Abstract: An overflow chute for guttering includes an elongate member having a substantially U-shaped cross-section and includes a weir or barrier therein intermediate an overflow spout and an inlet adapted to engage a section of guttering. The inlet may include male and female coupling portions to link the chute to a standard section of guttering. The inlet may include a downpipe connector having a through-body aperture for directing rainwater into a downpipe. The aperture may be protected by a leaf guard to prevent an accumulation of debris in the downpipe.

Abstract: A shear panel assembly including a shear panel in combination with a shear panel hold-down. The shear panel includes a frame and a panel diaphragm including a peripheral edge. The frame includes an upper horizontal frame member pivotally interconnecting the upper ends of first and second upright frame members. A lower horizontal is connected at the lower ends of the first and second upright frame members. The peripheral edge of the panel diaphragm is secured to an inner periphery of the frame within the depth of the frame. The shear panel system includes a hold-down having a base and at least one upright frame member engagement tab pivotally connected to and extending from the base for attachment to an upright frame member.

Abstract: The reusable roof anchor presents a novel approach for attaching a safety line to prevent the injury of workers while working on a roof. None of the devices in the prior art combine a reusable structure that can be adapted to any pitch of roof while providing maximum range of motion. The unique structure that joins a mounting platform with an attachment device by a pivoting joint enables this device to achieve this unique combination of benefits. Also unique to this design is the combination of the above attributes with an easy method of installation and removal. This design recognizes and addresses the four most important aspects that such a device must provide: safety, ease of installation and removal, adaptability, and range of motion. While other devices in the prior art address these concerns individually or partially, none address all four. Thus the reusable roof anchor for safety lines provides a major improvement in the safety of workers in the roofing industry.

Abstract: A guyed tower is used to support wireless communication equipment and/or other types of loads. The guyed tower is fixedly attached to a foundation, and a pole tower is erected within a middle region of the guyed tower. This pole tower is fixedly attached both to the foundation and to the guyed tower. Bending moments are transferred from the guyed tower to the pole tower via the collar that is disposed about the guyed tower. Thus, the presence of the pole tower within the middle region of the guyed tower increases the load capacity and stability of the guyed tower.

Abstract: A stress plate or seam plate for use in connection with securing membrane sheets to underlying roofing decking substructure comprises a circular disk having a central aperture for receiving a screw fastener. A plurality of concentric ribs are defined between the central aperture and the peripheral edge of the plate for providing reinforcing and bending or flexibility characteristics to the stress plate or seam plate, and in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention, a plurality of circumferentially spaced, downwardly extending projections having substantially V-shaped cross-sectional configurations are provided upon the underside of the seam or stress plate so as to engage the membrane sheets and retain the same at their desired locations upon the underlying roofing deck substructural assembly.

Abstract: Broadly, there is disclosed herein in accordance with a first aspect of the invention a safety system for use with linearly arranged reinforcement bars. The safety system includes a plurality of safety covers and a plurality of adapters. Each safety cover includes a cover plate and a collar operatively associated with and extending downwardly from the cover plate for mounting to an upper end of a reinforcement bar. Each adapter has a center section and opposite upwardly turned side sections defining a channel. The center section is adapted to removably receive one of the safety covers to secure the adapter to the reinforcement bar. The channel receives an elongate body extending between two or more of the adapters on linearly arranged reinforcement bars.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein is remarkable in its simplicity and promises wide commercial application as the labor costs for construction become increasingly prohibitive. The extraordinary absence of nails, screws, bolts, welds or any other fastening device allows these barriers to compete with many conventional barrier systems, such as those employed for fencing, vehicular trailer beds, removable stages, and scale models or toys of all fabrications mentioned plus many more. In this age time is money and the erection speed this barrier system offers may well revolutionize conventional “post and beam” framing. The invention is specifically aimed at eccentric beam loading where barriers must be economically fabricated to withstand hurricane force winds, earthquake reactions, or liquid concrete pressure in a sub-rigid manner. The Fast-Form System will offer insurers building products that will protect their interests for any and all applications.

