Stud having kerf-engaging flange and fire-retardant wall structure formed therewith

Claim 1

A stud adapted for use in constructing a wall comprised of a pair of spaced-apart coplanar layers of gypsum wallboard panels in abutting relationship having a plurality of said studs interposed between said layers of wallboard panels and affixed thereto, said stud being formed of a unitary integral sheet metal structure and comprising: 1. A first wallboard panel layer-engaging structure comprising; a. a first flange extending to a first fold, b. a web member connected at said first fold and extending substantially perpendicularly with respect to said first flange to a second fold, c. a first kerf-engaging flange member connected at said second fold and extending substantially perpendicularly with respect to said first web member to a third fold, d. a second kerf-engaging flange connected at said third fold and folded over said first kerf-engaging flange and extending to a fourth fold, e. a second web member connected at said fourth fold and extending substantially perpendicularly with respect to said second kerf-engaging flange to a fifth fold, and f. a second flange connected at said fifth fold and disposed substantially perpendicular to said second web member and extending to a sixth fold, said first and second web members cooperating to define a web, said web and said first and second flanges cooperating to define a channel adapted to engage the edge of a wallboard panel of a first layer, and said first and second kerf-engaging flanges cooperating to define a kerf-engaging flange adapted to engage an adjacent wallboard panel of said first layer and cooperating with said web to restrain said panel in three directions, and, 2. means for supporting a second layer of gypsum wallboard panels spaced apart from said first layer of panels comprising: a. a supporting web connected at said sixth fold and extending away from said second flange and terminating at a seventh fold, and b. a wallboard-supporting panel connected at said seventh fold extending in a direction substantially parallel to and spaced-apart from said first and second flanges, said panel being adapted to permit said second layer of panels to extend across and be affixed to the outer surface thereof.