Abstract: A gargoyle style diverter construction (10) for rain gutters (100) wherein the diverter construction (10) includes a mounting unit (11) having a U-shaped mounting member (20) including a mounting plate element (24) and a pair of elongated legs (21), (22) which are formed integrally with a gargoyle style spout unit (12) which includes a bottom panel (31) and a pair of raised side walls (32), (33), which are disposed in a surrounding relationship to a group of fluid outlet openings (105) formed in the exterior side wall (104) of the rain gutter (100).

Abstract: A sports stadium or building complex is covered by a huge fiberglass fabric dome that is supported by an inflatable dual-membrane bladder on a hollow compression ring with a diameter of 800 to 1200 feet. A central vertical spreader having upper and lower tension rings connected to the membranes of said bladder is supported from above or below by separate suspension cables in a position above the compression ring. Containment cables limit the expansion of and shape said bladder to provide a closed pressurized air space of narrow lenticular cross section and can include 40 or more radial ceiling cables and the same number of radial hold-down cables of the same length.

Abstract: An aesthetic security doorway is made up of a door with a support structure and a number of crossbars which are shaped and arranged to take on an aesthetically pleasing design, and a doorframe surrounding the door with ornamentation that continues the design of the door onto the doorframe so as to form a unitary decorative image. The crossbars and ornamentation can convey a variety of suitable design themes, such as palm tree branches and fronds, or vines and leaves. Also disclosed is a method for concealing a security door by arranging a number of crossbars on the door to form a decorative design, and providing ornamentation on the surrounding doorframe to continue the design of the door onto the doorframe.

Abstract: A roof beam for constructing a conservatory roof comprises a glazing bar (10) and upper and lower capping (12, 14/50) thereon. The glazing bar has a cross bar (16) having trough formations (26) at each end, whereby there is a recess under the cross bar. The cross bar can, therefore, accommodate both a lower capping (14) for a transom roof beam and a lower capping (50) for a hipped conservatory roof end.

Abstract: A termite shielding structure of underfloor portions of a building wherein a floor mold slab 3 and a berm 31 of reinforced concrete are integrally formed on sleeve crowns of underground beams 12 of mat foundations 1 made of reinforced concrete, wherein a termite shielding chemicals bucket 7 which is a long cylindrical body whose interior is filled with termite shielding chemicals is embedded into the floor mold slab 3 so as to pierce therethrough in a vertical manner, and wherein a pipe 4 that is used for delivery of plumbing water, gas or other fluids or for guiding electric wiring cables 5 is connected to the termite shielding chemicals bucket 7 such that these respectively extend on both upper and lower sides of the floor mold slab 3. With this arrangement, termites can be prevented from entering the underfloor portion 6 of the building from piping portions piercing through the floor mold slab 3.

Abstract: Disclosed is a concrete forming system for constructing an upper wall for a bridge or a building, including: a plurality of beams, each having a flange; a plurality of steel bars arranged between the two opposing beams; a plurality of slabs on the steel bars; a plurality of brackets, each having a horizontal portion and a vertical portion, the horizontal portion having a first engaging means, and the vertical portion being welded to an end of the steel bar; and a second engaging means for removably engaging the horizontal portion and the flange of the beam.

Abstract: A water impervious panel assembly for a foundation wall. A series of rigid, extruded thermoplastic panels are mounted in side-by-side relation to the outer surface of the foundation wall. Each panel has inner and outer faces connected together by a series of parallel spaced ribs which define vertical flow channels that extend the height of the panel. A plurality of holes are formed in the outer face of each panel and communicate with the channels. The holes and channels facilitate movement of water to the drain tile at the footing of the wall and relieve hydrostatic pressure on the wall. To provide a watertight vertical joint between adjacent panels, the inner face of each panel adjacent one vertical side edge is provided with a first vertical slot that communicates with the flow channel located adjacent that side edge and the outer face of each panel adjacent the opposite side edge is provided with a second vertical slot that communicates with a flow channel adjacent that side edge.

