Abstract: A system for connecting panels in adjacent edge-to-edge relationship comprises plates mounted to the edge of each panel providing a series of spaced-apart protuberances along each panel edge. Each protuberance includes an opening normal to the edges of the panels. A channel connector has a web which is interposed between the panel edges and includes a plurality of windows providing gateways through the web for the protuberances when the panels are placed in adjacent edge-to-edge relationship. Each window includes a downwardly extending tongue which is inserted into the opening corresponding to the protuberance in each window to interlock the two panels.

Abstract: A curtain wall comprises a framework of elongate main frame members defining cells in which infill panels are clamped by auxiliary frame members secured to the front of the framework. The panels are sealed in the cells by gaskets on the frame members. To prevent the weight of unclamped panels from distorting the auxiliary members and their securing screws, they rest on support elements projecting forwardly from slots in the transverse main frame members at the bottoms of the cells. The elements may relieve the auxiliary members entirely, or may rest on them when they are secured. Alternatively the panels may rest on the auxiliary members which transmit their weight to the support elements. The support elements and/or further locating elements can act to align the main and auxiliary members and guide the screws during construction.

Abstract: A concrete masonry ("CM") block wall cladding using specially configured CM veneer blocks is applied to a substrate wall such as the exterior wall of a building. Horizontally extending support means are mounted on the substrate wall(s) and a plurality of elongated battens are secured to the substrate wall at laterally spaced intervals and extending vertically above such horizontally extending support means; a plurality of CM veneer blocks are vertically supported by the horizontally extending support means with portions of the CM blocks being secured to adjacent laterally spaced battens, thereby mounting the CM veneer blocks on the substrate wall to form a CM veneer block wall cladding. A multi-story CM block veneer wall cladding construction for a multi-story building may be similarly constructed by using a plurality of horizontally extending support means mounted on the substrate wall at vertically spaced invervals so as to support a section of the CM block wall cladding of suitable height.

Abstract: A cross-like structural joint element having a pair of aligned lateral arms each formed with an anti-slip pedestal projecting from one face; a U-shaped first connector member having a pair of spaced legs projecting perpendicularly from said one face at adjoining ends of the lateral arms, facing surfaces of the legs having inwardly inclined teeth, and a second connector member projecting perpendicularly from the other face of the lateral arms at the adjoining ends; this connector member having a narrow neck portion joining the lateral arms and a wide portion extending from the narrow neck portion.

Abstract: A linear panel ceiling system is disclosed in which generally U-shaped elongated panels can be mounted in abutting relationship or in a spaced relationship. When the panels are installed in a spaced relationship, an insert is snapped into a groove extending lengthwise the adjacent panels to close the space between adjacent panels. The insert is supported throughout its length and does not tend to lift when pressure differential exists across the insert. The side legs of the panels are inclined inwardly a small amount so that when the panels are installed in an abutting relationship with the panel faces abutting, the legs diverge to allow installation and/or removal of panels from the mounting brackets.

Abstract: A suspension ceiling system is disclosed which combines snap-up pans and lay-in panels. Such system includes runners formed with channels at the lower edges thereof formed by opposed lateral flanges, depending side walls, and inturned lips. The inturned lips terminate at inner edges which are spaced apart to provide a longitudinal opening on the lower side of the channel. Lay-in panels are positioned in some of the grid openings, and provide peripheral edges supported by the flanges. Snap-up panels formed of sheet metal are provided with peripheral flanges having inwardly directed ribs extending lengthwise of the flanges and spaced from the lower pan surface. The flanges are positioned in the openings beween the runner lips with the ribs snapped over the associated lip to secure the snap-up panels in position. The lips provide a delineation between the lay-in panels and the adjacent flanges of adjacent snap-up panels are spaced by substantially the same distance to provide a similar delineation.

Abstract: A panel wall assembly comprises rectangular panlike panels mounted close together side by side and end to end. Retainers located at all junctures between the panels are fastened to the building structure, and the panels are fastened to the retainers by clips having arms that extend out through slots in the panel flanges and clamp the edges of the flanges against seating surfaces on the retainers.

Abstract: A flooring system comprising a foundation, a plurality of adjacent floorboards, each of the floorboards including a generally vertical side including a generally horizontal slot, and a base adjacent the foundation and including therein an opening spaced from the side, and clips for fastening the floorboards to the foundation, each including a generally horizontal upper portion received in the slot in the floorboard, a generally vertical portion, a lower generally horizontal base portion extending between the foundation and the base of the floorboard, and a projection extending upwardly in the base portion and spaced from the vertical portion and received in the opening in the base of the floorboard.

