Abstract: Solar panel connection assemblies for mounting solar energy panels to buildings as well as for affixing multiple solar energy panels together. Solar panel corner connection assemblies including a bracket that can be fastened to the corner edge of solar panel frames. Solar panel corner connection assemblies including flanges extending from the corner of a bracket for connecting with a neighboring flange on a neighboring bracket.

Abstract: An open staircase is provided comprising a flight of stair treads and an uncut stringer. The treads have free opposing ends positioned on the stringer in a stepped apart relationship relative to one another and each are fixed to the uncut stringer at a position along the horizontal length of the tread such that the tread is cantilevered from the stringer.

Abstract: A lightweight steel construction includes a plurality of beams and rafters. Each of the beams includes two opposite C-shaped steels. Two ends of the two C-shaped steels are respectively positioned by two first positioning members in a length direction of the C-shaped steels. Several beams can be assembled with each other via the first positioning members to be formed as a crossbeam and a column of a building. Each of the rafters includes a C-shaped steel. Two ends of the C-shaped steel are respectively positioned by two second positioning members in the length direction of the C-shaped steel. Several rafters can be positioned between adjacent beams via the second positioned members to be formed as a floor surface, a wall surface, and a roof of the supporting frame of the building.

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: An improved sub-structural roof construction component which provides support for exterior building metal roofing materials, which allows for standard components configured and manufactured in factory to be installed at jobsite, and which can accommodate variations required in the field. These framing components can be adjusted in field for height and can be rotated to fit the customer's roof.

Abstract: A connecting means for connecting two corrugated sheets firmly to each other is made of a thin metal sheet folded into two portions; one portion is shorter than the other portion and is parallel to one part of the second portion, forming a gap between the folded portions that fits the thickness of the corrugated sheets. A threaded hole is made in the other part of the second portion of the connecting means adapted to accept a fastening screw. The connecting means may be placed over an edge of one corrugated sheet, another corrugated sheet is placed over the one corrugated sheet and a fastening screw is inserted through concentric holes made in the two corrugated sheets and is firmly fastened in the threaded hole.

Abstract: Provided are a panel construction member and a mounting structure for the same that can be rigidly mounted to a building and for which the panel, after being mounted, has excellent flexural strength and flexural rigidity. A panel construction member 1 has a layered structure in which a core plate 4 is disposed between a pair of metal plates 2, 3, wherein the panel construction member 1 is provided with a groove 5 that extends along at least one pair of edges of the panel construction member 1, and an undercut portion 5a that penetrates between the metal plates 2, 3 from the groove 5. A rail member 6 is mounted in the groove 5 of the panel construction member 1, and the panel construction member 1 is mounted to a ceiling or a wall by means of the rail member 6.

Abstract: A facade structure comprises a load-bearing underground, an insulating layer fastened to the load-bearing underground, said insulating layer being made of dimensionally-stable insulating panels with flat and supporting outer surfaces, and a tile covering which forms the outer skin of the facade structure and which comprises a plurality of tile elements fastened to the insulating layer by way of an adhesive, wherein the adhesive is designed to be elastic and is applied to the tile elements and/or the insulating layer in point or row-like fashion, and that spacers are disposed between the tile elements and the insulating layer, said spacers defining hollow interconnected spaces between the individual tile elements and the insulating layer.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods lock together pavers on a roof deck to reduce uplift pressure and increase stability and strength in a variety of environmental conditions. More specifically, a paver lock apparatus is placed in grooves on the top side of a multiple of pavers and locked to a stationary object, such as the roof or a pedestal placed on the roof underneath the deck. Roof pavers are manufactured with grooves on the paver surface to hold the paver lock apparatus. The pavers are loose laid on paver pedestals and the paver lock apparatus is laid into the grooves of multiple adjacent pavers and locked into place by connecting the paver lock apparatus to the paver pedestal.

Abstract: A composite material panel includes a substrate formed of a first material; one or more strands formed from a second material, the strands being interspersed through the substrate, the second material being a natural material, the second material providing modified mechanical properties of the composite material panel.

Abstract: A gutter debris preclusion screen and device for use with a gutter attached to a building, with various elevated ridges and patterned sections, wherein a least one ridge redirects water to flow with a longitudinal component over the screen, and a ridge elevates one or more portions of resting debris off the screen surface to permit airflow between the elevated portion(s) of the resting debris and a non-contact area of the screen, facilitating accelerated drying and wind-based removal of the debris from the screen.

Abstract: A roof plug is provided that includes a plug member and a tray member. The tray member includes a recessed portion and a flange portion and is made of a rigid material. The recessed portion includes a base, has at least one opening disposed therein, and has a plurality of side walls each extending upwardly from the base to the flange portion. The flange portion is also oriented outward from a top edge of the plurality of side walls of the recessed portion. The plug member fits into the recessed portion of the tray member. At least one opening in the base provides visual inspection of the plug member when located in the recessed portion. The product serves to plug a hole left behind by a static roof vent when converting to other methods of roof ventilation. Generally, the product can be used to fill any holes in the roof deck sized 8?×8? or 12?×12?.

