Abstract: A method of assembling a deck board by using a step clip fastening device is disclosed. The method comprising the steps of fastening the step clip fastening device onto a joist by using a plurality of fastening tools; sliding a first end of the deck board into an inner cavity of a step clip attached at a first end of the step clip fastening device; and snapping a second end of the deck board into an inner cavity of a corresponding step clip facing the step clip attached at the first end of the step clip fastening device to form a mating relationship between the deck board and the step clip fastening device.

Abstract: A skylight protective cover is a weather resistant shroud having flashing about a peripheral edge configured to secure about an existing skylight in a manner which provides a space between the shroud and skylight thereby protecting the skylight from the elements.

Abstract: Corrugated fine mesh material is configured to be located overlying a gutter. The fine mesh material has an upper edge opposite a lower edge with the upper edge configured to fit beneath shingles on a roof adjacent the gutter. The lower edge is configured to be held to a lip at a forward edge of the gutter. The corrugations add strength to the material and collect water at troughs thereof where the collected water more readily forms droplets that fall down into the gutter. A lower strip is preferably provided to hold the lower edge of the mesh to a lip of the gutter. An upper strip is optionally provided which includes a tab, which can fit beneath shingles to the roof. A barrier such as a bead of caulk can optionally be coupled to an underside of the corrugated mesh to further encourage water droplets to fall.

Abstract: A shelter system having a stationary section configured to be positioned below grade and having a plurality of perimeter walls forming a stationary frame. A plurality telescoping sections are nested within the stationary section. A roof panel is attached to a top telescoping section of the plurality telescoping sections. A lift system is configured to provide a vertical force to the top telescoping section such that the plurality of telescoping sections are selectively positionable between an idle configuration below grade and a raised configuration above grade.

Abstract: Provided is a coupling assembly of a wind turbine including a first coupling part and a second coupling part, the first coupling part and the second coupling part being configured to be coupled with each other, the first coupling part including a first surface with a first insertion hole being configured to be inserted by a fastener, the second coupling part including a second surface with a second insertion hole being configured to be inserted by the fastener, the first surface being configured to abut the second surface.

Abstract: A thermally enhanced extrudate includes a channel, a first wall, and a second wall. The channel extends along a longitudinal axis from a first end to a second end of the thermally enhanced extrudate and is shaped to receive glass or a frame. The second wall is spaced from the first wall. The first wall and the second wall partially enclose a thermal break extending along the longitudinal axis. The thermal break has a first width defined between the first wall and the second wall at an upper end of the thermal break and a second width defined between the first wall and the second wall at a lower end of the thermal break. The thermally enhanced extrudate further includes a solid insulation material in the thermal break between the first and second walls and formed by curing a flowable material.

Abstract: A tie-down anchor for use with decking boards, or the like, having a gap with a longitudinal axis located between adjacent decking boards. The tie-down anchor includes a continuously formed anchor having a lower leg extending in a first direction in a first horizontal plane, a vertical section connected to the lower leg and perpendicular to the first horizontal plane, an upper leg that is parallel to the lower leg and lies in a second horizontal plane spaced above the first horizontal plane by the length of vertical section, and a loop above the vertical section and the upper leg. Wherein the lower leg can be inserted within the gap between adjacent decking boards and the loop turned to trap the anchor between the decking boards such that the upper leg and lower leg are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the gap.

Abstract: An assembly creates annular voids in concrete around the distal end of cylindrical tubes. A cap has a flat top and a cylindrical, depending skirt. An annular, foam plug extends between the inside of the skirt and the outer diameter of the tube. The plug has an undeformed inner diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the tube to create an interference fit around the tube and keep concrete out when the cap is on the end of the tube. The plug has a radial thickness of 0.3 to 1 inch, and has an axial length of 1 to 3 inches, with a bottom of the plug located at a bottom of the skirt. The cap is glued to the end of the tube for pressure testing. After the tube is entrained in concrete, the cap and plug are removed to leave a void in the concrete surface.

Abstract: A coupling device for coupling tower segments, which are arranged on one another, of a tubular tower of a wind power installation, having a coupling plate for contact against a circumferential surface of the tower segments, which are arranged on one another, in an abutting region, comprising a fastening portion having a first contact surface for arranging on a circumferential surface of a first tower segment and a connecting portion having a second contact surface for arranging on a circumferential surface of a second tower segment, and at least one through-opening.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to an insulation-retaining sheet, e.g., for blown-in insulation, that includes an integral vapor-retarding membrane. In one aspect, the disclosure provides an insulation-retaining sheet including a sheet of mesh having an air permeability of at least 200 cfm per square foot; and one or more strips of vapor-retarding membrane, the one or more strips of vapor-retarding membrane being laminated to the sheet of mesh, the first side edge each of the strips of vapor-retarding membrane extending to the first side edge of the sheet of mesh, the second side edge each of the strips of vapor-retarding membrane extending to the second side edge of the sheet of mesh, wherein the insulation-retaining sheet has a plurality of open zones extending laterally from the first side edge of the sheet of mesh to the second side edge of the sheet of mesh in which no vapor-retarding membrane is laminated to the mesh.

Abstract: Disclosed are a ceramic tile leveling bracket, pushing and clamping pliers, and a ceramic tile leveling and laying system. The ceramic tile leveling and laying system comprises: a ceramic tile leveling bracket, an insertion block, and pushing and clamping pliers, wherein the ceramic tile leveling bracket is disposed at a junction of at least two adjacent ceramic tiles, one end of the insertion block is inserted into an insertion block receiving portion of the ceramic tile leveling bracket, and the pushing and clamping pliers push and clamp the insertion block into a ceramic tile leveling bracket such that a bottom face of the insertion block is tangent to upper surfaces of the ceramic tiles. The ceramic tile leveling and laying system is easy to operate, and improves the laying efficiency and laying quality.

