Abstract: An inter-panel ventilation apparatus is installed in a building wall between rows of siding, for providing air flow to and from an interstitial space between exterior and interior building wall layers. The inter-panel ventilation apparatus has a hood for carrying away water to an exterior of the building wall, and upper and lower apertured venting components respectively engaged with adjacent upper and lower siding panels. A plurality of inter-panel ventilation apparatus may be connected together with couplers to form a ventilation trim extending along a length of the building wall.

Abstract: A wire-connection apparatus for connecting wire to an electrical component having a terminal comprising a pair of contact members having a pair of adjacent edges is disclosed. The wire-connection apparatus comprises a wire-holding member connected for pivotal motion with respect to the terminal. The wire-holding member is penetrated by a wire-holding conduit for receiving a corresponding wire and is pivotal to a connection configuration wherein the corresponding wire extends through a space between the adjacent edges of the contact members to make electrical contact with the terminal. The wire-connection apparatus comprises a probe-access cover connected for pivotal motion with respect to the wire-holding member.

Abstract: Moisture management systems and methods are provided for managing moisture in a vicinity of an opening in a building wall. Such systems comprise a sill pan mountable in the building wall atop a horizontally-extending lower frame member of the opening. The sill pan may include: a base section having an upper surface which slopes downwardly and outwardly from a location interior to a lower flange portion of a window frame to an interstitial space between a sheathing layer of the building wall and an external building wall layer for directing moisture received thereon toward the interstitial space; and a plurality of transversely spaced-apart window-support members having upper surfaces located above the upper surface of the base section and oriented substantially horizontally for receiving a lower portion of the window frame. Such systems also comprise a lower vent mountable in the building wall outwardly of the sill pan.

Abstract: A wire-connection apparatus for connecting wire to an electrical component having a terminal comprising a pair of contact members having a pair of adjacent edges is disclosed. The wire-connection apparatus comprises a wire-holding member connected for pivotal motion with respect to the terminal. The wire-holding member is penetrated by a wire-holding conduit for receiving a corresponding wire and is pivotal to a connection configuration wherein the corresponding wire extends through a space between the adjacent edges of the contact members to make electrical contact with the terminal. The wire-connection apparatus comprises a probe-access cover connected for pivotal motion with respect to the wire-holding member.

Abstract: A hidden hinge structure may be injection molded. The hidden hinge structure has a hinge pin attached to a first part and a hook member that is affixed to a second part. A portion of a frontward one of the first and second parts covers the hinge. The hidden hinge may be used to connect the lid and base of a utility enclosure or housing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the building structures and more particularly to the drip edge or water leakage guard strip above or below the objects mounted on or into building walls. Such drip edge inhibits the infiltration of water into the building by providing a path for the potentially infiltrating water away from the surface of the building. It is plastic piece with numbered protrusions and guide members. It is easily mountable by nailing between the interior sheathing and the exterior siding wall on the top or on the bottom of the objects mounted on or into the building wall.

Abstract: A bulb protection device protects planted bulbs, seeds and/or partially germinated plants from being accessed by animals or inadvertently contacted by humans. The device comprises a generally horizontally extending base perforated by one or more aperture(s), a downwardly extending peripheral flange around a peripheral edge of the base, and a plurality of stakes. The peripheral flange may also have portions that extend further downwardly at spaced apart locations. After a bulb has been planted in the ground, the device is placed on the ground surface above the bulb and driven into the ground. The stakes and/or the further-downwardly-extending portions of the peripheral flange secure the device to the ground. The base, the stakes, and the peripheral flange protect the planted bulb from contact by animals or inadvertent contact by humans. The bulb's stalk is permitted to grow through the one or more apertures in the base.

Abstract: A fastener receiving member has a substrate which comprises channels for receiving one or more threaded fasteners. The channels permit positional adjustment of the threaded fasteners and positional adjustment of other components secured by the threaded fasteners relative to the fastener receiving member. Each channel comprises a pair of opposing sidewalls which are spaced apart from one another and which are preferably formed from a relatively soft material, such as plastic. When a fastener is rotatably driven into a channel, the threads of the fasteners deform the material of the opposing sidewalls to form deformations in the sidewalls. The threads of the fastener and the deformations formed by the threads in the sidewalls of the channel cooperate to retain the fastener in the channel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wooden floor, consisting of a hardenable adhesive (12) which is painted onto a floor base (10) in a continuous layer, and covering elements (16) consisting of wood or a wood material that are joined to the adhesive in its entirety by their surface (14) to be glued. According to the invention, the adhesive layer (12) has a thickness of 0.5 to 5 mm and the combined tension and shear strength of the adhesive (12), in its hardened state, is les than that of the floor base (10) and is at most 1.2 N/mm2, in order to obtain a floor covering with excellent dimensional stability.

Abstract: A hidden hinge structure may be injection molded. The hidden hinge structure has a hinge pin attached to a first part and a hook member that is affixed to a second part. A portion of a frontward one of the first and second parts covers the hinge. The hidden hinge may be used to connect the lid and base of a utility enclosure or housing.

