Abstract: A system includes a compressible, elongated gasket. The gasket includes first and second tubes aligned side-by-side and connected to each other along their common length by a first base and a second base, each of the first base and second base contacting both the first tube and the second tube. A method for sealing a joint between first and second wall panels is described. The method comprises obtaining a first compressible, elongated gasket; positioning the first gasket on an edge face of the first wall panel; attaching the first gasket to the edge face of the first wall panel; and placing the second wall panel adjacent to the first wall panel to compress the first gasket therebetween.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a three-dimensional energy dissipation and vibration isolation bearing. A laminated rubber bearing comprises an upper connecting plate and a lower connecting plate, and the upper connecting plate and the lower connecting plate are tightened through a stay cable; U-shaped strips are arranged around the laminated rubber bearing and fixed with the edge of the steel plate and the edge of the lower connecting plate; a support shaft is fixed on the top surface of the upper connecting plate; disk springs are sleeved on the support shaft and clamped between the upper connecting plate and the steel plate and between the steel plate and the jacking nut; and anchor bars are vertically fixed on the top surface of the U-shaped frame and the bottom surface of the lower connecting plate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method of constructing modular homes, which are assembled from a numbered of prefabricated components and delivered as finished goods using standard containers. The modular design further provides for a self-sufficient structure where the three main engineering systems, namely, plumbing, electrical and HVAC, are completely integrated allowing the structure to maximize energy usage efficiencies. Emphasis is placed on using only environmentally friendly materials and on recycle or multi-purposing components into energy or resource gathering and production. Another emphasis is placed on speed of assembly using standardized structures that streamline on the job assembly processes.

Abstract: The composite assembly of the steel structure for lifting equipment comprised of the lifting system, into which the lower parts of vertically connected pillars connected to one another by cross-beams are fixed, with a levelling lifting system comprised of lifting plates (11) that are anchored into a concrete recess using chemical bonds via openings (15), with the structure levelling system comprising an adjusting screw (14), adjusting load-bearing nut (12), and safety nut (13), where the adjusting screw (14) passes through the opening in the lifting plate (10) welded onto the lower part of the lowermost pillar (1) of the structure. The vertical connections (3) of individual pillars (1), on the inner sides of both ends fitted with sets of openings mutually arranged at the angle of 90 degrees, are realized by inner connecting pieces (18) with fixed nuts (21), attached by Allen head screws (20) with safety washers having high resistance to spontaneous releasing due to vibrations via a set of openings.

Abstract: A foldable roof, including a plurality of elongated plates, for being disposed one aside the other, and a plurality of supporting members each for supporting one of the elongated plates, where each two adjacent supporting members of the supporting members are pivotally connected to one another, thereby allowing deploying and folding the elongated plates, and for each of the plates and its supporting member, gravity disposition elements configured to allow perpendicular displacement between the plate and the supporting member while limiting parallel displacement therebetween, thereby at any state of the foldable roof except for a folded state, each plate is connected to the supporting member thereof by gravity only.

Abstract: An ember and flame resistant resettable automatic soffit vent includes a tray with ventilation openings formed in its floor. A mesh screen resides on the floor of the tray spanning the ventilation openings. A flat slide resides atop the screen and also has ventilation openings that match those of the tray. The slide has an open position wherein its ventilation openings align with those of the tray to allow airflow through the vent and a closed position wherein its ventilation openings are misaligned with the ventilation openings of the tray to close off airflow through the vent. The vent can be manually moved between its open and closed positions and one or more tension springs and a thermal link assembly cooperate to move the slide to its closed position if the vent is exposed to a high temperature cause by a fire very near a home.

Abstract: Provided are a rebar-equipped lumber form and a construction method using a rebar-equipped lumber form capable of shortening construction time by replacing a deck plate. The lumbering form 10 includes a wood panel 11, and a unitized rebar 12 disposed and fixed on the wood panel 11.

Abstract: An internally braced permanent formwork for concrete foundation construction is provided in order to achieve a quick and simple assembly. The formwork comprises a base member laid on the ground having a perimeter recess on an upper surface for receiving components of the formwork. One or more permanent outer boards forming an outer periphery of the foundation are provided and coupled to a plurality of spaced internal bracing components to prevent collapse under the pressure of wet concrete.

Abstract: An apparatus for an architectural opening comprises a plurality of panels pivotably connected together. At least one of the plurality of panels comprises a frame comprising a plurality of first frame members connected to a plurality of second frame members at respective interfaces to define at least one opening. The interfaces are defined by ends of the plurality of first frame members positioned at least partially within respective apertures defined in the plurality of second frame members. Each of the first and second frame members comprise an internal cavity filled with a gas having a thermal conductivity between 2 mW/(m·K) and 25.5 mW/(m·K) at 25 degrees Celsius. The at least one of the plurality of panels also comprises an inset panel secured within the at least one opening.

Abstract: The disclosed technology provides a seismic yielding connector. The seismic yielding connector includes a U-shaped plate configured to connect a side stud of a panel to another component of a panel and a yielding plate located between the U-shaped plate and the side stud of the panel. A high-strength bolt connects the U-shaped plate, the yielding plate, and the side stud of the panel to a structural column. A bushing is located between the U-shaped plate and the structural column.

