Abstract: A partition, mounted on a mounting surface, comprises a plurality of elongate upright members, a first board and a second board. The first board is mounted on one side of a pair of the elongate upright members that are adjacent to each other, and the second board is mounted on the other side of the same pair of adjacent elongate upright members, so as to provide a cavity between the pair of elongate upright members and the first and second boards. The partition further comprises a spacer that is located within the cavity, the maximum dimension of the spacer in the through-thickness direction of the partition being at least 90% of the separation of the two boards. The spacer may help to reduce the extent of inward bowing of the boards between adjacent elongate upright members, so that, for example, the upright members may be spaced further apart.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a building block includes alignment elements that interlink with a similar block with a positional offset. For example, the positional offset may be linear and/or rotational. For example, the second cinder block may be rotated with respect to the first block on which it is supports. Optionally, protrusions from the top of the block are positioned to interlink to the vertical slots at a fixed offset between the blocks. Optionally, the protrusions are formed by channels on a mold and/or a mold head. In some embodiments, a structure may be built stacked blocks. Optionally, a decorative face is configured to form a continuous decorated surface across offset blocks. In some embodiments a building block includes a calibration feature. For example, the block may include a ridge on the top of the block that may be shaved and/or ground to adjust the height of the block.

Abstract: There is disclosed an elongate structural element (10). The element (10) includes an inner plate (12) having first and second opposing planar surfaces (14, 16). The element (10) further includes first and second outer sections (18, 18?). Each of the outer sections (18, 18?) comprises a central wall (20) having a pair of longitudinal grooves (32, 34). Each of the outer sections (18, 18?) further comprises a pair of side walls (22, 24) extending from the central wall (20) to define a generally U-shaped channel (30). The longitudinal grooves (32, 34) depress into the U-shaped channel (30). Each of the outer sections (18, 18?) further comprises a pair of flanges (26, 28) respectively extending outwardly from the pair of side walls (22, 24).

Abstract: A channel screed comprises a first member having an internal channel defined by opposed walls extending from a base. The first member includes ribs within the internal channel that accommodate placement of a second member thereon. The first member having surface features that cooperate with surface features of the second member to provide an attachment therebetween. The first member includes fins projecting outwardly from the opposed walls to provide both an indication of building material thickness, and a mechanical attachment therewith. The second member covers the first member internal channel to provide a desired aesthetic appearance to the installed channel screed. The second member comprises a base with opposed walls, and includes flanges projecting from top edges of the opposed wall surfaces. When attached to the first member, the flanges cover up the internal channel, and the interface between the first member and the building material.

Abstract: A channel screed comprises a first member having an internal channel defined by opposed walls extending from a base. The first member includes ribs within the internal channel that accommodate placement of a second member thereon. The first member having surface features that cooperate with surface features of the second member to provide an attachment therebetween. The first member includes fins projecting outwardly from the opposed walls to provide both an indication of building material thickness, and a mechanical attachment therewith. The second member covers the first member internal channel to provide a desired aesthetic appearance to the installed channel screed. The second member comprises a base with opposed walls, and includes flanges projecting from top edges of the opposed wall surfaces. When attached to the first member, the flanges cover up the internal channel, and the interface between the first member and the building material.

Abstract: A shower receptor installation assembly includes a dense foam underlayment, a base with a sloping floor that fits onto the underlayment, a mesh member attached to the threshold of the base with adhesive, a plurality of strike rails, and a plurality of screed blocks, two or more of the screed blocks being attached with removable adhesive to the bottom edge of each strike rail.

Abstract: A precast composite building system usable for walls, roofs, and floors of buildings, comprising a concrete composite panel element having embedded steel I-beams, wire mesh, embed plates, and steel tension reinforcement bars interconnected vertically, horizontally, and angularly by columnar elements rigidly fixed to the supporting foundation, embedded into the panel elements affixed to a transverse steel beam so as to form a perimeter tie-beam connection structure to which additional floor, roof, and wall elements are attached, forming a unitary, superior, load-bearing structure.

Abstract: A dual membered sound wall panel constructed of two pre-formed half-panels. The half-panels have an inner surface that contains a plurality of connectors around their periphery and an outer surface. The outer surface may be textured if desired. The half-panels are each of concrete material with an embedded layer of mesh re-bar. The half-panels are oriented so that their inner surfaces are facing each other and the embedded connectors on each face are secured to each other. Additionally, between the half-panels are contained multiple spacer plates.

Abstract: A prefabricated insulated wall panel for building a wall. The wall panel includes one or more outer planar portions, a plurality of rib portions integral therewith and normal thereto and between which insulation is received, a strip of insulation attached to the inner edge of each rib portion for reducing thermal conductivity from the respective rib portion to wallboard attached to the wall panel, and a wallboard nailer strip which extends about the sides of the strip of insulation and has edge portions which are anchored in the respective rib portion. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the nailer edge portions are insulated from the respective rib portion to limit thermal conductivity from the respective rib portion to the nailer. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a pair of planar portions extend at an angle relative to each other so that the panel serves as a corner wall panel.

Abstract: A prefabricated insulated wall panel for installation with like wall panels for easily and inexpensively building a wall. The wall panel is a unitary combination of (1) a member having a planar portion and a plurality of spaced rib portions integral therewith and extending therefrom for receiving insulation therebetween, (2) insulating material attached to edges of the rib portions for reducing thermal conductivity from the rib portions to wallboard attached to the wall panel, and (3) a nailer for attachment of wallboard.

