Abstract: A utility distribution system for open office plans comprising a prefabricated floor construction and a utility post for distributing utilities. The prefabricated floor construction is adapted to be abuttingly supported on a building floor. The prefabricated floor construction includes a substantially hollow interior portion thereof defining at least one raceway to route at least one utility conduit therethrough and a plurality of floor tiles defining an upper surface of the floor construction. The utility post includes a floor tile shaped for installation in a prefabricated floor construction and at least one marginally positioned cutouts thereof disposed above the raceway and communicating therewith. The utility post further includes at least one vertical raceway being in communication with one of the at least one marginally positioned open foot area and a top located above the at least one vertical raceway.

Abstract: The invention provides a wall-retaining element, including a three-dimensional body having a bottom portion including a major base surface positionable upon the ground in spaced-apart relationship to a wall to be retained, such that the plane of the bottom portion traverses the plane of the wall; at least one major surface to be covered with soil for applying pressure to the element, and means for attaching one end of a tie rod or a cable to the element and for attaching its other end to the wall. The invention also provides a method for retaining a wall structure.

Abstract: A landscaping timber system includes a molded plastic landscaping timber having ends configured to link with ends of other such timbers via elongate spikes inserted through aligned apertures in the ends of the timbers and driven into the ground. The timber includes an integral storage compartment for storing a spike therein during storage or shipping of the timber. The timber can also include one or more weep vents in the bottom surface of the timber to allow water to flow under the timber. The system also includes a flush-mount adapter for attachment to a stepped end of a timber to give an appearance of a non-stepped end so that the timber can be mounted flush against a wall. The system further includes a ramp assembly for providing access to an area bounded by the timbers, and an end adapter enabling a timber to be cut to a desired length and attached to the adapter so as to provide a custom-length timber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an insulated roofing system comprising a closed cell foamed in place insulation applied over the roof deck or existing substrate. In the preferred embodiment the foamed in place insulation is selected from foamed synthetic resins made of polystyrene, polyethylene, acrylic resin, phenol resin, urea resin, epoxy resin, diallylphthalate resin, urethane resin and the like. The preferred foamed in place insulation is a urethane foam. A rubber membrane is fully adhered over the insulation by an adhesive. The rubber membrane is selected from natural or synthetic rubbers such as styrene-butadiene rubber, acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber, chloroprene rubber, butadiene rubber, isoprene rubber, butyl rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber, ethylene-propylene diene mar (E.P.D.M.), polyisobutylene, styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer, styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer, chlorinated polyethylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer and the like either alone or in combination.

Abstract: A flooring assembly and fastener therefor comprises flooring planks, preferably made of recycled lumber, and a clip fastener arranged between opposing longitudinal edges of the planks. The planks, in one embodiment, use tongue and groove construction. The clip is Z-shaped in cross section, one end portion of the clip catching the groove of a plank with the other end portion acting as a base for fastening to the joist. The clip fasteners are spaced along each joint and adjacent joints to retain the planks on the joists while permitting the planks to expand and contract at rates different than the joists themselves.

Abstract: A non-metal window muntin formed from plastic or wood is described for use in hermetically sealed insulated glass windows. The process for forming the muntin includes machining polystyrene sheets which are painted with a latex pain and baked prior to use between sealed glass of the window.

Abstract: Protector shoe (10) is positioned between the loop (49) formed in a tie down strap (46) and the adjacent support plate (36, 38). The mounting flange (24) extends about a first edge (40) of the support plate (36) and the middle strip (28) of the tail (22) is folded about the second edge (41) either by the installer or by the application of the loop of the tie down strap urging it toward engagement with and about the second edge (41) of the support plate. This protects the tie down strap from abrasion against the edges (40 and 41) of the support plate (36) of the support beam (12).

