Pocket assembly for placing a flat dowel between cast in place concrete slabs

• US 20070231068A1
• Filed: 10/16/2006
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: MMI Products Incorporated (Fencing Supply Group)
• Original Assignee: MMI Management Services LP (Fencing Supply Group)
• Inventors: Kelly, David L., Francies, Sidney E.
• Application Number:
  US11/582,473
• Publication Number:
  US 20070231068A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 404/56
• 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

An assembly for use in the formation of adjacent concrete slabs to provide a flat rectangular dowel engaged between the slabs. The assembly comprises a pocket which is cast in place in the edge portion of the first slab to be formed, with the dowel fully confined within the pocket. After the formation of the first slab, the dowel is partially withdraw from the pocket and the second slab is formed in place against the first slab, with the dowel in spanning relationship to the respective slabs. In the preferred embodiments, the pocket comprises a monolithic plastic box having complimental generally rigid upper and lower sections movable between a closed condition defining the pocket therebetween and an open condition exposing the pocket interiorly. One edge of the pocket is formed with an opening through which the dowel passes as it moves between the fully confined and the partially withdrawn positions. In certain embodiments, a sealing element or door is provided to close the opening during the formation of the first slab. Seal elements are also provided to seal the pocket against the intrusion of concrete during the formation-of the second slab.

Claims

1. A dowel assembly for use in for use in the formation of adjacent concrete slabs to maintain the slabs in alignment, comprising:

a. a pocket forming member having a pocket therein, said member having an opening in one end communicating with the pocket;

b. a dowel received within the pocket for movement between a first position fully confined within the pocket and a second position extending through the opening and partially out of the pocket; and

,

c. a fastener for securing the member to a form with the opening in apposition to the form and the dowel fully confined within the pocket.

2. A dowel assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a first stop on the pocket forming member for engagement with the dowel to limit the degree to which the dowel can be withdrawn from the pocket for movement to the second position.

3. A dowel assembly according to claim 2, further comprising a second stop on the pocket forming member for engagement with the dowel to prevent the dowel from moving from the second to the first position.

4. A dowel assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a latch interposed between the pocket member and dowel to lock the dowel in the second position upon movement of the dowel from the first position to the second position.

5. A dowel assembly according to claim 4, wherein the latch comprises:

a. a spring biased pin carried by the dowel; and

,

b. a first pin receiving recess in the pocket member disposed for engagement by the pin upon movement of the dowel to the second position.

6. A dowel assembly according to claim 5, further comprising a second pin receiving recess in the pocket forming member for engagement with the pin to releasably secure the dowel in the first position, said second recess having a ramped surface to release the pin in response to force moving the dowel from the first position to the second position.

7. A dowel assembly according to claim 2, wherein:

a. the pocket is of a generally rectangular configuration, as viewed in plan; and

,

b. the dowel is of a rectangular planar configuration generally complimental to that of the pocket.

8. A dowel assembly according to claim 7, wherein the dowel is width less than that of the pocket to allow limited lateral movement of the dowel relative to the pocket.

9. A dowel assembly according to claim 8, further comprising a resilient element engaged between the pocket and dowel to urge the dowel into alignment with the pocket while permitting limited lateral movement of the dowel relative to the pocket.

10. A dowel assembly according to claim 9, wherein:

a. the resilient element comprises at least one detent engageable with a lateral edge of the dowel; and

,

b. the lateral edge of the dowel is formed with notches disposed for engagement with the detent to selectively secure the dowel in either the first or second position.

11. A dowel assembly according to claim 9, wherein the first stop comprises interengageable surface on the dowel and resilient element, disposed to engage one another when the dowel is moved to the second position.

12. A dowel assembly according to claim 1 wherein the opening is so disposed relative to the fastener that a form to which the fastener is secured covers the opening.

13. A dowel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the member comprises complimental upper and lower sections disposed for movement between an open condition exposing the pocket interiorly and a closed condition defining the pocket therebetween.

