Abstract: One aspect of the invention relates to an insulation and ventilation system for a building envelope (e.g. a building wall and/or a building roof). The system includes: one or more interior building envelope layers; an insulation panel having an interior side abutting against at least one of the one or more interior building envelope layers and an exterior side having a plurality of transversely spaced and continuously longitudinally extending grooves interspaced between a plurality of transversely spaced and continuously longitudinally extending protrusions; and one or more exterior building envelope layers located exterior to the insulation panel to provide a plurality of transversely localized venting channels defined at least in part by an interior surface of the one or more exterior building envelope layers and the grooves of the exterior side of the insulation panel.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a dual use coupling end including a pipe section having an annular recessed cam groove a distance from an annular endwardly facing surface of the pipe section, the cam groove defined by a curved or tapered cam groove surface extending gradually radially inwardly from an annular radial outer surface of the fitting adjacent toward the endwardly facing surface, to an annular clamp groove terminating on an opposite end by a radially outwardly extending annular clamp abutment surface located a distance from the endwardly facing surface. The clamp abutment surface extends a distance radially outwardly from the radial innermost portion to an annular beveled cam abutment surface at an acute angle to the clamp abutment surface and facing radially outwardly from the endwardly facing surface, the cam abutment surface disposed radially outwardly of the cam groove surface and including a radial outward discontinuous extension.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of mortarless, brick- and stone-like veneer systems for walls. More particularly, the present invention relates to suspension rails for providing mortarless or mortar-optional installations of brick- and stone-like panels for covering walls. Embodiments of the invention provide a cage-type suspension rail configured to be partially embedded in the panel and a universal hanging bracket that provides pullout resistance for the panels. An exemplary suspension rail comprises: a first four-sided frame with horizontally and vertically disposed sides; a plurality of posts disposed on and perpendicular to the first frame or the cross bars; a second four-sided frame in communication with the plurality of posts; an upper tab in communication with the first frame for connecting the rail to a surface; wherein the upper tab is disposed outside a perimeter of the first frame and a perimeter of a second frame.

Abstract: An ice melting and clearing rod includes an ice melting chemical compound including calcium chloride, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, amide, and/or glycol, forming a substantially cylindrical member. The substantially cylindrical member includes: an outer surface including: multiple grooves that run along a length of the cylindrical member, the grooves being evenly spaced about a circumference of the cylindrical member; and a textured surface along at least a portion of the outer surface, the textured surface providing resistance in one direction along the length of the cylindrical member; and a set of through-holes adapted for use as placement features, wherein each through-hole in the set of through-holes is perpendicular to the length of the cylindrical member, where: the rod is adapted for use on a sloped roof, the outer surface is formed by the ice melting compound, and a shape of the substantially cylindrical member is retained without any external container.

Abstract: A glass block panel assembled, framed and attached to a substrate such that it resists threats from forced entry, prisoner escape, bullets from guns, bomb blasts, and tornados.

Abstract: A bracket assembly for connecting an overhead roof structure to below roof structure elements of a building. The below roof structure elements include a wall having a top plate member or ceiling support structure. The bracket assembly includes overhead fixing members, a bracket member, bearing member, sleeve member, and below roof structure fastener, which are interconnected and fastened together. One end of the bracket member is connectable to the overhead fixing members to the overhead roof structure and the other end is connectable to the below roof structure fastener which is connectable to the below roof structure. The bearing and sleeve members are located and connected between the bracket member and the below roof structure such that the bracket member rests without loading on the bearing member which then rests on the sleeve member which when used rests without loading on the below roof structure, providing structural integrity.

Abstract: The anchoring element serves to anchor the bracket to a substrate, and the pressure element is intended to interact with the firestop collar. The pressure element can be moved relative to the anchoring element. An expansion element made of intumescent material is arranged between the anchoring element and the pressure element.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of home decoration, in particular to a home plate connecting device, which includes a plate and plate connecting piece, a glass and plate connecting piece, a plate bottom edge and ground connecting piece, a decorative plate and plate connecting piece, a doorframe and wall connecting piece and a plate chamfer connecting piece, wherein each of the connecting pieces is provided with a rubber barbed tenon structure and a mortise structure with a barbed accommodation groove. According to the invention, the mortise and tenon structures and a threaded connection manner are adopted for fixation, so that the device can be freely dismounted and conveniently packaged and transported; each part is matched, and is easy to position, so that mounting and dismounting working efficiency is improved; and the dismounted parts are prevented from damage, and are high in reutilization rate, so that the device can be widely applied to the field of home mounting and decoration.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method for a sliding entry door assembly. The sliding door assembly has a frame, and a fixed lid attached to the frame. A rail is attached to the frame. A lid is selectively slidable upon the rail relative to the fixed lid to an opened position. A cam is selectively operable to raise the slidable lid to be flush with the fixed lid in a closed position.

