Drywall track component, clips for connecting to drywall track component, drywall track component assemblies, and methods of manufacture thereof

Abstract

An embodiment of a drywall track component comprises at least a web, a first flange extending substantially perpendicular from a web first edge, a second flange extending substantially perpendicular from a web second edge, a first ledge extending substantially perpendicular from a first flange second edge, and a first track wall extending substantially perpendicular from a first ledge second edge. The drywall track component may include one or more inner clips removably connected to the first track wall and/or the second track wall. The inner clip(s) may comprise an inner clip top return lip, an inner clip vertical wall, and an inner clip bottom return lip. Another embodiment of a drywall track component comprises a web, a first flange extending substantially perpendicular from a web first edge, a second flange extending substantially perpendicular from a web second edge, a first outer clip removably connected to the first flange, and a second outer clip removably connected to the second flange. Each of the first outer clip and the second outer clip may comprise an outer clip top return lip, a ledge, an outer clip vertical wall, and an outer clip bottom return lip.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An inner clip ( 7 ) for connecting a drywall track component ( 10 ),
 said drywall track component comprising:
 a web ( 100 ) having a web first edge ( 110 ), a web second edge ( 120 ), a web first end ( 130 ), and a web second end ( 140 ); 
 a first flange ( 200 ) extending substantially perpendicular from the web first edge, said first flange having a first flange first edge ( 210 ), a first flange second edge ( 220 ), a first flange first end ( 230 ), and a first flange second end ( 240 ); 
 a second flange ( 300 ) extending substantially perpendicular from the web second edge, said second flange having a second flange first edge ( 310 ), a second flange second edge ( 320 ), a second flange first end ( 330 ), and a second flange second end ( 340 ); 
 a first ledge ( 400 ) extending substantially perpendicular from the first flange second edge in a first direction towards the second flange, said first ledge having a first ledge first edge ( 410 ), a first ledge second edge ( 420 ), a first ledge first end ( 430 ), and a first ledge second end ( 440 ); and 
 a first track wall ( 500 ) extending substantially perpendicular from the first ledge second edge in a second direction away from the web, said first track wall having a first track wall first edge ( 510 ), a first track wall second edge ( 520 ), a first track wall first end ( 530 ), and a first track wall second end ( 540 ); 
   said inner clip comprising:
 an inner clip top return lip ( 1100 ) comprising an inner clip lead-in ( 1110 ) and an inner clip fold ( 1120 ); 
 an inner clip vertical wall ( 1130 ); 
 with the inner clip lead-in substantially parallel with the inner clip vertical wall; 
 and 
   wherein the inner clip top return lip is configured to connect to a first drywall track component wall ( 500 ) or a second drywall track component wall ( 700 ) of the drywall track component.   
     
     
         2 . The inner clip of  claim 1 , wherein the inner clip lead-in has an inner clip lead-in length dimension which is substantially less than an inner clip vertical wall length dimension. 
     
     
         3 . The inner clip of  claim 1 , wherein the inner clip vertical wall has an inner clip vertical wall length dimension which is substantially equal to a distance dimension between the first flange first edge and the first track wall second edge of the drywall track component, or which is substantially equal to a distance dimension between the second flange first edge and the second track wall second edge. 
     
     
         4 . The inner clip of  claim 1 , wherein the inner clip vertical wall further comprises a gusset ( 1150 ) with a gusset start ( 1151 ) and a gusset end ( 1152 ) with a first distance from the inner clip fold to the gusset start ( 1160 ) is greater than an inner clip lead-in length dimension ( 1170 ). 
     
     
         5 . The inner clip of  claim 2 , wherein the inner clip vertical wall further comprises a gusset ( 1150 ) with a gusset start ( 1151 ) and a gusset end ( 1152 ) with a first distance from the inner clip fold to the gusset start ( 1160 ) is greater than the inner clip lead-in length dimension ( 1170 ). 
     
     
         6 . The inner clip of  claim 3 , wherein the inner clip vertical wall further comprises a gusset ( 1150 ) with a gusset start ( 1151 ) and a gusset end ( 1152 ) with a first distance from the inner clip fold to the gusset start ( 1160 ) is greater than an inner clip lead-in length dimension ( 1170 ). 
     
     
         7 . The inner clip of  claim 1 , wherein the inner clip lead-in has a curved end ( 1115 A). 
     
     
         8 . The inner clip of  claim 2 , wherein the inner clip lead-in has a curved end ( 1115 A). 
     
     
         9 . The inner clip of  claim 3 , wherein the inner clip lead-in has a curved end ( 1115 A). 
     
     
         10 . The inner clip of  claim 4 , wherein the inner clip lead-in has a curved end ( 1115 A). 
     
     
         11 . The inner clip of  claim 5 , wherein the inner clip lead-in has a curved end ( 1115 A). 
     
     
         12 . The inner clip of  claim 6 , wherein the inner clip lead-in has a curved end ( 1115 A). 
     
     
         13 . The inner clip of  claim 7 , wherein the curved end curves away from the inner clip vertical wall. 
     
     
         13 . The inner clip of  claim 8 , wherein the curved end curves away from the inner clip vertical wall. 
     
     
         14 . The inner clip of  claim 9 , wherein the curved end curves away from the inner clip vertical wall. 
     
     
         15 . The inner clip of  claim 10 , wherein the curved end curves away from the inner clip vertical wall. 
     
     
         16 . The inner clip of  claim 11 , wherein the curved end curves away from the inner clip vertical wall. 
     
     
         17 . The inner clip of  claim 12 , wherein the curved end curves away from the inner clip vertical wall. 
     
     
         18 . The inner clip of  claim 4 , wherein the inner clip bottom return lip curves toward the inner clip lead-in. 
     
     
         19 . The inner clip of  claim 5 , wherein the inner clip bottom return lip curves toward the inner clip lead-in. 
     
     
         20 . The inner clip of  claim 6 , wherein the inner clip bottom return lip curves toward the inner clip lead-in.