Abstract: Suspension hook, in particularly for suspending sectional bars from an existing ceiling, said bars together forming a grid for supporting ceiling panels. Said bars each have an upper tubular part. The suspension hook consists of a connecting portion and of a hook portion, said hook portion being intended to be inserted in said tubular part of the concerned sectional bar via a pair of apertures in the upper wall of said tubular part. The hook portion has a flat bearing surface which extends at about aright angle from the strip shaped connecting portion. The central region of said bearing surface is provided with a V-shaped downwardly projecting nose, the height of which corresponds with the height of the tubular part of the concerned sectional bar. The free end of the hook portion is provided with an upwards directed lip.

Abstract: An air purification planter is disclosed which comprises a receptacle; an aeration assembly; a pot-growing plant; and, a potting media. The receptacle is of the type utilized commercially. A portion of said aeration assembly is sized and proportioned to fit within said receptacle. In the preferred embodiment, a commercial receptacle is perforated near the bottom of said receptacle in order to permit communication of said aeration assembly from the interior to the exterior of said receptacle. The aeration assembly includes an electric fan which connects to the exterior end. The fan draws air through the potting media, by the root system, and through the aeration assembly, and recirculates the cleansed air.An alternative embodiment of the air purification planter utilizes a totem concept, and, comprises an aeration assembly; and a trellis-growing plant. In the alternate embodiment, the potting media is combined with activated charcoal to be wrapped about said aerating section.

Abstract: In a method of hydroponical growing of plants, a drip irrigation pipe having outlets disposed along the length thereof is inserted between a pair of flatwise juxtaposed layers of water-impervious material of an apparatus alongside a first closed longitudinal edge thereof. The apparatus including the supply pipe is suspended with said first closed longitudinal edge along a suspension means placed at a substantially horizontal level. Roots of plants are inserted in between said two layers downstreams of said outlets and with the stems extending through throughcuts in one of said two layers. Nutrient solution is fed through said supply pipe and outlets and guided to the roots of each plant and is quickly percolated through said roots and collected below the roots for recirculation or discharge thereof.

Abstract: A channel forming dewatering device for use in preventing the penetration of water into an underground room away from a wall. The device provides a baseboard member having an upper flange connected to an angular section. The angular section is, in turn, connected to a vertical section. A bend section attaches a web to the vertical section. A lower flange attaches to said web. The baseboard member is to be placed against a wall proximate to the floor. The upper flange and lower flange contact the wall. The web attaches to the floor with an adhesive such as an epoxy. A flexible liner is placed between the web and the floor. This flexible liner is such that it will better attach to an adhesive. In the preferred embodiment, the flexible lining is extruded with the baseboard member. Grooves are placed through the flexible lining and partially into the web to allow a channel into which the adhesive such as epoxy can flow.

Abstract: A window for automobiles or the like includes a window plate and an integral frame member along at least one edge of the window plate. The window is manufactured by preparing a window plate and a pre-shaped frame body which comprises a main portion and a surface layer covering an outer side of the main portion. The main portion of the pre-shaped frame body is composed of a thermoplastic synthetic resin material having a relatively high dielectric loss and containing a heat foamable agent therein. The surface layer is composed of a non-foamable thermoplastic synthetic resin material. The pre-shaped frame body is subjected to a dielectric heating in a mold, to cause the foamable agent in the main portion of the pre-shaped frame body to expand in the mold cavity.

Abstract: A combined soffit vent and bracket that includes a one piece plastic extrusion with an end wall adapted to be attached to an outside wall of a house with an integral vent panel having vent openings provided therein and extending substantially perpendicularly from the end wall and a bracket integral with the vent panel which defines an open channel to receive a soffit.

Abstract: A resiliently mounted and constructed rigid floor grate assembly is disclosed, in which a series of metallic tread rails of T-shaped cross section, placed side by side and connected by tie rods, are separated by individual, resilient spacing and supporting elements. The spacing and support elements are placed between each pair of tread rails, underneath the tread portions thereof, and are held under compression by the tie rods to form a rigid assembly. In addition, the height of the spacing and support elements is slightly greater than the height of the vertical web portions of the tread rails, to support the metallic elements slightly above the hard surface of a floor recess in which the grate assembly is placed. Significantly reduced metallic noise and clatter is an important benefit.

Abstract: A floral stand which is designed to display flower or branch arrangements in any desired orientation, including horizontally or upside down. The stand is a hollow shell made of a light weight plastic material, and having inside it porous material pads designed to hold water and plant food solution. Curved spring clips hold the porous pads in place and grip the flower or branch stems inserted between the clips, preventing the flowers or branches from falling out of the stand when held at an angle or upside down. The shell may be shaped in any of a number of pleasing configurations suitable for floral display. In addition, to the spring clips which can secure moderate sized flower stems and branches, specially designed pincers made of plastic material may be inserted inside the shell near its rim, to aid in gripping any heavy flower stems.

Abstract: A modular building structure is provided for erection on a circular foundation. The building is formed from a plurality of truss members mounted between the circular foundation and a compression ring at the crown of each truss member. Roof panels fixed to said truss members form a generally spherical building shell for storage of all types of material. The truss members are made in modules or segments that are hinged together for easy erection and simple fastening together to form a unitary rigid box beam structure forming the structural framing of the building. The modular roof panels are formed to mount between adjacent pairs of truss members so as to overlap the truss members and abut each other to form a weather-tight sealed joint and roof structure. The spherical building requires no side wall structure and roofing materials may be used throughout to weather-proof the building.

