US4070427A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Concrete plank and method for making it for elevated playing court surfaces
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-08-27
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Granted: 1978-01-24
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Expires: 1996-08-27
Abstract
Abstract A concrete plank and method for making it which duplicates the flexibility of a non-concrete plank of any given thickness which is used for an elevated playing court surface in which the concrete plank has a thickness which follows a given set of parameters. The concrete plank is reinforced with closely spaced layers of mesh.
Inventors
- 👤 James P. Romualdi
- 👤 Samuel M. Bell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 15:20
CPC Classifications
B; B28; B28B; B28B23/00; B28B23/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
220 words
A method for making a composite mesh reinforced concrete plank which duplicates the flexbility of a non-concrete plank of a given thickness and which has sufficient strength for use in an elevated playing court surface which comprises: a. placing multiple layers of wire mesh within a U-shaped cross-sectional form having a desired length and width of the non-concrete plank to be duplicated in such a manner that the mesh is generally uniform and consistently distributed over the length, width and thickness of the cross-sectional form, the mesh has openings that are no greater than 0.75 inches and the layers of mesh are spaced apart no greater than 0.5 inches and the sizes of wire forming the mesh are such that the total amount of reinforcement is not less than 5 lbs. per cubic foot of reinforced concrete; b. filling the form with concrete to a thickness within the following parameters: (T.sub.c /T.sub.w) .sup.3 = E.sub.w /E.sub.c wherein: T c = thickness of the concrete plank, T w = thickness of the non-concrete plank which is to be duplicated and not to exceed two inches in thickness, E w = modulus of elasticity of the non-concrete plank to be duplicated, and E c = modulus of elasticity of the concrete plank; and c. removing the finished concrete plank from the form.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
220 words
A method for making a composite mesh reinforced concrete plank which duplicates the flexbility of a non-concrete plank of a given thickness and which has sufficient strength for use in an elevated playing court surface which comprises: a. placing multiple layers of wire mesh within a U-shaped cross-sectional form having a desired length and width of the non-concrete plank to be duplicated in such a manner that the mesh is generally uniform and consistently distributed over the length, width and thickness of the cross-sectional form, the mesh has openings that are no greater than 0.75 inches and the layers of mesh are spaced apart no greater than 0.5 inches and the sizes of wire forming the mesh are such that the total amount of reinforcement is not less than 5 lbs. per cubic foot of reinforced concrete; b. filling the form with concrete to a thickness within the following parameters: (T.sub.c /T.sub.w) .sup.3 = E.sub.w /E.sub.c wherein: T c = thickness of the concrete plank, T w = thickness of the non-concrete plank which is to be duplicated and not to exceed two inches in thickness, E w = modulus of elasticity of the non-concrete plank to be duplicated, and E c = modulus of elasticity of the concrete plank; and c. removing the finished concrete plank from the form.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as recited in claim 1 including the step of vibrating the concrete filled form to insure proper compaction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the layers of mesh placed in the form are kept in position and spaced within the form by reinforcing rods placed between the mesh layers, the reinforcing rods are oriented along the longitudinal axis of the forms.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as recited in claim 3 including the step of texturing the top surface of the concrete plank to provide a skid resistant surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as recited in claim 3 including the step of inserting heating elements between the layers of mesh.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
202 words
A method for making a composite mesh reinforced concrete plank which duplicates the flexibility of a non-concrete plank of a given thickness for use in an elevated playing court surface which comprises extruding a mixture of concrete which is combined with layers of mesh which are unrolled through an orifice having a width and length of the non-concrete plank to be duplicated in such a manner that the mesh is generally uniform and consistently distributed over the length, width and thickness of the concrete plank form within the following parameters: (T.sub.c /T.sub.w) .sup.3 = E.sub.w /E.sub.c wherein: T c = thickness of the concrete plank, T w = thickness of the non-concrete plank which is to be duplicated and not to exceed two inches in thickness, E w = modulus of elasticity of the non-concrete plank to be duplicated, and E c = modulus of elasticity of the concrete plank, the mesh has openings that are no greater than 0.75 inches and the layers of mesh are spaced apart no greater than 0.5 inches and the sizes of wire forming the mesh are such that the total amount of reinforcement is not less than 5 lbs. per cubic foot of reinforced concrete.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
