Abstract: A device, particularly for compensating the internal and external pressures in a double-glazing unit, such double-glazing units comprising a frame which supports two sheets made of at least partially transparent material, a chamber being formed between the two sheets and being adapted to provide an air space for thermal and acoustic insulation. The device comprises a duct which connects the inside of the chamber to the outside environment and is shaped so as to form two siphons arranged in series, a first siphon, located towards the chamber, having a higher head than a second siphon, located towards the outlet of the duct into the outside environment, the device further comprising elements for absorbing the moisture of the air contained in the portion of duct between the siphons.

Abstract: Adjacent backdrop panels and a suspended canopy comprising a stage shell, wherein the backdrop panels include angular alignment devices for readily and accurately aligning adjacent panels to present a pleasing, uniform appearance and tilt aligning devices to readily align the angle of tilt of the backdrop panels. The suspended canopy formed of individual canopy panels having rotatable hinge devices for storing the canopy panels in a substantially vertical position and having a readily engageable stay assembly for accurately fixing the relative angle of the canopy panels when deployed in a performance position above the backdrop panels.

Abstract: A retrofit roof riser subframing support assembly for attaching a new roof over an existing roof wherein the new roof has a slope independent of the slope of the existing roof. The assembly can include a series of spaced apart rows of roof support members having one end attachable to the new roof structure and another end mountable on the existing roof. Each row of roof support members can have a different height such that the difference in height between the tallest row and the shortest row defines the slope of the new roof. Each roof support member can include at least one fixed length post member having one end retained in a socket portion of a mounting member which is mountable on the existing roof. The other end of the post member can have a purlin clip rotatably connected thereto. The purlin clip can be rotated to the desired angle, locked in place, and attached to the new roof structure.

Abstract: A wall system which can be reconfigured and reused as needed, and which provides improved fire resistance and acoustical resistance, includes a plurality of edge connected panels having a solid structural core, a plurality of spaced apart structural studs attached to opposite faces of the panels, and a plurality of cover panels attached to outboard faces of the studs. The solid structural core comprising off-set gypsum panels forming a lipped edge which is adapted to connect to an adjacent solid core wall panel in overlapped interlocking relationship whereby improved acoustical and fire insulating properties are achieved.

Abstract: An aseismic support structure which includes a fixed part which is attached to a stationary floor, an equipment connection part for holding part of the equipment and a moving part coupled to the fixed part and the equipment connection part and wherein the moving part is freely movable relative to the fixed part in any direction parallel with the stationary floor and the equipment connection part is freely rotatable about the moving part. The equipment can have a caster which is held by the equipment connection part. For a weak earthquake shock, a caster lock portion of the equipment connection part locks the caster of the equipment to prevent the movement of the equipment. For a stronger earthquake, resonance is prevented by the moving part moving in a direction parallel with the stationary floor, and for a ruinous earthquake the vibration of the moving part is absorbed by a shock absorbing member attached to the fixed part.

Abstract: This invention relates to a rectangular roofing shingle defined as a shingle unit having front and rear stepped edges and having (a) an undivided headlap portion and (b) a butt portion horizontally divided into at least 4 dissimilarly shaped, space-separated, snaggle-toothed tabs which are integral with, and extend from the bottom portion of said headlap and which are recessed from the side edges of said headlap; said shingle unit, having an overall length in inches approximately equal to from about 9 to about 12 inches multiplied by the number of tabs, is secured to a reinforcement strip which is positioned to underlay said tabs, and from about 0.75 to about 5 inches of said adjoining headlap and which has a length equal to the overall length of the shingle unit.

Abstract: A display for holding objects includes a base having a recess, a projection extending from the base and into the recess, and a sleeve disposed about the projection to hold a portion of an object in the recess between the sleeve and the base.

Abstract: A plastic stackable riser for providing a grade level access for underground components such as septic tanks, distribution boxes, and drop boxes, including a cylindrical side wall having a top free edge and a bottom edge. The top free edge defines a first end opening and the second bottom edge is connected to a generally inverted U-shaped connecting member which defines a channel shaped to receive the first free edge portion of an adjacent stackable riser. In use, a plurality of stackable risers are interlocked together so that the side walls all extend along common vertical axes to the underground component and provide a gas-tight, liquid-tight column above the underground component.

Abstract: A surprisingly durable, strong, outdoor window shutter without functional louvers or slats, which is substantially comprised of polyvinyl chloride, is described. The shutter preferably has a center panel onto which is laminated two back vertical members. This is preferably in the shape of a rectangle with two opposite edges into which stepped projections have been cut. The shutter preferably also has two vertical side members, each having a channel containing a strengthening rod. The vertical side members have stepped arms which fit closely over the stepped projections. Mortise and tenon joints are formed at the point of connection between the stepped projections and the stepped arms. The strengthening rods and the mortise and tenon joints serve to strengthen the shutter. Additional strength is provided by horizontal members affixed to the top, middle and bottom of both the front and the back of the shutter. These shutters have excellent structural rigidity and can last for many years.

