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US-12618242-B2 - Control joint

US12618242B2US 12618242 B2US12618242 B2US 12618242B2US-12618242-B2

Abstract

One embodiment of a control joint includes a first flange, a second flange, a flex portion positioned between the first flange and the second flange, a first leg, and a first strip. The first leg extends from the first flange and includes an interior surface facing the flex portion. The first strip may be positioned on at least a portion of a surface of the first leg.

Inventors

  • Jeffrey F. Kersting

Assignees

  • CLARKWESTERN DIETRICH BUILDING SYSTEMS LLC

Dates

Publication Date
20260505
Application Date
20231218

Claims (13)

  1. 1 . A control joint comprising: a. a first flange and a second flange; b. a flex portion positioned between the first flange and the second flange such that the flex portion extends from the first flange to the second flange; c. a first leg, wherein the first leg comprises a first material, wherein the first leg extends from the first flange and comprises a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface comprises an interior surface facing the flex portion and the second surface comprises an exterior surface facing away from the flex portion; and d. a first strip positioned on at least a portion of the second surface of the first leg, wherein the first strip comprises a second material that is different than the first material, wherein the second material is intumescent tape, wherein the at least a portion of the second surface of the first leg on which the first strip is positioned extends perpendicularly relative to the first flange.
  2. 2 . The control joint of claim 1 , wherein the first leg comprises a distal end and the first strip wraps around the distal end such that the first strip is also positioned on at least a portion of the first surface of the first leg.
  3. 3 . The control joint of claim 1 , further comprising a second strip positioned on at least a portion of the first surface of the first leg.
  4. 4 . The control joint of claim 1 , wherein the flex portion comprises a substantially v-shaped profile.
  5. 5 . The control joint of claim 1 further comprising a second leg, wherein the second leg extends from the second flange and comprises a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface and second surface of the second leg face in opposite directions relative to each other.
  6. 6 . The control joint of claim 5 further comprising a second strip positioned on at least a portion of the first surface of the second leg.
  7. 7 . The control joint of claim 6 wherein the first surface of the second leg comprises an interior surface facing the flex portion.
  8. 8 . The control joint of claim 6 wherein the first surface of the second leg comprises an exterior surface facing away from the flex portion.
  9. 9 . The control joint of claim 6 , wherein the second leg comprises a distal end and the second strip wraps around the distal end such that the second strip is also positioned on at least a portion of the second surface of the first leg.
  10. 10 . The control joint of claim 5 , wherein the second leg extends from the second flange at a first end of the second leg and the second leg comprises a distal end that is opposite the first end, wherein the distal end of the second leg is a free end.
  11. 11 . The control joint of claim 1 , wherein the first leg extends from the first flange at a first end of the first leg and the first leg comprises a distal end that is opposite the first end, wherein the distal end of the first leg is a free end.
  12. 12 . The control joint of claim 1 , wherein the first material comprises plastic.
  13. 13 . The control joint of claim 12 , wherein the first material comprises polyvinyl chloride.

Description

PRIORITY This application claims priority to U.S. Nonprovisional patent application Ser. No. 17/523,993, entitled “Control Joint,” filed on Nov. 11, 2021, and published as US Pat. Pub. No. 2022/0145640 on May 12, 2022, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Pat. App. No. 63/112,925, entitled “Control Joint,” filed on Nov. 12, 2020, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein. BACKGROUND A control joint is a type of framing accessory used in the construction industry, particularly as part of wall assemblies. Traditionally, control joints have been used to “break up” vast expanses of drywall in wall assemblies, which can be prone to cracking. Building codes recommend the use of a control joint in conjunction with a gap in the drywall to allow the whole assembly to flex and move, thus avoiding or at least reducing cracking and the drywall being compromised. Control joints are typically made out of pure zinc alloy or a plastic, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC). FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a conventional control joint (10) and corresponding conventional wall assemblies (20, 30) that include control joint (10). As shown, control joint (10) includes a pair of flanges (12, 14) attached to and extending from either side of a flex portion (16). Flex portion (16) is configured to allow control joint (10) to flex in order to allow the wallboard panels (24, 26) to move relative to each other (e.g., wallboard panels (24, 26) could move closer to each other and close gap (22) or wallboard panels (24, 26) could move away from each other and widen gap (22)). Wallboard panels (24, 26) may comprise drywall, cement board, or any other material suitable to serve as a panel in the wall assembly. In this embodiment, control joint (10) also includes a removable protective strip (18) positioned over flex portion (16). Protective strip (18) may be configured to help prevent material, such as joint compound, plaster, paint or other similar finishing materials, from entering flex portion (16) during installation of control joint (10). Once control joint (10) is installed, then protective strip (18) may be removed leaving flex portion (16) substantially free of material that could negatively impact the performance or aesthetic appearance of control joint (10). As shown in FIG. 2, control joint (10) is installed as part of wall assembly (20). Wall assembly (20) may comprise a header track, a footer track, a plurality of vertically oriented studs extending between the header track and footer track, and at least two adjacent drywall or wallboard panels (24, 26) supported by the plurality of studs. Specifically, control joint (10) is installed within gap (22) between wallboard panels (24, 26). Control joint (10) is installed such that flex portion (16) is positioned within gap (22) and flanges (12, 14) are positioned against an outer surface (24a, 26a) of a respective drywall panel (24, 26). Control joint 10 may be attached to drywall panels (24, 26) via fasteners, adhesive, or any other suitable means or methods known in the industry. After installation, flanges (12, 14) may be coated with a finishing material such as joint compound and/or paint. The openings in each of the respective flanges (12, 14) may facilitate application of the finishing material. FIG. 3 depicts another exemplary wall assembly (30) that includes a pair of control joints (10) installed on either side of wall assembly (30) within a respective gap (32) between respective pairs of wallboard panels (34, 36). FIG. 3 also depicts a pair of vertical metal studs (38) that are part of wall assembly (30). While a variety of control joints have been made and used, it is believed that no one prior to the inventors has made or used an invention as described herein. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is believed the present invention will be better understood from the following description of certain examples taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify the same elements and in which: FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a prior art control joint; FIG. 2 depicts a front perspective view of an exemplary wall assembly that includes the control joint of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 depicts a top view of another exemplary wall assembly that includes the control joint of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of an exemplary control joint; FIG. 5 depicts a front elevational view of the control joint of FIG. 4; FIG. 6 depicts a rear elevational view of the control joint of FIG. 4; FIG. 7 depicts a right side elevational view of the control joint of FIG. 4; FIG. 8 depicts a left side elevational view of the control joint of FIG. 4; FIG. 9 depicts a top plan view of the control joint of FIG. 4; FIG. 10 depicts a bottom plan view of the control joint of FIG. 4; FIG. 11 depicts a front perspective view of an exemplary wall assembly that includes the control joint of FIG. 4; FIG. 12 depicts a top plan view of the wall assembly of FIG. 1