Abstract: A passive collimating tubular skylight consisting of a radiant energy-collecting aperture, a radiant energy-delivering aperture, and a radiant energy passageway between these two apertures, the passageway having a specularly reflective interior surface and a configuration to improve the collimation of the radiant energy passing therethrough. The skylight can be configured with the radiant energy-collecting aperture located above the roof of a building, oriented to collect sunlight; and equipped with a sealed weatherproof glazing, with the radiant energy-delivering aperture, or luminaire, located at ceiling level within the building, and equipped with a diffusing glazing; and with the reflective tubular light passageway constructed with a larger cross sectional area near the radiant energy-delivering aperture than near the radiant energy-collecting aperture.

Abstract: A surface covering system is described which involves a series of interconnected tiles having a spline system located between the tiles to simulate the appearance of grout. Each tile has on its sides, at least one tongue section and at least two groove sections wherein the tongue section of one tile interconnects with the groove section of a second tile and further forms a gap at least at the upper surface between the two tiles. A first spline, having two tongue sections for interconnecting with the groove section(s) of at least one tile, is inserted between a series of tiles. A second spline capable of fitting into the gap formed between two or more tiles, which are interconnected at a tongue of a first tile and a groove of a second tile is further used. Methods of installing the surface covering system of the invention are further described.

Abstract: An anchored resilient ventilated athletic flooring structure having vertical restraints secured to a base in parallel relationship to each other and the restraints have outwardly directed flanges, parallel spaced apart struts positioned under the flanges and transverse to the vertical restraints, a resilient upward biasing means secured under the struts so that the struts are resiliently engaged with the outward directed flanges of two adjacent vertical restraints, parallel spaced apart nailers secured transversely to the top surface of the struts and parallel to the vertical restraints, and a wood flooring secured transversely to the nailers. The spaced apart relationships or the struts and nailers provides a ventilated subfloor. The spaced apart relationships of the vertical restraints, struts and nailers permits the “tuning” of the subfloor by modifying the size and spacing of the subfloor components to effect changes in the measurable properties of the floor.

Abstract: A wall bracing system that uses a beam capable of bending to conform to a partially-buckled masonry wall that has buckled inward from external forces, such as hydrostatic pressures to which basement walls are typically exposed. The bracing beam is sufficiently flexible to conform to the partially-buckled wall, enabling the bracing system to apply a relatively uniform pressure against the wall to prevent further inward movement. One end of the beam is secured to the basement floor adjacent the wall, generally not more than the distance the wall has bowed inward, i.e., the horizontal displacement of the primary fracture point of the wall. The upper end of the beam is held in place with a bracket system secured to one or more overhead floor joists. The bracket system applies a force against the upper end of the beam toward the wall. Sufficient pressure is applied against the beam so that at least the upper end of the beam contacts and conforms to the buckled portion of the wall.

Abstract: A rafter air infiltration block for use in house construction to prevent loss of blown-in insulation and to prevent air infiltration between the outside and the trusses. A generally rectangular piece of stiff, waterproof material has a plurality of fold lines to allow the block to be readily placed where desired in a variety of different settings and to conform to a roof vent.

Abstract: The specification describes a wall base which is preferably provided by an elongate strip of carpeting with a pair of spaced-apart strips of double-sided adhesive tape on the back of the strip of carpeting covered by a release liner. For a 3 to 6 inch wide carpet strip, the strips of adhesive tape are preferably spaced apart by a distance of from about ¼ inch to about 2 inches, one being positioned close by adjacent the top edge of the carpet strip and the other spaced from the bottom edge.

Abstract: A seamless floor-to-wall baseboard for providing a sanitary, easy-to-clean transition from a resilient thermoplastic floor residing on a subfloor to a spaced-apart wall. The baseboard is fabricated from resilient thermoplastic flooring material having the same thickness as the floor. A plurality of longitudinally-extending parallel spaced-apart grooves are formed in one side of the baseboard for permitting the baseboard to be folded along its length to define a transition zone between a subfloor-engaging portion and a wall-engaging portion of the baseboard. The subfloor-engaging portion includes a distal side edge adapted for being abutted against and joined to a proximal edge of the floor to form a smooth, easy-to-clean joinder line. The wall-engaging portion is adapted to engage the wall at substantially right angles to the subfloor-engaging portion and at an angle relative to the transition zone of greater than 90 degrees.

Abstract: An improved umbrella runner structure is disclosed. The improvements are primarily the design of partition flanges on the top face of the runner. Two thick partition flanges in conjunction with two coupling portions of the runner form four compartments arranged symmetrically. Each compartment can accommodate the inner ends of two stretchers so that a total of eight stretchers are attached to the runner to form an eight-stretcher system. The umbrella stretcher system using the runner according to the invention has the advantage of enhanced strength and simplified construction and it can reduce the possibility of being damaged while it can reach a more compact size than a prior art one. Besides, it also provides convenience in carrying.

