Abstract: Passive solar wire screens mount vertically on an edifice. The screens have rods vertically arranged parallel to one another and have wires horizontally arranged parallel to one another. The wires attach to the rods and have first surfaces facing away from the edifice in an upward direction from vertical. The wires also have second surfaces facing toward the edifice in a downward direction from vertical. When the sun has a summer elevation on the horizon, the first surfaces passively reflect solar energy incident thereto away from the wire screens. When the sun has a winter elevation on the horizon, however, the first surfaces passively reflect solar energy incident thereto toward the second surfaces, which in turn passively reflect the solar energy toward the edifice. A concave surface on the wires can also reflect thermal energy back to the edifice.

Abstract: An openable covering construction for pergolas and verandas, characterized in that said openable covering construction comprise a plurality of adjoining and partially overlapping bands longitudinally mounted on a supporting frame by a driving system allowing each said bands to be rotated about a longitudinal axis thereof parallel to a sloping side of said covering construction, said driving system driving said bands to at least two positions, a closed position, thereat said bands are partially overlapped onto one another and substantially parallel to the covering construction plane, and an opened position thereat each said band is rotated to a substantially vertical condition with respect to said covering plane, each said band comprising a section member including a contoured surface including, at a side thereof, a perpendicular side wall and, at an opposite side thereof, a channel defining curved wall, thereby a surface directly exposed to rain of said covering construction forms a water collecting and dispo

Abstract: A solar-shading assembly for fastening to a support mullion, comprises an elongate louver member having longitudinal front and rear edges, an elongate cap element for extending along and covering the rear edge, a bracket which is connectable to the support mullion, and a fastening device for connecting the bracket to the rear edge of the louver member. The in use fastening device is coverable by the cap element so as to hide the fastening device from view. Preferably, at least part of the bracket is also coverable by the cap element so as to hide the said part of the bracket from view.

Abstract: A device for tensioning a dual-skin flexible wall capable of interaction with at least one rigid mount, the device being mounted at the opposite edges of two skins to be retained by the rigid mount. The device includes a cord designed to interact with a groove formed in the rigid mount, and an inflatable bead capable of spacing the two skins away from and parallel to each other. Once inflated, the inflatable bead has a substantially cylindrical shape and remains confined outside the volume occupied by the rigid mount.

Abstract: A louvered housing for an air conditioning unit includes a base structure with a plurality of openings and elongated bodies with a V-cross-sectional shapes and being connected to the base structure at their ends. The louvers are formed in a two-step process including first a stamping and then a forming process, with neither step resulting in scrap material.

Abstract: Components for constructing and installing an awning and light support system to provide sun and weather protection to a window or door of a structure are disclosed. Included are a pair of uniquely-constructed bracket members having an L-shaped configuration used to removably secure horizontally-disposed supports and awning spars to provide a frame to support the awning material or skin. Also disclosed is an awning support structure comprising a support channel that extends along the top of an awning and supports a corresponding member attached to an awning frame. In some instances, the awning may be further supported by awning projection props secured between the awning frame and the building at a lower portion of the awning.

Abstract: A lightweight, molded plastic canopy has a sloped or peaked roof and mounting flanges that enable the canopy to be attached to an exterior wall above a door. The canopy is configured so that several canopies can be nested together for display and shipment.

Abstract: A bang-bang servo system controls motors which provide drive for trucks on each end of a fabric support beam structure. A plurality of such truck/beam/fabric units comprise a retractable roof Separation of inner and outer truck guiding tracks/support platforms may be wide and somewhat variable. The radius of curvature of the inner and outer tracks may vary widely over the beam excursion path between open and closed roof conditions. Individual beam motion sequencing and stop position are commanded through a central control unit. These features allow great flexibility and adaptability in application of this invention.

Abstract: An apparatus for increasing the number of utility slots in an awning tube utility track is described. The apparatus comprises a track mount and at least two utility tracks coupled with and parallel to the track mount. In a specific example, each utility track comprises a first opening parallel to the track mount and a second opening orthogonal to the track mount.

Abstract: A mounting bracket to be used in connection with securing sunshades to a wall mullion. The mounting bracket including a pair of bracket elements matingly engageable with each other with one bracket element being securable to one mounting arm of one of the sunshades and the other bracket element being securable to one mounting arm of an other of the sunshades and with each bracket element being removably securable to the mullion, such that each bracket element is disengageable from the other bracket and removable from the mullion. A plurality of the mounting brackets may be used to secure a plurality of the sunshades in a side-by-side manner to a plurality of wall mullions.

Abstract: A support brace is provided for structurally linking a sliding door to a surrounding structure. The support brace includes an elongate rail having a first end and a second end. The rail is fastened to a portion of the sliding door in spaced relation to the surrounding structure so that the first end is positioned adjacent to a top edge of the sliding door and the second end is positioned adjacent to a bottom edge of the sliding door. At least one bolt is slidingly secured to the rail, and includes a locking rod. The bolt is arranged so that it can be slid along the rail between a first position, where the locking rod projects beyond one of the first and second ends of the rail, and a second position where one of the first and second ends of the rail projects beyond the locking rod. At least one lock plate is also provided that includes an opening defined through a portion of the plate.

