Abstract: A stake system for utilization within various types of soil conditions without require various designs of stakes. The inventive device includes a shaft having a spiked end, a hook secured to the upper end of the shaft, and a pair of first prongs secured to the lower portion of the shaft. The first prongs are comprised of a bendable material for allowing adjustment of the angle with respect to the shaft. If the invention is utilized within light soil, sand or gravel, the first prongs are preferably extended at a significant angle with respect to the shaft. If the invention is utilized within heavy soil, the first prongs are preferably parallel to or slightly extended from the shaft. In an alternative embodiment, a pair of second prongs are attached to the shaft in addition to the first prongs for increasing the gripping within the soil surface.

Abstract: A mounting assembly is provided for puncture-free attachment of a snow guard system to a roof seam. The assembly comprises a mounting block, at least one clamping pad, and an actuation member. Once actuated, the clamping pad prevents relative movement between the mounting block and the seam. At least one clamping pad positioned adjacent a groove located in the base of the mounting block. The clamping pad includes a first side having at least one primary contact surface outwardly protruding a first distance from the first side. The clamping pad also includes at least one secondary non-spherical contact surface protruding a second distance from the first side. In the preferred embodiment, the second distance is less than the first distance thereby making the primary contact surface(s) the first to engage the seam upon actuation of the pad. Preferably, the clamping pad includes a second side having at least one protrusion for engagement with a first end of the actuation member.

Abstract: A modular building construction and components thereof. A foundation for a building includes anchor bolts extending around its periphery. A metal lower track is installed over the anchor bolts and secured thereto with nuts and rod couplers. Elongated connector rods are threaded onto the upper ends of the couplers. Pre-manufactured modular wall panels, integrally molded with a metal stud along a first lateral edge and a complementary recess along a second lateral edge, are successively installed in the track. A first panel is installed with an open side of the stud surrounding the connector rod. The second, adjacent panel is installed with its second lateral edge facing the stud. The two panels are slid together to surround and enclose the connector rod. The process continues until the entire peripheral wall is formed. A metal upper track is laid over the upper ends of the wall panels with the connector rods extending therethrough.

Abstract: A conventional cargo or passenger-type van (typically about 14-24 feet in length) is fitted with a boom assembly that is readily transported with the van in a collapsed position and substantially parallel to the van roof, but can be elevated to a substantially vertical position, and quickly extended upwardly to full height. Where four booms are used, full height may be about 65 feet, or even more. A support frame is provided which substantially supports a main pedestal exteriorly of the roof and connected to the booms and an extension cylinder, to the van's main frame, including initially telescopic support posts disposed inside the van interior which do not impede access to the van interior from the side and rear doors, and which leave the center of the van interior essentially unobstructed. A pivotal connection for the first boom about which it moves from a transport to a substantially vertical position is mounted slightly to the rear of the centerline of the rear axle of the van.

Abstract: The invention relates to a metal roof plate for cleaning and maintaining the clean state of building roofs, in particular from plant growth of environmental pollution. The object of the invention is to improve the efficiency of said metal roof plate comprising a metal reacting in conjunction with moisture, said plate being produced by punching from material in the shape of a plate, and having textured reaction surface (2) with raised lumps (3) and openings (4). The object is attained in that the openings (4) of the lumps (3) are inclined in the opposite direction to the direction (A) of water discharge.

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

Abstract: An adjustable bracing system is configured for supporting poured concrete wall systems and includes a vertical brace for engaging the wall. A slider slides vertically along a channel of the vertical brace. An adjustable length leg member connects at an upper end to the slider and extends outward away from the brace and connects at a lower end to a foot member. The leg is rotatably mounted at one end to a threaded member, wherein rotation of the leg in a first direction extends the threaded member and the length of the leg member, and rotation in a second opposite direction retracts the threaded member and shortens the length of the leg member. When needed, scaffolding framework mounts along a first edge to the slider.

Abstract: The present invention includes a unique mid-level room arrangement for a building structure such as a residential home. The building structure is comprised of at least one room on a first below ground level floor and at least one room on a second below ground level floor. The second below ground level floor is above the first below ground level floor, and a stairway connects the first below ground level floor to the second below ground level floor. The building is also comprised of at least one room on a generally ground level floor. The second below ground level floor is connected to the ground level floor by a stairway. There is also at least one room on an upper level floor above the ground level floor. A stairway connects the ground level floor with the upper level floor, and it has a landing at a location between the ground level floor and the upper level floor. At least one room is on a mid-level floor between the ground level floor and the upper level floor.

Abstract: A pre-manufactured reinforcement structure comprising elongate side, top and bottom members connected by metal comer connectors into a rectangular frame and elongate brace members extending between the side members and forming, with the side members, adjacent triangular structures along the entire lengths of the side members.

