Abstract: The present invention provides an assembly for extending the effective depth of a frame (510) secured within an opening having a depth greater than that of the frame (501-504) itself. A channel (515) is associated with each segment of the frame (501-504) and opens in the direction in which added frame depth is desired. Each channel (515) has a similar, half-dovetail profile (560), and a frame extending member (520) is associated with each channel. Each frame extending member (520) has a profile that includes a first portion (501) which is rotatable into engagement with a respective channel, and a second portion (650a) which extends in the desired direction when the first portion (501) is retained within the channel (515).

Abstract: A structural, insulating, insect resistant, dimensionally stable composite wall panel for building construction comprising a regular tetragonal body of polymer foam having two opposing primary wall surfaces bounded on its sides by two parallel side walls and on its ends by two parallel end walls; and at least one light metal gauge hollow stud in the body, each light metal gauge stud extending at least from one end wall to the other end wall and parallel to the side walls of said body, the polymer foam extending into the center of the stud to secure the stud to the body, at least one side wall of each stud forming a portion of the same primary wall surface of said body.

Abstract: A window or door drain at the base of an extruded window or door sash or frame. A rectangular frame having a peripheral front flange defines a front drain opening for abutment against a wall of the sash or frame in which a flap having a planar rear surface and a front surface is pivotally mounted for opening and closing the drain opening, the flap having upper and lower edges and side edges, and the flap upper edge being rounded with cylindrical lug extensions of the upper edge extending laterally of the flap side edges for insertion into round mating holes in side walls of the frame in proximity to the top wall of the frame. The flap pivots from a closed position on a diagonal rear wall upwardly to an open position adjacent the frame top wall in the front drain opening.

Abstract: A beverage holder which comprises an elongated member having a pointed, ground penetrating tip, a container carrier dimensioned to receive a beverage container such as an aluminum can containing soda, beer, or the like, and a pivotal coupling assembly for coupling the container carrier to the elongated member, the carrier being selectively angularly positionable into an upright orientation relative to the elongated member regardless of the angular position of the latter relative to the ground. Illustratively, the elongated member may be configured with an axial bore dimensioned and arranged to receive and support the butt-end or handle portion of a fishing pole, the thus configured beverage holding assembly functioning also as a fishing pole holder.

Abstract: The apparatus can secure a building having a roof, with a plurality of lines and a plurality of ground anchors, which are planted around the building peripherally. The lines are adapted to be attached to the ground anchors and routed over the building. Netting material spans the lines at the roof. The apparatus may also have at least one cinch transversely spanning the lines at the roof of the building. At least one lashing may be directed transversely to the predetermined azimuthal direction and may be connected between one of the lines and one of the anchors. A plurality of tubular boots may separately encircle corresponding ones of the anchors for providing peripheral clearance around the anchors.

Abstract: A door jamb protector apparatus includes a first flexible clamp portion having one edge connected to one edge of a flexible back portion. A second flexible clamp portion includes one edge connected to another edge of the flexible back portion. Each of the first flexible clamp portion, the flexible back portion, and the second flexible clamp portion has a resilient exterior surface and a resilient interior surface. The first flexible clamp portion, the flexible back portion, and the second flexible clamp portion are comprised of a single material in a form of a unified, integrated structure. The resilient exterior surface of the first flexible clamp portion and the resilient exterior surface of the second flexible clamp portion are substantially concave. The resilient exterior surface of the flexible back portion is substantially convex. The unified, integrated structure is substantially U-shaped and is comprised of a resilient plastic foam material, such as polyurethane foam.

Abstract: A ventilation opening closure to close off a standard opening in a support structure such as a roof or wall includes a base and a cover plate. The base comprises a base ring, a seal ring between the base ring and the support structure, and a bevel-shaped seal ring to align and seal the cover plate with the base ring. The closure may include a pair of complementary hinges that the closure can be opened to the right or to the left. Alternatively, rather that the second hinge, the closure may include a latch means to more quickly shut the closure.

Abstract: A bridging beam for bridging a weakened area of a pole to reinstate the pole. The beam includes a sleeve for abutting the external surface of the pole on an inner surface of the sleeve and an external brace extending outwardly from an outer surface of the sleeve. The brace is constructed to brace the sleeve in radial and tangential directions relative to the sleeve. The brace is formed as an elongate tubular box section.

Abstract: An inflatable building construction, in particular suitable for use as a tunnel greenhouse comprising a film which is kept in an operative condition doming a predetermined useful space through an air pressure that has been increased relative to the environment, and which film has longitudinal edges anchored to the ground, wherein, for anchoring the longitudinal edges of the film, at least one flexible hose or tube is used which lies on and/or against a longitudinal edge provided in a trench in the bottom and which is filled with a fluid under excess pressure, which hose or tube clamps the film edges in the trench.

Abstract: An expandable retractable portable structure having a movable portion hingedly connected to a stationary portion and wherein the movable portion pivotally encloses the stationary portion of the structure in its retracted position and wherein, in its expanded position, the structure provides maximum interior space for use. An actuating mechanism includes one or more hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders connected to a linkage system. The actuator is located inside the structure on the floor of the stationary portion and the linkage system driven by the actuator is connected to the floor of the movable portion so that the movable portion is rotated by the actuator and linkage system between its expanded and retracted positions. The actuator and linkage system are removably mounted inside the structure and may be readily removed from the structure and used to open or close other structures. Alternatively, the actuator may be left inside the structure.

