Abstract: A knockdown type of bed frame constructed predominantly from plastic components. The bed frame includes a pair of parallel side-tube members and a pair of cross-tube members. The end positions of the side-tube members and the cross-tube members are received in corresponding sockets formed in floor engaging leg members. Means are provided for retaining the side-tube members and the cross-tube members within the sockets formed in the leg members. The leg members are formed with substantially horizontal surfaces for receipt of mattress means thereon.The leg members are provided with floor engaging means. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention the floor engaging means is a caster wheel assembly incorporating a brake mechanism for applying a braking action to a caster wheel upon application of a predetermined downward force thereto.

Abstract: A steel placement assembly comprising a plurality of steel placement lock members which mate to form circular cavities for supporting and retaining steel reinforcing bars along their transverse length and intermediate their ends in a concrete structural member. Mated pairs of vertically and horizontally oriented steel placement lock members cooperate with vertically and horizontally oriented adjacent mated pairs and with spacer members to form structural members of diverse size. The steel placement lock members are provided with extensions which positively maintain the reinforcing steel a sufficient distance inside the face of the concrete. Steel end lock members provided over the ends of the reinforcing bars prevent lateral movement of the bars toward the concrete face.

Abstract: A set of geometric construction pieces, units, or blocks is provided including one large central piece and four pair of decreasingly smaller pieces which can be formed together to form a nested hollow cube for storage purposes. The pieces are manually separable and may be reconfigured or rebuilt to form a plurality of different and distinct geometrical sculptural designs, patterns and structures from the pieces thereof. The set includes a large single central piece formed from six identical, elongated, rectangular legs configured as a single or integral piece forming a partial external skeleton of the nested storage cube such that each face of the cube includes only one pair of adjacent sides with the diametrically opposite face including only the opposite pair of adjacent sides so as to provide an opening into the hollow interior of the piece.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of and a device for restraining the sleeping body of an astronaut in zero-g.The method comprises providing said sleeping body with extensive proprioceptive cues created by exercising substantial uniformly distributed adjustable pressure on the sleeping body.The device provides means intended for stressing by stretching the upper and lower sheets of a sleeping bag, in order to create said extensive proprioceptive cues, said stretching means comprising at least one inflatable and deflatable continuous tube inserted in said sleeping bag and secured to it in an appropriate way. Application to manned space flight missions.

Abstract: An integral wire clip one end of which is to slip over the top edge of an elongated cement form and be snugly connected thereto. The opposite end of the clip is formed into a spring biased section which includes a pocket. Within the pocket there is to be located a section of a reinforcing bar. With the reinforcing bar located within the pocket, the reinforcing bar is snugly held in its established position against the elongated form. The wire clip also includes a handle section to facilitate movement of a portion of the wire clip for the purpose of facilitating initial positioning of and disengagement of the reinforcing bar within the pocket.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a clip for securing together adjacent collapsible, expandable, self-locking, self-supporting structures which include a plurality of pairs of crossed rod elements pivotally joined in scissored fashion to each other and to hubs having openings therein, the structures having at least one hub of each section adjacent each other, and the clip having at least two stems with each stem being interlockingly received in an associated opening of the adjacent hubs to thereby secure the structures to each other in any one of a plurality of different configurations.

Abstract: An articulated back-to-back fold-down chair seat and side-rail track construction wherein the seats are mounted on slides which telescopically engage associated rails affixed to a chair platform support. The rails and slides have an interfitting cross-sectional configuration. Each seat has a stop with a dependent leg protruding downwardly within the confines of the platform to limit the movement of the chair in the fold-down couch position.

Abstract: A device is provided which can join pre-drilled substrates such as panels, and can establish a threaded attachment post securely anchored to a substrate. The device is comprised of a hollow sleeve, and an internal rotatable core. When the device is inserted into a hole, and the core is rotated relative to the sleeve, prongs in the inserted extremity of the sleeve are forced into tight engagement with the hole. The opposite, uninserted extremity of the sleeve is provided with external threading, useful for general mounting purposes.

Abstract: A hollow wall having a plurality of spaced, vertical studs, wallboards affixed to both sides of the plurality of studs, and septum panels disposed within the hollow of the wall, held firmly in place by small pieces of board, with one such piece of board on each side of the septum panels, at each side edge, extending through an opening in a stud.

Abstract: A knockdown sofa having a base, a pair of end members, a pair of side wall members, a pair of mounting block members and a pair of cap members. The mounting block members are employed to provide a mount for the end wall members and the cap members are employed to cap an end of the side wall members. The positions of the side wall members may be reversed, so that the left side wall becomes the right side wall and vice versa. Similarly, the end wall members are also reversible one with the other. When a reversal of these members is made, the positions of the mounting block members and the cap members reverse as well. In this manner, the sofa is made with half the parts that would be required in the absence of reversible parts. In sofas requiring reupholstering, all of the parts of the sofa requiring reupholstering may be removed individually from the base of the sofa and taken into the reupholstery shop.

