Granted Patent B1

US 12,221,792 · App. 17/485,989 · Granted Feb 11, 2025

Inventor: Markham Wheeler (Strafford, MO)

E04F13/0803

Abstract

Claims (85)

1. A steel or wooden framed decoupled ceiling construction ( 80 ) for a steel or wooden framed ceiling construction project for a multi-story building structure, which decoupled ceiling construction ( 80 ) is characterized by:

a building structure comprising a multiplicity of longitudinally-spaced apart steel or wooden ceiling joists ( 112 ) typically arranged in parallel courses with respect to each other, which courses are typically evenly spaced apart between centers, and which ceiling joists ( 112 ) have bottoms ( 114 );

a plurality of drywall panels ( 124 ) available in widths of a standard width wide between long edges ( 136 ), which are spaced apart by short edges ( 200 ) that are the standard width in length; and

an unrelated multiplicity of single leg resilient sheet metal channels ( 35 ) of a set dimension used as a decoupling measure between the steel or wooden ceiling joists ( 112 ) to separate the building structure from the drywall panels ( 124 ), effectively serving as a soundproofing measure by reducing sound transmission;

said decoupled ceiling construction ( 80 ) comprising:

the plurality of drywall panels ( 124 ) having the long edges ( 136 ) spaced apart by the short edges ( 200 );

the multiplicity of single leg resilient sheet metal channels ( 35 ) of the set dimension, each single leg resilient sheet metal channel ( 35 ) comprising an upper strip ( 71 ), a spaced away lower strip ( 73 ) and an interconnecting single leg ( 77 );

an unrelated multiplicity of metal drywall screws ( 116 );

wherein the upper strip ( 71 ) is fastened to the bottoms ( 114 ) of the ceiling joists ( 112 ) by spaced ones of the metal drywall screws ( 116 );

wherein the plurality of drywall panels ( 124 ) are suspended by spaced ones of the single leg resilient sheet metal channels ( 35 ) by other spaced ones of the metal drywall screws ( 116 ) fastened into the lower strips ( 73 ) of the spaced ones of the single leg resilient sheet metal channels ( 35 ) such that the drywall panels ( 124 ) are arranged to produce an unrelated plurality of butt-to-butt seams ( 220 ), each seam ( 220 ) being composed of one short edge ( 200 ) of one drywall panel ( 124 ) on one side, and, another short edge ( 200 ) of another drywall panel ( 124 ) on the other side; and

wherein the drywall panels ( 124 ) have bottom surfaces ( 125 ) that set a typical plane for the ceiling ( 80 );

said decoupled ceiling construction ( 80 ) further comprising:

an unrelated plurality of single leg resilient sheet metal channel-complements ( 100 );

wherein each single leg resilient sheet metal channel-complement ( 100 ) comprises an upper strip ( 105 ), a spaced away lower strip ( 107 ) and an interconnecting single leg ( 103 );

wherein the upper strip ( 105 ) is fastened to the bottoms ( 114 ) of the ceiling joists ( 112 ) by spaced ones of the metal drywall screws ( 116 ) and arranged such that about one half of the lower strip ( 107 ) overlaps the one short edge ( 200 ) of the one drywall panel ( 124 ) in a given butt-to-butt seam ( 220 ), and, the about other half of the lower strip ( 107 ) overlaps the other short edge ( 200 ) of the other drywall panel ( 124 ) in the given butt-to-butt seam ( 220 );

wherein the one short edge ( 200 ) of the one drywall panel ( 124 ) in the given butt-to-butt seam ( 220 ) is fastened to the lower strip ( 107 ) by spaced ones of the metal drywall screws ( 116 ), and, the other short edge ( 200 ) of the other drywall panel ( 124 ) in the given butt-to-butt seam ( 220 ) is also fastened to the lower strip ( 107 ) by spaced ones of the metal drywall screws ( 116 );

wherein the leg ( 77 ) of the single leg resilient sheet metal channels ( 35 ) is of a dimension to produce a channel ( 35 )-induced drop in elevation from the bottoms ( 114 ) of the ceiling joists ( 112 ) to the drywall panels ( 124 )'s top surfaces ( 123 );

