Abstract: A metallic receptacle is embedded in the concrete material of a burial vault. The receptacle contains archival quality paper that records information identifying the person interred in the burial vault and the precise location at which the vault was buried. The receptacle is sealed by a cap that may be removed to access the archival information without opening the vault.

Abstract: The invention concerns hard panels for floor coverings, which are provided, at least on two opposite edges, with coupling devices made in one piece with the panels wherein similar panels may be coupled together to form a floor covering, wherein these coupling devices provide for an interlocking in a direction perpendicular to the plane of coupled panels, as well as in a direction perpendicular to the edges concerned and parallel to the plane of coupled panels. These coupling devices comprise a tongue and a groove. A lip which is situated on the bottom side of the groove is longer than a lip located on the top side of the groove. The edge which is provided with the tongue is made elastically flexible.

Abstract: A coupling device for coupling reinforcing bars used in structural concrete comprising an elongate tubular body for receiving bar end portions, a plurality of engagers being adjustably positioned through the elongate tubular body, the coupling device being characterized in that the plurality of engagers are configured with a plurality of different end portions being configured for a different engaging of the reinforcing bars.

Abstract: A wall assembly includes at least two panel elements which are configured for contiguous placement adjacent to one another. Each of the panel elements defines a hollow internal passageway. The panels are configured to permit a contiguous placement whereby the respective passageways of the panels are brought into registration with one another. A connection element is positioned within one of the passageways. The connection element is accessible through a slot defined within the sidewall of the panel wherein the connection element resides. The connection element is slidable whereby it may be displaced partially into the second panel element. The connection element is thereafter actuatable whereby its lateral dimension is increased to form a pressure fit union with the interior sidewalls of the two passageways. In its spatially expanded configuration, the connection element provides a means of interconnecting the two panel elements together.

Abstract: A piping clamp for holding a pipe to a concrete form. The piping clamp includes a base having a vertical standoff and a spring clamp extending horizontally from the base. The vertical standoff prevents the spring clamp from contacting the top surface of a poured concrete structure, thus allowing workers to trowel the concrete's surface without interfering with the clamp. In addition, a web portion of the spring clamp acts as a horizontal standoff and precludes a clamped piping run from coming into contact with the concrete form. The base may include a plurality of staggered fastener openings facilitating adjustment of the piping clamp during installation. In use, the spring clamp removably secures a piping run to a concrete form until the concrete form is removed. During removal, the spring clamp allows the piping run and the concrete form to be easily separated without disturbing the piping run.

Abstract: A rotatable payload support turret for operation in a potentially hazardous environment includes a fixed element attached to a vehicle or fixed structure and a rotatable element, supported for rotation with respect to the fixed element. The turret includes a camera payload having a pointing direction configured to be upwardly pointing. An annular clearance gap formed between the fixed element and the rotatable element is sealed by a conventional gas tight magnetic fluid seal element. A wiper seal is also provided in the clearance gap between the location of the magnetic fluid and the external environment to prevent breakdown of the magnetic fluid by elements of the potentially hazardous environment. The clearance gap may also form a labyrinth seal having up to three legs that are oriented to oppose a gravitational force direction.

Abstract: An erectable play structure for children including one or more enclosures or pods (10, 11, 12) which may be interconnected by one or more access tunnels (14) the whole structure being formed predominantly from a non-self supporting material thus to be collapsible for storage and adapted to be connected to an air pump (18) whereby the internal pressure within the structure may be slightly in excess of ambient pressure thus to maintain the structure in an erect condition. One or more access ports (15, 16) and/or blanking plates (17) may be provided in each enclosure to allow or prevent access to or exit from the enclosure. The access ports (16) are constructed such that after passage there through they resume a closed condition to resist escape of air therethrough. Hook and loop fasteners or the like are used to attach the enclosures, tunnels and access ports together in assembly of the structure.

Abstract: An antenna sector frame that can collapse for easy transport and storage. The antenna frame can be packaged with all of its loose parts in a single container on a relatively flat single skid capable of being stacked in storage. The antenna frame can include a pair of face frames configured to support one or more antennas, the face frames being joined to articulate on a face frame pivot axis such that the face frames can be folded together for compact shipment and storage and opened for use.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for laying and mechanically joining building panels, especially thin, hard, floating floors. Adjacent joint edges (3, 4) of two panels (1, 2) engage each other to provide a first mechanical connection locking the joint edges (3, 4) in a first direction (D1) perpendicular to the principal plane of the panels. In each joint, there is further provided a strip (6) which is integrated with one joint edge (3) and which projects behind the other joint edge (4). The strip (6) has an upwardly protruding locking element (8) engaging in a locking groove (14) in the rear side (16) of the other joint edge (4) to form a second mechanical connection locking the panels (1, 2) in a second direction (D2) parallel to the principal plane of the panels and at right angles to the joint. Both the first and the second mechanical connection allow mutual displacement of joined panels (1, 2) in the direction of the joint.

Abstract: A closure (10) for a building which is inhibitive to explosive effects and with which an opening in a building can be closed off comprises a filling (3) as well as frame elements (1, 2) which enclose the same substantially in a circular fashion. Said frame elements (1, 2) are connected in a non-positive way by means of fastening elements with parts (6) of the building which are adjacent to the opening. In order to achieve a secure connection which withstands high loads between the closure (10) and the part (6) of the building made of building materials of low strength, it is proposed rectangular brackets (4) are fastened to the frame elements (1) on at least two opposite sides of the closure (10). At least one tensile leg (7) each of the brackets (4) extends close to the reveal (L) of the opening. At least one supporting leg (8) each of the brackets (4) extends at a distance from the visible side (9) of the part (6) of the building adjacent to the opening.

