Abstract: A vented closure for installation in a roofing system between the upper end of a roofing panel and a ridge cap. The vented closure is die-pressed into a cap flange for attachment to the ridge cap; a downwardly disposed closure wall connected to the cap flange; a bottom wall connected to the closure wall; an upwardly disposed inner sidewall connected to the bottom wall; and a vent opening located in the closure wall. Either a screen or a multiplicity of louvers covers the vent opening. The present invention closes the spaces in the ends of the roofing panel and conforms to the profile of the panel in such a way as to prevent entry of water, debris and vermin but permit the passage of air.

Abstract: A foldable and expandable pitch pocket for encompassing an element such as a vent pipe protruding from a roof structure. The pitch pocket is initially an elongated piecepart which is arranged with slits on a horizontal wall and notches on the vertical wall aligned with the slits, thereby making it feasible to use light hand pressure to bend creases in the vertical wall to obtain the folded pitch pocket. A slot and tab cooperatively arranged interlock the vertical wall to fixedly hold the folded shape of the pitch pocket.

Abstract: A plastic door frame structure and a method of mounting the same after a threshold is installed in a door hole including fixing a packing rail on a wall of the door hole, fitting an outer rail on the packing rail and adjusting the horizontal or vertical position of the outer rail, arranging a link rail at either lateral side of the outer rail such that the link rail conceals a clearance formed between the outer rail and the wall and passing screws through the link rail and the outer rail into the packing rail to keep the outer rail firmly in place, and fitting a seal strip onto the link rail to accomplish an integral plastic door frame, which is cut at 45 degrees at appropriate positions to obtain an inverted-U shaped door frame with the lateral sides perpendicular to the top side.

Abstract: A cast concrete block that is cast on its side and can be separated into at least three construction blocks to be used in constructing a retaining wall system. The cast concrete block has a top face and a bottom face. The block is bounded by an elongate base side, two elongate edge sides and an elongate top side. First and second elongate splitting grooves are formed in at least one of the top face and bottom face. The splitting grooves extend between the top side and the base side. The splitting grooves are spaced inwardly from the opposite first and second edge sides. Preferably, each of the splitting grooves are paired with a corresponding secondary groove in an opposite face of the block so that each splitting groove and its corresponding secondary groove are parallel with each other and lie in a common plane that is substantially perpendicular to the broad faces of the block.

Abstract: A metal frame insulated building system using metal studs and sole and cap blocking tracks of "C" cross-section anchored to a foundation and to each other. The studs and cap blocking tracks physically interlocked in addition to being mutually secured by fasteners. Vertical stacks or columns of foamed cement blocks are placed between the studs and grooves on one or both sides of the blocks receive stud flanges to interlock the studs and blocks. The bottom and top blocks of a stack similarly interlock via grooves with the blocking track flanges. The blocks protrude beyond the studs on the structure's exterior, substantially covering the stud and blocking track flanges and attenuating thermal conductivity as well as providing an exterior surface for stucco or other finish.

Abstract: A system is provided, wherein the watertight performance of exterior wall perimeters is addressed such as the perimeters of a window, a door, or a curtain wall system. The perimeter sealant lines are classified into P.E. Seal bordering no differential air pressure and D.P. Seal bordering a differential air pressure. Long lasting watertight performance is accomplished by using P.E. Seal in the area of the water path and D.P. Seal away from the water path. The design is accomplished by using combinations of an inner transition member, an exterior perimeter member, pressure equalization holes, and pressure equalized wall cavities.

Abstract: A baffle vent is provided for positioning between the underside of a roof and the top edges of the roof rafters and defining a duct between the rafters and between the vent and the interior surface of the roof for directing air over the interior surface of the roof. The vent is formed by an elongated self-supporting structure of sheet-like material having a plurality of longitudinal ribs adapted for positioning onto the top edges of the roof rafters. A plurality of longitudinal troughs are formed between the ribs and define the duct between the rafters. The ribs are on eight inch centers spacing the ribs transversely of the structure. The troughs include bottom walls spaced below the interior surface of the roof with transverse rigidifying means formed integrally with the bottom walls.

Abstract: A method of and wall sheet for building up a silo with lining and a method of manufacturing wall sheets for such a silo. The wall sheets are pre-formed wall sheets, comprising a base sheet and a sheet of lining material, bonded thereto in a slightly staggered manner. The lining material covers a number of bolt holes of the base sheet and already fitted in the covered bolt holes are fastening means, secured against rotation and also covered by the lining material. After the wall sheet has been mounted, free edge strips of the layer of lining material fall over uncovered edge zones of adjacent wall sheets. Connecting sheets of lining material are welded together along the edges, and, if necessary, the overlapping strips are bonded to the subjacent wall sheets.

Abstract: A hollow, glass, building block contains elastomeric or gel-like cured polydiorganosiloxane composition product being optically at least translucent and present in an amount sufficient to fill completely the available interior volume of the building block providing a space adjacent to the cured product to permit expansion of the cured product relative to the block during changes in temperature. This glass building block has improved fire resistance.

