Stud attachment clip

Abstract

A stud attachment clip for attaching a metal stud to a metal track includes a mounting portion configured for mounting on the metal track and an attaching portion connected to the mounting portion and configured to hold the stud in place.

1 . A stud attachment clip for attaching a metal stud to a metal track, the attachment clip comprising:
 a mounting portion configured for mounting on the metal track; and,   an attaching portion connected to said mounting portion and configured to hold the stud in place.   
   
   
       2 . A stud attachment clip as defined by  claim 1  wherein the track has a major axis and wherein the stud is attached to the track in a direction generally normal to the track major axis, wherein said attaching portion rises at an angle of about 90° from said mounting portion, and wherein said attaching portion is configured to restrain the stud from movement along the track major axis and to allow for movement of the stud in the direction normal to the major axis. 
   
   
       3 . A stud attachment clip as defined by  claim 1  wherein said attaching portion includes a plurality of locking fingers configured to engage the stud and hold it in place. 
   
   
       4 . A stud attachment clip as defined by  claim 3  wherein the metal track has a major axis, wherein said locking fingers prevent movement of the stud in the direction of said major axis, and wherein said locking fingers are configured to allow movement of the stud in a direction normal to said major axis. 
   
   
       5 . A stud attachment clip as defined by  claim 3  wherein the metal track has a major axis, and wherein at least a first portion of said plurality of locking fingers are offset from a second portion of said plurality of locking fingers in a direction along said track major axis to define a slot between said first and second portions of locking fingers. 
   
   
       6 . A stud attachment clip as defined by  claim 5  wherein the width of said slot in the direction of said track is no greater than about 0.05″. 
   
   
       7 . A stud attachment clip as defined by  claim 3  wherein the track defines a track major axis, and wherein said plurality of fingers comprise at least three fingers, the center of said three fingers offset by some distance in the direction of said track major axis from the first and third of said fingers to create a slot between said center finger and said first and third of said fingers, said slot dimensioned to receive the stud. 
   
   
       8 . A stud attachment clip as defined by  claim 3  wherein said mounting portion defines a plane and wherein said plurality of locking fingers are at an angle of about 90° from said mounting portion plane and have a height of at least about 0.25″ in a direction normal to said mounting portion plane, and wherein said locking fingers have differing heights. 
   
   
       9 . A stud attachment clip as defined by  claim 3  wherein each of said plurality of locking fingers has a first end closest to said mounting portion and a distal second end, and wherein at least a portion of said plurality of locking fingers includes a bent receiving lip on said second end to facilitate receiving the stud. 
   
   
       10 . A stud attachment clip as defined by  claim 3  wherein said plurality of locking fingers have a finger major axis, wherein the metal track has a track major axis in a direction normal to said finger major axis, and wherein said plurality of locking fingers allow some sliding of the stud along said finger major axis while preventing said stud from movement along said track major axis. 
   
   
       11 . A stud attachment clip as defined by  claim 1  wherein said mounting portion comprises a flat mounting plate that is generally coplanar with a base region of the metal track to which said mounting plate is attached. 
   
   
       12 . A stud attachment clip as defined by  claim 1  wherein said mounting portion comprises a planar mounting plate having a passage for receiving a fastener. 
   
   
       13 . A stud attachment clip as defined by  claim 12  wherein the stud attachment clip further comprises said fastener, said fastener configured for use with a combustion driving tool and including a head configured to be received in a barrel of the combustion driving tool, a shaft connected to said head, a positioning flute on said shaft for positioning said pin in the tool barrel, a cap on a shaft end distal from said head, and wherein said mounting plate further comprises a crush dimple surrounding said passage. 
   
   
       14 . A stud attachment clip as defined by  claim 1  wherein the metal track has a general U shape defined by a lowermost base portion coplanar with an underlying substrate and two opposing sidewalls rising from and substantially normal to said base portion, the lowermost base portion having a width between the two opposing sidewalls; and wherein
 said mounting portion comprises a mounting plate coplanar and substantially coextensive with the track base portion width, said mounting plate having two opposing side edges and at least one attachment arm rising at a normal from at least one of said side edges and configured to engage the track sidewalls.   
   
   
       15 . A stud attachment clip as defined by  claim 14  wherein the track sidewall each have a top edge, and wherein
 said at least one attachment arm has a lower end attached to said mounting plate side edge and has an overlapping tang at an opposing upper end configured to extend over the track sidewall top edge and to hold the stud attachment clip in place on the track.   
   
   
       16 . A stud attachment clip as defined by  claim 14  wherein said at least one attachment arm comprises a pair of attachment arms, one each of said attachment arms attached to each of said mounting plate side edges. 
   
   
       17 . A stud attachment clip as defined by  claim 1  wherein the attachment clip has a general L shape, wherein said mounting portion comprises a flat mounting plate and said attaching portion comprises a planar attaching plate connected to said mounting plate at an angle of about 90°, adhesive on an underside of said attaching plate for attaching said attaching plate to the stud. 
   
   
       18 . A stud attachment clip as defined by  claim 1  wherein said mounting portion comprises a mounting plate, and further comprising attachment means on an underside of said mounting plate to attach the clip to the metal track. 
   
   
       19 . An L-shaped stud attachment clip for attaching a metal stud to a metal track, the track having a major axis, the clip for attaching the stud to the track in a generally normal direction to the major axis, the metal track having a base portion attached to an underlying substrate, the attachment clip comprising:
 a planar mounting plate for mounting on the track and having an edge; and   a plurality of locking fingers connected to said mounting plate edge at an angle of about 90° from said mounting plate, said fingers having different heights in a direction normal to the track major axis, said plurality of fingers offset from one another in the direction of the track major axis to define a slot for receiving the stud.   
   
   
       20 . A stud attachment clip for attaching a metal stud to a metal track as defined by  claim 19  wherein the metal track has a general U-shape having a channel defined by two opposing sidewalls rising from and substantially normal to a lowermost planar base portion, the base portion having a width between the two sidewalls, wherein said mounting plate edge is a first edge; and wherein
 said mounting plate has a width coextensive with the track base portion width and opposing second and third edges, an engaging arm rising from at least one of said second and third edges, a locking tang on said engaging arm for engaging one of the track sidewalls; and   wherein said plurality of fingers comprises at least three fingers, a central of said three fingers offset from a first and third of said fingers in the direction of the track major axis.