Abstract: A composite decking board constructed from a thermoplastic polymer material including one or more reinforcing filaments located within and embedded in at least a lower portion of the board to impart and enhance structural stiffness and rigidity. A method is provided in which the board is formed by extruding molten material through a die and continuously feeding reinforcement filament in the molten thermoplastic feed material simultaneously. The reinforcement filament is disposed substantially within the cross section of the extruded board and can generally be disposed in the lower portion of the board.

Abstract: An interlocking structure including: a top panel; a first wall and second wall; a first brace and a second brace each having interlocks that interlock with complementary interlocks on the top panel and at least one of the first and second walls. The structure can optionally have an additional interlocking joint, for example, a boss and via, between the top panel and contact point(s) or contact regions of each wall, and the interlocking joint can optionally have an adhesive seal to lock the optional interlocking joints. Also disclosed is a method of making the liner article and methods for using the article for forming glass, as defined herein.

Abstract: A roof panel includes a planar body having top and bottom edges, with a downturn edge extending therebetween, and an opposing channel edge. The downturn edge overlays a channel edge of an adjacent panel. The bottom edge overlays a top edge of another adjacent panel. A plurality of courses extends between the channel and downturn edges. Each course includes a nesting ridge to receive the downturn edge of an adjacent panel and to position a top surface of the panel flush with adjacent panels. Surface channels and contoured ridges are defined within each course. A drain aperture of the drip edge aligns with an adjacent channel edge to direct material through the drain aperture and onto adjacent panels. A gable member engages an edge when the panel has one or fewer laterally adjacent panels, wherein the gable member is flush with the adjacent planar body.

Abstract: A roof panel includes a planar body having top and bottom edges, with a downturn edge extending therebetween, and an opposing channel edge. The downturn edge overlays a channel edge of an adjacent panel. The bottom edge overlays a top edge of another adjacent panel. A plurality of courses extends between the channel and downturn edges. Each course includes a nesting ridge to receive the downturn edge of an adjacent panel and to position a top surface of the panel flush with adjacent panels. Surface channels and contoured ridges are defined within each course. A drain aperture of the drip edge aligns with an adjacent channel edge to direct material through the drain aperture and onto adjacent panels. A gable member engages an edge when the panel has one or fewer laterally adjacent panels, wherein the gable member is flush with the adjacent planar body.

Abstract: Systems and methods for disposing and supporting a solar panel array are disclosed. The embodiments comprise various combinations of cables, support columns, and pod constructions in which to support solar panels. The solar panels can incorporate single or dual tracking capabilities to enhance sunlight capture. The embodiments encourage dual land use in which installation of the systems minimizes disruption of the underlying ground. Supplemental power may be provided by vertical axis windmills integrated with the columns. Special installations of the system can include systems mounted over structures such as parking lots, roads and aqueducts. Simplified support systems with a minimum number of structural elements can be used to create effective support for solar panel arrays of varying size and shapes. These simplified systems minimize material requirements and labor for installation of the systems.

Abstract: A roof panel includes a planar body having top and bottom edges, with a downturn edge extending therebetween, and an opposing channel edge. The downturn edge overlays a channel edge of an adjacent panel. The bottom edge overlays a top edge of another adjacent panel. A plurality of courses extends between the channel and downturn edges. Each course includes a nesting ridge to receive the downturn edge of an adjacent panel and to position a top surface of the panel flush with adjacent panels. Surface channels and contoured ridges are defined within each course. A drain aperture of the drip edge aligns with an adjacent channel edge to direct material through the drain aperture and onto adjacent panels. A gable member engages an edge when the panel has one or fewer laterally adjacent panels, wherein the gable member is flush with the adjacent planar body.

Abstract: A self-adjusting heel joint connector for securing roof structural members, without the need for a conventional birdsmouth cut or toe-nailing. The connector is slideably insertable between the bottom of a preset rafter and the top of a supporting wall plate at a heel joint and is capable of self-adjusting to a precise preset rafter pitch. The connector includes a support member securable to the top of the supporting wall plate, and a framing member freely rotatable with respect to the support member about a swivel joint. The framing member is securable to the angled rafter and an adjacent joist/tie member, and includes a pair of legs positioned at approximately a right angle in which the rafter sits. The framing member includes through-holes for securing the connector to an angled rafter and an adjacent joist/tie member, and may be utilized as a guide for proper fastener placement by a craftsman in the field.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel brick veneer wall structure, to methods for restoring same after sustaining smoke damage, and to a smoke-damaged brick veneer wall structure restored by a method of the invention.

Abstract: A hybrid underlayment, includes a thermoplastic making up between 92.0% by volume to 95.5% by volume of the hybrid underlayment. A plurality of expanded microspheres is dispersed through the thermoplastic. The microspheres are expanded to a cross-sectional area in a range of between 180 square micrometers and 1450 square micrometers. The microspheres makeup between 1.0% by volume to 7.5% by volume of the hybrid underlayment. The hybrid underlayment is extruded into a flat sheet having a thickness of between 1.0 mm and 2.0 mm and a density from 7 pcf to 25 pcf. A metalized thermoplastic film is laminated to the top surface of the thermoplastic sheet.

Abstract: A drip edge corner element for use in masonry wall construction has a generally planar elongated member with a top side and a bottom side, with opposed side edges. This elongated member may preferable take a rectangular shape in planar profile, with a relieved section formed across the member dividing the member into two parts. These two parts are connected at a place about which the two parts are relatively movable, such as an articulable joint or pivot therebetween. The drip edge corner is thereby angularly adjustable by moving at least one of the parts about the place or pivot.

