Abstract: A multicomponent panel system including prefabricated, components machined to tight tolerances which can be assembled at a job site in a tight-fitting relationship.

Abstract: A configurable panel comprises a generally rectangular housing defining an interior cavity. A plurality of inwardly extending vane members support a corresponding plurality of thin flexible foils in a parallel spaced arrangement in one configuration and in a compressed collapsed arrangement in an alternate configuration. Means are provided for configuring the internally supported foils in either parallely spaced or collapsed configuration.

Abstract: A hollow, tubular, elongated beam is made by roll-forming an elongated strip of sheet metal into a generally rectangular cross-section shape with its opposite edge portions overlapped to form a double ply beam wall along one side of the beam. The plies are adhesively secured together by an adhesive material inserted between them. The sheet metal is initially rolled into a U-shaped channel having a base and opposite walls. An integral, interior ledge is formed in, and extends along the length of, one of the channel walls. Then, the edge portion of the opposite channel wall is bent to form an inner ply that overlaps and closes the open channel, to form the tubular shape, with its free edge abutted against the ledge. Next, the free edge of said one channel wall is bent to form an outer ply around and overlapping the inner ply, with the abutted inner ply free edge and ledge serving as a support for the bending of the outer ply. The adhesive is inserted between the plies when the outer ply is bent.

Abstract: A wind blocking screen comprises three flat panels of substantially rigid material joined together along integral fold lines to form a continuous row of panels which can be folded together into a flat configuration for storage and opened out at any desired angle to one another in an open, shielding configuration. Each panel has a handle opening adjacent the center of one of its edges which is positioned for alignment with corresponding openings in the other panels when they are folded flat, forming a hand grip for carrying the screen.

Abstract: An improved process for constructing a multiple-story, reinforced concrete building, in which a central core tower is first erected on a conventional foundation by moving concrete forms incrementally upwardly. A work platform is mounted for self-propelled movement along the top side of the core forms, to move men and equipment to selected locations on the core tower as it is being erected, thus simplifying the construction and substantially reducing costs. Afer the core tower has been erected, floor slabs and integral, underlying walls are constructed from the uppermost floor downwardly using slab/wall forms that can be moved repeatedly downwardly without requiring disassembly and reassembly for each story. The integral, underlying walls associated with each floor slab provide the support structure for each story, thus permitting the slab/wall forms to be lowered without the need for re-shoring.

Abstract: A lift shaft which includes a plurality of self-supporting, prefabricated shaft modules which can be stacked. The lift shaft is constructed from one or more generally "plain" modules; a module containing a fully assembled lift car, optionally containing a counterweight which is temporarily supported for transit to the erection on-site; a fully assembled upper lift motor room module, including winding apparatus and electronic equipment for the lift; and a pit module which is to be suspended from a module above. The lift shaft and modules are designed so that they can be used as containers for fully assembled lift cars and/or counterweights between the factory and the building site so that a lift shaft module can be craned into position with a complete car and/or counterweight.

Abstract: A glass block construction assembly (10) comprising an assembly unit (11) which contains an open matrix formed by horizontal (12) and vertical (13) alignment units for receiving a plurality of glass blocks (100) in a matrix wherein all of the structural components of the assembly (10) with the exception of the glass blocks (100) are fabricated from contoured apertured slat members (20) and generally thin, flat slat members (30).

Abstract: A corner system for log cabin siding construction over building frame walls and corners gives the appearance of full log construction. Elongate wall siding pieces are applied over the walls with a flat inner side facing the wall and a curved outer side for simulated "log" appearance. Corner siding pieces are applied over the corners with wall covering portions in horizontal alignment with wall siding pieces, and projecting log end portions extend beyond the building corner. Each corner siding piece is cut from a single piece of wood without a joint or seam and with continuous grain between the wall covering portion and the projecting log end portion of a corner siding piece. Wall siding pieces and corner siding pieces are formed with edge configuration of overlapping "ship-lap" siding or interfitting tongue and groove siding.

Abstract: An anchoring post adapted to be inserted in the ground is made of a hollow tube having two laterally slanted channels inside the tube adjacent its bottom end. A bifurcated element having two prongs is adapted to be pushed downwardly in the tube, in the ground through the channels until the prongs project outwardly and laterally for retaining the tube in the ground.

Abstract: A curtain wall building panel having a metal frame secured to the reverse side of a concrete panel with flexible anchors. A 3-D braid is formed in such a manner that non-metallic fibers are braided in the three directions at a pitch of 5 mm or more and have a self-supporting characteristic. The braid is embedded in the concrete panel and the front ends of the flexible anchors are secured to cell spaces in the 3-D braid. The curtain wall exhibits excellent bending strength, can be easily manufactured and can be used for exterior finish of multistory buildings. A method of making the building panel is also disclosed.

