Sub-Girts For Exterior Wall System Assemblies

Abstract

Sub-girts usable in exterior wall system assemblies are disclosed that encompass ventilation and/or spark-arresting features and/or adhesive-receiving features. The sub-girts can comprise one or more flanges and chords that have ventilation holes and/or adhesive-receiving holes formed therein. The flanges and the chords of the sub-girts can form within the sub-girt and/or the exterior wall system assemblies one or more chambers through which air and moisture can travel and/or flame and spark be arrested.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sub-girt for mounting a component of an exterior wall system assembly, the sub-girt comprising:
 an elongated sub-girt body comprising a stem flange, a front flange, and a chord, and wherein the chord comprises a plurality of chord vent holes.   
     
     
         2 . The sub-girt of  claim 1 , wherein the chord is aligned parallel to the stem flange. 
     
     
         3 . The sub-girt of  claim 2 , wherein the elongate sub-girt body comprises a chord lip, wherein the chord lip is connected to the chord, and wherein the chord lip is aligned parallel to the front flange. 
     
     
         4 . The sub-girt of  claim 2 , wherein the elongated sub-girt body comprises a plurality of teeth. 
     
     
         5 . The sub-girt of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of teeth are connected to the chord. 
     
     
         6 . The sub-girt of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated sub-girt body comprises a chamber, and wherein the chord vent holes are in fluid communication with the chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The sub-girt of  claim 1 , wherein the stem flange comprises a plurality of stem flange vent holes, and wherein the stem flange vent holes are in fluid communication with the chord vent holes. 
     
     
         8 . The sub-girt of  claim 7 , wherein each stem flange vent hole is aligned offset from each chord vent hole. 
     
     
         9 . The sub-girt of  claim 1 , wherein the stem flange comprises a stem flange first ply and a stem flange second ply. 
     
     
         10 . The sub-girt of  claim 9 , wherein the stem flange first ply comprises a plurality of stem flange vent holes, and wherein the stem flange vent holes are in fluid communication the chord vent holes. 
     
     
         11 . The sub-girt of  claim 10 , wherein each stem flange vent hole is aligned offset from each chord vent hole. 
     
     
         12 . The sub-girt of  claim 1 , wherein the front flange is aligned perpendicular to the stem flange. 
     
     
         13 . The sub-girt of  claim 12 , wherein the chord is aligned oblique to the stem flange and the front flange. 
     
     
         14 . The sub-girt of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated sub-girt body comprises a second chord and a chamber, wherein the second chord comprises a plurality of second chord vent holes, and wherein the second chord vent holes are in fluid communication with the chamber and the chord vent holes. 
     
     
         15 . The sub-girt of  claim 14 , wherein the second chord is aligned oblique to the stem flange, the front flange, and the chord. 
     
     
         16 . The sub-girt of  claim 14 , wherein the second chord is aligned parallel to the chord. 
     
     
         17 . The sub-girt of  claim 14 , wherein the sub-girt body comprises a second chamber, and wherein the second chord vent holes, the chord vent holes, and the chamber are in fluid communication with the second chamber. 
     
     
         18 . The sub-girt of  claim 14 , wherein each second chord vent hole is aligned offset from each chord vent holes. 
     
     
         19 . The sub-girt of  claim 17 , wherein the elongated sub-girt body comprises a third chord, wherein the third chord comprises a plurality of third chord vent holes, and wherein the third chord vent holes are in fluid communication with the chamber, the chord vent holes, the second chamber, and the second chord vent holes. 
     
     
         20 . A sub-girt for mounting a component of an exterior wall system assembly, the sub-girt comprising:
 an elongated sub-girt body comprising a stem flange, a front flange aligned perpendicular to the stem flange, a chamber, and a chord, wherein the stem flange comprises a stem flange first ply and a stem flange second ply, wherein the front flange comprises a front flange first ply and a front flange second ply, wherein the chord comprises a plurality of chord vent holes, and wherein the chord vent holes are in fluid communication with the chamber.   
     
     
         21 . The sub-girt of  claim 20 , wherein the chord is aligned oblique to the stem flange and the front flange. 
     
     
         22 . The sub-girt of  claim 20 , wherein the stem flange first ply comprises a plurality of stem flange vent holes, and wherein the stem flange vent holes are in fluid communication with the chamber and the chord vent holes. 
     
     
         23 . The sub-girt of  claim 22 , wherein each stem flange vent hole is aligned offset from each chord vent hole. 
     
     
         24 . The sub-girt of  claim 20 , wherein the sub-girt body comprises a second chord, wherein the second chord comprises a plurality of second chord vent holes, and wherein the second chord vent holes are in fluid communication with the chamber and the chord vent holes. 
     
     
         25 . The sub-girt of  claim 24 , wherein the sub-girt body comprises a second chamber, and wherein the second chamber is in fluid communication with the chord vent holes, the chamber, and the second chord vent holes. 
     
     
         26 . The sub-girt of  claim 25 , wherein the sub-girt body comprises a third chord, wherein the third chord comprises a plurality of third chord vent holes, and wherein the third chord vent holes are in fluid communication with the second chamber, the second chord vent holes, the chamber, and the chord vent holes. 
     
