Abstract: A sound damping wallboard and methods of forming a sound damping wallboard are disclosed. The sound damping wallboard comprises a gypsum layer with a gypsum surface having an encasing layer. The encasing layer is partially removed to expose the gypsum surface and form a gypsum surface portion and a first encasing layer portion on the gypsum layer. A sound damping layer is applied to the gypsum layer to cover at least part of the gypsum surface portion and the encasing layer portion.

Abstract: A soundproof door assembly for use in reduction of sound transmitted from one side of the door to the other side, having an STC number at least STC 36 determined in accordance with ASTM E413-10 and E90-09, comprising a soundproof door having a thickness of 30-80 mm, which comprising two door skins, one formed as a front door skin and the other formed as a rear door skin for the soundproof door respectively; a quadrilateral frame, constituted by a top rail member, a bottom rail member, a left stile member and a right stile member to seal the perimeter of the door skins; and a multiple-layered core, to form a concrete inner portion of the door, which comprising three layers of a hard-soundproof material that blocks sound with high frequency over 500 Hz, wherein each of the door skins includes an aperture aligned and devoid of any soundproofing core thereby forms a window of the soundproof door for accommodation of a glass pane.

Abstract: Solar energy shade structures and methods of designing and installing the same are disclosed. These structures are capable of supporting a contiguous planar solar panel support structure at heights greater than 18 feet above their mounting surface. The planar solar panel support structure may contiguously cover at least two areas of different area types, including parking spaces and driving aisles, and may be at least 64 feet long by 64 feet wide. The planar solar panel support structure may have a high panel density defined in that an arrangement of the plurality of solar panels that is uninterrupted by service or access lanes. The majority of the plurality of solar panels may be fixed at an angle that would be non-optimal for energy generation in each individual panel of the majority of the plurality of solar panels, but results in optimal power density for the entire solar energy shade structure.

Abstract: An arched window covering having shade mount with a base, at least a spacer, and two rails wherein a shade is mounted on the shade mount and the width of the spacer is adjustable and positioned on the base such that the rails movably engage the base and a length of the shade mount is changeable by changing the width of the spacer to thereby adapt to a differing size of a shade mounted on the shade mount by adjusting the spacer rather than cutting the rail to fit the windows with different sizes.

Abstract: An improved acoustical damping wall (ceiling or floor) or door material comprises a laminar structure having as an integral part thereof one or more layers of viscoelastic material which also functions as a glue and one or more constraining layers, such as metal, ceramics, composites, cellulose, wood, or petroleum-based products such as plastic, vinyl, plastic or rubber.

Abstract: An improved acoustical damping wall (ceiling or floor) or door material comprises a laminar structure having as an integral part thereof one or more layers of viscoelastic material which also functions as a glue and one or more constraining layers, such as metal, cellulose, wood, or petroleum-based products such as plastic, vinyl, plastic or rubber. In one embodiment, standard wallboard, typically gypsum, comprises the external surfaces of the laminar structure; and one or more constraining layers are fabricated between the gypsum exterior. The resulting structure improves the attenuation of sound transmitted through the structure.

Abstract: Method of manufacturing a wooden beam includes arranging first and second elongated members parallel to one another and at a predetermined distance from one another, arranging the at least two crosspieces on the first and second elongated members, arranging third and fourth elongated members respectively opposite the first and second elongated members and on the at least two crosspieces, gluing, with a flexible glue, contact zones, whereby the first elongated member, the second elongated member, the third elongated member, the fourth elongated member, and the at least two crosspieces form an assembly, and pressing the assembly in order to crush layers of the flexible glue, wherein elastic joints are formed in each assembly zone after the pressing and after the flexible glue are dry, and wherein the elastic joints allow for a relative movement. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Abstract: An improved acoustical damping wall (ceiling or floor) or door material comprises a laminar structure having as an integral part thereof one or more layers of viscoelastic material which also functions as a glue and one or more constraining layers, such as metal, cellulose, wood, or petroleum-based products such as plastic, vinyl, plastic or rubber. In one embodiment, standard wallboard, typically gypsum, comprises the external surfaces of the laminar structure; and one or more constraining layers are fabricated between the gypsum exterior. The resulting structure improves the attenuation of sound transmitted through the structure.