wherein the leg ( 103 ) of the single leg resilient sheet metal channel-complements ( 100 ) is of another dimension to produce a complement ( 100 )-induced drop in elevation from the bottoms ( 114 ) of the ceiling joists ( 112 ) to the drywall panels ( 124 )'s top surfaces ( 123 ); and

wherein the complement ( 100 )-induced drop in elevation is less than the channel ( 35 )-induced drop in elevation by a measure that warps the butt-to-butt seams ( 220 ) in shallow cathedral uprises ( 230 ) that accommodate seam-covering tape ( 126 ) as well as a coating or coatings of drywall compound ( 128 ) which when feathered out to a finish coating, the drywall compound ( 128 ) should be planar with the typical plane of the ceiling ( 80 ) after completion.

2. The decoupled ceiling construction ( 80 ) of claim 1 , wherein:

the shallow cathedral uprises ( 230 ) are linear and extends along the respective butt-to-butt seams ( 220 ).

3. The decoupled ceiling construction ( 80 ) of claim 1 , wherein:

wherein the complement ( 100 )-induced drop in elevation is less than the channel ( 35 )-induced drop in elevation by a measure that is about an eighth of an inch (˜0.125 in., 3.175 mm).

4. The decoupled ceiling construction ( 80 ) of claim 1 , wherein:

the typical plane of the ceiling ( 80 ) is horizontal.

5. The decoupled ceiling construction ( 80 ) of claim 4 , wherein:

the single legs ( 103 or 77 ) can be alternately arranged with respect to the respective strips therefor ( 105 and 107 , or, 71 and 73 ) alternately transverse or angled.

6. A decoupled ceiling construction ( 80 ) for a framed ceiling construction project for a building structure, which decoupled ceiling construction ( 80 ) is characterized by:

a building structure comprising a multiplicity of longitudinally-spaced apart ceiling joists ( 112 ) arranged in parallel courses with respect to each other, many of which courses are evenly spaced apart between centers, and which ceiling joists ( 112 ) have bottoms ( 114 );

a plurality of drywall panels ( 124 ) available in widths of a standard width wide between long edges ( 136 ), which are spaced apart by short edges ( 200 ) that are the standard width in length; and

a multiplicity of single leg resilient sheet metal channels ( 35 ) of a set dimension used as a decoupling measure between the ceiling joists ( 112 ) to separate the building structure from the drywall panels ( 124 ), effectively serving as a soundproofing measure by reducing sound transmission;

said decoupled ceiling construction ( 80 ) comprising:

the plurality of drywall panels ( 124 ) having the long edges ( 136 ) spaced apart by the short edges ( 200 );

the multiplicity of single leg resilient sheet metal channels ( 35 ) of the set dimension, each single leg resilient sheet metal channel ( 35 ) comprising an upper strip ( 71 ), a spaced away lower strip ( 73 ) and an interconnecting single leg ( 77 );

a multiplicity of fasteners ( 116 );

wherein the upper strip ( 71 ) is fastened to the bottoms ( 114 ) of the ceiling joists ( 112 ) by several fasteners ( 116 );

wherein the plurality of drywall panels ( 124 ) are suspended by several of the single leg resilient sheet metal channels ( 35 ) by several fasteners ( 116 ) fastened into the lower strips ( 73 ) of the several of the single leg resilient sheet metal channels ( 35 ) such that the drywall panels ( 124 ) are arranged to produce a plurality of butt-to-butt seams ( 220 ), each seam ( 220 ) being composed of one short edge ( 200 ) of one drywall panel ( 124 ) on one side, and, another short edge ( 200 ) of another drywall panel ( 124 ) on the other side; and

wherein the drywall panels ( 124 ) have bottom surfaces ( 125 ) that set a typical plane for the ceiling ( 80 );

said decoupled ceiling construction ( 80 ) further comprising:

a plurality of single leg resilient sheet metal channel-complements ( 100 );

wherein each single leg resilient sheet metal channel-complement ( 100 ) comprises an upper strip ( 105 ), a spaced away lower strip ( 107 ) and an interconnecting single leg ( 103 );

