Abstract: The present dock shelter assembly provides, at a given warehouse or building dock, a protective unit that presents a weather-tight seal when extended from the dock against the open sliding door or side of an adjacent rail car. It is desirable that such a dock shelter not only permit complete and unobstructed rail car access, but also provide outstanding weather protection. The shelter herein is mounted along the outer perimeter of the dock opening of the terminal building and permits free access to the rail car whereupon its gap closure may be protected upon its sides and bottom during loading and unloading. The car is also sealed by a head curtain above the shelter components. The unit is sufficiently versatile to accommodate a rail car which may be somewhat out of position, relative to a dock center as defined by the building construction. Likewise, the shelter protection should continue its effectiveness despite rocking motions of the car when loaded and unloaded.

Abstract: A fenestration product such as a window (10) includes frame members (20,22,24,26) with a joint (38,40) therebetween defining a corner, mounting fins (32,34,36) extending from the frame members (20,22,24,26) with gaps (42,44) therebetween, and sealing pieces (28,30) adhered to the fins (32,34,36) on opposed sides of the gaps (42,44) in spanning relationship therewith. A covering portion (58) of a respective sealing piece extends onto and adheres to the frame members on opposed sides of the joint thereby providing a positive seal at the window corner.

Abstract: An insulated structural building component, such as a building panel, having front and back face sheets and interconnected joining sides to define an interior area of the building component. An insulating core having one or more throughholes extending at least partially therethrough is positioned within the interior area. A unitary shear resistance connector array is positioned between the front and back face sheets and includes a web portion and one or more shear resistance connectors projecting away from the web and into the one or more throughholes. The shear resistance connector array in one embodiment being an integral portion to a thin outer skin surrounding the insulative core, with one or both front and back face sheets being connected to the outer skin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for fastening a first structure to a second structure comprising a fastener having a head disposed at a proximal end of a shaft and a pointed tip disposed at a distal end of that shaft, and a plastic sleeve surrounding a portion of the shaft in coaxial-relation thereto. In a preferred embodiment, the first structure is a metal floor panel having means for receiving the fastener and the sleeve. The receiving means keeps the sleeve in substantially perpendicular-relation to a support portion of the second structure, with the pointed tip of the shaft disposed adjacent to the support portion. In this arrangement, when a driving force is applied to the head of the fastener, the fastener moves axially relative to the sleeve through the first structure into engagement with the second structure.

Abstract: A sealing arrangement for closing off the areas to be filled with a casting compound of a tension member composed of a bundle of individual elements arranged within a tubular sheathing, for example, a stay cable of a cable-stayed bridge, includes a sealing plug composed of a first sealing layer of a deformable, non-flowable sealing material introduced between the individual elements, a second sealing layer of a setting or hardenable material introduced in a flowable state and arranged adjacent the first sealing layer in the direction toward the area to be filled out with casting compound.

Abstract: A shutter assembly which includes separate top and bottom portions and intermediate slatted portions. The top and bottom portions both include right and left side flanges which include inner and outer channels. Likewise the slatted portion includes a right and left sides which include right and left channels which align with the inner channels on the top and bottom members. Right and left side rails snap fit into the three sections holding them together. The inner wall of the rails snap into the inner channels and the channel in the slatted portion. The inner walls of the side rails include upper arcuate lips that extend over the top edges of the side walls of the top, bottom and slatted sections. The outer wall of each rail includes an L-shaped projection which fits within the outer channels in the flanges. The shutter can be adjusted by removing sections of the slatted portions along pre-formed score lines and then cutting rails to the desired size.

Abstract: In mounting an external wallboard formed from a material containing cement, a plurality of spacers are adhered to a plurality of wall backings each formed of steel or wood, respectively. Each spacer has through holes or concavities. The external wallboard is applied to be fixed by screws or nails to the wall backings. Each screw or nail extends through the corresponding through hole or concavity such that each screw or nail is allowed to be inclined in a space defined by the corresponding through hole or concavity. This construction permits displacement of the external wallboard relative to the wall backings, preventing occurrence of cracks in the external wallboard.

Abstract: A corner connector for siding retainers having a unitary structure includes a base plate which is adapted to be attached to a wall that is to be covered with strips of siding. The base plate has a generally orthogonal-shaped edge portion formed by first and second members. Each member has a connecting end and a receiving end over which a siding retainer is adapted to slide and each sized to be received snugly within a channel in a siding retainer slid over an individual member. There is a corner section to which the connecting ends of the first and second members are joined so that the first and second members are at an angle of substantially 90.degree.. The corner section has raised segments where each of the connecting ends join the corner section. The raised segments serve as stops which abut an end of a retainer slid over an individual member.

Abstract: A continuity tie for providing both tension and compression resistance to externally induced movement of building structural members. A central body member is provided with a plurality of bolt mounting apertures in a staggered pattern and a pair of end plates having a rod aperture. One embodiment employs a tubular central body member having a hollow interior; another embodiment employs a generally U-shaped central portion with flanking flanges. Both embodiments can be mounted to building structural members separated by an intervening building structural member, with the continuity ties being secured together by means of a single rod arranged in the rod apertures in each continuity tie and secured in place by means of nuts. The staggered bolt patterns reduce the probability of mounting all bolts in a defect region of a timber building element. The hollow tube embodiment is symmetric and cannot be installed backwards. The rod aperture may be centered or offset from the central axis of the continuity tie.

Abstract: A device for forming a framework of a wooden building includes a steel made square tube which is capable of tightly receiving a top portion of a post in a lower portion of the tube and a bottom portion of another post in an upper portion of the tube. The device also includes a joint which has a belt-shape base portion situated in the vertical direction and a flange portion projecting perpendicularly from the center of the base portion. The device further comprises a bolt and joint stick. The bolt attaches the base portion of the joint to the square tube. The joint stick passes through a hole of a transverse lumber and an opening of the flange portion of the joint, while the flange portion is inserted in a slit at the edge portion of the transverse lumber.

