Fire rated wall structure

Abstract

A fire rated wall structure includes a channel-shaped top track and bottom track each having male protrusions formed along their side walls. The wall structure further includes at least one stud member interconnecting the top and bottom tracks. The stud member comprises a stationary portion and a slip extension slidably nested within the stationary portion. Female recesses are formed in a terminus end of each of the slip extension and stationary portion and are adapted to nest with male protrusions of the top and bottom tracks. A slot formed within the slip extension accommodates fasteners initiated from a panel member and which passes through the stationary portion side wall and extends into the slot to allow relative sliding motion between the slip extension and the stud member. A top overcap disposed in overlapping relation to the top track includes a male protrusion for slidingly bearing against the panel member.

1 . A fire rated wall structure, comprising:
 a top track and a bottom track disposed in spaced parallel relation to one another, each one of the top and bottom tracks including:   a web having a pair of side walls extending perpendicularly outwardly therefrom and a pair of male protrusions formed along respective ones of the side walls; and   at least one stud member oriented transverse to the top and bottom tracks and comprising a stationary portion and a slip extension slidably nested within the stationary portion, each one of the slip extension and stationary portion including:   a web having a pair of side walls extending perpendicularly outwardly therefrom, each one of the side walls having a female recesses formed at one of opposing terminus ends of the side walls, the female recess being adapted to receive a respective one of the male protrusions of the top and bottom tracks;   wherein the slip extension includes a slot formed in a side wall thereof, the slot being configured to accommodate a fastener passing through the stationary portion side wall and extending into the slot to allow relative sliding motion between the slip extension and the stud member such that the stud member may be lengthened and shortened to accommodate changes in spacing between the top and bottom tracks.   
     
     
         2 . The wall structure of  claim 1  further comprising a panel member connectably attached to the bottom track and the stationary portion and being disposed in non-connective overlapping relationship to the slip extension and top track to allow movement thereof relative to the panel member. 
     
     
         3 . The wall structure of  claim 1  further comprising fasteners extending through the panel member and into the side walls of the bottom track and the stationary portion. 
     
     
         4 . The wall structure of  claim 3  wherein at least one of the fasteners extending through the panel member and into the stationary portion side wall also extends through the slot. 
     
     
         5 . The wall structure of  claim 1  further comprising an elongate top overcap secured to the top track, the top overcap including:
 a web having a pair of side walls extending perpendicularly outwardly therefrom, each one of the side walls having a male protrusion formed therealong. 
 
     
     
         6 . The wall structure of  claim 5  wherein the web, side walls and male protrusions of the top overcap are integrally formed such that the top overcap comprises a unitary structure. 
     
     
         7 . The wall structure of  claim 5  wherein each of the top overcap side walls has a pair of the male protrusions disposed in side-by-side arrangement. 
     
     
         8 . The wall structure of  claim 5  further comprising:
 a panel member connectably mounted to the bottom track and the stationary portion and being disposed in non-connective overlapping relationship to the slip extension and top track to allow the slip extension and top track to freely move relative to the panel member; 
 wherein the top overcap is sized and configured such that at least one of the top overcap male protrusions slidingly bears against the panel member. 
 
     
     
         9 . The wall structure of  claim 8  wherein the panel member is sized and configured such that an upper edge thereof is disposed in spaced relation to the top overcap web to define a gap therebetween. 
     
     
         10 . The wall structure of  claim 9  wherein the gap is about three-quarters of an inch. 
     
     
         11 . The wall structure of  claim 9  further comprising a compound disposed within the gap. 
     
     
         12 . The wall structure of  claim 11  wherein the compound is fire resistant. 
     
     
         13 . The wall structure of  claim 1  further comprising a stud overcap connectably mountable to the stationary portion and disposed in non-connective overlapping relationship to the slip extension, the stud overcap comprising a web having a pair of side walls extending perpendicularly outwardly from the web, at least one of the stud overcap side walls and stationary portion side walls being interconnected. 
     
     
         14 . The wall structure of  claim 13  wherein the stud overcap includes an aperture formed in at least one of the side walls thereof, the aperture being sized and positioned complementary to the slot to accommodate a fastener passing through the stationary portion side wall and extending into the slot. 
     