14. A dowel assembly according to claim 13, further comprising a hinge connection securing the upper and lower sections together for movement between the open and closed conditions.

15. A dowel assembly according to claim 13, wherein the upper and lower sections are of different depths and may be assembled in different combinations to alter the depth of the pocket formed therebetween.

16. A dowel assembly according to claim 13, further comprising a latch to secure the upper and lower sections in the closed condition.

17. A dowel assembly according to claim 13, wherein the fastener comprises flanges formed on the upper and lower sections for alignment to form a collar around the pocket forming member when the upper and lower sections are in closed condition.

18. A dowel assembly according to claim 17, further comprising apertures formed in elements carried by the respective flanges for alignment when the upper and lower sections are in closed condition, said elements being adapted to have a nail extended through the aligned apertures thereof to lock the sections in the closed condition and secure the collar formed by the flanges to a form element.

19. A dowel assembly according to claim 1, further comprising protrusions formed on the member interiorly of the pocket for engagement with the dowel to ease movement of the dowel between the first and second positions.

20. A dowel assembly according to claim 19, wherein:

a. the dowel is disposed to move between the first and second positions in a generally rectilinear path; and

b. the protrusions comprise ribs extending in a direction parallel to the path.

21. A dowel assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a closure element on the member to close the opening.

22. A dowel assembly according to claim 21, wherein the closure element comprises a door hingedly secured to the member to one side of the opening for movement between open and closed conditions relative to the opening.

23. A dowel assembly according to claim 22, wherein the door is hingedly secured to the member by a friable connection and the connection may be broken to completely remove the door from the member.

24. A dowel assembly according to claim 21, wherein the closure element comprises tape adhesively secured to the member.

25. A dowel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the fastener comprises a flange on the housing extending laterally of the opening.

26. A dowel assembly according to claim 25, wherein the flange comprises tabs disposed around the opening at spaced intervals.

27. A dowel assembly according to claim 25, wherein the flange comprises a collar extending around the opening.

28. A dowel assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a seal element mutually engaged between the pocket forming member and the dowel to seal the pocket against fluid intrusion when the dowel is in the second position.

29. A dowel assembly for use in for use in the formation of adjacent concrete slabs to maintain the slabs in alignment, comprising:

a. a pocket forming member having a pocket therein of a generally rectangular configuration, as viewed in plan, said member having an opening in one end communicating with the pocket;

b. a dowel received within the pocket for movement between a first position fully confined within the pocket and a second condition extending through the opening and partially out of the pocket, said dowel being of a rectangular configuration generally complimental to that of the pocket;

c. a grip element on the dowel accessible through the opening to enable to dowel to be accessed for select manual movement between the first and second positions; and

,

d. a fastener for securing the member to a form with the opening in apposition to the form and the dowel fully confined within the pocket.

30. A dowel assembly according to claim 29, wherein the dowel is width less than that of the pocket to allow limited lateral movement of the dowel relative to the pocket.

31. A dowel assembly according to claim 30, further comprising a resilient element engaged between the pocket and dowel to urge the dowel into alignment with the pocket while permitting limited lateral movement of the dowel relative to the pocket.

32. A dowel assembly according to claim 31, wherein:

a. the resilient element comprises a detent engageable with a lateral edge of the dowel; and

,

b. the lateral edge of the dowel is formed with notches disposed for engagement with the detent to selectively secure the dowel in either the first or second position.

33. A dowel assembly according to claim 31, further comprising interengageable surfaces on the dowel and resilient element disposed to stop the dowel when it moves from the first to the second position.

34. A dowel assembly according to claim 33, further comprising second interengageable surfaces on the dowel and resilient element to prevent the dowel from moving from the second to the first position.

35. A dowel assembly according to claim 29, wherein the opening is so disposed relative to the fastener that a form to which the fastener is secured covers the opening.

36. A dowel assembly according to claim 29, wherein the member comprises complimental upper and lower sections disposed for movement between a closed condition defining the pocket therebetween and an open condition exposing the pocket interiorly.

