Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
292 words
A method for constructing a concrete road with expansion joints which comprises placing a support apparatus on a roadbed in general alignment with the desired location of an expansion joint prior to pouring concrete for finishing the concrete road, said support apparatus including a plurality of substantially parallel-spaced inverted generally U-shaped cross members, each of said U-shaped cross members including a first leg on one side, a second leg on the other side and a central element connecting said legs and being generally oriented in the same direction as the others of said cross members, and a pair of substantially parallel-spaced support members disposed substantially perpendicular to the planes of said U-shaped cross members and connecting together said cross members, one of said support members being connected to each of said first legs at a point intermediate the ends of said first legs and the other of said support members being connected to said second legs at a point intermediate the ends of said second legs, said support members being aligned generally parallel with the desired expansion joint with one support member being disposed on one side and the other support member being disposed on the other side thereof, securing a self-oiling dowel bar adjacent essentially each Ushaped cross member, said dowel bars resting on said support members and being aligned generally with the longitudinal axis of said road, pouring concrete for finishing said road to a depth exceeding the height of said support apparatus, and cutting a groove in the upper portion of said concrete prior to the time when said concrete commences substantial shrinking to a depth sufficient to sever the central elements connecting said legs of said cross members but not to an extent to contact said dowel bars.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
292 words
A method for constructing a concrete road with expansion joints which comprises placing a support apparatus on a roadbed in general alignment with the desired location of an expansion joint prior to pouring concrete for finishing the concrete road, said support apparatus including a plurality of substantially parallel-spaced inverted generally U-shaped cross members, each of said U-shaped cross members including a first leg on one side, a second leg on the other side and a central element connecting said legs and being generally oriented in the same direction as the others of said cross members, and a pair of substantially parallel-spaced support members disposed substantially perpendicular to the planes of said U-shaped cross members and connecting together said cross members, one of said support members being connected to each of said first legs at a point intermediate the ends of said first legs and the other of said support members being connected to said second legs at a point intermediate the ends of said second legs, said support members being aligned generally parallel with the desired expansion joint with one support member being disposed on one side and the other support member being disposed on the other side thereof, securing a self-oiling dowel bar adjacent essentially each Ushaped cross member, said dowel bars resting on said support members and being aligned generally with the longitudinal axis of said road, pouring concrete for finishing said road to a depth exceeding the height of said support apparatus, and cutting a groove in the upper portion of said concrete prior to the time when said concrete commences substantial shrinking to a depth sufficient to sever the central elements connecting said legs of said cross members but not to an extent to contact said dowel bars.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein each of said legs at its other end has an arm connected thereto disposed substantially parallel to said central element and extending in a direction outwardly from said central element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
78 words
The invention of claim 2 including a second pair of substantially parallel-spaced support members disposed substantially perpendicular to the planes of said U-shaped cross members and connecting together said cross members, one of said second pair of support members being connected to each of the arms on one side of the cross members and the other of said second pair of support members being connected to each of the arms on the other side of the cross members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
86 words
The invention of claim 1 in which the dimensions of the construction are selected on the following basis: 1/4 A < H + D < 3/4 A < A - B < C wherein: A the depth of the final concrete layer H the height at which the lower edge of the dowel bars are supported above the roadbed D the diameter of the dowel bars B the depth of the groove C the height of the central elements of the cross members above the roadbed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
263 words
In a concrete road having expansion joints, the improvement which comprises a support apparatus placed on a roadbed in general alignment with the location of each expansion joint and embedded in said concrete road said support apparatus including a plurality of substantially parallel-spaced inverted generally U-shaped cross members, each of said U-shaped cross members including a first leg on one side, a second leg on the other side and a central element connecting said legs and being generally oriented in the same direction as the others of said cross members, and a pair of substantially parallel-spaced support members disposed substantially perpendicular to the planes of said U-shaped cross members and connecting together said cross members, one of said support members being connected to each of said first legs at a point intermediate the ends of said first legs and the other of said support members being connected to said second legs at a point intermediate the ends of said second legs, said support members being aligned generally parallel with the expansion joint with one support member being disposed on one side and the other support member being disposed on the other side thereof, a plurality of self-oiling dowel bars secured adjacent essentially each U-shaped cross member, said dowel bars resting on said support members and being aligned generally with the longitudinal axis of said road, and a groove cut in the upper portion of said concrete road to a depth sufficient to sever the central elements connecting said legs of said cross members but not to an extent to contact said dowel bars.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
263 words
In a concrete road having expansion joints, the improvement which comprises a support apparatus placed on a roadbed in general alignment with the location of each expansion joint and embedded in said concrete road said support apparatus including a plurality of substantially parallel-spaced inverted generally U-shaped cross members, each of said U-shaped cross members including a first leg on one side, a second leg on the other side and a central element connecting said legs and being generally oriented in the same direction as the others of said cross members, and a pair of substantially parallel-spaced support members disposed substantially perpendicular to the planes of said U-shaped cross members and connecting together said cross members, one of said support members being connected to each of said first legs at a point intermediate the ends of said first legs and the other of said support members being connected to said second legs at a point intermediate the ends of said second legs, said support members being aligned generally parallel with the expansion joint with one support member being disposed on one side and the other support member being disposed on the other side thereof, a plurality of self-oiling dowel bars secured adjacent essentially each U-shaped cross member, said dowel bars resting on said support members and being aligned generally with the longitudinal axis of said road, and a groove cut in the upper portion of said concrete road to a depth sufficient to sever the central elements connecting said legs of said cross members but not to an extent to contact said dowel bars.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention of claim 5 wherein each of said legs at its other end has an arm connected thereto disposed substantially parallel to said central element and extending in a direction outwardly from said central element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
78 words
The invention of claim 6 including a second pair of substantially parallel-spaced support members disposed substantially perpendicular to the planes of said U-shaped cross members and connecting together said cross members, one of said second pair of support members being connected to each of the arms on one side of the cross members and the other of said second pair of support members being connected to each of the arms on the other side of the cross members.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
86 words
The invention of claim 5 in which the dimensions of the concrete road are selected on the following basis: 1/4 A < H + D < 3/4 A < A - B < C wherein: A the depth of the concrete layer H the height at which the lower edge of the dowel bars are supported above the roadbed D the diameter of the dowel bars B the depth of the groove C the height of the central elements of the cross members above the roadbed.