Abstract: A window or door includes a wood sash carrying at least one reinforced transparent panel. The wood sash includes a body portion and an integrally formed aesthetic sacrificial member extending outwardly therefrom to contact the transparent panel at an interface therewith. The body portion is spaced from an adjacent portion of the transparent panel to define a cavity beneath the aesthetic sacrificial member. Sealant material is positioned in the cavity. The aesthetic sacrificial member fractures during hurricane force winds to permit the transparent panel to move within the wood sash to absorb energy of pressure cycling that occurs during hurricane force winds. The aesthetic sacrificial member also covers the body of sealant material to provide a pleasing appearance consistent with the quality of the wood sash.

Abstract: A laminate bulkhead comprises an expandable polymer sandwiched between two stiff members which are of a structure so that the expandable polymer is flared out or thicker in the area or along the line where the polymer expands and is bonded to the walls of a hollow structure in which the bulkhead is placed. The direction of expansion of the polymer results from the polymer being constrained by the stiff members on either side of the expanding polymer.

Abstract: Wood flooring panel is made of a plurality of parallel longitudinal wood slats situated side by side, with the slats being of the same length but staggered in their longitudinal positions. A tambour backing is adhesively secured to a back side of the slats to hold the slats together as a panel. The tambour backing is made of a material that is inextensible in the longitudinal and lateral directions, but flexible to permit bending at joints defined between said wood slats. There are clips or tabs affixed onto the back surfaces of the respective slats at the front ends. These extend about a half-inch beyond the forward ends of the respective slats. The tambour can be secured with a hot melt adhesive. The clips can be formed of rectangles of fish paper. The clips prevent the flooring adhesive from coming between the front ends of the slats of one panel slats and the rear ends of the next panel slats. The clips also help align the ends of the corresponding slats or fingers of the two panels.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for sheltering and/or launching devices such as projectiles or a tracking device. The apparatus preferably includes a main body having a bottom, a plurality of walls connected to and extending upwardly from the bottom, and an inner chamber defined by the inner confines of the bottom and the plurality of walls. An inner chamber cover is connected to the main body for covering the inner chamber of the main body when in a closed position and for accessing the inner chamber when in an open position. A sheltered device mount preferably is positioned in the inner chamber and connected to the main body for mounting a device to be sheltered thereto.

Abstract: A synthetic resin tubular body is fitted into the pipe connecting hole of a handhole when used. The cut edge face at one open end side of the tubular body having square walls in cross section and circular walls in cross section which are alternately disposed in its axial direction is the boundary portion between a side wall portion forming the square wall in cross section and a peripheral wall portion forming the square wall in cross section, and is cut in the boundary portion on the side apart from the open end side or in the proximity thereof. The length of the tubular body is set greater than the wall thickness of the handhole. In addition to the tubular body, a block body for the tubular body is formed with square and circular recessed portions conforming to the outer peripheral face of the open end side portion of the tubular body.

Abstract: An insulated structural building component, such as a building panel, having front and back face sheets and interconnected joining sides to define an interior area of the building component. An insulating core having one or more throughholes extending at least partially therethrough is positioned within the interior area. A unitary shear resistance connector array is positioned between the front and back face sheets and includes a web portion and one or more shear resistance connectors projecting away from the web and into the one or more throughholes. The shear resistance connector array in one embodiment being an integral portion to a thin outer skin surrounding the insulative core, with one or both front and back face sheets being connected to the outer skin.

Abstract: A three dimensional border for providing a decorative appearance as a crown molding or chair rail that can be installed and removed without damaging the wall or the border. The border has an elongated panel, preferably made of styrofoam, with a front face and a rear face. A form is attached to the front face of the panel with a surface upon a which a decorative treatment can be applied. The rear face is attached to the wall by nails or hooks set in the wall forming a recess in the rear face of the panel as the border is pressed against the wall.

Abstract: A hinged access door is secured to an office panel frame to be removable for full access to the interior of a panel frame or movable about hinge axis to also provide access to the panel frame without removing the access door.

Abstract: A device for lifting a framework (65) optionally together with a portion of a building resting on said framework (65), and in particular a roof, relative to underlying walls. The device (63) is designed to be used as one of a plurality of such devices distributed around the framework (65) and it includes a wall plate (1) suitable for being fixed to the wall (3) and connected to guides (64) for guiding a cursor (76) suitable for co-operating with the framework (65), and controlled thruster (108) for said cursor (76) by common connections (42) that ensure they are identically oriented. The device is particularly applicable to lifting two-slope or four-slope roofs, or floors, or bare frameworks, by suitable adaptations to the cursor (76).

Abstract: An attic opening cover and a process for forming the cover are provided. The cover includes a first composite end element including a protective layer bonded to a thermally insulating layer. A second composite end element is provided including a protective layer and a thermal insulating layer. A first composite side element is provided including a protective layer bonded to a thermal insulating layer. A second composite side element is provided including a protective layer bonded to a thermal insulating layer. A composite top element is provided including a protective layer bonded to a thermal insulating layer. A fastening arrangement is provided including fasteners extending through the first composite end element, fasteners extending through the second composite end element, fasteners extending through the first composite side element, fasteners extending through the second composite side element and fasteners extending through the composite top element.

