Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved poured concrete foundation for residential houses having foundation walls and built in expansive soil areas. The foundation consists of a perimeter trench footing which is monolithically constructed with a plurality of internal trench footings and column footings located within the perimeter footing; and the perimeter trench footing is integrated with a subsequently-constructed, overlying concrete foundation wall, throughout the perimeter of the foundation, using vertical reinforcing steel dowels of predetermined height at predetermined spacings. This ensures that the foundation wall behaves as a beam in addition to its primary functions of resisting lateral soil backfill load and transferring vertical building loads to the underlying perimeter footing. A plurality of grade beams monolithically constructed with a basement slab are placed at beam pockets provided at the footings.

Abstract: A merchandising display hanger is disclosed which includes a central portion, a portion extending downwardly from the central portion and a portion extending upwardly from the central portion. The said downwardly extending portion has a central aperture for receiving and positioning a hook to suspend a merchandising display and a pair of opposed cut-out regions to enable a cord connected to the assembly to be wrapped laterally around the assembly for purposes of storage.

Abstract: A foundation system comprises a prefabricated set of concrete forms for a manufactured building that is already on-site and in-place. The concrete form set includes standard-length sections that bolt together immediately below the rim of the manufactured building. The inside sidewall of each concrete form is tilted back toward the outside perimeter and the outside sidewall is set vertical within both end frames and any intermediate frames. Anchor rings are provided at the ground level of each frame to accommodate four foot lengths of rebar that are driven through the rings into the ground to spike the concrete form to the ground. Jigs are used to suspend anchor bolts in the open tops of the forms between the two sidewalls. Once the concrete pour has been made and allowed to set, the concrete forms are unbolted and the ground spikes withdrawn. The tilt in the inside sidewall allows the concrete forms to be easily popped off.

Abstract: A two-part fastening mechanism employing (1) a continuous metal strip having attachment slots whose axes are oriented parallel to the length of the strip, and (2) a single preformed metal connector piece having a longitudinally-oriented hook for gripping one end of a tile and a stem portion insertable into one of the slots in the metal fastening strip and bendable over the slot and back upon itself for retaining the connector piece attached to the continuous metal strip. When installed, the fastening mechanism holds each tile in two places: at a first end via the hook, and at an opening in the tile where the connector piece passes through.

Abstract: A fenestration apparatus such as a door or window includes a unitary frame having first and second walls defining a cavity that opens toward the inboard wall of the frame. The first wall includes ridges defining a trough for receiving a bead of sealant. The second wall includes a shelf and a ramp between the shelf and the cavity opening. During assembly, the edge of the pane engages the ramp and follows the contour thereof toward a seated position on the shelf and toward a seated position against the ridges and sealant bead. This avoids the squeezing out of any sealant onto exposed portions of the pane.

Abstract: A dome building structure employs an inflatable form having a peripheral edge secured to a base. A network of cable-like members overlies the form and is secured to the base so as to restrain pressurized inflation of the form to prevent tearing. A layer of insulating foam is applied to the inner surface of the inflated form followed by attachment of a reinforcing mesh and application of a cementitious layer sufficient to embed the mesh. Internal ribs are formed to directly underlie the network of external cable members which may be interconnected to the internal ribs to assist in support of the ribs until they become self-supporting of the dome. The external network of cable-like members allows the form to extend convexly outwardly or pooch through interstices in the cable network creating smaller radii of curvature to better withstand inward buckling.

Abstract: Grid-shaped reinforcement strip is configured for reinforcing masonry joints, and includes at least one substantially straight elongated reinforcement wire having a substantially rectangularly cross section. There is a further reinforcement wire having a substantially rectangular cross section that is spaced apart from the at least one reinforcement wire. At least one connecting wire extends between opposed faces of such at least two spaced apart reinforcement wires. An unflattened weld attaches the at least one connecting wire to respective ones of opposed faces of such at least two reinforcement wires. The connecting wire preferably has a substantially round cross section, and the thickness of the at least one connecting wire is as thick or less thick than the thickness of the at least two reinforcement wires.

Abstract: A device for installing an impact-type anchoring unit having an expansion sleeve with an internal bore tapering in a forward region and threaded in a rearward region and an expansion body adapted to be driven into the expansion sleeve by an impact tool having a rod, the device comprising a body part having a stop flange adapted to abut against an object in which the impact-type anchoring unit is to be installed, the body part also having a threaded portion located adjacent to the stop flange and screwable in the threaded rearward portion of the internal bore of the sleeve, the body part also having a through going internal bore with a diameter adapted to be larger than the rod of the impact tool.

Abstract: A panel for covering building windows comprising a plurality of interlocking tiles interlocked together by a plurality of dovetail joints to form a panel of a desired size. The tiles are constructed of molded plastic. Reinforcing rods, metal or otherwise, may be placed horizontally along the panel and bolted to the window frame to give the panel structure added strength.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a modular and adjustable staircase, prefabricated, destined to be installed in a rigid manner, and having at least one side which is equipped with a stiffener (1). Per stair and per side having a stiffener (1), a single element of the staircase, which is a crosspiece equipped with a heel (7a), of a shim (6), must be adjusted or is predetermined is order to obtain the desired stair height.