Abstract: A rebar positioning apparatus configured to retain a piece of rebar and allow incremental vertical movement thereof in an upwards direction during the laying of courses of a concrete block wall. The rebar positioning apparatus of the present invention has a body wherein the body includes a center section. The center section of the body includes a first ring member and a second ring member both being annular in shape. The first ring member includes a plurality of retention members formed on the wall wherein the plurality of retention members extend inward towards the central void of the first ring member. A first support portion and a second support portion are integrally formed with the center section extending outward from opposing sides thereof. The first support portion and second support portion each have lateral support members that are v-shaped.

Abstract: A method of installing a roof system, the method comprising (i) providing a first membrane composite including a polymeric planar body having first and second planar surfaces, a UV-cured pressure-sensitive adhesive layer disposed on the second planar surface, a release member removably secured to the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer opposite the planar body; and a primer layer disposed along a lap area on the first planar surface; (ii) adhesively securing the first membrane composite to a roof surface through the UV-cured pressure-sensitive adhesive layer; (iii) providing a second membrane composite including a polymeric planar body having first and second planar surfaces, a UV-cured pressure-sensitive adhesive layer disposed on the second planar surface, a release member removably secured to the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer opposite the planar body; and optionally including a primer layer disposed along a lap area on the first planar surface; (iv) adhesively securing the second membrane composite to th

Abstract: A mounting clip assembly for attaching a girt to a substrate, includes a bracket and isolator pad. The bracket includes a substrate fastening plate for mounting the bracket to a building substrate, and a girt fastening plate protruding orthogonally outward from a first face of the substrate fastening plate. The girt fastening plate has a top edge, and a bottom edge that extends at an upward angle from the substrate fastening plate, such that the vertical fastening plate is substantially trapezoidal. A girt may be fastened to the mounting clip assembly in a first fastening region. A cavity is formed in the girt fastening plate at a location between the substrate fastening plate and the fastening region to reduce thermal conductance between the fastening region and the substrate fastening plate. The cavity is reinforced by thickening material around a periphery of the cavity. The thermal isolator pad is mountable between a second face of the substrate fastening plate and the substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a window well mounting system having a non-conductive bracket and a non-conductive seal that helps prevent premature oxidation of window wells. The non-conductive bracket and the non-conductive seal insulate conductive elements to stop the flow of electricity to the window well.

Abstract: A concrete and steel insulated building is constructed by forming excavated holes and inserting into each hole a 3-dimensional reinforcing bar cage having a length so as to define reinforcement for a pile and to stand upwardly of the hole to a height above the hole to provide reinforcement for a column having a height of the building wall. The pile is formed by casting concrete into each hole around the cage and setting the material so as to define an upper surface of the pile at or above the ground. With the pile set, a formwork is defined by a series of stacked openable form components standing upwardly and a further body of concrete is cast into the formwork to form the column which is integrated with the pile by the cage. A roof and insulated walls are applied on the building supported by the columns.

Abstract: A living space is disclosed including one or more adjustable or reconfigurable rooms. A room may be made reconfigurable by including fixed walls and a frame that is mounted to move in a first direction between a first position coextensive with the fixed walls and a second position that is extended relative to the fixed walls. The room may further include panels mounted in the frame configured to move in a second direction, orthogonal to the first direction, to seal off a front of the room. In examples, the panels may store against the frame when not in use.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is the fabrication and implementation of prefabricated volumetric construction modules that include transitioning members that adjust between vertical support columns and structural trusses via lateral joints. Modification of vertical support columns to trusses enables open space configurations in volumetric construction. Each volumetric module includes a habitation zone and a truss zone. Folding or transitioning a vertical support column at the lateral joint positions a lower region of the support column from the habitation zone into the truss zone. The vertical support columns are transitioned in a specified order where within a given row of vertical support columns. Beginning from a first interior column on an edge-positioned transforming volumetric module, workers fold half of the vertical support columns of the given row into the truss arrangement in a first direction toward the edge-positioned transforming volumetric module.

Abstract: A muntin assembly for an associated window glass. The muntin assembly includes a first muntin bar that defines a first pocket and includes a first cleat. The muntin assembly also includes a second muntin bar that defines a second pocket and includes a second cleat. The muntin assembly also includes a clip disposed in the first pocket and the second pocket so as to hook the first muntin bar and the second muntin bar together in an overlapping arrangement. Further, the clip momentarily deforms to accept receipt of the first cleat and the second cleat.

Abstract: A composite structure joining system and method comprises a structural panel, preferably but not necessarily fabricated from structural composite materials, that further comprises a nesting C-joint feature that facilitates assembly of a plurality of panels of the invention to form a planar structure such as a wall. An embodiment of the present invention comprises a plurality of the panels of the invention, joined together using the C joint of the invention, captured in a frame. The frame structural elements may comprise metals such as aluminum or steel, or may be hand laid or extruded fiberglass as described in more detail below. The invention further comprises methods of manufacturing a plurality of structural panels of the invention. The method of the invention may be used to fabricate intermodal shipping containers that have superior structural and thermal characteristics, are lightweight, resulting in lower transportation costs and lower container costs.

Abstract: Compound fenestration assembly mull joints, compound fenestration assemblies using those mull joints, and methods of making and using the same are described herein. The mull joints in compound fenestration assemblies as described herein use universal joining strips to form both sides of a mull joint, as well as other universal components such as, e.g., corner gussets, locator plates, end plugs, seal members, etc. that may be used as needed to form mull joints as required in a compound fenestration assembly.