Abstract: An improved wall panel clip includes a retainer plate and a hook member extending from the retainer plate for insertion into a slot to retain a wall panel against an upright. The hook forms a notch having a narrow opening and a wider inner width. The surface of the hook adjacent the narrow opening engages a surface of the upright when the hook is positioned in the slots so that a portion of the upright penetrates into the slot. Engagement of the hook with the surface of the upright resists inadvertent movement of the clip relative to the upright to retain the panel in position on the upright. The clip preferably includes a plurality of such hooks projecting from a spacer plate that extends from the retainer plate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fire protection dividing wall for installation between construction parts of a building. The wall is assembled of a supporting frame carrying fire protection glass panes. The frame is assembled of a steel core which includes upright struts and horizontal tie bars which carry the glass panes. The frame core is preferably made of steel tubes of rectangular cross section. The struts are provided with opposite projections which are inserted into the ends of the tie bar sections. The opposite outer sides of the frame cores are covered with covering rails of hard wood, which has approximately the same fire-resistant time factor as the glass panes. The gaps between the covering rails and the glass panes are sealed by a fire-resistant sealing mass.

Abstract: A suspended ceiling system employs an array of stringers suspended from an overhead building support. Ceiling panels are positioned by the stringers and each panel interlocks with a plurality of stringers so that it resists upward or downward displacement relative to the stringers. If the system employs rectangular panels, they are attached to the stringers from above. If it utilizes linear wooden panels, they are attached to the stringers from below.

Abstract: A load body is provided defining at least one upstanding wall construction, including laterally spaced upstanding structural members spaced therealong and upper and lower downwardly and upwardly facing surfaces extending along upper and lower marginal portions of the one wall construction. Each pair of adjacent structural members includes adjacent marginal portions defining outwardly facing abutment and seal surfaces extending therealong and outwardly facing abutment surface portions spaced therealong, each spaced at least slightly from the corresponding abutment and seal surface toward the adjacent structural member.

Abstract: A storefront system for commercial buildings includes a series of spaced mullions with horizontal supports connected at their ends to the mullions to form a rear support for glass panels. A series of support clips are located at the intersections of the mullions and horizontal supports, with the support clips being fastened to the mullions and with the horizontal supports being mounted to the support clips. Similar support clips are attached to the horizontal supports intermediate the mullions and function to support the glass panels. A plurality of attachment clips also extend from the mullions and horizontal supports, between the glass panels, and cover plates are mounted on the attachment clips. The attachment clips are fabricated from a material having a low coefficient of heat transfer, so that heat from one side of the storefront is not readily transferred to the other side of the storefront.

Abstract: In a ceiling assembly, a parallel array of horizontally elongated panels each having vertical major surfaces and a horizontal top flange and a plurality of spaced parallel horizontally elongated stringers extending above and transversely of the panels for supporting the panels, the stringers having horizontal flanges formed with slots in which the top edge portions of the panels are received. The slots are shaped to provide, in the stringer flanges, pairs of facing spring tabs to facilitate insertion of the top portions of the panels in the slots and to interlock with the panel top flanges.

Abstract: A suspension ceiling or wall system is disclosed providing a plurality of spaced, rectangular pans or projections positioned in spaced relationship in a pattern to provide a ceiling or wall surface with the appearance of a plurality of such pans suspended in space. The pans are formed from sheet metal into elongated members having a plurality of pans supported by integral, longitudinally extending rails. The rails are provided with a dark color contrasting with a relatively light color on the exposed portion of the pans so as to obscure the presence of the connecting rails.

Abstract: Panels resting in a suspended grid are rendered abuseresistant by mounting two-piece retaining clips atop the runners in the grid. The clip assemblies comprise a torsional/flexural spring mated with a clinch fastener. The spring is a piece of bent music wire having a central U-shaped segment, two opposing legs angling outwardly and downwardly from the upright arms of the U to a level below the cross member of the U. The clinch fastener is a piece of flat spring steel bent into the shape of a U, the bight of the U being a channel connecting two straps, each of which has a keeper at its distal end which turns inward and upward into the space between the two straps. The cross member of the spring fits into the channel of the clinch fastener and the unit is snapped onto the bead atop a grid runner so that the cross member is interposed between the bead and the channel.

