Abstract: An adjustable window installation frame for installing a new prime window unit in an existing window unit opening includes a top channel, bottom channel and opposite side channels. The bottom channel and side channels are connected to the new sill and new side jambs of a new prime window unit and the top channel is extended between the upper ends of the side channels. Each channel includes an inner wall extending exteriorly of the new prime window unit for recessing it relative to the frame and an outer wall extending outwardly from the new prime window unit. The outer walls are provided with a plurality of spaced apart slots for reducing the width of the channels to fit various window sizes.The method of the invention includes connecting the bottom channel and side channels to the sill and side jambs of a new prime window unit, connecting the top channel across the upper ends of the side channels and placing the preassembled new window unit and channels into a window unit opening.

Abstract: This invention relates to a reinforced concrete pile having a plurality of steel reinforcing cables and at least one ferrous metal alloy electrically conductive rod per cable which permits severing by oxygen cutting or electric arc welding.

Abstract: Disclosed are several embodiments of a water-tight plug which are particularly suitable to close and seal holes drilled through the exterior wall surface of a house or mobile home during installation of insulation materials. The disclosed plugs include fluid-tight sealing means provided adjacent a head of the plug which is sandwiched during plug installation between a surface around the periphery of a hole and the plug head. In addition, the plugs include a projection from the plug head extending into the hole and a means for radially outwardly expanding at least a portion of the projection against the interior periphery of the hole and locking the projection in its radially expanded position to lock the plug in position.

Abstract: A split mullion window frame has opposite frame members adapted for either attaching the window frame to adjacent building structure or to an adjacent such frame. Both frame members employ a nailing flange for attaching opposite sides of the frame to a building structure. According to the invention, outer portions of the nailing flanges are removable and the inner portion of one of the nailing flanges is offset so that, having removed the outer portions, the window frame members can be nested together with their respective inner flange portions overlapping. A second set of flanges is provided. They parallel the nailing flanges but are the same length as the inner portions of the nailing flanges. The second flanges are also mutually offset so as to overlap when the frame members are nested together, thereby forming a rigid interconnection between adjacent frame members of two windows mounted side-by-side without use of a separate mullion strip.

Abstract: A thin shell of hard plastic has a cavity within which a polyurethane foam is received. Each panel includes an upper, relatively straight-line edge, two side edges at substantially 90 degrees to the upper edge, and a lower, irregular edge having the appearance of a plurality of individual roofing shakes. The upper edge is canted upwardly for receipt within a groove in the underside of an upper overlapping panel. In addition, immediately adjacent the canted upper edge, there is a bandlike section through which roofing nails may be applied for securing the panel to the roof. The undersurface of each panel includes a stepped arrangement, not unlike that encountered in a roof constructed of individual shakes, which arrangement enables a pair of such panels to be fitted together with the top surface of one panel contacting the lower surface of another panel and forming a substantially parallel surface package for storage and shipment.

Abstract: Walkable foot plates are laid directly on a concrete slab or a water resistant layer on a roof. Each foot plate has crack inducing grooves which divide the plate into blocks which are connected to each other by weak joint portions defined by the grooves. The foot plate cracks along the grooves to be accommodated to uneven surface portions of the slab or layer. Flexible reinforcing material extends across the weak joint portions to maintain the blocks connected to each other after the weak joint portions are cracked.

Abstract: The specification discloses an energy absorbing structure having a rod-like lateral cross section such as a hand rail, steering wheel or the like in which an inner structural member is made of a material capable of providing rigid structural strength, but being frangible upon sharp impact of the type encountered in vehicle accidents so as to absorb energy from the impact, and an exterior covering generally surrounding the inner member and being made of a somewhat stretchable, flexible, tough skinned and nonabrasive plastic material of sufficient thickness and strength that in the event the inner member does break, the covering prevents sharp ends or edges of the broken inner member from protruding and impaling an individual impacting the structure.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for forming a pre-set void in a floor, wall or other structural member, to thereby define an essentially integral spatial void or closure therein, which maintains the UL fire rating of the floor or other structural member in which it is positioned, and which may be readily removed, when desired, to define the void, without use of special tools or procedures. The device is useful for defining modular or other openings to receive, for example, insert devices, through which cables, such as power and telephone lines, may be passed from a source, for connection with fixtures, phones and other devices. The device is adapted to be secured to forms, for example so that a material such as cement or other floor, wall or other structural forming materials may be positioned or poured thereon and therearound; the device in such cases may form a preset-sealed part of the structural member, readily available for opening when desired.

