Abstract: An adjustable pre-fabricated 3-way inside drywall corner with two flat sides and a flat face to be placed in the pointed 3-way corners created where sheets of hung drywall are joined to form two walls and a ceiling. This pre-fabricated corner can be paper, metal, or other suitable material. It allows a drywall worker to string tape by starting the tape a few inches away from a corner and running to the next corner, ending a few inches away from the second corner. The worker thus does not have to gauge exactly where to cut the tape to mate into the corners. Also, the effect of tape slip while stringing becomes unimportant. After the tape and drywall mud is dry, before the finishing step, the pre-fabricated corners are placed in every corner of a room, held in place by drywall mud. A drywall worker needs only to put a small amount of topping mud on the flanges and then "kill" the corner with a 4-6 inch knife.

Abstract: A metal anchor for mounting screws in thin wall boards made of plasterboard, pressed wood or similar building material includes a body (1) formed from a sheet metal plate and provided with semi circular retention ridges (2) projecting alternately to each side, which are matched in width and pitch to the thread shape of the screw (13) to be tightened such that the retention ridges (2) engage into the latter's thread grooves (19). The entire body (1) is formed of three sections, of which the first section (4), situated on the outer end, bears the retention ridges (2), the second section (5), situated in the middle, has two axially running outer bending ridges (7) and two inner bending ridges (8) which are mutually separated by slits (12) and can be bent off in opposing directions, and the third section (6), situated at the head end, is provided with semi circular guide shells (9) extending in opposed directions for inserting the screw (13.).

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a gutter tilt actuator for a rain gutter system for a house, building, structure, etc., which facilitates cleaning of a gutter, and more particularly to a gutter tilt actuator, which is utilized to rotate the gutter from a water collecting position to a cleaning position and from a cleaning position to a water collecting position.

Abstract: A shelter suitable for use on a snowblower shelter may be easily collapsed for storage and includes a plurality of interconnected frame members and flexible material releasably connected thereto. The shelter may be connected to any suitable device such as a lawn mower, walking aid, or earth tiller. The arrangement has the advantage of protecting a user from precipitation and heat as well as sun rays.

Abstract: Door and window constructions are provided which include a drainage channel fitted with a tubular member for providing a cost effective method of draining rain water which can sometimes seep along the window into its support frame.

Abstract: A wall system comprising a plurality of wall panels. Each panel has a vertically extending pilaster formed integrally with one end, defining a vertically open hollow core area of sufficient size for forming a concrete cast-in-situ column for supporting the panel in an upright position. The pilaster further includes an outwardly open groove communicating with the hollow core area. Each panel also has an integrally cast tongue projecting from its other said end, which is received in the groove of an adjoining panel to enclose the hollow core area. A concrete column is cast-in-situ in the hollow core area. Preferably, the pilaster is positioned on a concrete foundation or footing, which includes reinforcement members that project up into the hollow core area such that, when the column is cast, the reinforcement members are embedded in the concrete column. Adjoining panels may be positioned in end-to-end relation, at an angle relative to one another, or stacked.

Abstract: The present invention refers to the improvements made to precast integral structure elements used in the fast construction of several-floor buildings made with hollow core slabs that have the same length wanted for the buildings height, thus allowing the construction of a prototype building in very short mounting and assembly times. Such structure elements are extruded slabs made of prestressed concrete which act as one piece bearing walls of the buildings height, as floor structure and ceiling slabs, and as parapet slab.

Abstract: The invention relates to a flashing for use with siding panels possessing an interior and an exterior surface, and a perimeter surface having a predetermined sectional width, and includes a first, a second, and a third portion, and a first and a second non-perforated, generally planar transition portion, each portion having an interior and an exterior surface wherein (a) the portion continues to the first generally planar transition portion and forms a first angle there between; wherein (b) the first generally planar transition portion continues to the second portion and forms a second angle there between; wherein (c) the second portion continues to the second generally planar transition portion and forms a third angle there between; and wherein (d) the second generally planar transition portion continues to the third portion, which is substantially parallel to the first portion, and forms a fourth angle there between.

Abstract: An anchor 14 for a building roof structure tie-down strap 12 comprises a rectangular hollow steel box 27 having a keyhole 26 formed at one end of one surface, which slips over the head 24 of an anchor pin 17 permanently fixed in the foundation 19 of a building, and a pair of bolt holes 29 formed at an opposite end in a pair of adjacent surfaces to receive a bolt 30 for fastening a strap-tightening ratchet 13 to the box 27.

Abstract: A door is provided that has a first outer skin and a second outer skin. A first and second outer skins are separated by frame to form a hollow core between the frame and the outer skins. An expandable spacer is connected to the first and second skins to hold the first and second skins a predetermined distance apart. The expandable spacer has a plurality of elongated members having a width. The elongated members are each oriented substantially perpendicular to the first and second outer skins. The expandable spacer has a plurality of expandable core liners extending between the elongated members. The expandable core liners orient the elongated members with respect to the first and second outer skins in a perpendicular direction. The elongated members having a reduced width portion formed therein that corresponds to the molded portion of the first skin. A reinforcement layer may be applied to the elongated members at the narrowed portion to support the narrowed portion.

Abstract: A door has a pair of outer skins separated by a frame to form a hollow space therebetween. An expandable spacer core is connected between the pair of skins. The expandable spacer core has a plurality of elongated members each oriented perpendicular to both outer skins. A plurality of expandable core liners extend between elongated members to position the elongated members with respect to each other and to the outer skin. The expandable spacer cores are formed by gluing strips of expandable core liners between corrugated layers so that the corrugated layers are held together by the expandable core liners. The corrugated layers are cut in a direction across the expandable core liners. Once the expandable spacer cores are formed, an adhesive is placed on the edges of the expandable spacer core and the expandable spacer core is affixed to the inner side of the outer skins of the door.