Abstract: Apparatus are provided for a shield and flange support for a duct. The shield and flange support includes a first side and a second side coupled to the first side to extend toward the duct. The first side and the second side cooperate to define a cavity, and the cavity includes at least one of a first insulating fluid and a first insulating solid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to structure members having a body made of a composite material comprising at least one type of fiber and at least one type of resin, and pluralities of connection extensions which are one-piece with said body in order to provide connection to another structure member with the same properties, and the present invention relates to a structure formed by said structure members.

Abstract: This invention generally relates to a workspace based on a central-themed geometric configuration, wherein a circular area is divided into pie segments that relate a first team of working associations, separated radially, from a second team of working associations, first and second teams of associations collocated circumferentially into teams of differing and similar tasked members.

Abstract: A fire escape chamber includes a hermetically sealable outer cage with outer side wall elements, with an outer floor element and with an outer ceiling element. Fire protection insulation layers are provided on the inner sides of the outer elements with some fastened by pin elements, which protrude from the outer side wall elements and from the outer ceiling element into the respective fire protection insulation layers. An inner cage has inner side wall elements, an inner ceiling element and an inner floor element. The inner floor element is mounted in a supporting manner on the fire protection insulation layer of the outer floor element. The inner side wall elements and the inner ceiling element are formed by a plurality of support structure elements, on the inner sides of which panels are, in turn, fastened. The support structure elements are located at spaced locations from the pin elements.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a retrofitable brace fitting assembly. In one approach, a brace platform has a first side, a second side, and a platform slot extending inwardly from an outer edge. The brace platform further includes a post disposed on the first side of the platform for engagement with a corresponding opening in a brace fitting, and a tab disposed on the second side of the platform for engagement with a strut. To restrict rotation of the platform relative to the strut, the tab may extend into an opening of the strut for engagement with an inward turn edge of the strut, or the tab may extend along and abut an exterior surface of the strut. The brace platform may further include a reinforcement post for engagement with a threaded rod, the reinforcement post extending through a corresponding opening in the brace fitting.

Abstract: A building construction unit and a method of constructing a building using wall and ceiling panel assemblies that are made up of traditional framing materials, such as studs and interior walls, coated with insulating foam, except that the typical exterior sheathing is optional. Because the panel assembly is structurally sound and thermally insulated, the only reason to install an exterior sheath or additional roofing material is for aesthetic or practical purposes.

Abstract: The present invention provided a precast modular concrete wall panel having a rectangular wall body with an upper slot and two side slots, and the wall body can further include an insulating layer and a decorative layer, and can contain a sandwich layer embedded in the concrete structure. The wall panels may be used with wall columns, wall corners and other components to form a wall panel system and further to form a building of frame structure or frame-share wall structure. Such wall panels have advantageous structural features and thus can be cost effectively prefabricated, and the construction process using such panel system can be performed with high efficiency.

Abstract: Provided is a retrofitting structure for existing building that does not require the addition of a foundation specific to the retrofitting structure, can implement seismic retrofitting at any floors only of the existing building, and hardly causes a large drawing force resulting from eccentric bending moment that may act on the seismic retrofitting structure. A retrofitting structure 100 for existing building includes: a reinforcing frame 10 including a frame member 11 and a vibration control member 12 interposed in the frame member, the reinforcing frame being provided on an outer wall surface of an existing building B having an overhang T on the outer wall surface so as to surround the overhang T; and a vertical truss member 30 and a horizontal truss member 20 configured to couple the reinforcing frame 10 and the outer wall surface.

Abstract: A waterproof juncture comprised of a water-impermeable membrane applied over at least the upper peripheral edge of a wallboard or shower pan sidewall and a portion of an adjacent wall-forming member which is coplanar with the wall studs, which in turn will form a waterproof covering over the seam between the upper peripheral edge of the wallboard or shower pan sidewall (or equivalent shower bench, shelf or ledge) and the adjacent wall-forming member.

Abstract: A floorboard assembly comprises first and second solid wood floor boards (10) and (12). The first floor board (10) has a tongue (14) extending longitudinally along a first side thereof. The second floor board (12) having a groove (16) extending longitudinally along a second side thereof. The groove (16) has a width defined between a top lip (22) and a bottom lip (24). The tongue (14) is insertable in a tight fit manner in the groove (16) to prevent translational separation of the boards (10, 12) in a common plane thereof. A clearance (26, 26?, 28, 32, 32?, 32?, 36 and 38) is provided between the tongue (14) and the groove (16) at one of a tip portion of the tongue (14) and an outermost portion of the top and bottom lips (22, 24) of the groove (16). The clearance (26, 26?, 28, 32, 32?, 32?, 36 and 38) is configured to allow angular withdrawal of the tongue (14) from the groove (16) by manually pivoting the first and second floor boards (10, 12) towards one another in one of an upward and a downward direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a connector unit for connecting capillaries, in particular for high-performance liquid chromatography, wherein a sealing element sealing the capillary protrudes at least partially into the interior of the capillary, while a portion of the sealing element that protrudes axially from the capillary can be subjected to a compressive force that is introduced via the capillary to obtain an axial or radial plastic and/or elastic deformation.