Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed to brackets, their manufacture and use, such as may involve securing siding and/or other building materials. As may be implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments, an apparatus includes a front side, a back side, and a top side connecting the front side and the back side, the front, back and top sides (e.g., as a bracket) forming boundaries that bound three sides of an opening. A grip fastener is coupled to the front side and extends inward toward the opening and toward both the back and top sides at an incline relative to the front side. Another grip fastener is coupled to the back side and extends inward toward the opening and both the top and front sides at an incline relative to the back side.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes roof shingle systems. One roof shingle system includes at least two shingles, a shingle clip, a drip edge, and a power collection unit. Each shingle has a semiconductive layer configured to deliver power, electrical current/voltage, and/or control signals to the power collection unit. The shingle clip continues a conductive path between the two shingles. The drip edge is at least partially insulated and partially conductive, and the conductive portion continues the path from the shingle semiconductive layer to the power unit where energy is collected. One method of installing a shingle system includes the steps of positioning a shingle having a transducer in the form of a semiconductive layer, and positioning a shingle clip to engage the semiconductive layer of the shingle.

Abstract: A joiner clip for securing panels to a substrate is provided that includes a planar sheet of material that has a bottom portion terminating in outer edges. A pair of legs extends downward from the outer edges and terminating in a retaining shelf clip adapted to support a bottom edge of an inserted panel. Mounting holes form countersunk indents in the planar sheet that offsets the joiner clip from the substrate. A construction unit is also provided has such a joiner clip secured to a vertical stud substrate. At least inserted panel is supported in the retaining shelf clip of a first leg of the clip. A joint is readily formed between two inserted panels. Fasteners through an inserted panel secure the same to the clip and substrate. An additional siding strip is readily secured to the substrate below the pair of legs.

Abstract: The modular unit for generating solar power comprises a plurality of diamond-shaped cover plates (3.2, . . . , 3.3) for forming a surface trapping sunlight. The cover plates (3.2, 3.3) contain photovoltaic elements (106.1, 106.2, 106.3). The system further comprises a plurality of support rods (54) having a number of pre-manufactured fastening positions (55), said rods being arranged at a predetermined angle >0° to the horizontal and extending in the direction of a line of slope. Every fastening position is associated with a fastening device (50) which connects two corners of the overlapping cover plates (3.2, 3.3) to the support rod (54) in the fastening position. The cover plates (3.2, 3.3) are arranged diagonally and so as to overlap in a scale-type fashion with respect to a longitudinal direction of the support rod (54) in such a manner that the surface trapping the sunlight is at the same time rain water-repellent. The cover plates (3.2, 3.3) have a first cut-out section (15.

Abstract: A roofing tile installation system includes spaced rows of installation strips each having an elongated base to which is attached a plurality of spaced apart hooks. The hooks are formed with a profile that engages and presses on underlying tiles and that grips and hooks around the lower edge of an overlying tile. Each tile is positioned and held laterally between a pair of hooks and held vertically on the slope of a roof by a single hook. An improved weatherproofing system includes a second layer of water resistive material which protects an underlying layer of plastic weatherproofing material against exposure to sunlight and erosion from wind and rain.

Abstract: The present invention is a plank precision spacing device comprised of a sheet component and a pluralty of clamp components with a flattened upper surface perpendicular to the sheet component, and a gripping component and protuberances which engage siding planks. The clamp component further includes a lip which is angled outward. The plank precision spacing device eliminates the need to measure and chalk a line for each siding plank, reducing installation time and labor costs.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a clip and associated method and building structure. The clip is provided for repairing building surfaces. The clip includes a first generally planar elongate portion having an inner face and an outer face, and a second generally planar elongate portion having an inner face and an outer face. The first elongate portion and second elongate portion are joined to define a generally U-shaped member having a generally elongate gap defined by the inner faces of the first and second elongate portions, the gap being adapted and configured to receive a building member therein.

Abstract: A cleat for tying together two or more structural elements in either one or both of a horizontal and a vertical plane. The cleat comprises a first set of protrusions located on a first half of a plate, and a second set of protrusions located on a second half of the plate, wherein the first set of protrusions are mirror images of the second set of protrusions. Additionally, both the first and second set of protrusions are arranged in rows, wherein each successive row comprises protrusions having a height less than the height of the protrusions located in the immediately preceding row. Furthermore, the protrusions in the various rows are staggered in position relative to the protrusions located in the other rows.

