Abstract: A roofing system includes shingles having a front surface, a rear surface, an upper portion, and a lower portion. The lower portion is wider than the upper portion. A tongue extends from the upper portion and overlaps the lower portion, thereby defining a first groove between the tongue and the front surface of the lower portion. A return extends from an end of the lower portion opposite the upper portion, thereby defining a second groove between the return portion and the rear surface of the lower portion.

Abstract: Floor panels are shown, which are provided with a vertical folding locking system on short edges that only locks vertically and a mechanical locking system on long edges that prevents displacement along the long edges.

Abstract: A device which can slide up and down on a chain or cable, can be loosened to attach to the chain or cable, but does not have any parts that come free when the part is loosened. The device includes first and second pieces, each made of structural material, the first and second pieces fitting together at concave and convex surfaces, to form an interlock forms inner surfaces with a through hole of a first shape that can slide along either a cable or a chain.

Abstract: Provided are assemblies having composite structures interlocked with shape memory alloy structures and methods of fabricating such assemblies. Interlocking may involve inserting an interlocking protrusion of a shape memory alloy structure into an interlocking opening of a composite structure and heating at least this protrusion of the shape memory alloy structure to activate the alloy and change the shape of the protrusion. This shape change engages the protrusion in the opening such that the protrusion cannot be removed from the opening. The shape memory alloy structure may be specifically trained prior to forming an assembly using a combination of thermal cycling and deformation to achieve specific pre-activation and post-activation shapes. The pre-activation shape allows inserting the interlocking protrusion into the opening, while the post-activation shape engages the interlocking protrusion within the opening. As such, activation of the shape memory alloy interlocks the two structures.

Abstract: Disclosed is an anchor having a sleeve and a concentric shaft having head at one end with a rectangular plate through with the shaft interposed between the head and the adjacent end of the sleeve. A deformable plate is positioned on the shaft between the head and the sleeve so that movement of the sleeve along the shaft towards the head deforms the plate from a configuration where the plate is substantially confined to an area within the perimeter of the head into a substantially planar configuration where the perimeter of the plate extends at least partially beyond the perimeter of the head. Also disclosed is a method of fixing the anchor in a bore hole with the ends of the plate in an undercut in the bore hole and filling the bore hole with resin while venting air via a passage extending from adjacent to a closed end of the bore hole through a suitable cover.

Abstract: Surface coverings, such as floor coverings, with an interlocking design are described. Methods of making the surface coverings are further described. A plank including a resilient composite sheet having four sides, an upper surface, a lower surface, and an overall thickness, and said composite sheet comprising at least one base layer, wherein said at least one base layer comprising at least one polymeric material and at least one filler, wherein opposite sides of the composite sheet comprise a first tongue on a first side and a first groove on the opposite second side, wherein the first tongue and first groove have complementary shape to each other to be interlockingly engageable with a corresponding groove or tongue on an adjacent floor plank.

Abstract: A structural support having fractal-stiffening and method of fabricating the support is presented where an optimized location of at least three nodes is predetermined prior to fabricating the structural support where a first set of webs is formed on one side of the support and joined to the nodes to form a first pocket region. A second set of webs is formed within the first pocket region forming a second pocket region where the height of the first set of webs extending orthogonally from the side of the support is greater than the second set of webs extending orthogonally from the support.

Abstract: Apparatus for unrolling rolls of building insulation in vertical strips from the roof eave down, and adapted to be carried by an aerial work platform that in turn is carried by an elevator, has a pair of spars as well as an arbor and a tensioning control mechanism. The spars are spaced apart and are mounted to as well as project away from the aerial work platform. The arbor is carried between the spaced spars for inserting through the core of a role of insulation and allowing the insulation to be unrolled from the roll in the form of strips to be hung on the building. The tensioning control mechanism is provided for controlling the unrolling of the roll.

Abstract: A baffle formed of square tubing having four faces, each face having a series of openings therein, The baffles are joined in off set rows and offset columns, with a space between each pair of baffles, vertically and horizontally, preferably in rows of six to form an anti-graffiti baffle assembly that has thirty six baffles therein. The individual baffles can be welded or otherwise attached to each other to form the baffle assembly, and which assembly is attached to either a substrate to be protected, or attached to a pair of spaced mounting posts which in turn are mounted to a substrate by four flat plates that are strategically attached to the baffle assembly to act as a mounting means.

Abstract: To enhance the positioning accuracy between primary members and auxiliary members without need of latch parts such as rivets, an insertion frame structure includes: a pair of primary members having L-shaped cross-sections and placed with the L shapes facing to each other symmetrically; and several auxiliary members having angular U-shaped cross-sections between the primary members. The primary members and the auxiliary members are joined at latch portions. The latch portions of the primary members have clearance-shaped latch holes. The latch portions of the auxiliary members have convex portions to be inserted into the latch holes. Each latch hole has a clearance with a larger dimension than a plate thickness t of the auxiliary members, and continuously from the clearance, a clearance with a dimension smaller than the plate thickness t of the auxiliary members.