Abstract: A modular partition system which may be used in a cubicle construction for a washroom, change room or shower facility, and which incorporates one or more divider panels suspended in an upright configuration between a pilaster having in its rearward surface a vertical slot and an adjacent surface or wall to form a dividing partition. To conceal the cut edge of the divider panel and provide the partition with a finished appearance, an elongated channel member having front and rear sides with an elongate opening through the rear side is attached to the pilaster. The channel member is secured to the pilaster with its front side in the slot and the cut edge of the panel secured within the channel member opening. The modular construction of the system permits simplified on-side customization and modification for installation in multiple configurations.

Abstract: A construction member for use in residential wall framing, floor joist systems and rafter system. The construction member comprises an elongate member having a longitudinal channel disposed therein, which is preferably comprised of sheet metal or other suitable material having similar characteristics. The elongate member has a C-shaped cross section adapted to receive and retain fastening blocks at respective ends of the channel. The blocks are shorter than the elongate member and are adapted to substantially fill the cross-sectional space of the channel. Preferably, the blocks are composed of wood or similar natural or synthetic material that can receive and hold conventional nails. The fastening blocks may receive nails driven through the upper and lower plates in a standard residential wall construction. End caps that attach to the ends of the elongate member are also provided so that a load beating surface abutting an elongate member is not damaged by the elongate member's end.

Abstract: A support foundation for a building structure includes a channel member at the upper end of a support post for receiving a joist. The support post is adjustable in length by a nut on a threaded rod which slides within a sleeve the lower end of which is welded to a base pad of the foundation. The sleeve is supported by inclined struts. The base is domed with a concave lower surface which maintains soil underneath the surface to inhibit tilting or sinking.

Abstract: A panel access clip for relocatable partitions having a snap-engageable part struck-up from a base portion over a central cut-out and joining said base portion at a flexure zone spaced inwardly from a panel engaging portion of the clip, whereby to reduce shear forces on the panel edge and locate the point of bending flexure during engagement and disengagement with a support member to a zone spaced at least one-half the width of the clip from said panel engaging portion. The clip being capable of allowing engaged panels to be removed from a wall partition assembly without damage to the edges of the panel, whether they are kerfed or non-kerfed panels.

Abstract: A landscaping block system including one or more landscaping blocks having anchoring means for embedding the blocks in a substrate. The blocks each have a groove on the bottom, so that when the blocks are aligned end to end in a substrate, the grooves define a continuous conduit.

Abstract: A first hub is positioned at the center of a curved surface to be lined with bricks. A second hub is positioned adjacent the first and has an outer wall extending beyond the width of the first hub in radially spaced relation with a series of circumferentially spaced slots therein. Mortared bricks are placed sequentially against the curved surface and supported by telescopic spring-loaded brick support struts placed on the second hub to extend generally radially outward therefrom and engage each mortared brick to form a ring of bricks each pressed against the curved surface by a brick support strut. Telescopic spring-loaded rib support struts are sequentially placed on the first hub to extend radially outward through the slots of the second hub and engage the approximate center of certain circumferentially spaced bricks of the ring of bricks.

Abstract: A roof structure and method for reducing uplift on a roof resulting from a wind blowing over the roof at a rooftop wind speed. The roof has a membrane overlying a deck. An air permeable and resilient mat is installed over the membrane. The mat has openings of a size to reduce the wind velocity passing through it to the membrane while the openings being of a size that the mat is not lifted by a pressure differential therein reducing uplift on the membrane.

Abstract: A modular closure unit is described which has three walls, two of which are side walls each connected to the opposite vertical edges of the third or back wall. A top member is also integrally attached to the top edges of all three walls. Two discrete attachment means detachably attach the unit to the doorframe of an existing doorway in a wall to thereby close the doorway and prevent the unilateral removal of the unit by persons having access to only one side of the unit. The unit permits operable retention of the previously mounted door when desired.

Abstract: A roof water dispersal system includes a plurality of longitudinally extending dispersal elements mounted near the edge of a roof structure for receiving and dispersing streams of roof run-off water. The dispersal elements are spaced apart from each other and assembled into a unit mounted to receive the streams of run-off roof water, and the individual elements within the overall assembly can vary in shape, thickness or material to provide an optimal balance between dispersal efficiency and strength of the overall assembly. The dispersal elements of the assembly are supported by transverse elements which maintain the dispersal elements in predetermined relative positions within the assembly and mount the overall assembly relative to the edge of the roof structure. The system of the present invention includes transverse supporting elements which are positioned above the longitudinally extending dispersal elements.

Abstract: A module construction method in a steel structure building zone, including steps of: erecting truss column assemblies (1A), (1B) formed by arranging and joining a plurality of pillars; installing a truss beam assembly (1C) between the tops of the two truss column assemblies (1A), (1B) erected in parallel to construct a gate-shaped truss assembly (1D); installing the gate-shaped truss assemblies (1D) in opposition to fit in with the shape of the steel structure; and installing modules (6A), (6B), (6C) . . .

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a connector for truss having a high shearing resistance and a superior safety in which the connector can be inserted into and fixed in advance to the abutted surfaces of the structural members to be connected, adjustment of orientation of the connector is not needed, workability and installing workability can be remarkably improved and further the inserted and fixed connector can be prevented from being pulled when the connector is connected to the structural member.