Abstract: A tile leveling system includes a stem, a spinner, and an engaging member. The stem includes a base and a fork extending from the base. The fork includes a cylindrical portion extending in a direction opposite the base and having an externally threaded surface. A cutout is formed in the fork between the cylindrical portion and the base. The spinner includes a hub, a rim, and one or more spokes extending between the hub and the rim. An internally threaded surface defining a bore extends through the hub. The engaging member includes a main body and a mounting portion extending from the main body. A hub-receiving bore is formed in the main body for receiving the hub of the spinner and a stem-receiving bore is formed in the main body for receiving the cylindrical portion of the stem.

Abstract: The present invention provides an earthquake-resistant and seismic-damping multifunction cooperative system for a modular steel structure building, including a building-integrated module and connection joints between building modules. The building-integrated module includes a plurality of building modules. Each building module includes ceiling beams, local high-strength module columns and local high-strength module bottom beams. A cantilever beam section and a middle beam section of the ceiling beam are connected through a ceiling beam rotational friction joint. The connection joints between building modules include vertical building module connection joints, hinge joints between horizontal building modules and frictional connections between horizontal building modules.

Abstract: A fenestration unit including a first panel having a leading portion and a trailing portion, a second panel, and a frame including a first lateral member and a second lateral member. The first lateral member has a trolley space configured to slideably receive a trolley assembly. The trolley assembly includes a first trolley coupled to the leading portion of the first panel and a second trolley coupled to the trailing portion of the first panel. Each of the first and the second trolleys includes a guide pin slideably received in the leading and trailing tracks, respectively. The guide pins are configured to guide the first panel out of a coplanar relationship with the second panel when the first panel is slid to an opened position and guide the first panel into a coplanar relationship with the second panel when the first panel is slid to a closed position.

Abstract: A window assembly for a vehicle includes a window panel that has an electrically conductive trace established at a surface of the window panel. The electrically conductive trace includes a single continuous electrically conductive trace that has a positive end for electrically connecting to a positive terminal and a negative end for electrically connecting to a negative terminal. The electrically conductive trace includes a plurality of spaced apart trace segments disposed across the surface of the window panel and a plurality of connecting trace segments that electrically connect adjacent ends of adjacent trace segments, with each connecting trace segment electrically connecting to adjacent ends of only two adjacent trace segments. An electrical connector is connected to the positive and negative terminals at the window panel to provide electrical power to the electrically conductive trace. The provided electrical power may be from a 48 volt power supply of the vehicle.

Abstract: A wall and ceiling panel system which utilizes a concealed resilient beam for securing a panel to a wall or ceiling structure is disclosed. A wall and ceiling panel system having features of the present invention can comprise a panel configured for releasable attachment to a latching assembly. The latching assembly can comprise a resilient beam dynamically secured to a base bracket so as to allow the resilient beam to deflect relative to the base bracket during the panel installation and removal process. The panel can comprise a keyed flange having at least one locking slot configured to mate with the resilient beam, with the panel becoming secured to the latching assembly once the panel's key flange is mated with the resilient beam.

Abstract: A cover for a gutter system, the cover having opposing cover ends and opposing cover edges. The cover may include a grid segment that is operatively coupled to a front segment and/or a rear segment. The grid segment may include a primary set of ribs and a secondary set of ribs. The front segment and/or the rear segment may have one or more channels that aid in bending a portion of the cover during installation. Adjacent covers may be operatively coupled through the use of one or more couplings (e.g., projections, cavities, or the like), which also allow for thermal expansion and/or contraction of the covers when installed. Furthermore, corner strips (e.g., inner corner strips, outer corner strips, or the like) having angled slots may be utilized to assemble adjacent covers at the corners where gutters meet. The angled slots allow the covers to be assembled flush within corner strips.

Abstract: An apparatus for resisting a gravity load is disclosed. The apparatus has a first end member, a second end member, and a plurality of elongated structural members, each of the plurality of elongated structural members including a first end portion attached to the first end member and a second end portion attached to the second end member. The plurality of elongated structural members is oriented to resist compressive stresses or tensile stresses induced by the gravity load. The plurality of elongated structural members is formed from plants with a harvest cycle of four years or fewer.

Abstract: Floor panels are shown, which are provided with a mechanical locking system comprising tongue and grooves provided with protrusions and cavities which are displaceable in relation to each other and configured such that the protrusions can obtain a vertically unlocked position where they match the cavities and a vertically locked position where the protrusions overlap each other.

Abstract: A spacer (10) for creating a properly dimensioned gap during the installation of a flooring system, the spacer providing four non-adjustable portions to be selectively placed on a subfloor, each non-adjustable portion having a different width corresponding to an intended gap width.

Abstract: A basalt fiber composite rebar and method of manufacturing the same that includes producing an elongated body with an outer surface, two opposing terminal ends, a longitudinal length separating the two opposing terminal ends of the elongated body, of an epoxy matrix having a plurality of longitudinally oriented and twisted basalt fibers independently embedded and bonded therein and continually spanning along the longitudinal length, and a basalt fiber overlay directly coupled to the outer surface of the elongated body in a spiral configuration to define a plurality of fiber ribs spatially displaced from one another along the longitudinal length.

Abstract: A wide-format tile shim includes a shim body, a plurality of length grooves, a plurality of width grooves, and a plurality of openings. The plurality of length grooves is evenly distributed along the shim body and traverses into the shim body. The plurality of width grooves is evenly distributed across the shim body and traverses into the shim body. Each of the plurality of length grooves is positioned perpendicular to each of the plurality of width grooves as the plurality of openings traverses from a front surface of the shim body to a rear surface of the shim body. Each of the plurality of opening is positioned adjacent to an intersecting length groove from the plurality of length grooves and an intersecting width groove from the plurality of width grooves thus evenly spacing the plurality of opening within the shim body.