Abstract: A modified A-frame shell building 10 with a cementitious foundation having a pair of upstanding opposing stub walls 16, 18 that engage and support a plurality of trusses 50 disposed in spaced-apart relation for supporting a roof 58. Each truss comprises a pair of rafter beams with 45° beveled corners at opposing distal ends. The rafter beams 52 rigidly join together at a 90° angle at abutted corners 75 at distal ends 72, which defines a notch 106 that receives a ridge beam 62 extending across the trusses 50. The trusses include a collar beam 56 oppositely beveled at opposing distal ends 83, 85 and connected to the rafter beams 52 intermediate the distal ends 70, 72 of the rafter beams. Base plates 84 attached to the distal end 70 of the rafters 52 receive fasteners to engage the trusses 50 to the stub walls 16, 18. A roof 58 is defined by a deck 92 of tongue and groove boards covered by a insulative panel 93 and roofing materials such as shingles 94.

Abstract: The structural wooden joist described comprises a lower chord, an upper chord spaced from the lower chord and a laminated panel structure joining the chords. This panel structure defines an uninterrupted surface from one end of the joist to an opposite end thereof and has opposite upper and lower edges joined to the lower and upper chords respectively. The laminated panel structure is formed of a series of elongated planks adhesively secured edgewise to one another and extending vertically between the lower and upper chords.

Abstract: A biarch consists of two coplanar arches, curved in the same direction and radially spaced with cross ties having shear rigidity in planes perpendicular to the cross section areal center curve of the arch pair. End ties resist relative tangential arch displacements. Biarch framing members are strong, stiff, durable and economical structural members for framing aesthetically pleasing, clear span arched structures capable of withstanding hurricane winds and mountain snows. The most efficient materials for constructing biarch framing members are hardwoods, aluminum and steel. Biarch frames spanning up to fifty feet can be assembled or disassembled by one or two persons using common hand tools.

Abstract: The composite structures are composed of wooden members such as girders of laminated wooden boards and members of reinforced concrete such as a plate of reinforced concrete which form for instance a composite load supporting structure designed as pedestrian walkway or similar structure. In order to interconnect the members of wood themselves or to members made of reinforced concrete fitted set bolts or fitted screw bolts, respectively, are arranged in such a manner that they extend through the cross sections of the wooden members and are anchored at least in one cross section of reinforced concrete. The parts consisting of reinforced concrete are poured as a rule after the assembling of the wooden structure such that deviations of dimensions can be equalized or taken up, respectively, quite easily. This allows a combining of the advantages of wooden structures and of structures made of reinforced concrete.

Abstract: A building having a plurality of spaced apart concrete pilasters vertically disposed in the ground and having their tops in a common horizontal plane carry thereon a similar plurality of roof truss members which are generally vertically disposed on the pilasters and which join at the crown that leads to one other truss member to form a roof enclosure for a frame structure for a building. Truss members are covered with sheeting panels to enclose the building above the top of the pilasters and the barrier wall is provided from a series of panels mounted on the inside of the pilasters. The truss members are arranged to provide a triangular interior roof profile and a hip roof exterior profile eliminating the need for vertical wall sections on a circular building and on a rectangular, except for the end walls.

Abstract: To improve the utilization of the volume of the material in the middle of the cross-section of load carrying construction, for example, laminated wooden beams, and to increase the stiffness and bending strength, combinations of structural components, such as laminated wooden beams and lamells, which are curved in presses while the components are assembled, may be used. After being removed from the presses, planned and permanent pre-stresses will be introduced into the entire construction units. Reinforcing components, such as steel, can also be used in combination with the above described methods of construction.

Abstract: A joint in which wooden beams are made up of beam members, located side by side in the longitudinal direction of the beams, and in which beam joint elements, provided with nails, are fitted on the inner surfaces of the beam members in such a way that they do not extend all the way to the outer surface of the beams. The joint may be used in trust structures.

Abstract: A building that includes a plurality of spaced apart pilasters vertically disposed, that are raised above ground level to a given elevation wherein the top of the pilasters lie in a common horizontal plane. A barrier wall is erected on the inside of the pilasters using heavy beam members. Wooden truss members are seated on top of the pilasters. Each truss member contains a vertically disposed column section and an upwardly pitched roof beam section. The crown of each truss roof section is attached to the crown of at least one other truss member. The truss members are covered with sheeting to enclose the building above the top of the barrier wall.

