Abstract: A vertical column has a column body extending between a first end and a second end. The column body includes a main body, a conical portion extending from the main body, and a tip portion extending from the conical portion. The vertical column includes a first helical structure extending around a portion of the main body and a second helical structure extending around a portion the tip portion.

Abstract: A collapsible storage silo having an expanded configuration includes: (a) a shell for circumscribing storage space and comprising a plurality of concentrically nested tubular members that are collapsible; (b) a lift system operable to slidably expand the plurality of concentrically nested tubular members to place the silo in its expanded configuration; and (c) a mast operable to support the lift system, The mast is pivotable between horizontal and vertical positions relative to a frame. A winch attaches to the mast and a cable extends between the winch and an outermost tubular member to expand the silo such that inwardly and outwardly projecting lips of nested members engage each other and a conical hopper engages an innermost tubular member. A flexible inner liner attaches between an outermost tubular member and the hopper. A collapsible roof has a flexible roof membrane and a plurality of radially extending foldable rib members.

Abstract: An automatic extension device for releasing a downspout extension from a raised position to a lowered position including a control board, a power source, a latch with the ability to connect to a downspout extension, and a release kickoff. The latch is controlled by the control board wherein the control board receives inputs from a data source, a moisture sensor, a calendar database, or other relevant source. The latch is connected to the downspout extension such that when the latch releases, the downspout and downspout extension become disconnected and the downspout extension can move to the lowered position. The release kickoff includes a device such as a spring to assist in initiating the downspout extension moving to the lowered position.

Abstract: In accordance with various exemplary embodiments, solar energy shade structures and methods of design and revenue generation are disclosed. These systems comprise structures capable of supporting solar panel at heights greater than 18 feet above their mounting surface. These systems may be installed in confined spaces. These systems also comprise structures that are customizable, allowing an installation to be configured with a desired lighting and environmental effect. The methods discussed herein describe processes for achieving desired design effects based on natural elements. Moreover, the methods discussed herein describe processes for reducing the costs of generating solar energy and/or reducing the costs of providing a solar structure.

Abstract: A shingle remover includes a fork riser, a pusher, and front and rear crank shafts. The fork riser includes forks separated by fork spacers. The forks are configured to push under shingles and separate them from roof structures. The fork spacers and forks pull out the nails associated with the shingles. Scoops on some of the forks urge pulled shingles away from the shingle remover for disposal. A fork carrier associated with the fork riser secures the forks to a front crank shaft while a cam associated with the front crank shaft periodically urges the forks forward under the shingles. A slot in the fork carrier engages with the rear crank shaft to limit movement of the forks to a substantially horizontal back-and-forth direction. The pusher includes tines that bite into the roof to oppose movement of the shingle remover as the forks push under and remove the shingles.

Abstract: A joint compound application assembly for applying joint compound on drywall includes a rod that has a conduit integrated therein. The conduit is fluidly coupled to a source of joint compound thereby facilitating the joint compound to be urged through the conduit. A box is coupled to the rod and the box has a bottom end that is open into an interior of the box. A spray bar is fluidly coupled to the conduit and the spray bar is directed toward the bottom end of the box to spray the joint compound onto a wall or ceiling. A knife is coupled to the box to smooth the joint compound on the wall or ceiling.

Abstract: A hanging type seat mounted in a vehicle comprises a seat main body for supporting an occupant from below; one or more front hanging tools which are passed across a front part of the seat main body, extended upward in the front-back direction, and attached to a structure in the vehicle; one or more rear hanging tools which are passed across a rear part of the seat main body, extended upward in the front-back direction, and attached to a structure in the vehicle; and two or more transverse hanging tools which are passed across both sides of the seat main body, extended laterally upward, and attached to a structure in the vehicle; wherein the seat main body is hung and held by the one or more front hanging tools, the one or more rear hanging tools, and the two or more transverse hanging tools.

