel. Additionally, since the connector member 66 does not project beyond an interior surface 72 of the wall panel 60 during shipment of the panel, there is a greatly reduced likelihood of a hooked element 74 of the connector member 66 being damaged. When the wall panel reaches a construction site, the leg 70 with the projecting hooked elements 74 are conveniently rotated to a position as shown in phantom lines where the leg 70 is essentially parallel to the lateral end 64 and where the hooked element 74 extends beyond the interior' surface 72 so that the panel 60 may now be used in the same manner as described for the FIG. 5 embodiment.

Referring now to FIG. 12, still another embodiment of a connector member is illustrated where the connector member 86 is bonded to the interior surface 82 of a wall panel 84. In this situation an elongated slot 86 in the lateral end 88 of the panel 84 may be eliminated if desired. Nevertheless, the slot 86 is shown since a major producer of wall panels, the U. S. Gypsum Company of Chicago, lll., produces standard wall panels having elongated slots in the lateral ends. In addition, the wall panels produced by the U. S. Gypsum Company has the lateral end 88 slightly tapered from the exterior surface (not shown in FIG. 12) to the interior surface 82 so that the exterior surface has a greater width than the interior surface. A phantom line 89 is drawn from the interior surface to the exterior surface in FIG. 12 indicating where the edge of the panel would have been if not for the taper. The taper is especially convenient in the FIGS. and 11 embodiments because the exterior surfaces of adjacent wall panels may present a continuous wall surface, and yet there is still provided sufficient clearance for the location of the legs 37 and 70, respectively, of the

connector members

34 and 66. The advantage of the taper will become more apparent during the discussion of the FIG. embodiment. It is to be understood that the connector member 80 of the FIG. 12 embodiment may be shipped with its hooked element 90 extending essentially perpendicular to the lateral end 88, as has been described for the FIG. 11 embodiment. Thereafter the hooked element 90 is rotated 90 at the construction site prior to installation of the wall panel 84.

Referring to FIG. 13, still another embodiment of a connector member is illustrated. In some situations it is found desirable to laminate a sheet of metal 91 to the exterior surface of a wall panel 92. For example, such construction is used for certain types of bathroom wall panels. The connector member may be made integral with the sheet metal 91 so that the sheet metal wraps around a lateral end 94 of the panel 92 and terminates in a hooked element 98.

Referring now to FIG. 9, there is illustrated another embodiment of a wall structure similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Once again the wall structure includes a ceiling channel 104 and a floor channel 106 connected respectively to aceiling 108 and a floor 110. A portion of a baseboard trim 112 is also shown along the lower portion of the wall panels. While the finished wall of the wall structure shown in FIG. 9 looks very similar to that of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, there are some unique differences in structure and the method of installation. For example, referring to FIG. 10, a plurality of stud members, such as

members

100, 101, and 102, have an I-I-shaped cross section where the cross bar 114 of the H of stud member 100, for example, extends between and perpendicular to two oppositely disposed finished

walls

116 and 118, while the arm portions 120 and 122 of the H extend parallel to the

walls

116 and 118 with each arm portion extending into elongated slots in adjoining wall panels. For example, arm portion 122 extends into elongated slots 124 and 126 of

wall panels

128 and 130, respectively, and arm portion 120 extends into

slots

125 and 127 of

wall panels

129 and 131, respectively. It is noted that each of the wall panels, such as

wall panels

128 and 130, have tapered lateral ends 132 and 134 so that while

exterior surfaces

136 and 138 provide a continuous wall 118, there is sufficient clearance for the cross bar 114 of the H-shaped stud member 100 to be located. It is also noted that adjacent wall panels are aligned in a linear relationship so as to provide usual straight wall portions.

About the middle of the wall structure, there are located two

stud members

103 and 104 which have U- shaped cross sections similar to that illustrated in FIG. 6. Each of the

stud members

103 and 104 have flanges, such as

flanges

140 and 142 of stud member 103, each having a number of slots, such as slots 141, FIG. 9. Wall panels and 152, which are adjacent the stud member 103, are identical to the

wall panels

128 and 130. However, instead of having an arm portion from an H-shaped stud within elongated slots in the lateral ends 149 and 151 of the

wall panels

150 and 152, respectively,

connector members

154 and 156 are provided which are configurate similar to that shown in FIG. 5 and located with the

slots

149 and 151, respectively. It is noted that only the wall panel 152 has connector members located in each of the

lateral end slots

151 and 153. This is in comparison to the wall panel 150 and a wall panel 158, which are on either side of the wall panel 152, where only the

lateral end slots

149 and 155, one slot in each panel, have a connector member. The other

lateral end slots

157 and 159 in the panels 150 and 158, respectively, receive

arm portions

161 and 163 of

stud members

101 and 102, respectively. It is, of course, understood that

wall panels

160, 162, and 164 are arranged in mirror image fashion to wall

panels

150, 152, and 158, respectively, in terms of placement and connection to the stud members.

