CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

[0001] The present application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Non-Provisional Application No. 15/831,013, filed on December 4, 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to a system for attaching a flexible expansion joint to the surface of a building such as the floor or roof of a building. In particular, the system for attaching the joint is configured to secure the joint and provide, in effect, a form up to which a top coat of material such as concrete or asphalt can be applied over an existing structure. The system provides a universal base unit upon which common extension units can be attached and stacked to vary the height of the form for the surface coat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] One embodiment provides for an adjustable height expansion joint assembly for bridging an expansion gap in a floor or roof. The assembly is attachable to the surfaces of the floor or roof adjacent to the gap. The assembly includes a pair of elongated base supports each including a flange which provides an attachment to a respective surface, and a first interface having a first attachment configuration. Each flange includes a lower surface which rests against and is parallel to a respective surface, with the first interface being displaced from and generally parallel to the lower surface. The assembly further includes at least a pair of elongated extension members each having a first side including a second interface which includes a second attachment configuration which mates with the first interface to join the elongated extension member to the elongated base support. Each elongated extension member also includes a second side opposite to and generally parallel with the first side, with the second side including a third interface having the first attachment configuration an elongated expansion joint including a pair of flanges is attachable to a respective third interfaces to bridge a gap between the surfaces.

[0004] Another embodiment provides for an assembly for forming the edge of a top coating applied to a floor or roof. The assembly is attachable to a surface at the edge of the floor or roof adjacent to an expansion gap and is configured to support one side of an elongated expansion joint which bridges the expansion gap. The assembly includes an elongated base support including a flange which provides an attachment to a respective surface, and a first interface having a first attachment configuration. The flange includes a lower surface which rests against and is parallel to a respective surface, with the first interface being displaced from and generally parallel to the lower surface at a first distance. The assembly further includes a first elongated extension member having a first side including a second interface which includes a second attachment configuration mated with the first interface to join the elongated extension member to the elongated base support. The elongated extension member includes a second side displaced at a second distance from, opposite to and generally parallel with the first side, with the second side including a third interface having the first attachment configuration. This assembly provides the top coating with a thickness defined by the sum of at least the first and second distances, wherein one side of the expansion joint is attached to the third interface.

[0005] Another embodiment provides for a method for bridging an expansion gap in a floor or roof and forming the edge for a top coating applied to the surface of a respective floor or roof. The method includes the steps of attaching a flange of an elongated base support to the surface, with the base support having a first interface having a first attachment configuration, the first interface being displaced from and generally parallel to the lower surface at a first distance. The method further includes the step of attaching at least a first elongated extension members to the elongated base, with the elongated extension member having a first side including a second interface which includes a second attachment configuration engaged with the first interface. The elongated extension member also includes a second side displaced at a second distance from, opposite to and generally parallel with the first side, with the second side including a third interface having the first attachment configuration. The method also includes attaching one side of an expansion joint to the third interface, with the top coating having a thickness defined by at least the sum of the first and second distances.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] This application will become more fully understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements in which:

[0007] FIG. 1 is an end view of an adjustable height expansion joint assembly;

[0008] FIG. 2 is an end view of an adjustable height expansion joint assembly which has been expanded to increase the height of the assembly;

[0009] FIG. 3 is an end view of an alternative embodiment of the adjustable height expansion joint assembly which includes a cover plate;

[0010] FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of a base support;

[0011] FIG. 5 is an end view of the base support;

[0012] FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of an extension member;

[0013] FIG. 7 is an end view of the extension member;

[0014] FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of an expansion joint;

[0015] FIG. 9 is an end view of the expansion joint;

[0016] FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of an angle member; and

[0017] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the angle member of FIG. 10, taken along line

26-26.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] Before turning to the figures, which illustrate the exemplary embodiments in detail, it should be understood that the present application is not limited to the details or methodology set forth in the description or illustrated in the figures. It should also be understood that the terminology is for the purpose of description only and should not be regarded as limiting.

[0019] Referring to Figure 1, an adjustable height expansion joint assembly 10 for bridging an expansion gap 12 in a floor or roof is shown. Figure 1 is an end view of the assembly 10 and illustrates one embodiment of the shapes of the components of the assembly 10. The majority of the components are elongated sections which are preferably extruded and/or extrusion molded. The assembly 10 is shown attached to 2 concrete floor sections 14 and 16 which are separated by the expansion gap 12. The assembly 10 supports an elastic joint 15 above or partially within gap 12 (depends upon particular configuration of joint 15 and stacking as discussed below) between sections 14 and 16 and can be used to provide a variable width form for a top coat 18 applied to sections 14 and 16 after assembly 10 is installed. The thickness of the top coat 18 at the assembly 10 is defined by the total height of assembly 10 which can be varied as discussed in further detail below.

