Abstract: A method and system for presenting merchandise on a paved surface which employs permanently installed anchors each having a vertical sleeve. Poles of common height are inserted within the sleeves of the anchors in a manner defining a three dimensional merchandising region. The tops of the poles are interconnected by tensioned cable assemblies from which informational signage is suspended and retained by lower disposed retainer tensioned cables. Merchandising bays are established between mutually adjacent poles and entrance and exit regions are established in conjunction with a shopper aisle. A canopy is supported by poles and anchors over a cash/wrap station at the exit region.

Abstract: Barrier-free multiple level residential housing can be constructed by employing ramps between adjacent housing levels where the housing levels are offset by one half the normal full story height found in multiple story houses. The ramps are constructed in a stacked and side-by-side manner so that the full standard height between housing levels is maintained between the ramps that are stacked one above the other.

Abstract: A dock leveler, for bridging the gap between a loading dock platform and a vehicle at the dock, includes an adjustably overlapping lip and ramp that provide a traffic surface of variable length to accommodate situations where there is only a limited amount of space for the lip to rest on the rear of the vehicle. The lip pivots and translates from a stored, pendant orientation to an operative orientation with a range of extended positions. In the stored position, one edge of the lip protrudes above the deck to inhibit material handling equipment from accidentally driving over the edge of the deck when a vehicle is not parked adjacent the dock leveler.

Abstract: Forms for building and assembling water containment holders such as but not limited to inground spas, pools, manmade ponds and fountains. The forms can have an L-shape with downwardly protruding members for allowing the forms to be placed about a base foundation having receiving openings for the protruding members. Lower walls, seats and backrests can be placed about the forms to assemble the water containment holder. All the components including the base, the forms, the seats, lower walls, and backrests can be modular components that are easily transported and assembled by an individual installer.

Abstract: This invention relates to store systems laid out with shelves and aisles radiating, out from a central hub area. The arrangement of the shelves and aisles allows a customer to enter and begin shopping at any one of a plurality of places around the periphery of the store and to move easily and directly from any aisle to any other aisle through the central hub area. The arrangement lends itself to having unobstructive checkout lines located at a variety of locations around the periphery of the store. The layout extends to the parking lot, whose lanes are also laid out in a radial fashion. The store layout lends itself to being mounted on a revolving structure, which serves to showcase all sections of the store, attract customers to the store, make every parking space equally convenient and appealing to shoppers, and reduce congestion and danger in the parking lot.

Abstract: The automobile protection system for a multiple car garage comprises a cushion positioned between parking spaces of the garage, which cushion is suspended and sized to extend at least along the length of doors of cars parked in the spaces to keep the door of one car from striking the adjacent car when opened. Further, the cushion is suspended in a manner so as not to interfere with operation of an overhead door of the garage.

Abstract: This invention relates to store systems laid out with shelves and aisles radiating, out from a central hub area. The arrangement of the shelves and aisles allows a customer to enter and begin shopping at any one of a plurality of places around the periphery of the store and to move easily and directly from any aisle to any other aisle through the central hub area. The arrangement lends itself to having unobstructive checkout lines located at a variety of locations around the periphery of the store. The layout extends to the parking lot, whose lanes are also laid out in a radial fashion. The store layout lends itself to being mounted on a revolving structure, which serves to showcase all sections of the store, attract customers to the store, make every parking space equally convenient and appealing to shoppers, and reduce congestion and danger in the parking lot.

Abstract: An integrated rapid access entry/egress apparatus, system, and method for controlling and directing the movement of people or objects between unsecured and secured areas using a plurality of panels is provided. Sensors detect a person's approach and entrance into the system or apparatus. An approval means alerts a processor as to whether the person is approved or not approved. The panels move to direct approved persons to a secured area and not approved persons to an unsecured area so as not to impede the flow of traffic through the apparatus or system. The apparatus accommodates bi-directional traffic and provides an effective and efficient access system.

