It is disclosed a densely packable sequential series of external housing units associated with succeeding internal housing units. The external housing units have inside volume and openings for receiving the internal housing unit. Means for facilitating the displacement of an internal unit out of an external unit, like integrated bearings, integrated wheels, integrated retractable wheels, and a low friction coating are installed on an inside shells of the associated external housing unit, on an outside shells of the internal housing unit. The housing units have a uniform cross section along a majority of one of the dimensions of the unit, having outlines like a circle, a triangular frame, a rectangular frame, a circular arc of, a trapezoidal frame, a polygon of five, six or more edges, a hyperbolic arc, and a parabolic arc, or other types of arches. The typical transverse linear size of an internal unit is 80% to 99% of the preceding external unit. The series is transportable as a single cargo item between locations. A shell of an housing unit may include at least one layer like highly insulating layer, anti-ballistic layer, and composite materials such as fiberglass reinforced plastic layer, polymer-metal composite layer, and carbon based composite materials.

A beam system and method of erecting a supporting arch enables large roofed structures to be erected quickly and economically. The method includes aligning a plurality of structural elements longitudinally; connecting upper corners of the structural elements to upper corners of adjacent structural elements, wherein adjacent lower corners of the structural elements remain unconnected; elevating first and second structural elements in a middle of the supporting arch; connecting lower corners of the first and second structural elements together; elevating third and fourth structural elements adjacent the first and second structural elements, respectively; and connecting lower corners of the third and fourth structural elements to lower corners of the first and second structural elements, respectively.

The invention is a structural connector used as a component to construct an arch consisting of a plurality of closely adjacent, polygonal rows of stringer beams. The multiple row polygonal arch is a low-cost, general purpose support structure for bridges, shelters and arbors applicable to many cost-, time- or environmentally-sensitive situations. The invention is a Y-shaped connector, typically made of sheet metal, with three brackets, two upper brackets and a lower bracket, which collectively enable a union of three beams forming one node of the multiple row polygonal arch. Using these Y-shaped connectors to join the beams at each node creates the arch structure, and additionally provides the features of cantilevering, modularity, generic component shape, reusability and safety. The invention is applicable to a variety of structures such as: pedestrian and vehicular bridges, shelters, arbors, as well as jewelry, furniture and toys.

A gable assembly is for use with a modular watercraft lift cover. The gable assembly covers the watercraft when the watercraft is secured to a mooring, the gable assembly having a truss-like configuration, the gable assembly being secured to the mooring, the gable assembly being supportable by only one cantilever, when the gable assembly extends beyond the mooring. The gable assembly has a robust, lightweight design that is compatible and adjustable for width, height and length as the boat owner modifies his existing boat or purchases a new boat, and that will protect the watercraft from the elements and will withstand even the severest of storms, undamaged as well as having the ability to be cantilevered. The gable assembly is easy for the user to assemble and adjust on square lake style boat lifts, and the typically non-square tidal lifts.

A foot assembly for a V-leg assembly of a folding frame system includes a first U-shaped bracket having two legs connected by a web, a second U-shaped bracket having two legs connected b a web, a cylindrical foot member, and a pivot pin extending through a hole in the web of the first bracket, a hole in the foot member, and a hole in the web of the second bracket so that the first bracket, the foot member, and the second bracket are all pivotable relative to one another about the pivot pin.

A tornado shelter and having a reinforced monolithic construction resulting from a single pour of concrete is described herein. Rebar extends upwardly from a base. The rebar is encased in concrete that forms the walls of the shelter. An upper portion of the rebar extend above a top surface of each of the walls. The upper portion of each of said rods are bent inwards and are also encased in the single pour of concrete for strengthening a ceiling portion of the shelter. A door, in-wall conduits, vent orifices and attached benches may also be provided.

An acoustic isolation booth for providing a space for noisemaking out of earshot from other parties. wherein: the acoustic isolation booth comprises a shell comprising at least two compartments, an intermediate wall, a plurality of outer walls, a ceiling and one or more entryways. The shell comprises a shell width, a shell depth and a shell height. The two compartments comprise at least a first compartment and a second compartment. each of the two compartments comprises a compartment depth, a compartment width and a compartment height. A first side wall, the intermediate wall and a second side wall are configured to divide a space within the shell into the first compartment and the second compartment.

A relocateable wind resistant modular ISO container structure preferably includes a plurality of ISO containers, two modular end walls and a modular roof. An upper ISO container is secured to a lower ISO container with a plurality of twist lock connectors and a plurality of container bridge fittings to form a plurality of ISO blocks. The modular roof includes a plurality of arch panels and a plurality of arch connectors. The plurality of arch panels are attached to each other with fasteners to form a roof panel. The plurality of arch connectors are attached to opposing ends of the roof panel to form a modular roof. A gutter may be secured to opposing ends of the modular roof. The end wall is retained between the first and second ISO blocks. The end wall is preferably fabricated from a metal corrugated panel or a reinforced metal panel.

The disclosed technology provides a module useful in constructing an energy efficient, durable building structure, the module including walls to form a vacuous, sealed chamber substantially void of structural elements, materials and gaseous molecules. One or more ribs are affixed to or formed integral with an exterior surface of the exterior wall of the module, extending the width of the module. The disclosed technology further provides a vacuum apparatus which may be incorporated in communication with the vacuous, sealed chamber, for creating and maintaining a vacuum within the module. A method of controlling heat transfer within a structure is also provided, utilizing the modules as herein disclosed, each module being coupled with a vacuum apparatus in communication with the vacuous, sealed chamber, for creating and maintaining a vacuum within the module.

Vacuum tube railway system comprising a vacuum tube mounted on a ground support, a magnetic levitation railway track mounted inside a wall forming the vacuum tube for guiding a magnetic levitation railway vehicle, the vacuum tube assembled in sections along the ground support, at least some of a plurality of sections of vacuum tube being coupled together by a dilatation joint configured for hermetically sealing a dilatation gap between said sections of tube. The dilatation joint comprises at least first and second support plates mounted on an outer surface of the tube wall, a first support plate fixed to a first section of vacuum tube and a second support plate being fixed to a second section of vacuum tube, the support plates extending longitudinally over the dilatation gap over a length (L1) greater than a maximum dilatation gap (G).