Abstract: A casting tool for forming precast concrete wall sections. A base is disposed generally in a horizontal plane and has an upper surface. A pair of opposing sidewalls are disposed proximate the upper surface. Each of the sidewalls has a first position in which the sidewall is located substantially in a vertical plane. First and second opposing bulkheads are disposed proximate the upper surface, each having a respective first position in which the bulkhead is located substantially in a vertical plane. The bulkheads are arranged to abut the pair of opposing sidewalls so that the inner surfaces of the sidewalls, the bulkheads, and the upper surface of the base define a form for receiving concrete to make the precast concrete wall section. The first bulkhead is configured for movement so as to vary a first dimension of the form, and thus the dimension of the concrete wall section.

Abstract: A penetration resistant doorlight including a frame and a laminated window assembly. The window assembly includes a glass panel laminated to a security film such as P.E.T. The security film extends beyond the perimeter edge of the window assembly to overlap the door. The film is secured both to the frame and to the door. In the preferred embodiment, a reinforcing insert is included in the frame and overlaps all of the window, the door, and the film.

Abstract: A telescoping mast assembly having a ball drive actuator drive system. A telescoping mast section is housed within a base mast section mounted to a base plate. The base mast section pivots about a pivot axis between a lowered, horizontal position and an upright, vertical position and includes an upper elongate body disposed an upper side of the pivot axis and a bottom end disposed on an opposite side of the pivot axis. A ball actuator drive includes an electrically powered motor that drives a ball screw reciprocally inward and outward along a linear stroke path. A remote end of the ball screw is attached to the bottom end of the base mast section and, by pushing and pulling the bottom end of the base mast section, pivots and maintains the base mast section to alternative positions between the fully raised and the fully lowered positions. A telescoping mast section is housed within the base mast section and telescopes between an extended position and a retracted position.

Abstract: An improved waterproofing system for the concrete slab of a flat roof on a building is disclosed. The waterproofing system uses hollow plastic panels of designed size, different thickness, and groove and tongue joints for interconnecting the panels. A supplementary waterproofing layer may be installed using sheet membrane materials such as asphalt sheet, metal sheet and other sheets on vertical surfaces, especially the parapet of the roof. The invention further concerns a construction method for applying a fiber mesh reinforcement on the connection joint and for applying fluid-applied materials on the substrate with sheet membrane layers on vertical surfaces. The waterproofing layer of sloped step type, hollow plastic panels of different thickness, permits fast drainage of stagnant water, which inhibits weather damage to the waterproofing layer.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for covering a roof with seamable sheet material for roofing prepared from a polymeric composition of matter comprising the steps of: applying layers of sheet material prepared from a seamable polymeric composition of matter to the roof being covered, overlapping adjacent edges of said layers, and adhering the overlapped areas to provide an acceptable seam strength; wherein the composition of matter comprises an interpolymer of ethylene, propylene, and at least two nonconjugated dienes, each having one reactive double bond.

Abstract: A utility pipe encasement collar for preventing water from weather related sources such as rain and snow from traveling rearwardly along the exterior surface of the utility pipe and into a building structure from which the pipe projects. In a first embodiment the collar includes a weather proof elastomeric sheet material having an opening therethrough sized to inherently huggingly accommodate a utility pipe passed through the opening, and a generally rigid support member extending laterally from the elastomeric sheet material. In a second embodiment the collar includes a first generally rigid weather proof sheet member having an upright generally U-shape opening therethrough and a second generally rigid weather proof sheet member having an inverted generally U-shape opening therethrough.

Abstract: A pre-fabricated service bay used for providing service access to the underside of vehicles. The service bay is fabricated as a single monolithic unit and then positioned in an excavated hole within a service building. The service bay has multiple safety cover grids that are hydraulically activated to enclose the bay's opening when not in use. An access stairway is retractable within the bay during use with a deployable safety handrail that collapses upon stairway retraction.

Abstract: A spacer plate for use in making a hollow floor has a plurality of truncated cone-shaped spacer elements extending from one side of the plate, and distributed in a row wise and column wise arrangement, for supporting the spacer plate from an underfloor, and also formed in the spacer plate are grooves formed in the same side of the plate as the spacer elements for holding a pipe conducting a heating or cooling medium, with the grooves surrounding at least a half of the circumference of the pipe to securely hold the pipe in place on the plate, so that the heating or cooling medium conducted through the pipe can come into heat exchange relationship not only with an upper floor laid on top of the spacer plate but also with air conducted through space existing between the spacer plate and the underfloor.

Abstract: A child seat includes a seating member, a base member, seating member lock and a connecting member. The seating member is designed to abut the body of a child. The base member has an outside surface that is designed to abut a seat of a vehicle. A connecting surface of the base member is designed to selectively abut the seating member. The seating member is pivotally coupled to the base member. The seating member lock is used for selectably securing the seating member to the base member. The seating member lock is coupled to an upper end of the base member and is selectably engaged to an upper end of the seating member. A connecting member is used for coupling the base member to a seatbelt of the vehicle. The connecting member is coupled to the base member. The connecting member is selectably coupled to the seat belt of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for restoring load transfer capability across a joint between two adjacent concrete slabs includes cutting a perpendicular to the joint and extending into each of the adjoining slabs. A generally flat joint tie is positioned in the slot before filling the slot with polymer concrete. The joint tie may have holes extending between the broad faces of the joint tie, with rounded corners, and made of fiberglass.

Abstract: A seismic/expansion joint seal and cover comprises a cover plate, and a central spine extending downwardly from said cover plate. At least one layer of a resilient compressible foam sealant is provided on each side of the spine.