     
         15 . The wall structure of Claim I wherein the male protrusions and female recesses each have V-shaped cross-sections sized and configured to nest within one another. 
     
     
         16 . The wall structure of  claim 1  wherein the web of the stationary portion includes at least one opening sized and configured to accommodate a utility conduit. 
     
     
         17 . A fire rated wall structure, comprising:
 an elongate top and bottom track, each of the top and bottom tracks being adapted to be positioned along a surface and being disposed in spaced parallel relation to one another, each of the top and bottom tracks having a channel-shaped cross section and opposing terminus ends and further comprising,   a planar web defined by a pair of opposing, parallel longitudinal edges;   a pair of opposing, parallel, inwardly directed male protrusions integrally formed with and extending continuously along respective ones of the longitudinal edges, each male protrusion having a V-shaped cross-section;   a pair of substantially flat planar side walls integrally formed with and extending outwardly from a respective one of the male protrusions in perpendicular relation to the web, the top and bottom tracks being oriented such that side walls of the top track face toward the side walls of the bottom track; and   at least one stud member adapted to be transversely interconnected to the top and bottom tracks in perpendicular relationship thereto, the stud member having a channel-shaped cross-section and an opposing pair of terminus ends and further comprising:   a telescopic mechanism comprising a slip extension at least partially nested within a stationary portion and being adapted to allow the stud member to be lengthened and shortened to accommodate changes in spacing between the top and bottom tracks;   each one of the slip extension and stationary portion having a channel-shaped cross section and opposing terminus ends, one of the terminus ends of each of the slip extension and stationary portion being secured to at least one of the top and bottom tracks, each one of the slip extension and stationary portion comprising:
 a substantially flat planar web defined by a pair of opposing, parallel longitudinal edges; 
 a pair of substantially flat planar side walls integrally formed with and extending perpendicularly outwardly from the web along the longitudinal edges, each one of the side walls defining an opposing pair of side edges oriented generally perpendicularly relative to the longitudinal edges; 
 a pair of substantially flat planar flanges extending perpendicularly inwardly from a respective one of the side walls and being coplanar with one another; and 
   
       wherein:
 the slip extension includes a slot formed in at least one of the side walls, the slot being sized and configured to allow a fastener to extend thereinto to allow relative sliding motion between the slip extension and the stationary portion ; 
 the stationary portion including a plurality of stop features formed on the web and disposed in spaced relation to one another, the stop features being configured to engage the slip extension for maintaining a desired axial position thereof relative to the stationary portion, the stop features being integrally formed with the web as raised protrusions extending inwardly therefrom; 
 each one of the slip extension and stationary portion including a pair of opposing, parallel and inwardly directed female recesses formed in the side walls along the side edges at one of the terminus ends, each female recess having a V-shaped cross-section adapted to receive a respective one of the male protrusions of the top and bottom tracks. 
 
     
     
         18 . The wall structure of  claim 17  further comprising a panel member connectably mounted to the bottom track and the stationary portion and being disposed in non-connective overlapping relationship to the slip extension and top track to allow the slip extension and top track to move relative to the panel member. 
     
     
         19 . The wall structure of  claim 17  further comprising a plurality of fasteners extending through the panel member and into side walls of the bottom track and stationary portion. 
     
     
         20 . The wall structure of  claim 17  further comprising an elongate top overcap having a channel-shaped cross section and being secured in overlapping relationship to the top track web, the stud overcap comprising:
 a substantially flat planar web defined by a pair of opposing, parallel longitudinal edges, the top overcap web being disposed in abutting contact with the top track web; 
 a pair of substantially flat planar side walls integrally formed with and extending perpendicularly outwardly from the web; 
 a pair of opposing, parallel, inwardly directed male protrusions integrally formed in respective ones of the side walls and extending continuously therealong in spaced relation to respective ones of the longitudinal edges, each male protrusion having a V-shaped cross-section, the top overcap being configured such that at least one of the side walls thereof at least partially overlaps the top track side wall. 
 
     
     
         21 . The wall structure of  claim 20  wherein the web, side walls and male protrusions are integrally formed such that the top overcap comprises a unitary structure.