Abstract: A wall, particularly a wall of a containment for a nuclear plant, a pool or a cavern, includes a bearing wall. A sealing element is disposed on at least one surface of the bearing wall and covers the bearing wall. A protective wall covers the sealing element. The protective wall is frictionally connected to the bearing wall. The protective wall may be formed of a plurality of parts. The frictional connection may be made by anchors as well as by prestressing or by adhesive bonding.

Abstract: A modular, removable and versatile metal construction includes each of the following: support, transverse and perpendicular profile elements, connection devices, rigid connection pieces, and rigid connection elements. The support profile element has a core with a central opening, and lateral wings having a pair of projections defining an opening therebetween with two channels. The perpendicular profile element is positioned perpendicular to the support and transverse profile elements. The connection device includes a clamp having first and second parts terminating at different levels at an end region of the device, the parts together defining, in sequence, an end, first opposite projections, first opposite indentations, second opposite projections, and second opposite indentations, the end, indentations and projections providing securing engagement at five contact points within a lateral opening.

Abstract: A wall cladding system to provide an attractive finished, exterior appearance to a building wall, the system including an assembly of adjacent, similar, thin cladding elements, oriented in a substantially vertical plane, each cladding element including an exterior panel provided with an exterior and an interior major face, the interior major face being attached by an adhesive material to a flexible sheet of material having an upper edge projecting beyond the cladding element. Further, a plurality of spaced-apart fasteners are provided to connect the flexible sheet of material to a building wall.

Abstract: The form panel (1) has a lining skin (2) and girders (4) supporting the lining skin (2) on the side averted from the concrete, as well as possibly marginal webs (3) which run approximately parallel to the girders (4) and enable adjacent form panels (1) to be coupled and connected to one another. The girders (4) have an approximately U-shaped cross section, the U-limbs (5) departing from a U-crosspiece (6) to diverge slantwise and having at their free ends, where they are furthest apart from each other, oppositely directly fastening flanges (7) for joining to the lining skin (2).

Abstract: A metal frame anchor, such as one used for securing a metal door or window frame to an adjacent wall structure, having a generally rectangular base, two prongs bent upward and then over the base in opposite directions to form clips which open in opposite directions, and the base having at least one set of angularly cut opposite corners. The slidably insertable metal frame anchor is typically disposed in a metal frame element such that the anchor's base is positioned on inside surfaces of the backbends with the two prongs bent upward and then over the base in opposite directions to form clips which open in the opposite directions and which are positioned on outside surfaces of the backbends to which the anchor is clipped.

Abstract: A loose-fill insulation product is provided which includes a dry mixture of loose-fill fiberglass and an inorganic adhesive in the form of a redispersible powder. During application, the dry loose-fill mixture is coated with a liquid (e.g. water) so as to activate the adhesive. Thereafter, the loose-fill mixture with activated adhesive is blown or sprayed into a cavity (open or closed) so as to insulate same.

Abstract: A partition frame having two parallel side walls, a flat connecting wall perpendicularly connected between the side walls, two longitudinal grooves defined between the two side walls at two opposite sides of the flat connecting wall, longitudinal rows of key holes on the side walls for mounting partition panels, and two longitudinal rows of recessed hanging holes on each side wall at an outer side for hanging things.

Abstract: A fixture for mounting external cladding in the form of single facing sheets on internal or external walls of buildings includes a fixing bracket for affixation to a wall and a horizontal positioning plate to support the external cladding sheet. The horizontal positioning plate includes guides which hold the facing sheet in place. The fixture is horizontally and vertically adjustable. The horizontal positioning plate and the fixing bracket have substantially horizontal support surfaces that engage each other and are horizontally adjustable in all directions relative to one another. The horizontal supporting plate is locked in a selected position to the fixing bracket by a welded connection after the horizontal positioning plate has been adjusted relative to the fixing bracket.

Abstract: A panel connector (10) is comprised of substantially identical locking bars (12A, 12B) held together in clothes-pin fashion by a resilient rod (14). The body (46) of the connector is received in a channel (86) of one structural member (80A). Jaws (34) formed on the top (18) of each bar (12A, 12B) may be received in a slot (92) of a second structural member (80B) and the jaws thereafter urged apart by a spreader member (70) to grippingly engage the slot (92) and lock the structural members (80A, 80B) together. Camming surfaces (42) of the jaw sections (34) facilitate use of connector (10) over a wide range of wall thicknesses at the slot (92).

Abstract: A biarch consists of two coplanar arches, curved in the same direction and radially spaced with cross ties having shear rigidity in planes perpendicular to the cross section areal center curve of the arch pair. End ties resist relative tangential arch displacements. Biarch framing members are strong, stiff, durable and economical structural members for framing aesthetically pleasing, clear span arched structures capable of withstanding hurricane winds and mountain snows. The most efficient materials for constructing biarch framing members are hardwoods, aluminum and steel. Biarch frames spanning up to fifty feet can be assembled or disassembled by one or two persons using common hand tools.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a door frame made of wood. The door frame comprises a pair of rails, a pair of stiles and connectors. At each of the connecting ends of the rails and stiles, hollows and holes are formed, into which a connector capable of disassembly is inserted and fixed, thereby joining and tightening the rails and stiles. The door frame can maintain its integrity and still provide for convenient repair and replacement of damaged portions by disassembly of the connector.