Abstract: This invention is a building technique with multiple applications that addresses many known needs in a vast marketplace that far surpasses existing technology. Energy savings alone is an extremely important worldwide issue that has not been addressed by other building techniques today, as it should have been. Today, Americans are dependent upon the radical and unstable oil producing nations for our energy. This trend is unwise and extremely dangerous to the peace of our nation. Measures must be taken now to slow down the depletion of natural energy resources. This process is a cutting edge, innovative technological building system that produces the highest energy efficiency in addition to fire protection, termite protection, moisture protection, sound resistance and wind resistance possible at a cost comparable to wood, block or steel construction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus 10 for installing and trimming a plurality of wooden mounting blocks 110 within a roughed out door frame 100 to prepare the roughed out door frame to 100 to receive a finished door frame: wherein, the apparatus 10 includes a pair of vertical standard units 11 11′ connected together by a pair of horizontally adjustable spreader units 12 12′ that are adapted to cooperate with one another to conform to the outside dimensions of the finished door frame; wherein, each of the vertical standard units 11 11′ is provided with a plurality of router templates 27 and means for plumbing each vertical standard unit relative to one of the vertical studs 101 101′ in the roughed out door frame 100; such that the wooden mounting blocks 110 can be glued to the vertical studs 101 101′ and then trimmed using the router templates 27 so that the trimmed mounting blocks 110 are perfectly aligned to receive the finished door frame.

Abstract: A trim strip for use around window and door opening and a method of installing the same. The trim strip includes a unitary body having an elongate first planar portion and an elongate second planar portion in parallel spaced relation. A second edge of the second planar portion is connected to a second edge of the first planar portion. A third planar portion is secured substantially perpendicularly to a first edge of the first planar portion and extends transversely in spaced relation past a first end of the second planar portion. The trim strip is intended for installation onto any building after a “J” strip trim or equivalent has been secured around the window and door openings. It is particularly suited for retrofitting a building that has exterior siding.

Abstract: A wall block arranged to be stacked vertically for creation of a retaining wall, the block being of generally trapezoidal configuration having parallelly arranged front and rear surfaces along with opposed top and bottom surfaces. The top surface has front and rear lips formed thereon with each of the lips having a trapezoidal root portion with mutually opposed triangular portions converging inwardly therefrom to define opposed and aligned front and rear apices. In one embodiment, the apices are disposed midway along the length of the block, while in a second embodiment, the apices are formed at the juncture point of mated pairs of blocks. The bottom surface of the block includes a central base with opposed notches formed along the front and rear edges of the bottom surface, with the base having a trapezoidal configuration with a width dimension which is no greater than the spacing between the opposed aligned front and rear apices.

Abstract: A novel wall forming system for retaining and non-retaining concrete walls (19) comprising of at least one flat wall foam panel (22), at least one radius wall foam panel (23), at least one corner wall foam panel (24) having the following features; a rod—male type connection (20) on one end and a groove—female type connection (21) on opposite end of all panels, allowing interlinking of panels in a straight line or swiveled one way or the other to form various angles or forming a radius line or forming a 90° degree angle.

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. A central web board can have a length of approximately 8 feet or longer with metal forms running along each of the longitudinal side edges of the board. A first embodiment metal-wood stud member has adhesive pocket end configurations. A second embodiment is a metal-wood top and bottom track having an adhesive pocket configuration. A third embodiment is a metal-wood stud having P-shape end configurations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for laying and mechanically joining building panels, especially thin, hard, floating floors. Adjacent joint edges (3, 4) of two panels (1, 2) engage each other to provide a first mechanical connection locking the joint edges (3,4) in a first direction (D1) perpendicular to the principal plane of the panels. In each joint, there is further provided a strip (6) which is integrated with one joint edge (3) and which projects behind the other joint edge (4). The strip (6) has an upwardly protruding locking element (8) engaging in a locking groove (14) in the rear side (16) of the other joint edge (4) to form a second mechanical connection locking the panels (1, 2) in a second direction (D2) parallel to the principal plane of the panels and at right angles to the joint. Both the first and the second mechanical connection allow mutual displacement of joined panels (1, 2) in the direction of the joint.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming an anchorage of a post-tension system in which a tendon is positioned within a cavity of an anchor such that an end of the tendon extends outwardly of the cavity, a plurality of wedges are mechanically inserted within the cavity between the tendon and a wall of the cavity, and pressure is applied to an end of the tendon such that the tendon and the wedges are in interference-fit relationship with the cavity. A compression mechanism is used having a cylindrical member and a plunger extending in a channel of the cylindrical member. The wedges are attached to the cylindrical member and the cylindrical member is moved toward the cavity such that the wedges enter a space between the tendon and the wall of the cavity. The plunger applies a compressive force to the end of the tendon when the end of the tendon is in the channel of the cylindrical member.

Abstract: A tool for hanging fascia board includes three parts. A first part consists of a t-bar having two pieces attached perpendicularly together and designed to be removably mounted on the end of a rafter board with the flat elongated member lying against a side wall of the rafter and with a portion of the second perpendicular member overlying the top of the rafter and removably affixed to it through the use of nails driven through openings in the second perpendicular member. A support hanger is pivotably mounted to the t-bar and has a slot sized and configured to slidably receive a fascia board. A depth adjuster is mounted on the support hanger and may be reciprocated and fixed in a desired position to adjust the depth of the slot of the support hanger. Thus, the depth of the slot may be adjusted to facilitate attachment of fascia boards of varying dimensions such as, for example, 2×4, 2×6, 2×8, 2×10, and 2×12.