202 words
A method for making a composite mesh reinforced concrete plank which duplicates the flexibility of a non-concrete plank of a given thickness for use in an elevated playing court surface which comprises extruding a mixture of concrete which is combined with layers of mesh which are unrolled through an orifice having a width and length of the non-concrete plank to be duplicated in such a manner that the mesh is generally uniform and consistently distributed over the length, width and thickness of the concrete plank form within the following parameters: (T.sub.c /T.sub.w) .sup.3 = E.sub.w /E.sub.c wherein: T c = thickness of the concrete plank, T w = thickness of the non-concrete plank which is to be duplicated and not to exceed two inches in thickness, E w = modulus of elasticity of the non-concrete plank to be duplicated, and E c = modulus of elasticity of the concrete plank, the mesh has openings that are no greater than 0.75 inches and the layers of mesh are spaced apart no greater than 0.5 inches and the sizes of wire forming the mesh are such that the total amount of reinforcement is not less than 5 lbs. per cubic foot of reinforced concrete.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as recited in claim 6 including forming surface indentations to provide skid resistance.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as recited in claim 7 including placing heating elements within the concrete plank as it is extruded.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
194 words
A method for making a composite mesh reinforced concrete plank which duplicates the flexibility of a non-concrete plank of a given thickness for use in an elevated playing court surface which comprises forming a mixture of concrete and distribiting layers of mesh to the desired length and width of the non-concrete plank to be duplicated in such a manner that the mesh is generally uniform and consistently distributed over the length, width and thickness of the concrete plank within the following parameters: (T.sub.c /T.sub.w) .sup.3 = E.sub.w /E.sub.c wherein: T c = thickness of the concrete plank, T w = thickness of the non-concrete plank which is to be duplicated and not to exceed 2 inches in thickness, E w = modulus of elasticity of the non-concrete plank to be duplicated, and E c = modulus of elasticity of the concrete plank, the mesh has openings that are no greater than 0.75 inches and the layers of mesh are spaced apart no greater than 0.5 inches and the sizes of wire forming the mesh are such that the total amount of reinforcement is not less than 5 lbs. per cubic foot of reinforced concrete.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
194 words
A method for making a composite mesh reinforced concrete plank which duplicates the flexibility of a non-concrete plank of a given thickness for use in an elevated playing court surface which comprises forming a mixture of concrete and distribiting layers of mesh to the desired length and width of the non-concrete plank to be duplicated in such a manner that the mesh is generally uniform and consistently distributed over the length, width and thickness of the concrete plank within the following parameters: (T.sub.c /T.sub.w) .sup.3 = E.sub.w /E.sub.c wherein: T c = thickness of the concrete plank, T w = thickness of the non-concrete plank which is to be duplicated and not to exceed 2 inches in thickness, E w = modulus of elasticity of the non-concrete plank to be duplicated, and E c = modulus of elasticity of the concrete plank, the mesh has openings that are no greater than 0.75 inches and the layers of mesh are spaced apart no greater than 0.5 inches and the sizes of wire forming the mesh are such that the total amount of reinforcement is not less than 5 lbs. per cubic foot of reinforced concrete.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the layers of mesh placed in the form are kept in position by crimped layers of mesh.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the layers of mesh placed in the form are kept in position by folded layers of mesh.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as recited in claim 6 wherein the layers of mesh are kept in position by crimped layers of mesh.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as recited in claim 6 wherein the layers of mesh are kept in position by folded layers of mesh.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1530630A
Cited
GB279585A
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US2252980A
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US3146508A
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US3510547A
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US3429094A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-01-23 | 1981-07-25 | 1982-01-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-01-23 | 1985-07-25 | 1986-01-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-01-23 | 1989-07-25 | 1990-01-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |