Granted Patent B2

US 12,607,009 · App. 18/065,903 · Granted Apr 21, 2026

Inventor: Donald Anthony Pilz (Livermore, CA)

Assignee: CEMCO, LLC

E04B2/7411E04B2/7457E04B1/948

Abstract

Claims (65)

1 . A fire-rated head-of-wall assembly that allows dynamic movement, comprising:

a header track coupled to an overhead structure, the header track having a web and first and second flanges extending from the web in the same direction away from the overhead structure, wherein each of the first and second flanges is substantially planar such that the header track defines a substantially U-shaped cross section;

a stud coupled with the header track, an upper end of the stud located between the first and second flanges;

a wall board coupled to the stud;

a deflection gap formed between an upper end of the wall board and the overhead structure, the deflection gap being variable between a closed position and an open position as a result of movement of the wall board and the overhead structure relative to one another;

a gasket connected to the header track for fire-blocking the deflection gap, comprising:

a profile, comprising:

an inner leg having a lower end that defines a lowermost extent of the inner leg;

an outer leg;

an upper leg connecting the inner leg and the outer leg;

a lower leg connected to the outer leg;

an interior at least partially enclosed by the inner leg, the outer leg, the upper leg, and the lower leg; and

an opening into the interior defined between the lower end of the inner leg and the lower leg;

an upper gasket extending from the upper leg; and

a fire-blocking material strip disposed within the interior of the profile;

wherein the gasket is connected at the inner leg to the first flange of the header track, the upper gasket contacts the overhead structure, and the wall board at least partially overlaps the outer leg in the open position and the closed position of the deflection gap.

2 . The fire-rated head-of-wall assembly of claim 1 , wherein the gasket has a height direction that extends between the upper leg and the lower leg and a length direction that extends along the outer leg and is perpendicular to the height direction and to a thickness of the outer leg of the profile, wherein a first end of the gasket further comprises a tab member that extends in the length direction of the gasket beyond the profile and is configured to overlap a second gasket.

3 . The fire-rated head-of-wall assembly of claim 2 , wherein the outer leg comprises the tab member, the tab member extending past ends of the upper gasket, the upper leg, the inner leg, and the lower leg in the length direction of the gasket.

4 . The fire-rated head-of-wall assembly of claim 3 , wherein the tab member has a length of at least ½ inch.

5 . The fire-rated head-of-wall assembly of claim 1 , wherein the profile comprises a vinyl material.

6 . The fire-rated head-of-wall assembly of claim 1 , wherein upper gasket is formed integrally with the upper leg of a first material.

7 . The fire-rated head-of-wall assembly of claim 1 , wherein the profile comprises a first material, the upper gasket comprises a second, different material, and the upper gasket is co-extruded with the profile.

8 . The fire-rated head-of-wall assembly of claim 1 , wherein the upper gasket is a bubble gasket having a first side wall aligned with the outer leg and a second side wall aligned with the inner leg such that a width of the bubble gasket is equal to a width of the profile.

9 . The fire-rated head-of-wall assembly of claim 1 , wherein the upper gasket is a flexible fin having a first end connected to the profile and a second free end, wherein the second free end is located between a first plane defined by the inner leg and a second plane defined by the outer leg.

10 . The fire-rated head-of-wall assembly of claim 1 , wherein the upper gasket comprises a foam material.

11 . The fire-rated head-of-wall assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a return leg connected to the inner leg of the gasket, the return leg extending in a direction perpendicular to the inner leg, into the interior and contacting the fire-blocking material strip to inhibit sliding of the fire-blocking material strip within the interior.

12 . The fire-rated head-of-wall assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive within the interior to inhibit sliding of the fire-blocking material strip within the interior.

13 . The fire-rated head-of-wall assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a double sided tape attaching the gasket with the header track, the double sided tape having a first face attached with the inner leg and a second face attached with the first flange.

