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US 7,887,735 B2Granted
Method of forming a void in a mass of concrete using a dowel void former
AssigneeDayton Superior Corporation
InventorClifford D. Bennett
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A void former or dowel sleeve adapted to be encapsulated in a hardened mass of concrete, which is collapsible upon the application of a tensile force longitudinally thereof to remove the void former from the concrete and provide a void for a load transferring dowel.
Claims21
A method of forming a void in a mass of hardened concrete, the method comprising the steps of:
- obtaining a void former, the void former comprising
- an elongate tubular body having a closed inner end and an open outer end;
- a wall of said body defined by coextensive inner and outer surfaces;
- and
- a groove formed in said wall and extending from one of said inner and outer surfaces thereof toward, but not through, the other of said inner and outer surfaces, such that a web of material substantially thinner than said wall is retained between said groove and the other of said inner and outer surfaces;
- positioning the body in a mass of plastic concrete having a substantially horizontal upper surface and an edge surface extending substantially perpendicular to the upper surface, with the open outer end of said body positioned adjacent the edge surface of said mass, by inserting said closed inner end of said body into the edge surface of said mass of plastic concrete;
- allowing said mass to harden;
- and
- applying a force to said body adjacent the open end, the force being effective to rupture said web of material and permit said body to collapse inwardly, wherein said void former contracts to a size permitting withdrawal from the hardened mass.
6 more elements
A method of forming a void in a mass of hardened concrete, the method comprising the steps of:
- obtaining a void former, the void former comprising
- an elongate tubular body having a closed inner end and an open outer end;
- an outwardly extending flange circumscribing a portion of the periphery of said elongate tubular body at said open outer end;
- a wall of said body defined by coextensive inner and outer surfaces;
- and
- a groove formed in said wall and extending from one of said inner and outer surfaces thereof toward, but not through, the other of said inner and outer surfaces, such that a web of material substantially thinner than said wall is retained between said groove and the other of said inner and outer surfaces;
- positioning the body in a mass of plastic concrete having a substantially horizontal upper surface and an edge surface extending substantially perpendicular to the upper surface, with the open outer end of said body positioned adjacent the edge surface of said mass;
- allowing said mass to harden;
- and
- applying a force to said body adjacent the open end, the force being effective to rupture said web of material and permit said body to collapse inwardly, wherein said void former contracts to a size permitting withdrawal from the hardened mass.
7 more elements
A method of forming a void in a concrete slab, the method comprising the steps of:
- obtaining a void former, the void former comprising
- an elongate tubular body having a closed inner end and an open outer end;
- a wall of said body defined by coextensive inner and outer surfaces;
- and
- a groove formed in said wall and extending from one of said inner and outer surfaces thereof toward, but not through, the other of said inner and outer surfaces, such that a web of material substantially thinner than said wall bridges said groove;
- positioning the body in a mass of plastic concrete, with the open outer end of the body positioned adjacent an edge surface of said mass, and with said body extending substantially parallel to an upper surface of said mass, by inserting said closed inner end of said body into said edge surface of said mass of plastic concrete;
- allowing said mass to harden;
- and
- applying a force to said body adjacent said open end, the force being effective to rupture said web of material and permit said body to collapse inwardly, wherein said void former contracts to a size permitting withdrawal from the hardened mass.
6 more elements
A method of forming a void in a concrete slab, the method comprising the steps of:
- obtaining a void former, the void former comprising
- an elongate tubular body having a closed inner end and an open outer end;
- an outwardly extending flange circumscribing a portion of the periphery of said elongate tubular body at said open outer end;
- a wall of said body defined by coextensive inner and outer surfaces;
- and
- a groove formed in said wall and extending from one of said inner and outer surfaces thereof toward, but not through, the other of said inner and outer surfaces, such that a web of material substantially thinner than said wall bridges said groove;
- positioning the body in a mass of plastic concrete, with the open outer end of the body positioned adjacent an edge surface of said mass, and with said body extending substantially parallel to an upper surface of said mass;
- allowing said mass to harden;
- and
- applying a force to said body adjacent said open end, the force being effective to rupture said web of material and permit said body to collapse inwardly, wherein said void former contracts to a size permitting withdrawal from the hardened mass.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.