Abstract: A Lightweight Pre-engineered prefabricated modular Building System comprised of nine pre-fabricated structural members and two prefabricated connectors which create the entire building main frame system. A multiple use principal structural member is utilized as columns. The connectors are right angle connectors; each employing a configuration of holes and slots for securing structural members to create a rigid attachment of rafters to columns. The same connectors can be employed to establish a shallow pitch or a steep pitch roof pitch through selection of the holes and slot positions used to bolt the structural frame together. Eave struts, purlins and girts are attached to mainframes and used to attach sheathing to the structural frame. Alternatively, a “V” shaped stiffener can be employed with the columns.

Abstract: A partition includes at least two vertical posts with upper and lower beams having opposite ends thereof interconnecting the vertical posts to define when in an assembled condition, a rigid panel frame having a substantially open interior. The panel frame defines a vertical dimension. At least one cover panel is configured to enclose at least a portion of the open interior of the panel frame, and is removably mounted on the panel frame to readily access the open interior thereof. The cover panel defines an interior surface and a center portion spaced-apart from the posts. A cover panel brace is connected with the upper beam, and has an outer surface abutting the interior surface of the cover panel to support the cover panel adjacent the center portion to prevent flexing of the cover panel. The cover panel brace is longitudinally extensible to accommodate variations of the vertical dimension between the upper and lower beams.

Abstract: A joint insert is provided as well as a system and method for using same in the finishing of a surface's joint. The joint insert is a strip of material having a central longitudinal axis dividing the strip into first and second halves that are mirror-images about the central longitudinal axis. The strip is folded along the central longitudinal axis so that when the strip is positioned in the joint, the strip's central longitudinal axis and portions of the strip's first and second halves extend out of the joint. Gaps are formed between the joint and portions of the strip within the confines of the joint. A filler material is used to fill the gaps. As a final step in the finishing process, any of the strip and filler material extending above the plane of the surface over the joint is removed.

Abstract: A loading dock seal includes a low-profile backer that is vertically adjustable relative to a wall-mounted bracket to facilitate the installation of the seal. In some embodiments the bracket is generally U-shaped with a turned-in lip on one leg of the U-shape. The backer, to which a compressible foam pad is attached, is similarly U-shaped to nest within the bracket. During installation of the seal, the turned-in lip restrains the backer horizontally, yet allows the backer to be adjusted vertically to properly position the seal. Once properly adjusted, an added fastener further fixes the backer to the bracket, so that the seal is fixed both horizontally and vertically. In some embodiments, the low profile of the backer is achieved by forming the both the backer and the bracket out of sheet metal. The backer includes elongated channels or slots for bolt head clearance to accommodate anchor bolts that connect the bracket to a wall.

Abstract: A retrofit roof tie down that helps prevent the roof from separating from the gable end wall, having a fork and yoke to accommodate different roof pitches. The forks attach to pipe that holds down the roofing material and roof sheathing. A plate attaches to the gable wall securing the outside sheathing to the underlying rafter. A bolt fastens the yoke and plate together through the roof and an eye nut secures everything together. A cargo strap secures the eye to the ground.

Abstract: A lazing unit (1) comprises two sheets of glass (2,3) which are separated by a spacer bar (5). An outer secondary seal (10) extends around the periphery of the glazing unit. The seal (10) has a number of peripherally spaced-apart fixing inserts (50) extending around the periphery of the glazing unit for fixing the glazing unit support (17). Each fixing insert (50) has a base wall section (51), parallel side walls (52) and end wall sections (53) which define an arcuate slot (55) closed at both ends. The configuration of the fixing inserts (50) allows simple fitting while ensuring the maximum bulk of material for structural strength. Opposed fixing inserts (50) are engaged, on assembly, by a toggle (60).

Abstract: For the exchange of thermal energy between flowable media and the surroundings, said media are directionally conveyed in sectional structures, etc. The invention relates to sectional elements and sectional modules which are used in combination with paste-like, solidifiable coating materials. The coating material passes through the perforated, flow guiding walls of the elements or modules and results, amongst other effects, in an increase of the surface area and in an intensification of the interaction between the flowing material and the surroundings. In a use according to the invention, the external walls, etc., of buildings are provided with a surface composite comprising sectional elements and modules according to the invention in combination with coating materials, for the purpose of effecting economical air-conditioning of the building from the bottom of the basement to the roof.

