BUILDING STUD, WALL STRUCTURE COMPRISING SUCH A BUILDING STUD AND A METHOD FOR FORMING A WALL STRUCTURE

Abstract

Building stud (10) for forming a framework for mounting wall panels, comprising a first (12) and a second (14) flange portion and a web portion (16) interconnecting the flange portions. The flange portions comprise a planar, elongated wood fibre member (18, 20), and the web portion comprises a sheet metal member (22) including a first (24) and a second (26) rectilinear line of weakness, which lines of weakness are parallel and along which the sheet metal member is foldable to enable folding the building stud from a retracted storage position to an expanded mounting position.

Claims

1. A building stud for forming a framework for mounting wall panels, comprising a first and a second flange portion and a web portion interconnecting the flange portions, characterized in that wherein each flange portion comprises a planar, elongated wood fibre member, and in that the web portion comprises a sheet metal member including a first and a second rectilinear line of weakness, which lines of weakness are parallel and along which the sheet metal member is foldable to enable the building stud to be brought from a retracted storage position to an expanded mounting position.

2. The building stud according to claim 1, wherein the metal sheet member comprises a first attachment portion which abuts against and is attached to the first flange portion, a second attachment portion which abuts against and attached to the second flange portion, and a web member which is arranged between the attachment portions, which first line of weakness forms a boundary between the first attachment portion and the web member, and which second line of weakness forms a boundary between the second attachment portion and the web member.

3. The building stud according to claim 1, wherein the flange portions, in the storage position, are arranged in a common plane, and that the flange portions, in the mounting position, are arranged in two parallel planes.

4. The building stud according to claim 3, wherein the web portion, in the storage position, is planar and arranged parallel to and on top of the flange portions.

5. The building stud according to claim 1, wherein the wood fibre members each have a rectangular cross-section.

6. The building stud according to claim 1, wherein the sheet metal member, in the storage position, has a rectangular shape, and in that the sheet metal member, in the mounting position, has a U shaped cross section.

7. The building stud according to claim 1, wherein the sheet metal member is elongated.

8. The building stud according to claim 1, wherein the web portion comprises a plurality of sheet metal members which are arranged so that the first lines of weakness are aligned along a common first rectilinear line and the second lines of weakness are aligned along a common second rectilinear line, which second rectilinear line is parallel to the first rectilinear line.

9. A wall structure, wherein it comprises a building stud according to claim 1.

10. A method of providing a wall structure comprising a plurality of elongated building studs each comprising a first and a second flange portion and a web portion interconnecting the flange portions, each flange portion comprising a planar elongated wood fibre member, and wherein the flange portion comprises a sheet metal member including a first and a second rectilinear line of weakness, which lines of weakness are parallel, the method comprising the step of: bringing each building stud, by folding the sheet metal member along said lines of weakness, from a retracted storage position in which the flange portions are arranged in a common plane, to an expanded mounting position in which the flange portions are arranged in two parallel planes.

11. The method according to claim 10, comprising the steps of: when the building studs having been brought from the storage position to the mounting position, positioning and fixing the building studs in a framework with their respective first flange portion arranged in a common plane; and attaching one or a plurality wall panels directly or indirectly to the first flange portions.

Description

[0030] In the following, embodiments of the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

[0031] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a building stud according to the invention in a storage position.

[0032] FIG. 2 shows the building stud of FIG. 1 in a mounting position.

[0033] FIG. 3 shows the building stud of FIG. 2 mounted in a profiled plate.

[0034] FIGS. 4-6 show various configurations of building studs according to the invention.

[0035] FIGS. 7 and 8 show various embodiments of sheet metal members which can be included in a building stud according to the invention.

[0036] FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of a building stud according to the invention in a storage position.

[0037] FIG. 10 shows a further embodiment of a building stud according to the invention in a storage position.

[0038] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a building stud 10 according to the invention. The stud 10 comprises a first flange portion 12, a second flange portion 14 and a web portion 16 interconnecting the flange portions 12, 14. Each flange portion 12, 14 comprises a planar, elongated wood fibre member 18, which in the illustrated embodiment has a rectangular cross-section with a cross-sectional dimension of 15 mm by 40 mm. In the illustrated embodiment, the respective flange portions 12, 14 are formed of uniform boards of homogeneous wood, but the flange portions 12, 14 may be non-uniform and include or be made of other types of wood fibre members, for example, wood fibre members made of chipboard or wood fibre laminate.

[0039] The web portion 16 comprises an elongated sheet metal member 22 having a rectangular shape and a length corresponding to the length of wood fibre member 18, 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the width of the sheet metal member 22 is slightly less than the combined width of the wood fibre members 16, 18. In the embodiment shown, the sheet metal member 22 is formed from a steel sheet having a thickness of 0.5 mm.