Abstract: A wooden truss member including a vertically disposed column section and an upwardly pitched roof beam section angularly disposed from the top of the column section to form a corner therebetween, each section including a hollow frame that is covered by side panels. The two sections are joined at the corner by means of an elongated flange. Plywood panels are used to cover each of the section frames and are arranged so that the grain of each panel runs along the length of the frame section. Special corner panels are mounted between the sections to enclose the corner region therebetween. The grain of the corner panels is arranged to run perpendicular to the corner flanges.

Abstract: A scissors truss comprises elongated structural wooden members establishing pairs of top chords and bottom chords connected at opposite ends thereof to establish a top apex joint, a bottom apex joint and heel joints at opposite ends of the truss. At least one vertical wooden member extends between the top and bottom joints to provide structural reinforcement. While the heel joints may be formed with conventional rectangular connector plates with struck teeth embedded into side faces of the chord members, the nail plate establishing the top apex joint is formed with upper inclined edges approximating the pitch of the top chords without projecting upwardly above an upper edge surface of the top chords. Similarly, the bottom nail plate establishing the bottom apex joint is formed with lower inclined edges approximating the pitch of the bottom chords without projecting downwardly below a lower edge surface of the bottom chords.

Abstract: A joint for use in building construction which is dependent upon beams made of wood, metal or related materials. The beams may be box beams or I-beams. In each case, the beams are made up of webs and flanges. The flanges may be of wood and of various different shapes. The joints are formed by cutting away the flanges and webs as necessary so that the beams will fit together in a continuous manner, that is, with the flanges and webs continuing without interruption across the joint. The joints can then be fixed together using conventional means such as nails, screws, adhesives and the like.

Abstract: A building system utilizes a combined roof/wall truss construction where each truss is made in a single U-shaped unit having spaced-apart wall truss subsystems interconnected with a roof truss subsystem. The trusses then are set up with the lowermost ends of the wall trusses resting on and attached to the foundation or building floor slab. The trusses are spaced apart at 32" intervals and are held in a vertical orientation by means of standard sheathing for the walls and roof. Window and door openings are formed in the spaces between the adjacent wall truss subsystems, and the depth of the wall truss subsystems is selected to provide space for built-in cabinets, closets, and unique window treatments.

Abstract: Building construction comprising a plurality of pairs of upstanding posts each post of each pair being mounted in opposed relation to the other post of the pair, said posts supporting a roof structure comprising a set of parallel beams, wherein each beam interconnects a pair of posts and each beam being mounted to one side of the respective posts, each post having a transversely extending strut fixed to the upper end of the post and supported by a brace extending between said strut and an intermediate point of said post, said strut being located in parallel relationship to said beams and being fixed thereto.

Abstract: A wood roof truss construction comprising, in combination, a pair of redundant superpositioned load support systems, namely a tied-arch system and a wood bowstring truss system. The wood truss system comprises an arch, a web system depending from said arch and a horizontally oriented bottom bichord member secured to the web system and bridging the ends of the arch and anchored to said ends by a U-strap. A connecting assembly is coupled to the U-strap and to an elongate steel tension rod disposed between the two members forming the bottom bichord. Transverse spacers are provided along the length of the bichord comprising spacer sleeves, through-bolts and/or U-plates coupling the gusset plates or straps employed to anchor the web members to the bottom bichord said transverse members serving also to support the tension rod in the absence of being fixedly secured thereto.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a truss of the lattice type. The truss comprises an upper and lower chord of wood and a continuous web of steel in a zig zag configuration arranged between the chords to form inclined struts. The bent portions of the web are received in recesses in the chords and fastened in the recesses by a hardening and binding substance which forms a body which replaces wood removed to form the recesses.

Abstract: The specification discloses a truss having first and second wall columns and first and second roof elements. Knee braces connect the wall columns intermediate their ends with the roof portions intermediate their ends. A center cord spans the roof sections, the latter comprising pairs of stacked wooden elements arranged vertically edge to edge bridging the point at which the knee braces join the roof elements and the point at which the center cord joins the roof elements. The construction minimizes costs and wastage of materials, and uses standard commercially available lumber while providing for adequate strength.

