Abstract: In mounting an external wallboard formed from a material containing cement, a plurality of spacers are adhered to a plurality of wall backings each formed of steel or wood, respectively. Each spacer has through holes or concavities. The external wallboard is applied to be fixed by screws or nails to the wall backings. Each screw or nail extends through the corresponding through hole or concavity such that each screw or nail is allowed to be inclined in a space defined by the corresponding through hole or concavity. This construction permits displacement of the external wallboard relative to the wall backings, preventing occurrence of cracks in the external wallboard.

Abstract: A device for forming a framework of a wooden building includes a steel made square tube which is capable of tightly receiving a top portion of a post in a lower portion of the tube and a bottom portion of another post in an upper portion of the tube. The device also includes a joint which has a belt-shape base portion situated in the vertical direction and a flange portion projecting perpendicularly from the center of the base portion. The device further comprises a bolt and joint stick. The bolt attaches the base portion of the joint to the square tube. The joint stick passes through a hole of a transverse lumber and an opening of the flange portion of the joint, while the flange portion is inserted in a slit at the edge portion of the transverse lumber.

Abstract: Metal and wood composites are used to create framing members (studs and tracks, joists and bands, rafters, headers and the like.) for lightweight construction. Metal is utilized for its high strength, resistance to rot and insects, cost stability, and potentially lower cost through recycling. Metal that can be used includes roll formed steel approximately 18-22 gauge. Wood is used primarily for its lower thermal conductivity, and availability. The metal components form the primary structure while wood, either solid or other engineered wood, provides some structure and a thermal break. The invention connects J-shaped or triangular shaped metal forms to wood sections. The metal flange ends can have various J, C, L, right triangular, triangular, T and straight line cross-sectional shapes. The wood is fastened to the metal by machine pressing of the metal to wood. Alternatively the fastening includes nails, staples, screws, and the like, and also by adhesive glue.

Abstract: A corner connector for siding retainers having a unitary structure includes a base plate which is adapted to be attached to a wall that is to be covered with strips of siding. The base plate has a generally orthogonal-shaped edge portion formed by first and second members. Each member has a connecting end and a receiving end over which a siding retainer is adapted to slide and each sized to be received snugly within a channel in a siding retainer slid over an individual member. There is a corner section to which the connecting ends of the first and second members are joined so that the first and second members are at an angle of substantially 90.degree.. The corner section has raised segments where each of the connecting ends join the corner section. The raised segments serve as stops which abut an end of a retainer slid over an individual member.

Abstract: A continuity tie for providing both tension and compression resistance to externally induced movement of building structural members. A central body member is provided with a plurality of bolt mounting apertures in a staggered pattern and a pair of end plates having a rod aperture. One embodiment employs a tubular central body member having a hollow interior; another embodiment employs a generally U-shaped central portion with flanking flanges. Both embodiments can be mounted to building structural members separated by an intervening building structural member, with the continuity ties being secured together by means of a single rod arranged in the rod apertures in each continuity tie and secured in place by means of nuts. The staggered bolt patterns reduce the probability of mounting all bolts in a defect region of a timber building element. The hollow tube embodiment is symmetric and cannot be installed backwards. The rod aperture may be centered or offset from the central axis of the continuity tie.

Abstract: A removable tile display includes a decorative tile, a holder for the tile, and releasable adhesive for removably securing the back surface of the tile to the holder. The holder includes a cavity in which the decorative tile is positioned. Decorative tiles of various designs may be substituted within the holder as desired. The tile and holder combination may be permanently affixed to a wall or other planar surface, or they may be placed for vertical orientation within a tabletop support.

Abstract: A finishing device used to form a corner between two panels of drywall has a flexible joint extending along a predetermined axis. Two wings are connected to and extend outwardly in a diverging relation from the flexible joint to form a corner having an adjustable angle. Each wing has a front surface, a rear surface, and an edge distal from the flexible joint. This edge abuts one of said drywall panels and has a thickness approximately equal to the thickness of the drywall panel. Alternatively, the edge has an adjustable thickness to fit various thicknesses of drywall panel. A layer of primer or adhesive laminate is applied to the front surface of the wings so that paint can bond to the front surface. The finishing device is capable of forming both inside and outside corners. To form inside corners, the finishing device bends along the flexible joint.

Abstract: A decking system utilizing non-skid plastic covers applied to specially sawn wooden deck members is disclosed. The wooden deck members include a plurality of channels or "kerfs" which are sawn or notched into one side of each deck member. The covers have leg members which are specifically designed to match or mate with the kerfs of the deck members. The kerfs of the deck members and the leg members of the plastic covers have dimensions which allow for the expansion and contraction of the deck members, as well as the cross-sectional expansion and contraction of the covers, during periods of extreme atmospheric conditions.

Abstract: A zone cabling termination cabinet of fire-resistant metal, provides a non-plenum enclosed space, close to the work station it serves, recessed into the plenum above a suspended ceiling, for housing communications cable connections and switching, without the need to use high-cost plenum fire-rated materials. The cabinet has an equipment mounting plate removably mounted on the interior surface of an access door, which when closed is flush with the bottom wall of the cabinet, which in turn is flush with the suspended false ceiling. The exposed lower surface of the door is clad with fire resistant ceiling tile material, the utility thereof being two-fold: the cladding makes the cabinet more fire resistant, and visually it blends with the rest of the ceiling, is inconspicuous and not readily detected by the unsuspecting eye, thus providing some measure of security from unauthorized meddling.

