Abstract: A protective shutter assembly includes a pair of rail members that are adapted to be mounted on opposing vertical sides of a window or the like, along with a plurality of shutter panels adapted to extend between the rail members. Each rail member includes an elongated channel which opens toward an associated channel of the other rail member. The shutter panels and the rail members are preferably formed from an extrusion process to reduce manufacturing costs. Due to this construction, the channels have open ends. The lower end of each channel is closed off, at least partially, such that the interengaging shutter panels can be positioned between the associated rail members and retained within the channels.

Abstract: An apparatus designed to capture and direct daylight to a target area in a building or other structure. A housing provides an aperture and passive directing structure which directs daylight entering the apertures towards the target area. The passive directing structure can also direct daylight towards reflecting surfaces in the housing which, in turn, direct the daylight towards the target area.

Abstract: A prefabricated lintel having two spaced apart parallel upstanding legs extending along the length of the lintel and having laterally aligned holes defined therethrough and spaced therealong. The lintel further has a flat lower surface and an upper surface defining flat, horizontal shoulders positioned along outer edges of the lintel on opposite sides of the upstanding legs and extending the length of the lintel. The lintel is placed to span a doorway and a course of blocks is laid on the flat shoulders, with a second course laid on the first course and a rebar positioned on the upper surface. A plurality of wire stirrups, each defining a rebar receiving loop, are engaged over the rebar and extend through openings in the two courses with end portions of the stirrups engaged in each of the holes defined in the upstanding legs of the lintel. The block openings are filled with grout.

Abstract: A soil anchor and a method of installing a soil anchor, the soil anchor having: an expandable anchor body; a device for piercing and parting soil at the front end of the soil anchor; a device for transmitting force from a location remote from the soil anchor to the anchor body; a device for transporting hardenable material from a location remote from the soil anchor into the expandable anchor body to wedge the anchor body into the soil; and a device for leading at least one cable to avoid contact between at least one cable and the hardenable material, and for permitting movement of at least one cable adjacent the anchor body while the hardenable material is hardening or hardened.

Abstract: A decorative facing can be placed on a block so as to render an ordinary block decorative. This provides the advantage of reducing transportation costs, since locally produced construction blocks can be used in place of the glazed blocks produced at a relatively limited number of facilities. The facing in addition to being decorative enhances the water impermeability of the block and facilitates clean-up.

Abstract: An assemblage (10) for relieving overpressure in an enclosure (12) has a first panel (14) configured to surround an opening (13) in the enclosure (12), The first panel (14) comprises an outer skin (19) and a thermal barrier layer (15) for providing insulation during normal operation, A gasket member (24) is bonded to the thermal barrier layer (15) between panel edges (22). The gasket member (24) includes a magnetic portion (26) comprising magnets (23) encased in outer layer (16) for releaseably sealing the first panel (14) to the enclosure (12) and a bellows portion (28) for accommodating movements in the first panel (14) during thermal expansion.

Abstract: A waterproof cover having special utility for a flat or low-slope roof for a building. The roof includes a structural part comprising beams, joists, rafters, etc., as well as a substrate in the form of plywood panels, metal decking, etc. A waterproof cover is secured over the substrate. The cover is formed by placing a plurality of waterproof sheets loosely over the structural substrate, and connecting the abutting edges of adjacent sheets to one another, much like an old-fashion quilt is assembled. The preferred sheets constitute lightweight, thin but relatively stiff sheets of resin-impregnated fiberglass having a thickness of about 0.065 inch; and the joints between adjacent sheets are formed in situ by a mixture of fiberglass fibers and cured resin. The plurality of sheets are joined to one another (along their abutting edges) to form one giant waterproof cover.

Abstract: A decorative molding utilizes a tongue and groove system which produces a stable bond between a frame and covering. The frame possesses a projection which corresponds to a groove on the shell, and the two units are slidably engaged to form a connection. This tongue and groove design prevents the shell and frame from being pulled apart except in the direction of the groove. A slot is also provided in the frame to reduce friction between the frame and shell and to alleviate the problem of lateral thermal expansion. A gap is provided in the frame to allow the molding to compensate for linear thermal expansion. This invention not only maximizes stability, flexibility and attractiveness, but also prevents the bowing effect of both linear and lateral thermal expansion on the molding.

Abstract: A hand-held umbrella with a mechanism for rotating the stem and dome of the umbrella relative to the handle without manual rotation of the handle or umbrella. The rotation is created by a battery operated motor forming a portion of the handle and adapted to receive the end of the stem opposite of the dome. The exterior surface of the dome may have a picture message imprinted thereon which has the appearance of animated movement when the dome is rotated. A speaker and mechanism for producing audible sound are also incorporated into the handle. In one embodiment, the music is contained on a sound synthesizer chip.