Abstract: A method of construction which produces an air tight structure which is capable of being insulated to high R values. The method comprises the following steps: erecting an inner wall having a footer, a top plate, and spaced upright studs, along an inner edge portion of the supporting structure; covering the exterior side portion of the inner wall with a vapor barrier so that electrical wiring and plumbing may be run within the interior wall without penetrating the vapor barrier; erecting an outer wall having a footer, a top plate, and spaced upright studs along an outer edge portion of the supporting structure parallel to and spaced from the inner wall, said outer wall used to carry an exterior building wall covering after insulation which is positioned between the walls and between the studs of the outer wall; and, erecting a supported structure on top of the top side portion of the walls.

Abstract: A tent pole ground anchor and support device is disclosed as including a substantially flat base that is configured for placement on the ground. A pair of stake-receiving openings are defined in the base so that a ground stake may be inserted through one of the openings and into the ground. A wall projects upwardly from the base, with the wall and base cooperatively defining a pole-retaining recess that is configured to receive an end of the tent pole therein. With respect to known recreational tents, the recess is oversized relative to the tent pole so that the pole may be retained in the recess in the desired oblique orientation relative to the ground. The wall is preferably discontinuous and consequently presents spaced apart ends that cooperatively define a pole-receiving hole therebetween. The pole-receiving hole is provided so that the tent pole may be nested therein when in the desired orientation.

Abstract: The walls of a wooden log building are provided with vertical support columns acting upon horizontal logs within the walls. The support columns prevent the logs, or groups of logs, from moving downward due to log shrinkage. Each support column comprises a vertical stack of log supports. Each support comprises an elongated support element, such as a pipe, and a plate element removably secured to an end of the support element. The plate elements support bottom surfaces of the logs and substantially prevent such bottom surfaces from moving downward. The weight of the building is concentrated within the support columns.

Abstract: A storm-panel attachment system has at least one storm-panel bracket (1) with an attachment tongue (2) that fits slidably in at least one attachment housing (3) mounted proximate an edge (4) of a building aperture (5) to be storm-paneled. Oppositely disposed proximate a second edge of the building aperture, at least one additional storm-panel bracket has an attachment tongue that fits slidably in at least one other attachment housing. The storm-panel brackets each have at least one brace-attachment appendage (7) to which at least one panel-supportive brace (8) or other panel bracing is fastened. The brace-attachment appendages are sized and shaped for attachment of braces such as two-by-four boards or other structural members to which storm paneling (6) such as plywood sheets, fibrous sheets or aluminum sheets can be nailed, screwed or otherwise affixed.

Abstract: A sealing plate for use with a building, the building having an inner wall structure, an air impermeable sheet material for covering the inner wall structure and defining an air impermeable barrier, an insulation material on top of the sheet material and an outer wall structure outside of the insulation material uses a wall tie mounted on the inner wall structure and to attached to the outer wall structure for support. The wall tie has a first plate portion which is vertically mounted on the inner wall structure, a second plate portion connected to the first plate portion and extending therefrom inserted vertically through a slit on the sheet material, through a second slit on the insulation material, the second portion has at least one hole in which a suitable mount means is inserted and attached to the outer wall structure connecting the inner wall structure and the outer wall structure.

Abstract: Precast insulated concrete wall panels are made by pouring a first concrete layer into a form. An insulation layer is then supported above the first concrete layer so as to create a space therebetween. The second concrete layer is then poured on top of the insulation layer before the first concrete layer has cured. Connectors are anchored in the first and second concrete layers so as to tie the layers together. After the first and second concrete layers have cured, the wall panels can be lifted, transported, and assembled into a wall structure. An intermediate layer of concrete can be poured into the air gap of the wall panels such that the panels define the form for the intermediate concrete layer and become an integral part of the wall structure. The wall structure may extend below or above grade and may be multi-tiered. The edges of the wall panels are contoured so as to interlockingly matingly engage when assembled into the wall structure.