Abstract: A safety device and method for stairs, escalators and moving sidewalks that moves a person sitting or sliding on a handrail onto the steps to avoid accidents. The safety device includes a sloped surface that can be part of an elongated pyramid. The sloped surface is at an angle of between about 30° and about 45° from the direction of the handrail, with 45° being preferred. The safety device is free of sharp edges and is configured to avoid catching on a person's clothing. The safety device may include illumination.

Abstract: An integrated rapid access entry/egress apparatus, system, and method for controlling and directing the movement of people or objects between unsecured and secured areas using a plurality of panels is provided. Sensors detect a person's approach and entrance into the system or apparatus. An approval means alerts a processor as to whether the person is approved or not approved. The panels move to direct approved persons to a secured area and not approved persons to an unsecured area so as not to impede the flow of traffic through the apparatus or system. The apparatus accommodates bi-directional traffic and provides an effective and efficient access system.

Abstract: A guardrail comprises two parallel metal tubes each having two lengthwise bent ends each having a fastening member, two inner abutment mechanisms each having a lengthwise abutment member and a mating fastening member at either end engaged with the fastening member for securing each metal tube and the corresponding abutment mechanism together, and a protective board having either end urged against the abutment member and the bent ends, thereby securing the protective board between the abutment mechanisms. Further, a number of variations are possible.

Abstract: Provided is an energy-absorbing wall system for use with vehicle barriers, such as race track walls or barriers, highway guard rails or partitions, and the like. The wall system comprises a series of impact panels attachable to a wall and crush panels between the impact panels and the wall. The overlapping impact panels of the present system distribute collision energy from the impacted panels to crush panels and distally adjacent impact panels and crush panels, until the collision energy has been substantially distributed along the energy-absorbing wall system.

Abstract: A multi-storey parking garage which can be reassembled comprises a skeleton support structure with vertical supports, substantially horizontal ceiling beams and a plurality of floor plates which are supported on the ceiling beams for forming a passable surface, wherein a gap formed between neighboring floor plates extends above a ceiling beam in the longitudinal direction thereof. The floor plates are disposed on the ceiling beams with the interposition of a groove-shaped profiled body, in particular of an elastic plastic material. The profiled body extends in the longitudinal direction of the gap below same and serves for accepting and draining liquid dropping onto the floor plates.

Abstract: A multi-storey parking garage which can be reassembled comprises a skeleton support structure with vertical supports, substantially horizontal ceiling beams and a plurality of floor plates which are supported on the ceiling beams for forming a passable surface, wherein a gap formed between neighboring floor plates extends above a ceiling beam in the longitudinal direction thereof. The floor plates are disposed on the ceiling beams with the interposition of a groove-shaped profiled body, in particular of an elastic plastic material. The profiled body extends in the longitudinal direction of the gap below same and serves for accepting and draining liquid dropping onto the floor plates.

Abstract: The present invention discloses, in certain aspects, a portable building with a plurality of interconnected walls defining an interior space therebetween, a floor on which the walls are positioned, a roof structure connected on top of the walls, a layer of sprayed-on urethane material on at least one of the floor, walls, and roof structure, and a layer of force-resistant material on at least one of the floor, walls, and roof structure.

Abstract: An integrated rapid access entry/egress apparatus, system, and method for controlling and directing the movement of people or objects between unsecured and secured areas using a plurality of panels is provided. Sensors detect a person's approach and entrance into the system or apparatus. An approval means alerts a processor as to whether the person is approved or not approved. The panels move to direct approved persons to a secured area and not approved persons to an unsecured area so as not to impede the flow of traffic through the apparatus or system. The apparatus accommodates bi-directional traffic and provides an effective and efficient access system.

Abstract: An aircraft engine run-up hangar comprises a building defining a test chamber capable of receiving an aircraft therein, an air inlet structure, and an exhaust structure. The air inlet structure is formed in a front end part of a roof structure corresponding to a front end part of the building, the exhaust structure is connected to a rear end part of the building and defines an exhaust passage extending obliquely upward from the back end of the building, and one or a plurality of current deflecting members are disposed near a lower end of the air inlet structure to deflect air currents flowing through the air inlet structure into the building toward an aircraft housed in the building. A current-straightening structure is incorporated into the air inlet structure. A current-straightening space is defined under the air inlet structure.