Abstract: Principal members of structures are manufactured as foldable assemblies of like size and shape structural members, foldable for handling, packaging, shipping, and storage, and unfolded into their respective principal member configurations. Each like size and shape structural member has its opposite end surfaces formed on a sixty degree bias, whereby one longitudinal edge surface is longer than the other opposite edge surface, thereby creating opposite trapezoidal side surfaces. Each of these members has two spaced holes formed along its centerline, and each of these holes is equally spaced from a respective bias end. Regarding relative design dimensions, the respective longitudinal centerline length of each like size and shaped structural member is given the formula dimension, L, then the space between holes, X, is equal to 0.464 L, and the space from each hole to the centerline end, Y, is equal to 0.268 L.

Abstract: An H-shaped frame is divided into a first and second guide channel by a partition plate and has a panel holder received in the second guide channel. The panel holder includes two clamping plates, each of which has a joining portion and a clamping portion that define cooperatively a space therebetween to receive an edge of a flat panel. A first engaging unit is formed on external surface of the clamping portion. The second guide channel has a second engaging unit which engages the first engaging unit when the panel holder is inserted slidably into the second guide channel.

Abstract: A device to protect tall buildings from structural damage due to seismic vibration and/or high winds. The device comprises a first mass equal to about 1/500 to 1/1000 of the weight of the building to be protected. The first mass, provided with an upper arcuately concave surface with matching curved tracks, is horizontally secured on rubber dampers to an appropriate portion of the building, such as the roof or an upper floor. A second mass, equal to about 1/20 to 1/100 of the weight of the first mass, is positioned to oscillate on the curved tracks in synchronization with the natural frequency of the building, whereby the response of the building due to seismic vibration or high winds is attenuated. The curved tracks can function as the stator of a linear motor and the second mass can function as the motor driver.

Abstract: A platform assembly is designed for use in supporting a crane during the construction of a multi-story building. The assembly includes a platform for supporting a crane and means for cantilevering the platform from differing locations along the length of a structural column of such building during construction of the latter.

Abstract: A tent assembly capable of assuming multiple configurations includes a shell having side walls made of flexible material in which at least a portion of the flexible material is water vapor permeable, a fly of flexible water impermeable material and a frame to support the shell in a first erect configuration in which the shell substantially encloses a space sized to accommodate one or more occupants and the shell is not covered by the fly. The frame is further capable of supporting the shell and fly in a second erect configuration in which the shell encloses a space sized to accommodate one or more occupants and the fly canopies the shell to prevent substantial moisture from falling on the shell. Moreover, the frame is capable of supporting the fly in a third erect configuration in which the fly is suspended over and shelters a space sized to accommodate one or more occupants.

Abstract: A closure for preventing transmission of fire and smoke through a wall or floor containing a plastic pipe when the pipe is destroyed by fire, which comprises a flexible fire retardant sleeve encircling the pipe adapted to automatically collapse about the plastic pipe as it is destroyed by fire and thus close off any opening to the next level or adjacent area.

Abstract: A locking screw feature provides lockable adjustability for the slab-supporting ledge member which supports the heavy slabs used to form the face-wall of mausoleum crypts. The lockability permits the ledge member to be made to be freely slidable in its receiver slot of the hanger body which is connected to the structural concrete of the building; and the ledge-lockability is achieved by a locking screw which passes inwardly through the ledge member, and is forced against the hanger member, thus permitting the fit of the ledge member to the hanger member to be freely slidable. This combination of features not only accommodates the adjustability to be easy and precisely accurate, but also tightly locks the adjusted position. Preferably, the ledge member passage for the locking screw is provided as a inward extension of the ledge member hole which holds the screw which holds the rosette cap which conceals the junction of the slabs.

Abstract: Structural frameworks of differing shapes and for diverse purposes may be assembled by linking essentially rectangular, open centered frames together in end to end relationship by extending side members of individual ones of the frames into the open centers of adjacent ones of the frames. Sidewardly extending projections on individual frames overlap and abut side members of the adjacent frames to hold the members in a linked condition and to impart load bearing capability to the framework. Frameworks of differing geometry can be assembled from the same set of frames. The linked frames may be angled relative to each other to form an arch and the linked frames may be pivoted together at the locations where the frames intersect to enable folding of the framework into a more compact shape.

Abstract: A pivotal rain gutter facilitates easy cleaning thereof. In one embodiment the device has a hinge assembly which is secured to a structural support. A trough is secured to the hinge assembly using a single fastener. The trough is also supported by a retaining strap which is secured to the structural support and may be engaged and disengaged from the trough. The trough may thereby be pivoted down for ease of cleaning. A pole effector facilitates engaging and disengaging of the retaining strap. A flexible downspout allows the gutter to be pivoted up and down without disconnecting the downspout.

Abstract: A portable room divider comprises a plurality of slats (10-13) rotatably disposed between a pair of blocks (14, 15) by threads (19, 20) so as to spread the slats (10-13) away from the block (14) when rotated in one direction and draw the slats (10-13) toward the block 14 when rotated in the other direction, whereby the room divider (10-15) can be wedged between a floor and a ceiling, and thereafter released.

Abstract: A metal wall framing section comprising top and bottom tracks and studs, each formed of sheet metal, the top track comprising a downwardly facing outer channel and an upwardly facing inner channel nested in the outer channel and forming therewith a box beam for taking the load of roof trusses bearing on the top track between studs.