Walls and partitions and concealed fasteners for assembly thereof

Abstract

Walls and partitions are constructed by securing of wallboard panels to a substructure, such as common wood or metal framing members, by a series of concealed clips of described construction, affixed to the framing members by nail or screw type fasteners. When the wall or partition is erected the fasteners are hidden from view so that joint treatment of the wallboard panels may be reduced or eliminated, depending on the type of wall structure constructed. The side or edge gripping clips are impaled along each side of abutting panels. When erected, a first series of clip fasteners are impaled on a side of a first wallboard and fastened to a framing member and a second series of such fasteners are impaled on an abutting or nearly abutting side of a second, wallboard panel, offset from the first series of clips so as to fit behind and be held by the first panel in a 'tongue and groove' type cooperation. The invented fasteners include strengthening wall portions that reinforce them and create a clearance or spacing between the substructure framing member and the backs of the panels, while also providing for screw or nail head clearance. Also disclosed are such clips and wall and partition structures with features that permit easier disassembly of the structures, or spacing apart of the wallboard ends to allow for filler or filler strip insertion, when such may be desirable.