Abstract: Alternate methods of adjusting orientation of a wall are disclosed. The first such method includes the steps of establishing a fulcrum on a floor a predetermined distance from the wall, placing a lever in contact with the floor fulcrum, placing a push bar between the lever and the wall, and pushing against the lever towards the wall, whereby the push bar pushes the wall away from the lever. The second or alternate such method of adjusting orientation of a wall includes the steps of establishing a fulcrum on a floor a predetermined distance from the wall, placing a lever in contact with the floor fulcrum, connecting one end of a flexible line assembly to the lever and connecting the other end of the flexible line assembly to the wall, pulling the lever away from the wall, whereby the flexible line assembly pulls the wall towards the lever.

Abstract: A landscape timber connecting system for use with landscape timber or the like, and includes a first member and a second member. The first member having a bracket that is shaped to engage an end of a first landscape timber, and a first hinge component. The second member having a bracket that is shaped to receive an end of a second landscape timber, and a second hinge component. The second hinge component is adapted to align with the first hinge component along a common, substantially vertical pivot axis. A hinge pin is shaped to engage the first and second hinge components along the common pivot axis and extend downwardly into ground beneath the system such that the first and second members can be pivotally positioned relative to each other about the common pivot axis to position associated engaged landscape timbers at a selected angle relative to each other, and the hinge pin anchors and fixes the system to the ground.

Abstract: A sunshade includes a securing ring fixed on an upper end of a metal rod, a plurality of ribs pivotally connected to the securing ring and tied with a circumferential edge of a sunshade cloth, and each stretcher having two ends respectively connected pivotally to an intermediate portion of each rib and a runner, which is movably fixed around the metal rod. The metal rod has a hole in an upper end portion for a spring and a top rod on the spring to fit therein. The top rod has female threads for screwing with a bolt to secure the center of the sunshade cloth.

Abstract: A roof for a built structure is proposed, which is designed in the form of a hollow body structure. It possesses interconnected walls (18 and 19) of flexible and at least substantially air-impermeable material. These walls (18 and 19) constitute elongated chambers (22), which are arranged side by side in sequence and are alternatingly designed as vacuum chambers (24) and gage pressure chambers (23). It is in this manner that an extremely strong, free span roof is created.

Abstract: A modular work station has spaced uprights that support a work surface, and a divider panel extending between the uprights. A communication cable channel extends between the uprights and has a passageway accessible for laying in a communication or other type of cable. At least one of the uprights has a recess that opens to an edge of the upright and aligns with the passageway in the communication cable channel such that a communication cable can extend through the recess to an adjacent modular work station. A cover member covers the opening in the upright channel to ensure that the cable is enclosed and yet can be laid in without threading it through openings in such uprights.

Abstract: An office partition panel is electrically attached to an adjacent panel and/or a power source line. The panel has a body to be mounted upright on a lower edge having an elongated weldment forming a channel opening upwardly. Frame elements engage between the body and the weldment, spacing the channel from the body and from a lowermost channel forming the lower edge of the panel. The weldment provides lateral access to the channel for laying in wiring. An electrical fixture such as an outlet receptacle is mounted along the channel, and the channel supports the electrical wiring terminating at the electrical fixture. The wiring path leads from the channel in one panel to an adjacent panel and a bridge channel element attaches to the weldment to extend the channel across a gap between the adjacent panels. A cover strip removably mountable on the lower edge covers the channel laterally for enclosing the electrical wiring, and a bridge cover strip covers the bridge channel element across the gap.

Abstract: A stair system that uses angled brackets to form risers. The brackets are attached to wooden or metal boards. These boards are standard dimensional lumber. The ends of the boards must be cut to position them to support the stair, but no other cutting is required. The angled brackets have an upper section, and a lower leg portion that extends at a right angle to the upper portion. Both the upper and lower portions have flanges on them. The flanges support a tread. The treads fit over the brackets to form the actual stair. The treads are designed to receive carpeting to match the desired decor of the building in which the stair is placed. The treads are also designed to permit a mixed wood and carpet design. Wood flooring may also be used by placing the wood directly onto the brackets.

Abstract: A wall structure for a manufactured building is constructed of a plurality of adjacent composite panels, each panel having a honeycomb core and exterior and interior steel skins; vertical tubular steel studs having openings for carrying electrical wiring are secured to the exterior skins of the panels with double-sided adhesive tape. Interior surfacing material is attached to the interior skins; exterior surfacing material attached to the studs; insulation material is positioned between the studs; and splines extend between adjacent panels to improve rigidity. Bottom and top attachment plates attach the wall structure to the rest of the building.

Abstract: A partition structure having a screen includes a pair of main wall members disposed in parallel to each other with a predetermined interval, a pair of side wall members connected at end portions thereof to the end portions of the pair of main wall members to connect said main wall members to each other and provide a partition space defined by said main wall members and said side wall members, and one or more spacer members disposed in said partition space and fixed to said main wall members to hold the main wall members in positon. At least a part of at least one of the main wall members and the spacer members being a screen. The partition structure may further include a top member and a bottom member closing the partition space, and a communicating tube communicating with the partition space through the top plate.

Abstract: An acoustic panel system is provided for partially acoustically isolating a portion of a space in, for example, a recording studio. The acoustic panel system is modular in design and includes a plurality of different sized acoustic panels which can be assembled together in various configurations to form complete or partial acoustically isolated areas within a space. The acoustic panel system includes wall mount members, wall panels, floor panels, ceiling panels, transparent viewing panels and door panels. The wall mount members are basically partial members either permanently or removably interconnected with the walls of a space. The wall panels can be interconnected with the wall mount members. The wall panels may include casters for facilitating the movement thereof, and may also include feet for supporting the panels on uneven flooring.