wherein the upper strip ( 105 ) is fastened to the bottoms ( 114 ) of the ceiling joists ( 112 ) by several fasteners ( 116 ) and arranged such that about one half of the lower strip ( 107 ) overlaps the one short edge ( 200 ) of the one drywall panel ( 124 ) in a given butt-to-butt seam ( 220 ), and, the about other half of the lower strip ( 107 ) overlaps the other short edge ( 200 ) of the other drywall panel ( 124 ) in the given butt-to-butt seam ( 220 );

wherein the one short edge ( 200 ) of the one drywall panel ( 124 ) in the given butt-to-butt seam ( 220 ) is fastened to the lower strip ( 107 ) by several fasteners ( 116 ), and, the other short edge ( 200 ) of the other drywall panel ( 124 ) in the given butt-to-butt seam ( 220 ) is also fastened to the lower strip ( 107 ) by several fasteners ( 116 );

wherein the leg ( 77 ) of the single leg resilient sheet metal channels ( 35 ) is of a dimension to produce a channel ( 35 )-induced drop in elevation from the bottoms ( 114 ) of the ceiling joists ( 112 ) to the drywall panels ( 124 )'s top surfaces ( 123 );

wherein the leg ( 103 ) of the single leg resilient sheet metal channel-complements ( 100 ) is of another dimension to produce a complement ( 100 )-induced drop in elevation from the bottoms ( 114 ) of the ceiling joists ( 112 ) to the drywall panels ( 124 )'s top surfaces ( 123 ); and

wherein the complement ( 100 )-induced drop in elevation is less than the channel ( 35 )-induced drop in elevation by a measure that warps the butt-to-butt seams ( 220 ) in shallow cathedral uprises ( 230 ) that accommodate seam-covering tape ( 126 ) as well as a coating or coatings of drywall compound ( 128 ) which when feathered out to a finish coating, the drywall compound ( 128 ) should be planar with the typical plane of the ceiling ( 80 ) after completion.

7. The decoupled ceiling construction ( 80 ) of claim 6 , wherein:

the shallow cathedral uprises ( 230 ) are linear and extends along the respective butt-to-butt seams ( 220 ).

8. The decoupled ceiling construction ( 80 ) of claim 6 , wherein:

wherein the complement ( 100 )-induced drop in elevation is less than the channel ( 35 )-induced drop in elevation by a measure that is about an eighth of an inch (˜0.125 in., 3.175 mm).

9. The decoupled ceiling construction ( 80 ) of claim 6 , wherein:

the fasteners ( 116 ) comprise metal drywall screws ( 116 ).

10. The decoupled ceiling construction ( 80 ) of claim 6 , wherein:

the typical plane of the ceiling ( 80 ) is horizontal.

11. The decoupled ceiling construction ( 80 ) of claim 10 , wherein:

the single legs ( 103 or 77 ) can be alternately arranged with respect to the respective strips therefor ( 105 and 107 , or, 71 and 73 ) alternately transverse or angled.

12. A decoupled ceiling construction ( 80 ) for a framed ceiling construction project for a building structure, which decoupled ceiling construction ( 80 ) is characterized by:

a building structure comprising a multiplicity of longitudinally-spaced apart ceiling joists ( 112 ), and which ceiling joists ( 112 ) have bottoms ( 114 );

a plurality of drywall panels ( 124 ) having widths extending between long edges ( 136 ) and lengths extending between short edges ( 200 ); and

a multiplicity of single leg resilient channels ( 35 ) of a set dimension used as a decoupling measure between the ceiling joists ( 112 ) to separate the building structure from the drywall panels ( 124 ), effectively serving as a soundproofing measure by reducing sound transmission;

said decoupled ceiling construction ( 80 ) comprising:

the plurality of drywall panels ( 124 ) having the long edges ( 136 ) spaced apart by the short edges ( 200 );

the multiplicity of single leg resilient channels ( 35 ), each comprising an upper strip ( 71 ), a spaced away lower strip ( 73 ) and an interconnecting single leg ( 77 );

a multiplicity of fasteners ( 116 );