Abstract: A method and structural component for use in constructing geodesic domes using standardized polygon panels. The invention allows for the use of a reduced number of components to construct a geodesic dome. In one embodiment, a set of kite-shaped quadrilateral panels with an external convex surface are used to substantially construct a geodesic dome. A panel includes two lip seal panel edges. The lip seam edge includes an inwardly disposed lip forming a mating surface suitable for mating with an adjacent straight seam edge of a corresponding panel so that the engagement between the two edges forms a seal. The seal may be made to impede moisture by various fastening methods, including screwing, riveting, gluing, taping or welding. Practice of the invention reduces transportation, inventory, and handling expense. Procurement, assembly, and maintenance complexity for the end user is also reduced.

Abstract: A system for constructing insulated concrete structures comprising panels molded from a closed cell foam plastic, with a facing material attached to the outside surface of panels adding substantial strength to panels during material handling and construction, providing a substrate for finish materials and adding UV resistance to panel surfaces. Panels are placed horizontally in an opposing and parallel spaced-apart relationship. Vertical studs are embedded in panels extending the full height of the panels, each stud has a flange and groove connected with a web. Spreaders slide vertically into the grooves of studs in opposing panels creating a form with a cavity between panels. Each spreader has opposing flanges connected by horizontal members, horizontal members having multiple formations, thus when spreaders are stacked the formations compliment each other allowing wall reinforcing to be locked in any preferred location. A chase way is provided in panels to accommodate electrical wiring.

Abstract: An inflatable structure, such as a fabric confining a gas, can be regulated as to its shape by the provision of auxiliary tubes, integral or adjacent to the fabric which can be separately pressurized. The separate pressurization will create local tensile forces to change the shape of the structure. Alternatively, a mechanical system, such as tensioned cables can be used to control the shape of the structure.

Abstract: A deck post (or brace) having a non-circular cross-section is secured to a roof deck. A lead pipe jack (sleeve) is slid over the post. A waterproofing assembly having a collar and a skirt is provided; the collar has an opening with generally the same non-circular cross-section as that of the post. The collar opening is positioned on the deck post, and the unit is slid down the post until the collar is at the top of the sleeve, the skirt extending down over the sleeve. A clamp is then positioned and tightened around the collar to provide a watertight seal on the deck post. When the post is already installed on a roof deck and the sleeve and the waterproofing assembly cannot be slid into place on the post, a modified retrofit waterproofing assembly and sleeve are used to provide the waterproofing. The modified sleeve is a split lead flashing jack with an open seam on one side. The sleeve is opened up, wrapped around the post and soldered closed.

Abstract: A clip for attachment to the flanges of a structural steel member for purposes of securing sheet material to the member is comprised of a rectangular-shaped clip of lightweight sheet material having opposite sides and opposite ends and enclosing an open center portion. A clip element is formed from a protrusion of the sheet metal material and extends outwardly from the clip and terminates in a free end which is spaced from the clip to create an open space to partially receive a flange of a steel member. The clip element is positioned with respect to the clip so that the clip dwells outwardly of the flange when mounted thereon. The clip element is comprised of a spring-like material so as to be able to frictionally engage the flange. The clip has a plurality of protruding frictional elements thereon to enhance the frictional engagement of the clip to the flange.

Abstract: A corner plug is disclosed for filling a cavity created between a wall corner bullnose and a squared-off molding, having an upper portion and a lower portion, both portions having a concave back surface. A shoulder formed at the intersection of the upper and lower portions is dimensioned to traverse and cover the cavity between the wall corner bullnose and the squared-off molding. In one embodiment of the present invention, the back surface is dimensioned to continuously contact the wall corner bullnose. The upper portion is preferably thicker than the lower portion and the lower portion preferably tapers to facilitate the insertion of the plug into the cavity. In one embodiment of the invention, the front surface of the lower portion includes two planar members that intersect at an edge, corresponding to the edge portion of the molding. The corner plug can be constructed from any rigid material, including plastic, wood, metal, or other similar material.