Abstract: The invention provides an easy to use and inexpensive to manufacture facia board rack for temporarily holding a facia board in position for attachment to a building. The rack is a single member formed in such a way that it may be mounted to the side of a building to provide a ledge which projects therefrom upon which a facia board may be supported during the installation of the facia board. An optional riser member may be used with the rack to adjust the depth of a channel in the rack. The holder may be used either before or after the roof deck of the building is installed.

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: The present invention discloses, in certain aspects, a portable building with a plurality of interconnected walls defining an interior space therebetween, a floor on which the walls are positioned, a roof structure connected on top of the walls, and at least one bay area for servicing an automobile. In one aspect there are a pluralities of bay areas. In one aspect the building is removably mounted on a trailer.

Abstract: A structural member of this class basically consists of two spaced shell panels and an intermediate core. The shell panels may be made of metal or concrete or combinations thereof, or of other rigid materials having the required physical properties. The core is a triangulated wire frame composed of a plurality of zig-zag shaped wire trusses having their sets of top and bottom apexes anchored to associated sets of longitudinal and transverse chords and the respective proximate inside faces of the shell panels. The arrangement of the wire trusses is such that, in each group of three adjacent wire trusses, the middle one has its bottom apexes also connected to the bottom apexes of the wire truss located on one side of the middle wire truss and has its top apexes also connected to the top apexes of the wire truss located on the other side of the middle wire truss.

Abstract: An exterior wall assembly water management system that includes flashing, a drainable weather-resistive membrane, exterior cladding, a basecoat and an exterior finish. The basecoat and the exterior stucco finish are applied to the outer surface of the exterior cladding, or in the alternative to an insulation layer. The disclosed water managed exterior system efficiently directs any penetrating water to weeps, or the like, by providing a water drainage medium between the weather-resistive membrane and the exterior cladding. The water drainage medium is embossed upon the outer surface of the weather-resistive membrane, creating a drainage space between the membrane and the cladding. The unwanted water drains downwards via the drainage space, is caught at the base of the wall by the flashing, and is further drained outside of the wall cladding.

Abstract: A hanger with a central flange joined to a back flange with a pair of tabs, one on either side of the central flange, so that the back plate may be attached to a supporting member, particularly a header, and the central flange may be attached to the side of a supported member, particularly the web of a C-shaped metal joist. The supported member can be oriented to either left or right and positioned by interface with either the tab on one side of the central flange or with the tab on the other side of the central flange. The upper flange of a C-shaped metal joist can be supported by the respective tab.

Abstract: A damping top which comprises first and second L1 connection members (10, 20) connected to each other so as to connect two relatively displacing points (objects) (L1, L2) to each other, which connection members are fixed at one end thereof to the two points (L1, L2), respectively. The first connection member (10) is formed at its connection side with a guide screw portion (10a), on which is rotatably and slidably mounted a rotating top (integral rotating unit) (16) adapted to be driven by a guide nut (14) threaded onto the screw portion through a ball bearing (12). The second connection member (20) is formed at its connection side in a casing (24) for a chamber (22), which receives therein the rotating top (16), and a damping viscous body (26) is filled in the chamber (22). Thus it is possible to provide a damping device which is simple and small-sized, and provides great damping effects.

Abstract: A roofing system designed to protect roof construction workers from falls includes a strong nonmetallic mesh placed over an array of purlins, and secured to the periphery of the roof by a series of metal straps which plastically deform individually under large loads to absorb energy.

Abstract: A vibrating screed with rollers for use in leveling a concrete pour. The screed comprises an elongate screed member defining opposed first and second ends and extensible between a pair of screed rails. A first and second roller are rotatably mounted to the screed member and protrude from respective ones of the first and second ends thereof. The rollers are rotatably movable along respective ones of the first and second screed rails. The screed additionally may comprise a motor to rotate the rollers and/or vibrate the screed member.

Abstract: A construction block is disclosed along with a method of producing and assembling a plurality of the construction blocks where the blocks have internal cages around a central passage, said central passage opening to top, bottom or side openings in the blocks, and from which cage support rods extend to hook chain lifts to the blocks and to guide bottom openings of top blocks into predetermined alignment with the top opening of the bottom blocks. The casting technique allows not only for the novel lifting and alignment construction of the blocks, but also allows for novel external and internal features to be incorporated into the blocks, such as studs, mounting bolts for interior walls and bricks or brick facades for the exterior walls of the blocks.

Abstract: The present invention provides a floor material and a flooring method which satisfy the various functions required of a floor while reducing the building costs and construction term. The floor material consists of a surface decorative member 2 formed from a material to have a high density and constituting a floor surface layer; an intermediate cork member 3 formed from a cork material to have a slightly lower density than the surface decorative member 2 and constituting a floor intermediate layer; and a substrate cork member 4 made from a carbonated cork material to have a slightly lower density than the intermediate cork member 3 and constituting a floor substrate layer. The substrate cork member 4 is bonded on a backing material 10 of a building, onto which the intermediate cork member 3 and the surface decorative member 2 are successively bonded so as to obtain a three-layered floor mainly consisting of a cork material.