Abstract: A composite building unit comprising at least one volume element having an upper surface with at least one projection and a bottom surface with at least one cavity positioned and configured to accommodate a projection from another volume element and at least one support element positioned between said upper and bottom surface of said volume element.

Abstract: Prefabricated vertical and horizontal support elements. The vertical support elements consist of columns which have breaches on the concrete at the floor levels. The horizontal support elements are made of supporting and rigidity beams, that have protruding elements which can be inserted in the cited breaches of the columns. Every protruding element of every beam is inserted between the vertical rods of the column into which it is assembled. The beams are held in place by other rods that are laid longitudinally. These rods are anchored to the beams by means of protruding steel rods or similar devices before the concrete is poured.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improvement of strength performance of connections in structural steel buildings made typically with rolled structural shapes, specifically in beam-to-column connections made with bolt or riveted weld web connections and welded flanges, to greatly reduce the very significant uneven stress distribution found in the conventionally-designed connection at the column/beam weld, through use of slots in column and/or beam webs with or without continuity plates in the area of the column between the column flanges, as well as, optionally, extended shear connections with additional columns of bolts for the purpose of reducing the stress concentration factor in the center of the flange welds.

Abstract: A sliding window structure has a window frame comprising an upper frame member, a lower frame member and bilateral side vertical frame members which are assembled in substantially rectangular shape, and an indoor side sash and an outdoor side sash fitted to the window frame. The lower frame member comprises an indoor side portion to which the indoor side sash is mounted and the outdoor side portion to which the outdoor side sash is mounted and has a step-like configuration in which the indoor side portion has a height higher than a height of the outdoor side portion. An attachment is mounted to the outdoor side portion of the lower frame member so as to cover the outdoor side portion. An upper end of the attachment is substantially at the same height level as an upper end of the indoor side portion of the lower frame member.

Abstract: Adjacent reinforced, preformed wall panels are joined to one another by a wet-knit joint. The confronting edges of the wall panels are formed to have an undulating pattern of alternating convex, concave segments having ends of reinforcement bars extending from the concave segments. The reinforcement bar ends are connected to an arrangement of elongate bars and a zig-zag reinforcement bar, that knits the wall panels together. The wet-knit joint is completed by the introduction of concrete, or other pourable material, that, when cured, creates a strong connection between the wall panels.

Abstract: A protruding ridge type rain diverter for a foldable roof for a tent, canopy, yurt, or other portable shelter is described, comprising: at least one elongated strip of foldable roof material sealedly attached to the roof along both long sides of the strip thereby forming an elongated pocket, and an elongated substantially transversely incompressible member positioned within each pocket, thereby maintaining each pocket in a protruding position relative to the roof. The position and shape of the pocket(s) facilitate flow of runoff from the roof away from entryway, door, and/or window openings of the portable shelter.

Abstract: A building vent assembly comprising a plurality of individually extruded plastic vent components that have been cut to a desirable length and pitch for a particular size and shape vent.

Abstract: An improved facility for supporting the main landing gear assembly and the nose wheel assembly of a commercial jetliner is quickly adjustable so as to be able to accommodate different aircraft models. The facility includes a nose wheel lift platform system that includes an elongated pit, a support platform that is supported in the pit and is adapted to support an aircraft's nose wheel assembly, and a number of spacer blocks for covering portions of the elongated pit that are not covered by the support platform. The support platform is mounted on a trolley which is equipped to move the support platform up or down as well as lengthwise along the pit. The spacer blocks are slidable along the upper opening of the pit. By moving the trolley beneath a spacer block and engaging the spacer block with the support platform, an operator can move the spacer blocks with the support platform.

Abstract: A circular disk approximately 6 feet in diameter and approximately 0.50 inches thick, having a small hole through the center of the disk for engagement with a screw or a spike, and method of using the same. The user places the disk atop one or more bales of hay standing on end, and secures the cover to the topmost bale by engaging a screw or spike through the center of the cover and into the bale of hay.

Abstract: A J-hook roof anchoring and securement assembly, which is easily set-up and taken down, includes a rope tie-off attachment point. The J-hook securement assembly also includes a hanging scaffold attachment apparatus to provide an attachment point for a hanging scaffold system. The hanging scaffold system includes a vertical support post attached to platform base and having walk boards provided thereon. A vertical safety rail post contains angled brackets that mate with top and bottom portions of the walk boards. A securing rod is attached at one end to the safety rail post, is threaded through the walk boards, and is secured at a second end. The walk boards are held in clamping contact with the vertical support post by the use of the securing rod.

Abstract: A climate resistant decking structure and method for providing same incorporating modules and a frame where the modules are constructed using an undernailing technique with profiled shank nails and corrugated nails driven into planking, joist, and nailer boards in a manner where the finished assembly has an exposed surface clear of imperfections caused by nailing.

