Expansion joint system for open air structures
AssigneeConstruction Research & Technology GmbH
InventorsChris Wierzbowski, Gary Moore
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An expansion joint system for bridging an expansion joint gap between two spaced-apart underlying stair structures. The expansion joint system includes a movable plate that is connected to a fixed plate through a hinge. The hinge connection permits the movable plate to move in response to thermal movements and seismic events that causes the width of the expansion joint to open to a greater width or close to a smaller width. Following the seismic or thermal event, the hinge connection automatically returns the movable plate to its original position.
Claims23
An expansion joint system comprising:
- a first plate fixedly attached to an underlying structural member;
- and
- a second plate movably attached to the first plate and slidably engaged to an underlying structural member;
- wherein the first plate is directly attached to the second plate by a self closing hinge, and a portion of the first plate overlaps a portion of the second plate when the system is in a neutral position.
An expansion joint comprising:
- a stair structure comprising spaced-apart first and second underlying tread-riser portions;
- a first plate fixedly attached to said first underlying tread-riser portion;
- a second plate movably attached to the first plate and movably engaged with a second underlying tread-riser portion;
- wherein the first plate is attached to the second plate by a self closing hinge.
An expansion joint system comprising:
- a first plate fixedly attached to an underlying structural member;
- and
- a second plate movably attached to the first plate and slidably engaged to an underlying structural member;
- wherein the first plate is attached to the second plate by a self closing hinge, wherein the self closing hinge comprises two pieces of metal that are joined by a pin and a spring mount;
- and
- wherein a portion of the first plate overlaps a portion of the second plate when the system is in a neutral position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.