Abstract: A frame designed to hold worn or broken historical tombstones together indefinitely. The preferred stainless steel frame includes an integrated back panel on which the original inscription is engraved, thereby preserving the original inscription that may have faded due to age and weather to the point of illegibility.

Abstract: The intrusion of insects into a home or similar building is controlled by utilizing insect controlling plastic materials in the construction of the building. The insect controlling plastic building materials are manufactured by first blending one or more plastic resins with one or more insect controlling chemical agents to form a blended plastic resin/insect controlling chemical agent material. The blended plastic resin/insect controlling chemical agent material is then utilized to manufacture plastic films, sheets, non-woven fabrics, woven fabrics, insulating foams, flooring materials, wall covering materials, and the like utilizing conventional manufacturing techniques.

Abstract: A concrete embedding anchor includes. An anchor including an anchor body having a head at one end of the shank and a stopper at the other end, a fitment concentrically mounted to said head and having an external thread and easy breaking portion formed on the round bar portion thereof, and a hemispherical shell-shaped former fitted with the middle portion of said anchor shank. A retainer is secured to the concrete form in advance, said anchor fitment is inserted into and screwed up to said retainer, said anchor is combined with the concrete form, then concrete is poured, and said concrete form is taken away after the concrete has hardened.

Abstract: In order to design an infrastructure of an elevated bridge, first a target ductility factor &mgr;d and target natural period Td for the infrastructure are set in connection with an assumed earthquake motion. Subsequently, a yield seismic coefficient for the target ductility factor &mgr;d and target natural period Td is obtained from a yield seismic coefficient spectrum for the assumed earthquake motion as a design seismic coefficient Kh. On the other hand, a target yield rigidity Kd corresponding to the target natural period Td is obtained. Subsequently, the design seismic coefficient Kh is used to obtain a design horizontal load bearing capacity Hd and a displacement corresponding to the design horizontal load bearing capacity Hd is obtained as a design yield displacement &dgr;d from the target yield rigidity Kd. Subsequently, the design horizontal load bearing capacity Hd is distributed into a horizontal force Hf to be borne by the RC rigid frame and a horizontal force Hb to be borne by the damper-brace.

Abstract: A flooring system includes a first floor member having a through hole and includes a second floor member having a non-through hole which extends from the bottom side toward the top side of the second floor member. The second floor member is positioned above the first floor member with the non-through hole aligned with the through hole. A radially-expandable fastener (such as a rivet) extends through the through hole and into the non-through hole. A method for installing a flooring system includes obtaining a first floor member having a through hole, obtaining a second floor member, and positioning the second floor member above the first floor member. A non-through hole is created extending from its bottom side toward its top side. A radially-expandable fastener (such as a rivet) is installed in the first and second floor members. The radially-expandable fastener extends through the through hole and into the non-through hole.

Abstract: The thermal insulation pad has a compressible insulation strip, a top flexible cover and a bottom flexible cover. A stapling flange and a flashing flange extend widthwise from the top and bottom cover strips respectively along a first side of the insulation strip and are sealed to each other along a bond line near the first side. An interior flange extends widthwise from the top cover strip, along the other side of the insulation strip. The flanges are usable to seal the thermal insulation pad against the weather and air barrier on the outside of a building wall and against the vapour barrier on the inside of a building wall. The flanges extending from the top cover strip are usable to stretch the top cover strip over the insulation strip to form a cushioned liner around a wall opening.

Abstract: A preformed component or “preform” for a structural member has a planar base with two longitudinal legs extending in parallel from the base. A channel is defined between the legs for insertion of a flat plate that forms the first member of the structural member. The base of the preform is bonded to a composite panel. The preform is a composite material having continuous filaments of woven or braided fiber. The preform is impregnated with a thermoset resin that bonds the first member to the second member of the structural member. The preform may have filaments in the legs having a coefficient of expansion to match the plate, and filaments in the base having a coefficient of expansion to match the panel.

Abstract: A thin, prestressed concrete panel, having a thickness of about one and one-half inch thickness or less, and apparatus for making the same is disclosed. Pairs of prestressed tendons extend between the side and end portions of the panel. The tendons of each pair are positioned on each side of the mid-plane of the panel and spaced from such mid-plane so as to increase panel strength and prevent warping of the panel. A molding apparatus for casting the panel comprises a bottom plate, a pair of opposite side portions, and a pair of opposite end portions. Slots are defined in the side and end portions through which tendons are inserted prior to pouring concrete in the mold. Tensioning means are provided for prestressing the tendons in the longitudinal and lateral directions of the panel.

Abstract: A wall panel assembly comprising a curved, upwardly opening channel and a support member having a downwardly extending insert portion. The insert portion is inserted into the channel. A component is attached to the support member. In a preferred embodiment, a rail member comprises the channel and is removeably attached to a wall panel frame. In another aspect, the wall panel further includes at least a second channel and a second support member engaged with the second channel. The second support member being further attached to the component. In a preferred embodiment, one or both of the second support members include a rotatable cam member that releasably engages the component. A method is also provided for configuring a wall panel with an off-module component.

