Abstract: A corrosion-resistant, environmentally-safe gasoline tank for motor vehicles, wherein the components of the gasoline tank are made of a metal material having a hot-dipped coating of zinc-tin applied to the exposed surfaces of the metal material. The tin-zinc coating includes at least 15 weight percent tin and at least 7 weight percent zinc. The tin-zinc alloy may also include metal additives such as nickel, antimony and/or bismuth.

Abstract: A corrosion-resistant colored architectural material which is essentially lead free and is not highly reflective. The coating on the material is a two-phase metallic coating comprised of a large weight percentage of zinc and a relatively large weight percentage of tin. The tin-zinc coating may also include nickel and copper. The tin-zinc composition provides for both a highly corrosive-resistant coating which protects the surface of the architectural material from oxidation and also produces a gray, earth tone colored which is not highly reflective.

Abstract: A corrosion-resistant colored architectural material which is essentially lead free and is not highly reflective. The coating on the material is a two-phase metallic coating comprised of a large weight percentage of zinc and a relatively large weight percentage of tin. The tin-zinc composition provides for both a highly corrosive-resistant coating which protects the surface of the architectural material from oxidation and also produces a gray, earth tone colored which is not highly reflective.

Abstract: A colored, corrosion resistant architectural material having improved corrosion-resistant properties wherein the material includes stainless steel which is coated with a tin and the tin coated material is post-treated with an oxidizing solution to remove the tin coating to expose a barrier which includes an alloy of chromium, iron and tin. The barrier exhibits excellent corrosion resistance especially with respect to chlorine and has a dark grey or earth tone grey color.

Abstract: A weather-resistant strip roofing material having improved corrosion-resistant properties includes a strip of stainless steel which is pre-treated by an aggressive pickling process and/or a chemical activating process prior to applying a hot-dip tin coating, The pre-treatment of the stainless steel strip produces superior alloying between the stainless steel and the tin coating which reduces flaking of the tin coating.

Abstract: Various metal coatings have been used for many years to inhibit oxidation of metals exposed to the natural elements of the atmosphere over a period of time. Terne alloy coatings which normally contain about 20% tin and about 80% lead are some of the most popular metal coating treatments to resist corrosion. The special formulation of the present invention reformulates the terne coating to constitute a tin and lead based coating where tin constitutes at least 90% of the terne and lead amounts to less than 0.1% and preferably less than 0.05% of the terne. The low lead terne coating may also include antimony and bismuth to provide strength and hardness to the low lead terne formulation having corrosion resistive qualities similar to that of standard terne coating formulations.

Abstract: A control device for controlling the position of a snowplow mounted on the front of a vehicle is disposed in the cab of the vehicle and is selectively mountable in any one of a plurality of locations in the cab to facilitate access to the control device in accordance with the preference of the vehicle and snowplow operator. The control device includes a housing supporting manually operable pushbutton switches which control the selectable plow positions. The housing is provided with one component of a two component separable fastening arrangement, the second component of which is mounted in the cab in one or more of a plurality of selectable positions, such as on the dashboard, armrest, console, gearshift lever or clothing worn by the vehicle operator, whereby the control device can be positioned in a location most convenient to the operator.

Abstract: A copper metal roofing system coated with a highly corrosive resistant material is disclosed which can be used to collect potable water. The copper roofing system is highly malleable allowing on site formation of the copper roofing materials into a variety of simple and complex shapes. The highly corrosion resistant coating is a metal alloy consisting of at least 90 weight percent tin and not more than 1.0 weight percent lead.

Abstract: A strap corner for securing and protecting a transported load and increasing the useful life of the strap securing the load. The strap corner has side plates and a lower support to form a rigid strap corner. Rollers are provided for allowing equal tension throughout the strap during shifting of a load. A belt retainer to keep the strap and strap corner from becoming separated from the load during transport is also provided.

Abstract: Various metal coatings have been used for many years to inhibit oxidation of metals exposed to the natural elements of the atmosphere over a period of time. Terne alloy coatings which normally contain about 20% tin and about 80% lead are some of the most popular metal coating treatments to resist corrosion. The special formulation of the present invention reformulates the terne coating to constitute a tin and lead based coating where tin constitutes at least 90% of the terne and lead amounts to less than 0.1% and preferably less than 0.05% of the terne. The low lead terne coating may also include antimony and bismuth to provide strength and hardness to the low lead terne formulation having corrosion resistive qualities similar to that of standard terne coating formulations.

Abstract: A method and system for applying a water gathering and channeling roof covering onto the upper roof of a building, which roof is at least slightly pitched, wherein fully annealed sheets of at least 99% titanium with a thickness of less than 0.020 inches are preformed into roof pans with right hand and left hand edges thereof formed into matching, longitudinally extending standing seam elements. The pans are placed in adjacent, abutting relatinship with one another and joined together by press fitting adjacent standing seam elements into a standing seam extending along the roof's pitch and forming a water collecting trough for gathering potable rain water.