Abstract: A tie rod assembly for use with forms for forming a wall of pourable, curable material. Each assembly has a rod having opposite threaded ends and two spacers. Each of the spacers has a first conical section having a recessed opening at an apex region of a concave conical guide surface and a hexagonal recess surrounding the apex region, and a second conical section having a threaded bore communicating with the apex opening. The threaded bore has a coil thread nut integrated with the conical second section. The concave conical guide presents a target for directing a remotely inserted bolt towards the apex region for engagement with the coil thread nut.

Abstract: A spacer stock has a pair of outer legs joined by a base to provide the spacer stock with a generally U-shaped cross section. The outer legs are formed e.g. each leg has a pair of members having a hairpin cross section to reduce the degree of torsional twist of the spacer stock and/or spacer frame with the legs preferably only connected by the base having only one thermal conducting path e.g. through the base from one leg to the other leg. The spacer stock may be shaped or sections of spacer stock joined to provide a spacer frame. The spacer frame may be used to fabricate a multi-sheet glazing unit e.g. by securing a sheet to each of the outer legs with moisture impervious adhesive or sealant.

Abstract: A method of tensioning parallel prestressing members of a building or building component of prestressed concrete or a tension member composed of a plurality of individual elements, such as steel rods, steel wires or steel strands, wherein the individual elements are successively tensioned either individually or in groups. The tensioning method described above includes the steps of tensioning a first individual element or a group of individual elements until a predetermined tension is reached and anchoring the first individual element or group of individual elements; tensioning a second individual element or a group of individual elements until the tension thereof is equal to the tension of the previously tensioned individual element or elements at the same time and anchoring the second individual element or group of individual elements; and repeating the preceding step until all individual elements are tensioned and anchored.

Abstract: The ground engaging restraint device (2) comprises a ground spike (4) and a clasp (6). Comprising the clasp is a head (48), a pin (50) and a pair of arms (52) having teeth (64). The ground spike has a receiver (12) having a bore (20) and circumferential notches (24), an elongated shaft (16) having a ground-engaging stop (18). In one embodiment the shaft has a plurality of interconnected webs (36), and in another embodiment the shaft has a helical blade (72) fixed concentrically about the shaft. A portion of an article (14) is placed over and inserted into the bore by placing the clasp over the receiver, causing the pin to enter the bore and frictionally engage the article between the pin and the bore. Teeth of a pair of arms engage a plurality of notches (24) on the receiver, removably retaining the clasp on the receiver.

Abstract: A building system and apparatus for forming a wall on a footing. U-shaped channels and H-shaped or T-shaped members coupled at their sides by rigid links hold foam panels in a desired spaced relationship. Vertically oriented panels aligned and connected by T-shaped members or horizontally oriented panels stacked with and connected by H-shaped members are inserted into the U-shaped channels to form a structure of the desired length. Concrete is poured between the panels and members where it hardens to form a structural wall. The planar surfaces of the U-shaped, H-shaped and T-shaped members enable the members to be extruded, thereby substantially reducing member production costs. Furthermore, widely available conventional foam panels can be used, reducing panel production costs.

Abstract: Flanged Triangular elements for constructing a stairway which can be joined to provide a beam having adjacent tread and riser mounting portions.

Abstract: The invention provides means and methods to erect and plumb a precast concrete post in a concrete footing embedment. In a method of the invention, the base of a post is connected with mounting hardware to a partial footing, followed by the pouring of a footing remainder around the base of the post and around the hardware. A post of the invention has an upper section and a base; the base contains a mounting hole. The post maintains essentially the same footprint from the upper section to the base. A post and panel structure of the invention is characterized by a post secured in a two-part footing, in which a secondary footing securely captures the post in the footing.

Abstract: A barrier device for preventing unwanted penetration of finishing materials from one surface onto another is disclosed. The barrier device is particularly useful to protect one surface from unwanted penetration of paint or varnish while the adjacent surface is coated. The barrier device includes a flexible sheet having a substantial width and a narrower strip capable of retaining an impression. The strip and sheet are applied to a textured surface by pressing the strip onto the surface with sufficient force such that the strip material retains an impression of the texture.

Abstract: A concrete construction system enabling the construction of multi-storey buildings using single storey wall panels and elevated flat slabs is provided. The invention provides a plurality of concrete panels of a uniform thickness, the plurality of concrete panels including wall and floor panels, wherein the floor panels are interconnected with abutting floor panels with a tongue and channel system so as to properly support the floor panels on the supporting wall.

Abstract: A building skeleton comprising profiled bars of rectangular profile and/or of I-profile. The rectangular bars have undercut grooves of the same size and cross section that extend longitudinally along each of the sides of the rectangular bars. The I-bars have such grooves on the outward sides of the transverse parts of the I-bars. Intermediate elements are receivable in the grooves for connecting two bars having grooves laid one over the other or two bars arranged one after the other along a path. In one embodiment, smaller cross section rectangular bars are telescopically insertable into hollow, larger cross section rectangular bars. The height of a side of the rectangular bar may be the same as the height of an I-shaped bar between its transverse parts or their respective heights may be different, which enables nesting of a smaller size rectangular bar or a smaller sized I-bar between the transverse parts of a larger size I-bar.