Abstract: A roofing tile including a tile body having an upper surface covered with a fire resistant coating including an acrylic or asphaltic adhesive, usually the former, containing a wire mesh and intermixed with fire retardant particles formed of a material or materials selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, ammonium phosphate and a light weight portland cement concrete, with decorative and heat resistant particles adhered to the upper surface of the adhesive, and desirably including a top layer of sodium silicate covering the last mentioned particles.

Abstract: A roof structure formed of overlapping rows of tiles retained in place by elongated generally horizontally extending members each of which extends along and is vertically between upper edge portions of the tiles in a first row of tiles and lower edge portions of the tiles in a second row. The tiles of the two rows preferably have flanges which are secured to opposite edges of the member. The tiles and the mentioned retaining members are secured in position by attachment to a series of parallel base boards forming a part of the substructure of the roof assembly. The tiles are strengthened at their side edges by reinforcing plates received beneath the tiles and each projecting laterally into overlapping relation with two adjacent tiles, with these elements also assisting in preventing flow of water downwardly between the side edges of adjacent tiles.

Abstract: A wall or other integrated structure is formed from a series of blocks or other building units utilizing double ended fasteners having two ends facing in opposite directions which are driven into opposed faces of adjacent blocks to retain them against relative displacement. The fasteners may also furnction to attach connector straps or members to the blocks, with those straps or members extending between different blocks to secure them in place. The individual fasteners may have two pointed nail type ends projecting in opposite directions, or may have one threaded end and one unthreaded end. In some instances, one of the ends of the fastener may be detachable from the other, to be connectible thereto after that other end has been screwed or otherwise driven into one of the blocks.

Abstract: A roofing structure including tiles preferably molded of a lightweight fire resistant cement product and having grooves at their underside adapted to receive upwardly projecting flanges of coacting elements attached to a roof support structure, to locate the tiles, and with those elements desirably being shaped to extend between two adjacent tiles at a location to intercept rain falling between the tiles and direct that rain downwardly toward lower ends of the tiles. The molded bodies of the tiles contain short tubes embedded in those bodies and defining passages within the tube through which nails can be driven to secure the tiles in place.

Abstract: A building material is produced by forming a moldable aqueous composition including intermixed portland cement, gypsum, sodium hydroxide, sodium silicate, water, particles of a metal or metals selected from the group consisting of aluminum and zinc, and preferably also sodium thiosulfate, shaping the composition to a desired configuration, and then drying it to a hardened porous condition.

Abstract: A walker which includes side sections interconnected adjustably by a transverse connector formed of telescopically interfitting parts. The walker has legs with both coarse and fine length adjustments, with the coarse adjustments being provided by detents receivable selectively in different apertures in coacting parts, and with the fine adjustments being provided by threadedly interconnected elements.