Abstract: A system for the construction of buildings are provided for buildings that are catastrophe-tolerant and able to withstand catastrophic destruction of a part of the structure without bringing the whole structure down. Further, the time needed for the buildings' occupants to safely evacuate it in times of disaster is minimized with this system.

Abstract: Barrier-free multiple level residential housing can be constructed by employing ramps between adjacent housing levels where the housing levels are offset by one half the normal full story height found in multiple story houses. The ramps are constructed in a stacked and side-by-side manner so that the full standard height between housing levels is maintained between the ramps that are stacked one above the other.

Abstract: Our invention is a secure air travel system and method that eliminates security risks associated with passenger baggage by not allowing checked baggage and most carry-on baggage on the airliners that carry passengers. This method creates a two separate classes of air carriers or two classes of air carrier flights. One class transports passengers only and the other class transports only luggage of passengers between various locations. By eliminating the checked bags and most carry-on bags on the passenger-only flights, the security risks from weapons, bombs or other hazardous materials on these bags are totally eliminated from passenger-only flights. This mode of air travel can be implemented to co-exist with the current airlines and air travel methods.

Abstract: Office forming equipment includes a partition panel partitioning a residence space of an office and is constructed such that a pair of spaces separated from each other with the partition panel have such a mutual relation that the visibility of one of the spaces from the other through the erected planar member varies with varying view angle with respect to an erected surface of the erected planar member. This construction makes it possible to enhance the efficiency of an organization of a knowledge-intensive type markedly.

Abstract: A residence space forming equipment is provided including a plurality of partition panels to be interconnected for forming a residence space, wherein: some of the partition panels define a gateway therebetween for entry into and exit from the residence space; and the partition panels defining the gateway are interconnected through a guide member having at least one portion protruding horizontally from the partition panels to indicate the presence of the gateway. This construction makes it possible to enhance the efficiency of an organization of a knowledge-intensive type markedly.

Abstract: A guideway and support structure (50) for supporting an elevated guideway (52) for a railed-vehicle (54) include individual unassembled components sized for easy transport. The components may be prefabricated with known materials and methods and transported to an installation site to be assembled together. The support structure (50) is preferably cantilevered and sized to support one or two vehicle guideways (52). The support structure (50) may include a pile foundation (56) for improved support during seismic activity and to facilitate installation on existing streets and sidewalks without covering or interfering with underground plumbing or utilities. Preferably, multiple sections of the guideway (52) are rigidly secured together through expansion joints (51) to define a continuous guideway (53) such that loads on the guideway (53) are distributed over multiple columns (60).

Abstract: An aircraft engine run-up hangar comprises a building defining a test chamber capable of receiving an aircraft therein, an air inlet structure, and an exhaust structure. The air inlet structure is formed in a front end part of a roof structure corresponding to a front end part of the building. The exhaust structure is connected to a rear end part of the building and defines an exhaust passage extending obliquely upward from the back end of the building. A ceiling included in the building has an inclined section sloping down backward to straighten air currents, and a groove is formed in a middle part, with respect to width, of the inclined section to permit a vertical tail fin of an aircraft to pass when the aircraft is carried into or out of the test chamber.

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 building for use as a drive-by retail store, including a floor, a roof, a plurality of walls extending from the floor to the roof and defining a perimeter, at least one access door, and at least one cashier's station located at one end of the building. The perimeter is substantially formed by a plurality of temperature-controlled display cabinets, wherein the display cabinets have transparent exterior walls and interior access doors.

