A permanent form (13) serving to form concrete structures and comprising sidewalls (11) comprises: an interior form (14) that forms the inner face of a side wall; an exterior form (16) that forms the outer face of the sidewall; and a plurality of vertical reinforcements (17) that are disposed between the interior form and the exterior form and that hold the exterior form alone or together with the interior form. The exterior form and the interior form have: a plurality of base plates (18) that are formed from plastic into square plates and that are aligned so as to be in firm contact with each other in the vertical and horizontal directions; a plurality of central reinforcement plates (19) that are formed from plastic into square plates substantially equal in size to the base plates, that join four adjacent base plates, and that are aligned so as to be in firm contact with each other in the vertical and horizontal directions; and a plurality of end reinforcement plates (21) that are formed from plastic into rectangular plates are arranged into a quadrangular frame so as to join adjacent base plates while being located on the outer edges of the plurality of central reinforcement plates aligned so as to be in firm contact with each other in the vertical and horizontal directions.

What is presented is a unit cell comprising a cellular geometry that comprises cell walls and cell edges arranged into a combination of a cubic cell geometry and a tetrahedral cell geometry arranged to have a coincident central vertex. The cubic cell geometry comprises three orthogonal cell faces that intersect at its central vertex. The tetrahedral cell geometry comprises an arrangement of eight tetrahedral cells that share its central vertex such that each tetrahedral cell shares three coincident edges with three other tetrahedral cells in a cubically symmetric arrangement. The tetrahedral cell geometry is combined with the cubic cell geometry such that all vertices of the tetrahedral cell geometry are coincident with the vertices of the cubic cell geometry.

A precast concrete structure formed of a cementitious mixture is provided, the cementitious mixture comprising a mixture of: (a) cement, (b) silica fume, (c) supplemental material (limestone and/or slag), (d) masonry sand, (e) water and ice (f) plasticizers and (g) workability admixtures. The result is an improved concrete for use in the formation of long span bridge elements that are simple and safe to manufacture and having improved properties. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

A structural support member is disclosed. It has at least two longitudinally extending flanges spaced apart from one another by an assembly comprising a web and at least one reinforcing member. The web comprises at least one wave-shaped web portion arranged perpendicularly to the flanges, and at least one apex of the at least one wave-shaped web portion comprises at least one reinforcing member. The structural support member is typically formed as a beam.

The present invention is directed to improvements of a support assembly having a versatile structure capable of use with a variety of different products, devices, etc. intended for outdoor and/or indoor use such as, but not limited to, furniture, and/or umbrella or shade structures. The support assembly includes a body having a plurality of connector structures fixedly connected in outwardly extending, collectively surrounding relation thereto. The connector structures movably and removably interconnect one or more inserts in overlying relation to an outer surface of the body. When the body defines a support pole for an umbrella assembly, the plurality of connectors extend outwardly from the inserts in movable engagement with a canopy activating hub, thereby maintaining a spacing between the hub and the inserts, concurrent to travel of the hub along the length of the body.

The present invention is directed to improvements of a support assembly having a versatile structure capable of use with a variety of different products, devices, etc. intended for outdoor and/or indoor use such as, but not limited to, furniture, and/or umbrella or shade structures. The support assembly includes a body having a plurality of connector structures fixedly connected in outwardly extending, collectively surrounding relation thereto. The connector structures movably and removably interconnect one or more inserts in overlying relation to an outer surface of the body. When the body defines a support pole for an umbrella assembly, the plurality of connectors extend outwardly from the inserts in movable engagement with a canopy activating hub, thereby maintaining a spacing between the hub and the inserts, concurrent to travel of the hub along the length of the body.

A structural reinforced composite construction mat includes a plurality of composite plastic beams that are ganged together to define the mat, with a plurality of flitch plates disposed between at least some of the plastic beams to provide additional strength and rigidity to the mat. The plastic beams may be made of a composite material have a generally rectangular cross-section. The flitch plates have a width (vertical height) when disposed between adjacent beams that is less than the width (vertical height) of the beams, such that the flitch plates may be recessed below and above the top and bottom surfaces of the mat, respectively. A plurality of rods extend in the lateral direction through the beams and plates to compress the beams and plates against each. The flitch plates may be metal or fiber-reinforced resin and may further include slotted holes to allow the beams to retract lengthwise in response to environmental changes.

A structural reinforced composite construction mat includes a plurality of composite plastic beams that are ganged together to define the mat, with a plurality of flitch plates disposed between at least some of the plastic beams to provide additional strength and rigidity to the mat. The plastic beams may be made of a composite material have a generally rectangular cross-section. The flitch plates have a width (vertical height) when disposed between adjacent beams that is less than the width (vertical height) of the beams, such that the flitch plates may be recessed below and above the top and bottom surfaces of the mat, respectively. A plurality of rods extend in the lateral direction through the beams and plates to compress the beams and plates against each. The flitch plates may be metal or fiber-reinforced resin and may further include slotted holes to allow the beams to retract lengthwise in response to environmental changes.

The invention relates to a structural beam for use in a building, the structural beam comprising a first end, a second end and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween; at least two spaced apart wall members each wall member extending parallel with the longitudinal axis, abase member spanning between the at least two spaced apart wall members, wherein the base member and each wall member cooperate to form a trough for receiving cement, wherein each wall member includes: a first ledge extending outwardly away from the trough and; a second ledge extending outwardly away from the trough; wherein the first ledge and second ledge cooperate to form a channel dimensioned for receiving a part of an insulation member.

The invention relates to a structural beam for use in a building, the structural beam comprising a first end, a second end and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween; at least two spaced apart wall members each wall member extending parallel with the longitudinal axis, abase member spanning between the at least two spaced apart wall members, wherein the base member and each wall member cooperate to form a trough for receiving cement, wherein each wall member includes: a first ledge extending outwardly away from the trough and; a second ledge extending outwardly away from the trough; wherein the first ledge and second ledge cooperate to form a channel dimensioned for receiving a part of an insulation member.