Abstract: A publicly accessible urban beach entertainment complex is disclosed, with a man-made tropical, pristine-clear lagoon as the centerpiece of the complex, with surrounding entertainment, educational, sports, and commercial facilities, the complex having controlled public access and providing the look and feel of a tropical beach with clear waters and sandy beaches. In addition a method for efficiently utilizing facilities and land that are vacant, underutilized, have limited uses, or that are contiguous to or nearby recreational, educational, sports, or commercial venues is disclosed. The method providing a publicly accessible urban beach entertainment complex with a centerpiece man-made tropical-style pristine-clear lagoon. The method allows for generating revenue and increasing efficiency by pairing vacant sites, underutilized sites, limited use land, or sites that are contiguous to entertainment, educational, sports, and/or commercial venues with urban beach entertainment complexes.

Abstract: A drilling rig system includes a mast that includes one or more front legs, one or more rear legs positioned opposite the one or more front legs, and a crown block at the top of the mast. The system also includes a raising line coupled to the crown block or the one or more rear legs and configured to apply a first force to the mast. The first force acts in a direction opposing a second force generated by the weight of the mast as the mast pivots between a substantially horizontal position and a substantially vertical position. The system also includes a drawworks assembly coupled to the raising line and configured to pull the raising line to generate the first force, and a telescoping spring assembly coupled to the one or more front legs. The telescoping spring assembly is configured to apply a third force to the mast that acts in the direction opposing the second force.

Abstract: A construction steel platform system using a tuned liquid damper (TLD) and a tuned mass damper (TMD) for composite tuned damping is provided. According to the construction steel platform system using a TLD and a TMD for composite tuned damping, a composite damper is composed of the TLD and the TMD overlapping each other, and a construction steel platform is placed above the double dampers. By adjusting a hole diameter of a partition plate in the TLD, a liquid level in a water tank, a stiffness of a spring at an edge of a friction support and mass of materials of a top of the steel platform, the whole steel platform system can achieve composite tuned damping. The TLD and the TMD can be flexibly combined in series or in parallel according to requirements of actual wind and earthquake loads.

Abstract: Disclosed is an inset for a panel in the form of a pad or disk for holding supporting the weight of the panel and holding it against a back surface without any means of support for the panel being visible. The insert comprises; one or more spiral shape arms which spiral(s) radially inwards from a perimetral rim inwards toward the center of the insert where the arms have a connector to connect to mounting screw, bolt or rivet. Also disclosed is a panel wall assembly covering a back surface with a panel, comprising: the panel held face to face with the back surface by an out-of-sight insert inset in the panel; a mounting screw/bolt/rivet with a head-flange which protrudes from the back surface; and the insert comprising a connector connected to the head-flange of the mounting screw, bolt or rivet.

Abstract: A partition wall usable in any residential or work environment is described having modules that can be customized to create a partition wall that best suits the needs of the user. The modules that make up the partition wall can be made from a single frame structure or multiple frame components that connect together to form generally rectangular or square like modules or building blocks that form the partition wall. The modules can connect to any adjacent module on each side or top or bottom. The modules are assembled into the requisite number of rows and columns to form the partition wall at the desired width and height. The modules include electrical contacts to provide electrical power to one or more add on pieces that require power to function, including, fans and light panels. Further, sound batting can be added, and decorative panels to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

Abstract: A tile leveling device and a method for using the same is shown and described. The method for using a tile leveling device begins by placing at least one tile leveling device beneath a tile to be laid. In one instance the at least one tile leveling device is comprised of a malleable metal material. After the at least one tile leveling device is placed a tile is then set on top of the at least one tile leveling device. The tile is then leveled. When the tile is placed the tile leveling device is left under the tile and there is no need to remove the device.

Abstract: A roofing system for protecting a building comprises a plurality of side-interlocking and front-to-back interlocking roof panels. A top side includes a front flange projecting forward at a front end. One or more gutter panels may be included, each having a top side open to a U-shaped gutter. An interior of each roof panel and gutter panel includes an insulating foam material, and an outer surface includes a rigid shell. The gutter panel is adapted for fixing along an edge of the roof at least partially under the flange of any of the roof panels that are disposed along an edge of the roof. Preferably the roofing system further includes gable cap panels, soffit fascia panels, valley cap panels, and wind breakers for holding the roof panels down to the roof in wind.

Abstract: A gutter cover includes an upper hood panel, a lower cover panel, and a retractable plate. The upper hood panel is configured to be joined to an inclined roof sheathing covering rafters of a roof, to extend above a gutter and to no more than partially shield the gutter from above. The lower cover panel is configured to cover the gutter, such that a gap is present between the upper hood plate and the lower cover panel. The retractable plate is located above the lower cover plate, and configured to be movable between a retracted configuration at least partially within the gap and an extended configuration at least partially located outside the gap. The retractable plate comprises a rear portion and forward flap, the forward flap sloping upward from a forward edge of the rear portion. The lower cover panel has first openings. The retractable plate has second openings.

Abstract: A self-adhering drainage-promoting wrap for a building structure includes an elongate, flexible strip of weather-resistive membrane having front and rear faces, a series of separate, spaced-apart, spacer elements bonded to the front face of the membrane and projecting therefrom to a predetermined height, and a layer of adhesive on the rear face of the membrane. Wall and roof assemblies including the self-adhering drainage-promoting wrap are also provided.