37. A dowel assembly according to claim 36, further comprising a hinge connection securing the upper and lower sections together for movement between the open and closed conditions.

38. A dowel assembly according to claim 36, further comprising a latch to secure the upper and lower sections in the closed condition.

39. A dowel assembly according to claim 29, further comprising protrusions formed on the member interiorly of the pocket for slidable engagement with the dowel to ease movement of the dowel between the first and second positions.

40. A dowel assembly according to claim 39, wherein:

a. the dowel is disposed to move between the first and second positions in a generally rectilinear path; and

b. the protrusions comprise ribs extending in a direction parallel to the path.

41. A dowel assembly according to claim 29, further comprising a closure element on the member to close the opening.

42. A dowel assembly according to claim 41, wherein the closure element comprises a door hingedly secured to the member to one side of the opening for movement between open and closed conditions relative to the opening.

43. A dowel assembly according to claim 42, wherein the door is hingedly secured to the member by a friable connection and the connection may be broken to completely remove the door from the member.

44. A dowel assembly according to claim 41, wherein the closure element comprises tape adhesively secured to the member.

45. A dowel assembly according to claim 29, wherein the fastener comprises a flange on the housing extending laterally of the opening.

46. A dowel assembly according to claim 45, wherein the flange comprises tabs disposed around the opening at spaced intervals.

47. A dowel assembly according to claim 45, wherein the flange comprises a collar extending around the opening.

48. A dowel assembly according to claim 29, further comprising a seal element engaged between the pocket forming member and the dowel to seal the pocket against fluid intrusion when the dowel is in the second position.

49. A method of forming adjacent concrete slabs with an dowel engaged therebetween to maintain the slabs in alignment, said method comprising:

a. providing a pocket forming member having a pocket therein slidably receiving a dowel for movement between a first position fully confined within the pocket and a second position extending partially out of the pocket and through an opening formed in one end of the pocket;

b. securing the pocket forming member to an edge forming member of a form, with the dowel fully confined within the pocket and the opening covered by the form;

c. forming concrete against the forming member to provide a first concrete slab having the pocket forming member embedded therein with the opening disposed at one edge of the slab;

d. removing the forming member to expose the opening;

e. pulling a portion of the dowel partially out of the pocket; and

,

f. forming concrete against the one edge of the first concrete slab to provide a second slab having the portion of the dowel embedded therein.

50. A method according to claim 49, wherein a closure element is provided on the pocket forming member to cover the opening when the dowel is fully confined within the pocket and further characterized in that:

a. when the pocket forming member is secured to the edge forming member of a form, the closure element is in place over the opening; and

,

b. when the forming member is removed, the closure element is also removed.

51. A method according to claim 49, wherein:

a. the pocket forming member is secured to the edge forming member in a horizontal disposition and is of an expansive generally rectangular configuration, as viewed in plan; and

,

b. the dowel is of an rectangular configuration generally complimental to that of the pocket.

52. A method according to claim 49, further comprising providing a seal between the pocket forming member and dowel to seal the pocket against concrete intrusion during formation of the second slab.

53. A dowel for embedment in adjacent concrete slabs to maintain the slabs in alignment, said dowel comprising:

a. a rigid body of a generally rectangular configuration, as viewed in plan, said body having side and end edges,

b. a recess formed in the body and opening though an end edge thereof, said recess having a finger grip disposed therein.

54. A dowel according to claim 53, wherein:

a. the recess comprises a notch formed in the end edge of the body through which the recess opens; and

,

b. the grip comprises a rib extending across the notch.

55. A dowel according to claim 54, wherein:

a. the notch extends through the body and is of a trapezoidal configuration, as viewed in plan, with a narrow portion thereof at the edge of the body through which the recess opens and a wider portion thereof disposed internally of the body; and

,

b. the grip is formed on a member received within and complimental to the notch.

56. A dowel according to claim 54, wherein a detent notch is formed in a side edge of the body.