Abstract: A hidden hinge structure may be injection molded. The hidden hinge structure has a hinge pin attached to a first part and a hook member that is affixed to a second part. A portion of a frontward one of the first and second parts covers the hinge. The hidden hinge may be used to connect the lid and base of a utility enclosure or housing.

Abstract: A method is provided for sealing a through-fitting around a cable. The method involves: passing a cable through the through-fitting; compressing a seal in the through-fitting around the cable within the through-fitting; and extruding a sealant around the cable within the through-fitting. Both compression of the seal against the cable and extrusion of the sealant around the cable within the through-fitting are performed by causing a cap on the through-fitting to move axially. Causing the cap to move axially may comprise turning the cap to permit threads of the cap to move along mating threads of the through-fitting.

Abstract: A vent provides a route for gas flow through a building envelope. The vent comprises a substantially hollow cover member having a cover member surface which defines a vent passageway. The vent may comprise a substantially hollow adapter member. The adapter member is coupleable to the cover member at its exterior end and to a conduit at its interior end to provide fluid communication between the vent passageway and the conduit. The vent may comprise a screen which extends across the vent passageway. The screen has a deformable bend and a plurality of surfaces which secure the screen to the cover member without using separate fasteners. The vent may comprise a damper member with an exterior surface having a profile that conforms to the contour of a portion of the cover member surface.

Abstract: A vent comprises a cover member having a cover member surface which defines at least a portion of a vent passageway. The cover member has at least one first connector and at least one second connector spaced outwardly from the first connector. The first and second connectors operable to provide pivotal coupling to a damper.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides a vent which comprises a body member and an adjustment member. The body member comprises a vent passageway that extends from an inward side to an outward side of the body member. The body member also comprises a collar having a collar passageway that extends from an inward side to an outward side of the collar. The collar passageway is in fluid communication with the vent passageway. The adjustment member comprises a head disposed to adjustably restrict a flow of air through the vent passageway and an inwardly projecting stem having one or more stem portions. The one or more stem portions comprise one or more contact portions which engage an interior surface of the collar and which adjustably couple the adjustment member to the body member. The one or more stem portions, alone or in combination with the interior surface of the collar, define one or more collar openings that extend through the collar passageway.

Abstract: A vent, together with one or more building apertures, provides a route for gas exchange through a building surface. The vent comprises a base member having a vent aperture therethrough and a generally planar mounting flange on its perimeter. The base member may be mounted within a building surface such that the mounting flange extends between an internal building surface layer and one or more external building surface layers and the vent aperture is in fluid communication with the one or more building apertures. The vent also comprises a vent cover which is removably mountable to the base member when the base member is mounted within the building surface. The vent cover has a hood member which projects downwardly and outwardly from the base member for conveying moisture away from the vent aperture. A bottom drainage flange may project outwardly and downwardly from beneath the vent aperture to convey moisture downwardly and outwardly past an outermost one of the one or more external building layers.

Abstract: A fastener receiving member has a substrate which comprises channels for receiving one or more threaded fasteners. The channels permit positional adjustment of the threaded fasteners and positional adjustment of other components secured by the threaded fasteners relative to the fastener receiving member. Each channel comprises a pair of opposing sidewalls which are spaced apart from one another and which are preferably formed from a relatively soft material, such as plastic. When a fastener is rotatably driven into a channel, the threads of the fasteners deform the material of the opposing sidewalls to form deformations in the sidewalls. The threads of the fastener and the deformations formed by the threads in the sidewalls of the channel cooperate to retain the fastener in the channel.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides a vent which comprises a body member and an adjustment member. The body member comprises a vent passageway that extends from an inward side to an outward side of the body member. The body member also comprises a collar having a collar passageway that extends from an inward side to an outward side of the collar. The collar passageway is in fluid communication with the vent passageway. The adjustment member comprises a head disposed to adjustably restrict a flow of air through the vent passageway and an inwardly projecting stem having one or more stem portions. The one or more stem portions comprise one or more contact portions which engage an interior surface of the collar and which adjustably couple the adjustment member to the body member. The one or more stem portions, alone or in combination with the interior surface of the collar, define one or more collar openings that extend through the collar passageway.

Abstract: A junction box for receiving electrical cables and for housing electrical components has a base member and a lid member positionable over the base member to form an enclosure. The lid and base members are hinged on one side. On the side opposite the hinges is a clasp assembly via which a user may lock and unlock the base from the lid by two independent locking mechanisms. Lower and upper concentric flanges slidably engage cable conduits. Knock-out elements may be removed from within the concentric flanges to form apertures through which cables may pass from an engaged cable conduit into the enclosure. A mounting flange may be used to install the junction box within a recess of a building, between wall layers. A skirt flange may project from the junction box in the exterior direction past the external wall layer to convey moisture away from the building recess.

Abstract: A hidden hinge structure may be injection molded. The hidden hinge structure has a hinge pin attached to a first part and a hook member that is affixed to a second part. A portion of a frontward one of the first and second parts covers the hinge. The hidden hinge may be used to connect the lid and base of a utility enclosure or housing.