Abstract: A siding trim clip having a substantially N-shaped profile is formed having a first gripping portion and a second biasing portion. The gripping portion includes a curved upper arch having an interior with opposing inwardly and upwardly oriented gripping fingers, arranged for accepting and securing an edge location of a siding member by way of a triangular gripping pattern. The biasing portion includes a lower inverted arch and linear portions for providing an outward biasing of the edge location of a siding member to hold it away from a wall structure and up against an outside edge of a pre-established finishing cavity. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope and meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A bracket for aiding in the mounting of a course of wallboards onto a frame of vertical studs including a channel having a short leg joined to a long panel and a punched out nailer extending from the long panel. First, the pointed free end of the nailer is driven into a stud permitting the user to check alignment of a row of the brackets before permanently securing each bracket to its respective stud by driving nails through apertures in the bracket into the stud. The board is then supported in the bracket against the stud and nailed to the stud. The bracket has a line of perforations that permits snapping the exposed part of the bracket from the stud.

Abstract: A shingle system comprising a fastening strip and a plurality of shingles. The fastening strip includes a top flange portion and a fastener portion. A gasket is located along a bottom surface of the fastening portion. The plurality of shingles each include top and bottom edges and opposing side edges. The bottom edge includes an underturned flange for engaging the top flange portion of the fastening strip. Overturned or underturned flanges are provided on the side edges to connect adjacent shingles along the sides. In a further embodiment, the shingles comprise first and second shingle configurations where the first shingle configuration includes side edges that are tapered and either overturned or underturned, and where the second shingle configuration includes side edges having an opposite taper to the first shingle configuration as well as an opposite flange. In a further embodiment, the shingle system further comprises a roof cap including tailing and leading edges and opposing side edges.

Abstract: There is disclosed a mounting clip for joining siding panels. The clip has a first face and a second face. The clip is formed from a continuous metal strip. The continuous metal strip is bent generally into a FIG. 4 configuration and has an upright leg, a diagonal leg, and a angled leg. Each leg has a first end and a second end and a first face and a second face which correspond to the first face and the second face of the strip. The second end of the upright leg is connected to the first end of the diagonal leg by a first bight and the second end of the diagonal leg is connected to the first end of the angled leg by a second bight. The clip is especially well suited for joining a top out panel to a trim strip. In a preferred embodiment barbs and a point are provided to improve the connection between the topout panel and the clip.

Abstract: There is disclosed a mounting clip for siding. The clip has a first face and a second face. The clip is formed from a continuous metal strip. The continuous metal strip has a portion of a generally J-shaped configuration. The generally J-shaped portion has a first upright leg and a second upright leg connected by a generally U-shaped bight. The second end of the first upright leg is connected to the first end of the generally U-shaped bight. The second end of the U-shaped bight is connected to the first end of the second upright leg. The continuous metal strip has at least one outwardly facing barb protruding from the second face of the second upright leg. The at least one outwardly facing barb points away from the U-shaped bight. When the clip is positioned over the top butt of a lower panel, the bottom butt of an upper panel can be engaged by the at least one barb to position the upper panel above the lower panel.

Abstract: A roofer's grid apparatus is provided for use in retaining shingles on a roof. The apparatus includes several mounting strips of support material which are secured together by horizontal connecting strips so that the mounting strips are parallel to and spaced from one another. A plurality of shingle retaining arrays are provided on the mounting strips for retaining shingles on the apparatus with the shingles arranged in horizontal courses and with each course overlapping the course beneath. Each array includes a pair of raised ears connected to the mounting strips and being spaced horizontally from one another by a distance adapted to be substantially equal to the length of a shingle, and a plurality of spurs protruding from the strips and adapted to penetrate the shingle when the shingle is positioned between the ears and pressed against the roof.

Abstract: There is disclosed a mounting clip for siding. The clip has a first face and a second face. The clip is formed from a continuous metal strip having a first generally straight portion, a first U-bend portion, and a second U-bend portion. Each portion has a first face and a second face which correspond to the first face and the second face of the clip. Each portion has a first end and a second end. The second end of the first generally straight portion is attached to the first end of the first U-bend portion. The first U-bend portion bends toward the first face of the strip. The first end of the second U-bend portion is attached to the second end of the first U-bend portion. The second end of the second U-bend portion is positioned between the first end of the first U-bend portion and the first face of the first generally straight portion. The second U-bend portion forms an angle in the range of from about 120 degrees to about 150 degrees with respect to the first U-bend portion.