[0040] The sheet metal member 22 has a first line of weakness 24 and a second line of weakness 26 which are rectilinear and parallel and along which sheet metal member 22 is foldable. The sheet metal member 22 is plastically deformable along the lines of weakness 24, 26 to enable folding of the sheet metal member 22 along the same. In the illustrated embodiment, the lines of weakness 24, 26 are made up by discontinuous crease lines formed in the sheet metal member 22 along the lines of weakness 24, 26. However, the lines of weakness 24, 26 may be formed in other ways, for example by through-going recesses or slits cut along the lines of weakness 24, 26. Also, alternatively or as a complement, the lines of weakness 24, 26 may be formed by partially cutting the material of the sheet metal member 22 along the lines of weakness, either continuously or discontinuously along the lines of weakness 24, 26.

[0041] The sheet metal member 22 comprises a first attachment portion 28 which abuts and is attached to the first flange portion 12, a second attachment portion 30 which abuts and is attached to the second flange portion 14, and a web member 32 which is disposed between the attachment portions 28, 30. The first line of weakness 24 forms a boundary between the first attachment portion 28 and the web member 32, and the second line of weakness 26 forms a boundary between the second attachment portion 30 and the web member 32.

[0042] In the illustrated embodiment, the attachment portions 28, 30 are connected to their respective flange portions 12, 14 by nails 34 forming a nail joint. The connection between the attachment portions 28, 30 and the flange portions 12, 14 may alternatively be a screw joint, a glue joint or a combination of a nail, screw or adhesive joint. Alternatively, or as a complement, a groove (not shown) can be milled in the respective flange portion, into which groove the free edge of the attachment portion can be attached. However, in such an embodiment, the free edge must be bent 90 degrees to be inserted into the groove.

[0043] FIG. 1 shows the building stud 10 in a storage position. In this position, the flange portions 12, 14 are arranged side by side in a common plane and the web portion 16, which in this position is planar, is arranged parallel to and on top of the flange portions 12, 14. This makes it easy to transport and store the building stud 10, since several studs can be stacked one on top of the other in a space-efficient manner.

[0044] When an installer is to mount the building stud 10 in a wall structure, he brings the building stud 10 from the retracted storage position shown in FIG. 1 to an expanded mounting position shown in FIG. 2. This is done by the installer manually rotating the flange portions 12, 14 in relation to each other around the lines of weakness 24, 26 so that the flange portions 12, 14 become arranged in two parallel planes. In this movement, the sheet metal member 22 is plastically deformed locally along the lines of weakness and allows the attachment portions 28, 30 to form a right angle to the web member 32, as shown in FIG. 2. However, the web member 32 and the attachment portions 28, 30 retain their respective planar shapes and, thus, the flange portion 16 obtain a U-shaped cross section.

[0045] When the building stud 10 has been brought to the mounting position, the installer can arrange the building stud in a wall structure 11, as illustrated in FIG. 3, where the building stud 10 has been placed in a rail-shaped sill 36 for further attachment. Any length adjustment of the building stud 10 prior to mounting can advantageously be carried out when the building stud is in the storage position.

[0046] FIGS. 4-6 show schematically alternative embodiments of the attachment of the web portion to the flange portions and alternative locations of the lines of weakness. The figures show the studs in cross-section and the positions of the lines of weakness are indicated by arrows. In the respective figure, the stud is shown in the storage position on the left and in the mounting position on the right.

[0047] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the web portion 16a is fixed to the flange portions 12a, 14a in the same way as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1.3, i.e. the lines of weakness are located at the central portions of the flange portions 12a, 14a. Thus, in the mounting position the stud 10a obtains a substantially I- or H-shaped profile.

[0048] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the lines of weakness are offset closer to the edges of the flange portions 12b, 14b and as a result the stud 10b obtains, in the mounting position, a substantially U-shaped profile but with an asymmetrically positioned web member 32b.

[0049] In FIG. 6, the web portion 16c is, in the storage position, folded double over the second flange portion 14c and the lines of weakness are positioned so that the web member 32c, in the mounting position, extends diagonally between the web members 12c, 14c. This causes the stud 10c, in the mounting position, to obtain a Z-shaped cross section.

[0050] FIG. 7 shows a web portion 16d which is intended to be part of a building stud according to the embodiment of the invention described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. Web portion 16d comprises an elongated sheet metal member 22d having a rectangular shape and two parallel longitudinal edges 38. In the illustrated embodiment, the sheet metal member 22d has a width of about 120 mm. However, it will be appreciated that the width of the sheet metal member 22d can be adjusted to the desired thickness of the building stud in the mounting position (considering the thickness of the flange portions). The length of the sheet metal member 22d is adjusted to the desired length of the building stud in the storage position.