Abstract: A screw-type, in-ground anchor device for anchoring an above-ground upright. A generally cylindrical drive shaft includes an upper cylindrical housing portion constructed of ¼-inch rolled steel with an inside diameter sized to match the outside diameter of the upright. A conical portion connects the upper housing portion to a lower tip portion. The surface of the conical portion has a slope of less than 20 degrees, and preferably in the range of 5-10 degrees. A set of screw threads (flightings) are attached to the tip portion and have a diameter that is approximately equal to or less than the diameter of the upper housing portion. The flightings operate in soil to screw the anchor device into the ground when the device is rotated. The conical portion outwardly compresses the soil that is disrupted in the wake of the flightings. Since the flightings have a diameter approximately equal to or less than the diameter of the upper housing portion, soil surrounding the drive shaft is not disrupted.

Abstract: A building member is formed from a pair of spaced apart boards connected between the opposed faces by narrow connecting members which extend the length thereof. The edges of the connecting members are preferably retained within channels in the opposed faces of the wooden boards. The boards and the connecting members enclose an insulation space which may be filled with an insulation material. A selection of advantageous connection profiles is disclosed for the connection between the edge of the connecting member and the channel of a board. One of the boards may instead comprise an extruded siding, for example of aluminium or plastic, with a leg extending perpendicularly from the siding forming the connecting member. The building member may be constructed in a simple process and reduces wastage of material which often occurs in forming laminated solid timber building products while offering enhanced insulative properties.

Abstract: A method of finishing an edge of a sheet glass is disclosed. The method includes a first grinding step for grinding an edge of a sheet glass so as to provide the edge with an outwardly convex curved shape, and a finishing step for finishing a bordering portion which has been formed by the first grinding step between the curved edge and each flat side face of the sheet glass, so as to provide this bordering portion with a greater smoothness than smoothness provided by the first grinding step. A heat-tempered sheet glass using the method and a fire-resistant construction material using this heat-tempered sheet glass are also disclosed.

Abstract: A clip for attachment to the flanges of a structural steel member for purposes of securing sheet material to the member is comprised of a rectangular-shaped clip of lightweight sheet material having opposite sides and opposite ends and enclosing an open center portion. A clip element is formed from a protrusion of the sheet metal material and extends outwardly from the clip and terminates in a free end which is spaced from the clip to create an open space to partially receive a flange of a steel member. The clip element is positioned with respect to the clip so that the clip dwells outwardly of the flange when mounted thereon. The clip element is comprised of a spring-like material so as to be able to frictionally engage the flange. The clip has a plurality of protruding frictional elements thereon to enhance the frictional engagement of the clip to the flange.

Abstract: A stackable insulating foam panel which has a top side and a bottom side. Each of the panels has a median row of alternating projections and recesses with a similar complementary shape. The median row is disposed between two coplanar edge surfaces. Each projection of the top side is opposed to a recess of the bottom side whereby the top side and/or the bottom side of the panel can be interconnected with either the top side or the bottom side of a like panel. The present invention also concerns a wall form assembly which comprises opposed foam panels disposed in parallel relationship to make a wall form for receiving a flowable material such as concrete and a plurality of connectors for tying the opposed foam panels together.

Abstract: A connector is disclosed for interconnection of disconnected truss members. The connector comprises an elongate sheet metal plate including a first plate portion and a second plate portion. The first plate portion has nailing teeth adapted to be driven into a truss member for permanently attaching the first plate portion to one member. The second plate portion has nail holes formed in it for receiving nails to permanently attach the second plate portion to another of the truss members. The second truss plate portion is substantially free of nailing teeth at the peripheries of the nail holes, but has at least one nailing tooth for temporary connection of the second plate portion to the truss during transport. The truss can be collapsed and transported to the building site with the truss members disconnected.