Abstract: A ventilating window for ventilating the interior of a building or a structure such as a vehicle in a natural and gentle manner. A ventilating window for the exhaust of air is provided with a mechanism for automatically opening a window casement when the atmospheric pressure inside the window is higher than the outside atmospheric pressure, thereby dispensing with forced exhaust using a fan or the like. A ventilating window for the supply of air is provided with a mechanism for automatically closing a window casement when the atmospheric pressure outside the window is higher than the inside atmospheric pressure, thereby preventing a strong wind from blowing into the interior. A ventilating window for both exhaust and supply of air is provided with both such opening mechanism and closing mechanism.

Abstract: A method of casting concrete structures using a "flexible formwork assembly". The assembly has flexible sheets suspended from a fixed location, preferably from a supporting frame assembled on top of the reinforcing members, with rigid stress distribution members located to the outer surface of flexible sheets in predetermined spacings so as to carry load directly and to redistribute stress in the sheet so as to aid the sheet to withstand the concrete pressure. The majority of stress distribution members are arranged in pairs which are directly connected to each other by ties in wall type structures. Reinforcing members are used as a main frame or skeleton to hold and suspend the formwork assembly. Spacers are used to aid in maintaining the sheets in a desired location which ensure adequate concrete cover to the reinforcing prior to pouring of the concrete. Stress distribution members provide external shape, configuration and pattern to the concrete surface by their shape and arrangement.

Abstract: A method of tensioning parallel prestressing members of a building or building component of prestressed concrete or a tension member composed of a plurality of individual elements, such as steel rods, steel wires or steel strands, wherein the individual elements are successively tensioned either individually or in groups. The tensioning method described above includes the steps of tensioning a first individual element or a group of individual elements until a predetermined tension is reached and anchoring the first individual element or group of individual elements; tensioning a second individual element or a group of individual elements until the tension thereof is equal to the tension of the previously tensioned individual element or elements at the same time and anchoring the second individual element or group of individual elements; and repeating the preceding step until all individual elements are tensioned and anchored.

Abstract: This invention is a prefabricated expandable architecture including a plurality of structural segments collapsible and nested together in a first configuration encompassing a first volume and expandable or extendible in a second configuration and rigidly coupled together to form a selected shape encompassing a second larger volume.

Abstract: A bearing element is for supporting the roof cladding forming light permeable panels of a light-admitting roof ridge for barns and/or ancillary buildings. The bearing element has at least one supporting surface for supporting the roof cladding panel, which supporting surface has a corrugated profiling at least in one surface area section.

Abstract: A canopy structure 50 a plurality of support posts 11, 12, 13, 14 arranged substantially in the form of an array 51, and a plurality of panels 10 mounted on the support posts to form a canopy cover 50. Each panel 10 is a rectangular sheet of flexible material 16 and a plurality of substantially inextensible support straps 17, 18, 19, 20 fixed to the sheet 16. A support strap extends along each side of the sheet 16. Each end of each support strap is mounted to a support post and an intermediate point is attached to the support strap of an adjacent panel. The support straps generally have a twin catenary configuration which draws fabric from the inner area of the panel towards the edge thereof. The panels are attached to the support posts and to each other by loops of webbing 30, connecting rings 31, and shackles. The loops of webbing 30 are typically reinforced to reduce the likelihood of failure thereof. A canopy panel 10 for use in the canopy structure described above is also included.

Abstract: A modular construction member for the construction of decking, flooring, roofing, and the like, including a matable connector formed integrally with the construction member for connecting successive deck members to form a deck assembly. The modular construction member includes a gutter portion and a groove portion, which may be inter-connected to provide a substantially water-proof structure. A separate fastener may be passed through the gutter portion, the groove portion, and into a subfloor to further secure the structure and to withstand upward forces from, for example, wave action in a marine environment.

Abstract: In an umbrella, particularly a standing umbrella, sunshade, garden umbrella or similar, with a frame, a roof structure and a canopy, where the roof rods (5) are linked to a pole element (2) bearing a cap (3) and moveable in a telescopic manner relative to the vertical pipe (1), and a slide (4), on which stretchers (6) linked to the roof rods (5) act flexibly, is moveable along the vertical pipe (1), the cap (3) and the slide (4) moving in opposite directions during opening and closing of the umbrella, and with at least one additional stretcher (8) arranged flexibly above the slide (4) between the umbrella pipe (1) and a roof rod (5), the slide (4) being fitted with a locking device (12) with which it can be locked in its upper position and the canopy can be tensioned, it is envisaged that the locking device (12) works in conjunction with a retaining device (13) located on the cap (3) or the moveable pole element (2) to enable simple manual opening of the umbrella and stretching of the canopy, particularly for

Abstract: The wall bracket for the pre-rinse assembly includes a rod which is telescopically fitted in a base, a ferrule on the end of the rod and a compression nut which is threaded onto the base to circumferentially press the ferrule into clamping relation with the rod. The ferrule is sandwiched between the compression nut and the base.

Abstract: A junction box that organizes and provides access to electrical, data, telecommunications or other service lines routed through numerous channels formed between a false floor and an existing floor is disclosed. The housing of the junction box can be placed at virtually any point upon a false floor so that equipment disposed about the false floor can access outlets provided within the housing and connected to electrical, data, telecommunications cables or other service lines. Additionally, a hatch with a cable protector may be provided to cover the junction box while allowing cables to enter into the box for connection to the appropriate outlet.