Abstract: A retainer assembly for securing a sheet-like material to a wall comprising an elongated stud having an inner end welded to the wall and extending outwardly therefrom so as to be perpendicular to the wall, the stud having a pointed outer end whereby the sheet-like material can be impaled thereon and positioned so as to be adjacent the wall, the stud being provided with a longitudinal slit extending from the outer pointed end to a location adjacent the inner end so as to form a pair of longitudinal fingers, the stud being bent adjacent the inner end whereby the fingers are laterally offset from each other, the fingers being provided with alternate outwardly extending teeth and recessed notches along the longitudinal sides of the fingers opposite from the slit, and a retainer plate provided with a central opening therein such that the pointed end of the stud can be inserted through the opening to permit the plate to be slidably received on the stud, the opening in the plate being approximately equal to the dist

Abstract: A load-bearing square plate usable in conjunction with an anchor bolt to firmly secure a layer of thermal insulation material to a roof surface to prevent the layer from being blown away as a result of strong updrafts. The plate has a center hole for receiving the shank of the anchor bolt to be driven by a hammer into the roof. The plate is embossed to define both a raised hub which surrounds the hole to catch the head of the hammer when it drives in the bolt and thereby prevent overdrive thereof, and a plate-reinforcing pattern to resist flexure thereof omnidirectionally. This embossed pattern is constituted by a four-sided marginal frame adjacent the edges of the plate, a star formed by radial spokes of progressively diminishing width extending from the hub to the corners of the frame, and a cross formed by short ribs lying between the radial spokes and extending from the hub to the midpoints of the frame sides.

Abstract: A method of constructing floor castings for building comprising the steps of forming a frame or ribbing (6) of beams, supporting panels (1) between the beams to provide substantially the lower surface of the floor at a level below the lower edges of the beams, temporarily securing flat bridging means (9) against the lower surfaces of the panels to continuously bridge the gaps therebetween partially occupied by the supporting beams and pouring a layer (13) of concrete over the structure comprising the panels and beams to form, when set, a composite cast floor having a substantially smooth and continuous lower surface after removal of the bridging means.

Abstract: In order to assemble a unit type curtain wall, curtain wall units are successively mounted by the steps of positioning a lower edge portion of a curtain wall unit to be mounted relative to an upper edge portion of an existing curtain wall unit positioned therebelow in a direction orthogonal to a curtain wall surface to provisionally connect them together, moving the unit in a direction parallel to the curtain wall surface to connect with another existing curtain wall unit positioned to left or right, and thereafter perpendicularly moving the curtain wall unit to be mounted so as to be secured to a building body and the existing curtain wall units.

Abstract: A composite structural element has a main steel beam having a web and at least two flanges extending therefrom, having oppositely directed outer faces, having outer edges generally defining a plane and defining with the web a recess open away from the web between the outer edges. A mass of concrete fills the recess substantially to the plane, the outer flange faces being exposed and substantially free of concrete. Another profiled steel beam is fixed to the web of the main beam and wholly imbedded in and covered by the concrete mass. Typically the main beam is an H- or I-beam and has two such channels provided with such other beams and filled with respective such masses. The other beams can be of T-section or each other beam can be an I- or H-beam. In addition it is possible to provide longitudinally extending steel reinforcing bars imbedded in the concrete mass. Steel fibers can also be imbedded as reinforcement in the concrete mass, and this mass can be at least partially of colloid concrete.

Abstract: A portable space divider screen which comprises a panel having a frame and infill means in same and means to join a panel to other panels and in which the infill means comprising cellular members with the cells containing sound-absorbent material, apertured wall members enclosing the infill means, and outwardly facing covers of sound-absorbing fabric over the said apertured wall members, and optionally a longitudinal slot in at least an upper face of the upper frame member and ducts to contain electrical wiring etc. longitudinally extending along the lower portion of the panel and having skirtings to cover the ducts to and support power outlets.

Abstract: In order to prevent parked automobiles from being dented or scratched when they are parked in a regular parking space in a garage, carport or the like, a pad is suspended from overhead in a location near the car, or between two adjacent cars. The pad may be of substantial extent, such as two feet by five feet, for example, in order to protect all of the areas which might receive small dents from the doors of adjacent cars. The pad is preferably suspended from above the vehicles and is provided with supports such that the pad may be shifted to different stable positions where it is closer to one car or the other, or where it is raised up out of the way to provide additional clearance for other activities.

Abstract: A room addition type of construction for attachment to the outside wall of a building. The wall has an opening for access to the interior of the building. A foundation is provided adjacent the wall and an upright frame assembly is mounted on the foundation. The frame includes side wall frames, an outer wall frame, and a roof frame. A plurality of structurally independent panel members are securely mounted in each of the frame portions with a substantial portion of the panels comprising window units having glazing panels therein. The panel members cooperate with the frame assembly for providing load bearing support for the structure. The frame assembly is secured to the building and a weather seal is provided between the room structure assembly and the building. The panels are secured to each other and to the frame assembly and weather seals are provided between the panels and between the panels and the frame assembly.

Abstract: In a frame and movable panel assembly, such as a ventilating skylight, a weather seal comprises a panel cap on the panel, a projection on the frame and a water dam on the projection. The cap defines a covered recess into which the projection enters upon closure of the panel on the frame, to provide a primary air tight seal. The dam simultaneously contacts the cap to provide a secondary water tight seal which protects the primary seal.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for heat insulating the inside of a panel assembly (11) forming a building-type structure is disclosed. The insulating apparatus includes anchor clips (31) that are secured in the connecting flange portions of adjacent panels prior to joining them together at continuous seams. These anchor clips are arranged at spaced intervals along the seams and in rows spaced to accommodate standard width of sheets of heat insulation. An intermediate connecting member (33) snap fastens to each anchor clip and preferably is of a good heat insulating material such as an extruded plastic which serves as a thermal barrier between the metal anchor clips (31) and metal retaining members (35). The retaining members snap fasten to each of a row of intermediate connecting members. Spaced pairs of the retaining members (35) extend along and engage the bottom side edge portions of the insulation to support the insulation along, and preferably firmly in place against, the inside of the connecting panels.

