Abstract: A ceiling structure, particularly for "dry-wall" type panels, employing a suspended ceiling grid structure having a plurality of parallel main runners and a plurality of parallel cross runners extending transversely to, and having their ends engaged with the main runners to form a rectangular grid structure, with each of the runners having flange means adapted to support a ceiling panel around the periphery thereof, the ceiling panel being reinforced by at least one cross member extending along the upper face of such ceiling panel and is secured thereto.In a preferred form of the invention, the ceiling panels are adapted to be successively installed in the grid structure with the associated reinforcing members being installed in operative position and secured to the associated panel following installation of the latter by means of screws or a suitable adhesive.

Abstract: Rows of longitudinally spaced channel-like brackets are secured to supporting means for a sheet metal roof or siding and each bracket has spaced side walls with flanges extending downwardly from their tops. A gutter extends through the brackets in each row and is supported by them. A clip overlies the gutter in each bracket and is hooked under the bracket flanges. Sheet metal pans on the roof-supporting means at opposite sides of the gutter have side portions extending upwardly beside the brackets, with their upper marginal areas turned inwardly over the clips and gutter. A cap above the gutter and overlying clips has downwardly extending side flanges overlapping the side portions of the pans. Screws extend down through the cap and into the central portions of the clips, which engage the lower surface of the cap, to fasten the cap to the clips.

Abstract: A universal type of vehicle antenna base assembly for mounting an antenna mast on a vehicle body panel in a variety of angular positions. The antenna base assembly comprises a base plate having a ball seat aperture therethrough and means for rigidly affixing the base plate to a vehicle body panel, and an elongated generally cylindrical mast holder which includes a generally spherical enlarged portion between its upper and lower ends sized to be pivotably seated in the base plate ball seat. A retaining means is provided for locking the mast holder in a fixed position with respect to the base plate. Optionally, a decorative cover cap is provided to cover at least the retaining means of the base assembly.

Abstract: An expansion joint cover for sealing off a space between first and second structural bodies is provided, and includes, first and second side members, and bridging and elastomeric sealing means, the latter means comprising, bridging plate means resting slidably upon an inner ledge wall portion of the first side member and further resting against the second side member so as to form a bottom wall of a cavity bordered by the first and second side members. The bridging plate means is covered by bond-inhibitor means in the cavity and is provided with anchor means projecting into the cavity. An elastomeric sealing member embedding the anchor means and substantially filling the cavity is characterized by being formed and cured in the cavity and thereby being bonded to the first and second side members and inhibited against bonding to the bridging plate means by the bond-inhibitor means.

Abstract: A saddle hanger formed from a trapezoidal blank alternately cut from flat sheet metal stock with two cut lines separating the front panel from the side and top saddle portions and adapted to be creased along at least four fold lines at the junctures of: the front panel and stirrup seat; the stirrup seat and stirrup sides; the stirrup sides and side saddle portions; and, the side saddle and top saddle portions so that when the blank is bent along the fold lines the stirrup seat and sides project perpendicular to the front panel and to each other and the side saddle portions overlie and reinforce portions of the front panel. Additionally, the top of the front panel may be bent back beneath the top saddle portions and the latter may terminate in folded down tabs. The side and top saddle portions may include pre-punched holes which register with similar holes in the front and top panel portions.

Abstract: A portable wall assembly includes a plurality of panel members having vertical lateral edges releasably attachable to either square or round supporting posts by means of hook-type mounting clips projecting from the upper and lower portions of each panel vertical edge and insertable within the interior of the supporting posts prior to the actuation of a connector plug in the top thereof which is manipulated to produce expansion of the plug in a manner causing a rigid locking of the panels to the adjacent supporting posts.

Abstract: A ceiling structure having a plurality of ceiling sheets supported by a plurality of main beams and transverse suspension beams, the main beams on their upper part having resilient side webs to engage projections extending from the suspension beams, the main beams on their lower side having resilient web portions to secure some short beam-shaped suspension means, these suspension means having at their lower parts protruding suspension portions to engage grooves in adjoining ceiling sheets. This structure is easy to mount and permits a completely symmetrical pressure on the main beams during the mounting of each sheet.

Abstract: Combination includes manhole closure assembly for preventing storm water from entering into manhole opening and separate support ring for assembly. Support ring has lower closure supporting flange with upper flange spaced therefrom, and sealing material is provided on lower flange. Closure assembly includes substantially circular cover plate engaging sealing material, and cover plate comprises pair of semi-circular segments. Structure is provided for holding semi-circular segments of cover plate together at diametral edge portions thereof. Spaced apart biasing structure is located along arcuate edge portions of cover plate, and such structure extends between plate and upper flange of support ring for urging plate against sealing material. When pressure force acting upon underside of cover plate exceeds force of biasing structure, arcuate edge portions of cover plate lift away from sealing material to relieve such pressure force.

Abstract: A panel for prefabricated metal buildings according to the present invention has a trough section which is deeper than that which can normally be obtained by a cold roll forming operation. The deep trough section is achieved by using a center web joint to connect a plurality of oppositely disposed U-shaped sections to one another to form the panel. The sections are connected by flanges which project outwardly from the side walls of the sections and the connection may be achieved by a crimping operation or by means of a plurality of clamps.

