Abstract: A tile spacer and wedge tool for installation of tile work. The tool includes a center surface from which one or more of a cross element and a bar element protrude form the center surface. The elements have a width corresponding to a desired spacing between adjoining tiles. An integrally formed wedge extends radially outwardly from a side of the spacer and wedge tool and is substantially aligned with the center surface. The combined tile spacer and wedge tool provides a single spacing tool that may be used for any aspect of a tile work installation, allowing the installer to carry only a single tool. The tile spacer and wedge tool have a more robust construction than conventional spacers, allowing them to be reused for installation work for an indefinite number of uses.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a thermal protection element, a number of washers, a ceramic layer, a number of blind fasteners, and a number of tabs. The thermal protection element has an upper surface, a lower surface, and a plurality of sides. The ceramic layer covers at least the plurality of sides of the thermal protection element. The number of tabs is connected to the number of sides by the number of blind fasteners secured to the ceramic layers. The tabs may be part of a frame secured to a groove around the plurality of sides.

Abstract: A floor tile expansion joint accommodates differential thermal expansion or contraction of modular floor tiles used in flooring applications. One or more rows of floor tile expansion joints may be connected to modular floor tiles for various floor tile applications.

Abstract: Methods of forming ceramic matrix composite structures include joining at least two lamina together to form a flexible ceramic matrix composite structure. Ceramic matrix composite structures include at least one region of reduced inter-laminar bonding at a selected location between lamina thereof. Thermal protection systems include at least one seal comprising a ceramic matrix composite material and have at least one region of reduced inter-laminar bonding at a selected location between lamina used to form the seal. Methods of forming thermal protection systems include providing one or more such seals between adjacent panels of a thermal protection system.

Abstract: A shim device and method of using the same are described in which the shim device includes a horizontal flange, a vertical web and a ledge web. The vertical web of the shim device includes a bottom end, a middle portion and a top end in which the bottom of the vertical web is attached to the horizontal flange such that the vertical web is aligned substantially perpendicular to the horizontal flange. The ledge web of the shim device is attached to the middle portion of the vertical web such that the ledge web is aligned substantially perpendicular to the vertical web and aligned substantially parallel to the horizontal flange. The method of using the same includes the steps of steps of applying, mounting and finishing the leveled floor.

Abstract: Pedestal assemblies configured to support first and second pavers positioned adjacently against an elevated periphery and methods of making the same are provided herein. Preferred assemblies include a cap, base, and at least two towers configured to be sandwiched between the cap and base. Kits can be sold with just cap and base alone. Preferred caps and bases can be formed in the same shape or substantially so, and are racetrack-shaped. Preferred towers include polyvinyl chloride (PVC) cylindrical tubing. The cap can advantageously include an upwardly-projecting fin used to align and separate two pavers positioned alongside an elevated periphery. A pedestal support system can include both periphery pedestals in addition to conventional pedestals positioned away from the elevated periphery.

Abstract: A method of assembling an appliance using a curable silicone composition optionally containing spacer beads of an appropriate size to permit adhesively joining the appliance parts in a desirably spaced-apart arrangement.

Abstract: A joint device is installed between adjacent components during construction to provide a proper transition between the components. The joint device has a generally L-shaped configuration with a first leg of the device that may be mounted to the outer face of the inner wall of a cavity wall construction and in the cavity between the spaced walls. The second leg projects generally perpendicularly from the first leg and from the inner wall toward the outer wall adjacent the bricks at which the movement joint is located. The second leg of the joint includes a series of segments in which a terminal end portion of the second leg is joined to a remainder thereof by frangible connections or perforated joints. After the joint device is installed on the inner wall and the outer wall is constructed, the terminal end portion of the second leg is removed by being torn along the appropriate frangible joint depending upon the spacing between the components.

