Abstract: A top cap for attachment to and concealment of a wire channel along the tops of a wall panels. The top cap has a groove structure that inwardly engages the wire channel and outwardly forms a receiving groove snap-engageable to a detachable trim strip. The trim strip being field or factory installed and may be removed for replacement by other trim strips for achieving different aesthetic arrangements.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a tongue and groove product which comprises a first and second major surface and a first and second longitudinal edge. The first longitudinally edge including means defines a longitudinally-extending groove. The second longitudinal edge includes a longitudinally-extending protruding tongue for interlockingly engaging a complimentary grooved longitudinal edge of an adjacent tongue and groove board. The protruding tongue has an upper and a lower longitudinally-extending surface. The major design feature of this invention is that the protruding tongue has at least one substantially vertically-extending opening formed therein. Each of the openings extends through the protruding tongue from said longitudinally-extending upper surface to said longitudinally-extending lower surface for providing at least one drain path for water to drain by gravity from said first major surface downwardly through each said vertically-extending opening.

Abstract: A workstation for providing a relatively isolated environment suitable for human to interface during long time periods with a computer through a display screen. The space partition assembly comprises an elongated canopy defining a working area dimensioned to accommodate a user adopting a reclining posture. The canopy also includes at one end thereof an entryway to allow access to the working area by means of a sliding seat supporting the user. On the back of the seat is provided a large panel which at least partially closes the entryway when the working area is occupied by the user to reduce disturbances such as noise or light from reaching the working area.

Abstract: Modular wall panel structure comprising panels having a supporting skeleton of stiles, rails, and mullions of substantially uniform hollow rectangular section and wherein each vertical margin of a panel includes two spaced stiles and wherein each panel includes two spaced bottom rails as well as a top rail and two spaced mullions extending vertically from the top rail to an uppermost bottom rail.

Abstract: This invention provides an improvement related to the well known prestressed-concrete structural member, such as is commonly employed by the construction industry to achieve greater load-supporting ability for beams, columns and the like. Presently, laminated wooden-beams for example, are being mass-produced which exhibit a substantially increased load-bearing ability over an equivalent non-laminated beam. However, the physical dimensions and weight encountered in some applications can not only impose severe architectural design comprises, owing to beam-thickness to walk-under clearance; but often, requirement for special heavy-duty handling equipment at the site as well, owning to their inherent weight/mass. This invention serves not only to reduce the preceding problems, but to reduce problematical installation guess-work by enabling the builder to conveniently trim the beams ends to fit exact site installation spans, spans -without effecting the pretensioned integral truss-element.

Abstract: A building element for erecting buildings, parts of buildings or the like has at least one panel (3) which is horizontal in the position of use and which is provided with a reinforcement. Support elements (4) are mounted in the corner regions of the panel perpendicular to the plane of the panel. The reinforcement is a volume-supporting framework and the interior of the panel is a completely hollow cavity interrupted only by the reinforcement. At least the partial region of the reinforcement facing the top of the panel in the position of use is embedded in an upper embedding region, preferably of concrete. The reinforcement has edge ribs along the edges of the panel and intersecting diagonal ribs. Lattice girders are embedded in the ribs and are suspended at their ends in stiffening shoes. The suspension regions are embedded in concrete or the like.

Abstract: A joint between adjacent concrete slabs for overcoming existing problems which occur due to large scale relative movement of adjacent concrete slabs which results from the slabs shrinking when aging. More specifically, a resilient finger joint for concrete slabs is provided which allows and adjusts for relative vertical movements of adjoining slabs with the joint including an arrangement for absorbing vibrations and impact loads encountered which result from traffic passing over the joint between adjacent slabs. The joint includes a plurality of fingers supported by a resilient bed. The fingers are positioned in staggered, interdigitated relation and each finger is associated with an anchor alongside of and partially overlapping one end of the adjacent finger with a pivot pin or shaft interconnecting the anchors and fingers with each finger including an end that is free of an opposing anchor but supported by the resilient bed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for securing building construction members such as roof trusses and floor joists. A flat lacer coil fastened between gable trusses and is of sufficient tensile strength to temporarily sustain lateral tipping forces of support trusses as they are fastened to the frame of a building structure. In an alternative embodiment, the lacer coil extends between floor frame members and, when attached to floor joists, counteracts the inherent bowing when they are secured to the floor.

Abstract: A pivotal frame connector or pivotal coupler for pivotally attaching two adjacent display structures wherein each of the display structures includes a skeletal frame formed of a network of elongate support rods joined by hub assemblies which provide for articulation of the support rods. The pivotal frame connector includes ends identical in structure to the ends of the support rods to engage those hub assemblies disposed on the periphery of the display frames. These peripheral hub assemblies have empty unused sockets to which the pivotal frame connector is readily attached. The pivotal frame connector is U-shaped and substantially shorter in length than each of the support rods to remain out of sight and out of the way when the display frame is covered by a skin-like aesthetic covering.

Abstract: A damping subsystem protects a structure from the effects of seismic disturbances and employs at least a first pair of first and second damping and transformation mechanisms including respective, associated first dampers oriented in parallel relationship in a first direction and oppositely disposed relatively to the center of gravity of the structure and mechanically connected between respectively corresponding portions of the structure and the foundation in relatively inverse relationship. Each mechanism transforms a force transferred to the associated first damper from the foundation in the first direction and/or any lateral, relative displacement of the corresponding structure and foundation portion in the first direction to a corresponding force and/or displacement, respectively, in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, each also performing the reverse transformation.

Abstract: A convertible enclosure particularly adapted to cover an outside hot tub installation. The enclosure includes a tubular frame with sliding cross-pieces. A cover is attached to the cross-pieces such that the cover may be extended to encompass one side and the top of the space desired to be enclosed with the opposite side remaining open.