Abstract: A masonry reinforcing tie is formed of a pair of spaced apart, parallel elongate elements joined by a series of lateral crossmembers welded or otherwise affixed across the elongate members. The elongate elements and crossmembers are preferably formed of heavy metal wire or rod. The elongate members each include a series of spaced apart joint spacing elements formed integrally therewith, with the spacing elements having a height equal to the standard mortar joint thickness between vertically adjacent courses of block or brick. The spacing elements may be any suitable shape, e.g., V, U, square, etc. as desired, and may be laterally aligned with one another, staggered, and/or evenly or unevenly spaced along the elongate elements as desired. The spacers may be formed during manufacture of the tie by passing the tie through a roller die, stamping the spacers along the elongate elements, etc.

Abstract: An umbrella includes: a flat upper notch formed on a top of a central shaft and a flat lower runner slidably held on the central shaft for pivotally securing a plurality of ribs between the upper notch and the lower runner, either the upper notch or lower runner having four ribs pivotally secured to a narrow right side portion of the upper notch or the lower runner, and having three ribs pivotally secured to a narrow left side portion of the upper notch or the lower runner, thereby decreasing the separating angle between every two opposite ribs disposed on a wide front or rear side portion of the upper notch or the lower runner for smoothening the folding operation when closing the umbrella and also for enhancing the strength of the umbrella ribs.

Abstract: A shield panel support, for providing a vertical side edge support for a shield panel, comprises a transparent shield panel support pillar.

Abstract: A unique, clean, fast and low cost method for the application of a textured ceiling, and if necessary the removal of acoustical ceiling, including improved tooling that does not include the use of ladders, scaffolding or other such dangerous structures. The tooling includes a unique changeable tool holder for readily exchanging the tools required, such as a ceiling scraping tool, ceiling brush, texture application pad, and spreading blade. Improved means for isolating the work area are disclosed.

Abstract: A plastic trim strip for use with high pressure plastic laminate (HPL) modules or other decorative modules used on access flooring. The strip is extruded polyvinyl chloride or other polymeric or other material such as decorative metals such as brass or aluminum. The cross sectional shape of the strip is generally rectangular with a rectangular tab that: (1) protrudes from one of the narrow edges of the rectangle, (2) is thinner than the height of the strip and (3) has one surface flush with the bottom of the strip. A portion of the edge of the HPL or other floor covering with which the strip is used, and having the same shape as the tab, is router or otherwise removed from the floor covering. The protruding tab of the trim strip is then “captured” within this rabbet with or without adhesive, thereby securely engaging the trim strip when the floor covering is installed on or bonded to the access flooring structure.

Abstract: A cover assembly is provided for preventing water infiltration into an in-floor receptacle fitting, such as a poke-thru fitting. The fitting includes an internal compartment which is accessible through an opening in the surface of the floor. The cover assembly includes a trim flange which overlies the floor opening. The trim flange supports at least one receptacle, such as a power receptacle, within the fitting such that the receptacle can be interconnected within the inner compartment with source cables that enter the fitting from below the floor, and can be interconnected from above with a connector such as a male electrical plug. A cover plate is mounted on the trim flange and overlies the receptacles carried by the fitting. The cover plate includes a plurality of access doors. Each of the access doors is movable between a first position at which it overlies an associated receptacle to prevent access thereto and a second position at which the associated receptacle is exposed and accessible from above.

Abstract: A temporary water drainage system having a tubular length of flexible water-proof material (25) and a fastening device (15) on at least one end where the material (25) can be connected to a water source (20). The fastening device (15) may be an adhesive material or it could be a form of clamp (26) or a sleeve which passes over the tubular length of flexible water-proof material (25). The length of flexible water-proof material (25) may, at its end away from the water source be connected to a stormwater drain or the like or can pass any water received therein to waste in some other way.