Abstract: The invention relates to extruded ceramic tiles for exterior walls which can be used for constructional purposes or for decorative purposes. The tiles have holes extending in the direction of the extrusion of the tile and possesses a relatively low weight. The instant tiles can be adapted to size in a stepless manner without any cut intersecting even one of the holes or one of the grooves and have satisfactory draining of water. They are simple and economic to produce. The marginal webs of the instant tiles are arranged between the marginal surfaces of the tile extending in parallelism to the holes and the marginal holes possess a width at least twice that of the internal webs of the tiles.

Abstract: An insulated window panel assembly for use in window and door assemblies having an improved insulating spacer between the window panes comprising the panel assembly. At least two panes of glass or other panel material are interconnected in parallel, spaced relationship by a spacer assembly. The spacer assembly is preferably a single length of tubing, generally rectangular in shape, having an outer wall of a first width interconnected to an inner wall of less width by generally concave sidewalls. The sidewalls also contain a bead of sealer material configured to seal with the adjacent window panes. A secondary seal is deposited on the outer wall and overlaps the sidewalls to also form a seal with the window panes. The spacer assembly is preferably one piece, bent to conform to the overall shape of the window panes wherein a first end of the spacer is connected to the opposite end. Folds may be made in the spacer along a crimp line formed in the inner wall to accommodate angular window pane configurations.

Abstract: A modular platform floor system for advantageous use at trade shows and conventions includes a plurality of interconnectable floor modules, wherein each module includes a supporting rectangular frame and a panel supported thereon, the platform having cutout, notched corners defining openings between two or more adjacently located floor modules, and plastic plugs which seat within these openings to interconnect the adjacently located modular units via downwardly depending prongs which engage the supporting frames of the modular units. Carpet pieces are secured separately to the top surfaces of the panels and to the plugs, to provide an aesthetic and comfortable surface for the floor. The plug is integrally formed, preferably of injection molded thermoplastic, to provide a unitary one piece plug for interconnecting the adjacently located floor modules.

Abstract: A door panel for an electronics enclosure or cabinet is disclosed. This door panel includes a window opening, over which is placed a windowpane, anchored to the door panel by bonding material. The bonding material is extruded into a cavity formed by the rearwardly turned edges of the door panel window opening and the overlapping edges of the windowpane. This construction seals the door panel window opening from dust, moisture, or other airborne contaminants, provides an exacting tolerance for anchoring the window in place with very few parts, and enhanced aesthetics.

Abstract: A structural module has a cast concrete portion and a girder. The concrete portion has a reinforced deck with a reinforced load bearing a diaphragm at opposite ends. The girder extends between the diaphragms and protrudes into each diaphragm without structural connection thereto while being shear and tension coupled to the deck such that forces induced in the girder are transferred to the diaphragms via the coupling between the girder and the deck.

Abstract: A firestop conduit element is formed of an inner conduit of fusible material surrounded by intumescent material which is contained within an exterior moisture impenetrable barrier. A preferred barrier is an external sleeve, bonded at its ends to the conduit. The ends of the conduit element are coupleable to exterior conduit systems.

Abstract: A joint device enables to join a brace member, into which regulated pretension is exactly introduced, to unmovable connector nodes, comprising a steel rod 1 having a swelled portion 1A and a threaded connector portion 1B formed on the end thereof, respectively, one sleeve 3 providing an external threaded part 3A joined to one node 2M, which contacts a swelled portion 1A: and another sleeve 4 providing an external threaded part 4A joined to node 2N, which engages threaded connector portion 1B. The length from a node-contact face 3c of sleeve 3 to a node-contact face 4c of sleeve 4 is selected equal to difference of length between both nodes 2, 2 from length for generating a preferable elongation enough to introduce regulated pretension into steel rod 1.

Abstract: A weep screed for use in exterior construction has a vertical member, an outwardly projecting member, and an inwardly projecting member which is susceptible of being form-fit to a concrete foundation. The inwardly projecting member has a plurality of grooves or notches running along the length of the weep screed to provide tear strips, to permit adjustability of the length of the inwardly projecting member by allowing it to be torn off, or to permit bending of the inwardly projecting member for a form fit with the foundation where a flush fit occurs at a point in between tear strips.

Abstract: A geodesic dome structure formed from a plurality of panels. The dome is shaped generally as a spherical icosahedron, and will generally be constructed as a spherical dodecahedron. Each of the panels is divided into nine triangular sections by a ribbing structure integral to the panel. The ribbing provides the panels with extra rigidity for support. This eliminates the need for any internal framing in the structure. The sides of the panels include interlocking means to bind the panels together. The interlocking means allow a user to simply snap the panels together to form the structure.