Abstract: The invention relates to a profile rail, a clip holder, a cross-connector and an attachment system for mounting solar modules. The components are so designed and matched to each other that solar modules in many variations can be mounted quickly and easily and with the components having a low weight.

Abstract: A positioner used to fasten a pair of structural members together includes side walls, lateral flanges extending from the side walls, and an interior web interconnecting the side walls. Each side wall is interconnected at vertices to one of the lateral flanges and to the interior web, and the interior web includes web sections interconnected at a vertex to each other. Each vertex interconnecting one of the side walls with the interior web terminates at a void extending between adjacent portions of the one of the side walls and the interior web, and the vertex interconnecting the web sections is displaced from the lateral flange surfaces so as to avoid contact with a positioner supporting surface. A support frame and a fastening process utilizing such a positioner are also discussed. The positioner is particularly suitable for use in constructing photovoltaic panel supports.

Abstract: In a column structure, a base member is fixed onto a foundation by mortar, serving as a fixing member. First and second anchor bolts are employed as anchor members for fixing the base member. A steel column, serving as a column member in which flanges are integrally formed at both sides in a width direction of a web, is joined to the upper side of the base member. A shear resistance member is provided to a lower portion of the web, so as to be buried at least in the mortar. The shear strength of the column structure is raised by the shear resistance member.

Abstract: A mixed-class service multiple-tier theater that allows different patrons attending the same movie to experience differing levels of service depending on how much they wish to pay. There are two tiers for seating. The upper tier would be for regular, stadium style seating, while the lower tier would be for VIP seating with fully reclining seats. The lower and upper tiers are completely separated, each offering its own ingress/egress access, with a balcony overhang from the upper tier cantilevered over the lower tier.

Abstract: An architectural building block including a front terminal wall, a rear terminal wall disposed substantially parallel to the front terminal wall, a pair of side walls adjoining the front terminal wall and the rear terminal wall, a top wall and a bottom wall. The side walls lean toward one another. The pair of side walls converge from the rear terminal wall to the front terminal wall. The bottom wall is disposed substantially parallel to the top wall, wherein each of the top wall and bottom wall adjoins the front terminal wall, the rear terminal wall and the pair of side walls.

Abstract: A wood flooring panel includes a plurality of parallel longitudinal wood slats situated side by side. A latex vinyl impregnated flexible backing paper is affixed by a polyurethane resin adhesive to a back side of the slats to accurately hold the slats as a panel. The latex vinyl impregnated flexible backing paper is of a material that is inextensible in the longitudinal and lateral directions, but flexible to permit bending at joints defined between the wood slats. The latex vinyl impregnated flexible backing paper acts a primary protective moisture barrier to a subfloor, and a polyurethane resin adhesive acts as a secondary protective moisture barrier to the subfloor. A method of installing a hardwood floor is also described.

Abstract: A reinforcement for structural use including two longitudinal bars or plates connected by transverse bars or plates. The end sections of each side of the transverse bars or plates end at the longitudinal bars or plates. The longitudinal bars or plates extend laterally from both ends forming corresponding ending areas where there are no transverse bars or plates between the longitudinal bars or plates. At least two of the ends of the longitudinal bar or plate assembly have an inclined section that switches direction toward the respective end and toward the longitudinal bar or plate facing it, and then a section parallel to the opposing longitudinal bar or plate. The ends of the longitudinal bars or plates include elbows folded inward.

Abstract: A system and apparatus for construction interior partitions including a generally U-shaped horizontal track profile including a horizontal base extending to outside rails, a central channel in which to receive a shim and/or panel element and opposing channels in which to secure a gasketed panel retainer. Vertical framing elements at each end of a partition likewise provide side mounted channels with a cooperative channel in which a panel retainer may be secured. With track and framings in place the panel retainers on a first side are installed followed by the panel elements, optionally butt-jointed, and finally the opposing panel retainers. Additionally, a track support element and fastener catch is disclosed to allow a side-mounted sliding door track or other component to be face mounted (screwed) directly therein.

Abstract: A hybrid underlayment, includes a thermoplastic making up between 92.0% by volume to 95.5% by volume of the hybrid underlayment. A plurality of expanded microspheres is dispersed through the thermoplastic. The microspheres are expanded to a volume in a range of between 180 square micrometers and 1450 square micrometers. The microspheres makeup between 1.0% by volume to 7.5% by volume of the hybrid underlayment. The hybrid underlayment is extruded into a flat sheet having a thickness of between 1.0 mm and 2.0 mm and a density from 7 pcf to 25 pcf.

Abstract: The invention relates to a scaffolding post (25) made of metal, including a tube (26) and a tubular tube connector (27) integrally molded therewith. In a transition region between the tube connector (27) and the tube (26) a stop (46) is formed, the stop being in the form of an annular post-supporting end face (50) running perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the scaffolding post (25) and circumferentially around the longitudinal axis. The slide-on area (37) of the tube (26) has a plurality of indentations (86), each extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the scaffolding post (25) and each being designed with a tube inner cross-section reduction. The indentations are arranged distributed in the circumferential direction around the longitudinal axis of the scaffolding post (25) at regular intervals or equidistant and each extends continuously for a length in the tube slide-on region (37), starting directly from a tube-supporting end face in the direction of the tube connector (27).