Abstract: The intrusion of insects into a home or similar building is controlled by utilizing insect and/or microorganism controlling plastic materials in the construction of the building. The insect and/or microorganism controlling plastic building materials are manufactured by first blending one or more plastic resins with one or more insect and/or microorganism controlling chemical agents to form a blended plastic resin/insect and/or microorganism controlling chemical agent material. The blended plastic resin/insect and/or microorganism controlling chemical agent material is then utilized to manufacture plastic films, sheets, nonwoven fabrics, woven fabrics, insulating foams, flooring materials, wall covering materials, and the like utilizing conventional manufacturing techniques.

Abstract: A metal unitary structural member for structural support. The member includes a plurality of web portions extending radially from each other and extending with each other in an axial direction, and a plurality of outer portions extending in an axial direction with the web portions and between the web portions in cross-section. The plurality of outer portions defines an outer surface of the member. The web portions may extend from a substantially central portion. The plurality of web portions may include perforations.

Abstract: A Formwork includes rigid casting panels constructed to receive a batch of poured concrete. The surfaces of the panel exposed to contact the concrete are covered with a water absorbing liner coated or impregnated with a photocatalysis compound. The photocatalysis compound in a semiconductor material, such as titanium dioxide powder, which activated by sunlight to generate oxygen radicals.

Abstract: A first voussoir for use in an arched structure between second and third voussoirs includes a first end bearing surface with a protrusion which extends from the surface and which is mateable with a corresponding recess in an abutting end bearing surface of the second voussoir. The second end bearing surface includes a recess in the surface which is mateable with a corresponding protrusion in an abutting end bearing surface of the third voussoir. Preferably the protrusions and the recesses have both longitudinal and transverse components of structure. A connector is secured to the first voussoir for connecting one end of an associated tension member to the first voussoir while an opposed end of the tension member is connected to an associated mooring positioned at a distance away from the horizontal span of the arched structure.

Abstract: An extruded, light-transmitting sheet structure includes a pair of outer walls separated apart from one another. At least one dome is formed as part of one of the pair of outer walls, and is disposed at a first outer edge of the structure. A rib structure is disposed between the pair of outer walls, wherein the rib structure includes at least one rib that extends into the dome.

Abstract: Improved, modified flat wall insulating concrete forms similar to a “waffle grid” type for generating posts, beams, and interconnecting webs of concrete. The novel forms incorporate interlocking structure for a plural vertically stacked forms. The forms are provided as angled corner or straight forms having an overall length of four feet. Tie brackets connecting interior and exterior synthetic expanded foam walls of the form have flanges which are embedded within and concealed by the walls. Tie brackets are spaced apart from one another at one foot intervals, and from ends of the interior and exterior walls of the form by distance intervals of six inches. Interior and exterior walls are configured to enclose a void space therebetween. When filled with concrete, the space forms posts, beams, and webs filling openings which would otherwise occur among the posts and beams. The posts and beams, and webs are square or rectangular in cross section, presenting a uniform exterior panel thickness.

Abstract: An insulated structure including a backing surface, a bar coupled to and extending generally parallel to the backing surface, and a plurality of insulating blankets coupled to the bar. The insulated structure further includes a clip coupled to the bar, the clip being attachable to the bar at any of a plurality of locations along the length of the bar to compress at least one of the blankets.

Abstract: A block positioning tool includes a first elongated member and a second elongated member attached together such that a L-shaped frame is formed. The frame has an upper surface and a bottom surface. The first and second elongated members each have a slot therein extending through the upper and bottom surfaces. Each of the first and second elongated members has an associated attached end and a free end. A plurality of position indicators is attached to and selectively moveable along a length of the slots. A primary anchor is attached to a bottom surface of the attached end. Each of a plurality of secondary anchors is attached to one of the position indicators and positioned adjacent to the bottom surface. Each of the secondary anchors and the primary anchor is removably positionable into depressions extending into an upper surface of pier blocks.

Abstract: An antiperch device for deterring birds from perching on undesired perch locations. The device includes various embodiments which are constructed of wires forming arcs and/or wires that are parallel to and spaced above an object such as a light fixture to be protected. The wires are sufficiently flexible and have a small enough diameter to prevent the birds from getting a secure footing thereon but are sufficiently stiff to keep the birds from reaching the object.

Abstract: A fabric wall panel system includes fabric wall panels mounted on a wall of a room by means of a ceiling track with a downwardly open channel mounted adjacent the ceiling and extending the length of the wall and a base track with an upwardly depending support surface mounted adjacent the floor and extending the length of the wall. Each fabric wall panel comprises a fabric cover overlaying a panel insert. Each fabric wall panel is mounted by inserting the top of the fabric wall panel into the downwardly open channel of the ceiling track and supporting the bottom of the fabric wall panel on the upwardly depending support surface of the base track. In one embodiment, the fabric wall panel is fabricated on-site and sized to have a length approximately equal to the length of the wall so that no vertical seams are created. In another embodiment, standard size panels are used with abutting vertical mid-wall seams between adjacent panels.

