Abstract: The inflatable greenhouse is an approximately hemispherical dome-shaped inflatable structure which is entirely self-supporting when inflated. The greenhouse has a double-walled structure of plastic sheet material which gives the greenhouse structural rigidity when inflated and which increases the thermal protection provided by the greenhouse. The walls of the greenhouse are made of a transparent or translucent plastic material to allow optimal light transmission for photosynthetic plants or of a light filtering or opaque plastic material for light-sensitive plants and animals. The greenhouse has an access door through the wall to allow easy access to the interior of the structure. The door is placed such that it does not interrupt the structural integrity of the inflated dome-shaped structure, therefore no rigid structural members are needed to support the walls.

Abstract: The composite steel/concrete column comprises a longitudinally extending H-shaped steel assembly having a pair parallel flange plates and a web plate interconnecting the flange plates and defining two opposite channel-shaped spaces. A plurality of spaced-apart transversal tie bars are disposed along the steel assembly on each side of the web plate for interconnecting the flange plates. A mass of concrete is filling the channel-shaped spaces. The column steel concrete column is characterized in that the ratio of the cross-sectional surface area of the steel assembly with respect to the total surface area of the composite steel/concrete column is less than 9%, preferably 2% to 5%. The column is principally to be utilized in structural steel high-rise buildings which have the advantage of shop prefabrication resulting in rapid on site construction.

Abstract: A building side panel assembly, roof panel assembly, and roof beam are provided for modular construction wherein the panel assemblies may be inter-connected by an interlocking means which are located on each of the edges of the panel assemblies. The side panel assemblies are assembled in an edgewise relationship to form a structural barrier such as a wall. The panel assemblies are formed with a hemmed and a non-hemmed leg, wherein the non-hemmed leg of one panel assembly is configured to interlock with a hemmed leg of another panel assembly.

Abstract: A body has a substantially flat and very smooth support surface having a plurality of holes therein which intersect the support surface to form sharp edges around the holes. Connectors are provided on the sides of the body for connecting similar bodies to one another. A plurality of projections extend outwardly from the surface to enhance the glide properties of inline hockey pucks. The projections have a base dimension at the support surface in the range of about 0.5 mm to about 1.5 mm and extend outwardly from the surface a distance in the range of about 0.1 mm to about 0.6 mm. The projections are spaced from one another a distance in the range of about 3 mm to about 10 mm, and the density of projections per square centimeter of the support surface is in the range of about 1 to about 9.

Abstract: Public terminal whose housing is formed by shaft-shaped segments (4, 5, 6) which, from a base plinth (2), extend vertically and, by means of connecting elements (10) extending vertically as well, are connected to one another, with the processing units (7) at the rear side and lateral sides being enclosed by the shaft-shaped segments. The segments are stably attached to the base plinth by means of tie rods (8) on the one side engaging with the base plinth, which extend through the shaft-shaped segments, and which on the other side engage with the top side of said segments. The shafts formed by the segments may be used, if so desired, for cooling or thermal insulation of the incorporated equipment. The segments are preferably manufactured by means of extrusion.

Abstract: An electrically operated multiple folding stage system which enables a number of linked stage systems to move sequentially from a vertical to horizontal position (unfolding), or from a horizontal to a vertical position (folding-up), as a unit in a single smooth operation.

Abstract: A portable divider wall including a wall member of a lightweight foam material and two foot supports or feet located along a bottom portion of the wall member for supporting the wall member in an upright position. The foot supports each include a recess in which the bottom portion of the wall member is disposed, and a projection which projects into the interior of the wall member to removably secure the foot to support the wall member.

Abstract: A door and doorway construction includes a doorway structure having a lock jamb, a hinge jamb, and a header defining a doorway opening. An adjustable door is constructed to fit mateably into the doorway opening. The doorway structure includes an overhead expressway construction configured to structurally support a weight of the door and further adapted to carry utilities over the doorway opening. The doorway structure is vertically adjustable to align the expressway construction with adjacent wall units, which results in size changes in the doorway opening, and the door is adjustable to define an adjustable vertical height shaped to fill the doorway opening despite the size changes. In one form the door is pivoted to the doorway structure with hinges located above and below the door and at a centerline of the door.

Abstract: A shock absorbing fixture for attachment to a device for aiding a user in walking such as a crutch. The fixture comprises a frame with a spring disposed within the frame that compresses under the weight of the user. The fixture is attached to the lower end of the device. The fixture reduces the shock on the user during use of the device. The device also has the capacity to be operated so that the crutch performs as a rigid crutch.

Abstract: A retractable stairs-like stand has rows of seats on moveable floor-bases arranged in a stair-like manner for use in an auditorium or stadium-like application. A variety of seating styles can be accommodated due to the retracted storage position used wherein the steps are shifted to all be in vertical alignment, and the seats are stored in a nested configuration with corresponding seats in vertical alignment to provide a more compact arrangement.

Abstract: A burial structures providing space for multiple human remains, whether in form of a body or in the form of cremens, has the additional feature of allowing interlocking of the individual units. Unlike previous units, this interlocking occurs to prohibit access to the individual cremens or bodily remains. Thus, with the exception of a main level accessway, where some cremens are located within the walls, no individual remains are directly accessible. This building feature allows the heretofore unknown ability to form the mausoleum into innovative designs and shapes, from an obelisk shape, like the pyramids of Egypt, to religious symbolisms or aesthetic shapes, thus not solely relying on landscaping for giving beauty and reverence to the mausoleum and its surroundings. Each unit comprises an area for the remains, and alternately an area for any memorabilia to be placed with the remains. Formed of a high-strength synthetic material, the unit is sealed with a cover that has grooves formed therein.

