Abstract: A vehicle door structure includes a mirror retainer having a main body, which is joined to the front end of an outer reinforcement with a part of the main body overlapping with the outer reinforcement. The mirror retainer includes an upper leg, which has a first facing surface facing a lower leg and is joined to the inner panel. The lower leg has a second facing surface facing the upper leg and is joined to the inner panel. A reinforcing member is connected to the first facing surface and at least one of a main body inner surface and the second facing surface so as to reinforce the mirror retainer.

Abstract: A blind cord guide seat includes a connection seat fixed under a blind rail and a cord restriction seat connected under the connection seat. The cord restriction seat includes a fixing section and a latch section. An outer face of each of the fixing section and the latch section is formed with a belt guide channel. The top end of the fixing section is formed with threaded holes for connecting with the connection seat by screws. When assembled with a cord winding device, an external force is applied to the latch section to outward bias the latch section to provide an opening for placing the cord winding device through the opening into the cord restriction seat. An iron-made hook bracket and a latch body are securely disposed at the upper end of the latch section for securely latching the latch section with the connection seat.

Abstract: Floor panels which are provided with a mechanical locking system including an extruded flexible tongue in a sidewardly open groove which during a vertical folding motion is bent horizontally. A tongue adapted for being received in a sidewardly open groove of a floor panel, wherein the tongue, which is an elongated extruded section, when received in the groove is bendable in a plane substantially parallel with a front face of the floor panel, such that the tongue is at least partially resiliently displaceable inside said sidewardly open groove in said plane during locking of the floor panel with another floor panel and wherein a vertical protrusion, serving as a friction connection between the tongue and the groove, is arranged at an upper or lower part of the tongue, wherein the tongue has a length in the longitudinal direction of the tongue and a total width perpendicular to the length, and the total width varies in the longitudinal direction of the tongue.

Abstract: A self-centering cable includes a restoring and energy-dissipation unit and a cable reinforcement connected to the restoring and energy-dissipation unit by a connecting unit. The restoring and energy-dissipation unit includes an outer trough, an axial tube provided in an opening at the upper end of the outer trough, two inverted U-shaped mild steel members provided side by side and fixedly mounted in the outer trough, an axial pallet sandwiched between and fixedly connected to the two inverted U-shaped mild steel members, and a disc spring set provided in the outer trough and sleeved onto the axial tube. The cable reinforcement includes a tensile reinforcement penetrating into a reinforcement bottom connector and a reinforcement top connector. The reinforcement bottom connector is connected to the axial tube, the top end connector, connected to the reinforcement top connector, and a bottom end connector are connected to a structure to be reinforced.

Abstract: A damped reinforced joint for a beam-column connection is provided for improving the resistance of steel-framed buildings against progressive collapse. Prestressing cables extend across each joint, and each prestressing cable is partially encased within a bent pipe. Each bent pipe may have multiple bends, forming a rippled or undulating shape. The prestressing cables strengthen the connections in the joints, and the bent pipes provide damping for dissipation of seismic energy and the like, thus improving resistance to earthquakes and other seismic, vibratory and/or shock events to the building frame.

Abstract: A foundation for a wind mill includes a circular or polygonal pedestal for supporting a wind mill tower and a plurality of ribs radiating radially outwardly from the pedestal, wherein the pedestal is divided into a plurality of circumferential sections, wherein a circumferential section and a rib are each integrally formed with one another, or are each formed, as a precast concrete element, wherein the precast concrete elements are made from reinforced concrete including a first reinforcement structure, in particular reinforcement bars, embedded into the precast concrete elements, neighbouring precast concrete elements, in their sections radiating outwardly from the pedestal, are spaced from each other in a circumferential direction and the clearance between two neighbouring precast concrete elements is each bridged by a bridging plate.

Abstract: Wall blocks, veneers, veneer connectors, walls, and methods of constructing walls are provided. More particularly, the invention relates to constructing walls in which a veneer panel is attached to a wall block with a connector and in which the front faces of the veneers have a desirable texture.

Abstract: Mounting components of photovoltaic (PV) modules and PV module assemblies are described, including PV module couplings and PV module mounting chassis. In an example, a PV module includes a PV module coupling having a toe portion extending from a PV module frame, and a PV module mounting chassis includes a toe slot to receive the toe. The toe and toe slot construction allows for the PV module frame to be assembled to the PV module mounting chassis without using tools, and thus, permits a PV module assembly to be quickly constructed during installation of a PV module system. Furthermore, the toe and toe slot construction accommodates thermal expansion and other environmental loads seen after installation, while providing a grounding connection for the PV module assembly.

Abstract: The present invention is related to translucent building elements, and more specifically to their manufacture. The present invention comprises a method for the manufacture of an insulating core element for a translucent building element, an insulating core element for a translucent building element, a method for the manufacture of a translucent building element, a translucent building element, a method for the manufacture of a translucent building wall, a translucent building wall, and a method for the manufacture of a multiple of stacked rows of elongated light-conducting elements for an insulating core element.

Abstract: The present concept is a method of roofing a bare roof deck. Asphalt shingles and metal flashings are applied to a wood deck of a roof before flashings and asphalt capping are applied. Metal panels are applied overtop of existing asphalt roof, thereby creating a metal overlay configured such that substantially all of the asphalt shingles are covered with a metal panel for preventing further degradation of asphalt components by shielding from sunlight, UV rays, excessive moisture, snow, wind, ice and fire. No further flashings are installed thereby the metal panel overlay creates a semi-watertight seal wherein the metal panel overlay together with asphalt roof is adapted to create a watertight seal. The present concept is also a method for roofing an existing asphalt shingled roof where metal panels are applied overtop the existing asphalt shingled roof.

