Abstract: A collapsible mantel assembly for use with a fire place opening. A horizontally extending member includes a breast board and a mantel top. A first vertically extending support member and a second vertically extending support member are provided and are located relative first and second ends of the breast board by tongue and groove arrangements extending between the support members and the breast board. Recessed portions are formed in the support members and the breast board and are in alignment upon positioning of the support members and the breast board. A fastener assembly is applied within the recesses at each end of the breast board and secures the support members to the breast board.

Abstract: A fire resistant wall or other building structure makes use of specially constructed panels secured to a metal stud framework. Each panel has a core constructed of gypsum, cement, perlite aggregate and powder, and a polyvinyl acetate catalyst. Glass fiber reinforcement is pressed into the core materials on both sides. After the panels are secured to the framework, a metal mesh lath is applied and covered with a cementious surface coating that can be smoothed and finished as desired.

Abstract: An adjustable support apparatus includes a vertical standard having a rail, a support member having an edge abutting the standard and a surface formed to fit flush with the rail, and a securing device for securing the support member to the standard. Preferably, the standard includes a channel into which the edge of the support fits. The rail couples to a corresponding bracket on the securing device. The securing device may be mounted on the support member through holes respectively located in the securing device and the support member.

Abstract: An improved method of manufacturing an integral brick wall panel and particularly a novel vibrating mortar plow for use in such method to assist filling the mortar spaces between bricks and holes in the bricks with mortar. The vibrating mortar plow of the invention has a bottom mortar engaging face having a plurality of spaced, parallel fins which are adapted to be received in the mortar spaces between adjacent rows of bricks. The integral brick wall panel is provided with a plurality of cantilevering connectors by which the brick wall panel can be directly connected to a building structure or by which it can be connected to a backing layer to form a composite wall panel.

Abstract: Finishing systems and roof decks are provided which include a gypsum board having a set gypsum core faced with a fibrous mat. The gypsum core includes one or more additives which are effective in simultaneously improving the water and fire resistance of the board. In preferred embodiments, the board has sufficient water-resistant additive for absorbing less than about 10% water in an ASTM C-473 test.

Abstract: An extrusion for use in a floor assembly that is secured to a rigid underlying support. The extrusion has an exposed surface and a base section underlying the exposed surface. The extrusion is made of a first extruded material, preferably a hard polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and more preferably a co-extrusion of a recycled polyvinyl chloride substrate covered by a weatherable polyvinyl chloride capstock. The base section has at least a portion thereof including a second extruded material which is interposed between the plastic extrusion and the rigid underlying support when the plastic extrusion is secured to the rigid underlying support. The second extruded material resists undesired squeaking sounds from occurring when weight bearing loads move on the floor assembly. A floor assembly adapted to be secured to an underlying rigid support and a complete floor assembly and rigid underlying support are also disclosed.

Abstract: An improved framework is disclosed supporting a dome above an outdoor dome covering such as an outdoor swimming pool or other outdoor structure. The improved framework provides additional structural support by the inclusion of a circumferential row of rafter-braces connected by four-way connectors and interspersed with a plurality of biased rafter-braces. The biased rafter-braces are composed of a first tube having an open end sized to receive a second tube and to allow slidable and rotatable movement therebetween. A helical compression spring is disposed within the first tube to secure the first and second tubes together so that they provide a telescoping function by urging the first tube into a first four-way connector tube and the second tube into a second four-way connector tube over a range of distances between four-way connectors.

Abstract: This invention discloses to an interlocking insulated panel building system that has expanded polystyrene panels sandwiched between inner and outer oriented strand board (OSB) skins. Structural strength is enhanced and thermal shorts are reduced by use of channels formed from typically 22 gauge (0.03") galvanized steel. The panels are interfitted by a tongue-and-groove system. The components of the system are wall panels, headers, sills, beams, and roof panels.

Abstract: A wall support assembly includes a pair of horizontal members and one or more vertical members. One may secure the horizontal members to a wall member a predetermined distance apart. Each of the horizontal members defines a recess or pocket which lies longitudinally of the member for releasably receiving a distal end portion of a vertical member. The vertical members define openings from which one may hang storage members or similar components.

Abstract: A single entity toolless rafter or joist hanger has a claw with pointed spaced arms forming a mouth in which a conventional wooden base member is inserted. A hook on the other end of the hanger provides a loading surface formed with a force point disposed on an axis laterally offset from the normal vertical axis of the base, thereby promoting a firm gripping action. Automatic locking is achieved by a pivoted arm which gravitationally abuts against the side of the rafter or joist. The hanger is selectively removable simply by raising the pivoted arm and counter rotating the hanger to disengage it from the wood.

