Device for forming an expansion joint in a floor surface

#The present invention relates to a device for forming expansion joints in floor surfaces such as a concrete or like slab, including slabs covered with ceramic or the like tiles, in which the device is a wedge shaped insert.

#Forming an expansion joint between two floor sections which are covered with ceramic tiles is known. U.S. Pat. No. 5,333,432 discloses a device for forming an expansion joint in a floor covered with ceramic tiles which includes a first plastic angle floor section to be secured onto the floor and formed by a fastening leg and terminating leg, and a second plastic wall section shaped like a strip with interlocking elements on its outer side. Both sections are connected by an upper soft plastic bridge simultaneously covering the respective section segments from the top. Also known is forming an expansion joint by two angle sections made of plastic material having terminating legs which are arranged parallel with one another with a spacing therebetween, the angle sections connected both at the top and at the bottom by elastic soft plastic bridges, forming a hollow space.

#Box-shaped plastic sections are also known for forming stress-relieving joints in floors and walls in which the section has recoiling side walls made of hard plastic material. These side walls are fitted with outer interlocking elements and are connected by elastic soft plastic bridges.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the expansion joint device of the present invention.

#FIG. 1 depicts one embodiment of the expansion joint device of the present invention, insert member 10. The insert member is in the form of a V or wedge having a top surface 11, side surfaces 12 which intersect or meet and are preferably of the same length thereby forming end portions 13. The insert member or wedge has a width 14 measured across surface 11 and a depth 15 measured from its uppermost portion of top 11 to the point of intersection of sides 12.

#The present invention includes a unitary insert member for filing an expansion joint gap formed between adjacent concrete slabs, floor tiles or the like, said insert member consisting essentially of a preassembled wedge shape form. One embodiment of the present invention is a method for sealing the gap located between adjacent flooring or structural members comprising the steps of placing the flooring or structural members adjacent to each other to form a gap therebetween; covering said structural members with a surface layer; providing a gap in the surface layer material; filling said gap with a sealing material insert; and removing any excess insert material above the surface layer. Advantageously the sealing insert is pre-assembled and is inserted into the gap when the surface layer is applied to the structural member or flooring. Alternatively said sealing insert may be inserted into said gap after said surface layer is applied to the structural member or flooring. Advantageously the sealing insert is an elastomer. Preferably the sealing insert is an extruded elastomer and most preferably the sealing insert comprises PVC.

#Advantageously the sealing insert is in the form of a wedge and the flooring or structural member is selected from the group consisting of concrete, terrazzo, ceramic, stone, VCT flooring, and combinations thereof. Advantageously the dimensions of the wedge range from a width at the top of the wedge of from about ¼ inch to about 1¼ inches and a depth of from about ⅝ inch to about 2⅜ inches. Preferably the depth of the wedge is graduated in ⅛ inch increments and the width of the wedge is graduated in {fraction (1/16 )} inch increments. Advantageously the sealing insert is about {fraction (1/16)} inch wider than said gap.