Utility box mounting plate and Z-stud

Claim 2

An attachment plate for mounting on a stud and providing a side area on the stud, the stud having two parallel flanges and an angled web connecting the flanges, said attachment plate comprising a substantially flat, rectangular metal plate, said plate having opposed first and second side edges, said first side edge having a plurality of narrow, elongate tongues, each extending along a portion of and outwardly from said first side edge, said tongues being in different planes and forming, from an end view of said attachment plate, a V-groove, at least one of said flanges of the stud having an inwardly directed lip on an edge thereof and said V-groove being operable to receive said lip, and said second side edge having means for attaching said second side edge to said web adjacent the other of the flanges with said plate extending substantially perpendicular to said flanges.

Claim 3

An attachment plate as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for attaching said second side edge to said web comprises an edge portion bent to lie flat against said web.

Claim 4

An attachment plate as defined in claim 2, and further including fastener means for securing said edge portion to the web.

Claim 5

An attachment plate as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for attaching said second side edge to said web comprises a plurality of small tabs spaced apart along said second side edge at a suitable distance for engaging spaced apart slots on said web.

Claim 6

An attachment plate as defined in claim 4, wherein some of said tabs are located at each end of said second side edge.

Claim 7

An attachment plate as defined by claim 1, wherein at least one of said tongues is in the same plane as a main body portion of said attachment plate.

Claim 8

In combination, a Z-stud and an attachment plate, said Z-stud having two parallel flanges and an angled web connecting the flanges, said attachment plate comprising a generally flat, rectangular metal plate, said plate having opposed first and second side edges, said first side edge having a plurality of narrow, elongate tongues, each extending along a portion of said first side edge, said tongues being in different planes and forming, from an end view of said attachment plate, a V-groove, at least one of said flanges having an inwardly directed lip on an edge thereof and said V-groove being operable to receive said lip, and said second side edge having means for attaching said second side edge to said web adjacent the other of the flanges with said plate extending substantially perpendicular to said flanges, said Z-stud further having said angled web and said parallel flanges extending in opposite directions from edges of said angled web, each of said flanges having said inwardly directed lip on the edge thereof, said inwardly directed lip on said one flange extending into said V-groove on said first side edge of said attachment plate, said second side edge of said attachment plate being affixed to said angled web closely adjacent the other of said flanges.

Claim 9

In combination, a Z-stud and an attachment plate, said Z-stud having two parallel flanges and an angled web connecting the flanges, said attachment plate comprising a generally flat, rectangular metal plate, said plate having opposed first and second side edges, said first side edge having a plurality of narrow, elongate tongues, each extending along a portion of said first side edge, said tongues being in different planes and forming, from an end view of said attachment plate, a V-groove, at least one of said flanges having an inwardly directed lip on an edge thereof and said V-groove being operable to receive said lip, and said second side edge having means for attaching said second side edge to said web adjacent the other of the flanges with said plate extending substantially perpendicular to said flanges, said Z-stud further having said angled web and said parallel flanges extending in opposite directions from edges of said angled web, each of said flanges having said inwardly directed lip on the edge thereof, said inwardly directed lip on said one flange extending into said V-groove on said first side edge of said attachment plate, said second side edge of said attachment plate being affixed to said angled web closely adjacent the other of said flanges.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 7, wherein said second side edge of said attachment plate is bent to lie flat against said Z-stud web, and a fastener secures said plate to said web.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 7, wherein said second side edge of said attachment plate has a plurality of small tabs spaced apart along said second side edge and said Z-stud web has a plurality of slots aligned in a row, spaced apart suitably for reception of said tabs, said tabs being firmly held within said slots.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 9, wherein said tabs are located at each end of said second side edge.

Claim 13

The combination of claim 10, wherein said attachment plate has a length equal to the spacing between said slots plus the width of one of said tabs.

Claim 14

The combination of claim 7, wherein at least one of said tongues is in the same plane as a main body portion of said attachment plate.

Claim 17

The method of claim 13, comprising the further step of screwing said opposite side of said metal plate to said angled web.

Claim 18

The method of claim 13, and further comprising the step of forming a plurality of tabs spaced apart along said second side edge, forming a plurality of spaced slots aligned in a row along said web closely adjacent said second flange, and engaging said tabs in said slots.

Claim 19

The method of claim 15, wherein said step of forming of said slots includes spacing said slots at even spacings suitable for locating electrical utility boxes at suitable desired heights in a wall.

Claim 20

The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of attaching an electrical box to said attachment plate.

Claim 21

The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of affixing a door frame to said attachment plate.