Abstract: A surface-mounted veneer anchor is disclosed. The anchoring system has a unique combination of a masonry anchor, a box tie member, and a facing anchor is provided. The primary components of the veneer anchor are wire formatives and provide a closed loop, wire-to-wire connections therebetween. In one embodiment, the inner wythe is constructed from a masonry block material, the masonry anchor has a baseplate with a wire formative attached thereto having elongated eye wire extensions. The elongated eye wires extend into the cavity between the wythes. Each pair of eye wires accommodates the threading thereonto of a box tie through the open end of the box tie. The box tie is then positioned so that the open end is utilizable as part of the facing anchor. The baseplate of the masonry anchor is surface-mounted onto the masonry block of the interior wythe.

Abstract: A unitary suspension clip for suspending gypsum board panels from the horizontal support member of a vertical support structure. The plate portion of the clip has panel-piercing members projecting rearwardly to affix the plate to the panel. A transverse line of weakness extends substantially across the width of the plate such that when the panel is suspended from the support member, the load applied between the support member and the plate causes the plate to bend therealong to prevent the pulling of the panel-piercing members out of the panel. A wing is formed along the edge of the plate and extends outwardly therefrom with a second line of weakness running in the same direction as the edge of the plate between the wing and the plate.

Abstract: A shear link energy absorber comprises a base plate, an I-shaped beam, a fixture, at least one connecting plate and a plurality of bolts. The I-shaped beam has a pair of flange plates and a web plate positioned between the flange plates. The fixture has a bottom plate and two side plates parallel connected to the bottom plate. The base plate is connected to one end of the I-shaped beam while the connecting plate connected to the other end of the I-shaped beam. The plurality of bolts bolt the connecting plate and the fixture together.

Abstract: Openings such as those for attic staircases may be covered with a multipocket member having top, side, and end pockets in which insulation can be placed. The side pockets are of longer length than the top pocket. When the side and end pockets are pivoted downwardly from the top pocket and provided in box-like configuration, the insulation at the pivot edges is compressed thereby filling up these edges.

Abstract: An improved joint strip for concealing a joint formed between two panels of adjacent wallboards formed of a flexible support strip capable of withstanding day-to-day wall vibrations and a rib adhered on one side of the support strip such that it extends the length of the support strip. The support strip may be formed from a variety of materials such as synthetic fibers, cellulose fibers, non-woven paper, plastic fibers, fiberglass, specially treated fabric, and mixtures thereof. The joint strip possesses superior strength and flexibility properties thus eliminating the need to use predecorated wallboard for forming a monolithic appearing wall.

Abstract: A roofing system that provides a safe, long lasting, leak-free and maintenance-free insulated roof for flat roof applications. More particularly, a sandwich panel comprises an inner foam core, a fiberglass skin fully encapsulating and surrounding the core, and a gel coating surrounding the skin. The panel has two substantially parallel surfaces and a peripheral edge having a step edge. A plurality of panels having two different shapes and relative dimensions are alternately secured to purlins to form the roofing system so that half of the panels can be easily removed without affecting the rest of the roof.

Abstract: A composite beam including an elongated metal shell and a pierceable insert contained within at least one end of the elongated metal shell.

Abstract: A box beam has an interior and an exterior. Fire resistance is obtained by preventing the rapid progression of fire from the exterior to the interior. Fire resistant covers for the web elements and sufficiently sized wood flanges protect the interior of the beam, thus giving it improved fire safety. In some instances, longitudinal reinforcement elements embedded in protected areas of the flanges are desirable to provide additional stiffness and strength.

Abstract: Interlocking stackable block structures for use in erecting a shock-resistant wall array and including block structures in both fence block and post block configurations. The top surface of each of the blocks has a pair of parallelly disposed upwardly protruding laterally extending ridge projections which mate and interlock with projections formed on the bottom surface of the block. The block configuration is further provided with cores for drainage and load reduction purposes, but the upper and lower mating faces of the block have a load-bearing web which supports a superimposed stacked block thereon. The cores of the post block contain a reinforcing rod held in grout so as to provide strength and stability. Also, the post block structures are provided with recesses for lockingly receiving fence block therein, thereby providing an arrangement where the fence block array floats within the recesses and is thereby provided with a greater degree of stability.

Abstract: An elastic mounting apparatus for vibration-decoupled mounting of a turbocharger housing on an internal combustion engine. The mounting apparatus includes a clamping element with two spring elements arranged in a functionally serial relationship. The clamping element joins the housing and the internal combustion engine so as to allow relative vibration between the two. The first spring element includes an annular spring member made of elastomeric material and a second spring element formed by at least one disk spring. The clamping element is penetrated by a clamping screw, and the disk spring can be compressed by the clamping screw in such a way that its spring rate, after compression to the intended preload, is substantially zero. The housing is configured as a turbocharger housing with at least one intake pipe. The intake pipe is braced in a vibration-decoupled and sealing manner on the cylinder head of the internal combustion engine by a sealing element made of an elastomeric material.