Abstract: A prefabricated insulated wall panel for installation with like wall panels for easily and inexpensively building a wall. The wall panel is a unitary combination of (1) a member having a planar portion and a plurality of spaced rib portions integral therewith and extending therefrom for receiving insulation therebetween, (2) insulating material attached to edges of the rib portions for reducing thermal conductivity from the rib portions to wallboard attached to the wall panel, and (3) a nailer for attachment of wallboard.

Abstract: A composite lightweight building element comprises a first layer of aggregate based material (7, 8 and 9) extruded, sprayed, molded or cast onto a lightweight base form (1) which becomes an integral part of the element. This element can be manufactured in a panel to emulate common face brick (52), a smooth or chipped surfaced cut stone (60) or a floor tile. Integral with the first and second layers are cooperating dovetail ridges and grooves (4) respectively which serve to provide mechanical locking between the layers and a strengthening to the first layer. Integral with the second layer are male and female interlocking members (6 and 6a) to facilitate installation, to resist air or water infiltration between the panels and to provide mechanical locking between panels.

Abstract: A connecting system for prefabricated panels for forming walls and roofs of buildings which includes a non-structural concrete corner piece for attachment between abutted prefabricated wall panels. The wall panels having geometrically configured channels for securing roof truss members with complimentary geometrically configured straps.

Abstract: Soffits for interior construction purposes are preformed from U-shaped foam material having inset furring strips for attaching the soffits to walls and/or ceilings and, in some cases, for also hanging cabinets from the soffits. The preformed soffits are brought to the job site, quickly cut to length, fastened and/or glued in place, and then covered with plasterboard before the cabinets are mounted below.

Abstract: Interlocking blocks for erecting a wall assembly formed by building blocks laid up in end to end abutting relation by multiple staggered block courses. The blocks of the wall assembly are characterized by at least one opening extending between its top and bottom surfaces with an upstanding endless tongue on its top surface surrounding the opening and nested by a rabbeted recess around the opening in the bottom surface nesting the endless tongue when one block is superposed on another. Coextensive grooves, formed in block side walls, receive furring strips. Nailable material blocks selectively secured to end surfaces of the blocks define wall openings.

Abstract: Relatively lightweight precast building panels for use as wall, roof or floor sections are provided. Each panel is molded in a form which is generally rectangular in configuration and provides a cavity into which concrete is poured, the floor of the form being comprised of a plurality of recessed styrofoam inlays separated by wood strips such as furring strips which are also used as a separation between the entire inside perimeter of the form and the styrofoam inlays. After the styrofoam inlays and wood strips are placed, concrete is poured into the form and finished off in the conventional manner. The side walls of the form are removed after the cement sets up and there results a concrete building panel with an adhered styrofoam coating permanently bonded over one surface with wood strips around the perimeter thereof and between each pair of styrofoam inlays.

Abstract: Concrete building panels include a decorative embossed pattern on an outer surface. A plurality of concrete reinforcing ribs are disposed along an inner surface of the concrete building panels. Nailing strips are anchored into tips of the respective concrete reinforcing ribs. A method for making the building panels include a step of placing anchored nailing strips into tapered rib sections of a horizontal fiberglass mold is disclosed wherein reinforcing bars and mesh and moist concrete are placed into the mold and allowed to cure until the exposed upper surface of the moist concrete is plastically deformable. The horizontal mold is passed beneath a rotating embossing roller having a cylindrical embossing pattern thereon. The plastically deformable concrete contacts the embossing pattern, producing a complementary pattern on the concrete surface. The embossed concrete is cured in the mold to produce the building panel. The concrete building panel is then separated from the mold.

Abstract: The wall construction includes elongated molded fibrous channels secured together in side-by-side relationship and pairs of structural fastening strips secured to the channels, each joint between two adjacent channels having a pair of the structural fastening strips extending along the joint respectively adjacent opposite ends of leg portions of the channels.

Abstract: A modular, pre-insulated and furred structural masonry building block comprised of a basic structural masonry element of modular dimension which incorporates into its construction by entrapment through a series of interlocking dovetail-shaped grooves. First: A furring element to allow the attachment of fixtures and finishes directly to the finished wall by the simplest means, nails or screws and the like, and second: A insulating element with a vapor barrier attached thereto which provides 100 percent full face area coverage including the mortar joints between block, and further incorporates into its design an excess mortar pocket around the perimeter between the elements which will allow the edges of the individual insulating elements to butt squarely together forming a continuous thermal barrier.

Abstract: A building block system comprised of three basic blocks. A first block has the shape of a rectangular prism and is of a more or less standard cinder block design. A second block has a main body portion that is similar in size and shape to the first block. The second block also includes a pair of spaced apart, mirror image protrusions that extend outwardly from one of the vertical faces of the main body portion. The protrusions define a vertical channel that is laterally centered on the second block. A third block also has a main body portion similar in size and shape to the first block. The third block also includes a pair of spaced apart protrusions extending from one of the vertical faces of its main body portion. The protrusions on the third block are laterally offset to one end of the block. The blocks can be stacked together end-to-end and in courses to form rigid, load-bearing structures.

Abstract: A wall structure for a nuclear reactor containment housing or pool is formed by at least two metal concrete forms or panels, each of which has a rectangularly shaped main or base plate of a stainless steel material constituting inner liner portions of the wall structure. Projected laterally from the base plate is a peripheral flange that includes an outer portion, of a dimensional size substantially equal to the dimensional size of the base plate, and an inwardly inclined inner leg portion that is fixed to the base plate inwardly from the side edges of the base plate.