Abstract: A backer clip, a plurality of which may be used to replace a second framing member normally employed for interior corner constructions of wallboard, ceiling and partition panel assemblies, and suitable for installation on a framing member, is of a continuous length of wire bent to shape so that an interior portion (or exterior portions) thereof is (are) substantially in a single plane, and the corresponding exterior portions (or interior portion) are (is) in a substantially parallel plane when the clip is installed on a framing member, with such interior and exterior portions being connected by legs in a plane at about right angles to such other planes when the clip is installed, and being of such length that sides of the interior and exterior portions facing each other can bear against faces of a substantially rectangular longitudinal framing member onto which the clip may be installed, with the legs along a connecting side of the framing member and with a part of the interior portion or exterior portions of

Abstract: Building insulation for installation between joists above a crawl space, basement or garage area comprising a layer of insulating material having a vapor barrier layer on the top thereof and a flexible reticulated member at the bottom thereof, such member having fastening flanges thereon extending downwardly and adapted to be secured to the sides of the joists, whereby the reticulated member supports the insulating material and vapor barrier layer.

Abstract: An operable wall system which is especially desirable for use with large and/or heavy wall panels can be constructed so that each panel in the system is supported from a track structure by two separate trolleys. The track structure includes a terminal section having two parallel end sections joined to the main portion of the track structure through a junction. This junction is provided with cams which cooperate with differently oriented flange wheels on successive trolleys so that the panels can be moved between a position in which they are aligned with one another beneath the main portion of the track structure and a position in which they are suspended from the end sections and are located in side by side relationship.

Abstract: A building having an equal number of exterior wall and roof sections is constructed of prefabricated building units each having a roof section and wall frame section pivotably affixed for relative pivotal movement. The building units are erected in pairs on a foundation assembly by a temporary central column thereat at the upper end of which is temporarily affixed a roof section bracket and is a cable-operated hoisting assembly located above the bracket. Each pair of units is oriented on the foundation on opposite sides of the central column in a folded condition with the roof sections superimposed over the wall section frames and with the inner ends of the roof sections adjacent the column, and the inner ends of the roof sections of the pair of units are then engaged and lifted by the hoisting assembly to an elevated position at the bracket from which the roof sections incline downwardly while the wall section frames are moved outwardly from the central column.

Abstract: A manually-actuated pressure-equalization system for a double-glazed, hermetically-sealed window assembly comprising a spring-biased push-button valve installed in one of the glass panes. When actuated the valve provides an air passageway coupling the interior airspace between the two panes to the ambient air so as to equalize any air pressure differential therebetween.

Abstract: A space divider system adapted to partition an interior space into working sub-areas wherein desks, cabinets, and other work components are integrated with partition walls formed by modular panels that are interlocked in a spatial pattern defining the desired sub-areas or work stations. Each panel includes a frame whose corners have recesses therein bordered by side ledges. To join two or more panels in side-by-side relation to create a planar partition wall, sandwiched between the adjoining vertical sides of the panels is a standard having a longitudinal row of slots on opposing faces thereof and a threaded socket at either end. The panels are locked together at their top and bottom by a clamp which bridges the complementary side ledges of the panels and is secured to the standard by a screw received in the end socket. To join one panel at right angles to another, use is made of a four-sided connector post whose ends are notched to create a ledge on each side.

Abstract: A window frame is made up of frame sides connected together at mitered corner joints. The frame sides are formed of a wood or wood material core with a metal foil laminate on the exterior frame surfaces and a decorative laminate on the interior of the frame surfaces. A thin corrugated metal foil is placed over the mitered corner joints and is soldered to the metal foil laminate. Drain bores in the window frame are lined with thin metal pipes. The window frame incorporates the positive properties of wood, plastics and metal without the negative properties.

Abstract: A plank grating assembly for forming decking, flooring or subflooring. Longitudinal metal planks have flanges on each side edge and trapezoidal openings in each flange. The planks are rigidly connected and supported by cross braces each having an inverted V shaped configuration. Each brace is slotted at both ends. The braces can be inserted through the openings in the plank flanges and then rotated to an assembled position in which the edges of adjacent openings are closely received in the slots of the braces.

Abstract: A captive column structure comprising a plurality of spaced-apart elongated column portions having a plurality of spaced-apart compression core members interconnecting the same. The compression core members may take either the shape of flat sheets, hollow tubes, solid tubes or square tubes. The column portions and the compression core members may be constructed of a variety of different materials.

Abstract: A vibration dampening stiffener beam (10, 10') is secured to a panel member, such as an electrical circuit board (12) that is supported at opposed ends. The beam (10, 10') extends across a mid portion of the board (12) whereat displacement of the board caused by vibration is at a maximum. The beam is an "I" beam or an inverted "T" beam. It has a mounting flange (22, 22') which is bonded or otherwise secured to the member (12) which it is to stiffen. An energy absorbing material (30) is placed on the sides of the web (24, 24') of the beam (10, 10"). This material (30) consists of thin metal constraining layers (32) bonded to each other and to the side surfaces of the web by means of a viscoelastic material (34).