Abstract: An enclosed space is provided that includes a ceiling, base structure, a plurality of walls, at least one sliding door, a controller, an input air fan and an air outlet. The height and inclination of the base structure are adjustable. The base structure has a first profile; a second profile; and one or more bolts for arranging a tilting angle between the first profile and the second profile. At least one of the walls include an opening for accessing the enclosed space. The door includes two parallel glass panels. The input air fan includes an air filter and the air outlet includes a flow meter configured to provide flow information to the controller.

Abstract: A tower segment, in particular for a tower of a wind turbine, a wind turbine, and a method for manufacturing a tower segment is provided. A tower segment, in particular for a tower of a wind turbine, comprising a casing segment with an inner casing surface, an outer casing surface and a cutout for a door, wherein the inner casing surface has a first inner reinforcing portion and/or the outer casing surface has an outer reinforcing portion, wherein the inner reinforcing portion and/or the outer reinforcing portion adjoin the cutout, and the inner reinforcing portion has an inner reinforcing plate and/or the outer reinforcing portion has an outer reinforcing plate.

Abstract: A support for raised floors includes a base and a head coupled to the base, the head having a support body and a tilting element laid on the support body, the tilting element having a plate-shaped portion with an upper surface that is partially flat for supporting a building elements, protrusions emerging from a circular crown of the lower surface of the plate-shaped portion to create a profile shaped as a spherical cap ring, the outer edge of the circular crown being near the outer perimeter of the plate-shaped portion, the support body having an upper surface defining a cavity that is counter-shaped to the spherical cap ring at the protrusions emerging from the tilting element.

Abstract: A geodesic frame connector system for a geodesic frame and method are provided comprising a first discontinuous ring having a first discontinuous ring upper and lower faces, the first ring upper face including an opening extending through the first discontinuous ring, and having inner and outer ring perimeters. A second discontinuous ring is provided having second discontinuous ring upper and lower faces, and inner and outer ring perimeters, and a fastener is provided having a cross section smaller than the opening. When one of the first discontinuous ring lower face and upper face is placed adjacent one of the second discontinuous ring lower face and upper face, insertion of the fastener in the opening of the first discontinuous ring causes the fastener to contact the second discontinuous ring, thereby forcing the second discontinuous ring away from the first discontinuous ring.

Abstract: A device provides for an efficient, fast, and less labor-intensive way of laying dovetailed interlocking flooring material which have interlocking tabs to connect adjoining flooring material. The device comprises of a chassis offering structural support to which all other elements are connected to either directly or indirectly. The chassis has an upper portion which accepts additional weight and an undercarriage portion which is configured to connect to one or more front wheels and back wheels. The front wheels are configured to put pressure along each side of the interlocking tabs, while the one or more back wheels are configured to press on the interlocking tabs, and wherein the combined weight of the device interlocks the interlocking tabs in the flooring material.

Abstract: A profile system (1) for fastening objects to a room wall provided with a plate covering comprises at least one elongated rail profile (2), which extends in a longitudinal direction (L) and has a constant cross-section, and at least one plug element (3), which is designed to be fastened directly and detachably to the rail profile (2) in a plug-in manner. The rail profile (2), viewed in cross-section, has a substantially rectangular base section (6), whose depth (T) is adapted to the thickness of the plate covering and which is provided on its front side with a receiving groove (7) extending in the longitudinal direction (L) with a groove opening (9) accessible from the outside, and at least one fastening leg (13) which adjoins the rear side of the base section (6) substantially flush and projects outwards from the base section (6).

Abstract: A system for releasably securing a platform in a raised position is disclosed. A track is provided. An arm is connected at a first end to the platform. A second end, with a lug, is biased toward a side portion of the track. The lug is configured to ride in the track. As the platform is raised, the lug rides upward and enters the top portion and clears a first vertical wall, whereupon the lug rests in the depression and thus supports the platform in the raised position. As the platform is raised further, the lug clears a second vertical wall, whereupon the lug can ride downward in the side portion and through a bottom portion, past a door and out an open end of the bottom portion.