Abstract: A seismic isolator is provided in a building and maintains the horizontalness of the building. The isolator includes a foundation base plate in contact with the ground surface, and a foundation top plate on which a building is mounted, the foundation base plate and the foundation top plate being in intimate contact with each other leaving no space and being individually directly formed with a curved surface symmetrically facing each other; and a spherical body positioned at the center of the curved surfaces, when the foundation base plate moves as a result of horizontal vibrations caused by an earthquake, the spherical body rotates and rolls along the curved surfaces to raise the foundation top plate; thereby the vibrations are hindered from being transmitted to the foundation top plate to perform seismic-isolation action on the building; and after the earthquake subsides, the spherical body returns to the center of the curved surfaces.

Abstract: Gypsum based compositions, processes for making same, and articles made therefrom. In one example, the gypsum based composition can include about 1.5 wt % to about 3 wt % of a starch, about 11 wt % to about 14 wt % of a paper, about 0.7 wt % to about 2.3 wt % of vermiculite, about 1.3 wt % to about 3 wt % of a plurality of reinforcing fibers, about 7 wt % to about 10 wt % of a binding agent, about 2 wt % to about 4 wt % of perlite, and about 65 wt % to about 75 wt % of a calcium sulfate, where all weight percent values are based on a combined weight of the starch, paper, vermiculite, plurality of reinforcing fibers, binding agent, perlite, and calcium sulfate.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a plate for a support pedestal used to support a building surface component above a fixed surface includes forming one or more ribs into a sheet of material adjacent a periphery of the sheet so that the rib extends substantially continuously about a central axis of the sheet that is perpendicular to first and second opposite surfaces of the sheet and creating a series of spacer tabs out of the sheet between the central axis and the rib that are configured to space adjacent building surface components placed over the sheet.

Abstract: A foldable, frameless emergency shelter is constructed from a radial array of bendable yet rigid panels such as of a foamed plastic. Panels have adjoining edges with matching convexly curved profiles. The edges are always held to each other with a flexible fastener such as an adhesive tape. During erection, a flat panel inherently deforms into a curved cylindrical tapered shape enclosing a space. A door and an optional floor are provided. The shelter has a rigid conical cap including holes for guy ropes, a door and an optional window.

Abstract: Seismic base isolation and energy dissipation device using a plurality of multi-walled swing plate's that are placed on many central walls that are attached to a base support structure. This arrangement creates a strong load bearing multi-walled swing beam that moves in true pendulum fashion. This system is placed between the structural load and its foundation. This seismic wave base isolation system has the purpose of absorbing seismic wave displacement energy in all directions. This unique design can scale up for very large and heavy loads or scale down to protect sensitive cargo and equipment from destructive motion. The multi-walled swing plates inside the multi-walled swing beam will provide support and absorption of motion by moving as a pendulum and therefore redirecting and dissipating seismic energy. This invention is particularly suited to reduce the initial shock of horizontal ground displacement.

Abstract: A thermal break washer and building construction fastening system and method includes a thermal break washer having an outerside, an underside, and a fastener aperture extending there through, with the outerside defining a solid upper surface. A mounting projection extends from the underside and a support projection extends from the outerside, with the mounting projection configured to be pressed into an inner building material to retain the thermal break washer on the inner building material, with the thermal break washer configured to receive a first fastener for securing the inner building material. An outer building material is placed on the support projection, with a retention washer having a plurality of apertures placed over the thermal break washer. The retention washer is configured to receive a second fastener through one of its apertures to secure the retention washer to the thermal break washer with the outer building material disposed there between.

Abstract: Gypsum panels, panel cores, and methods for the manufacture thereof are provided herein. A gypsum panel core includes gypsum and fiberglass, the fiberglass being present in the core in an amount of from about 1 lb/msf to about 6 lb/msf. The core has a thickness of about 1/2 inch, a weight of from about 1400 lb/msf to about 1750 lb/msf, and an ASTM E-119 wood stud fire test rating of at least 30 minutes.

Abstract: Floor panel, which, at least at two opposite sides, includes coupling parts with which two of such floor panels can be coupled to each other; wherein these coupling parts form a horizontally active locking system and a vertically active locking system; wherein the horizontally active locking system comprises a male part in the form of a downwardly directed projection and a female part with a seat open towards the top, which have horizontally active locking surfaces; and wherein the vertically active locking system comprises a vertically active locking element, which forms part of an insertion piece provided in the female part; wherein the insertion piece is formed at least of the combination of a bottom part; a back part adjoining thereto and an elastically movable lock-up body directed downward with a free extremity, which lock-up body, by means of a hinge portion, is connected directly or indirectly to the back part.