[0051] In the embodiment shown, the sheet metal member 22d has a thickness of about 0.5 mm. However, it will be appreciated that the thickness of the sheet metal member 22d can be adjusted to the desired strength of the building stud in the mounting position. Typically, the thickness of the sheet metal member 22d may be within the range of 0.3-1.5 mm.

[0052] The sheet metal member 22d has a first line of weakness 24d and a second line of weakness 26d which are rectilinear and parallel, and along which the sheet metal member 22d is foldable to allow bringing the building stud from the storage position to the mounting position, as described above. In the illustrated embodiment, the lines of weakness 24d, 26d comprise rectilinear recesses or incisions 40 extending along each line of weakness 24d, 26d. The incisions 40 are about 20 mm long and are spaced about 5 mm apart. For a sheet metal member having a thickness of 0.5 mm, it has been found that this configuration provides a good combination of mountability and strength of the building stud, i.e. a configuration which allows the installer to relatively easily bring the building stud from the storage position to the mounting position, but which configuration simultaneously provides the required strength of the building stud in the mounting position.

[0053] The sheet metal member 22d comprises a first attachment portion 28d intended to abut and attach to a first flange portion of the building stud, and a second attachment portion 30d intended to abut and attach to a second flange portion of the building stud as described above. Between them, the attachment portions 28d, 30d define web member 32d, which is intended to form a flange of the building stud in the mounting position. Thus, the first line of weakness 24d forms a boundary between the first attachment portion 28d and the web member 32d, and the second line of weakness 26d forms a boundary between the second attachment portion 30d and the web member 32d.

[0054] In the illustrated embodiment, the lines of weakness 24d, 26d are arranged approximately 20 mm from the respective longitudinal edge 38. However, it will be appreciated that the area of the attachment portions 28d, 30d can be adjusted by placing the lines of weakness 24d, 26d further away or closer to the longitudinal edges 38. For example, said area can be adapted to the type of joints used between the attachment portions 28d, 30d and the flange portions.

[0055] The sheet metal member 22d may comprise recesses 42 for pipe or cable penetrations. The sheet metal member 22d may alternatively, or as a complement, comprise attenuation lines 44 for forming pipe or cable penetrations.

[0056] FIG. 8 shows a web portion 16e which is intended to be included in a building stud according to a further embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the web portion 16e comprises a sheet metal member 22e which has a zigzag shape but otherwise has lines of weakness 24e, 26e having the same function as the lines of weakness described above, i.e. they divide the sheet metal member 22e into attachment portions 28e, 30e and an intermediate web member 32e, which attachment portions 28e, 30e are intended to abut and attach to flange portions to form the building stud, and which lines of weakness 24e, 26e form lines along which the sheet metal member can be folded to bringing the building stud from a retracted storage position to an expanded mounting position, equivalent to what has been described above.

[0057] It will be appreciated that by changing the dimensions of the flange and web members and placing the lines of weakness in different positions, a variety of stud configurations can be obtained.

[0058] In the embodiments described above, the respective web portion comprises a sheet metal member extending along the stud. However, in alternative embodiments, the web portion may comprise a plurality of sheet metal members spaced apart along the stud, for example as shown in FIG. 9.

[0059] FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of a building stud 10f according to the invention. The stud 10f comprises a first flange portion 12f and a second flange portion 14f and a web portion 16f connecting the flange portions 12f, 14f. The web portion 16f comprises a plurality of sheet metal members 22f having lines of weakness 24f, 26f having the same function as the lines of weakness described above, i.e. they divide the respective sheet metal member 22f into attachment portions 28f, 30f and an intermediate web member 32f, which attachment portions 28f, 30f are intended to abut and attach to flange portions to form the building stud, and which lines of weakness 24f, 26f form lines along which the sheet metal member can be folded to bring the building stud 10f from the retracted storage position shown in the figure to an expanded mounting position, equivalent to what has been described above. The sheet metal members 22f are thus arranged so that the lines of weakness 24f are aligned along a common first rectilinear line 46f. Similarly, the lines of weakness 26f are aligned along a common second rectilinear line 48f which is parallel to the first rectilinear line 46f.

[0060] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the sheet metal members 22f are uniform and symmetrically arranged in the building stud 10f in the storage position. However, it will be appreciated that the sheet metal members may be non-uniform and/or asymmetrically arranged as long as the lines of weakness of the sheet metal members are linearly aligned so as to form first and second lines of weakness in the web portion allowing the building stud to be brought from the retracted storage position to the expanded mounting position. An example of a building stud 10g comprising a web portion 16g with alternatively formed and arranged sheet metal members 22g is shown in FIG. 10, which sheet metal members 22g include lines of weakness 24g, 26g arranged along parallel rectilinear lines 46g, 48g.