Abstract: A window frame and a glazing strip or rim for a window panel in which the frame defining a window has a J-shaped channel with its open side facing toward the opening in the frame. The panel is surrounded on at least three sides of a rectangular panel by the glazing strip or rim which has a leg integral therewith and which is received in the frame channel. Such leg is flexible and resilient and can be bent to permit the free end thereof to ride over the shorter wall of the channel and snap into the channel. Preferably, the portion of the rim from which the leg extends is U-shaped in cross-section and embraces the outer edge portions of the panel. A resilient gasket is between the rim and the frame. If the rim is of metal, the wall of the rim remote from the frame has a line of weakening for tearing purposes. A resilient strip may be inserted between the leg and a portion of the rim. Also, a tool for inserting the panel in the frame and a double-glazed window.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for joining panel members into walls or dividers is provided which allow thermal expansion of the panel members to be absorbed by the joints. The panel construction includes turned down edges having grooves on the inside faces of the edges. Each edge is sized to fit side-by-side in a channel with the edge of an adjoining panel and with their grooves over ridges on the inner walls of the sides of the channel. An insert member having protrusions on its sides is wedged between the side-by-side edges for maintaining the grooves over the ridges while allowing pivotal movement of the edges around the ridges.

Abstract: Means for attaching a panel to an upright comprising a pair of uprights, multiple apertures formed in the uprights, a panel disposed between or on each of the uprights, bracket assemblies joined respectively to the side edges of the panel, the bracket assemblies comprising a pair of bracket elements having notches formed respectively therein, and the notches of each assembly being disposed in the associated aperture and in an interlocking relationship with the associated upright.

Abstract: Substantially rectangular panels are provided with claw engaging means along two opposing edges which are snap engageable within resilient claw ends formed on the opposite side edges of an elongated connector web thus holding the panels in spaced and parallel relationship. If the spacing is relatively wide, then a stiffening panel can be slidably engaged from the ends of the pairs of opposed panels. The web has jaws formed on each side thereof intermediate the ends of the web and the stiffener panel has T-shaped opposing edges slidably engageable with the jaws. The cavities defined by the webs and/or stiffening panels can be insulated by loose fill or by foam.

Abstract: Several embodiments of window frame assemblies comprising novel window framing members for supporting a glazing product are described. In one embodiment, a window frame assembly is described comprising a conventional framing member including a novel rotatable rod means for preventing the cutting through of the framing member as by a saw. In another embodiment, a window frame assembly is described comprising a frame member for installing pre-glazed windows with or without a rotatable rod means in the framing member, said member including a separately attachable leg member for attaching the pre-glazed window to a pre-installed sub-framing member. In still other embodiments, window frame assemblies are described comprising novel mullions for joining pairs of pre-glazed windows. The mullions, as described, may optionally include means for the attachment of a partition and the aforementioned rotatable rod means.

Abstract: A glazing system is provided in which box section beams support glazing bars by means of a series of longitudinal flanges having undercuts which receive longitudinal flanges on the glazing bars. Some of the undercuts are arranged in arcs centered on further undercuts in adjacent flanges so that the angle between the bars and the beams, or between two glazing panels supported by a single beam, can be adjusted during assembly. The system is suitable both for roofs and for curtain walling.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a conversion muntin for use on a glazing muntin to adapt the latter to support light-transmitting plastic panels, including a muntin cover element and a clamping strip. The cover element has a T-shaped configuration including a recessed stem portion and a pair of oppositely extending bearing arms. The stem is recessed to receive a portion of the glazing muntin and has a plurality of longitudinally-extending grooves formed therein. The clamping strip comprises a pair of elongated parallely-extending rails and a hood integrally formed therewith and adapted to receive the stem of the conversion muntin. The rails have oppositely-facing slightly-spaced lips which receive the conversion muntin stem therebetween and which engage said grooves to hold light-transmitting panels against the bearing arms of the conversion muntin.

Abstract: A ceiling attachment apparatus comprising a ceiling joist including a molded frame member having a .].-shaped section having an open space in the central portion or a ceiling joist including a molded frame member having a section of a shape resembling a lip groove and another plate-like molded frame member having both the sides engaged with the lip of said molded frame member, said ceiling joist having a screw-inserting groove formed on the lower face of the lower side thereof in the longitudinal direction, a ceiling panel disposed along the lower face of the ceiling joist, a fitting fixture, a part of which is fitted on a groove formed on the side face of the ceiling panel, and a screw inserted through a hole of the fitting fixture and pressed and fixed into said screw-inserting groove of the ceiling joist.

