US5692341A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wall panel support member and method of use
Assignee: FGE Backerboard Co
•
Filing: 1996-02-16
•
Granted: 1997-12-02
•
Expires: 2016-02-16
Abstract
Abstract A wall panel support member adapted to reinforce a wall and to support the weight of structures such as shelves, cabinets, and sinks which are attached to a wall. The wall panel support member includes a support panel which is mounted between adjacent wall studs by brackets or other mounts. One embodiment of the invention includes a support panel with a groove formed at one end of the support panel which accommodates a lip of a metal stud, thus allowing the surface of the support panel to engage the stud. A bracket which is comprised of a plurality of generally perpendicular angled surfaces is mounted on the opposite end of the support panel from the groove for securing the wall panel support member to an adjacent stud. The bracket includes slots in the surface mounted to the support panel to allow the position of the bracket to be adjusted along the longitudinal axis of the support panel in order to accommodate variations in width between studs.
Inventors
- 👤 Fred G. Erlandson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 01:30
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47B; A47B95/00; A47B95/008; E; E04; E04B; E04B2/00; E04B2/74; E04B2/7407; E04B2/7453; F; F16; F16B; F16B12/00; F16B12/02; E04B2002/7483; E04B2002/7485
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
A wall panel support member adapted to be mounted between first and second adjacent studs comprising: a rigid support panel having a generally planar surface and first and second opposite ends, sized to extend substantially between and adapted to be mounted to the first and second studs, with a first axis extending longitudinally along the support panel between the first and second ends, for reinforcing a wall; a bracket at a second end of the support panel for securing the wall panel support member to the second stud; adjustable mounting means for mounting the bracket to the second end of the support panel and enabling adjustment of the position of the bracket along the longitudinal axis of the rigid support panel to accommodate variations in width between the first and second studs; and a groove on a first side and at the first end of the support panel for engaging a lip on the first stud, wherein the groove is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the support panel and offset from the first end of the panel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
179 words
A wall panel support member adapted to be mounted between first and second adjacent studs comprising: a rigid support panel having a generally planar surface and first and second opposite ends, sized to extend substantially between and adapted to be mounted to the first and second studs, with a first axis extending longitudinally along the support panel between the first and second ends, for reinforcing a wall; a bracket at a second end of the support panel for securing the wall panel support member to the second stud; adjustable mounting means for mounting the bracket to the second end of the support panel and enabling adjustment of the position of the bracket along the longitudinal axis of the rigid support panel to accommodate variations in width between the first and second studs; and a groove on a first side and at the first end of the support panel for engaging a lip on the first stud, wherein the groove is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the support panel and offset from the first end of the panel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The wall panel support member of claim 1 wherein the support panel is formed from a fire resistant or retardant material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The wall panel support member of claim 2 wherein the support panel is formed from a wood-based product.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method of using the wall panel support member of claim 1 which comprises: placing the wall panel support member between adjacent first and second studs wherein the groove on the support panel engages a lip of the first stud; fastening the support panel to the first stud with fasteners; and fastening the bracket to the second stud with fasteners.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of using the wall panel support member of claim 4 which further comprises attaching a wall panel to the studs.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of using the wall panel support member of claim 5 which further comprises mounting a structure to the wall panel adjacent to the wall panel support member, including mounting the structure to the wall panel support member.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for constructing a wall which comprises: providing a wall panel support member having a rigid support panel that extends substantially between adjacent first and second studs and at least one bracket at an end of the support panel, wherein the position of the bracket is adjustable along a longitudinal axis of the support panel; placing the wall panel support member between adjacent first and second studs at a location on the wall selected for reinforcement; mounting the support panel and bracket to adjacent first and second studs; and mounting a wall panel to the studs.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for constructing a wall which comprises: providing a wall panel support member having a rigid support panel that extends substantially between adjacent first and second studs and at least one bracket at an end of the support panel, wherein the position of the bracket is adjustable along a longitudinal axis of the support panel; placing the wall panel support member between adjacent first and second studs at a location on the wall selected for reinforcement; mounting the support panel and bracket to adjacent first and second studs; and mounting a wall panel to the studs.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method for constructing a wall of claim 7 wherein the steps further include mounting a structure to the wall panel adjacent to the wall panel support member, including mounting the exterior structure to the wall panel support member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method for constructing a wall of claim 7 wherein the step of providing a wall panel support member includes: forming a groove in one side of the support panel; securing a bracket to the support panel at the longitudinally opposing end of the support panel from the groove; and adjusting the position of the bracket along the longitudinal axis of the support panel to accommodate variations in width between the first and second studs.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
