Abstract: A wall panel supporting unit and system of constructing a wall utilizing a series of the wall panel supporting units in place of a traditional stud wall. The individual wall panel supporting units are of unitary construction and are generally rectangular. The units are corrugated and the resulting ridges function in the same manner as individual studs in a traditional wall, by creating a space within the wall for insulation, electrical wiring and similar uses. The individual units are fastened together, and attached to parallel tracks along the ceiling and floor to ensure a straight wall when panel sheathing such as drywall is applied. The individual units generally conform to each other when stacked together and offer a significant reduction in required shipping space.

Abstract: A split-sphere observatory enclosure includes an antrum and a rotor including an oculus. The oculus is covered by an oculus window, which is rotatably mounted to the rotor. As an instrument housed by the enclosure moves to track an object or point across the sky, the oculus window is rotated to maintain a fixed orientation with respect to the instrument.

Abstract: The invention concerns a building element which is a stud (10) having a number of channels (12). Each channel can receive a cooperating means (14) which can be used to mount a panel or bracket on the stud. The invention also concerns a building element which is a joining clip (16) which can be connected to a panel or bracket. The joining clip includes the cooperating means (14) for mounting a panel or bracket on the stud. The invention also concerns a building element which is a joining element (42) which can connect one panel to another. The joining element is hinged (46). The invention also discloses two types of bracket for mounting in the stud. The first type has a screw-threaded shaft (71) and a sleeve (72) with cooperating means (73) at one end of the sleeve. The cooperating means is shaped so that it can be inserted horizontally in a channel of the stud and rotated so that the cooperating means cannot be withdrawn horizontally from the channel.

Abstract: An apparatus for mitigating seismic load imposing an overturning bending moment upon a multi-level structure comprises a tensioned tendon having a first end fixedly connected to one of the levels proximate one side of the structure and a second end fixedly secured to another of the levels proximate an opposite side of the structure, wherein the tendon is oriented in space between its first and second ends along a predetermined curve selected to provide optimum reaction to said load by running the tendon through intermediate story levels at calculated locations. The apparatus further comprises a supplemental system for connecting the second end of the tendon to the structure. The supplemental system preferably includes a mechanical energy dissipating device and a sacrificially yielding fuse element arranged in parallel with the mechanical energy dissipating device.

Abstract: A roofing system incorporating lightweight concrete. The system includes a deck and an insulation board. Lightweight concrete is placed between the deck and the insulation board. The deck includes upper and lower flutes and the insulation board has a plurality of channels formed therein. The lower flutes and channels form ribs in the concrete layer that strengthen the roofing system. The concrete layer may be attached to the deck by a series of protrusions in the deck that extend into the concrete. Alternatively, the concrete layer may float above the deck to prevent cracking. A release agent may be used to prevent the concrete layer from adhering to the deck.

Abstract: A lateral bracing system for one or two story frame structures utilizing a sheet member having a first portion with first and second opposite edges spanning a pair of vertical supports in the structure. The sheet member includes a second portion which imbeds in the concrete foundation or pier. The sheet member may includes flanges to aid in the connection between the sheet member and the separated studs. The sheet member may extend from the foundation of the structure to the first and second stories of the structure to provide shear strength in the structure.

Abstract: Flooring systems including a metal raised access flooring panel (10) that is solid or is perforated by oval or oblong openings having major axes not parallel to any panel edge. The major slot axes may, for instance, be at a 45° angle to each panel edge. The slots (28) may be arranged in “clusters” of six slots, with one pair of slots above another pair and one slot to each side of, and mid-way above and below, the stacked pairs. Alternatively, the panels (10) may be perforated by circular holes arranged in a similar pattern. Adjacent panels may be interlocked with retractable pins extending from one panel (10) to another. Pedestal heads and stringers are adapted to accommodate panels of different sizes.

Abstract: A moisture and air tight barrier for windows, doors and sliders having improved installation and sealing characteristics, comprising a moisture and air tight wrap comprising a capsule portion and flange portion; and insulating material encapsulated in the capsule portion.

Abstract: A walk-in refrigerator/freezer having a plurality of walls and a ceiling is provided. The refrigerator/freezer also includes a door and a floor. The floor includes a top wear surface, and a metal support grid beneath the top wear surface. The metal support grid has a plurality of apertures. An insulation material is located beneath the metal support grid. The insulation material passes through the apertures of the metal support grid and bonds to the wear surface.

Abstract: In a wooden panel element (1) for ceiling structures or for bridge construction there is provided a plurality of boards (25) standing on edge perpendicular to the plane of the panel element (1) and running along the entire length thereof, which boards are joined together by screw fastenings. The individual boards (25) are joined together at least partly by screws (27) driven at an acute angle to the surface thereof, each of these screws (27) passing through two successive boards (25). Also provided close to the upper edge (30) and the lower edge (31) of the boards (25) are screws (28) driven at right angles to the surface (26) of the boards (25).

Abstract: Fire-resistant passage for one or more lines, such as cables or tubes, in a wall, including an opening in the wall, one or more lines extending through the opening from the one side of the wall to the other side thereof, and a number of profile sections made from material which expands under the influence of heat, which profile sections are situated adjacent to the lines in order to support them and to occupy the surface of the opening present adjacent to the lines, the profile sections having such a shape that radially they freely abut the lines concerned.

Abstract: A human habitat structure for placement upon a non-uniform, non-level site.