The wall structure just described offers three very important advantages. First, the wall structure is very inexpensive because most of the elements making up the structure are standard, mass-produced items, while the other, newer elements are easily, cheaply fabricated items. Secondly, the wall structure allows easy access to the interior spacing 165 between the

walls

116 and 118 simply by removing the wall panel 152 of the wall 118 or the wall panel 162 of the wall 116. Third, the wall structure is easily installed or removed, thereby keeping labor costs to a minimum.

The method of installing the wall structure embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10 is very conveniently and easily accomplished in a relatively short period of time. The

tracks

104 and 106 are provided as are the various H- shaped and U-shaped stud members, end studs, such as end stud channel 170, and a number of wall panels. The ceiling tracks 104 is attached to the ceiling 108 in the preselected location by any convenient fastener, such as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. In a similar manner the track 106 is suitably connected to the floor 110. Then the end stud is attached at one end to the ceiling track 104 and at the other end to the floor track 106. The three elements,

tracks

104 and 106 and the stud 170 and a fourth element comprising another end stud (not shown) provide the wall structure frame work. The end stud 170 is generally U-shaped having two

legs

172 and 174 and, in addition, two more

parallel legs

176 and 178 which form two spaced channels, one channel between the

legs

172 and 176 and the other channel between the

legs

174 and 178. Wall panel 129 is inserted into the channel formed between the

legs

174 and 178 and behind one of the flanges of the track 104 in a manner analogous to that shown in FIG. 4. Wall panel 128 is located in the channel made by the

legs

172 and 176 so that a start is made on each of the

walls

116 and 118.

Next, the l-l-shaped stud member 100 is pressed into the end slot 126 of the panel 128 and into the end slot 125 of the panel 129. Next, wall panel 130 is press fitted to the H-shaped stud member 100 by having the arm 122 locate within the end slot 128. The opposite wall panel 131 is fitted to the stud member 100 in an analogous manner. In like fashion, there is alternation between H-shaped stud members and wall panels until about half of the

walls

116 and 118 are in position. Then, instead of placing a wall panel, such as

wall panels

128 or 120, having empty end slots, a panel such as panel 150 is used which has the connector member 154 within its end slot 149. Thus, one end of the panel 150 cooperates with the H-shaped stud member 101 while the other end is able to cooperate with the U- shaped stud member 103 by having the connector member 154 position itself within one of the vertical slots in the flange 140.

Opposing wall panel 160 is positioned as the wall panel 150. Next, the wall panel 152, which will also be referred to as an access panel, having

connector members

156 and 166 positioned in both the

lateral end slots

151 and 153, respectively, is located so that at one end the connector member 156 is positioned adjacent connector member 154 within the same slot within the flange 140, while connector member 166 is positioned so as to be adjacent connector member 167 of the panel 158 within the same slot within a flange 168 of stud member 104. Once again, the opposite wall panel 162 is also positioned in place in an analogous manner. Next, the wall panel 158, having the connector member 167 in lateral end slot 155 is positioned in the slot of the U-shaped stud member 104, as is the opposite panel 164. There is then an alternation between H-shaped stud members, starting with stud member 102, and the wall panels until the end of the wall is reached at which time an end stud member, similar to the stud member 170, is positioned and attached to the

tracks

104 and 106 to complete the wall structure. It is noted that should access to the interior spacing between the

walls

116 and 118 be desired, the access wall panels 152 and/or 162 may be easily removed by lifting the panel to unhook the connector members from the

U-shaped stud members

103 and 104.

Should it be desired to remove the wall structure, all that need be done is remove the

access panels

152 and 162, and working either to one end stud or the other end stud, remove the

Ushaped stud member

103 or 104 and then continue pulling apart the wall panels from the H-shaped stud member until one of the end studs, such as 170, is reached. The wall is then removed working in a direction toward the other end stud. Then the end studs may be detached from the

tracks

104 and 106, and the tracks may be detached from the ceiling and floor, respectively. It is noted, by referring to FIG. 9, that the H-shaped stud members and the U-shaped stud members may be floating. By floating it is meant that the stud members are not attached to either of the

tracks

104 and 106, but instead are connected only to the wall panel and act primarily as spacers and stiffeners, rather than support members. Thus, the wall panels support the stud members, rather than stud members supporting the wall panels. However, should the added support be necessary, the length of the stud members may be increased so as to be connected in some way to either of the

tracks

104 or 106, such as by press fitting, or by having one of the tracks such as track 106 crimped to provide a friction fit between the track and the stud member.

