Structural members and joining arrangements therefor

Abstract

A joining arrangement for use in the construction of stud frames and for releasable attachment of a first structural member to a second structural member forming part of the frame. The first member includes in at least one side wall a female recess which, when the members are joined, engages a corresponding male protrusion in at least one wall of the second member. The respective formations in the first and second members engage such that they are generally in alignment thereby securing the first member to the second member and wherein the first member is a stud and the second member is a plate.

1 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A method of construction of a stud frame using structural members comprising a web and sidewalls depending from the web, the member including a formation in at least one of the sidewalls which engages a corresponding formation in a mating structural member to secure the structural member to the mating structural member, the method comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a first structural member including the formation in at least one of the sidewalls, the formation extending a substantial length of the first structural member along a longitudinal axis of the first structural member, the formation initiating juxtaposed to the web of the first structural member;   b) providing a second structural member;   c) setting the first structural member in opposing relationship to the second structural member;   d) providing a third structural member including a formation being disposed at a first end portion of the third member and having a substantially similar configuration compared to the formation of the first structural member, the formation of the third structural member sized and configured to slide against the formation of the first structural member;   e) placing the first end portion and a second end portion of the third member into engagement with the first and second members, respectively, the respective formations in the first and third members mutually interlock to hold the first and third members together; and   f) sliding the formation of the third member against the formation of the first member in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first member to position the third member on the first member.   
     
     
         30 - 39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . A frame of a building comprising:
 an elongate first member defining a longitudinal axis, the first member comprising;
 a web; and 
 a pair of opposing walls connected to the web of the first member, the walls of the first member including inwardly directed V-shaped protrusions generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first member, the inwardly directed V-shaped protrusions having a first retaining portion that initiates juxtaposed the web of the first member; and 
   an elongate second member defining a longitudinal axis, the elongate second member having a first distal end portion, the first distal end portion having inwardly directed V-shaped recesses generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the elongate second member, the inwardly directed V-shaped protrusions of the first member disposed within the inwardly directed V-shaped recesses of the second member for transversely interconnecting the elongate first member to the elongate second member.   
     
     
         41 . The frame of  claim 40  further comprising a radiused portion, the web of the first member being directly connected to the radiused portion, and the first retaining portion being directly connected to the radiused portion. 
     
     
         42 . The frame of  claim 41  wherein the first retaining portion being at an acute angle with respect to the web of the first member. 
     
     
         43 . A frame of a building comprising:
 an elongate first member defining a longitudinal axis, the first member comprising;
 a web; and 
 a pair of opposing walls connected to the web of the first member, the walls including inwardly directed protrusions extending a substantial length of the first member, the inwardly directed protrusions generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first member, the inwardly directed protrusions being closer to the web of the first member compared to an upper distal end of the walls of the first member; and 
   a second member having a first distal end portion, the first distal end portion having inwardly directed recesses, the inwardly directed protrusions of the first member disposed within the inwardly directed recesses of the second member for transversely interconnecting the first and second members.   
     
     
         44 . The frame of  claim 43  wherein the inwardly directed protrusions and inwardly directed recesses have a complimentary V shaped configuration. 
     
     
         45 . A frame of a building comprising:
 elongate opposed first members, at least one of the elongate opposed member comprising:
 a web defining a longitudinal axis; 
 a pair of opposing walls having a retaining first portions, the retaining first portion extending inwardly toward the opposing wall and extending a substantial length of the first member, the retaining first portion connected to the web at an angle less than 90 degrees and greater than zero degrees; 
   an elongate second member having opposed end portions respectively attached to the opposed first members, the elongate second member transversely attached to the opposed first members, at least one of the opposed end portions having an inwardly directed recesses, the retaining first portions of the first member disposed within the inwardly directed recesses for interconnecting the first and second members.   
     
     
         46 . The frame of  claim 45  wherein the walls of the first member further has a second portion extending away from the opposing wall and connected to the first portion at an angle greater than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees. 
     
     
         47 . The frame of  claim 46  wherein the retaining first portions are generally flat and the retaining second portions are generally flat. 
     
     
         48 . The frame of  claim 45  wherein the inwardly directed protrusions and inwardly directed recesses have a complimentary V shaped configuration. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the providing the first structural member step comprises the steps of: forming an inwardly directed V shaped protrusion in both of the sidewalls of the first structural member. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49  wherein the providing the third structural member step comprises the steps of: forming inwardly directed recess that are sized and configured to slideably interlock with the inwardly directed V shaped protrusions of the first structural member in the first end portion of the third structural member. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50  wherein the forming the inwardly directed recess step comprises the step of forming the inwardly directed recess to have a V shape.