Abstract: A shielding canopy includes a fixture base mounted to a wall. A plurality of swiveling devices mounted to and equally-spaced along the fixture base. Each swiveling device rotatably supports a rotating shaft to which a panel of a predetermined width is fixed. The width of the panels substantially corresponds to a distance between adjacent swiveling devices whereby when the panels are rotated from a collapsed position where the panels substantially overlap each other to an expanded position, edges of the panels engage with each other whereby the panels together form a continuous canopy. A driving rod, actuated manually or by power, is movably supported in the fixture base. A plurality of connecting arms are pivoted to the driving rod and have free ends fixed to the rotating shafts thereby when the driving rod is moved, the panels are rotated.

Abstract: Adjacent backdrop panels and a suspended canopy comprising a stage shell, wherein the backdrop panels include angular alignment devices for readily and accurately aligning adjacent panels to present a pleasing, uniform appearance and tilt aligning devices to readily align the angle of tilt of the backdrop panels. The suspended canopy formed of individual canopy panels having rotatable hinge devices for storing the canopy panels in a substantially vertical position and having a readily engageable stay assembly for accurately fixing the relative angle of the canopy panels when deployed in a performance position above the backdrop panels.

Abstract: Adjacent backdrop panels and a suspended canopy comprising a stage shell, wherein the backdrop panels include angular alignment devices for readily and accurately aligning adjacent panels to present a pleasing, uniform appearance and tilt aligning devices to readily align the angle of tilt of the backdrop panels. The suspended canopy formed of individual canopy panels having rotatable hinge devices for storing the canopy panels in a substantially vertical position and having a readily engageable stay assembly for accurately fixing the relative angle of the canopy panels when deployed in a performance position above the backdrop panels.

Abstract: A hinged building truss, such as a roof truss, includes elongated wooden structural members connected by a double hinge joint. The joint has a central elongated flat plate having first and second pivots located toward respective ends of the elongated plate. First ends of first and second flat plates overlap first and second ends of the central flat plate and rotate in the plane of the plates at the first and second pivots, respectively.The first and second plates each include a plurality of teeth, struck from second end areas of each plate, for fastening each plate to a face of a structural member to be pivoted. The structural members can thus be rotated about the pivots. The length of the elongated plate between the overlapping portions of the first and second plates is sufficient to accommodate sheet sheathing attached to each of the structural members when the double hinged joint is in folded position with the structural members substantially parallel and adjacent to each other.

Abstract: A plastic coupling device for connecting two building elements includes a T-shaped coupling member having two inwardly bent ends and an adjacent pair of W-shaped plates each having inwardly bent ends, respectively, for slidably, tightly receiving the T-shaped coupling member along adjacent side portions of the W-shaped plates so as to form a composite ceiling plate used in building ceilings.

Abstract: An adjustable overhang panel positioned on the eave of a roof of a building which can be extended to provide shade in the summer or retracted in the winter for increased sun exposure is disclosed. The lateral edges of a rigid panel are slidably positioned within parallel tracks which may be incorporated in extensions of the roof rafters. When extended, the panel is maintained in position by gravity. The panel includes an extended lip portion on the inner edge thereof for securely engaging inner portions of each of the parallel tracks for maintaining the panel in a stable, retracted position. The present invention is applicable to new buildings as well as existing structures by extending the roof rafters as support for the parallel tracks within which the overhang panel is positioned.

Abstract: An awning stringer. A pair of parallel beam members, each having a cross section similar to that of an I beam are interconnected by an orthogonally disposed link member having inwardly beveled opposite ends. The respective upper peripheral edges of the beam members are specifically configured to grip the individual slats that collectively form an awning, so that an awning having a downward curvature or bend at its distal free end is gripped when the lowermost portions of the beam members are made to converge with respect to one another, which convergence results in abutting engagement of the respective beam members and the respective beveled ends of the link member, and which convergence results in a corresponding divergence of the slat gripping upper peripheral edges of the beam members to grip the awning as desired.

Abstract: The invention is an improved awning for installation at portable or fixed buildings, including mobile type buildings. The awning is of the rigid type and is provided with a member for affixing to the building which it serves. The invention provides a unique channel-like member for affixing the inboard side of the awning to a building structure; the channel-like member serving as in the inboard side main structural member of the awning. A plurality of uniquely shaped main beams extend from the channel-like member to an outboard member of a flanged channel-like configuration. Pan-like members are fitted between each pair of adjacent main beams to form the roof proper of the awning. The fitting of the pan-like members into the unique shape of the main beams provides a beam-braced awning structure that is very rigid. The outboard ends of the main beams are affixed to the flanged channel-like outboard member, which is suitably supported by columns or posts.