What is claimed is:

1. An easily installable and removable wall structure having an access to the interior spacing thereof comprising in combination:

a first track for attaching to a ceiling;

a second track for attaching to a floor;

a plurality of stud members for positioning between said tracks, at least one of said stud members being adapted to be fixedly attached to said first and second tracks, and each of at least two others of said plurality of stud members having a plurality of slots spaced in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of said stud member;

said plurality of stud members include a plurality of stud members having an H-shaped cross section and at least two stud members having a U-shaped cross section;

said U-shaped stud members having said plurality of slots;

a plurality of wall panels for connecting to said plurality of stud members;

each of said plurality of wall panels having two lateral ends, each end having an elongated slot therein;

elongated connector members attached to at least three wall panels, said connector members terminating in hooked elements;

said elongated connector members being positioned within said elongated slot of said wall panels;

wherein each of said stud members having a plurality of slots receive the hooked elements of the connector members attached to two immediately adjacent wall panels; and

wherein said plurality of H-shaped and U-shaped stud members have lengths less than the distance between said track when said tracks are attached to said ceiling and said floor whereby said H- shaped and U-shaped stud members are adapted to be supported by said wall panels.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein each of said wall panels has two surfaces, an exterior surface and an interior surface; and said lateral ends are tapered so that the width of said interior surface is less than the width of said exterior surface.

3. An easily installable and removable wall structure having an access to the interior spacing thereof comprising in combination:

a first track for attaching to a ceiling;

a second track for attaching to a floor;

a plurality of stud members for positioning between said tracks, at least one of said stud members being adapted to be fixedly attached to said first and second tracks, and each of at least two others of said plurality of stud members having a plurality of slots spaced in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of said stud members;

a plurality of wall panels for connecting to said plurality of stud members, each panel having two lateral ends and elongated slots therein;

elongated connector members attached to at least three of said wall panels, said connector members terminating in hooked elements;

wherein each of said stud members having a plurality of slots receive the hooked elements of the connector members attached to two immediately adjacent wall panels;

said plurality of stud members include a plurality of stud members each having an l-l-shaped cross section and at least two stud members having a U- shaped cross section;

said U-shaped members having said plurality of slots; said plurality of l-l-shaped and U-shaped stud members having a length less than the distance between said tracks when said tracks are adjacent to said ceiling and to said floor whereby said H shaped and U shaped stud members are adapted to be supportable by said wall panels;

each of said wall panels has two surfaces, an exterior surface and an interior surface; and

said lateral ends are tapered so that the width of said interior surface is less than the width of said exterior surface.

4. A method of installing a wall structure comprising the steps of:

providing a first track;

b. providing a second track;

d. providing a plurality of wall panels having lateral ends, each end having an elongated slot therein;

e. providing elongated connector members attached to six of said wall panels, two wall panels having a connector member in each of their end slots and four wall panels each having a connector member in only one of their end slots;

f. attaching said first track to a ceiling; g. attaching said second track to a floor; h. attaching said end stud member to said first and said second tracks;

restraining the lateral ends of two wall panels with said end stud, so that the panels are parallel to each other and form wall portions of two separate walls;

j. mounting a stud member having an H cross section to said two wall panels by inserting the arm portions of said stud member in the end slots of said wall panels;

k. mounting two of said four wall panels having a connector member in only one of their end slots by inserting the arm portions of said mounted H- shaped stud member into the slot ends not having the connector members;

1. mounting a U-shaped stud member to said mounted two panels having a connector member in only one of their end slots by having said connector members engage the slots of said U-shaped stud members;

m. mounting said two wall panels having a connector member in each of their end slots to said U-shaped stud member by positioning one of the connector members of each of said wall panels adjacent the corresponding connector member of the already mounted panels and within the slots of said U- shapedstud member; n. mounting a second U" shaped stud member to said mounted two panels having a connector member in each of their end slots by having the remaining connector members of said panels engage the slots of said second U-shaped stud member;

0. mounting the remaining two of said four wall panels having a connector member in only one of their end slots by engaging the connector members with the slots of said second mentioned U-shaped stud member adjacent the corresponding connector members of said wall panels having a connector member in each of their end slots;

p. mounting another stud member having an H cross section to'said remaining two wall panels having a connector member in only one of their end slots by inserting the arm portions of the H- shaped stud member into the slot ends not having the connector members; and

q. mounting two wall panels to said last mentioned H-shaped stud member by inserting the arm portions of said l-l-shaped stud member into the end slots of said wall panels.