79 words
The method for constructing a wall of claim 7 wherein the step of providing a wall panel support member includes: securing a first bracket to the support panel at one end of the support panel; securing a second bracket to the support panel at the longitudinally opposing end of the panel support; and adjusting the position of the second bracket along the longitudinal axis of the support panel to accommodate variations in width between the first and second studs.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
158 words
A wall panel support member adapted to be mounted between first and second adjacent studs comprising: a support panel having a generally planar surface and first and second opposite ends, adapted to be mounted to the first and second studs, with a first axis extending longitudinally along the support panel between the first and second ends, for reinforcing a wall; and at least one bracket mounted to the support panel at the first end for securing the wall panel support member to the first stud wherein the position of the bracket is adjustable along the longitudinal axis of the support panel, and wherein the bracket comprises a plurality of angled surfaces, including: a first surface mounted on the support panel including a plurality of slots for adjusting the position of the bracket; a second surface generally perpendicular to the first surface; and fasteners in the slots of the first surface for securing the bracket to the support panel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
158 words
A wall panel support member adapted to be mounted between first and second adjacent studs comprising: a support panel having a generally planar surface and first and second opposite ends, adapted to be mounted to the first and second studs, with a first axis extending longitudinally along the support panel between the first and second ends, for reinforcing a wall; and at least one bracket mounted to the support panel at the first end for securing the wall panel support member to the first stud wherein the position of the bracket is adjustable along the longitudinal axis of the support panel, and wherein the bracket comprises a plurality of angled surfaces, including: a first surface mounted on the support panel including a plurality of slots for adjusting the position of the bracket; a second surface generally perpendicular to the first surface; and fasteners in the slots of the first surface for securing the bracket to the support panel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The wall panel support member of claim 11 wherein the second surface of the bracket extends away from the support panel for engaging the first stud.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
55 words
The wall panel support member of claim 11 wherein the second surface of the bracket extends over the end of the support panel, the bracket further including a third surface generally perpendicular to the second surface and generally parallel to the first surface extending away from the support panel longitudinally for engaging the second stud.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
The wall panel support member of claim 11 wherein the wall panel support member includes a second bracket mounted to the support panel at the second end for securing the wall panel support member to the second stud.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
60 words
The wall panel support member of claim 11 wherein the wall panel support member includes a groove at the second end of the support panel for engaging a lip on the second stud, wherein the groove is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the support panel and offset from the second end of the panel at the second end.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
171 words
A wall panel support member adapted to be mounted between first and second adjacent studs comprising: a support panel having a generally planar surface and first and second opposite ends, adapted to be mounted to the first and second studs, with a first axis extending longitudinally along the support panel between the first and second ends, for reinforcing a wall; and at least one bracket mounted to the support panel at the first end for securing the wall panel support member to the first stud, wherein the bracket comprises a plurality of angled surfaces, including: a first surface mounted on the support panel; a second surface generally perpendicular to the first surface extending over the end of the panel; and a third surface generally perpendicular to the second surface and generally parallel to the first surface extending away from the panel longitudinally for engaging the first stud, wherein the third surface is of sufficient longitudinal length to engage the first stud as the width between the first and second studs varies.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
171 words
A wall panel support member adapted to be mounted between first and second adjacent studs comprising: a support panel having a generally planar surface and first and second opposite ends, adapted to be mounted to the first and second studs, with a first axis extending longitudinally along the support panel between the first and second ends, for reinforcing a wall; and at least one bracket mounted to the support panel at the first end for securing the wall panel support member to the first stud, wherein the bracket comprises a plurality of angled surfaces, including: a first surface mounted on the support panel; a second surface generally perpendicular to the first surface extending over the end of the panel; and a third surface generally perpendicular to the second surface and generally parallel to the first surface extending away from the panel longitudinally for engaging the first stud, wherein the third surface is of sufficient longitudinal length to engage the first stud as the width between the first and second studs varies.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
DE199411C
Cited
US710022A
Cited
US2066006A
Cited
US2181831A
Cited
US2218965A
Cited
US2271584A
Cited
US2446323A
Cited
US2895180A
Cited
US2999278A
Cited
CH387898A
Cited
US3490797A
Cited
US3826055A
Cited
US3852927A
Cited
US3753325A
Cited
US4007570A
Cited
US4037381A
Cited
US4194336A
Cited
CA1079024A
Cited
FR2451486A1
Cited
US4408427A
Cited
US4418507A
Cited
US4453362A
Cited
US4608801A
Cited
US4558838A
Cited
WO1989012412A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-12-01 | 2001-06-02 | 2001-12-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-12-01 | 2005-06-02 | 2005-12-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-12-01 | 2009-06-02 | 2009-12-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |