Stud securing system

Abstract

A stud securing apparatus includes a rail and a plurality of stud securing legs extending from the rail. A method of framing a wall using the stud securing apparatus is also disclosed.

1 . A stud securing apparatus comprising 
 a rail including a first surface, a second surface, and a mounting member extending generally away from the second surface, the mounting member being configured to facilitate hanging the rail from an associated support member;    a first stud securing leg extending generally away from the first surface of the rail, the first stud securing leg being configured to connect to an associated stud; and    a second stud securing leg extending generally away from the first surface of the rail, the second stud securing leg being configured to connect to an associated stud.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each stud securing leg is integrally formed with the rail.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a first rail attaching leg extending from the first stud securing leg, and a second rail attaching leg extending from the second stud securing leg.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the rail includes a first slot and a second slot, the first stud securing leg extending through the first slot and a second stud securing leg extending through the second slot.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the first rail attaching leg and the second rail attaching leg attach to the rail and contact the second surface of the rail.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting member comprises a flange including a portion that extends normally from the second surface of the rail.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting member has a general upside down V-shape, upside down U-shape, or upside down L-shape when viewed from an end of the rail.  
   
   
       8 . A method of framing a wall, the method comprising: 
 hanging a rail of a stud securing apparatus on a roof support or on a floor support, the stud securing apparatus including a plurality of stud securing legs extending from the rail;    fastening the rail to the roof support or to the floor support; and    attaching a stud to at least one of the stud securing legs.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the hanging step comprises placing a flange of the rail over an upwardly extending portion of the roof support or of the floor support.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the fastening step comprises fastening the rail to the roof support or to the floor support using an explosive fastener.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising leveling the rail to plumb the stud securing legs.  
   
   
       12 . A stud securing device comprising: 
 a rail including a base wall having first and second surfaces, the rail including a channel defined at least in part by the second surface; and    a plurality of clips attached to the rail, each clip having a stud securing leg extending away from the first surface of the base wall.    
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the rail includes a flange formed integrally with the base wall, the flange further defining a substantially upside down L-shape, V-shape or U-shape.  
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein each clip comprises a rail attaching leg formed at an angle to the stud securing leg, the rail attaching leg contacting the second surface of the rail.  
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the base wall includes a plurality of slots, each slot receiving the stud securing leg of one of the plurality of clips.  
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein at least two adjacent slots are spaced about 16 inches apart from one another.  
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the plurality of slots is spaced about eight inches from an end of the rail.  
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of slots terminates spaced from a lower edge of the rail.  
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the plurality of clips includes a corrugation.  
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one clip includes an elongated slot generally perpendicular to the corrugation.