# US 2018/0023296 A1 · Lifting and leveling insert for a precast concrete slab > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0023296 A1 - Document ID: US20180023296A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/656,486 - Filed: 2017-07-21 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-21 - Assignees: Meadow Burke, LLC - Applicants: Meadow Burke, LLC - Inventors: Michael J. Recker - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180023296A1 ## CPC - E04B 5/02: Load-carrying floor structures formed substantially of prefabricated units (E04B5/43 - E04B5/48 take precedence) - B28B 23/005: {with anchoring or fastening elements for the shaped articles} - E01C 5/001: {on prefabricated supporting structures or prefabricated foundation elements except coverings made of layers of similar elements} - E01C 5/06: made of units with cement or like binders - E01C 19/52: Apparatus for laying individual preformed surfacing elements, e.g. kerbstones - E04B 5/04: with beams {or slabs} of concrete or other stone-like material, e.g. asbestos cement (E04B5/08, E04B5/14 take precedence) - E04F 15/00: Flooring (stair treads E04F11/104; coverings not specially adapted for floors E04F13/00; borders, skirtings E04F19/02; {implements for laying flooring E04F21/20;} gratings for cleaning soles of footwear A47L23/24; {built-in gratings E04F19/10; removing floor coverings E04G23/00; carpets A47G27/00;} of similar materials to roads E01C; basic or rough floors {, structural floors} E04B5/00) - E04G 21/147: {specific for prefabricated masonry wall elements} - E04B 2103/02: of ceramics, concrete or other stone-like material - E04B: GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS (border constructions of opening in walls, floors or ceilings E06B1/00; {electromagnetic shielding H05K9/0001}) - B28B: SHAPING CLAY OR OTHER CERAMIC COMPOSITIONS; SHAPING SLAG; SHAPING MIXTURES CONTAINING CEMENTITIOUS MATERIAL, e.g. PLASTER (foundry moulding B22C; working stone or stone-like material B28D; shaping of substances in a plastic state, in general B29C; making layered products not composed wholly of these substances B32B) - E01C: CONSTRUCTION OF, OR SURFACES FOR, ROADS, SPORTS GROUNDS, OR THE LIKE; MACHINES OR AUXILIARY TOOLS FOR CONSTRUCTION OR REPAIR (forming roads or like surfaces by compacting or grading snow or ice E01H) - E04F: FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS (windows, doors E06B) - E04G: SCAFFOLDING; FORMS; SHUTTERING; BUILDING IMPLEMENTS OR AIDS, OR THEIR USE; HANDLING BUILDING MATERIALS ON THE SITE; REPAIRING, BREAKING-UP OR OTHER WORK ON EXISTING BUILDINGS ## Abstract An insert for lifting and leveling a precast concrete slab is provided. The insert includes a sleeve that extends through the concrete slab and has two distinct threaded portions on an inner surface of the sleeve. This configuration allows a lifting bolt to be positioned into an upper end of the sleeve to lift the concrete slab, and a different-sized leveling bolt to be positioned in the sleeve to selectively elevate or raise part of the concrete slab relative to a ground surface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for lifting and leveling a precast concrete slab, comprising: a sleeve configured to be embedded in said precast concrete slab, the sleeve having a predetermined length, an upper thread extending along an inner surface of said sleeve by a distance that is shorter than said predetermined length, and a lower thread extending along said inner surface of said sleeve by a distance that is shorter than said predetermined length; a lifting bolt positioned in said upper thread of said sleeve; a leveling bolt positioned in said lower thread of said sleeve, said leveling bolt having a length that is shorter than said predetermined length of said sleeve; and a plate positioned on a lower end of said sleeve, wherein said plate is configured to extend away from said lower end of said sleeve as said leveling bolt is selectively rotated in said lower thread, which selectively elevates or lowers said precast concrete slab above a ground surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said upper thread has a larger diameter than said lower thread. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: an unthreaded portion of said sleeve extending along said inner surface of said sleeve between said upper thread and said lower thread, said unthreaded portion having a smaller diameter than said upper thread. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a plurality of legs extends from an outer surface of said sleeve. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein legs of said plurality of legs are equally spaced radially about a longitudinal axis of said sleeve. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plug that provides a severable interconnection between said plate and said lower surface of said sleeve. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sleeve and said plate are comprised of a metallic material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said lifting bolt is configured to be selectively removable from said upper thread of said sleeve. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said sleeve is formed from a coiled tube wrapped about a longitudinal axis. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said lifting bolt comprises a connection feature that is configured for selective interconnection with a device to position said sleeve and said precast concrete slab. ### Claim 11 A method of embedding a lifting and leveling insert in a precast concrete slab, comprising: providing an insert having: a sleeve with an upper threaded portion and a lower threaded portion on an inner surface of said sleeve, wherein said upper threaded portion has a larger diameter than said lower threaded portion; a plate operably positioned on a lower end of said sleeve; a plurality of legs extending from an outer surface of said sleeve; and pouring concrete around said sleeve of said insert in a concrete form to create a precast concrete slab, wherein said plate is operably positioned at a lower surface of said concrete slab to selectively detach from said lower surface of said concrete slab. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein said sleeve has an unthreaded portion extending along said inner surface of said sleeve between said upper threaded portion and said lower threaded portion, said unthreaded portion having a smaller diameter than said upper threaded portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein said sleeve is formed from a coiled tube wrapped about a longitudinal axis. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising engaging a lifting bolt in said upper threaded portion of said sleeve to lift and position said insert and said precast concrete slab over a ground surface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising engaging a leveling bolt in said lower threaded portion of said sleeve to detach said plate from said lower surface of said concrete slab and to elevate said concrete slab over a ground surface. ### Claim 16 A method of transporting and setting a precast concrete slab with an insert, comprising: providing an insert in a precast concrete slab, wherein said insert has a sleeve with an upper threaded portion and a lower threaded portion on an inner surface of said sleeve, wherein said upper threaded portion has a larger diameter than said lower threaded portion, and wherein said insert comprises a plate that is selectively detachable from said sleeve and a lower surface of said precast concrete slab; engaging a lifting bolt in said upper threaded portion of said sleeve; lifting said precast concrete slab with said lifting bolt into a position on a ground surface; removing said lifting bolt from said upper threaded portion; and engaging a leveling bolt in said lower threaded portion of said sleeve such that said plate of said insert detaches from said sleeve and said lower surface of said precast concrete slab and raises said precast concrete slab above said ground surface to a predetermined elevation. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising positioning grout underneath said precast concrete slab to set said precast concrete slab at said predetermined elevation over said ground surface. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein said sleeve is formed from a coiled tube wrapped about a longitudinal axis. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein said sleeve has an unthreaded portion extending along said inner surface of said sleeve between said upper threaded portion and said lower threaded portion, said unthreaded portion having a smaller diameter than said upper threaded portion. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein a plurality of legs extend from an outer surface of said sleeve into said precast concrete slab.