Abstract: This invention relates to pole structures used for supporting transmission and distribution lines, lighting and communications systems, highway signs, traffic signals, and the like. More specifically, this invention relates to a new and useful design of a multi-sectioned pole, with at least one telescoping upper section made of metal or another similar lightweight material and a base section composed of concrete or similar material that can be directly embedded into the ground without the need for baseplate-type foundations, or other preparatory work.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for constructing hollow metal frames having a grout filled interior is disclosed. An apparatus includes a substantially planar body having an upper and lower surface. The upper surface includes at least one grip. The lower surface includes a gasket and a number of protrusions. The protrusions are placed into holes on the hollow metal frame into which additional components such as hinges are to be added. Grout is added to the frame and allowed to harden. Once the grout is hardened, the grout guard is removed and air spaces are retained. Screws and other components are typically filled into the air spaces.

Abstract: The invention provides methods, systems, and devices for installing thermal barriers in openings or gaps in or between structures such as walls, ceilings, and floors. At least one thermal barrier molding bag is positioned in the hole or gap, and a flowable firestop material that is operative to cure or harden, such as a hydratable cementitious slurry, is introduced into the bag to mold a barrier in the hole or gap.

Abstract: There is now provided a building glass facade of a building comprising a plurality of glass plates each of which is secured by clamp fittings for a glass plate, with each clamp fitting comprising two clamp elements that clamp the glass plate between them and also comprising an articulated support of the clamp fitting on a fastening device, whereby a first articulated arrangement comprises a substantially permanently elastic element that is disposed on one clamp element. There is also provided a second articulated arrangement that has two plano-concave lenses that face each other with their spherical surfaces, between which the bolt head of a pendulum bolt with corresponding concave complementary surfaces is guided.

Abstract: A fastener for use in forming a joint of a framework for a patio enclosure. The joint includes an end of an elongated first frame member fastened to a side of an elongated second frame member. The fastener includes a body having a first end and a second end defining an outer surface therebetween. The second end is adapted to fit in a hollow portion of the first frame member. The fastener further includes a plate extending outwardly from the body. The plate is adapted to be fastened to the side portion of the second frame member. A stop extends outwardly from the outer surface of the body. The stop provides for positioning of the fastener relative to the first frame member when the second end is positioned within the hollow portion of the first frame member.

Abstract: A sight glass retaining system is provided for mounting a sight glass to a support panel, such as for viewing combustion or other processes. The system includes a retainer which forms a continuous frame and has lateral flanges for locating the sight glass. Retaining tabs extend from the frame and support resilient retaining portions which snap into engagement with the support panel. A resilient element, which may form a seal with the sight glass and support panel, urges the assembly in compression to maintain tight engagement of the components, and generally column loads the retaining portions to preclude movement of the assembly on the support panel.

Abstract: A multilevel spiral incremental structure and construction method for residential and/or commercial buildings is disclosed. The present structure is constructed using a plurality of prefabricated modular units or pods which are substantially similar in their size and configuration and assembled symmetrically about a central core designed to contain ductwork, conduit, vents, pipes and other utility apparatus. The pods are supported on stepped foundation piers at progressively higher elevations based upon a calculated vertical increment factor. In a preferred embodiment six pods are arranged about a central core to produce a hexagonal structure resulting in a vertical increase of about ten feet or one story in floor elevation per revolution about the core. The present construction may be cost effectively expanded into a multilevel building by adding new pods after the initial construction phase without digging a new foundation or demolishing portions of the original structure.

Abstract: A strut assembly includes a longitudinal member having a wall and at least a first substantially hollow end portion. A first threaded member is slidably mounted within the first end-portion and is capable of movement along a longitudinal axis of the threaded member between a retracted position and an extended position. The wall has at least a first access opening therein for providing access to the first threaded member. At least a first node is provided having at least one internally threaded radial bore therein which is configured to threadably engage the first threaded member in an extended position.

Abstract: A shelter has a frame assembly (12), and a roof assembly (14) and flexible sidewall assembly (16) releasably connected thereto. The frame assembly (12) has a plurality of upright frame members (18) laterally spaced relative to each other, and a plurality of lateral frame members (20) extending laterally between and interconnecting the upright frame members (18). The flexible sidewall assembly (16) has a first sidewall frame (22), a second sidewall frame (24), and at least one flexible sidewall (26) connected at one end to the first sidewall frame (22) and connected at another end to the second sidewall frame (24) and extending therebetween. The flexible sidewall assembly (16) further has at least one tensioning device (68) connected to the flexible sidewall (26) for securing it in a taut condition to the frame assembly (12).

Abstract: A one-piece, watertight flashing having first, second, and third panels joined together by first, second, and third elongated, watertight regions of intersection. The elongated regions of intersection intersect at a watertight common corner. The first and second panels are at a first angle with respect to each other in the first region of intersection, the second and third panels are at a second angle with respect to each other in the second region of intersection, and the first and third panels are at a third angle with respect to each other in the third region of intersection. At least one of the angles is a non-right angle.

Abstract: Disclosed is a unitary resilient insert member for filing an expansion joint gap formed between adjacent concrete slabs, floor tiles, or the like wherein the insert member consisting essentially of a preassembled wedge shape form. Also disclosed is a method for sealing the gap located between adjacent flooring or structural members by filling the said gap with a sealing material insert.