Abstract: An adjustable load-bearing column assembly for supporting beams and the like including for on-site assemblage in superimposed operative engaging relation, an elongated H-shaped column of selectable length having a pair of parallel side wall segments joined together by a transverse web constituting a C-shaped tubular core and a pair of web segments extending from the core and joined to the midpoints of the side wall segments, a bearing plate having an opening concentric with and overlying the tubular core at the upper end of the column, a bolt having a selectively contoured head and a threaded shaft carrying a nut in adjustable threaded engagement therewith, the undersurface of the nut being in supportive relation with the bearing plate upper surface and the portion of the threaded shaft beneath the nut freely extending through the bearing plate opening and into the tubular core of the column, and a beam-embracively supporting bracket having an opening shaped and sized to non-rotatably receive and contain the

Abstract: A support member for connecting panels of a curtain wall to horizontal mullions. Each mullion has a channel formed therein and has shoulders at opposite sides of the channel. The panel support member comprises a rigid bar, positioned in the channel in the mullion, and a tenon extending longitudinally of the bar. Anchor lugs extend outwardly from opposite sides of the tenon. A gasket, having panel receiving slots formed therein, has a groove extending longitudinally thereof to receive the tenon and anchor lugs. As anchor bolts are tightened, drawing the bar into the channel in the mullion, external abutments on the gasket are drawn into the channel such that a portion of the gasket is captured between the shoulders and the lugs to resist deformation of the gasket relative to the load carrying tenon.

Abstract: A tie for connecting together parts of a structure, for example a stay for suspending the deck of a bridge from a tower, is constructed so that its length can be adjusted in a simple manner with the tie in service. The tie is made up from several stressed steel tendons, enclosed in a protective sheath filled with hardened material. At its ends the sheath incorporates anchoring devices for the transfer of the pull from the tie to the structure. The sheath forms a conduit whose ends are fixed securely to the anchoring devices. The conduit is isolated, throughout its length, from the structure so as to be capable of sliding longitudinally with respect thereto. At least one of the anchoring devices includes connection means for the active part of a tensioning apparatus and also includes means for bearing against the structure. This bearing means is adjustable on the anchoring device in the longitudinal direction of the tie.

Abstract: A wooden spiral staircase with a central column and treads and riser members disposed spirally around said column. The risers have the shape of an asymmetric "T" and are let into a subjacent tread, a superjacent tread, and the central column, thereby serving to support the treads, which are not directly connected to the central column, but are each additionally connected to a superjacent tread and a subjacent tread at their ends remote from the central column.

Abstract: A self-adjustable stair construction wherein the treads of the stair are supported by spacers between parallel upper and lower stringers in a truss assemblage. The rise and run and nosing are simultaneously adjusted for each tread with the adjustments being cumulative for each stair flight total run while maintaining the treads level. Each tread is located in a right angle relationship with each spacer. The treads, spacers and stringers are pivotally connected together with an elongated slot formed in each spacer to permit the adjusting movement. The slots are inclined and may be either curved or straight with the slope of either being in substantial alignment with the direction of the adjusting movement. The minimum number of repeated parts to produce the whole stair may be two.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for expandably engaging the walls of an earthen hole in order to resist movement urged by an external force. After placement of the apparatus into an earthen hole at a location where some external force is to be restrained, the detonation of an explosive charge drives a piston out of an explosion chamber, and by a wedging action, forces an axially segmented cylinder outwardly against the surrounding earth. A substantially stable connecting foundation is thus created in order to resist either tensile or compressive forces.

Abstract: A single blade is pivotally attached to a first shank portion in turn pivotally attached to a second shank portion. The pivot connections are arranged and lock pins are provided selectively such that the shank portions can be held in different positions relative to each other and relative to the blade to provide an anchor of varying shapes which has versatility in adapting to various ground conditions and also for compactly folding for storage and shipment.

Abstract: An array of concrete-reinforcement rods is transversely spanned by ladderlike mounting or fixing members. Each member has a pair of parallel long bars extending across the array and pairs of short bars transverse to the long bars and cradling the respective reinforcement rods. The ends of the short bars overhang the long bars and are bent over, across and partly around the reinforcement rod so that corresponding ends of each pair mutually overlap.

Abstract: A door includes at each of its corner junctions between its rail and stile a dowel rod located in a hole extending through the stile and into the rail. The dowel rod is mounted at an angle of approximately 10.degree. from horizontal, with the dowels at the top junctions or joints being oriented inwardly downwardly, and with the dowels at the bottom joints being located inwardly upwardly.A center panel is carried within the rectangular frame defined by the stiles and rails, and is mounted therein by four splines, each located in corresponding grooves along the edge of the center panel and along the interior of the stiles and rails. The splines are not glued or affixed to the center panel or to the stiles or rails, and are arranged at their corners to overlap by virtue of a split lap joint, thereby making the seam between the center panel and the rails and stiles essentially airtight.

Abstract: A floor for roller skating or other sports activities and the like consists of extruded metal deck sections of a required length which are placed side-by-side on an even solid surface. Juxtaposed plastic tiles or plates are laid down on the deck sections and are provided on their bottoms with press studs which interlock with continuous channels or grooves formed in the deck sections. Each plastic tile or plate engages at least a pair of the underlying deck sections and thus the tiles serve to secure adjacent deck sections in assembled relationship in the formation of a continuous floor.

Abstract: A building structure comprising a lattice-like network of support elements connected together at junctures to form a three-dimensional frame supporting a fabric-like canopy or skin laid thereover as an enclosure and wherein a resilient ball-like buffer is supported by the frame at each juncture point to engage the canopy and thus to prevent its direct engagement with the frame at the juncture points to reduce its wear and stress.