Abstract: A mezzanine floor includes a corrugated metal base with tongue and groove panels secured thereto, wherein the panels have been finished with a number of steps to achieve a combination of desired features, including durability, cleanability, water resistance and non-skid characteristics. The finishing steps include coating and curing a polyester acrylic layer, followed by coating and semi-curing at least one more layer of acrylic with no polyester. Then, a final layer of acrylic is coated and all of the layers are cured via electron beam and then ultraviolet radiation. The viscosity of the acrylic is varied during the successive coatings, and this produces the textured finish necessary for non-skid characteristics. The tongue and groove configuration is offset to enhance stability at the joints between adjacent panels.

Abstract: The present invention provides a shingle for covering a roof or other surface. The shingle has an integral heat shield for shielding the roof from direct solar radiation. The shingle is substantially L-shaped when viewed from above and comprises two main parts, a shingle portion that is fastened to the outer surface of the roof in the usual overlapping courses, and a heat shield portion projecting upwards from the plane of the shingle portion. The heat shield portion extends over a part of an adjacent shingle, shading the shingle. The heat shield portion also provides an air passage with open top and bottom ends allowing air flow under the heat shield thereby preventing a heat build-up beneath the heat shield.

Abstract: An anchor apparatus for anchoring an article to the ground includes a pair of spaced apart legs rotatably mounted on an axle. Each of the legs has a curved tine attached thereto for insertion into the ground as the legs are rotated in opposite directions about the axle. A lug on each leg receives a pin in an aperture for preventing rotation of the legs relative to one another and the tines have flanges which resist pulling the tines from the ground. A chain is connected between one end of the pin and a sleeve. When the tines are inserted into the ground, the pin is inserted into the apertures in the lugs and the sleeve is positioned on the pin between the lugs, the chain can be looped around a portion of a sports goal frame resting on the ground and a lock can be inserted through the chain and an aperture in one of the lugs such that the anchor apparatus prevents the sports goal from tipping over.

Abstract: An automatic end closure system for use in conjunction with a typical telescoping bleacher assembly. The automatic end closure system substantially blocks ingress and egress to the undersection of the telescoping bleacher assembly which prevents mischievous or curious spectators from causing harm to themselves or to the equipment contained in the undersection. The automatic end closure system basically includes a plurality of panels, a plurality of guidance tracks, a plurality of panel locking engagements and wheels. Each of the panels may be composed of an inner metal framing covered with a wooden facade. The automatic end closure system may be an add-on or integrated component of the telescoping bleacher assembly. Once connected to the telescoping bleacher assembly, the automatic end closure system automatically expands and retracts with the expansion and retraction of the telescoping bleacher assembly.

Abstract: Here is a method of construction of a multi-storey building comprising the following steps: positioning precast side slab walls on the site; each slab wall defining outer and inner wall surfaces with the inner wall surface being inclusive of a plurality of inwardly-extending cavities; positioning one or more precast floor slabs each being of appropriate dimensions for a respective floor of the building; each floor slab having secured thereon or therein one or more retaining means; engaging each retaining means in an adjacent cavity to position the floor slab as required; and securing the so-engaged retaining means such that the respective floor slab is secured relative to the side walls.

Abstract: An apparatus and methodology for smoothing relatively small pads of freshly laid concrete. The apparatus comprises a pair of broom assemblies joined by a gang bar structure and each pivotally movable on the gang bar structure between first and second angularly displaced positions. A first rope is connected to the apparatus and moves the apparatus across the pad in one direction in response to pulling on the first rope, and a second rope is connected to the apparatus and moves the apparatus across the pad in an opposite direction in response to pulling on the second rope.

Abstract: Being extruded in one piece from a polymeric material, such as polyvinyl chloride, and being useful with a soffit panel and with a siding panel, a combination siding panel-trimming and soffit panel-mounting member has a back panel, an upper front flange for overlying a back edge portion of a soffit panel, a lower front flange for underlying the back edge portion of the soffit panel, and a back flange for engaging an upper edge portion of the siding panel. The upper front flange projects from the back panel frontwardly, generally horizontally, and approximately at a right angle. The lower front flange projects from the back panel, has a portion projecting frontwardly and upwardly toward the upper front flange, and has a generally horizontal distal edge.

Abstract: Swimming pool basin provided with a partition wall, which can be moved essentially vertically up and down, for the division of the swimming pool basin into part-basins, the partition wall comprising an oblong, essentially beam-shaped body, which extends between two mutually opposing, vertical walls of the swimming pool basin, and which partition wall can be brought into a first, operative state so as to lie with its upper limit essentially level with the water level or project above it, in which first state the swimming pool basin is sub-divided into two swimming sections, and into a second or retracted state, in which the upper limit of the partition wall is located at a good distance below the water level, enabling swimmers to swim unhindered past the partition wall along the top, the oblong body of the partition wall being directly attached by means of at least two movable guide arms to the swimming pool bottom or to a wall part of a recess made in the swimming pool bottom.

Abstract: A prefabricated wall forming structure for constructing reinforced concrete walls employs insulating foam plastic panels that are interlocked into two parallel concrete impervious walls by I beam channels that are spaced apart by tie elements. The tie elements can support horizontal or vertical reinforcing bars and prevent the foam walls from spreading apart under the hydraulic force of the poured concrete. The I beams snugly engage the edges of the foam panels to provide a concrete imprevious seal and align the panels vertically and horizontally. A corner connector performs a similar function.