Abstract: A modular sub-flooring system for supporting an overlayment above a ground surface includes a plurality of sub-floor tiles situated about a ground surface, with each sub-floor tile having a substantially-flat top surface that is adapted to receive and support an overlayment, and a connection interface with opposing engagement surfaces. The sub-flooring system also includes a plurality of removable bridge connectors, with each of the bridge connectors having a plurality of tile interfaces, and with each tile interface having complimentary engagement surfaces configured to engage with the opposing engagement surfaces of the connection interfaces. The tile interfaces of the bridge connectors couple to the respective connection interfaces of any adjacent sub-floor tiles to restrain the relative vertical movement between the adjacent sub-floor tiles while facilitating controlled relative lateral movement between the sub-floor tiles.

Abstract: A cladding system for cladding a supporting structure, the cladding system includes two cladding panels each defining a respective substantially laterally extending panel flange. The cladding panels are attachable to the supporting structure in a substantially coplanar and side-by-side relationship relatively to each other. The system also includes a cladding moulding insertable between the first and second cladding panel, the cladding moulding defining a moulding base and two moulding legs each extending from the moulding base substantially opposed to each other, the two moulding legs being angled relatively to the moulding base, each of the moulding legs defining a respective leg edge substantially opposed to the moulding base. The cladding moulding being substantially resiliently deformable between an undeformed configuration and a deformed configuration, the moulding legs being spaced apart from each other by a smaller distance in the deformed configuration than in the undeformed configuration.

Abstract: A spacer providing a substantially uniform space between adjacent tiles includes spacer legs extending radially from a common junction. The spacer legs, made from a porous material, are permanently adherable to a tile bonding material utilized to adhere the tiles to an underlying surface, and/or a grout material filling a gap between tiles. A process for making a tile spacer includes providing thinset material to which a liquid latex admix material is added. The materials are distributed evenly to a consistency of a damp fluffy sand-like mixture which is then placed into a mold of a desired shape and packed into the mold to bond the materials while still damp to form the tile spacer. The spacer is extracted from the mold and placed on a flat rigid sheet. The spacer is moist cured and dried at room temperature environment with 40-99% humidity.

Abstract: Provided is a grout member for a modular floor. The grout member includes a core having a wedge shape, wherein the core consists of a horizontal strut interconnecting two vertical supports. A flange extends from each vertical support to position and secure the grout member in position The core supports a surface section which is oriented toward the user.

Abstract: A glass block panel system is disclosed that includes glass blocks secured in a framework. The framework includes an external framework having external frame members each of which comprises a base web portion formed between opposing side arms, wherein one of the opposing side arms is removably coupled to the base web portion. The framework also includes an internal framework having internal frame spacers each of which comprises a spacer web portion formed between first and second opposing facing strips, each facing strip comprising cross-arms, wherein at least one of the facing strips is removably coupled to the spacer web portion. The side arms and cross-arms have flexible extrusions protruding from tips thereof. A fabrication method is also disclosed comprising: forming at least a portion of at least one framework compartment; applying adhesive sealant; latitudinally inserting at least one glass block; and completing the glass block panel system.

Abstract: A family of light-weight, durable, resilient tile spacers adapted for insertion into intersecting joint spaces between tile courses, and to be left in place after the spaces have been filled with grout. Each spacer has a plurality of thin-walled hollow limbs that project radially into the intersecting joint spaces. The side walls of the limbs are compressed by the tiles on either side of the joint spaces, the amount of compression being limited by the abutment of structural elements formed on the inner faces of the side walls with stops positioned within the limbs. In one embodiment of the invention, pairs of structural elements are mounted to the limbs' respective side walls. In another, pairs of structural elements are mounted to both of the limbs' side walls. Grout figs the submerged hollow limbs during the grouting process and upon curing permanently seals and immobilizes the spacer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a unitary resilient insert member for filing an expansion joint gap formed between adjacent concrete slabs, floor tiles, or the like wherein the insert member consisting essentially of a preassembled wedge shape form. Also disclosed is a method for sealing the gap located between adjacent flooring or structural members by filling the said gap with a sealing material insert.

