Abstract: An insulated wall construction is provided utilizing spaced planar rigid foam plates, each foam plate including an upstanding rib formed about an upper and forward edge of each section, with a complementary groove formed through each rear and bottom edge of each section. The construction includes a spacer rod positioned medially of the sections, the spacer rod receivable within a rod support, the rod support fixedly secured orthogonally to an external support plate, wherein the rod is directed through each section to receive the spaced rod therewithin. The spacer rod includes a plurality of apertures between each lock pin and capture an internal support plate between each lock pin and each interior space of each section. A temporary support member is provided to provide support to stacked sections for reception of concrete between the spaced sections to permit curing of concrete in a fixed orientation.

Abstract: A door construction is disclosed having a peripheral frame, a glazing panel, and front and rear unitary facings, each facing having an upper door light casing portion and a lower door plant panel portion. The facings are placed back-to-back over a single, central opening in the frame, clamping the frame and glazing panel between the edges of the facings. The door thus constructed has the appearance of traditional woodwork and avoids the alignment and parts inventory problems of the prior art.

Abstract: A concrete building block encapsulating a compacted bundle of tires is provided as a permanent environmentally safe container for used automobile tires. The cube of concrete with the tires in it forms an economically attractive light-weight building block that can be used for building fences, walls and other structures and/or disposed of in an efficient environmentally safe fashion to permanently encapsulate the tires and prevent contamination of the environment. A tapered central hole is provided in the block for material handling purposes and interlocking tapered recesses and pucks are provided for aligning multiple layers of blocks when used as a building material. Various sizes and shapes of blocks are disclosed.

Abstract: A building structure of particular utility in wooden roof structures comprises an inner sheathing member, a membrane affixed to and overlaying the inner sheathing member, and an openwork member overlaying the membrane and supporting shingles away from the inner sheathing member. A method of installing a wooden roof structure so as to retard deterioration due to entrapped moisture involves affixing to a deck a layer of roofing felt, positioning over the felt an openwork matrix leaving multiple vapor flow paths therethrough, and affixing over the matrix a layer of shingles.

Abstract: A compound building member for use in fabricating structures. The member in a first form includes a plurality of elements having a rotationally asymmetric closed plane cross section, the rotational asymmetric elements are helically wound in complementary fashion and intertwined to form a cylindrical lattice body that extends in the members longitudinal direction. In addition, the rotationally asymmetrical elements are twisted about their longitudinal axis to form peaks and valleys in the elements. Further, the elements are aligned when intertwined such that the twist valleys are located at element cross points and the twist peaks located between successive element cross points so that the elements nest with one another at the cross points. Additionally, the slope between the twist valley and peak form shoulders that restrain movement of the member elements.

Abstract: A vibration absorbing device to be secured between structural and non-structural members of a framed structure. An outer ring may be secured to a structural member and an inner ring is concentrically positioned within said outer ring and may be secured to a non-structural member. Radial spokes interconnecting the inner and outer rings are adapted to elasto-plastically deform when one ring is arcuately shifted relative to the other ring responsive to vibration of the inner and/or outer ring, thereby absorbing the energy of vibration.

Abstract: An insulated concrete building panel having an internal slab of insulating material, layers of concrete on each of the slab faces, and a concrete frame around its edges. One face of the slab has a pattern of grooves into which concrete is cast to provide ribs that are cast integral with the outer layer on that face. The other face has ridges, preferably of trapezoidal cross section that, when placed upon a bottom layer of cast but uncured concrete, become intermeshed with the bottom layer. The panels are prepared by first casting a layer of concrete on a horizontal surface, placing the slab, grooved face up, on the cast but uncured layer, and casting concrete over the grooved face, into the grooves and around the slab edges. Panels having this structure are useful for constructing buildings such as warehouses where long panel lengths of concrete inner face and internal insulation are needed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for venting building structures in the roof and floor areas wherein a screened pan construction is secured to the underside of the roof so as to allow the filling of insulation material, and the like, without obstructing the flow of outside air into and out of the attic space between the ceiling and roof; the same screened pan is secured in the area between the subfloor and foundation of the building structure allowing air flow between the outside of the building and the area beneath the floor structure.

Abstract: A hinged building truss, such as a roof truss, includes elongated wooden structural members connected by a double hinge joint. The joint has a central elongated flat plate having first and second pivots located toward respective ends of the elongated plate. First ends of first and second flat plates overlap first and second ends of the central flat plate and rotate in the plane of the plates at the first and second pivots, respectively.The first and second plates each include a plurality of teeth, struck from second end areas of each plate, for fastening each plate to a face of a structural member to be pivoted. The structural members can thus be rotated about the pivots. The length of the elongated plate between the overlapping portions of the first and second plates is sufficient to accommodate sheet sheathing attached to each of the structural members when the double hinged joint is in folded position with the structural members substantially parallel and adjacent to each other.