Abstract: A wall construction is provided which includes a wall upon which are located siding sections to which are fastened brick sections. The siding sections are arranged in coplanar end-to-end relationship and include abutting ends with nesting tongue and groove arrangements to resist relative transverse movement between the sections. The tongue defines a passage extending transversely across the same. A clip is provided which includes a central portion located between the ends of the siding sections. The central portion extends through the aforementioned passage in the tongue. The clip includes further portions extending in opposite directions from the central portion along opposite sides of the siding sections. A protruding flange is provided which extends outwardly from the first further portion and a settable material is provided adjacent the siding sections. The protruding portion is embedded in the settable material.

Abstract: A roofing clamp for attaching a flexible roofing sheet in a rain-tight manner. It comprises Z like halves which surround a block to clamp the roofing sheet therebetween. Machine screws hold the clamp halves together. The spacing between the clamp halves and block are of S shape at the ends to form a rain-tight seal devoid of perforation of the sheet.

Abstract: A device to aid a person to stand up from a sitting position on a chair or the seat of a water closet is provided with a base panel that is cut out to interfit around the base of the water closet or support and hold an easy chair. Horizontal stop members in the form of a vertical hole through a block are attached on the top of the panel to receive the bottom ends of chair legs sitting on the top of the base panel. Two members, one on each side of the chair, inclined upwardly past the front of the chair, are attached to the base panel and supported at the front ends. A front section of the inclined member is a cantilever section to be gripped by the hands to facilitate rising from the chair. Rails are structurally attached to the inclined members extending forwardly proximate and below the front ends of the inclined members to allow the person to rise up, rest his or her hands on the rail members and begin walking away from the chair or seat.

Abstract: A round top window includes a flexible master frame member which is bent to the desired degree of curvature and then joined to a straight master frame member. A stop member is attached to the master frame members to provide support for a glazing assembly which is held in place by an elastomeric glazing bead. Nailing fins are provided on the round top window in order to facilitate attachment to the frame of a building structure.

Abstract: A hand tool, and method of using the same, for installing roof gutters on a residence or other building. The tool may be used to position the gutter temporarily against the building wall as the tool is held in one of the user's hands, without any attachment of the gutter or the tool to the building being necessary. The user may use his other hand to hold a hammer to strike the free end of a nail-driving piston--which is held and guided, together with a nail, by the tool--to drive the nail through the rear wall of the gutter and/or the rear portion of the associated hanger, and then into the building wall. The tool may then be freely and immediately moved away from the gutter.

Abstract: An integral energy efficient load-bearing exterior wall fabricated of light-weight foam surrounding plastic load-bearing columns. The invention relates to pre-fabricated modular wall panels as individual building elements and as part of an integrated building system. In a preferred embodiment, a prefabricated modular wall panel is made from a foamed material that is molded around a plurality of vertically disposed hollow support columns. Each of the columns contains a pair of opposed and vertically disposed T-shaped fastening supports which are arranged to form part of the interior and exterior surfaces of the foamed wall. The hollow columns are set onto locking base plates which are mounted on a wood or concrete deck system. Locking top plates are also mounted on wood and are then placed on top of the columns. The tubular columns are made of a plastic material and are shaped in cross-section in the form of a rectangle, square, diamond, oval or circle.

Abstract: A soft compliant seal is attached to either an anchored or a loose reinforcement ring to provide a non-hermetic seal against liquids or particulates in order to maintain a space between two windows substantially free of all foreign matter.

Abstract: A louvre panelling system in which louvers 40 are mounted on brackets 14. A bead formed on one side edge of the louvre is hookd over a portion 26 of the bracket 12 and the louvre is then pivoted until the free edge 54 of a bead 50 on the other edge of the louvre engages in a recess 34 formed between front and rear projections 30 and 32 of a further bead holding portion 28 of the bracket 14.

Abstract: The invention concerns an assembly of roof battens which enables them to be stored in an assembled state and layed rapidly at the desired spacing on a receiving surface such as the rafters of a roof; a continuous flexible sheet is held in place by stapling strips onto the battens where they intersect with them, in such a way that, after the assembly of battens has been layed on the rafters, the continuous flexible sheet forms a deep central trough between two adjacent rafters to allow water to run off.

Abstract: An insulated wall assembly which combines strength with good insulating qualities includes spaced apart, elongated wooden posts, which are I-shaped in cross section; and elongated rigid foam plastic panels extending between adjacent posts, the panels being generally cruciform in cross section so that projections on the lateral edges thereof extend into the recesses of the posts while the front and rear or outer and inner surfaces of the panels are in the same planes as the outer and inner surfaces of the posts. Alternatively, the panels are parallelepipedic blocks with longitudinally extending, rectangular grooves in the sides thereof for receiving splines, which connect the blocks to rectangular, grooved insulating inserts in the posts.