Abstract: A method of treating a terne coating to accelerate the patina on the terne coating. The terne coated metal is coated with a specially formulated asphalt based paint which produces a semi-transparent or translucent, dull finish on the terne coated metal. The coated terne coated metal is then exposed to the natural atmospheric elements for at least six months wherein such time enhanced oxidation of lead and tin occurs.

Abstract: A method and system for applying a water gathering and channeling roof covering onto the upper roof of a building, which roof is at least slightly pitched, wherein fully annealed sheets of at least 99% titanium with a thickness of less than 0.020 inches are preformed into roof pans with right hand and left hand edges thereof formed into matching, longitudinally extending standing seam elements. The pans are placed in adjacent, abutting relationship with one another and joined together by press fitting adjacent standing seam elements into a standing seam extending along the roof's pitch and forming a water collecting trough for gathering potable rain water.

Abstract: A strap corner for securing and protecting a transported load and increasing the useful life of the strap securing the load. The strap corner has side plates and a lower support to form a rigid strap corner. Rollers are provided for allowing equal tension throughout the strap during shifting of a load. A belt retainer to keep the strap and strap corner from becoming separated from the load during transport is also provided.

Abstract: A deck structure for a floating dock is comprised of a rectangular frame having opposite sides and opposite ends defined by interconnected C-shaped channel members facing inwardly of the frame and a plurality of cross members between and interconnected with the sides of the frame and constructed from C-shaped metal channel. The cross members have upper flanges spaced below the upper flanges of the side and end members of the frame, and deck units of wood material rest on the flanges of the cross members between the upper flanges of the side and end members of the frame which restrain displacement of the deck units relative to the frame in the directions between the opposite sides and opposite ends of the frame. The deck units have upper surfaces coplanar with the upper flanges of the frame, and the deck units are movable as such from the frame to provide access to passageways provided in the frame beneath the decking to accommodate utility lines and the like.

Abstract: A launching and lift assembly for small watercraft such as a jet ski comprises a skid cradle for seating the watercraft thereon for sliding movement off an end thereof. The skid cradle is mounted on a dock for rolling movement thereon forwardly over a launching edge thereof on a rear caster and on a pair of forward support rollers secured to the dock at its launching edge, for downward tilting of the skid cradle on the support rollers over the launching edge to cause the watercraft to slide downwardly off the tilted skid cradle and into the water when the skid cradle and seated watercraft are rolled forwardly on the dock to a position wherein their center of gravity is located forwardly of the support rollers.

Abstract: A lift mount assembly is provided for a plow blade unit mounted on the frame of a vehicle. The assembly includes a housing unit which is permanently attached to the vehicle frame beneath and behind the bumper including two tube members extending away from the vehicle and similarly recessed. A support unit is designed to be quickly removed from or attached to the housing unit by two tube ends insertable into the housing unit tube members and held in place releasably. The support unit includes a specially configured tube extending forwardly then upwardly away from the vehicle where each end is attached, and meeting at a bight portion. A tubular brace member is spaced apart from and parallel to the bight portion. The support unit further includes a pair of bight portion clevis mounting members on the bight portion and another pair of brace member clevis mounting members on the brace member pivotally attached to the lift arm and the lift arm actuator, respectively.

Abstract: A door closure arrangement is provided for a paint cabinet or like enclosure containing combustible materials. Right and left hand doors are hinged to door jambs in the cabinet's opening and an overlapping lip is provided on one of the doors to insure that no gap between the doors exists when the doors are closed. Door closures, held in an open position by temperature sensitive fusible links, rotate the doors from an open to a closed position should a fire melt the fusible links. A spring biased, lever actuated door sequencing mechanism insures that the doors closed in proper sequence without interference from the overlapping lip. A spring biased, lever actuated mechanism automatically latches or locks the doors when they are rotated into the closed position whereby the adverse effects of the fire on the contents of the cabinet are minimized.

Abstract: A lift mount assembly is provided for a plow blade unit mounted on the frame of a vehicle. The assembly includes a housing unit which is permanently attached to the vehicle frame beneath and behind the bumper including two tube members extending away from the vehicle and similarly recessed. A support unit is designed to be quickly removed from or attached to the housing unit by two tube ends insertable into the housing unit tube members and held in place releasably. The support unit includes a specially configured tube extending forwardly then upwardly away from the vehicle where each end is attached, and meeting at a bight portion. A tubular brace member is spaced apart from and parallel to the bight portion. The support unit further includes a pair of bight portion clevis mounting members on the bight portion and another pair of brace member clevis mounting members on the brace member pivotally attached to the lift arm and the lift arm actuator, respectively.

Abstract: A vent ridge assembly for a metal roof includes a pair of adjacent roof sections spaced from one another. Each of the roof sections is constructed of a roof substrate, a batten overlying and extending along a longitudinal edge of the substrate and one or more roofing panels overlying the roof substrate and spaced from the batten. A plate overlying the batten has one longitudinal edge extending along the length of the batten and a second opposing longitudinal edge overlying a roofing panel. A ridge cap overlies the panels of the adjacent roof sections and has first and second coupling flanges receiving the second opposing longitudinal edges of the plates. A corrugated sheet is disposed between the plate and the batten of each roof section for venting air and water vapor from the beneath the roof.