Claims

1. An easily installable and removable wall structure having an access to the interior spacing thereof comprising in combination: a first track for attaching to a ceiling; a second track for attaching to a floor; a plurality of stud members for positioning between said tracks, at least one of said stud members being adapted to be fixedly attached to said first and second tracks, and each of at least two others of said plurality of stud members having a plurality of slots spaced in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of said stud member; said plurality of stud members include a plurality of stud members having an H-shaped cross section and at least two stud members having a U-shaped cross section; said U-shaped stud members having said plurality of slots; a plurality of wall panels for connecting to said plurality of stud members; each of said plurality of wall panels having two lateral ends, each end having an elongated slot therein; elongated connector members attached to at least three wall panels, said connector membErs terminating in hooked elements; said elongated connector members being positioned within said elongated slot of said wall panels; wherein each of said stud members having a plurality of slots receive the hooked elements of the connector members attached to two immediately adjacent wall panels; and wherein said plurality of H-shaped and U-shaped stud members have lengths less than the distance between said track when said tracks are attached to said ceiling and said floor whereby said H-shaped and U-shaped stud members are adapted to be supported by said wall panels.

3. An easily installable and removable wall structure having an access to the interior spacing thereof comprising in combination: a first track for attaching to a ceiling; a second track for attaching to a floor; a plurality of stud members for positioning between said tracks, at least one of said stud members being adapted to be fixedly attached to said first and second tracks, and each of at least two others of said plurality of stud members having a plurality of slots spaced in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of said stud members; a plurality of wall panels for connecting to said plurality of stud members, each panel having two lateral ends and elongated slots therein; elongated connector members attached to at least three of said wall panels, said connector members terminating in hooked elements; wherein each of said stud members having a plurality of slots receive the hooked elements of the connector members attached to two immediately adjacent wall panels; said plurality of stud members include a plurality of stud members each having an H-shaped cross section and at least two stud members having a U-shaped cross section; said U-shaped members having said plurality of slots; said plurality of H-shaped and U-shaped stud members having a length less than the distance between said tracks when said tracks are adjacent to said ceiling and to said floor whereby said ''''H'''' shaped and ''''U'''' shaped stud members are adapted to be supportable by said wall panels; each of said wall panels has two surfaces, an exterior surface and an interior surface; and said lateral ends are tapered so that the width of said interior surface is less than the width of said exterior surface.

4. A method of installing a wall structure comprising the steps of: a. providing a first track; b. providing a second track; c. providing a plurality of stud members, at least two of which have U-shaped cross sections, at least one is an end stud member and the remainder of stud members have H-shaped cross sections, each of said U-shaped stud members having a plurality of slots; d. providing a plurality of wall panels having lateral ends, each end having an elongated slot therein; e. providing elongated connector members attached to six of said wall panels, two wall panels having a connector member in each of their end slots and four wall panels each having a connector member in only one of their end slots; f. attaching said first track to a ceiling; g. attaching said second track to a floor; h. attaching said end stud member to said first and said second tracks; i. restraining the lateral ends of two wall panels with said end stud, so that the panels are parallel to each other and form wall portions of two separate walls; j. mounting a stud member having an ''''H'''' cross section to said two wall panels by inserting the arm portions of said stud member in the end slots of said wall panels; k. mounting two of said four wall panels having a connector member in only one of their end slots by inserTing the arm portions of said mounted H-shaped stud member into the slot ends not having the connector members; l. mounting a U-shaped stud member to said mounted two panels having a connector member in only one of their end slots by having said connector members engage the slots of said U-shaped stud members; m. mounting said two wall panels having a connector member in each of their end slots to said U-shaped stud member by positioning one of the connector members of each of said wall panels adjacent the corresponding connector member of the already mounted panels and within the slots of said U-shaped stud member; n. mounting a second ''''U'''' shaped stud member to said mounted two panels having a connector member in each of their end slots by having the remaining connector members of said panels engage the slots of said second U-shaped stud member; o. mounting the remaining two of said four wall panels having a connector member in only one of their end slots by engaging the connector members with the slots of said second mentioned U-shaped stud member adjacent the corresponding connector members of said wall panels having a connector member in each of their end slots; p. mounting another stud member having an ''''H'''' cross section to said remaining two wall panels having a connector member in only one of their end slots by inserting the arm portions of the H-shaped stud member into the slot ends not having the connector members; and q. mounting two wall panels to said last mentioned H-shaped stud member by inserting the arm portions of said H-shaped stud member into the end slots of said wall panels.