Abstract: Prestressed composite tension members comprise an assembly which includes compression and tension portions which are loaded longitudinally along or symmetrical with the center of gravity of the compression portion and prestressed causing both the tension and compression portions to cooperate in resisting lengthening of the assembly rather than the tension portion alone, thus lessening such elongations. In one embodiment, the tension member forms a tension member in a truss, having an upper chord and vertical webs acting in compression, and the tension member comprises a tensioned cable mounted within a series of abutting, slotted and glued wood members under compression. In another embodiment, the tension member comprises a tensioned cable centered in a plurality of tubes in compression, forming the truss lower chord.

Abstract: Wood trusses used in building construction which have reinforced chord members. The reinforcing is made of sheet metal steel strips which have nail-like teeth punched from their surface, which are pressed into the wood chord members along their entire length. The steel strips overrun the length of the truss slightly and the ends are used as a tie down means. The continuous steel strips may also be used as connector plates to attach the chords to the truss webbing. The steel strips also serve to hold the trusses in a pre-cambered position.

Abstract: A modified dovetail joint interconnects a plywood web to a chord. The chord carries two grooves extending inwardly from the surface of the chord intersected by the web. The two grooves merge into a single, wider groove adjacent the surface of the chord, are separated by a wedge-shaped spacer, and are inclined relative to each other. The plywood web carries two flexible tongues along its edge portion that are sized to engage respective ones of the grooves in the chord. The tongues are composed, at least in part, of two of the veneer layers of the plywood and are spaced from each other by a web groove formed in an intervening layer of veneer. The inner terminus of the web groove as well as the terminus of the glue laminate between the tongue forming layers of veneer and the adjacent intervening layer both lie below the surface of the chord when the web and the chord are assembled.

Abstract: Truss core panels comprising face sheets and a core, formed of adjoining tubes having an equilateral triangular cross-sectional shape, are disclosed. The face sheets are formed of either a homogeneous material (e.g., a metal, such as aluminum or titanium); or, a composite material, such as a laminate formed of bonded plies. The plies are woven from suitably strong fibers (e.g., glass or graphite), bonded together by a suitable resin. The tubes are also formed of either a homogeneous material or laminated from suitably strong fibers bonded together by a resin. Depending upon the material used, the tubes can be either formed by pultrusion or by machine winding on mandrels and cured. The tubes may be formed of the same material as the face sheets or different materials. Stiffening ribs and the like are formed by including additional layers of tubes. Further, the tubes may be filled continuously or intermittently, as desired, to accommodate fasteners.

Abstract: A double-layered wooden arch truss to be used for frameworks of wooden roofs and characterized in that the wooden arch truss is double-layered with an upper arch member formed of layered wooden plate material and a lower arch member formed identically to the upper member, the wooden arch truss being usable for cattle houses, etc.

Abstract: Large hollow curved beams and arches are inexpensively produced by curving individual shallow components, such as channels, that are then tiered to form a large laminated member. Smaller beams or arches can be made by tiering the components, curving them all at one time, then fastening them together. Individual layers of curved components are usually fastened together consecutively or in multiple laminations to construct a member with a much higher moment of inertia than the sum of the moments of inertia of the layers in a non-fastened state.

Abstract: A wood truss or joist structure, including a top chord member and diagonal members joining the top chord member adjacent the ends of the latter, the top chord member having support surfaces inwardly offset from the intersection of the center lines of the top chord and diagonal members to distribute bending moments throughout the truss. All members are adhesively secured together.

Abstract: The joint comprises a pair of parallel tongues of uniform thickness on an edge of one member which are pressed into grooves of uniform width in another member. The grooves are inclined from top to bottom relative to each other, bending the tongues out of parallelism and thereby locking them in the grooves to form a self-locking joint equivalent to a dovetail joint. Such tongues on the top and bottom edges of a vertical member are pressed into longitudinal grooves in elongated top and bottom chord members to form an I-beam or truss section. The tongues may be formed on the edge of a board or they may comprise the opposite face sheets on a plywood panel. Also, the joint members may be metal.