Contraction joint installer for concrete slabs
OwnerHarvey Hilbert Haynesinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method to install contraction joints in concrete slabs. The method uses a device, which inserts a strip of plastic or paper tape into freshly laced concrete, as the device is driven across a concrete slab. The tape is folded immediately prior to being inserted into freshly placed concrete, and functions to weaken the slab at the contraction joint location for the purpose of causing a crack to form in the slab. Plastic tape can be used, which functions as a moisture vapor retarder, and thereby, protects floor coverings from moisture damage, such as mold and mildew, at contraction joint locations.
Claims32
An installer for continuously inserting tape wound on a roll below a top surface of a plastic concrete slab, the installer comprising:
- a. a base that is formed so as to be able be supported by and to travel over the top surface of the plastic concrete slab;
- b. a rotating insertion blade supported by the base, the rotating insertion blade reaching below the base, the rotating insertion blade having an edge and an axis;
- c. a fork supported by the base, the fork being located higher than the axis of the rotating insertion blade, the fork having an opening that can receive an axle on which the tape wound on the roll may be received.
A method of continuously inserting tape partially wound on a roll below a top surface of a plastic concrete slab, the method comprising:
- a. providing an installer, the installer comprising:
- 1. a base that is formed so as to be supported by and to travel over the top surface of the plastic concrete slab;
- 2. a rotating insertion blade supported by the base, the rotating insertion blade reaching below the base and above the base, the rotating insertion blade having an edge and an axis;
- 3. a fork supported by the base, the fork being located higher than the axis of the rotating insertion blade, the fork having an opening;
- b. mounting the tape partially wound on the roll onto an axle, the tape having a distal end and opposed longitudinal side edges, the roll receiving the axle;
- c. placing the axle into the slot of the fork such that the tape wound on the roll rests upon the rotating insertion blade;
- d. pulling the distal end of the tape over a portion of the edge of the rotating insertion blade, such that a portion of the edge of the rotating insertion blade contacts the tape between the opposed longitudinal side edges;
- e. placing the installer on the top surface of the plastic concrete slab such that the base of the installer rests on the top surface of the plastic concrete slab, and a portion of the rotating insertion blade is inserted below the top surface of the plastic concrete slab, and also a portion of the tape is inserted below the top surface of the plastic concrete slab, said portion of the tape inserted below the top surface of the plastic concrete slab becoming attached to the plastic concrete in the slab with which it is in contact;
- f. driving the installer over the plastic concrete slab, such that the rotating insertion blade rotates and thereby pulls tape from where the tape is wound on the roll and inserts further portions of the tape below the top surface of the concrete slab.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.