System and method for installing expansion joints

Apparatus for holding a strip of expandable joint material to be installed in an expansion joint between layers of freshly poured cementitious material, said apparatus comprising:

• a holder having a receiver of an elongated dimension generally corresponding to a strip of expandable joint material to be inserted in said receiver,
• said receiver including means for holding a strip of expandable joint material in said receiver while cementitious material is poured in areas on either side or on both sides of and adjacent to said holder,
• said apparatus including a plurality of integral stakes for substantially maintaining said receiver in a predetermined position while cementitious material is poured into said areas,
• a plurality of vertically elongated T-shaped spaced handles for lifting said apparatus and releasing said strip of expandable joint material from said receiver after cementitious material is poured and the apparatus is removed from between the areas of poured cementitious material prior to any setting of the cementitious materials;
• said holder including first and second opposing members forming said receiver, said first opposing member being oriented substantially parallel to said second opposing member, and with a space therebetween for receiving and frictionally maintaining said strip of expandable joint material, said strip of expandable joint material being longer than said receiver elongated dimensions;
• said receiver having an elongated continuous spine to which said first and second opposing members are integrally attached, said spine being dimensioned to maintain said space between said first and second members to accommodate said strip of expandable joint material;
• said first of said opposing members includes a plurality of widely spaced small retainers, with each said retainer being a substantially flat plate and having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a plurality of edges, a lower of said edges terminating generally midway of a top edge and a bottom edge of said second of said opposing members;
• said retainers being oriented with each said inner surface of each said retainer facing said second member inner surface and forming the means for holding a strip of expandable joint material;
• said inner surface of said second member being substantially parallel to said inner surfaces of said retainers;
• said spine includes two opposing ends and a plurality of sides, a first side of said spine opposing a second side of said spine, a top side of said spine having a substantially flat surface that is substantially perpendicular to both said first and second sides of said spine;
• each said retainer being attached to said first side of said spine only by a portion of said inner surface of each said flat plate proximate to a first edge of each said flat plate such that said first edge of each said flat plate is generally coplanar with said top side of said spine;
• and
• said second opposing member extending substantially along said spine and being integrally attached to said opposing second side of said spine by a portion of said inner surface of said second opposing member proximate to a first longitudinal edge of said second member, such that said first longitudinal edge of said second opposing member is generally coplanar with said top side of said spine;
• and
• said second opposing member having an opposing second longitudinal edge spaced above said strip of expandable joint material in a direction coplanar with said inner surface of said second opposing member when said strip of expandable joint material has been substantially fully received into said space for receiving said strip of expandable joint material.