Abstract: A prefabricated terrazzo panel and system, method for making terrazzo panels and method for installing terrazzo panels wherein the panels comprise terrazzo epoxy, a top surface, a bottom surface, sides and a groove along each side and the panel system comprises a plurality of panels, locking strips that join adjacent panels and terrazzo or terrazzo-like filler for joining and creating a seamless joint between adjacent panels. The method of manufacturing the panels generally includes providing, installing and, or preparing borders on a flat, level horizontal structure, applying an epoxy primer having a high viscous to the supporting structure to prevent adherence, introducing previously prepared epoxy terrazzo or comparable aggregate mixture into the border volume, leveling the pour mixture, allowing it to cure, grinding the surface of the cured aggregate to a desired thickness, sanding and polishing the top surface, and cutting the cured terrazzo into panels having predetermined dimensions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a unitary resilient insert member for filing an expansion joint gap formed between adjacent concrete slabs, floor tiles, or the like wherein the insert member consisting essentially of a preassembled wedge shape form. Also disclosed is a method for sealing the gap located between adjacent flooring or structural members by filling the said gap with a sealing material insert.

Abstract: A securing apparatus for a glass plate in a recess, especially a glass-ceramic cooking surface, is provided with easily removable components. The apparatus comprises a sealing frame; a holding frame connected to the sealing frame; a circumferential, permanently elastic sealing strip; and bonding. The sealing frame has an edge and is adapted to be positioned in the recess, lying on its edge. The holding frame is connected to the sealing frame and has an arm which supports the plate. The plate lies loosely without a secure connection to the holding frame with the permanently elastic sealing strip positioned therebetween. The sealing frame is connected non-positively, securely, and durably to the front surfaces or edge of the plate, and the sealing strip permanently prevents adhesive from leaking between the holding frame and the plate.

Abstract: The joint thereshown has two stainless steel side plates (21, 22) which are rolled from a single strip and are bent double at the bottom of the lower limb (23) of the Y. The plates have rolled in ridges (24) at the top of this limb (23) and diverge above the ridges (24) as upper Y limbs (26). Between the limbs (26) a core is captivated at a relatively hard, necked lower core-portion or rib (31) by the ridges (24). Above these, a relatively softer upper core-portion or strip (32) fills the space between the upper limbs (26), tapering out with them. The core is a co-extrusion of the two portions (31, 32) joined by a neck (33). It is held in place by the ridges (24) being rolled around lower portion (31). This joint is fitted between tiles at a gap of the width of the ridges (24), by driving it between the tiles to compress the divergent upper Y limbs (26).

Abstract: Transition profile (2) for floors, preferably hard floors comprising a number of joined floor elements which together forms a floor section (1). One or more floor sections (1) forms a floor whereby a tansition profile (2) is intended to be arranged on one end of a floor section (1) or between two floor sections (1). The transition profile (2) includes an assembly profile (3) and a covering profile (4), whereby the covering profile (4) via a base member (40) is attached to the assembly profile (3) which in its turn is mounted on a foundation (10). The base member (40) is shaped as a longitudinal profile with a, also longitudinal, pivot axle (41). Edge members (42) on the base member (40) have a mainly radial cross section.

Abstract: A glass tile system and a method of installing glass tiles on a subsurface, such as a floor, wall, counter top, table top, or ceiling, by forming a grouting frame around the glass tiles with rods of solid flexible plastic or polymer material, which are removably fastened to the subsurface with a plurality of fasteners.

Abstract: The invention provides a height-adjustable bridging device for joints between floor coverings. The bridging device includes an upper element and a base element. The upper element includes a generally perpendicular retaining bar. The retaining bar includes a holding device. The base element also includes retaining bars which are structured to cooperate with the upper element retaining bar holding device. A support device, which includes another upper element retaining bar and a force uptake piece, such as a base element bar, is disposed on the upper element and the base element respectively. The support device aids in preventing the upper element from tipping.

Abstract: A joint insert is provided as well as a system and method for using same in the finishing of a surface's joint. The joint insert is a strip of material having a central longitudinal axis dividing the strip into first and second halves that are mirror-images about the central longitudinal axis. The strip is folded along the central longitudinal axis so that when the strip is positioned in the joint, the strip's central longitudinal axis and portions of the strip's first and second halves extend out of the joint. Gaps are formed between the joint and portions of the strip within the confines of the joint. A filler material is used to fill the gaps. As a final step in the finishing process, any of the strip and filler material extending above the plane of the surface over the joint is removed.