Abstract: A two-part glazing system for use on the lower rails of the upper and lower sashes of a double-hung window. The glazing system comprises a moisture impervious liner member which is snap fit onto the lower rail and underlies the lower edge of the windowpane. A glazing bead is snap fit onto the liner member and extends therefrom to the face of the windowpane. The glazing bead has a gasket for sealing against the windowpane and defining an enclosed drain tank. The gasket prevents substantial amounts of water from reaching the drain tank. Any moisture which does reach the drain tank is drained away through outlet holes in the liner member.

Abstract: A metal stud for constructing a fire-rated wall and the wall structure formed of a plurality of studs mounted in runners and having at least a pair of spaced-apart layers of wallboard panels with adjacent panels in abutting relationship, the stud being formed of an integral piece of sheet metal and comprising a single layer web having a first plurality of oppositely directed flange means at one edge thereof and a second pair of oppositely directed flange means connected to the web means at the other end thereof and spaced-apart from the first pair of flange means a sufficient distance to provide a pair of oppositely directed channels receiving the edges of adjacent panels of a single layer, and means extending away from the second pair of oppositely directed flange means and being connected to and supporting a panel spaced apart from the first and second pairs of flange means and adapted to have the wallboard panels of a second layer affixed thereto in parallel spaced-apart relationship with regard to the fir

Abstract: A wall construction includes a framework of mullions supporting one or more glazing panels and the mullions comprise an elongated inside member having an outwardly facing outer wall with an inwardly extending portion offset from the center of the outside wall which is formed with a longitudinal recess in an outer face thereof. An elongated glazing element having an outer wall spaced outwardly of the outer wall of the inside member is provided to form one or more glazing pockets on laterally opposite sides of the mullion for receiving the edge portions of the glazing panels. The glazing element includes a tongue extending inwardly from the outer wall toward the recess in the inside vertical structural member. Fastening means is provided for securing the outside glazing element and the inside structural member together from the inside of the building and includes insulating spacer blocks seated in the recess and extending into a groove in the tongue of the glazing member with the sealed fasteners.

Abstract: A thermal barrier system for panel installations comprises at least one gutter member attachable to a structure. The system further comprises a face member and a thermally insulative coupler member. The coupler member has an intermediate body portion to which are attached a pair of resilient legs which are rotatable into lockable engagement with a pair of slots defined in the gutter member. A second pair of resilient legs are attached to the intermediate body portion of the coupler member and are configured to snap into locking engagement with a pair of slots defined in the face member. The coupler is disengageable from the gutter and face members by a reverse rotation. Gaskets for engaging a panel between the face member and the gutter member are attached to the face member and the gutter member.

Abstract: Several embodiments of window frame assemblies comprising novel window framing members for supporting a glazing product are described. In one embodiment, a window frame assembly is described comprising a conventional framing member including a novel rotatable rod means for preventing the cutting through of the framing member as by a saw. In another embodiment, a window frame assembly is described comprising a framing member for installing pre-glazed windows with or without a rotatable rod means in the framing member, said member including a separately attachable leg member for attaching the pre-glazed window to a pre-installed sub-framing member. In still other embodiments, window frame assemblies are described comprising novel mullions for joining pairs of pre-glazed windows. The mullions, as described, may optionally include means for the attachment of a partition and the aforementioned rotatable rod means.

Abstract: A modular skylight system comprises a continuous sill for supporting a lower edge of a plurality of panel frames, each pre-assembled and having a lower edge member interlocked on the sill. Each frame includes a pair of upwardly sloping side frame members adapted to be secured and interlocked to those of adjacent members and attached at their lower ends to the lower edge member. All of the frame members include an elongated glazing pocket for receiving an edge portion of a glazing panel and they also provide gutter structure for collecting liquid from the glazing panel and for carrying the liquid down to the sill for discharge therefrom.

Abstract: A planar structural assembly has a series of cells formed by elongate structural members, the cells each receiving a pane or panel. To provide a weather-seal, closed loops of resilient sealing strips extend around the exterior edge of each pane or panel and are mounted on auxiliary members secured to the structural members. The auxiliary members clamp the sealing strips in compression against their panes or panels to ensure the seal there. The contiguous edges of the sealing strips of adjacent cells are locked in place and a seal formed between them by locking or zipper strips.