Abstract: An improved base sheet for a roofing assembly wherein the base sheet is perforated with a plurality of apertures characterized by non-cylindrical cutouts in the shape of a closed figure or a polygon having at least two sides or boundaries of unequal length which aperture configuration permits strong attachment of the sheet to a substrate without the aid of auxiliary attachment means and without weakening of the base sheet structure.

Abstract: An automobile roof headliner includes a relatively stiff molded backing sheet and a relatively deformable foam panel adhesively secured to the undersurface of the backing sheet. Marginal edge areas of the foam panel in contact with hard side rails on the roof are provided with resilent deformable foam inserts that prevent the hard side rails from interfering with the energy-absorption action of the foam panel.

Abstract: A wall system and method of manufacturing a wall for a manufactured building is disclosed including gluing a wallboard to a frame made from perimeter plates and stud members. After the wallboard is glued to the frame, an elongate rigid rail member is removably attached to the board to hold the board and frame together during glue set up and curing. The rail member is removed after the glue has cured.

Abstract: One piece joist hanger formed of heavy gauge sheet metal for fastening of a steel joist to a supporting member. A horizontally aligned upper tab member aligns to and rests on the supporting member to position the joist hanger during installation and prior to fastening. A horizontally aligned lower tab member allows the joist to simply rest on the lower tab prior to fastening.

Abstract: A building extension having an external frame for supporting flat panels thereon with the flat panels secured to the external frame by a double-sided adhesive foam tape and having caps and flashings secured to the flat panels through use of double-sided adhesive fasteners to provide a waterproof roof unit which an individual can quickly and easily replace.

Abstract: A foundation for masts, posts, pillars, etc., wherein the foundation has a foundation tube (3) which is lowered into a pre-drilled hole (2) in the ground (1), where the pre-drilled hole has a diameter larger than the diameter of the tube (3) and where at least the space between tube (3) and ground (1) is filled with a casting mixture (8), e.g. concrete, a tube (3) is used which is designed with perforations (4) in its lower area. The foundation tube (3) is equipped with a coating which gives the tube protection against corrosion, and possibly also an electrical insulation. The coatings can have a rough surface in order to create the best possible adhesion to the casting mixture. In order to ensure that the coated foundation tube (3) is safely lowered into the hole, it is first lined with a casing (13), which is removed during or immediately after the casting.

Abstract: A lightweight, prestressed tower includes 1) a base load transfer assembly to be mounted on a support base fixture assembly which is mounted on a base support pad; 2) a primary truss assembly consisting of a plurality of truss bays interconnected by diagonal and vertical tension members between horizontal frame assemblies; 3) a central compression tube assembly operable to be extended centrally of the truss bays from bottom to top having tubular sections connectable to each other to provide a central compression load assembly; and 4) an upper load transfer assembly connected to an upper end of the central compression tube assembly and by horizontal and diagonal tension members of the primary truss assembly. The primary truss assembly with the diagonal and vertical tension members and frame compression tubes is operable to have predetermined tension forces applied thereto through extension of the central compression tube assembly to create desirable load support characteristics.

Abstract: A device for anchoring a corner of a beach blanket or towel to the sand of a beach. The device includes a clamp removably attachable to the corner of the beach blanket or the towel for enabling the corner to be anchored to the sand of the beach, and a spike removably receivable in an eyelet defined on the clamp, for anchoring the clamp and thus the corner of the beach blanket or towel to the sand of the beach. The spike includes a locking mechanism for locking and unlocking the spike within the eyelet of the clamp.

Abstract: A mull post having an edge surface, a first lateral surface and a second lateral surface with the mull post including a plurality of pocket holes and a plurality of fastener guide passages of sufficient integrity to maintain the axial orientation of a rigid fastener as the fastener is driven at a shallow angle into a frame abutting the mull post to secure the mull post to the frame.

Abstract: A hollow block (e.g. a rectangular prism) preferably has six (6) perpendicular faces. Each face preferably has a wall with a particular thickness. An opening is provided in at least a particular one of the faces, and preferably in all six (6) faces. A hollow beam (e.g. a rectangular prism) preferably has six (6) perpendicular faces. Each face is preferably defined by a wall with a particular thickness. An opening is provided in at least a particular one of the faces, and preferably in the four (4) faces defining a closed loop, in the beam. Substantially parallel snaps extend from the other two (2) beam walls and have at their outer ends portions shaped to facilitate insertion of such snaps into the opening in the particular face of the block, retention of the snaps by the inner surface of the face defining the opening and removal of the snaps from the opening. Such portions are shaped for the beams to be pulled, peeled or bent from the block.

Abstract: A structural element for thermal insulation between two structural elements to be covered with concrete, especially a building and a projecting external part, has an insulating body to be inserted in between the structual elements and has at least integral compression elements which run transverse to the longitudinal extension of the insulating body and through them and are respectively connected to both structural elements, wherein the compression elements can have of a profile body with several especially vertically running compression bars, and wherein the length of the compression elements in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the insulating body amounts to a multiple of their vertical height.