System for transferring loads between cast-in-place slabs

Apparatus for use in transferring a load across a joint between first and second cast-in-place slabs, the joint having a substantially planar joint surface substantially perpendicular to a substantially planar intended upper surface of the first slab, the apparatus comprising:

• a blockout sheath adapted to be embedded within the first slab such that a substantially planar top surface and a substantially planar bottom surface of the blockout sheath are substantially parallel to the intended upper surface of the first slab, the top and bottom surfaces of the blockout sheath each having a width parallel to an intersection between the joint surface and the upper surface of the first slab, the width of the top and bottom surfaces of the blockout sheath substantially decreasing away from the joint surface;
• and
• a load plate having a substantially tapered end and a remaining portion, the tapered end having substantially planar upper and lower surfaces, the substantially tapered end being adapted to be inserted into the blockout sheath, the upper and lower surfaces of the substantially tapered end being adapted to cooperatively engage the substantially planar upper and lower surfaces of the blockout sheath, the remaining portion of the load plate being adapted to be embedded in the second slab;
• the load plate and the blockout sheath being adapted to transfer between the first and second slabs any load applied to either the first or second slab in a direction perpendicular to the intended upper surface of the first slab;
• and
• the load plate and the blockout sheath being adapted to allow increasingly greater relative movement of the first and second slabs in a direction parallel to the width of the blockout sheath as the first or second slab moves away from the joint.

A load plate kit having component parts capable of being assembled during creation of a joint between first and second cast-in-place slabs, the joint being initially defined by an inner surface of an edge form, a substantially planar intended upper surface of the first slab being substantially perpendicular to the inner surface of the edge form, the kit comprising:

• a. a mounting plate adapted to be attached to the edge form;
• b. a blockout sheath adapted to be attached to the mounting plate such that a substantially planar top surface and a substantially planar bottom surface of the blockout sheath protrude into a space to be occupied by the first slab, the top and bottom surfaces of the blockout sheath being substantially parallel to the intended upper surface of the first slab, the top and bottom surfaces of the blockout sheath each having a width parallel to an intersection between the edge form and the intended upper surface of the first slab, the width of the top and bottom surfaces of the blockout sheath substantially decreasing away from the joint;
• and
• c. a load plate having a substantially tapered end, the end having substantially planar upper and lower surfaces, the end being adapted to be inserted into the blockout sheath, the upper and lower surfaces of the first end adapted to cooperatively engage the substantially planar upper and lower surfaces of the blockout sheath, the load plate and blockout sheath being adapted to transfer between the first and second slabs a load applied to either slab, the load being directed substantially perpendicular to the intended upper surface of the first slab after:
• i. the first slab has been poured and has hardened,
• ii. the edge form and mounting plate have been removed from the first slab,
• iii. the substantially tapered end of the load plate has been inserted into the blockout sheath such that a remaining portion of the load plate protrudes into a space to be occupied by the second slab, and
• iv. the second slab has been poured and has hardened.

A system for transferring loads across a joint between concrete on-ground cast-in-place slabs, the system comprising:

• a first concrete on-ground cast-in-place slab;
• a second concrete on-ground cast-in-place slab;
• a joint separating the first and second slabs, at least a portion of the joint being initially defined by an inner surface of an edge form, wherein a substantially planar upper surface of the first slab is substantially perpendicular to the inner surface of the edge form, and a longitudinal axis of the joint is formed by an intersection of the inner surface of the edge form and the upper surface of the first slab;
• a plurality of load plates each having upper and lower surfaces, the upper and lower surfaces protruding into the first slab and into the second slab such that the load plates transfer between the first and second slabs a load applied to either slab directed substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the first slab;
• whereby the load plates restrict relative movement between the first and second slabs in a direction substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the first slab, and the load plates allow the joint to open by allowing the first and second slabs to move away from each other in a direction substantially perpendicular to the inner surface of the edge form;
• the load plates each having a largest width measured parallel to the longitudinal axis of the joint and a largest length measured perpendicular to the inner surface of the edge form, the largest width of the load plates being substantially the same as the largest length of the load plates;
• and
• the load plates having a height, measured perpendicular to the upper surface of the first slab, that is substantially less than one-eighth of the largest width of the load plates.

At a joint separating a first concrete on-ground cast-in-place slab from a second concrete on-ground cast-in-place slab, at least a portion of the joint being initially defined by an inner surface of an edge form, a substantially planar upper surface of the first slab being substantially perpendicular to the inner surface of the edge form, a longitudinal axis of the joint being formed by an intersection of the inner surface of the edge form and the upper surface of the first slab, the improvement comprising:

• a load plate adapted for transferring loads between the first cast-in-place slab and the second cast-in-place slab, the load plate including:
• a substantially tapered end, the end having substantially planar upper and lower surfaces, the upper and lower surfaces of the first end being adapted to protrude into the first slab;
• and
• a second end protruding into the second slab such that the load plate transfers, between the first and second slabs, a load applied to either slab directed substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the first slab;
• the load plate restricting relative movement between the first and second slabs in a direction substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the first slab;
• the load plate allowing the joint to open by allowing the first and second slabs to move away from each other in a direction substantially perpendicular to the inner surface of the edge form;
• and
• the substantially tapered end of the load plate having a width measured parallel to the longitudinal axis of the joint, the width of the tapered end being generally larger closer to the joint and generally smaller farther away from the joint such that, as the joint opens, the substantially tapered end of the load plate allows increasingly greater relative movement of the first and second slabs in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the joint.