Abstract: In a deployable mast composed of: a plurality of resiliently flexible longeron elements; a plurality of resiliently flexible lateral elements arranged in groups of lateral elements constituting batten frames spaced apart along the longeron elements and delimiting respective bays of the mast, with each group of lateral elements being connected to all of the longerons; and a plurality of flexible diagonal elements each connected between two longeron elements and extending between two groups of lateral elements, the longeron, lateral and diagonal elements being constructed and connected to constitute a structure movable between a deployed state defining a column of predetermined length and a stowed state defining a structure having a length less than the predetermined length, there are provided five such longeron elements and each group of lateral elements is connected to all of the longeron elements.

Abstract: This invention relates to a flexible compressible sealing profile having thermal insulating properties for use in cavity wall construction. This profile comprises essentially an L-shaped cross-section, which is adapted to be compression fit into the cavity wall. The profile can be utilized as both the top and bottom of cavity walls, as well as around doors and windows in order to prevent convectional heat losses from occurring.

Abstract: A device for deterring birds from roosting or nesting on building ledges and the like having one or more wires linking the opposing faces of two wire attachment means that are fixedly mounted on said ledge or the like. The wire(s) are connected to one wire attachment means by retracting means which adjusts the length and tension on the wire(s) when attached to the opposing wire attachment means. When more than one wire is used, the wires may be separately or collectively sprung by means of a spring loaded drum.

Abstract: A wall or window element and/or wall element beneath the window is provided having an insulation layer disposed between two panels. The insulation layer is formed of a material which reduces convective heat transfer and thermal radiation. The insulation layer and the panels are permeable by the solar radiation spectrum, and the external panel which bounds the insulation layer on the side of the solar radiation is an absorptive pane which has a maximally high absorptivity for the non-visible portion of the solar radiation spectrum.

Abstract: The improved gutter shield assembly is arranged for attachment to a roof constructed of partially overlapping shingles which define thin spaces between them. The shield assembly includes a mesh-like barrier which prevents debris from entering the gutter. The barrier has a plurality of openings for permitting the passage of water from the shingles through the barrier and into the rain gutter below. Attachment devices which are devoid of nails are used to attach the shield assembly. Such attachment devices may include J-shaped hooks, bent tabs or both. The barrier is thereby attached while yet avoiding piercing of shingles and consequent impairment of the rainproof integrity of such shingles. In another embodiment, the barrier is permanently attached to the roof.

Abstract: A siding trim piece has a low gauge layer (preferably metal) of preferably about 0.013 gauge, with a substrate material (preferably foam) laminated to the low gauge layer. An edge of the siding trim piece preferably has an integral J channel. The substrate material is fixed to the structure preferably by an adhesive. A method for siding a structure includes the steps of covering the trim, edges and corners in a structure with the siding trim pieces having an integral J channel, and covering the exterior surfaces with siding by inserting ends of the siding into the J channels of the siding trim pieces to abut the siding with the trim, edges and corners of the structure without interposing a separate intermediate seam covering material between the siding, corners, edges and trim. The invention provides a wood-like appearance and avoids the appearance of discontinuities between the siding and trim, edges and corners of the structure.

Abstract: The construction set for a construction project, in particular winter gardens, canopies or awnings for entryways or windows, has a basic profile (1) usable as a support, purlin, crossbeam, lateral roof profile and wall attachment profile, having two intrinsically thermally separate cross-sectional segments (18, 19) and fastening grooves 4, 5 or undercut cross section located on the inside and receiving chambers (2, 3) located on the inside. Support, stop and sealing profiles (6, 7, 27, 8) and connectors are detachably insertable into the fastening grooves (4, 5), the receiving chambers (2, 3), and outsides of basic profiles, which with the basic profile (1) form a framework for a fixed support and abutment of roof and wall elements, preferably panes of glass or plastic panels.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a movable partitioning panel which can be moved along a hanger rail disposed in a ceiling to thereby form a suitable partitioning wall within a room. Runner devices arranged within the hanger rail are rotatable irrespective of the attitude of a panel body and can be smoothly moved with the hanger rail. In addition, the panel body can be simply moved at a branch path, a bend in the path and the like through upper and lower guide rollers and a controller device for the runner devices. Furthermore, the panel body in its horizontal attitude can be closely positioned with respect to a fixed wall.

Abstract: A house can be formed of tires by securing tires in a panel and using the panel to form a wall of a house or other structure.

Abstract: A substantially rectangular panel suitable for use in an office space dividing system, with the panel including a frame constructed of rails and stiles. The rails and stiles define a window having inner facing edges which include channels for receiving a sheet of material. Glazing strips are provided for the channels which are configured such that they are insertable into a channel in a selected one of two orientations. In one orientation, the glazing strip is in a normal position to receive the sheet of material. In the other orientation the glazing strip is inverted, completely blocking access to the channel, to prevent foreign matter from entering the channel prior to assembly of the sheet of material with the frame.

Abstract: A locking fastener in which coacting ramp surfaces are employed to generate wedging forces in response to backing-off movement of the associated nut which urges the nut into tighter engagement with the associated bolt and workpiece and in which spring means are provided which are compressed during the tightening operation and which bias the ramp surfaces for movement in a direction to augment the locking action of the fastener.