Abstract: A roof mounting assembly includes rows of pans mounted to the understructure of a roof by hooking the pans around support tracks. Rows of roofing panels are mounted over the respective rows of pans with adjacent roofing panels generally abutting each other to create a joint located above the central area of an underlying pan so that the pan acts as a barrier to prevent rain water and the like from flowing through the joint and directly to the understructure. By using underlying pans to prevent leakage, it is possible to minimize the amount of panel overlapping. The panels are preferably mounted to the tracks by separate hook members. The upper end of each panel is between and against an overlying panel and an underlying track.

Abstract: A two-person tree stand system for deer hunting comprising a housing frame having a horizontal floor formed of peripheral rods in a rectangular configuration with cross support rods forming a rectangular access space. The housing also has a roof formed of peripheral rods in a generally rectangular configuration. A central rod with diagonal support rods forms an A-frame. The housing also has sides formed of vertical rods coupling the floor and roof with diagonal support rods. A wooden floor is positioned on the floor of the frame with an opening over the access space. The wooden floor further has a cross-strengthening brace with protruding ends receivable within recesses in the frame. A fabric roof is positionable over the roof of the frame. Four side walls are positionable over the sides of the frame.

Abstract: A selectively heat treated side intrusion beam includes a beam body having a center portion heat treated and end portions not heat treated. The beam body is affixed to end brackets that couple the beam body to the automotive vehicle door. The method for forming a side intrusion beam includes the steps of moving beam stock through a heater; controlling the heater to cycle between an on-state and an off-state with respect to predetermined portions of the length of the beam; quenching the beam stock; and, cutting the beam stock at untreated portions to form the beam body.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for preventing unauthorized entry into a structure through an opening containing an air conditioner. The present invention relates specifically to an apparatus and method preventing a window-unit air conditioner from being easily pushed into the structure and therefore allowing an intruder to enter through the newly opened window vacated by the window-unit air conditioner. Using clamps and a security bar, the security device of the present invention secures the window-unit air conditioner from being pushed into the building. The device of the present invention is a complete unit, and may be installed without screws.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for damp-proofing masonry, in particular for the surface sealing of interior walls, by waxy substances, the waxy substance penetrating the area to be damp-proofed by being heated during a reaction time and utilising capillary forces.In order to achieve non-destructive, ecologically harmless and durable masonry sealing which can be carried out with little expenditure, the waxy substance is brought into direct contact with the surface of a large area of the masonry to be sealed a heatable carrier, then being heated to temperatures above its melting point by heating the carrier, and thus penetrating the capillary system of the masonry, or that the waxy substance, distributed in a heatable carrier displaying a capillary system, be permanently applied to a large area of the section of masonry to be sealed, then being heated to temperatures above its melting point before or after application to the masonry, and thus spreading through the capillary system of the carrier.

Abstract: The present invention provides a ventilation system for an attic or rafter space that mimics the appearance of the roofing material and thus has little effect on the appearance of the building. The vent has two pieces, a primary vent and a secondary vent and they may be made of aluminum, galvanized steel or copper. The primary vent is installed on a roof deck over a ventilation opening cut through the deck. The secondary vent is constructed to look like the surrounding field tiles and is installed over the primary vent. One or more vent openings in the secondary vent and an opening in the primary vent conduct air between the attic or rafter space and the outside. The secondary vent has a skeleton with one or more vent openings and a cap covering each opening shielding the ventilating space. Skeletons are formed in one piece and are made to fit each different size and type of roofing tile. The caps and the skeleton are ribbed for rigidity.

Abstract: A safety fence for a square hatched formed in a slab of a building is provided. The fence has lids pivotable about opposed sides of the hatch, and has such a size that about half of the opening of the hatch is closed by each of the lids. Side frames having a predetermined height are pivotable about opposed sides of the hatch. A plurality of gear mechanisms is provided, with each mechanism comprising a first gear and a second gear in mesh with each other, a first shaft supporting the first gear, a second shaft supporting the second gear, the first and second shafts extending parallel to the opposed ends of the hatch, the first gears being secured to lower ends of the lids, and counterweights mounted to one of the second shafts. The safety fence is set up by erecting the lids and the side frames. A plurality of brackets each having a pair of bracket portions secured to the inner wall of the hatch.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a multi-layer laminated shingle, wherein each shingle layer has granule and bituminous coated web, with the layers laminated together and with the butt zone of the base layer disposed against a bottom surface of the tab zone of the secondary layer and with the tab zone of the base layer disposed against the bottom surface of the butt zone of the secondary layer. The shingle lends itself to having tabs spaced by voids. Because the tabs in the base layer are inverted, the base layer's butt zone is visible through voids in the tabs of the secondary layer. The method of making the shingle lends itself to complementally cutting out the tabs of two side-by-side shingles from a given line. Enhanced nailing area is provided, and stacking of shingles for packaging is facilitated.

Abstract: A load bearing deck of a modular structural section for use in support structures such as a load bearing deck or highway bridge. The at least one modular structural section includes at least one beam and a load bearing deck preferably formed of a polymer matrix composite material. The deck includes a core having elongate core members having a polygonal shape, preferably a trapezoidal shape. Alternatively, the load bearing deck comprising at least one sandwich panel is suitable for applications such as barge decks, hatchcovers, and other load bearing wall applications. Methods of constructing a support structure utilizing the modular structural section including the polygonal, preferably trapezoidal core deck, and support members are also provided.