Stud and sill connector clip and related wall assemblies

Abstract

The invention disclosed herein relates to a connector clip for interconnecting a horizontally positioned sill member to an abutting vertically positioned stud. The connector clip comprises: a planar web having a pair of opposing side web flanges, each side web flange is flat and perpendicular to the web; first and second horizontally transverse and confronting open-ended inwardly-directed web slots on the web; and first and second horizontally transverse open-ended flange slots aligned and continuous with the first and second web slots. The first and second flange slots define respective upper and lower portions of the opposing side web flanges, and the web slots and the flange slots are engaged with the first and second upper sill returns of the sill member such that the entire outer surface of the of the lower portions of side web flanges are in planar contact with the respective opposing sidewalls of the sill member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . In combination with a sheet-metal wall assembly, a connector clip interconnecting a horizontally positioned sheet-metal sill member to an abutting vertically positioned sheet-metal stud, wherein the sill member has opposing sidewalls that include confronting and inwardly extending upper sill returns, the connector clip comprising:
 a substantially planar web having a pair of opposing side web flanges, wherein each side web flange is substantially flat and perpendicular to the web;   first and second horizontally transverse and confronting open-ended inwardly-directed web slots on the web; and   first and second horizontally transverse open-ended flange slots aligned and continuous with the first and second web slots, wherein the first and second flange slots define respective upper and lower portions of the opposing side web flanges, and wherein the web slots and the flange slots are engaged with the upper sill returns of the sill member such that substantially the entire outer surface of the of the lower portions of side web flanges are in planar contact with the respective opposing sidewalls of the sill member.   
     
     
         2 . The connector clip of  claim 1 , further comprising a vertically oriented, centrally positioned, and outwardly extending elongated rib that runs parallel to the opposing side web flanges. 
     
     
         3 . The connector clip of  claim 2  wherein the elongated rib has a V-shaped cross-sectional profile. 
     
     
         4 . The connector clip of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of holes penetrating through the web, and a plurality of corresponding fasteners joining the sill member to the stud through the plurality of holes. 
     
     
         5 . The connector clip of  claim 1  wherein the height of the upper portions of the side web flanges is about two thirds the height of the lower portions of the side web flanges. 
     
     
         6 . The connector clip of  claim 1  wherein the width of each of the opposing side web flanges is about the same as the width of the stud. 
     
     
         7 . The connector clip of  claim 6  wherein the height of each of the lower portions of the side web flanges is about the same as the depth of the sill member.