Abstract: A rail system for holding a panel, such as a plate glass pane, in a door and/or wall partition. The rail system includes a housing and a clamp member having a wedging geometry so that when the clamp member is actuated with respect to the housing in a first direction, at least a portion of the clamp member will move in a clamping direction, which is different than the first direction to clamp the panel.

Abstract: Gasket devices having a crawling arthropod deterring substance for fitting adjacent to connection points to permanent fixture objects on walls, ceilings and floors to interior spaces. The novel gasket devices can be used for protecting gaps and spaces between permanent fixtures such as shower heads, faucets, drainpipes, incoming waterlines into various rooms such as but not limited to bathrooms and/or kitchens, and anywhere these fixtures exist. Additionally, the gasket devices can be used for protecting gaps and spaces between other permanent fixtures such behind plates such as but not limited to electrical sockets, switches, cables, telephone jacks thermostats, and the like. Additionally, the gasket devices can be used behind ventilation vent covers, and the like. Finally, the gasket covers can be used about wall mounted stems of on hanging fixtures such as lights, chandeliers, and ceiling fans, and the like.

Abstract: A fastening element for operatively connecting masonry units together in a fixed relation. The fastening element comprises a body with a web having opposing surfaces, and a plurality of projections that extend in a generally perpendicular direction therefrom. The projections are spaced apart from each other and configured to engage portions of masonry units therebetween in a constrained relation. The fastening element permits two, three, or four masonry units to be operatively connected together in variety of configurations without the use of mortar.

Abstract: Flooring made up of a set of touching parallel floorboards is supported by a set of mutually parallel load-spreading plates placed on the ground via a resilient underlayer on which they rest. The flooring is remarkable by the fact that the floorboards are stuck to the plates by means of beads of elastically-deformable adhesive such as polyurethane placed on the top faces of the plates, preferably in respective longitudinal grooves formed in the top face of the plates.

Abstract: A tower (1) for wind power installations, on which at least one rotor (2) that can be driven by wind can be rotatably supported, has an especially low mass relative to its load-bearing capacity, stability, and rigidity, if it has a tower portion (3), tapering toward the top, with a bulging outer wall (4) that is convex in longitudinal section.

Abstract: A one piece ground stake for securing drain, waste or vent pipe relative to the ground comprises a wire rod bent to form a hook having a ground engaging shank, a pipe engaging bend or cradle and a connecting leg connected between the pipe engaging bend and the shank by upper and lower connecting bends. The upper connecting bend extends above the lower connecting bend and is adapted to be struck by a hammer or the like to drive a lower end of the shank into the ground. The stake is driven into the ground until the cradle abuts against an upper surface of a pipe positioned on a bed of gravel, sand or the ground at a selected grade and position.

Abstract: A re-bar support device comprising a base board and re-bar holders to hold a plurality of re-bars spaced to fit into the holes of the hollow blocks used to build a block wall. The re-bar support device attaches to vertically standing stakes. Several re-bar support devices may be interconnected to cover the desired length of the foundation of the wall. The re-bar support device proposes several methods for easily introducing a re-bar to a re-bar holder and also discloses modifications on the internal side of the body of the re-bar support device to allow a better grip on the re-bars while concrete is poured around them during the formation of the foundation for the wall.

Abstract: A tie bracket for supporting opposing synthetic foam insulating panels of a concrete receiving form, and a form utilizing such brackets. The tie bracket has intersecting horizontal and vertical members forming circumferentially closed openings therein. Most openings are arranged in horizontal series. An upwardly open trough is formed in each tie bracket. The horizontal members span and connect spaced apart parallel plates. The plates of each tie bracket are embedded in one foam insulating panel and are of height equal to that of the insulating panel. Each insulating panel has projections formed in its upper surface and cooperatively formed notches formed in its lower surface to enable interlocking and alignment of vertically stacked forms.

Abstract: Methods are provided for installation of a rain diversion system including formation of a deflector with a machine placed above a forming machine dedicated to formation of a trough. As trough is run from a first machine, end caps are installed where appropriate, outlet sites are punched and outlets installed for joinder with downspouts, miters are cut and a cavity structure of the hanger is brought into place to mate a containment lip of the hanger with the containment shelf of the trough. Corresponding deflector is run from a second machine and the deflector is placed on the trough as deflector attachment cavities of the hanger are used to retain deflector. In alternative methods, one cavity retains the deflector 40 for conveyance to the installation location on the structure. In either case, the entire assembly may then be transported to a location on a lower level such as ground, for example, corresponding to the eventual installation location on the structure.

Abstract: A spacer and sealant assembly comprising a stretchable sealant support member having a planar surface bounded by first and second edges wherein said first and second edges have at least one pleated portion, a plastic shim having at least one undulating portion in contact with said first and second edges of said stretchable sealant support member so that said at least one pleated portion is oriented concavedly inward into said at least one undulating portion of said shim, a sealant joined to at least said first and second edges of said sealant support member.