Abstract: A gutter protector for preventing leaves and other debris from entering into a gutter that fits independently into standard gutter without fasteners such as nails or screws or any attachment to the roof, fascia or any other part of a building. The gutter protector consists of an inner wall which fits against the rear wall of standard gutter while seated upon the bottom wall of the gutter and a curved section that allows water to flow over the a flat section of the gutter protector through a uniform space between the gutter protector and the gutter created by a clip in the gutter protector that attaches to the gutter. The uniform space does not allow leaves or other debris larger than said uniform space to enter the gutter but maintains a space for a constant flow of water into the gutter.

Abstract: An interfacing floor tile in the form a right triangle with two adjacent sides of equal length is provided with elongated third side opposite the right triangle. Each side is formed with a row of female cavities located adjacent the sides and positioned to mate with a corresponding male connecting members of a neighboring tiles. Additionally, each of the adjacent sides is integrally formed with an edge which slopes downward to a male interlocking strip which extends outwardly in order to mate with female cavities of neighboring tiles. Alternatively, each of the adjacent sides may be formed with vertical edges which rise from the interlocking strip to the surface of the tile. In another embodiment the female cavities are omitted from the elongated side which has a vertical edge and the adjacent sides may have either sloping or vertical edges.

Abstract: An elevated column base for supporting a wood column subjected to high mechanical loads and protecting the column lowermost portion from rot and other deterioration due to exposure to a tropical environment. The column base includes a stanchion, a diaphragm, and a cap, each monolithically molded from a thermoplastic. A first embodiment of the stanchion adapted for a 6.times.6 or 8.times.8 column includes a solid base portion with a cavity which is filled with concrete and plugged with the diaphragm. The stanchion has two pairs of side walls attached to the base portion. Opposed gussets attached to the upper portions of one pair stiffen the side walls against transverse loads. Most of the load carried by the wood column is borne by the concrete and by two horizontal bolts. The diaphragm acts to spread the load force to the base portion and side walls. The load on the diaphragm acts to create a seal against moisture entering the cavity. A second embodiment of the stanchion adapted for a 4.times.

Abstract: Tent structure includes a canopy formed of flexible sheet material. Poles are employed to support the canopy to form a tent interior. A web structure is attached to the canopy and formed of flexible sheet material. The web structure is maintained under tension when the canopy is supported. An article storage and support member formed of flexible sheet material is attached to the web structure within the tent interior and maintained under tension.

Abstract: An improved door jamb and brickmold assembly is provided wherein an extruded thermoplastic molding and stop member is secured to wooden support members to define the door jambs and mullions of a door and jamb assembly. The co-extruded plastic molding and stop members define both the stops of the assembly and the exposed decorative molding portion and also protect the wooden support members from exposure to the elements.

Abstract: A truss for use as support for a sloped roof of a building. The truss can be a collapsible metal truss. A method for assembling the truss is described. Each of the of the rafter and beam can include a metal chord all which chords lie in a first plane. Each of struts can include a metal chord located in a second plane parallel to the first plane. There are pivotal connections between various members. The chords of the truss can be moved into a collapsed position for storage and transport of the truss. The chords can be hollow tubes of generally rectangular cross section. The pivotal connections can be nut and bolt connections. The rafter and beam chords can be connected at an eave end to each other by a metal member, and the truss can include an eave extension member.

Abstract: Disclosed is a raised floor to be installed on the subfloor of a room. The raised floor is constructed with a plurality of upper layer plates and lower layer plates separated and supported by a plurality of base seats. The separation between the lower layer plates and the subfloor forms an air space which can be used as an air-conditioning conduct. The gap between the upper layer plates and the lower layer plates is used as a conduit for computer network wiring. A plurality of cover plates are used to cover the gaps between adjacent upper layer plates. Bellowses and vents are used to induce the cool air in the air conditioning conduct to reach above the raised floor surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a ductile-failure anchor (2, 32) for concrete elements (3, 39) used in construction. Each anchor (2, 32) includes a plug (4, 34) attached to a securing element (5, 5a or 55) and secured within each concrete element (3, 39). The securing element may included folded bars or a strap 5a. The securing element (5, 55) is placed about the plug (4, 34) and either secured in place (a first option) or held in position about the plug (4, 34) by supports 38 (second option). Each securing element (5, 55) includes at least two regions (10), each region (10) being of a pre-determined length and cross-sectional area. When the anchor (2, 32) is overloaded each region (10) fails in a ductile manner before the burst strength of any part of the concrete element (3, 39) is reached.

Abstract: A hub assembly (10) for use in arranging muntins (22) across a window pane includes at least first and second covers (12, 14) which are snap-fit and frictionally held together and which define at least one arcuate track (70) that is adapted to slidably receive carrier members (20) for interconnecting the muntins (22) to the hub assembly (10). The arcuate track (70) coacts with the carrier members (20) to retain the carrier members (20) in selective angular positions about the hub assembly (10). The hub assembly (10), which is semi-circular in plan view, can be selectively attached directly to a window frame, or to another similarly constructed hub assembly (10) to form a circular overall hub assembly.

Abstract: A mausoleum (10) formed from a plurality of crypt structures (12) each having a generally tubular plastics crypt liners (14) surrounded at side, roof and floor portions thereof by set concrete (81).

Abstract: A masonry wall system is disclosed incorporating a plurality of courses of masonry blocks, each block consisting of interlocking dovetails along with vertical and horizontal mating surfaces. The main block, has two stabilizing holes running at a vertical axis through the center. Steel reinforcement rods or square tubes are loosely inserted into these stabilizing holes at predetermined intervals. Comer blocks are employed to connect the walls at right angles and are a! so used in conjunction with short blocks to staggered the vertical joints from course to course. The predetermined tolerances between the masonry components and the loosely placed rods or tubes permit the wall to have a fluid property. Forces such as settling, hydrostatic pressure and seismic disturbances are then automatically absorbed and systematically distributed across the entire wall. When all of the masonry components reach the end of their tolerance, the wall locks up as a solid interconnected mass.