Diagonal brace channel

Abstract

A diagonal brace channel having a U-shaped first portion and a C-shaped second portion that is disposed to received a first diagonal brace member. The C-shaped second portion having a first top flange and a first bottom flange that are configured such that friction forces retain the first diagonal brace member in the desired position. A pair of parallel grooves are formed on each outer surface of the U-shaped first portion so that a visual guide is provided for the locations to install permanent fasteners to secure the diagonal brace channel to a primary framing member. The diagonal brace channel further providing an inverse C-shaped third portion to retain a second diagonal brace member in the desired position until permanent fasteners are installed.

1 . A diagonal brace channel comprising: 
 a U-shaped first portion of said diagonal brace channel having a first vertical planar member and a second vertical planar member; said first portion further comprising a horizontal planar member interposed between said first vertical planar member and a second vertical planar member to provide rigidity and structural support to said diagonal brace channel; and    a C-shaped second portion of said diagonal brace channel disposed to receive a first diagonal brace member; said second portion having a first top flange that overlays an upper surface of said first diagonal brace member and having a first bottom flange that overlays a bottom surface of said first diagonal brace member so that said first top flange and said first bottom flange are configured such that friction forces retain said first diagonal brace member in the desired position.    
   
   
       2 . The diagonal brace channel of  claim 1  further comprising a first pair of parallel grooves formed on an outer surface of said first vertical planar member so that a visual guide is provided for the locations to install permanent fasteners to secure said first diagonal brace channel to a first side of a primary framing member.  
   
   
       3 . The diagonal brace channel of  claim 2  further comprising a second pair of parallel grooves formed on an outer surface of said second vertical planar member so that a visual guide is provided for the locations to install permanent fasteners to secure said diagonal brace channel to a second side of said primary framing member.  
   
   
       4 . The diagonal brace channel of  claim 1 , further comprising an inverse C-shaped third portion having a second top flange that overlays an upper surface of a second diagonal brace member and a second bottom flange that overlays a bottom surface of said second diagonal brace so that said second top flange and said second bottom flange are configured such that friction forces retain said second diagonal brace member in the desired position until permanent fasteners are installed.  
   
   
       5 . The diagonal brace channel of  claim 1  further comprising a panel having a first primary framing member and an opposing second primary framing member; said frame further comprising a first secondary framing member and opposing second secondary framing member adjacent to said first primary framing member and said second primary framing member to complete said frame so that said first diagonal brace member bisects said panel to provide structural support to said panel.  
   
   
       6 . The diagonal brace channel of  claim 1 , wherein said diagonal brace channel is extruded through a die process to a pre-determined size.  
   
   
       7 . The diagonal brace channel of  claim 1 , wherein said diagonal brace channel is comprised of an aluminum alloy.  
   
   
       8 . The diagonal brace channel of  claim 1 , wherein said first diagonal brace member is of hollow construction.  
   
   
       9 . A diagonal brace channel comprising: 
 a U-shaped first portion of said diagonal brace channel having a first vertical planar member and a second vertical planar member; said first portion further comprising a horizontal planar member interposed between said first vertical planar member and a second vertical planar member to provide rigidity and structural support to said diagonal brace channel;    a C-shaped second portion of said diagonal brace channel disposed to receive a first diagonal brace member; said second portion having a first top flange that overlays an upper surface of said first diagonal brace member and having a first bottom flange that overlays a bottom surface of said first diagonal brace member so that said first top flange and said first bottom flange are configured such that friction forces retain said first diagonal brace member in the desired position;    a first pair of parallel grooves formed on an outer surface of said first vertical planar member so that a visual guide is provided for the locations to install permanent fasteners to secure said first diagonal brace channel to a first side of a primary framing member; and    a second pair of parallel grooves formed on an outer surface of said second vertical planar member so that a visual guide is provided for the locations to install permanent fasteners to secure said diagonal brace channel to a second side of said primary framing member.    
   
   
       10 . A diagonal brace channel comprising: 
 a U-shaped first portion of said diagonal brace channel having a first vertical planar member and a second vertical planar member; said first portion further comprising a horizontal planar member interposed between said first vertical planar member and a second vertical planar member to provide rigidity and structural support to said diagonal brace channel;    a C-shaped second portion of said diagonal brace channel disposed to receive a first diagonal brace member; said second portion having a first top flange that overlays an upper surface of said first diagonal brace member and having a first bottom flange that overlays a bottom surface of said first diagonal brace member so that said first top flange and said first bottom flange are configured such that friction forces retain said first diagonal brace member in the desired position;    a first pair of parallel grooves formed on an outer surface of said first vertical planar member so that a visual guide is provided for the locations to install permanent fasteners to secure said first diagonal brace channel to a first side of a primary framing member;    a second pair of parallel grooves formed on an outer surface of said second vertical planar member so that a visual guide is provided for the locations to install permanent fasteners to secure said diagonal brace channel to a second side of said primary framing member;    an inverse C-shaped third portion having a second top flange that overlays an upper surface of a second diagonal brace member and a second bottom flange that overlays a bottom surface of said second diagonal brace so that said second top flange and said second bottom flange are configured such that friction forces retain said second diagonal brace member in the desired position until permanent fasteners are installed;    a panel having a first primary framing member and an opposing second primary framing member; said frame further comprising a first secondary framing member and opposing second secondary framing member adjacent to said first primary framing member and said second primary framing member to complete said frame so that said first diagonal brace member bisects said panel to provide structural support to said panel.