Abstract: A mobile tower for transportation to and rapid deployment at remote sites where the mobile tower can be engaged with the ground, the mobile tower including an extendable and retractable tower secured to a mobile support structure including a frame having a plurality of rapidly deployable outriggers, wherein the tower includes three series of pivotally interconnected tower sections or segments, sections or segments of which engage with segments of each of the other series when the tower is assembled; the mobile tower including a plurality of guy wires secured between the extendable and retractable tower and the respective outriggers to stabilize the tower after the tower is assembled. The guy wires are preferably secured to the extendable and retractable tower at first and second connecting positions that are displaced from one another about an outer perimeter. Methods of deploying the mobile tower are also disclosed.

Abstract: A vertical joint system for a surface covering panel having an upper and lower surfaces, and a plurality of sides located between the upper and lower surfaces. The joint system has a male part along at least one side and a female part along an opposite side. The female part has a protrusion that extends from the lower surface and an outer most female surface on the protrusion. The male part has a recess that opens onto the lower surface with a portion of the recess forming an inner most male surface. The outer most female surface and the inner most male surface arranged so that when the male part of one surface covering panel is engaged with a female part of a second surface covering panel the outer most female surface overlies the inner most male locking surface at a first location and a second location.

Abstract: Provided is a composite tower structure and a method of designing and assembling the same, the composite tower structure including: a tower body, a foundation to which a bottom end of the tower body is fixed, a plurality of vertical supports disposed around a perimeter of the tower body, and a support structure connecting a top end of each of the plurality of vertical supports to the tower body. The composite tower structure may further include one or more intermediate guide structure(s) connected to the tower body and supporting a middle portion of the plurality of vertical supports.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to insulated building structures. In one aspect of the disclosure, an insulated building structure includes a longitudinally-extending cavity bound by a first lateral surface, a second lateral surface, a back surface and a front surface, the cavity having a cross-sectional area in a plane normal to a longitudinal axis of the cavity; one or more shelves extending into the cavity, each having an occluded area in the plane that is less than the cross-sectional area of the cavity; and loose-fill insulation disposed in the cavity, loose-fill insulation being positioned above and below each of the shelves.

Abstract: A standing seam metal panel for a roof cover system has upstanding symmetrical sides defining lateral edges. A trough extends between the lateral edges. Each lateral edge comprises an angled portion, a vertical portion, and first and second horizontal portions. The angled portion extends upward and outward from the trough. The vertical portion extends upward from the angled portion and generally perpendicular to the trough. The first horizontal portion extends inward from the vertical portion and generally parallel to the trough. The second horizontal portion extends above, outward from, and generally parallel to the first horizontal portion. The lateral edges are formed by bends in the metal panel that define the portions of the lateral edges. The lateral edges are adapted to form a sidelap with a lateral edge of an adjacent the metal panel in the cover system. The sidelap is formed on panel clips of the cover system.

Abstract: A clamper plate for securing a tower having a flange to a pedestal having an embedded first bolt and second bolt is disclosed. The clamper plate includes a first surface coming into contact with the flange and a second surface coming into contact with the pedestal. The clamper plate also includes a first through-hole for receiving the first bolt therethrough and a second through-hole for receiving the second bolt therethrough. During installation the clamper plate is placed over the flange and secured to the pedestal through the first bolt and second bolt.

Abstract: A concrete dowel placement system and methods for making the same. The system allows for accurate and easy substantially-parallel or parallel placement of slip dowels within sections of concrete so that adjacent sections of concrete may be allowed to undergo thermal expansion and contraction while remaining in a common plane without cracking or faulting. The system includes a coupler and a sheath. The sheath is configured to be slidably extensible over the coupler and may be held to the coupler by friction. An outer surface of the sheath may be textured. Additionally, a method of constructing the concrete dowel placement system includes extruding material to form two tubes of different sizes. The tubes are then attached to each other, then material is extruded or injection molded to form a sheath. Alternatively, construction may include extruding material to form a tube, then removing some of the material from the tube in order to form a coupler.

Abstract: Devices and methods for extracting objects from substrates are disclosed. One embodiment has a first end with a tapered handle and a second end with a dowel. The dowel can be a steel dowel and include a beveled edge enabling engagement with a hole in an object. Another embodiment can include an intermediate portion connected to and located between the first and second ends. The device can be manually inserted into a hole in a stake. Once engaged with the stake, a user can apply torque in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction several times to loosen the stake from the substrate. When loosened from the substrate, a user can apply a pulling force away from the substrate to remove the stake.

Abstract: Provided is a wind power installation for converting the kinetic energy of the wind into the mechanical energy of rotation of a rotor for subsequent conversion of the mechanical energy of rotation into the electrical energy. A wind power installation includes a support frame, a shaft disposed on the support frame, and a blade system mounted on the shaft. The shaft is configured to rotate about a vertical axis and is functionally connected to an electric generator. The support frame is configured to be mounted between at least three radially arranged structures. The wind power installation can include additional blade systems disposed one above another on the shaft. Mounting the support frame between three radially arranged structures results in greater rigidity and robustness of the wind power installation, thus enabling the use of blade systems having a larger blade area and the arrangement of several blade systems on the shaft.