Abstract: A flexible, low-mass, non-fragmenting burst member or panel is provided which is extremely predictable and essentially instantaneous in operation, even at low burst pressures, in order to safely vent and protect pressure vessels such as bag houses or the like from the potentially catastrophic effects of internal explosions or adverse high-pressure conditions. The panel structure preferably includes a thin metallic substrate having a pattern of tape directly applied thereto, with a coating of epoxy paint over the tape pattern and substrate; sharp-breaking, shear burst lines are thereby produced along the edges of the tape pattern which ensures that the panel will instantaneously vent a pressure vessel through essentially the entire area of full vent opening, thus giving a degree of operational predictability impossible to attain with conventional burst-type venting structures.

Abstract: A support runner for use in suspended ceiling grid systems is disclosed with the support runner being useful in ceiling systems having an exposed flange for decorative purposes. The support runner comprises: a lower decorative trim member; an upper inverted T-runner; and, an intermediate spline member. The decorative trim member has a decorative lower surface and an engageable upper surface. A spline member is engaged about the engageable upper surface of the decorative trim and extends substantially along the full length of the decorative trim. The upper surface of the spline is an engageable slot. An inverted T-runner is supportingly engaged to the engageable upper surface slot of the spline and extends along the spline a distance sufficiently less than the length of spline and trim members to accommodate heat expansion distortion of the inverted T-runner.

Abstract: A replacement hold-down clip permits a standard ceiling panel to be manipulated into position in a suspended-ceiling support grid. The replacement clip is attached to the edge of the ceiling panel and is equipped with an extending tab by which the panel can be manipulated into position from the finished side of the ceiling. As a panel is pulled into position, a spring gripping means on the clip engages a bulb portion of the suspended support grid, so that the panel is held in place. The manipulating tab is frangible on the finished side of the ceiling so that it can be broken off after installation.

Abstract: A protective cover assembly for an outlet opening of an underfloor access housing is provided to prevent ingress through the outlet opening of a subsequently poured layer of floor fill, such as concrete. The assembly comprises a cup-shaped cap having a fence-like vertical extension detachably connected thereto. The assembly is enveloped by the floor fill and has an upper peripheral edge spaced below the upper surface of the floor fill by up to 1 inch (25.4 mm). A release coating interposed between the protective cover assembly and the floor fill facilitates breakout and removal of the overlying layer of floor fill.

Abstract: Protective covers for outlet openings of an underfloor access housing are provided to prevent ingress through the outlet opening of a subsequently poured layer of floor fill, such as concrete. The protective covers are enveloped by the floor fill and have upper peripheral edges spaced below the upper surface of the floor fill by up to 13/4 inches (44.5 mm). A release coating is interposed between the protective cover and the floor fill to facilitate separation of the covering floor fill.

Abstract: An elongated form tie bar extends transversely across a concrete receiving space between facing side forms and has opposite end portions thereof each positioned between respective abutting side edge portions of adjacent side forms. The end portions of the tie bar are each adapted to receive respective form holding members for retaining the abutting side edge portions of adjacent side forms in abutting engagement. The tie bar is of carbon steel and has hardened fracture planes positioned relative to the opposite end portions and an intermediate portion thereof whereby after setting of the concrete wall and removal of the forms the end portions are adapted to be separated from the intermediate portion upon being struck a blow as by a hammer and the ends of the remaining intermediate portion are recessed in the concrete wall.

Abstract: Method and means for adapting a poured concrete floor above a wire distribution system for installing outlets connecting with said system. A composite block assembly comprising a rupturable block covered by a hold-down plate having an access opening is preset at selected locations in the floor before the concrete is poured. To complete an outlet installation, the concrete above the access opening in an assembly is removed and the material of the block is withdrawn through the access opening, leaving a void in the concrete floor in which the components of an outlet assembly can be installed.

Abstract: A unitary extruded thermoplastic article that may be a concrete joint former having an intermediate tear plane formed from an admixture of a plasticizer or a filler in the amount of 150 to 1500 parts per 100 parts of thermoplastic resin.A process for producing an extruded article having a strippable top and a lower tear strength intermediate portion including extruding one thermoplastic material into separate spaced strips, extruding another thermoplastic material into the space between the strips and then compressing the strips to form a unitary article.An extrusion die apparatus for extruding at least two different thermoplastic compositions. A distributing means including a separating means for dividing the thermoplastic flow within the passageway and dispensing a second composition into the divided flow.

Abstract: A veneer product of a supporting stratum and a veneer of naturally-occurring, slabable stone material is provided where the thickness of the veneer of the stone material is such that it would not otherwise be generally capable of being manoeuvred or handled without breaking. Such stone material as marble, granite, and other architecturally useful and decorative materials are particularly contemplated. The supporting stratum may be such as plywood; but is more usually a cellular honeycomb material adhesively bonded to one surface of the thin stone material slab.