Abstract: An exterior wall system includes a pair of split vertical members. A front-load bay is defined between the pair of split vertical members. The front-load bay includes a horizontal member disposed along a bottom edge of the front-load bay. Each split vertical member includes a removable portion coupled to a vertical edge of the front-load bay and a fixed portion coupled to an adjacent section of the exterior wall system. The removable portion may be selectively coupled to the fixed portion to facilitate assembly of the front-load bay to the adjacent section of the exterior wall system. A sill starter is disposed horizontally between the pair of split vertical members below the front-load bay. The horizontal member engages with the sill starter to facilitate support of the front-load bay.

Abstract: Hybrid buildings, hybrid building systems and methods of constructing hybrid buildings are disclosed. First and second building sections forming part of such buildings are also disclosed. One such hybrid residential building (1600) comprises a first building section (1610) and a second building section (1620). The first building section is an on-site construction at a final location for the building and comprises a lower storey (1611) defining an internal volume (1613) that provides a lower living space (1615) within the building, and an upper storey (1617) defining an internal volume (1619) that provides an upper living space (1621) within the building. The second building section defines an internal volume (1623) and is transportable to the final location in a substantially assembled form. The first and second building sections are connected at the final location to form the building.

Abstract: A device for supporting solar modules is provided, the device having a base rail) and an upper support arranged on the base rail for holding an upper end of a solar module. The upper support has a first support element and a second support element which are movably connected to one another in such a way that the first support element is movable relative to the second support element between a first position and a second position. The upper support extends up to a first height above the base rail when the first support element is arranged in the first position. The upper support extends up to a second height above the base rail, which is different from the first height, when the first support element is arranged in the second position. A kit, a method for manufacturing a device, and a solar module arrangement are also provided.

Abstract: A roof protecting system for protecting the roof of a building from hail damage. The roof protecting system includes a roof covering structure adapted to cover a portion of the roof and capable of holding a non-Newtonian dilatant fluid; a deployment system to dispose the roof covering structure onto the roof; and a delivery system for delivering the non-Newtonian dilatant fluid to the roof covering structure.

Abstract: A panel assembly for a suspended ceiling system, an adjustable corner bracket thereof, and a method of assembling such a panel assembly. The panel assembly may include a ceiling panel having a groove in its rear surface, a plurality of suspension bars disposed within the groove along the sides thereof, and a plurality of corner brackets disposed within the groove along the corners thereof. The corner brackets may include a first arm portion extending along a first arm axis and a second arm portion extending along a second arm axis. The corner brackets may be adjustable to alter an angle measured between the first and second arm axes so that the corner brackets may be used in different grooves having different shapes.

Abstract: A beam-column joint structure is provided. The beam-column joint structure comprises: a hollow rectangular steel frame consisting of a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a third sidewall and a fourth sidewall and a plurality of H-beams, each of the H-beams being fixedly attached to an outer surface of at least some of these sidewalls. Some of the H-beams may be eccentric with respect to the sidewalls to which they are attached.

Abstract: A roof curb/top curb supported by an upstanding support curb to support various objects including, but not limited to, railing and screens. The roof curb includes a top curb portion and two or more spaced, generally horizontal extending support members which then, in turn, support one or more objects such that no portion of the object(s) needs to be directly supported by the underlying roof.

Abstract: Disclosed invention comprises innovations related to the fabrication process and the associated design of Prefabricated Link Slabs made using Ultra High-Performance Concrete (UHPC) for bridges hereinafter referred as PLS-UHPC. This disclosure is regarding methods of designing, manufacturing, and installing PLS-UHPC as connections between bridge spans. The invention includes the concept of installing PLS-UHPC which will provide numerous benefits such as faster construction in the field, and better maintenance of established systems.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a multifunctional material system is provided and can include a variable-permeability layer, a desiccant containing layer, and a vapor-permeable supporting layer. The variable-permeability layer can have a vapor permeability that increases with increasing relative humidity. The desiccant containing layer can be adjacent the variable-permeability layer. The vapor-permeable supporting layer can be positioned adjacent at least one of the variable-permeability layer and the desiccant containing layer. Water moves in a first direction from the variable-permeability layer to the desiccant layer when relative humidity is greater adjacent the variable-permeability layer than the desiccant layer. Water moves a second, opposing direction, from the desiccant containing layer to the variable-permeability layer when the relative humidity is greater adjacent the desiccant containing layer than the variable-permeability layer.

Abstract: A building facade system which comprises a frame to support a building facade panel, a unified vertical shear blade anchor, a vertical mullion and an angled anchor member. The unified vertical shear blade anchor has a body portion and a flange extending horizontally therefrom. The flange has top and bottom surfaces with the bottom surface having serrations. The vertical mullion is secured by a shear connection to the vertical shear blade anchor. The shear connection between the vertical mullion and the vertical shear blade anchor is formed by a fastener which extends through side portions of the body portion and vertical mullion. The angle member has first and second flanges each having proximal ends joined together and opposing terminal ends. The second flange has a top surface with upwardly projecting serrations. The upwardly projecting serrations are configured for engagement with the downwardly projecting serrations of the vertical shear blade anchor.