Abstract: A door include a first skin, a second skin, and a glazing unit. The first skin includes a first skin body portion, and a first flange portion extending inward from the first skin body portion. The first skin body portion has a first tip. A second skin includes a second skin body portion, and a second flange portion extending inward from the second skin body portion. The second skin body portion has a second tip. A glazing unit has an edge disposed adjacent to and between the first tip and the second tip. The first flange portion and the second flange portion provide an interlocking structure.

Abstract: An aircraft seat may include a backrest and a seat pan coupled to the backrest. The backrest may include a plurality of backrest panels. A set of backrest panels of the plurality of backrest panels may be coupled via a coil hinge. The coil hinge may include a first plurality of holes formed in a first backrest panel of the set of backrest panels. The coil hinge may include a second plurality of holes formed in a second backrest panel of the set of backrest panels. The coil hinge may include a coil spring wound through the first plurality of holes and the second plurality of holes. The first backrest panel and the second backrest panel may be configured to rotate about an axis through the coil hinge when the seat pan and the backrest actuate between a stowed position and a deployed position.

Abstract: A system for use with a post-tensioning concrete anchor may comprise a connector anchor including a bore therethrough, the bore including a first frustoconical portion, the connector anchor adapted to bear on the post-tensioning concrete anchor, and a coupler. The coupler may comprise a coupler body including a bore therethrough, the bore including a second frustoconical portion that is oriented oppositely to the first frustoconical portion, and a connector having a bore therethrough and configured to receive the coupler body therein, the connector adapted to mechanically engage the connector anchor such that a tensioning force can be transmitted from the coupler body to the connector anchor via the connector. A method of using the system may allow a second concrete section to be poured adjacent to a first concrete section before the first concrete section has been stressed.

Abstract: A laminated composition shingle includes a first sheet having a first mineral granule surface and a first rectangular shape without tab cut-outs laminated with a second sheet having a second mineral granule surface. The second sheet has tab cut-outs along only one longer edge of the second sheet. The laminated composition shingle has a shingle width and an exposure width perpendicular to the long edges and a first width that is twice the exposure width. The shingle width is the first width plus 2 inches (51 mm). The tab cut-outs have a tab width in the direction of the shingle width less than the exposure width minus ? of an inch (3 mm).

Abstract: An L-shaped shear wall module including an L-shaped outer pattern plate, an L-shaped inner pattern plate, and connectors connected between the L-shaped outer pattern plate and the L-shaped inner pattern plate. The L-shaped outer pattern plate 100 and the L-shaped inner pattern plate 200 are arranged in parallel to each other. The L-shaped inner pattern plate includes a first inner pattern plate and a second inner pattern plate which are perpendicular to each other. A corner transition block is disposed at a corner of the L-shaped inner pattern plate. The corner transition block has a protruding surface protruding towards the L-shaped outer pattern plate. The protruding surface of the corner transition block and the inner surface of the L-shaped outer pattern plate jointly enclose a concreting cavity at the corners for concreting reinforced concrete. The present application also provides a shear wall and a construction method thereof.

Abstract: In a joint (100) for a structure that includes at least one rod (104) and a plurality of cables (102), each cable (102) having an outside diameter, a rod end (160) is affixable to the rod (104) so that the rod has a rod (104) centerline that passes through the rod end (160). The rod end (160) includes a mechanism (166) that allows the rod end (160) to pivot about a center point that is on the rod centerline. A cable attachment device (150) is couplable to each cable (102) and to the rod end (160). The cable attachment device (150) holds each cable (102) coupled thereto in a relationship to the rod end (160) so that each cable (102) has a cable centerline that intersects the center point so as to minimize any moments from the rod (104) or the cables (102) on the joint (100).