Abstract: A truss for use in a staggered truss system in provided. The truss includes at least one slip joint for allowing relative movement between the top chord of the truss and the bottom chord of the truss. The staggered truss system may be suitable for use in seismic regions.

Abstract: A temporary, non-fixed partitioning system includes a common assembly bracket that can be readily assembled with a wall panel formed of various standard dimensioned building supplies. The wall panels may include a standard door slab, a standard window sash, standard dimensional lumber, a peg board, a chalk board, a whiteboard, a corrugated cardboard panel, a foam board, a gator board, a fiberglass panel, a cork panel, a plastic panel, an upholstered panel, a wood panel, and an acrylic-based or silica-based glass panel, and may also be suitable for receiving custom or desired printing of designs, indicia or other nomenclature. The partitioning system could be provided in a kit form with a plurality of common assembly brackets and wall panels, which are reconfigurable for a variety of uses such as co-working space, trade show booths, or lobby displays.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention relates to an insulation and ventilation system for a building envelope (e.g. a building wall and/or a building roof). The system includes: one or more interior building envelope layers; an insulation panel having an interior side abutting against at least one of the one or more interior building envelope layers and an exterior side having a plurality of transversely spaced and continuously longitudinally extending grooves interspaced between a plurality of transversely spaced and continuously longitudinally extending protrusions; and one or more exterior building envelope layers located exterior to the insulation panel to provide a plurality of transversely localized venting channels defined at least in part by an interior surface of the one or more exterior building envelope layers and the grooves of the exterior side of the insulation panel.

Abstract: A synthetic multilayer floor covering has floor panels, each of which comprises at least a first and a second edge with a first and a second connecting profile, respectively. The connecting profiles are complementarily shaped so that adjacent floor panels may be coupled to one another. The first connecting profile of a first floor panel and/or the second connecting profile of a second floor panel is deformed when connecting profiles become coupled with each other. The deformation comprises a component that persists as the connecting profiles remain coupled. The persistent deformation results in stress within the connecting profiles, which are made of viscoelastic material. That material undergoes significant stress relaxation. At standard ambient temperature and pressure, the stress within the first and/or the second connecting profile decreases by at least 40% within 12 hours after the connecting profiles have become coupled.

Abstract: A foundation for supporting a structure above. The foundation comprising a first layer of poles parallel and spaced apart from each other, and a second layer of timber poles parallel and spaced apart from each other, at an angle to the first layer. The first layer on top of, and fastened to, the second layer. Compared to prior art foundations, the foundation is versatile, light weight, easy and quick to install and can be disassembled and re-used.

Abstract: A wind turbine tower access panel is disclosed and is removably fixable at a service aperture in a tower wall to thereby close the aperture. The access panel is generally planar and extends radially about an axis normal thereto. Additionally, the access panel includes a set of two or more fixing elements configured to securely fix the access panel in place at the aperture. Each fixing element includes an axial clamp, the clamp including an anchor fixed to the access panel, a clamping force adjuster and a clamp head having a clamping surface. The clamp head includes a relatively deformable resilient material which deforms under an applied clamping load of the clamp thereby applying a clamping force to the tower wall.

Abstract: A fabricated building includes a plurality of vertically extending guide members and a plurality of building blocks arranged with the aid of said guide members to define a wall structure. Each block has a first end provided with a vertically extending guide hole having one of the guide members extending therethrough, and a second end coupled to a first end of a horizontally adjacent block. The fabricated building also includes a first threshold defining a first guide hole having one of the guide members extending therethrough and a second guide hole having one of the guide members extending therethrough. The fabricated building also includes a second threshold defining a first guide hole having one of the guide members extending therethrough and a second guide hole having one of the guide members extending therethrough. The first threshold and the second threshold define a frame space therebetween.

Abstract: A method of fastening a wall panel to a wall, according to one illustrative embodiment, comprises coupling a retaining body to a mounting body mounted on an outer surface of the wall adjacent a side edge of the wall panel. Coupling the retaining body to the mounting body may comprise coupling a first connector on an inner surface of the retaining body to a second connector on the mounting body, and positioning a retainer on the retaining body against a retaining surface on the wall panel to fasten the wall panel to the wall. Kits and wall assemblies according to other illustrative embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A self-centring compact coupler for lifting, jacking or pushing apart and positioning concrete elements via their reinforcement bars (rebar) having an adjusting coupler member screwed on a threaded post attached to one rebar to apply a lifting or pushing force against a non-adjustable seating stud with an integral seating head and centring protrusion fixed to a corresponding and opposite rebar. An enclosing coupler member is screwed on the adjusting coupler member to enclose and lock the seating head and couple the rebar. The unitary configuration of the seating stud and seating head reduces the number of parts. The centring facility negates need of large internal tolerances to accommodate rebar misalignment, thus substantially ensuring co axial transfer of force from the coupler to the rebar. The coupler is used to incrementally vary and accurately adjust the relative positions of the concrete elements to one another in the building process.

Abstract: A method of installing a panel member on a frame assembly includes the steps of providing a panel member having inner and outer surfaces and providing one or more positioning assemblies on the inner surface of the panel. The positioning assemblies each having an adjustable positioning member adapted to engage a portion of the frame assembly. The method further includes setting the positioning members to determine a registration point for the panel member along the frame assembly. One or more driving assemblies are then provided on the inner surface of the panel, each having a biasing member adapted to engage a portion of the frame assembly to drive the panel member towards the registration point on the frame assembly.

