US3555980A — Sealing inserts for joints in concrete

Claim 1

Independent Claim 190 words

A compressible insert for sealing a variant joint space such as that which occurs between sections of concrete paving said insert comprising, and in combination: a. two flexural upper sections opposed in symmetry, having a central junction and extending upward and outward from said junction to define corner extremities; b. a central stem conjoint with and extending downward from said junction, said stem having lateral extensions upon opposite sides to form a T-section; c. opposed guiding means to engage the respective edges of said extensions, said guiding means having undersurfaces which incline downward and outward symmetrically to provide diagonally slanted guide faces for said edges when the insert is installed in the joint space, thereby to position the relative depth of said stem ambiently as a function of deviation in width of the variant joint space; d. resilient means to exert an upward force against said stem to maintain operative engagement of said edges with said guide faces; and e. supporting means upon either side to maintain a fixed relationship between said corner extremities and said guiding means respectively, and to secure the combination when installed in the joint space.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 190 words

A compressible insert for sealing a variant joint space such as that which occurs between sections of concrete paving said insert comprising, and in combination: a. two flexural upper sections opposed in symmetry, having a central junction and extending upward and outward from said junction to define corner extremities; b. a central stem conjoint with and extending downward from said junction, said stem having lateral extensions upon opposite sides to form a T-section; c. opposed guiding means to engage the respective edges of said extensions, said guiding means having undersurfaces which incline downward and outward symmetrically to provide diagonally slanted guide faces for said edges when the insert is installed in the joint space, thereby to position the relative depth of said stem ambiently as a function of deviation in width of the variant joint space; d. resilient means to exert an upward force against said stem to maintain operative engagement of said edges with said guide faces; and e. supporting means upon either side to maintain a fixed relationship between said corner extremities and said guiding means respectively, and to secure the combination when installed in the joint space.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 23 words

The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein said supporting means are of rigid composition and contoured to provide said opposed guiding means.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 24 words

The sealing insert as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stem comprises a strip of metal consisting of a connected series of X-shaped segments.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 20 words

The sealing insert as claimed in claim 1 including, and in combination, a reinforcing strip positioned proximate said central junction.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 108 words

In a compressible insert for sealing a variant joint space having opposed vertical faces such as occur between sections of concrete paving, wherein said insert is of the type adapted to be subjected to deformation comprising a resilient extrusion having a patterned cross-sectional structure including upper and lower pairs of lateral sections opposed in symmetry and extended outward to engage said faces, and connecting means oriented vertically conjoint with intermediate portions of said pairs, the improvement wherein said connecting means comprises an embedded strip of expanded metal forming a conjoint series of X-shaped segments adapted to stabilize said structure when the compressible insert is in said joint space.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 108 words

In a compressible insert for sealing a variant joint space having opposed vertical faces such as occur between sections of concrete paving, wherein said insert is of the type adapted to be subjected to deformation comprising a resilient extrusion having a patterned cross-sectional structure including upper and lower pairs of lateral sections opposed in symmetry and extended outward to engage said faces, and connecting means oriented vertically conjoint with intermediate portions of said pairs, the improvement wherein said connecting means comprises an embedded strip of expanded metal forming a conjoint series of X-shaped segments adapted to stabilize said structure when the compressible insert is in said joint space.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 91 words

In a compressible insert for sealing a variant joint space having opposed vertical spaces such as occur between sections of concrete paving, wherein said insert is of the type which comprises an elastomeric extrusion having a patterned cross-sectional structure including upper and lower pairs of lateral sections opposed in symmetry and extended outward to engage said faces, and means to conjoin said pairs in spaced relationship, the improvement wherein said lower pair of lateral sections comprises an embedded metal element cleaved and expanded to form a connected series of X-shaped segments.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 91 words

In a compressible insert for sealing a variant joint space having opposed vertical spaces such as occur between sections of concrete paving, wherein said insert is of the type which comprises an elastomeric extrusion having a patterned cross-sectional structure including upper and lower pairs of lateral sections opposed in symmetry and extended outward to engage said faces, and means to conjoin said pairs in spaced relationship, the improvement wherein said lower pair of lateral sections comprises an embedded metal element cleaved and expanded to form a connected series of X-shaped segments.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 55 words

A compressible insert as claimed in claim 6, wherein said element consists of spring metal and the legs of each said X-shaped segments increase in width toward the medial portion thereof to provide a gradingly flexural lower pair of lateral sections with its medial portion the more rigid and its peripheral portions the more flexible.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 138 words

In a compressible insert for sealing a variant joint space having opposed vertical faces such as occur between sections of concrete paving, wherein said insert is of the type comprising a resilient extrusion having a patterned cross-sectional structure including upper and lower pairs of lateral sections opposed in symmetry and extended outward to engage said faces, connecting means oriented vertically conjoint with said pairs, said upper pair of lateral sections having an exposed central junction, and in which such an extrusion is adapted to be inserted forcibly into a prepared joint space by a relatively narrow edged installation tool, the improvement wherein said insert includes, and in combination, a reinforcing member positioned proximate said central junction and having a composition disparate from that of said upper sections to prevent damage to the extrusion by said tool during installation.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 138 words

In a compressible insert for sealing a variant joint space having opposed vertical faces such as occur between sections of concrete paving, wherein said insert is of the type comprising a resilient extrusion having a patterned cross-sectional structure including upper and lower pairs of lateral sections opposed in symmetry and extended outward to engage said faces, connecting means oriented vertically conjoint with said pairs, said upper pair of lateral sections having an exposed central junction, and in which such an extrusion is adapted to be inserted forcibly into a prepared joint space by a relatively narrow edged installation tool, the improvement wherein said insert includes, and in combination, a reinforcing member positioned proximate said central junction and having a composition disparate from that of said upper sections to prevent damage to the extrusion by said tool during installation.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 53 words

The combination as claimed in claim 8, wherein said reinforcing member extends downward from said central junction and comprises a connected series of X-shaped segments, the upper edge of said member which is proximate said central junction having formed crotches at intervals to transmit the force of said tool distributively into said insert.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 64 words

The combination as claimed in claim 8, wherein said member overlays all of the exposable surface of said upper sections and includes means for securing the edges of said member to said extrusion, whereby, when said combination is installed in the joint space, the overlaid member will comprise a protective sheath conforming essentially to the surface contours of the upper portion of the extrusion.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1974-01-18	1974-07-20	1975-01-19	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1978-01-18	1978-07-20	1979-01-19	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1982-01-18	1982-07-20	1983-01-19	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Sealing inserts for joints in concrete

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