Abstract: An insulated concrete form wall building system wherein a first embodiment includes a pair of spaced apart elongated expanded polystyrene sidewalls, each having opposed inner surfaces that are formed with longitudinally spaced apart vertically oriented ribs that terminate in substantially flat surfaces to abut against one another to serve as a concrete wall form. A second embodiment includes a pair of spaced apart elongated expanded polystyrene sidewalls and divisional members with flat sides which are attached to said sidewalls to serve as a concrete wall form. The ribs define channels for receiving concrete poured therein to form a composite polystyrene and concrete wall structure in the first embodiment and the divisional members serve the same function in the second embodiment.

Abstract: A glazing unit (1) comprises two sheets of glass (2, 3) which are separated by a spacer bar (5). An outer secondary seal (10) extends around the periphery of the glazing unit. The seal (10) has a number of peripherally spaced-apart fixing inserts (50) extending around the periphery of the glazing unit for fixing the glazing unit support (17). Each fixing insert (50) has a base wall section (51), parallel side walls (52) and end wall sections (53) which define an arcuate slot (55) closed at both ends. The configuration of the fixing inserts (50) allows simple fitting while ensuring the maximum bulk of material for structural strength. Opposed fixing inserts (50) are engaged, on assembly, by a toggle (60).

Abstract: A method and system for use in forming arched openings in both concrete block and wood frame building construction. In block construction the present invention provides for the use of monolithic plant pre-cast and reinforced concrete header and arched filler combination units that is load-bearing, and in wood frame construction the present invention provides for the use of non-load-bearing pre-formed arch-filling members that could be made from recycled plastic attached to or including a lintel for overlaying the surrounding wall frame. Use of the present invention would eliminate the need for labor-intensive post and beam type headers with a site-built wooden arch and thereby reduce the on-site costs currently associated with site installation of windows and doors having an arched upper perimeter. The materials from which the present invention is made would determine its load-bearing capacity.

Abstract: New direct laminated floor, of the kind that contain, on their surface, cellulose sheets impregnated in polymerisable resins, on which some characteristics have been drawn and where, once pressed and mechanised, the finished strips have an offset/sunk area on the peripheral edge and the optic/tactile texture of the surface corresponds and adapts to the characteristics drawn on the cellulose sheets. For application in the construction industry.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a device for reinforcing and securing the roof of a building by particular placement of a plurality of shingle straps in a manner effective to provide controlled separation of parts of the shingles while maintaining an intact roof surface covering. In a particular embodiment a reinforcing strap is installed upon or formed integral with a roofing shingle of non-uniform thickness. Appropriate placement of the shingle straps results in a roof which is able to withstand extreme forces, e.g. wind speeds up to about 150 MPH, such as those encountered in a strong hurricane. The method and device may be used to retrofit existing buildings, without requiring partial or total removal of the roof.

Abstract: Partition wall comprising at least one wall element (5) connected to a column (6) by a connecting element (1). The column (6) has a plurality of grooves distributed along its periphery and suitable for interacting with the connecting element (1). The wall element (5) has a connection profile (9) with at least one groove (11) on the edge side bordering on the column. The connecting element (1) has two clamping flanges (2,3) parallel to each other and interconnected by a connecting rod (4), wherein one flange is received in a groove (15) of the column (6) and the other flange is received in a groove (11) of the wall element (5). One (2) of the clamping flanges (2,3) of the connecting element (1) is received in the corresponding groove (11;15) in a rotationally fixed manner while the other clamping flange (13) is received in the corresponding groove (15;11) in such a way that it can rotate around its longitudinal axis (12) within a predetermined angular area.

Abstract: A panel for decorating a face of a conventional flat veneer plywood door to provide the door with a traditional rail-and stile appearance The panel has a decorative front surface, a back surface opposite the front surface adapted for attachment to the face of the door and a substantially uniform thickness separating the front and back surfaces. The front surface has a raised perimeter portion surrounding a central portion. The perimeter portion is spaced farther from the face of the door than the central portion when the back surface is attached to the face of the door. The back surface has an outer edge which contacts the face of the door when the back surface is attached to the face of the door.