Abstract: Metal and wood composites are used to create framing members (studs and tracks, joists and bands, rafters, headers and the like.) for lightweight construction. Metal is utilized for its high strength, resistance to rot and insects, cost stability, and potentially lower cost through recycling. Metal that can be used includes roll formed steel approximately 18-22 gauge. Wood is used primarily for its lower thermal conductivity, and availability. The metal components form the primary structure while wood, either solid or other engineered wood, provides some structure and a thermal break. The invention connects J-shaped or triangular shaped metal forms to wood sections. The metal flange ends can have various J, C, L, right triangular, triangular, T and straight line cross-sectional shapes. The wood is fastened to the metal by machine pressing of the metal to wood. Alternatively the fastening includes nails, staples, screws, and the like, and also by adhesive glue.

Abstract: A removable tile display includes a decorative tile, a holder for the tile, and releasable adhesive for removably securing the back surface of the tile to the holder. The holder includes a cavity in which the decorative tile is positioned. Decorative tiles of various designs may be substituted within the holder as desired. The tile and holder combination may be permanently affixed to a wall or other planar surface, or they may be placed for vertical orientation within a tabletop support.

Abstract: A finishing device used to form a corner between two panels of drywall has a flexible joint extending along a predetermined axis. Two wings are connected to and extend outwardly in a diverging relation from the flexible joint to form a corner having an adjustable angle. Each wing has a front surface, a rear surface, and an edge distal from the flexible joint. This edge abuts one of said drywall panels and has a thickness approximately equal to the thickness of the drywall panel. Alternatively, the edge has an adjustable thickness to fit various thicknesses of drywall panel. A layer of primer or adhesive laminate is applied to the front surface of the wings so that paint can bond to the front surface. The finishing device is capable of forming both inside and outside corners. To form inside corners, the finishing device bends along the flexible joint.

Abstract: A decking system utilizing non-skid plastic covers applied to specially sawn wooden deck members is disclosed. The wooden deck members include a plurality of channels or "kerfs" which are sawn or notched into one side of each deck member. The covers have leg members which are specifically designed to match or mate with the kerfs of the deck members. The kerfs of the deck members and the leg members of the plastic covers have dimensions which allow for the expansion and contraction of the deck members, as well as the cross-sectional expansion and contraction of the covers, during periods of extreme atmospheric conditions.

Abstract: A zone cabling termination cabinet of fire-resistant metal, provides a non-plenum enclosed space, close to the work station it serves, recessed into the plenum above a suspended ceiling, for housing communications cable connections and switching, without the need to use high-cost plenum fire-rated materials. The cabinet has an equipment mounting plate removably mounted on the interior surface of an access door, which when closed is flush with the bottom wall of the cabinet, which in turn is flush with the suspended false ceiling. The exposed lower surface of the door is clad with fire resistant ceiling tile material, the utility thereof being two-fold: the cladding makes the cabinet more fire resistant, and visually it blends with the rest of the ceiling, is inconspicuous and not readily detected by the unsuspecting eye, thus providing some measure of security from unauthorized meddling.

Abstract: A gutter protector for preventing leaves and other debris from entering into a gutter that fits independently into standard gutter without fasteners such as nails or screws or any attachment to the roof, fascia or any other part of a building. The gutter protector consists of an inner wall which fits against the rear wall of standard gutter while seated upon the bottom wall of the gutter and a curved section that allows water to flow over the a flat section of the gutter protector through a uniform space between the gutter protector and the gutter created by a clip in the gutter protector that attaches to the gutter. The uniform space does not allow leaves or other debris larger than said uniform space to enter the gutter but maintains a space for a constant flow of water into the gutter.

Abstract: An interfacing floor tile in the form a right triangle with two adjacent sides of equal length is provided with elongated third side opposite the right triangle. Each side is formed with a row of female cavities located adjacent the sides and positioned to mate with a corresponding male connecting members of a neighboring tiles. Additionally, each of the adjacent sides is integrally formed with an edge which slopes downward to a male interlocking strip which extends outwardly in order to mate with female cavities of neighboring tiles. Alternatively, each of the adjacent sides may be formed with vertical edges which rise from the interlocking strip to the surface of the tile. In another embodiment the female cavities are omitted from the elongated side which has a vertical edge and the adjacent sides may have either sloping or vertical edges.

Abstract: Tent structure includes a canopy formed of flexible sheet material. Poles are employed to support the canopy to form a tent interior. A web structure is attached to the canopy and formed of flexible sheet material. The web structure is maintained under tension when the canopy is supported. An article storage and support member formed of flexible sheet material is attached to the web structure within the tent interior and maintained under tension.

Abstract: An improved door jamb and brickmold assembly is provided wherein an extruded thermoplastic molding and stop member is secured to wooden support members to define the door jambs and mullions of a door and jamb assembly. The co-extruded plastic molding and stop members define both the stops of the assembly and the exposed decorative molding portion and also protect the wooden support members from exposure to the elements.

Abstract: A truss for use as support for a sloped roof of a building. The truss can be a collapsible metal truss. A method for assembling the truss is described. Each of the of the rafter and beam can include a metal chord all which chords lie in a first plane. Each of struts can include a metal chord located in a second plane parallel to the first plane. There are pivotal connections between various members. The chords of the truss can be moved into a collapsed position for storage and transport of the truss. The chords can be hollow tubes of generally rectangular cross section. The pivotal connections can be nut and bolt connections. The rafter and beam chords can be connected at an eave end to each other by a metal member, and the truss can include an eave extension member.