Abstract: A space-dividing screen assembly comprising a pair of height-adjustable support posts and a flexible fabric screen having the opposite ends thereof connected to the support posts. The support posts include vertically movable outer tubes to which the opposite ends of the screen are connected. Vertical movement of the outer tubes permits adjustment of the height of the screen. The outer tube is rotatable so as to allow winding up of the flexible fabric onto the outer surface of the outer tube. Also, additional screens can be suspended from the support posts while the opposite free ends of the screens are supported by additional support posts to provide a readily adjustable privacy screen arrangement.

Abstract: A shear resistant structural panel assembly for use in framed buildings comprising a facing of finish material bonded and having a lower tensile strength to a usually thinner, structural membrane having a higher tensile strength and directly fastened to structural framing elements by a series of shouldered fasteners applied through the shear panel along both its edges and within the field of the panel, said fasteners securing said structural membrane to the face of the structural framing elements at the bearing face of the shoulder to resist shearing and separation forces on said assembly. The preferred embodiment is a nail with a cone shaped ridge located below the surface of the nail's head at a depth sufficient to pin the sheet metal to the supporting structural frame. The bevel indents the sheet metal providing a broad bearing surface sa as to increase the tearout strength as well as preventing the sheet metal from lifting free of the framing element.

Abstract: A yielding tie bar transfers load stress across a joint between adjacent concrete slabs, and accommodates internal movement of the slabs to reduce cracking. A combination of adjacent slabs have a cracking strength and comprise a plurality of such tie bars. A yieldable strip made of yieldable metal is welded to the bar and mounted near each end of the bar perpendicular to the bar axis. The strip has a predetermined yield strength (a) sufficient to restrain slab movement in a direction which opens the joint, and (b) yielding in the metal thereof to an extent that will prevent substantial cracking of the slabs. The bar is preferably rectangular and further comprises a resilient facing attached to at least one face to accommodate movement perpendicular to the facing. As preferred, the bar yield strength is sufficient to restrain slab movement at forces between the slabs below 80% of the slab cracking strength, and insufficient to restrain slab movement above at least 80% of the slab cracking strength.

Abstract: A monolithic, reinforced concrete framework for a multi-level, multi-unit building results from the utilization of factory prefabricated and finished wall panels, floor/ceiling panels and utility core modules, the juxtaposition of which, without forms, defines volumetric beam voids. The beam voids are exterior to the wall panels, floor/ceiling panels and core modules. Wall panels include light gage studs, which are loadbearing studs, and light gage column frames. Beam voids and column frames for a building level are poured with concrete at one time. Each building level is erected and poured in one day; and the next level can commence the following morning, without need for exterior scaffolds. The beams and columns carry the weight of the building down into the foundation. Large open areas, such as lobbies, can be provided, using building weight supporting trussed wall panels having support for the beams overlying the open area.

Abstract: A walking aid or crutch has a rod-shaped part (1), a grip (2) and a forearm support (3) or forearm region. The grip is connected at one end to the forearm support (3) and at the other end to the rod-shaped part (1). The walking aid may thus be substantially shaped out of a bent tube. This design of the walking aid places the supporting point of the walking aid further forward on the floor, giving the user a greater feeling of security and lengthening his steps.

Abstract: An anti-fracture, water-resistant, masonry-bondable membrane comprises a laminate having a core generally containing at least two plies of a flexible material bonded together by a flexible adhesive such as a plastisol, and a non-woven fiber layer physically bonded directly to at least one side of the core. The plastisol is a liquid composition which contains small sized resin particles such as polyvinyl chloride dispersed within a plasticizer. The core has good low as well as high temperature peel strength. The non-woven fiber layer is physically bonded to the flexible core by heat and pressure to produce a laminate wherein the non-woven fibers are partially embedded within the flexible material. The flexible membrane or laminate when utilized between and bonded to an exterior masonry article such as ceramic tile and to a substrate such as concrete, is very effective in preventing any cracks from propagating from the substrate to the article.

Abstract: A water impervious, elastomeric coating is applied to the outer surface of a foundation wall and across the joint between the lower end of the wall and the footing. Protection board is bonded to the elastomeric coating and serves to prevent damage to the coating during backfilling of the foundation wall. The protection board is composed of an impact resistant, extruded, thermoplastic material and has inner and outer faces connected together by a series of parallel spaced ribs which define vertical channels that extend the height of the board. A plurality of spaced isolated holes are formed in the outer face of the board and communicate with the channels. The board not only protects the elastomeric coating from damage, but the inner face provides an additional waterproofing membrane, and the holes and channels facilitate movement of water to the drain tile and relieve hydrostatic pressure on the wall.

Abstract: A heat insulating structure comprising a vacuum insulator fixed to a surface on which the vacuum insulator is to be applied is provided for the purpose of improving the workability in fixing the vacuum insulator to the surface to be applied. A thermally adherable layer comprising a thermally adherable material is made between the vacuum insulator and the surface to be applied, and the thermally adherable layer is heated and melted whereby the vacuum insulator is fixed to the surface to be applied.

Abstract: An electrical powered transmission tower is modified to also support a telecommunications antenna. The tower has a plurality of legs interconnected by lattice braces. A support column is erected within the enclosure of the tower. The support column has a base anchored in the ground on a concrete foundation. The column extends upward through the tower and protrudes through the top. The antenna is mounted to the upper end of the column. Fasteners secure the column to the tower for lateral support.