US 12,352,034 B2
Load bearing wall construction system using hollow structural sections
Frank Pospisil, Oak Park, IL (US); and Kyle Flondor, Chicago, IL (US)
Assigned to UNITED STATES GYPSUM COMPANY, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed by UNITED STATES GYPSUM COMPANY, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Aug. 30, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/823,363.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/313,954, filed on Feb. 25, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0272612 A1, Aug. 31, 2023
Int. Cl. E04B 1/24 (2006.01); E04B 1/343 (2006.01)
CPC E04B 1/34321 (2013.01) [E04B 1/24 (2013.01); E04B 2001/2481 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A construction unit, comprising:
a load-bearing frame including a plurality of upper horizontal members joined together at ends to form an upper frame portion;
a plurality of lower horizontal members joined together at ends to form a lower frame portion;
a plurality of vertical members joined to and vertically separating said upper frame portion from said lower frame portion, said vertical members being located at opposing corners defined by said upper frame portion and said lower frame portion;
at least one hollow structural section having and load bearing capacity compared to said vertical members and vertically positioned between said upper and lower frame portions and being fixed to said frame between adjacent pairs of said vertical members, each said at least one hollow structural section and each said vertical member having similar depth;
at least one sheathing panel joined directly to said at least one hollow structural section and to said vertical members for forming a wall of said construction unit; and
said at least one sheathing panel is made of one of gypsum wallboard and structural cement panel, each thickness of said sheathing panel providing an hour of fire rating due to said direct attachment of said at least one panel to both said vertical members and to said hollow structural panels.