[0020] Assembly 10 includes a pair of elongated bases supports 20. Base supports 20 are made from an extruded material which in the preferred embodiment is an extruded aluminum.

As shown in Figure 1, the support 20 resting upon its respective floor section 16 is rotated 180 degrees from the support 20 resting upon floor section 14. Supports 20 include a flange 22, which extends from the body 24 of support 20. Flanges 22 are fastened to the respective floor sections 14 and 16 by a plurality of concrete screws 26 spaced along the length of the respective supports 20 (e.g. every 12 to 24 inches).

[0021] The body 24 includes a first interface 27 having, by way of example, an attachment configuration as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The top surfaces 28 are generally parallel with the bottom surfaces 30 of flange 22. In a preferred embodiment body 24 includes at least 3 elongated walls 32, 34 and 36 which are positioned as shown to define a pair of parallel channels 38 and 40 which extend the length of support 20. Each channel 38, 40 includes an engagement flange 42, 44 defined by the respective wall 32, 36. The flanges 42 and 44 may face opposite directions as shown. Walls 34 and 36 also include a plurality of opposed notches or teeth 46, 48 which cooperate to provide a location into which a threaded screw 49 can be engaged. Wall 36 also includes a channel 52. Walls 32 and 34 include respective opposed prongs 55 and 57. The top of walls 34 and 36 are bounded by surfaces 28, and the top of wall 32 is bounded by surface 54 which is parallel to surfaces 28, but offset therefrom. The walls 32, 34 and 36 provide an engagement location 50. [0022] Located upon and engaged to respective bodies 24 are extension members 56. As shown in Figure 1, the extension members 56 are rotated 180 degrees when located upon and engaged with their respective bodies 24. Each extension member 56 includes a top engagement formation which has the same configuration as engagement formation 50 and (referring to Figures 12-15) each element thereof is numbered with the same number as the engagement formation 50 for bodies 24.

[0023] Extension members 56 also include a bottom interface 58 which interfaces with channels 38 and 40 to hold members 56 in engagement with respective bodies 24. Referring to Figures 6 and 7, each interface includes a pair of elongated extension members 60 and 62 which each include an attachment configuration such as a tab/prong 64, 66. In the preferred

embodiment the respective tabs 66, 64 are located at the ends of members 60 and 62 to oppose each other. This configuration allows members 60 and 62 to be flexed toward each other when an extension member 56 is engaged with a respective body 24 and, upon full engagement, have tabs 64 and 66 forced/biased into the respective flanges 42 and 44 as shown in Figure 1. When fully engaged, surfaces 68, 70 and 72 of interface 58 rest upon the respective surfaces 28 and surface 54.

[0024] Elongated elastic expansion joint 15 is configured as shown and includes pair of flanges 74 which each may include a hook member 76. Depending upon the height chosen for assembly 10 (as discussed in further detail below in reference to Figure 2) hook members 76 will engage the teeth/notches 46 and channels 52 in walls 36 of an engagement formation 50 of either a body 24 or an extension member 56 stacked upon and engaged with a body 24. This interaction of members 76, notches 46 and channels 52 located and, at least partially, hold joint 15 in place. In addition, an angle member 78 may be located to capture and hold flanges 74 in engagement with a respective body 24 or member 56. Screws 49 are engaged with respective teeth 46, 48 to hold members 78 in place.

[0025] An example of a joint 15 and portions thereof are described in detail in U.S. Patent No. 9,494,235, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. However, the joint in U.S. Patent No. 9,494,235 includes a bottom configuration which is a variant of the bottom of joint 15 which includes a more rounded or smoother bottom surface which allows a joint 15 which may compress differently that the joint shown in the 235 patent. Additional examples of expansion joints are shown in U.S. Patent Nos. D 739,564 and D 781,466, the entirety of which, are incorporated herein by reference.

[0026] Referring now to Figure 2, the assembly 10 in Figure 2 is similar to the assembly 10 in Figure 1 with the exception that the left and right sides of the assembly 10 shown in Figure 2 include 3 extension members 56 engaged to each other and the respective base support 20. In a preferred embodiment, the distance between surfaces 30 and 28 is about 1 inch, and the distance between surfaces 28 and 68, 70 is about 1 inch. Accordingly, in the assembly configuration of Figure 1, assembly 10 is about 2 inches high which defines the top coat 18 thickness when combined with the thickness of flange 74 and angle member 78. For the assembly configuration of Figure 2, assembly 10 has been extended with the addition of 2 extension members 56 on each side to provide a top coat thickness of 4 inches combined with the thickness of flange 74 and angle member 78. The thinnest top coat 18 is provided when assembly 10 does not include an extension member 56. This use of common engagement formations 50 and interfaces 58 provide for a readily expandable/ stackable assembly 10 which provides a form and thickness control for top coat 18 which in many cases is a concrete surface formed upon the respective floor sections 14, 16 form the final surface of a building floor or roof surface.