Abstract: A door guard for protecting a doorframe and including a deflecting member having a vertically-oriented, planar, and horizontally-elongate deflecting surface adapted for being positioned adjacent to a side of a doorframe and projecting outwardly therefrom at an oblique angle thereto for deflecting a colliding object away from the doorframe.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a loading dock door seal for sealing the space between a loading dock door opening and a vehicle backing up to the opening and an elongated longitudinal pad member for use in the loading dock door seal. The elongated longitudinal pad member comprises a mounting face for mounting said pad member to a surface; a sealing face for sealingly engaging the rear edge of a vehicle which backs up to and abuts against the pad member; whereby the pad member is formed of a first compressible resilient material, having a first predetermined degree of flexibility and having at least one flexing zone therein, the at least one flexing zone permitting the forced movement of the sealing face relative to the mounting face and thus the surface, to accommodate the movement of a vehicle in abutting and sealing engagement with the pad member.

Abstract: A dock leveler, for bridging the gap between a loading dock platform and a vehicle at the dock, includes an adjustably overlapping lip and ramp that provide a traffic surface of variable length to accommodate situations where there is only a limited amount of space for the lip to rest on the rear of the vehicle. The lip pivots and translates from a stored, pendant orientation to an operative orientation with a range of extended positions. In the stored position, one edge of the lip protrudes above the deck to inhibit material handling equipment from accidentally driving over the edge of the deck when a vehicle is not parked adjacent the dock leveler.

Abstract: A corner guard assembly for protecting the corner of a building wall particularly in institutional type facilities from damage due to impacts with wheeled vehicles includes an elongated vinyl corner guard member angled to fit over the corner formed by the intersection of two wall surfaces, the corner member being comprised of two different colors of vinyl plastic material that have been co-extruded to form a single, integrated product. The multi-colored corner guard provides an aesthetically improved corner guard that may be used in a wide range of interior designs. Additionally, the improved corner guard disclosed herein may be used a part of a system of color-coding the hallways of a large hospital or other institutional facility. The corner guard of the present invention may be constructed as either a tape-on corner guard that is mounted by an adhesive directly to the wall surfaces, or constructed as an assembly comprised of a base plate and cover guard.

Abstract: A multistory apartment building complex may comprise vertically stacked modules and includes one or more vehicle parking levels grade and one or more dwelling unit levels vertically stacked above the vehicle parking levels. At least one of the parking levels includes private garages for at least selected ones of the dwelling units and occupants of the selected dwelling units may move between their own garage and their dwelling unit via an elevator extending directly to the individual dwelling units on each level. The elevators may also serve plural dwelling units on each dwelling unit level. A service corridor is provided on selected dwelling unit levels which may be accessed by a service elevator or spaced apart stairways to provide secondary access between each dwelling unit on each dwelling unit level and street level. Each dwelling unit may include a small service room having a lockable door between the service room and the dwelling unit and a door opening to the service corridor.

Abstract: A multi-story apartment or condominium building complex includes one or more vehicle parking levels above or below grade and one or more dwelling unit levels vertically stacked above the vehicle parking levels. At least one of the parking levels includes private garages for at least selected ones of the dwelling units and occupants of the selected dwelling units may move between their garage and their dwelling unit through an interior corridor at the parking level and an elevator extending directly to the individual dwelling units on each level. The elevators may serve one, two or several dwelling units on each dwelling unit level. A service corridor is provided on each dwelling unit level which may be accessed by a service elevator or spaced apart stairways to provide secondary access between each dwelling unit level and street level.

Abstract: An enclosure for sheltering a small aircraft, provides an arcuate roof frame supported by a base frame. The roof frame has a fixed roof portion engaging a movable roof portion and a crank system for adjusting the position of the movable roof. Wing cushions contact the wings of the small aircraft as it is backed into the enclosure and assure that the craft is properly placed. The fixed and movable roof portions are mutually engaged by a rolling clamping system enabled for directing arcuate motion of the movable roof portion relative to the fixed roof portion. A spring-biased awning is engaged with the movable roof portion and extends forwardly. A fabric cover is mounted between the fixed and movable roofs so as to deploy the fabric cover when the movable roof portion is extended.