Abstract: A system for supporting exterior panels on a substrate of a building structure. The system has a plurality of polymeric bracket members, and each of the bracket members have at least one anchor section, at least one web section and at least one support section. The polymeric bracket members provide a thermal break from the exterior panel to the substrate of the building structure. A plurality of exterior cladding units are held in place by the bracket members. A plurality of vents are disposed between the panels and the exterior panels, and a plurality of vents are also disposed between the panels and the substrate, thereby forming a ventilation system.

Abstract: An insulation system for coupling to a building substrate comprising a plurality of insulation panels, bracket members and splice members. Each insulation panel includes a longitudinal slot. Each bracket member is formed from a polymer and includes an elongated body having a body wall, a first end wall and a second end wall. Upper and lower ribs extend from the body wall and are structurally configured to extend into the longitudinal slot of each of the plurality of insulation panels, and to elastically deform the longitudinal slot so as to effectively seal along a length thereof, defining a vapor barrier. A similar structure is on each splice member. The bracket members are positioned in a spaced apart relationship with insulation panels therebetween. The upper and lower ribs extend into corresponding ones of the longitudinal slots of the insulation panels, with splice members extending between adjacent adjacently abutting insulation panels.

Abstract: A line conduit (10) to be cast into a structural element (12), especially a floor/ceiling and/or wall made of concrete, including an elongated housing (18) that has a holding space (25) for at least one line (16). The space is continuous in the lengthwise direction (L), and includes a fire-protection element (26) made of an intumescent material that is arranged around the inner wall of the housing (18) in the circumferential direction, whereby at least one anchoring element (34) is provided on the inner wall of the housing (18), the element being anchored inside the fire-protection element (26).

Abstract: A fiberglass hole plug for sealing unused openings in electrical enclosures is disclosed. The hole plug includes a cover having a first side and a second side and defining a peripheral edge and a threaded member having a first end and a second end. The second end of the threaded member is attached to the second side of the cover, axially extends in a direction away from the cover, wherein a radial distance between the threaded member and the peripheral edge on the second side of said cover is less than or equal to one-half inch. The hole plug further includes a fastener threadably attached to the threaded member, whereby rotation of the fastener adjusts a longitudinal distance between the first end and the second end of the threaded member.

Abstract: A post-tensioning wrap includes a housing having at least one cavity and at least one tendon bonded to the housing. The wrap can be wrapped around the concrete article to equalize compression. Thereafter, a medium is injected into the cavity causing the housing to swell and compression of the concrete article by the tendon.

Abstract: A safety barrier for a sump pit is disclosed. The safety barrier cooperates corrugations or discontinuities in the sump pit to support the safety barrier within the sump pit. The safety barrier includes a planar platform and at least two extendible legs that are attached to the planar platform. The extendable legs are used to contact or engage corrugations or discontinuities in the sump pit. The extension of extendable legs from the planar platform traps the device within the recessed surface of one of the corrugations or discontinuities of the sump pit.

Abstract: Flooring and drain assemblies are provided. The assemblies provide a plurality of panels or flooring members for surrounding and directing fluid toward a drain body. Assemblies include a drain body may be secured to or in fluid communication with additional plumbing features, and layers or features for connecting the assembly. The drain body is connected to at least one the flooring members in various ways to promote proper floor drainage.

Abstract: The architectonic spacer building system is a simplified prefabrication assembly using industrialized building system concept. The architectonic spacer building system for skeleton construction includes a spacer (2, 4, 6, 8, 10) having a predetermined shape for use in constructing modular form of building components, including a modular floor joist assembly (18), corner and crisscross junctions assembly (17, 19). The spacer acts as an anchored dowel connector (2, 10), composite key roof connector (22, 24, 26) and/or a bracing (2, 4, 6, 8) of adjoining wall panel (12).

Abstract: The invention relates to a facing element, particularly a plate-shaped facing element (1), for a wall of a building, with an inner boundary surface (2) on the side facing towards the wall and an outer boundary surface (3) on the side facing away from the wall. According to the invention, at least one cavity (6) is arranged between the inner boundary surface (2) and outer boundary surface (3), which cavity (6) extends from a lower boundary surface (4) of the facing element (1) to an upper boundary surface (5) of the facing element (1), and wherein at least one punch hole (7, 7?) is provided, which extends from the wall-side boundary surface (2) as far as the at least one cavity (6).

Abstract: A structure vibration control device includes a hydraulic damper having damping force characteristics that vary in response to a magnitude of an earthquake and having characteristics that are maintained for a long period of time regardless of an environmental temperature change. The hydraulic damper includes a preload chamber into which a high-pressure gas is charged in series with a hydraulic chamber. The preload chamber absorbs a volume change of the hydraulic chamber caused by the environmental temperature change and a piston rod and balances a bias force of a spring within the hydraulic chamber and of the preload chamber. Piston valves have high damping force characteristics against a weak earthquake and low damping force characteristics against a strong earthquake. The piston valves may include an orifice beside a check valve function, by which the high damping force characteristics lie within a range of 150 to 800 kN/(m/sec).