Abstract: A spacing profile for a spacing frame, which is to be fitted in the edge area of a double-glazing unit, forming an interspace, with a profile body of a material possessing low thermal conductivity. The spacing profile additionally comprises a desiccant cavity, and further a metal foil, which extends essentially over the entire width of the spacing profile. Only the metal foil together with a center piece of the connecting flanges forms the walls of the desiccant cavity.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a double slope beam in vibrated or pre-compressed reinforced concrete, composed of two complementary halves or semi-beams (10) each with a reinforcing framework and with adjoining parts which are destined to be mated together incorporating some steel connecting plates (12, 13) that are anchored in the reinforcing framework by means of tie-rods. The two semi-beams are joined together by bolts at the time of forming the whole beam.

Abstract: A block for use in constructing a retaining wall system has a front wall and a partition wall formed backwards projecting from the front wall; wherein the partition wall is provided with a communicating hole extending vertically over the entire length thereof through and in which a reinforcing iron rod is disposed or inserted; the partition wall is provided on an upper surface with an upper depression such that the upper depression is enclosed with an upwardly raised peripheral edge portion having a top flat surface and an inner wall surface of the peripheral raised edge portion is gradually widened downwardly from the top surface edge toward the inside of the upper depression; the partition is further provided on a bottom surface with a lower depression such that the lower depression is enclosed with a downwardly reduced peripheral edge portion and an inner wall surface of the peripheral reduced edge portion is gradually narrowed downwardly from the bottom surface of the lower depression toward the bottom ed

Abstract: A connector arrangement for use with an interior space-dividing wall system including portable upright panel assemblies each having an end edge defined by a vertically elongate rail and attached to an upright support post in supportive engagement with the floor. The connector arrangement includes a connector ring which clampingly engages the side walls of at least two adjacent support posts to interconnect two adjacent panel assemblies, for example in right-angled relation with one another.

Abstract: End portions of face plates 111 and 112 of a frame member 110 are connected by a rib 116A. To protrusion chips 117b1 and 117b2 end portions of face plates 101 and 102 of another frame member 100 are overlapped. The corners between the rib 116A and the rear face of the face plates 111 and 112 are in the form of the corners circular arc 131 which protrudes into a hollow portion 119 of the frame member 110. Both end portions of the circular arc 131b1 are connected to the rib 116A and the face plates 111 and 112 by two smooth recessed circular arcs 132b1 and 133b1. Accordingly, since a flow-out of metal does not occur from this portion, the cross-section can be small and a light weight structure can be obtained. A structural body formed of hollow frame members which are joined by friction stir welding provides a light weight structure.

Abstract: In the broader aspects of the invention there is provided a new and improved deck and beam connector for post and beam structures. The deck and beam connector has a deck flange mounted on the deck, the flange has an opening therein. Depending into the deck is a well secured to the flange. The well has a bottom and a bottom opening therein. A threaded bolt having an enlarged head is positioned within the bottom opening with the threaded portion within the well. The head is positioned within a step-diametered counter-sunk bore in the deck with the larger diameter portion thereof adjacent to the surface opposite that to which the deck flange is connected. A threaded member is positioned on the threaded shaft of the bolt within the well with a spring positioned on the bolt between the threaded member and the well bottom. The bolt is moveable between an extended position and a retracted position into which the bolt head is biased and within the larger diametered portion of the step-diametered bore in the deck.

Abstract: A large number of existing reinforced concrete structures, such as buildings and bridges, if subjected to abnormal loads, such as those expected during earthquakes or bomb blast, may experience significant inelasticity in their critical regions. It is economically not feasible to replace the entire existing infrastructure with new and improved structures; retrofitting provides the only solution to the problem of seismically and otherwise structurally deficient existing structures. A new retrofitting process has been developed to improve strength and deformability of existing reinforced concrete columns. The process involves determining column critical regions, identifying critical stresses that may lead to brittle shear and/or compression failures, determining external prestressing to overcome some of these stresses and to provide lateral confining pressure to improve the ductility of compression concrete.

Abstract: A lateral force resisting system includes a rigid structural panel and holdowns. A foundation bolt placement template may be used to locate and support the foundation bolts during fabrication of the foundation and to further secure the frame foundation interface. The rigid structural panel may be a vertical truss or a rigid structural frame with a wooden panel covering one side and interconnecting the members of the rigid structural frame. The wooden panel may be made up of multiple panes to tailor the response of the panel to the lateral force load. The holdowns secure the rigid structural panel to the foundation bolts and may be either a folded strap and pin embodiment or self-tightening.

Abstract: A cross-bracing kit for laterally spacing and bracing open web structural supports comprises at least two clips wherein each clip includes an attachment portion for attaching to the truss member and has a first finger and a second finger extending from the attachment portion in a cantilevered fashion. The fingers define a channel therebetween and each finger includes a nib at a free end of the finger. The nibs face each other and define an opening between the ends of the nib that is narrower than the channel defined by the fingers. The kit further includes at least one cross-brace which has a channel-like cross section that includes a first leg and a second leg connected at their respective bottoms. The cross-brace further includes at least two notches in a bottom of the brace wherein a distance corresponding to a desired spacing of adjacent supports separates the notches.

Abstract: Variable floor height tiered stands installed in a gymnasium, auditorium, indoor or outdoor athletic field or the like, including tiered floor members of which displacement in the fore-and-after direction and variation in depth are minimized when their inclination is changed, thereby to maintain constant the planar projected space of the stands in the architectural plan and to eliminate the risk of interference between the stands and any stationary structure in changing the inclination.