Abstract: A door assembly. The door assembly may include at least one door panel and a door frame having a plurality of frame members including a header and a pair of side jambs. The invention may also be considered a frame member. The frame member may include a core; and a two-piece top piece adjoining the core to form a structural member. The core and the top piece may be a composite of cellulosic material and at least one other material. The door assembly may further include at least one adjacent panel. Also disclosed are door jamb frame members and mullion frame members.

Abstract: A fence cap system, comprising a cover, a cap claw, a securing screw, wherein the cover includes an upper portion that is pyramid-shaped with an apex and a base, the apex including a cover hole designed to receive the securing screw, wherein the cap claw includes a center portion that includes a claw hole designed to receive the securing screw, and wherein the securing screw secures the cap claw to the cover when it is received through the cover hole and the claw hole.

Abstract: A modular platform system includes a plurality of tiles, legs, beams, and brackets. Peripheries of the tiles and top surfaces of the beams are configured so that the tiles can snap on to the beams, allowing for easy creation of a platform. The beams, legs, and brackets are all configured so that the beams and legs are easily connected together for platform system creation.

Abstract: A facade assembly for a vehicle parking structure comprising a facade panel arranged to form part of an exterior of the structure. The facade assembly includes at least one support member extending inwardly of the panel and into the structure in use for connection with a floor of the structure. The support member is arranged to include one or more attachments.

Abstract: A system and method for building a solid wall with a drop-in ceiling includes a floor track to be secured on a base floor. A support structure of studs is to be secured to the floor track. Cornice rails are to be placed on top of the studs. Splice plates are to connect ends of the cornice rails together. A top cladding is to be installed to at least a portion of the studs at a fixed distance below the top of the studs. The top cladding is to be installed prior to the cornice rails being secured to the top of the studs. Ceiling mounts are to be installed on top of the cladding in a manner that provides equal spacing reveals between the ceiling mounts and the cladding. Splice plates are to connect ends of the ceiling mounts together. A secondary cladding is to be installed to the studs. To complete the wall system, a drop-in ceiling is secured on top of the ceiling mounts.

Abstract: A structural assembly for a recreational vehicle includes a first structural frame member having a wall and a hollow space at least partially defined by the wall and a second structural frame member having a section thereof extended into the hollow space of the first structural frame member forming an internal interface with the wall of the first structural frame member. The assembly further includes a foam material located in the hollow space that fills a portion of the hollow space to thereby form a bearing member adjacent the section to restrict motion of the section relative to the wall and thereby to form an internal connection between the second structural frame member and the first structural frame member at the internal interface to secure the second structural frame member to the first structural frame member to form a recreational vehicle component.

Abstract: A tornado shelter apparatus includes a substantially unitary shell positionable at least partially below a ground surface. A cover is slidably movable over an opening of the shell. The cover has an arced shape with a substantial center point of the cover being positioned higher than a side edge of the cover. At least one lock is provided for removably locking the cover to the shell.

Abstract: The Active Beam Joint Brace (ABJB) is an improvement or a compliment to the current technology of protecting steel beam structured buildings such as tuned mass dampers near the top floors of sky scrapers and large shock absorbers to reduce sway due to high winds and earthquakes. The ABJB can be also used in any type of structure i.e. bridges. It is positioned near the joint of two of the beams and therefore does not interfere with the placement of doors and windows. There are two embodiments of the ABJB: 1. A basic ABJB 2. A smart ABJB The basic ABJB reacts to any distortion of the protected beam joint and applies a counter force to the two beams in than joint. The smart ABJB is also able to forecast some of the remaining wave forces in an earthquakes duration (from the first wave forms) and proactively apply counter forces (i.e. a Rayleigh Wave).

Abstract: A toggle insert for receiving a toggle assembly in a steel curtain wall structure is disclosed. The toggle insert is a self-leveling profile requiring no welding for fastening to steel curtain wall structure and further provides a screw tolerance of up to 1 inch for locating and fastening toggle screws during installation of glazing elements to the steel curtain wail structure. The toggle insert includes a horizontal section having a front portion, an intermediate portion and a bottom portion, wherein the front portion includes a central elongated opening measuring between 21 mm and 25 mm sandwiched on either sides by slotted screw race and a pair of threaded set screws for leveling into the slotted screw race that fixes the toggle insert by way of wedging into the steel curtain wall structure.

Abstract: The temporary homeless shelter comprises a reinforced concrete pipe, a rear wall, and a front door. The reinforced concrete pipe may be closed by the rear wall on one end and by the front door on the opposite end. The temporary homeless shelter may be adapted to protect a homeless person from the weather. Air may flow through the reinforced concrete pipe when one or more rear vents and one or more front vents are open. Heated water may be pumped through tubing incorporated into a pipe wall to heat the interior of the reinforced concrete pipe. A storage area located under a bed platform within the reinforced concrete pipe may be operable to store personal belongings.