Abstract: A composite access floor panel is disclosed which provides a sheet metal pan filled with a lightweight concrete material. The bottom wall of the pan is contoured so that the thickness of the concrete varies from one location to another. The illustrated panel provides a border of uniform maximum thickness and a central portion of reduced intermediate thickness. In addition, the panel produces concrete oval corner portions and circular side portions spaced in from the centers of the panel sides, both of which provide a uniform minimum thickness. The contours of the panel create a panel in which a substantially uniform amount of deflection results when the panel is supported at its corners and a given load is applied anywhere along the load surface thereof spaced from the panel corners. Shear ties are provided along the interface between the pan and the concrete to cause the pan and concrete to coact in supporting loads applied to such load surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to modular building construction and to modules for use therein. The modules may be used for floor, wall, ceiling and roof construction in single story and multi-story buildings. The floor, ceiling and roof modules are constructed of at least two sheets of rigid, foamed plastic material such as polyurethane and polystyrene of the same width and length which are offset laterally with respect to each other by 50% of the width and length, thus providing floors, ceilings and roofs of staggered construction. The spaces left in the upper layer by the offset are filled in by partial sheet of the same plastic material of the same thickness so that all the edges of the sheets of the assembled floor, ceiling or roof modules are aligned.

Abstract: A lightweight electrical utility line transmission tower is disclosed, which is designed to be easily transported by helicopter or truck. The tower uses a single, hollow support column which is positioned in a foundation hole. The column is directly embedded in the ground, and requires no special auxiliary concrete foundation. Two tapered tower arms are secured to the column in a V-shaped configuration by an improved connection and reinforcing apparatus. Attached to the tower arms is an elongate crossarm to which transmission lines are secured.

Abstract: A roof tile having a lead-in hole for antenna cords or other elongated bodies of rooftop fixtures comprises a tile body, a pedestal integrally formed on the upper central surface of the tile body, a nozzle integrally formed on the pedestal, and a pipe joint having a base and a bent leading end. The pedestal has a bolt hole bored therein so as to pierce through the tile body for inserting an anchor bolt thereinto to fix the tile body to a roof board. The nozzle has an annular rib formed on the upper periphery thereof and a nozzle hole formed therein so as to pierce through both the pedestal and the tile body for serving as the lead-in hole. The base of the pipe joint is adapted to be fitted around the nozzle and fixed to the nozzle with a bolt screwed therein and brought into collision contact with the periphery of the nozzle at a position below the annular rib. The bent leading end of the pipe joint is directed to the upper surface of the tile body.

Abstract: A pre-fabricated and modular chimney facade system (10) is provided for enclosing a chimney stack (12) passing therethrough. The chimney facade system (10) is adapted to be secured to an external wall (16) of a building structure (14). The chimney facade system includes a one-piece base housing (18) which is adapted to be mounted to a base foundation member (20) and to the external wall (16). The base housing (18) is vertically aligned with and coupled to a transition housing (44) which is fixedly secured to the external wall (16) of the building structure (14). Additional housing members are modularly coupled to the transition housing (44) to provide a complete enclosure for smoke stack (12). The housing (18, 44) as well as additional housing units (74, 102) and cap housing (120) are formed in one-piece formation and generally molded of a plastic composition. In this manner, there is provided a lightweight easily assembled chimney facade system (10).

Abstract: An improved flat roof structive is provided comprising a substructure and a plurality of insulating elements which are loosely positioned on the substructure. A corrugated cover member of a substantially rigid material is positioned on the insulating elements at least in an area adjacent the outer perimeter of the roof. The corrugated cover member has downwardly facing channels which extend in a direction generally from an outer perimeter towards the center of a roof. The channels are open at their ends facing the perimeter of the roof and are closed or sealed at their ends facing toward the center of the roof. A strong air flow will create a vacuum under the cover member in wide areas which reduction is greater than the vacuum on the upper surface of the cover member whereby the cover member is pressed downwardly against the insulating elements. Due to the nearly uniform vacuum under the cover member, i.e.

Abstract: Architect can predetermine desired roof surface contour by means of a plurality of studs secured to a base support. The studs, which may carry extenders, are clipped to the desired roof surface contour. Material is added on the base support to attain this desired roof surface contour. A device such as a laser rotating on an axis defines an imaginary reference plane or cone surface, and a clipper apparatus clips the studs or extenders at a predetermined distance from the imaginary reference surface.

Abstract: An overhead anchoring track with a C-shaped channel and a row of outwardly protruding eye sockets in the web portion of the channel shape, the eye sockets having conical portions and adjoining neck portions which engage the threaded shaft portions of countersunk head anchoring screws, the anchoring screws having their heads supported in the conical portions of the eye sockets, on the inner side of the web portion, while being axially retained either by a female thread in the neck portions or by neck portions which are radially pinched against the screw shafts. At least one additional member is threadable onto the distal extremity of each anchoring screw, for the purpose of anchoring and/or positioning the anchoring track in relation to the concrete member.