Abstract: A constructing method for underground continuous double-row walls and a structure of continuous double-row walls includes a plurality of steps. The steps are used to prepare guide walls, to dig ditches, to check verticality, to remove dirt and mud on the bottom of the ditches and to wash end plates, to prefabricate wall units of continuous double-row walls, and to place wall units in the ditches until the continuous wall is finished. The structure of a wall unit includes two base plates, two frameworks having plural auxiliary frames vertically between the two base plates, plural lateral bars fixed laterally with each auxiliary frame, plural net members fixed between two auxiliary frames, plural steel bars fixed between every two auxiliary frames, outer mold plates fixed on the outer sides of the framework, and concrete poured in the space between the mold plates and the net members.

Abstract: An anchoring system for a manufactured home and a method of anchoring a manufactured home utilizing longitudinal central and exterior slabs, strap anchors embedded in the slabs, and straps connecting the home to the slabs, where the straps extend from the central slab to an exterior I-beam underneath the home and from the exterior slab to an interior I-beam on each end of home, and where frame straps extend from the home to anchors in the exterior slabs and longitudinally spaced interior straps extend from the exterior slabs to the interior I-beams.

Abstract: A composition for reducing vibrations, including both damping structureborne vibrations and reducing radiated airborne noise. The composition is either a mixture of at least two different granular materials, or is a granular material having a bulk sound speed of less than 90 m/s. The damping properties of a mixture can be calculated from the bulk densities and stiffnesses of its individual components.

Abstract: A windproof umbrella comprises a main umbrella including a plurality of ribs, a lower canopy having a plurality of substantially trapezoidal sectors, and a center vent hole; and an upper umbrella including a plurality of rigid ribs, and an upper canopy having a plurality of sectors, wherein each rib of the upper umbrella is integral with each rib of the main umbrella by means of a connection of a securing device for forming a gap between a corner of two adjacent sectors of the upper canopy and a corner of two corresponding adjacent sectors of the lower canopy, and the upper canopy is in covering relation to and capable of elastically separating from the main umbrella for exhausting the air from the space between the lower canopy and the upper canopy.

Abstract: A lattice girder generally including a top rail, a bottom rail, vertical end posts and slanted crossbeams, wherein all of the members consist of uniform hollow sections that may be fitted into one another and thereby rigidly interconnected. The girder rail consists of two half-sections (18,19) internally provided with longitudinal flanges (20, 21) having transverse serrations so that the two half-sections may be permanently secured to one another by pressing them together with the serrations in mutual engagement. The end of a slanted crossbeam (24) having notches (at 25 and 26) is inserted into openings (22,23) in the half-sections to lock and engage the rail. Weldless lattice girders may thus be produced, in particular for forming a walkway guardrail.

Abstract: A flooring assembly and fastener therefor is comprised of a plurality of elongated flooring planks, with each flooring plank having on opposing ends a tongue-containing first longitudinal edge and a groove-containing second longitudinal edge. The flooring planks are arranged on a plurality of a supporting members, so that the tongue-containing end of a first flooring plank will engage the groove-containing end of a second flooring plank. The assembled flooring planks are securely held in place by a clip unit which is comprised of a base, at least one fastening means, a leg portion extending vertically from said base and a free, distal end portion sized to be positioned between the lower face of the tongue end of a first flooring plank and the upper face of the grooved end of a second flooring plank.

Abstract: A partition clamping device for holding partitions, such as cubical partition walls, in place with one another when assembling the partitions during installation. The partition clamping device includes first and second clamp members each comprising a cross brace and a spaced apart first and second side braces coupled to the cross brace. A threaded rod is threadingly extended through a first of the side braces towards the second side brace. A plate is coupled to an inner end of the threaded rod. The cross braces of the clamp members each have a bore therethrough through which an elongate pole is extended.

Abstract: An adjustable umbrella apparatus is disclosed comprising an umbrella with a canopy and a rod. A connector is attached to the rod and has a pair of prongs extending therefrom. The connector is disposed within a channel formed in an umbrella base. The connector prongs are spring-loaded relative to the connector body within the channel and, when released, the prongs are urged through corresponding lock holes to retain the umbrella in a desired position relative to the umbrella base. When the spring-loaded prongs are compressed, the connector may be slid within the channel longitudinally or rotatably relative to the longitudinal axis of the channel. In this manner, the umbrella may be adjusted longitudinally and rotatably to a chosen orientation and held securely in place in that chosen orientation. The umbrella base is formed integral with or attachable to a framed chair such as a beach chair.

Abstract: A guardrail assembly movable along a roof structure is disclosed. The guardrail assembly is used in cooperation with a roof structure having a plurality of purlins spaced apart from one another in a parallel arrangement and sheets of roofing material fastened to the purlins. The sheets have ends which define an edge of the roof structure extending in a first direction. The guardrail assembly is movable along the roof structure in the first direction. The guardrail assembly includes a railing positioned above the sheets of roofing material and extends generally in the first direction.

Abstract: A block for landscaping purposes. The landscaping block has one generally planar surface and another corresponding generally parallel planar surface, which further defines a protrusion and a cavity conformed to receive another protrusion of the same dimension in a male/female relationship with the planar surfaces of the block in close proximity and parallel to each other. Two or more of the landscaping blocks may best be joined together by inserting the protrusion of one block into the conformed cavity of the next block. A series of blocks may be joined together either in an extended line, or in a shape which reaches closure, with all of the blocks interlocked.