wherein the upper strip ( 71 ) is fastened to the bottoms ( 114 ) of the ceiling joists ( 112 ) by several fasteners ( 116 );

wherein the plurality of drywall panels ( 124 ) are suspended by several of the single leg resilient channels ( 35 ) by several fasteners ( 116 ) fastened into the lower strips ( 73 ) of the several of the single leg resilient channels ( 35 ) such that the drywall panels ( 124 ) are arranged to produce a plurality of butt-to-butt seams ( 220 ), each seam ( 220 ) being composed of one short edge ( 200 ) of one drywall panel ( 124 ) on one side, and, another short edge ( 200 ) of another drywall panel ( 124 ) on the other side; and

wherein the drywall panels ( 124 ) have bottom surfaces ( 125 ) that set a typical plane for the ceiling ( 80 );

said decoupled ceiling construction ( 80 ) further comprising:

a plurality of single leg resilient channel-complements ( 100 );

wherein each single leg resilient channel-complement ( 100 ) comprises an upper strip ( 105 ), a spaced away lower strip ( 107 ) and an interconnecting single leg ( 103 );

wherein the upper strip ( 105 ) is fastened to the bottoms ( 114 ) of the ceiling joists ( 112 ) by several fasteners ( 116 ) and arranged such that about one half of the lower strip ( 107 ) overlaps the one short edge ( 200 ) of the one drywall panel ( 124 ) in a given butt-to-butt seam ( 220 ), and, the about other half of the lower strip ( 107 ) overlaps the other short edge ( 200 ) of the other drywall panel ( 124 ) in the given butt-to-butt seam ( 220 );

wherein the one short edge ( 200 ) of the one drywall panel ( 124 ) in the given butt-to-butt seam ( 220 ) is fastened to the lower strip ( 107 ) by several fasteners ( 116 ), and, the other short edge ( 200 ) of the other drywall panel ( 124 ) in the given butt-to-butt seam ( 220 ) is also fastened to the lower strip ( 107 ) by several fasteners ( 116 );

wherein the leg ( 77 ) of the single leg resilient channels ( 35 ) is of a dimension to produce a channel ( 35 )-induced drop in elevation from the bottoms ( 114 ) of the ceiling joists ( 112 ) to the drywall panels ( 124 )'s top surfaces ( 123 );

wherein the leg ( 103 ) of the single leg resilient channel-complements ( 100 ) is of another dimension to produce a complement ( 100 )-induced drop in elevation from the bottoms ( 114 ) of the ceiling joists ( 112 ) to the drywall panels ( 124 )'s top surfaces ( 123 ); and

wherein the complement ( 100 )-induced drop in elevation is less than the channel ( 35 )-induced drop in elevation by a measure that warps the butt-to-butt seams ( 220 ) in shallow cathedral uprises ( 230 ) that accommodate seam-covering tape ( 126 ) as well as a coating or coatings of drywall compound ( 128 ) which when feathered out to a finish coating, fills the shallow cathedral uprise ( 230 ) to blend in with the elevation of the typical plane of the ceiling ( 80 ) after completion.

13. The decoupled ceiling construction ( 80 ) of claim 12 , wherein:

the shallow cathedral uprises ( 230 ) are linear and extends along the respective butt-to-butt seams ( 220 ).

14. The decoupled ceiling construction ( 80 ) of claim 12 , wherein:

wherein the complement ( 100 )-induced drop in elevation is less than the channel ( 35 )-induced drop in elevation by a measure that is about an eighth of an inch (˜0.125 in., 3.175 mm).

15. The decoupled ceiling construction ( 80 ) of claim 12 , wherein:

the fasteners ( 116 ) comprise metal drywall screws ( 116 ).

16. The decoupled ceiling construction ( 80 ) of claim 12 , wherein:

the typical plane of the ceiling ( 80 ) is horizontal.

17. The decoupled ceiling construction ( 80 ) of claim 16 , wherein:

the single legs ( 103 or 77 ) can be alternately arranged with respect to the respective strips therefor ( 105 and 107 , or, 71 and 73 ) alternately transverse or angled.

Continuity (1)

References Cited (20)