Abstract: A spacer frame bar for insulated windows or other insulated glass panels. The bar includes a tubular spacer member having first and second side webs for engaging the spaced apart glass panes, and upper and lower webs spanning between the side webs. The upper web is provided with a series of vertical corrugations, which serve to increase the length of the thermal conductive path across the upper web. The corrugations are also arranged so that only the upper edges thereof are exposed to sunlight passing through the window, thereby minimizing thermal gain due to absorption of solar radiation. Staggered rows of slits may be formed in the channels of the corrugations to as to further increase the length of the conductive path. The channels may also be filled with an insulating material, such as a resilient foam material. The invention also provides a two-piece construction in which the top web clips onto the upper edges of the side webs.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for securing a layer of insulation in place between two spaced apart wall forms while concrete is poured on both sides of the insulation layer.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for the manufacture of brick block, i.e. a concrete chimney or wall block, with an impressed brick grout pattern on the face thereof, comprises a mold adapted to fit a known concrete block manufacturing machine. The mold has grout bars to impress a simulated laid brick pattern onto at least one vertical face of the block, the grout bar moveable in and out from a wall of the mold by hydraulic components. The hydraulic components utilize a unique multi-piston hydraulic block.

Abstract: A hole former assembly used to form a reusable hole former assembly used during the construction of a manhole base. The hole former assembly of the present invention aligns the center of the formed hole in the concrete manhole base sidewall with the center of an inlet or outlet opening of a canal bed liner embedded in the base of the manhole. The hole former assembly is suitable for use in either wet casting or dry casting the base of the manhole with the inlet and/or outlet of the invert embedded in a sidewall of the base of the manhole. Several of the component parts of the hole former assembly of the present invention may be molded as a single unit and thereafter separated, thereby reducing certain manufacturing costs of the component parts.

Abstract: An improved automatic opening wind resistant umbrella structure made of fiberglass reinforced plastics (FRP) mainly uses an innovative connection mechanism to associate secondary umbrella stretchers with umbrella ribs and has advantages of simplified construction and reinforced combination strength. The automatic opening wind resistant FRP umbrella structure according to the invention provides excellent convenience in use.

Abstract: A door sill assembly is provided with an adjustable threshold. A sill assembly is made up of an elongated metal frame for installation on the floor of the doorway. The metal frame is provided with a tongue and sloping sill portion, a vertically extending rib and a shelf located below and integrally oriented relative to the rib. The threshold rail is supported on the frame member shelf portion upon two adjustable feet for varying the relative height level of the rail. A plastic threshold cap is sized to fit over the threshold rail and includes a pair of downwardly spaced ribs sized to securely fit over the vertical rib of the frame member to locate the threshold cap and rail relative to the frame member while providing limited vertical adjustment. Preferably, the interior trim molding is provided which is fixed relative to the frame member and oriented inboard of the threshold cap.

Abstract: A spacer profile for a spacer frame to be mounted in an insulating window unit by forming a space between the panes, with a chamber for receiving hygroscopic materials and with at least one contact web to lie against the inner side of a pane, which is connected via a bridge section with the chamber, is characterized i that the profile corpus of the spacer profile consists of an elastically-plastically deformable material with poor heat conductivity, and that at least the contact webs are permanently materially connected with a plastically deformable reinforcement layer.

Abstract: A safety brake type rollator which is normally in detained state, but it starts to advance when releasing grips installed on both handle bars are gripped, is disclosed. The elaborate utilization of lever principle associated with power transmission between two ratchet wheels realizes innovative effect of the present invention.

Abstract: A roof in which an upper-end engaging portion of a downstream roof panel is seam-jointed with a lower-end engaging portion of an upstream roof panel, wherein at least the lower-end engaging portion has flexural rigidity enough to disengage the seam joint.

Abstract: A relocateable shelter for protecting individuals from dangerous conditions such as Tornadoes and the like, that can withstand winds of approximately 450 mph. The shelter can be attached and detached from a concrete foundation. A rectangular frame that is formed from L-shaped longitudinal members are fastened together and can be anchored to the concrete foundation by hook ended anchor bolts that have exposed threaded ends that nuts can attach thereto. Removable panels can be attached to the outside of the frame to form walls and a roof using fasteners such as screws and bolts. A door can be attached to an opening in the side of the frame, and include L-shaped members that form door braces and hinge guards that allow the door to stay in a stationary closed position. Slideable latching members can further hold the door in a locked position. The latching members can be accessible from outside the shelter to open the door and also be accessible from inside the shelter to open the door.

Abstract: An adjustable outrigger (10) for manufactured home (60) spans between lower end (76) of main beam (70) and outer end (83) of transverse floor joist (80) for supporting outer end (83). Outrigger (10) has a longitudinal axis (21) and generally comprises an elongate central portion (20) of adjustable length, a lower end (12) adapted to be supported by lower end (76) of beam (70) such that outrigger (10) can exert a longitudinal force on beam (70) over varying vertical angles of longitudinal axis (21) and an upper end (17) adapted for supporting outer end (83) of joist (80) such that outrigger (10) can exert a longitudinal force on joist (80) over a plurality of vertical angles of longitudinal axis (21).

Abstract: A frame assembly includes a non-combustible rigid filler sheet supported within a surrounding support frame made from lengths of a structural frame member joined together. The structural frame member has an elongate body extruded from a heat meltable material and has longitudinally extending cavities. Intumescent material is located in selected cavities.