On-Grade Plates for Joints Between On-Grade Concrete Slabs

• US 20070059096A1
• Filed: 08/11/2006
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nigel Parkes, Russell Boxall
• Inventors: Boxall, Russell, Parkes, Nigel
• Granted Patent: US 7,637,689 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 404/47
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 11/14 Dowel assembly ; Design or construction of reinforcements in the area of joints coupling devices for prefabricated units E01C5/005; combined with characteristic packings E01C11/08 - E01C11/12; removable holders E01C23/045

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention relate to an on-grade joint-stability system for on-grade concrete slabs. Embodiments of the system may include: a first on-grade concrete-slab portion; a second on-grade concrete-slab portion that is separated from the first on-grade concrete-slab portion by a joint; a first on-grade plate having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the first on-grade plate being positioned underneath, and connected to, the first concrete-slab portion, and the second portion of the first on-grade plate being positioned underneath the second concrete-slab portion; and a second on-grade plate having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the second on-grade plate being positioned underneath the first concrete-slab portion, and the second portion of the second on-grade plate being positioned underneath, and connected to, the second concrete-slab portion, such that height differentials across the joint are substantially prevented.

Claims

1. An on-grade joint-stability system for on-grade concrete slabs, the system comprising:

a first on-grade concrete-slab portion;

a second on-grade concrete-slab portion that is separated from the first on-grade concrete-slab portion by a joint;

a first on-grade plate having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the first on-grade plate being positioned underneath, and connected to, the first concrete-slab portion, and the second portion of the first on-grade plate being positioned underneath the second concrete-slab portion; and

a second on-grade plate having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the second on-grade plate being positioned underneath the first concrete-slab portion, and the second portion of the second on-grade plate being positioned underneath, and connected to, the second concrete-slab portion, such that the first and second on-grade plates substantially restrict relative movement of the first and second on-grade concrete-slab portions that would otherwise result in a height differential across the joint between the first and second on-grade concrete-slab portions.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the joint comprises at least one of a saw cut and a crack between the first and second on-grade concrete-slab portions.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second on-grade concrete-slab portions are less than approximately five inches deep.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second on-grade plates are tapered such that the plates each have a relatively wider end and a relatively narrower end.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the relatively wider end of the first on-grade plate comprises at least one of a stirrup and a stud for positively connecting the first on-grade plate to the first on-grade concrete slab.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the relatively wider end of the second on-grade plate comprises at least one of a stirrup and a stud for positively connecting the second on-grade plate to the second on-grade concrete-slab portion.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the first and second on-grade plates are generally trapezoidal shaped.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein the first and second on-grade plates are generally triangular shaped.

9. The system of claim 4, wherein the first and second on-grade plates are generally rectangular shaped.

10. A method of stabilizing a joint between on-grade concrete-slab portions, the method comprising:

establishing a positive connection between a first portion of a first on-grade plate and a first portion of an on-grade concrete slab, wherein a second portion of the first on-grade plate is positioned underneath a second portion of the on-grade concrete slab that is separated by a joint from the first portion of the on-grade concrete slab; and

establishing a positive connection between a second portion of a second on-grade plate and the second portion of the on-grade concrete slab, wherein the first portion of the second on-grade plate is positioned underneath the first portion of the on-grade concrete slab such that the first and second on-grade plates substantially prevent height differentials across the joint from occurring.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein, if the first portion of the on-grade concrete slab tries to move downward relative to the second portion of the on-grade concrete slab, the first portion of the on-grade concrete slab pushes the first end of the second on-grade plate downward thereby causing the second on-grade plate to pull the second portion of the on-grade concrete slab downward via the positive connection between the second portion of the second on-grade plate and the second portion of the on-grade concrete slab.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein, if the first portion of the on-grade concrete slab tries to move upward relative to the second portion of the on-grade concrete slab, the first portion of the on-grade concrete slab pulls the first end of the first on-grade plate upward, via the positive connection between the first portion of the first on-grade plate and the first portion the on-grade concrete slab thereby causing the second end of the first on-grade plate to push the second portion of the on-grade concrete slab upward.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein, if the second portion of the on-grade concrete slab tries to move downward relative to the first portion of the on-grade concrete slab, the second portion of the on-grade concrete slab pushes the second end of the first on-grade plate downward thereby causing the first on-grade plate to pull the first portion of the on-grade concrete slab downward via the positive connection between the first portion of the first on-grade plate and the first portion of the on-grade concrete slab.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein, if the second portion of the on-grade concrete slab tries to move upward relative to the first portion of the on-grade concrete slab, the second portion of the on-grade concrete slab pulls the second end of the second on-grade plate upward, via the positive connection between the second portion of the second on-grade plate and the second portion the on-grade concrete slab thereby causing the first end of the second on-grade plate to push the first portion of the on-grade concrete slab upward.