Abstract: The roof tiles (1) of a sloping roof rest via a ridge on tile laths (2) and overlap one another in two directions. They are fixed with tile hooks (4) and each tile hook (4) comprises a first shaft section (7), which at the free end has a hook-shaped bend (8) which grips around a closing groove (6) on a side edge of a first tile, a second shaft section (9), which at the free end has a device (10) by which the tile hook is fixed to a tile lath (2), and a shoulder (11), which is located between the two shaft sections (7 and 9) and engages on the rear surface of a second tile partially located under the first tile. The two shaft sections (7 and 9) of the tile hooks are essentially perpendicular to the shoulder (11).

Abstract: A tapered polystyrene core having a front nose portion and rear edge covered with sheet aluminum. The rear edge has an L-shaped aluminum leg which snaps into a U-shaped locking flange screwed in place over a top surface of an abutting nose portion of another tile. Gasket tape is laid over seams between adjacent horizontal panels and a metal plate is screwed in place to make a water tight seal. Each rear edge of a panel has a notch for receiving the nose of an adjacent tile in a vertical configuration rising upward toward the peak of a roof.

Abstract: A tile clip for a pitched roof of laterally interlocked tiles is provided for restraining a tile against movement away from, and movement down, the roof. The clip is secured to a roof batten adjacent the lower end of the tile, on which batten rest tiles in a row below the row containing the tile, being overlapped by the said tile. The clip comprises first, second and third portions; the first portion being securable to the batten, without removing the tiles resting thereon, and extending up to the end of such tiles; the second portion extending from the first portion to the upper surface of the tiles resting on the batten; and the third portion extending from the second portion down the tiles resting on the batten along the join between the said tile in the row above and a tile laterally adjacent thereto, to the lower end of said tile.

Abstract: A device suitable for fastening a roofing membrane to a roofing surface comprises a pair of stress reliever plates, preferably coupled along one edge. Membrane engagement members, such as spikes, extend A device suitable for fastening a roofing membrane to a roofing surface comprises a pair of stress reliever plates, preferably coupled along one edge. Membrane engagement members, such as spikes, extend from the inner surface of one plate toward the other plate and are received in holes provided in the other plate. In the preferred embodiment, the two plates are coupled to one another by coupling or hinge systems, and a method for using the device is disclosed which comprises placing the fastener at the edge of the membrane material. Use of the dual plate stress reliever in combination with the membrane engaging the spikes provides a system with high resistance to lateral pullout and a system which is easy to install. Wrinkling of the membrane during fastener installation is also minimized.

Abstract: A tack strip for securing upholstery fabric to a frame structure comprising a strip of flexible metal having a longitudinally extending fold line forming upper and lower angularly disposed flanges. The lower flange has a continuous edge and a plurality of equally spaced openings separated by a solid flange portion. The openings are spaced to receive a staple that is adapted to secure the solid portion and thus the lower flange to the frame structure. The upper flange has a plurality of equally spaced slots extending to the fold line in the area of the lower flange openings. The slots form a plurality of spaced tabs in the upper flange, each tab having outwardly and downwardly extending prongs facing the lower flange. The fabric is adapted to be placed over the tabs and pressed onto the prongs. The tabs are then bent over to sandwich the fabric between the flanges, with the prongs being bent back toward the tabs and coacting with the staple to securely retain the fabric to the frame structure.

Abstract: This invention is directed to facilities for storing food in a controlled atmosphere wherein the temperature is regulated and the relative humidity is regulated. An important element in achieving a controlled atmosphere for the storage of food is the storage building. If the storage building is, properly, designed and constructed so as to provide a vapor barrier and also to provide thermal insulation, the storing of the food is made easier for realizing a desirable stored product. With the combination of a vapor barrier and also thermal insulation, there is less possibility of condensation of moisture in the storage building.

Abstract: A method of fastening a sheet of material to a support by first positioning the sheet material adjacent the support, cutting an elongated slot in the sheet material while embedding a portion of the sheet material in the support, securing a fastener to the support by moving a first fastener portion into frictional engagement with the support, positioning a second portion of the fastener to extend through the slot and providing a fastening portion to the fastener is disclosed. The slot is larger than the portion of the fastening means positioned therein so as to permit relative movement between the sheet material and the fastening means. This capability for relative movement between the sheet material and the support accommodates for thermal expansion and contraction of the sheet material thereby preventing binding and buckling of sheet material while retaining its alignment on the support.