14 . The fire-rated head-of-wall assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an opening into the interior extending between the inner leg and the lower leg of the gasket;

wherein at least a portion of the fire-blocking material strip aligns with the opening and the opening is at least partially aligned with the first flange of the header track.

15 . The fire-rated head-of-wall assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fire-blocking material strip comprises an intumescent material.

16 . The fire-rated head-of-wall assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fire-blocking material strip comprises a mineral wool.

17 . The fire-rated head-of-wall assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fire-blocking material strip comprises at least one layer of mineral wool and at least one layer of graphite.

18 . The fire-rated head-of-wall assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lower leg defines an outwardly curved shape relative to the interior of the profile that is configured to allow the lower leg to pass over a mechanical fastener attaching the header track to the stud, wherein the outwardly curved shape of the lower leg defines a lowermost extent of the gasket and the free end is located closer to the upper leg than the lowermost extent, and the free end of the lower leg contacts the first flange.

19 . The fire-rated head-of-wall assembly of claim 1 , wherein the upper gasket is a bubble gasket having a first side wall that originates at an upper end of the outer leg and a second side wall that originates at an upper end of the inner leg.

20 . The fire-rated head-of-wall assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fire-blocking material strip comprises a first layer and a second layer.

21 . The fire-rated head-of-wall assembly of claim 1 , wherein the gasket is coupled to the first flange of the header track only along the inner leg.

22 . The fire-rated head-of-wall assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lower leg defines an inwardly curved shape relative to the interior of the profile, the inwardly curved shape having a free end that defines a lowermost extent of the gasket, wherein the free end of the rounded lower leg is configured to be spaced outwardly from the first flange of the header track to allow the lower leg to pass over a mechanical fastener attaching the header track to the stud.

23 . A gasket for fire-blocking a dynamic deflection gap, comprising:

a profile, comprising:

an inner leg having a lower end that defines a lowermost extent of the inner leg;

an outer leg;

an upper leg connecting an upper end of the inner leg and an upper end of the outer leg;

a lower leg connected to a lower end of the outer leg; and

an interior at least partially enclosed by the inner leg, the outer leg, the upper leg, and the lower leg;

wherein the lower leg is spaced below the lower end of the inner leg such that an opening to the interior is defined between the inner leg and the lower leg;

an upper gasket extending from the upper leg;

a fire-blocking material strip disposed within the interior of the profile; and

an adhesive layer attached to the inner leg and configured to attach the gasket to a track of a wall assembly.

24 . A fire-rated head-of-wall assembly that allows dynamic movement, comprising:

a header track coupled to an overhead structure, the header track having a web and first and second flanges extending from the web in the same direction away from the overhead structure, wherein each of the first and second flanges is substantially planar such that the header track defines a substantially U-shaped cross section;

a stud coupled to the header track, an upper end of the stud located between the first and second flanges;

a wall board coupled to the stud;

a deflection gap formed between an upper end of the wall board and the overhead structure, the deflection gap being variable between a closed position and an open position as a result of movement of the wall board and the overhead structure relative to one another;

a gasket for fire-blocking the deflection gap, comprising:

a profile, comprising:

an inner leg;

an outer leg;

an upper leg connecting the inner leg and the outer leg;

a lower leg connected to the outer leg;

an interior at least partially enclosed by the inner leg, the outer leg, the upper leg, and the lower leg; and

an upper gasket extending from the upper leg; and

a fire-blocking material strip disposed within the interior of the profile;

wherein the gasket is coupled to the first flange of the header track along the inner leg, the upper gasket contacts the overhead structure, and the wall board at least partially overlaps the outer leg in the open position and the closed position of the deflection gap;

wherein the lower leg includes a free end having a hook shape extending inwardly from the outer leg, the hook shape configured to allow the lower leg to pass over a mechanical fastener attaching the header track to the stud, wherein a curved portion of the hook shape defines a lowermost extent of the gasket, and the free end of the lower leg contacts the first flange.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (400)