[0027] Figure 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment of assembly 10. In particular, this embodiment includes a modified angle member 80 and a top plate 82 which provides a ridged cover for rubber joint 15. Such an alternative may be required where the width of expansion gap 12 may be too wide to permit joint 15 to properly support loads on top of gap 12. In this embodiment member 80 replaces angle member 78 to capture and hold flanges 74 in place as discussed above. Screws 49 are also used to hold members 80 in place. Member 80 provides a location at which top plate 82 can be fastened to one side of assembly 12. For example, members 80 include threaded holes 84 which are engaged by screws 86 to fix plate 82 to either an extension member 56 or base support 20 on one side of assembly 12 (see right side of Figure 3). Plate 82 is not fixed to the other side of assembly 12. Rather, plate 82 only rests upon the top surface of angle member 80 on the other side of assembly 12 (see left side of Figure 3). This permits plate 82 to slide relative to assembly 10 on the un-fastened side when the width of gap 12 changes due to building movement/expansion/contraction.

[0028] Referring to Figure 4, base support 20 is shown in detail and labeled in accordance with Figures 1-3.

[0029] Referring to Figures 6 and 7, extension member 56 is shown in detail and partially labeled in accordance with Figures 1-3. In particular, to avoid confusion, only the general features of member 56 are labeled in Figures 1-3 with the above-described details being labeled in Figures 6 and 7.

[0030] Referring to Figures 8 and 9, joint 15 is shown in detail and labeled in accordance with Figures 1-3.

[0031] Referring to Figures 10 and 11, angle member 80 is shown in detail and labeled in accordance with Figures 1-3.

[0032] Referring to the Figures, and in particular Figures 1-3, the method for installing the assembly 10 and thereby bridging the gap 12 in a building floor 14, 16 or roof will be described in further detail. Elongated base supports 20 are first fastened to opposing floor sections 14 and 16 using concrete screws engaged with appropriately sized holes drilled into sections 14 and 16. Based upon the required thickness of top coat 18, the appropriate number of extension members 56 are stacked and engaged with the respective base supports 20. By way of example, the top coat 18 thicknesses selected for the embodiments shown in Figures 1 and 3 required a single extension member 56 engaged and stacked on each support 20, whereas for the embodiment shown in Figure 2, 3 engagement members 56 were required for each side of assembly 10.

[0033] Subsequently, the joint 15 is positioned between each side of assembly 10 such that tabs 76 engage the respective teeth 46, 48. As discussed in more detail above either angle member 78 or modified angle member 80 is then screwed in place to capture the flanges 74 of joint 15. After installation of members 78 or 80 the top coat 18 (e.g. concrete, asphalt, etc.) is installed upon floor sections 14 and 16 generally flush with the top surface of the members 78 or 80.

[0034] If the top plate 82 embodiment is chosen, top plate 82 is positioned on the top of members 80 and the top coat 18 and fixed to one side of assembly 10. [0035] In various exemplary embodiments, the relative dimensions, including angles, lengths and radii, as shown in the Figures are to scale. Actual measurements of the Figures will disclose relative dimensions and angles of the various exemplary embodiments. Various exemplary embodiments include any combination of one or more relative dimensions or angles that may be determined from the Figures. Further, actual dimensions not expressly set out in this description can be determined by using the ratios of dimensions measured in the Figures in combination with the express dimensions set out in this description.

[0036] The use of the terms“a” and“an” and“the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms“comprising,”“having,”“including,” and“containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning“including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g.,“such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non- claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

[0037] Further modifications and alternative embodiments of various aspects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only. The construction and arrangements, shown in the various exemplary embodiments, are illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments have been described in detail in this disclosure, many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter described herein. Some elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements, the position of elements may be reversed or otherwise varied, and the nature or number of discrete elements or positions may be altered or varied. The order or sequence of any process, logical algorithm, or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. By way of specific example, depending upon the application, joint 15 may be extruded from a thermoset or thermoplastic elastic compound such as an appropriate rubber material. Additionally, the preferred embodiments of base supports 20, extension members 56 and members 78 are extruded aluminum with cross-sections as shown and described herein, there may be design considerations which result in variations in the cross-sectional shapes, and the material used for these components. For example, an appropriate plastic may be used to replace the aluminum in some or all of components 20, 56 and 78. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may also be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the various exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, another example of the mounting elements are a combination of magnets and/or ferromagnetic materials.