Abstract: A plant pot carrier is provided, generally in the form of a ring of lesser diameter than the top of the pot, to support the pot. Preferably, the ring is circular in cross-section and nearly cylindrical but tapered slightly to match the taper of the upper rim of a plant pot. In the preferred embodiment, leading from opposite upper sides of the ring are two flexible straps, which may be bent upwardly to meet each other and which include complimentary means for fastening one to the other, thereby forming a loop which can be used as a carrying handle. At least the lower periphery of the ring includes several inwardly directed tabs or a continuous flange which engages the underside of the lip commonly formed by the annular ring at the top of a typical plant pot. Preferably, several spaced tabs or a continuous flange are also provided at the upper margin of the ring, to engage the upper portion of the plant pot.

Abstract: A process for growing a light-weight, transportable sod-mat and for facilitating the implantation of such a mat on a lawn bed comprises germinating lawn-grass seeds in a thin layer of growing medium spread over a mat of non-woven polypropylene laying on an impermeable membrane. After germination, the mat and the inseminated growing medium is installed over a layer of porous material such as decomposed granite covering a conditioned subsoil. Drip irrigation lines are run through the upper region of the porous material.

Abstract: A device comprising a porous, open-celled block, such as wood or foam plastic, having substantially parallel, opposed, planar major surfaces and adapted in size to support a single flower pot. A plastic tape, which may be perforated or unperforated, is wrapped around the block and covers at least half of each of the major surfaces of the block. The tape has a thin, single-particle-thick layer of quartz sand attached to the inner surface of the tape in close, non-adherent relation with the major block surfaces. The sand particles are interspersed with a network of capillary spaces which are conductive to lateral spreading of water along the layer.The invention also includes a support block of a predetermined size and height having a single side panel that includes the plastic perforations and the quartz sand single layer proceeding up to the top plastic layer on the styrofoam block.

Abstract: This invention provides for the mechanical attachment of at least a strip (3) of glass or the like to the metal structure (1) (by using staples, for example, or other means of attachment) in such a way that the strip (3) of glass faces the area (14) where the sheet (4) of glass is fixed. The sheet (4) of glass, double or single glazed, is fixed to said strip (3) by an elastic means (5) for example silicon seals ideal for use in the normal fixing of glass to glass, Preferably, the metal structure comprises a jutting ledge (9) that acts as a support for the vertical forces acting on the sheet (4) of glass.

Abstract: A computer controlled system for delivering of a fertilizing water stream to crop beds and varying the nutrient content of the water stream to customize it for each crop bed. The nutrient feed system utilizes injection pumps with pre-set dose volumes and a computer control which permits the pumps to be stroked at different frequencies based on the flow of a water stream to accurately control the nutrients injected and to permit accurate switching from injecting nutrients of one pre-set menu to those of another pre-set menu.

Abstract: A mast which is retractable to a lesser height and volume, and deployable to a greater height, and which when deployed can survive a very high temperature event. All structural elements which are required for structural integrity while the mast is deployed are rigid members made of high temperature resistant material. Where the ends of structural diagonals must move toward one another during retraction, that diagonal is provided as a rigid body of two relatively sliding parts which can be latched in an extended condition when the mast is deployed. A lanyard is provided for unlatching and retraction purposes, which may be sacrificed to a high temperature event.

Abstract: A portable structure is disclosed that may be easily assembled and disassembled. The structure has particular value in supplying emergency shelter in a disaster. The structure is formed from two boards which are stored in a folded condition, and which may be expanded to define an enclosure. The two boards are interconnected by tabs, such that the structure is easily assembled and disassembled.

Abstract: A vibration damping system adapted for use on top of a structure, comprises: a weight disposed on the top of the structure in a manner such that it can undergo simple harmonic oscillation; an acceleration sensor provided at the structure top for detecting the structure vibration in terms of acceleration; a weight driving mechanism for actuating the weight into the simple harmonic oscillation; and a phase & amplitude controller assembly for performing integration twice on the signal coming from the acceleration sensor, once to obtain the velocity signal, then to obtain the displacement signal, for reversing the sign of the velocity signal when the velocity signal exceeds a predetermined value, and for controlling the weight driving mechanism on the basis of the sign-reversed velocity signal so as to attenuate the vibration of the structure by giving the energy of the weight performing simple harmonic oscillation under control of the phase & amplitude controller assembly to the structure in optimum timing and w

Abstract: An erection of triangular spaced ground implemented metal rods embodying a plurality of tiers of vertically spaced ring members removably engaging said rods to secure the same in forming a stable structure.

Abstract: The present invention entails a plant growing tray system which includes a tray with a plurality of individual plant cells having an open top and bottom and a detachable screen or perforated bottom. Each tray cell is designed to contain and hold a plant growing medium such as peat cake or peat-soil mix. A detachable bottom secured to the bottom part of the plant tray provides air-pruning of plant roots and can be conveniently removed from the plant tray for easy removal of the individual plants or seedlings from the tray bottom. Air-pruning of plant roots eliminates root binding or tangling and accelerates root branching resulting in enhanced plant growth in the cell or after transplanting.The plant tray has a surrounding edge to hold a water level above the top of the tray cell or micro-feeding holes of each cell for self watering and to maintain uniform root zone temperature throughout the tray.

Abstract: A flat steel anchor for a pre-cast concrete component is comprised of an anchoring portion to be positioned within the concrete component and a connecting portion protruding from the concrete component. The anchoring portion has lateral bars that enclose therebetween a first opening with a first opening cross-section in a plane of the flat steel anchor. The lateral bars are oppositely bent relative to one another and relative to the plane of the flat steel anchor. The respective outer curved planes of the lateral bars form anchoring surfaces of the anchoring portion. The first opening has a second opening cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the flat steel anchor defined by respective inner curvatures of the lateral bars. The connecting portion has a second opening for receiving a lifting device.