Abstract: In a door constructed of spaced apart skins mounted on a rectangular frame and reinforced with the core between the skins filled with a plastic foam, a window or door light frame system consists of a two part frame system with a window light permanently installed in one part of the system and the other part releasably adapted to register with the frame part with the window light installed during shipping and rotated when installed to bring the locking elements of the several parts into registry to permanently lock the frame system in an aperture formed in a door with stop means in the locking arrangements to prevent damage to the frame system or the door on which the frame system is installed from excessive compressive forces on the frame parts.

Abstract: This invention relates to back-to-back inverse packaging of a pair of tabbed, composite roofing shingles consisting of (a) a top sheet having a lower butt portion divided into spaced tabs and an upper undivided headlap portion carrying a horizontal band of nailing indicia on the lower portion of its exposed surface; (b) a backer strip underlying the tabs of the top sheet and filling the spaces between the tabs and (c) vertical projections of approximately similar shape and spacing as the tabs, positioned on the top horizontal margin of the backer strip which projections extend upwardly beyond said band of indicia at a distance not more than one half the width of said headlap portion and which are interposed above the spaces between the tabs.

Abstract: The present invention provides a furniture assembly that includes rods and connection members, and that can be fully assembled without using tools or additional hardware. In one embodiment, the rods include a threaded end and an unthreaded end, and the connection members include an interior member and an exterior member, where the interior member and exterior member may be separate or of unitary construction. The exterior member includes unthreaded apertures for receiving the rods and the interior member includes an unthreaded aperture and a threaded aperture, also for receiving the rods. The rods and connection members are interconnected and gradually tightened to provide a stable furniture frame. Multi-level framing and methods of assembly are also provided. In an alternate embodiment, a connector assembly is provided for securing a plurality of rods within a connector using a leg threaded into the connector obliquely to a plane occupied by the rods.

Abstract: An electrical box for use with insulated concrete form building systems includes a main body having an electrical box cavity for housing electrical outlets, switches, and electrical connections. The insulated concrete form building systems utilize insulated forms to form concrete and the insulated forms are left in place after the concrete has been poured thereby creating an overall insulated concrete element that includes the concrete and the insulated forms. In accordance with the method and the arrangement of the invention, the electrical box includes an arrangement for attaching the electrical box to the insulated form without requiring the use of any additional fasteners.

Abstract: A baluster, balustrade, and method for constructing the same are provided. The balustrade includes a rail supported by one or more balusters, each baluster extending from a support surface such as one or more treads of stairs. Each baluster has an elongate member having a terminus portion and an end member that receives the terminus portion. The terminus portion is structured to be shortened, and the end member is selectively positionable on the terminus portion, such that the baluster is aesthetically configurable to accommodate stairs of varying dimensions.

Abstract: A structure with vertical members and cross members, particularly for facades or light-transparent roofs, in whose frame area glass panes (100) can be inserted, comprises several vertical members (1) between which cross members (2) are fixed. Channels (3, 4) are provided on the outer surface of the vertical members (1), specifically on the edges thereof, and serve to accommodate a seal (5, 6), whereby a drainage channel (7, 8) for diverting liquid is arranged adjacent to the channel (3, 4). In addition, channels (10, 11) are provided on the side of the cross member (2), specifically on the edges thereof, that faces the outer surface of the vertical member (1), and serve to accommodate a seal (12) and a retaining strip (13) located between the channels (10, 11).

Abstract: A modular center plate for a cover that bridges the expansion gap and is supported by frame members of an expansion joint cover is made up of a plurality of formed members, each formed member being rectangular in plan and of uniform cross-section along an axis and having side edges parallel to the axis. The formed members are arranged with their side edges adjacent each other and with their ends overlying the support surfaces of the frame members of the expansion joint cover. End frame members are attached to the end edges of the formed members.

Abstract: A block set for assembling solid creations uses at least two types of cylindrical blocks. The cylindrical blocks are a thin cylindrical block and a thick cylindrical block. The thick cylindrical block may include a hole on a side face thereof for receiving the thin cylindrical block. A fabricating apparatus for fabricating the thin and thick cylindrical blocks has at least two types of rollers for rolling up paper, and a paper thickness notifying apparatus for notifying the user of the diameter of the cylindrical paper roll on a cylindrical paper roll up core.

Abstract: A pin with threads that extend along a portion of a stem of the pin interact with framing members as the pin is driven through the framing members. The interaction of the threads with the framing members cause the pin to rotate as the threads pass through the framing members and fastens the framing members together. A pin with curved wings that extend along a portion of a stem of the pin interact with framing members as the pin is driven through the framing members. The interaction of the wings with the framing members cause the pin to rotate as the wings pass through the framing members and fastens the framing members together.

Abstract: An exposed rafter end is simulated by a frame and complementary sleeve. The frame is attached to a building eave and the sleeve is inserted over the frame. In an alternative embodiment, the sleeve is inserted over an exposed rafter end. In yet another embodiment, the simulated exposed roof rafter end comprises an architectural design at a distal end and a cradle at a proximal end having a shape which is complementary to the profile of a conventional rain gutter to thereby cradle the rain gutter and provide support thereto. The simulated exposed roof rafter end can also comprise a solid member without a cradle for use without a rain gutter system.