Abstract: The subject disclosure is related to a beam-column connection structure, comprising a first H-shaped steel beam, a second H-shaped steel beam generally perpendicularly connected to a side of the first H-shaped steel beam, and a third H-shaped steel beam generally perpendicularly connected to another side of the first H-shaped steel beam wherein a main stirrup penetrates these H-shaped steel beams and surrounds the joints thereof.

Abstract: A roofing system having at least one underlayment layer; at least two nail fasteners attached to the at least one underlayment layer and into the roof deck, wherein the head of each of the nail fasteners is above the at underlayment layer and the shaft is driven through the underlayment layer and into the roof deck; at least one bead of adhesive applied above the underlayment layer; and at least one metal roofing panels placed on the at least one bead of adhesive applied above the underlayment layer, wherein the at least one metal roofing panels are above the at least two nail fasteners and the at least two nail fasteners do not penetrate the at least one metal roofing panels.

Abstract: A connector includes an elongated member. The elongated member includes a longitudinal axis of the elongated member and further includes a top side and a bottom side. The top side includes a first planar surface and a second planar surface joined at 144 degrees from each other, wherein each of the first planar surface and the second planar surfaces are parallel to the longitudinal axis. The bottom side includes a third planar surface parallel to the longitudinal axis and oriented at an angle with the first planar surface, the angle selected from one of 108 degrees and 126 degrees.

Abstract: A panel of a structure is provided that includes a first layer of material, a second layer of material, a filler material between the first layer of material and the second layer of material, and a bracket connected to the first layer of material. The bracket has a bottom flange spaced from the first layer of material. The filler material is between the first layer of material and the bottom flange securing the first layer of material to the filler material to function as an anchor and to provide embedment strength.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing decorative surfaces includes the steps of a) inkjet printing an image on a first thermoplastic foil using a pigmented UV curable inkjet ink; b) applying a second thermoplastic foil on the inkjet printed image; and c) heat pressing the first and second thermoplastic foils into a decorative laminate; wherein the pigmented UV curable inkjet ink contains a polymerizable composition having 30 to 70 wt % of monofunctional polymerizable compounds and 30 to 70 wt % of polyfunctional polymerizable compounds, the weight percentage wt % is based on the total weight of the polymerizable composition; and at least one of the first and second thermoplastic foils is a transparent foil.

Abstract: An exterior insulating system for a building includes at least one insulating panel having a wall-facing side and an outward-facing side, a top and a bottom, the at least one insulating panel having a slope at the top that angles downwardly from the wall-facing side to the outward-facing side; at least one elongated clip member fastenable along a soffit that is extending outwards from a wall of the building; and at least one auxiliary panel having a first edge that is dimensioned to be received by the at least one elongated clip member opposite a main body of the at least one auxiliary panel from a second edge of the at least one auxiliary panel that is connectable to the at least one insulating panel, the main body incorporating structure for permitting airflow through the main body.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a wall and a construction method. The wall comprises keel frames comprising transverse keels and longitudinal keels, cells are formed between adjacent transverse keels and adjacent longitudinal keels; each panel unit is installed in each cell; each panel unit is installed in each cell; transverse mounting strips are arranged between the transverse keels and the panel units, and longitudinal mounting strips are arranged between the longitudinal keels and the panel units; the transverse mounting strip stretches across the transverse keel, the longitudinal mounting strip stretches across the longitudinal keel; outdoor and indoor position corresponding to the transverse keel is provided with a transverse outer trim strip and a transverse inner trim strip; outdoor and indoor position corresponding to the longitudinal keel is provided with a longitudinal outer trim strip and a longitudinal inner trim strip.

Abstract: A collar assembly of or for a tower being formed by progressively higher concrete composition pours into reinforcement including formwork defined cavities, the assembly comprising or including; a higher subassembly adapted as a collar to selectively index to a zone of the tower being formed, a lower subassembly adapted as a collar to selectively index to a zone of the tower being formed, and a jacking arrangement whereby (I), when the lower subassembly is zone indexed and the higher subassembly is not, the higher subassembly can be raised relative to the lower subassembly and the zone to a fresh indexing height and (II), when the higher subassembly is zone indexed and the lower subassembly is not, the lower subassembly can be raised to a fresh indexing height.

Abstract: A restraint system for an elevated building surface assembly including restraint members that are receivable in gaps adjacent outer edge segments of flooring units to secure the flooring units to an underlying support structure. The restraint members may be readily manipulated to allow for the selective removal of one or more of the flooring units for replacement thereof, access to the support structure, and/or the like.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a universal strut for doors and window elements. More particularly, the invention encompasses a universal strut that mates with a first formed member, and a second formed member, and which assembly is used as windows, doors, window frames, and door frames. The invention also provides a method of using the inventive universal strut for applications that require different widths and lengths for a production or customized window, door, window frame, or door frame. The universal strut can also be used as a thermal barrier between the first formed member, and the second formed member. Preferably, the universal strut is made from a non-metallic or thermal barrier material, while the first formed substrate, and the second formed substrate are preferably made from a metallic material. The universal strut allows for the formation of various configurations for the shapes of window and/or door elements.