Abstract: An uncoupling mat (1) includes a flexible plastic layer (2) made of a film-like plastic with structuring that defines indentations (6) provided with undercuts (5) on the first side (4) and cavities (8) positioned between the indentations (6) on the opposite second side (7). A fleece or fabric (3) is securely connected to the second side (7) and covers the cavities (8). The plastic layer (2) is provided with a plurality of weakening zones (12) which extend continuously between opposing side edges of the plastic layer (2).

Abstract: Systems and methods for making a waterproofed concrete wall assembly, such as for a basement wall. A form is constructed. At least a first side of the form is made of one or more boards having a polymer foam and a fibrous facer. At least some of the boards have perimeter edges shaped such that some adjacent boards overlap at the shaped perimeter edges. Concrete is poured into the gap between the sides of the form, and is allowed to harden. The other side of the form may be removed, while leaving the boards of the first side of the form in place adjacent the hardened concrete. Some of the concrete is infused into the fibrous facers of at least some of the boards.

Abstract: The invention relates to a structural system (1) with acoustic insulation properties, comprising modular mountable enclosures (2) for configuring a construction (3), the enclosures (2) comprising at least three layers (4, 5, 6) joined together by means of fasteners (7a, 7b, 7c) with discreet elastic elements, the system having at least one second layer (5) disposed in an intermediate position between the first layer (4) and the third layer (6).

Abstract: A roofing, cladding, or siding apparatus comprises a roofing, cladding, or siding module and at least one clip. The module comprises an underlapping region and an exposed region. The underlapping region is adapted to be substantially covered by the exposed region of an adjacent overlapping module when installed on a building surface. A projection extends from the exposed region to provide a bearing surface facing the under surface of the exposed region. The clip or clips is attachable to the underlapping region to provide a tongue adapted to be received between the bearing surface and the under surface of the exposed region of an adjacent overlapping module when installed on a building surface.

Abstract: Disclosed herewith a modular integrated building and a construction method thereof. The building comprises multiple prefabricated room units (1). A bottom of a load-bearing structure of the prefabricated room unit (1) is provided with a semi-prefabricated connecting port (2). Reinforcing bars arranged at a top of the prefabricated room unit (1) of a next floor are inserted in the connecting port (2) and thus connected with reinforcing bars arranged therein, so that the prefabricated room units (1) of two adjacent floors are connected with each other through in-situ casting concrete in the connecting port (2). A cast-in-situ concrete interlayer (3) is arranged on a top plate (11) of the prefabricated room unit (1) of a next floor, for connecting adjacent prefabricated room units (1) of a same floor together.

Abstract: A fire and water resistant, integrated wall and roof expansion joint seal system includes an expansion joint seal for a structure. The seal includes a central portion having an underside and at least one central chamber disposed around a centerline, a first flange portion extending outwardly from the centerline and a second flange portion extending outwardly from the centerline in a direction opposite the first flange portion. The system further includes a joint closure. The joint closure includes a core and a layer of a water resistant material disposed on the core. The joint closure further includes an end portion configured to match and integrate with the underside of the central portion to form the watertight, integrated wall and roof expansion joint seal system.

Abstract: A backing plate for drywall repair has a body having an outer periphery, and a thickness substantially less than any dimension at right angles to the thickness, made from a semi-rigid material, the body exhibiting two opposite, parallel planar surfaces, a plurality of guiding indentions arranged in a closely-spaced pattern on a first one of the parallel planar surfaces of the body, each guiding indention extending into the body for a first dimension less than the thickness of the body, having an intersection of a first area in the planar surface, and a parallel area diminishing with depth of the guiding indention, and, at the full depth of each guiding indention, a through hole of a diameter centered on the guiding indention and passing through the body and out the opposite planar surface.

Abstract: A collapsible vehicular armrest substrate includes load-bearing strips extending across a gap defined within a support frame. A first tunable element secures the load-bearing strips in a support position on the support frame. A first tension-adjusting portion sets a predetermined first tension limit of the first tunable element. The load-bearing strips disengage from the support position when the first tunable element experiences an actual tension greater than the predetermined first tension limit.

Abstract: Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems provide for solar panel arrays that can be aesthetically pleasing to an observer. BIPV systems can be incorporated as part of roof surfaces as built into the structure of the roof, particularly as photovoltaic tiles. Each photovoltaic module may comprise a photovoltaic laminate, a support arm and a mounting bracket. When installed an assembly of the photovoltaic laminate and support arm are rotatably attached to the mounting bracket allowing access under the array of photovoltaic modules.

Abstract: A method for forming a plurality of beams connected in series is provided. The method comprises the following steps: providing a plurality of columns; providing a plurality of pre-assembled bar combinations, wherein each of the plurality of pre-assembled bar combinations comprises a plurality of lower main bars and a plurality of lower stirrups, and at least one end of the plurality of the lower main bars has connection sections extending beyond the plurality of lower stirrups; hoisting each of the bar combinations so that the two ends thereof are placed on top of two adjacent columns of the plurality of columns and the connection sections of the plurality of lower main bars of adjacent plurality of bar combinations overlap; and connecting the plurality of connection sections of the plurality of lower main bars of the adjacent plurality of bar combinations.