Abstract: A concrete panel system comprising a plurality of concrete panels arranged in side-by-side fashion on a substantially vertical supporting wall, each of the panels comprising a rectangular body having a front surface and a rear surface and beveled side edges, the side edges each forming an angle of between eighty-five and ninety degrees with the rear surface, and a concave caulking groove lying between and connecting each of the beveled side edges with the front face, the side edges of adjacent panels forming a V-joint between the adjacent panels, a flexible sealant material in a portion of the caulking grooves of adjacent panels and a portion of the V-joint for providing a seal between adjacent panels, and a hanger element embedded in the rear of the panels for securing the panels to the supporting wall.

Abstract: Composite products comprising or incorporating compression moldings of waste or filler particles (16) encapsulated and bound together by a thermoplastic binder (15) into a compacted mass of a shape selected for its end use, the compression molding being prepared by intensely mixing together particles of thermoplastic and waste or filler material to raise their temperature to bring the thermoplastic particles to a molten state where they coat the waste or filler particles (16), then compression molding the hot coated waste or filler particles.

Abstract: A door frame clip is provided for interconnecting first and second door frame members when a longitudinal end of the first door frame member bears against a surface of the second door frame member at a portion of the surface which is adjacent to a longitudinal end of the second door frame member. The door frame clip comprises an apex, a first arm extending from the apex, and a second arm extending from the apex in a direction which is substantially orthogonal to the first arm. The second arm is significantly longer than the first arm to enable the second arm to reach the first door frame member when the apex engages an outside edge of the longitudinal end of the second door frame member. Also provided is a door frame system. The door frame system comprises a first leg member, a second leg member, a header, a first door frame clip, and a second door frame clip. The second leg member is substantially parallel to the first leg member.

Abstract: An improved wall stud assembly used to form a prefabricated partition or wall assembled within the interior space of a warehouse factory or other building structure, and comprising first and second elongate stud members, each having a joining part and a panel receiving flange disposed along each longitudinal side of the joining part. Preferably each of the joining parts of the stud members include a plurality of punched holes and extruded holes formed therein and relatively oriented to allow interconnecting fasteners to be applied to the stud member from either side of the stud assembly. The stud members are assembled so that joining parts are disposed in spaced, substantially confronting relation to one another and with the punched holes on the first stud member generally aligned with the extruded holes of the second stud member, such that at least one fastener element extend initially through a punched hole on the first stud member and subsequently into one of the extruded holes on the second stud member.

Abstract: A steel framed building construction (50) includes external wall frames (52, 54) and internal wall frames (57, 58) which support one or more planar ceiling frames (56). A roof structure includes one or more substantially planar roof frames (76, 78) extending substantially parallel to associated roof surfaces which the roof frames support. The roof structure further includes support means (70, 74) extending between the roof frames (76, 78) and the ceiling frames (56) to transfer the weight of the roof structure to the ceiling frames (56) to thereby distribute the combined weight of the roof structure and the ceiling frames (56) and the support means (70, 74) through the external and internal wall frames (52, 54, 57, 58). A new roof structure is also claimed. A construction methodology whereby the wall frames, the roof frames and the roof support frames are all constructed from the same steel section is also claimed.

Abstract: Hinge arrangement for pivotally connecting structural parts (1) which in oppositely inclined surfaces facing each other are provided with an open-ended T-shaped undercut elongate groove (3) in which may be inserted from the ends of the groove at least one support component (4) with lugs (4″) corresponding to the cross-section of the groove and with a cylindrical receptacle (4′) for insertion of the hinge axle (L), the support components cooperating with at least one unitary hollow pivot profile (5) arranged between the structural parts and provided with inclined walls (5′) corresponding to the inclined walls of the structural parts and adjacent to the cylindrical receptacles of the support components (4) with two partially cylindrical receptacles (7) into which may be inserted the hinge axle (L) extending through the receptacles of the structural parts so that one or both structural parts may be pivoted by 90° or one of the structural parts may be pivot by 180° relative to the other.

Abstract: A prestressed concrete structure comprising an elongated concrete molded article having a pair of side surfaces opposed to each other, a plurality of tensile members laterally extending through the concrete molded article to be secured at each end to the side surfaces of the concrete molded article in a tensioned state and imparting a compressive load to the concrete molded article, side guards arranged along both side surfaces of the concrete molded article so as to cover the ends of the tensile members, and reinforcing members arranged on the side surfaces of the side guards in order to prevent the broken tensile members from protruding beyond the side surfaces thereof breaking through the side guards when the tensile members in the tensioned state are broken.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a bracket (1) which in a preferred embodiment is formed of a single strip of sheet metal comprising an affixture portion or a flat wall frame affixture portion (2) and an anchoring portion or a flat base affixture portion (3) having temporary spacing means in the form of four outwardly protruding teeth (4) projecting from a lower face of the base affixture portion (3). The wall frame affixture portion (2) is secured via affixture fasteners (7) to a structural member of a wall frame in the form of a wall stud (8). The base of affixture portion (3) is secured against the upper surface of a building element or a concrete floor slab (6). In assembly, the teeth (4) provide a temporary gap between the lower face (13) of the base fixture portion (3) and the upper surface of the base or concrete floor slab (6). The bracket (1) is secured to the concrete slab (6) via a bolt or shank (9) pre-anchored to the base (6).