Abstract: A storage container and method of storage that safely protects objects and allows convenient access. The invention is particularly useful for the parking of more than one automobile using the same space necessary to park just one automobile. The invention is an enclosure to be used as a parking capsule for automobiles or for the storage of other desired items. The invention resembles a capsule that is used to store items in a protected environment. The capsulized system contains known retractable mechanisms that move the storage base from a stored position inside the capsule to an extended position allowing convenient access to the storage area. The capsule's uniquely designed cover provides for an area to be treated with material so as to blend into the surrounding surface. For example, the cover allows for grass if the capsule were to be installed in a home yard, or the cover area is filled with cement, dirt, concrete or black top, when the capsule is placed in a street or road.

Abstract: A parking device for two-wheelers, the device having at least a series of parking elements with mutually adjacent parking elements. Each parking element has an enclosed space for receiving individually a single two-wheeler, so as to form individual parking cells for two-wheelers isolated from one another. Each cell can be closed for enclosing the space taken up by the cell.

Abstract: An aperture covering including track-guided interconnectable panels that are compactly stored in a storage area containing weight counterbalancing mechanisms, such as a compressed spring, is described. When the panels are stacked in the storage area and removed one at a time, the first panel is removed from the storage area and enters the track. As the first panel moves through the track, it interlocks with the second panel and forces the second panel out of the storage area and into the track. Interlocking and removal of the panels continues until all of the panels are removed or the first panel reaches the end of the track. Weight counterbalancing can be assisted by track-contained toothed belts, cable and ball drive mechanisms, or other counterbalancing methods. The resulting aperture covering requires minimal storage space for the open aperture position, minimizes exposure to potentially hazardous counterbalancing mechanisms, and allows for heavy-weight panel construction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the shared vehicle port for automatically parking and delivering a shared vehicle used by a plurality of users, comprising: an automatic driving area having a passenger loading area and a passenger unloading area separated from each other and being connected to a vehicle passage via the passenger loading area and the passenger unloading area; and a user waiting area adjacent to the vehicle passage, the passenger loading area, and the passenger unloading area.

Abstract: A corner guard assembly for protecting the corner of a building wall particularly in institutional type facilities from damage due to impacts with wheeled vehicles includes an elongated vinyl corner guard member angled to fit over the corner formed by the intersection of two wall surfaces, the corner member being comprised of two different colors of vinyl plastic material that have been co-extruded to form a single, integrated product. The multi-colored corner guard provides an aesthetically improved corner guard that may be used in a wide range of interior designs. Additionally, the improved corner guard disclosed herein may be used a part of a system of color-coding the hallways of a large hospital or other institutional facility. The corner guard of the present invention may be constructed as either a tape-on corner guard that is mounted by an adhesive directly to the wall surfaces, or constructed as an assembly comprised of a base plate and cover guard.

Abstract: Embodiments of an emergency evacuation system are disclosed which may be installed within the knockouts of a panel of a modular work space system. During normal operation a battery power source within the emergency evacuation system is charged by normal AC power supplied through the modular work space system. In the event of a power outage or fire, the battery power source serves to operate emergency lighting.

Abstract: An aircraft terminal/hangar facility having the passenger areas and maintenance/hangar areas located in the same building such that the two area are separate but adjoining and transverse with respect to each other.

Abstract: A corner guard assembly for protecting the corner of a building wall particularly in institutional type facilities from damage due to impacts with wheeled vehicles includes an elongated vinyl corner guard member angled to fit over the corner formed by the intersection of two wall surfaces, the corner member being comprised of two different colors of vinyl plastic material that have been co-extruded to form a single, integrated product. The multi-colored corner guard provides an aesthetically improved corner guard that may be used in a wide range of interior designs. Additionally, the improved corner guard disclosed herein may be used a part of a system of color-coding the hallways of a large hospital or other institutional facility. The corner guard of the present invention may be constructed as either a tape-on corner guard that is mounted by an adhesive directly to the wall surfaces, or constructed as an assembly comprised of a base plate and cover guard.

