Construction cripples and structures incorporating the same

Abstract

A cripple includes a web, a first leg extending transversely from the web, a second leg extending transversely from the web, such that the web, the first leg and the second leg define a channel. A flange extends transversely from the web. Such cripples may be used in combination with a header and header track for defining an opening for receiving a window or door.

1 . A cripple comprising:
 a web;   a first leg extending transversely from the web;   a second leg extending transversely from the web, wherein the web, the first leg and the second leg define a channel; and   a flange extending transversely from the web.   
     
     
         2 . The cripple of  claim 1 , wherein the flange extends in a direction opposite the legs. 
     
     
         3 . The cripple of  claim 2 , wherein the first leg and the second leg extend perpendicularly from the web and wherein the flange extends perpendicularly from the web and relative to the first and second legs. 
     
     
         4 . The cripple of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a first lip extending transversely from the first leg; and   a second lip extending transversely from the second leg, wherein the first lip extends in a direction towards the second leg and the second lip extends in a direction towards the first lip.   
     
     
         5 . The cripple of  claim 4 , wherein said cripple is formed from a single sheet of material. 
     
     
         6 . A structure for defining an opening for accommodating a window or a door comprising:
 a header track;   a footer track below the header track;   a first end member coupled to the header track and the footer track defining a first boundary of said opening;   a second end member coupled to the header track and the footer track, said second end member being spaced apart from the first end member and defining a second boundary of said opening spaced apart from the first boundary;   a header spaced apart and below the header track and coupled to the first end member and to the second end member and defining a third boundary of said opening extending from the first boundary to the second boundary; and   a first plurality of spaced apart cripples connected to the header and to the header track, wherein an outer surface of each of said first end member, second end member, header and first plurality of spaced apart cripples extends along a first plane.   
     
     
         7 . The structure of  claim 6 , wherein the header is a stud comprising a web, two spaced apart legs extending generally perpendicularly from said web, and two spaced apart lips each extending from a corresponding leg of said two spaced apart legs and extending generally parallel to the web, wherein each cripple of the first plurality of spaced apart cripples comprises a web and two spaced apart legs extending generally perpendicularly from said cripple web, and a first flange extending generally perpendicularly from said cripple web and relative to said cripple first and second legs, wherein said first flange is attached to said header lips. 
     
     
         8 . The structure of  claim 7 , wherein said first flange of each cripple of said first plurality of spaced apart cripples extends in a direction away from said legs of each cripple of said first plurality of spaced apart cripples. 
     
     
         9 . The structure of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a footer spaced apart and above the footer track and below the header and coupled to the first end member and to the second end member and defining a fourth boundary extending from the first boundary to the second boundary and spaced from the third boundary, wherein the first, second, third and fourth boundary define said opening; and   a second plurality of spaced apart cripples connected to the footer and to the footer track, wherein an outer surface of said footer and an outer surface of each of said second plurality of spaced apart cripples each extends along said first plane.   
     
     
         10 . The structure of  claim 9 , wherein the header and footer are studs, each comprising a web, two spaced apart legs extending generally perpendicularly from said web and two spaced apart lips each extending from a corresponding leg of said two spaced apart legs and extending generally parallel to the web, wherein each of the first plurality and second plurality of spaced apart cripples comprises a web and two spaced apart legs extending generally perpendicularly from said cripple web, and a first flange extending generally perpendicularly from a first end of each of said cripple web and relative to the first and second legs of said cripple, wherein said first flanges of said first plurality of spaced apart cripples are attached to said lips of said header, and said first flanges of said second plurality of spaced apart cripples are attached to said lips of said footer. 
     
     
         11 . The structure of  claim 10 , wherein each of said first and second pluralities of cripples comprises a second flange extending from a second end opposite the first end of each web of said first and second plurality of spaced apart cripples, wherein the second flange of each of said first plurality of spaced apart cripples is attached to said header track and wherein the second flange of each of said second plurality of spaced apart cripples is attached to said footer track, and wherein an outer surface of each said footer track and header track extends along said first plane. 
     
     
         12 . The structure of  claim 11 , wherein a flap extends generally perpendicularly from first and second ends of the webs and said spaced apart legs of said header and said footer, wherein the flap at the first end of each of said header and footer is attached to said first end member and wherein the flap at the second end of each of said header and footer is attached to said second end member. 
     
     
         13 . The structure of  claim 10 , wherein said header track and said footer track each define a channel and wherein an end portion of each of said first plurality of spaced apart cripples opposite its corresponding first flange is received within the channel defined by the header track, and wherein an end portion of each of said second plurality of spaced apart cripples opposite its corresponding first flange is received within the channel defined by the footer track. 
     
     
         14 . The structure of  claim 7 , wherein each of said first plurality of spaced apart cripples is formed from a single piece of material. 
     
     
         15 . A structure for defining an opening for accommodating a window or a door comprising:
 a header track;   a first end member defining a first boundary of said opening;   a second end member defining a second boundary of said opening;   a header spaced apart and below the header track and connected to the first end member and to the second end member and defining a third boundary of said opening extending from the first boundary to the second boundary; and   a plurality of spaced apart cripples connected to the header and to the header track, wherein an outer surface of each of said first end member, second end member, header and first plurality of spaced apart cripples extends along a first plane.   
     
     
         16 . The structure of  claim 15 , wherein the header is a stud comprising a web, two spaced apart legs extending generally perpendicularly from said web, and two spaced apart lips each extending from a corresponding leg of said two spaced apart legs and extending generally parallel to the web, wherein each of the plurality of spaced apart cripples comprises a web and two spaced apart legs extending generally perpendicularly from said cripple web, and a first flange extending generally perpendicularly from a first end of said cripple web and relative to said cripple first and second legs, wherein said first flange is attached to said header lips. 
     
     
         17 . The structure of  claim 16 , wherein said first flange of each cripple of said plurality of spaced apart cripples extends in a direction away from said legs of each cripple of said plurality of spaced apart cripples. 
     
     
         18 . The structure of  claim 16 , wherein each of said plurality of cripples comprises a second flange extending from a second end opposite the first end of said web of said cripple, wherein the second flange of each of said plurality of spaced apart cripples is attached to said header track, wherein an outer surface of each said header track extends along said first plane. 
     
     
         19 . The structure of  claim 16 , wherein said header track defines a channel and wherein an end portion of each of said plurality of spaced apart cripples opposite its first flange is received within the channel defined by the header track. 
     
     
         20 . The structure of  claim 15 , wherein each of said plurality of spaced apart cripples is formed from a single piece of material.