     
         27 . The sub-girt of  claim 26 , wherein the sub-girt body comprises a fourth chord, wherein the fourth chord comprises a plurality of fourth chord vent holes, and wherein the fourth chord vent holes are in fluid communication with the second chamber, the third chord vent holes, the second chord vent holes, the chamber, and the chord vent holes. 
     
     
         28 . The sub-girt of  claim 20 , wherein the elongated sub-girt body comprises steel. 
     
     
         29 . The sub-girt of  claim 28 , wherein the elongated sub-girt body comprises a coating comprising zinc, aluminum, and magnesium. 
     
     
         30 . The sub-girt of  claim 25 , wherein the front flange first ply comprises a plurality of striations. 
     
     
         31 . The sub-girt of  claim 30 , wherein the front flange first ply comprises a plurality of front adhesive-receiving holes. 
     
     
         32 . The sub-girt of  claim 31 , wherein the front flange second ply comprises a plurality of rear adhesive-receiving holes. 
     
     
         33 . The sub-girt of  claim 32 , wherein each rear adhesive-receiving hole is aligned offset from each front adhesive-receiving hole. 
     
     
         34 . A sub-girt for mounting a component of an exterior wall system assembly, the sub-girt comprising:
 an elongated sub-girt body comprising a stem flange, a front flange aligned perpendicular to the stem flange, a chamber, and a chord aligned oblique to the front flange and the stem flange, wherein the stem flange comprises a stem flange first ply and a stem flange second ply, wherein the front flange comprises a front flange first ply and a front flange second ply, wherein the chord comprises a plurality of chord vent holes, and wherein the chord vent holes are in fluid communication with the chamber.   
     
     
         35 . The sub-girt of  claim 34 , wherein the stem flange first ply comprises a plurality of stem flange vent holes, and wherein the stem flange vent holes are in fluid communication with the chamber and the chord vent holes. 
     
     
         36 . The sub-girt of  claim 35 , wherein each stem flange vent hole is aligned offset from each chord vent hole. 
     
     
         37 . The sub-girt of  claim 34 , wherein the elongated sub-girt body comprises a second chord, wherein the second chord comprises a plurality of second chord vent holes, and wherein the second chord vent holes are in fluid communication with the chamber and the chord vent holes. 
     
     
         38 . The sub-girt of  claim 37 , wherein the second chord is aligned oblique to the chord. 
     
     
         39 . The sub-girt of  claim 34 , wherein the elongated sub-girt body comprises a second chamber, wherein the second chord vent holes, the chamber and the chord vent holes are in fluid communication with the second chamber. 
     
     
         40 . The sub-girt of  claim 34 , wherein the elongated sub-girt body comprises steel. 
     
     
         41 . The sub-girt of  claim 40 , wherein the elongated sub-girt comprises a coating comprising zinc, aluminum and magnesium. 
     
     
         42 . A sub-girt for mounting a component of an exterior wall system assembly, the sub-girt comprising:
 an elongated sub-girt body comprising a stem flange, a front flange depending from the stem flange, and wherein the front flange comprises a plurality of adhesive-receiving holes.   
     
     
         43 . The sub-girt of  claim 42 , wherein the front flange comprises a front flange first ply and a front flange second ply. 
     
     
         44 . The sub-girt of  claim 43 , wherein the plurality of adhesive-receiving holes comprises a plurality of front adhesive-receiving holes defined in the front flange first ply. 
     
     
         45 . The sub-girt of  claim 44 , wherein the plurality of adhesive-receiving holes comprises a plurality of rear adhesive-receiving holes defined in the front flange second ply. 
     
     
         46 . The sub-girt of  claim 45 , wherein each rear adhesive-receiving hole is aligned offset from each front adhesive-receiving hole. 
     
     
         47 . The sub-girt of  claim 42 , wherein the front flange comprises a plurality of striations. 
     
     
         48 . The sub-girt of  claim 44 , wherein the front adhesive-receiving holes are disposed in an upper adhesive-receiving hole row and in a lower adhesive-receiving hole row. 
     
     
         49 . The sub-girt of  claim 42 , wherein the elongated sub-girt body comprises steel. 
     
     
         50 . A sub-girt for mounting a component of an exterior wall system assembly, the sub-girt comprising:
 an elongated sub-girt body comprising a stem flange, a front flange aligned perpendicular to the stem flange, wherein the front flange comprises a front flange first ply and a front flange second ply, wherein the front flange first ply comprises a plurality of front adhesive-receiving holes, and wherein the front flange second ply comprises a plurality of rear adhesive-receiving holes.   
     
     
         51 . The sub-girt of  claim 50 , wherein each front adhesive-receiving hole is aligned offset from each rear adhesive-receiving hole. 
     
     
         52 . The sub-girt of  claim 50 , wherein the front flange first ply comprises a plurality of striations. 
     
     
         53 . The sub-girt of  claim 50 , wherein the elongated sub-girt body comprises steel. 
     
     
         54 . The sub-girt of  claim 53 , wherein the elongated sub-girt body comprises a coating comprising zinc, aluminum and magnesium.