Abstract: The present invention discloses, in certain aspects, a portable building with a plurality of interconnected walls defining an interior space therebetween, a floor on which the walls are positioned, a roof structure connected on top of the walls, and at least one bay area for servicing an automobile. In one aspect there are a pluralities of bay areas. In one aspect the building is removably mounted on a trailer.

Abstract: The silo structure of a vehicle parking system includes multi-layers of parking floors Twelve sector-shaped parking spaces are separated equally at 30° angle intervals around the central axis of the silo structure. An elevator carrier moves vertically in the inner shaft up and down to convey a pallet with a vehicle from the entry/exit opening to parking floors. A rotary base mounted on the elevator carrier rotates 360° around the central axis. The conveyer platform, which is mounted on the rotary base, can point toward a sector-shaped parking space. A cantilever body, which moves in two opposite directions by means of a hydraulic device, extends to press the pallet hook-type lock device in the dent place in each parking space. The single piece of chain transferring device, which is mounted on the above stated conveyer platform, transfers the pallet with a vehicle in or out of the sector-shaped parking spaces.

Abstract: A multilevel building including a first row of personal occupancy spaces arranged on one side of one level of the building which is above ground level, a second row of personal occupancy spaces arranged on an opposite side of the one level of the building, an elevated street arranged on the one level of the building between the first and second rows of personal occupancy spaces, and at least one helical ramp for carrying a vehicle between the ground level outside the building and the elevated street inside the building.

Abstract: A multi-level vehicle servicing system includes site-erectable units each with four levels, to facilitate vehicle repairs by several technicians at the same time. Each unit includes vertical structural members, horizontal supports, flooring, tool storage, parts storage, panels, stairs, ladders, ramps, lifting mechanisms to raise the vehicle off its wheels, and mechanisms to facilitate removal of heavy repair components to other levels below. Lighting, power, compressed air, fluid delivery and extraction, and fire suppression systems are integrated in the system of components. The system is erected on a conventional building floor and is free-standing, independent of the building structure itself. The modular apparatus is installed without major modifications to an existing building of appropriate size and structural compatibility. Several of the four-level units can be stacked and any number may be combined in any horizontal configuration.

Abstract: A theater has a pair of perpendicular front walls and a pair of perpendicular rear walls, with each of the front walls parallel to one of the rear walls. A screen wall tuncates the corner between the front walls and is bisected at its center by a diagonal which bisects the space delimited by the front walls and rear walls. A pod of four theaters is arranged so that their truncated rear comers converge in a common area, and a projection booth is built above the common area to house the projectors for all four theaters.

Abstract: A composite beam system that can be used for the framing system in bridges or buildings and provide enhanced corrosion protection includes a fiber reinforced plastic beam shell with compression and tension reinforcement. The compression reinforcement consists of portland cement concrete which is pumped into a profiled conduit within the beam shell. The conduit for the compression reinforcement is profiled to optimally resist the internal forces in the composite beam for a particular loading. The tension reinforcement consists of carbon, glass or steel fibers anchored by wrapping around the ends of the compression reinforcement. The positioning of the tension reinforcement is optimally designed to equilibrate the internal forces in the compression reinforcement. Each composite beam has a series of internal vertical stiffeners which are perpendicular to the sides of the beam shell. The composite beams can be used in the construction of bridges and buildings using conventional erection techniques.

Abstract: A protective divider for protecting adjacent vehicles is provided including a divider and a suspensions mechanism coupled between the divider and a ceiling of a garage such that the divider resides between doors of two vehicles situated within the garage.

Abstract: A multi-story, multi-dwelling, non-elevator, ground floor handicapped accessible, rectangular shape, residential building. The building has a non-protruding stairway on each short side of the building and a centrally located, upper level corridor connecting the stairways.

Abstract: A collapsible frame device and method of packing vehicles in a transport container is disclosed. The frame device comprises a base and upper and lower vehicle support members associated with the base for supporting at least two vehicles. In the erected configuration of the device, the vehicle support members are horizontally and vertically spaced from one another. The support members are collapsible onto the base in a substantially flat position.