AU2002100755B4 - Termite barrier for abutting slabs - Google Patents

Description

TERRY JOHN TRAPNELL

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 INNOVATION SPECIFICATION Invention Title: Termite Barrier for Abutting Slabs This invention is described in the following statement: TERMITE BARRIER FOR ABUTTING SLABS FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the protection of buildings from subterranean termites. The invention is particularly concerned with preventing termites from penetrating the region between the concrete slab of a building and an adjacent concrete path or other concrete structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Concrete slabs for paths, drives and other purposes, are frequently constructed so as to abut the concrete slab of a building. This can be a dangerous practice, particularly in areas which are heavily infested with termites, as termites can penetrate the region between the slabs and gain access to the building.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a system for preventing subterranean termite penetration between adjacently formed concrete slabs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for preventing subterranean termite penetration between abutting first and second concrete slabs, which method comprises the steps of: adhering a termite barrier to the vertical face of a first concrete slab in a location at which a second concrete slab is to abut; and (ii) pouring the second concrete slab so. as to completely cover the termite barrier; wherein the termite barrier comprises a longitudinal strip of termite resisting material having a tongue which extends into the second concrete slab.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a termite barrier for use in the region where two concrete slabs abut, said termite barrier comprising a longitudinal strip of termite resisting material having a tongue which extends perpendicularly thereto.

DETAILS DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The termite barrier is such that when the second concrete slab expands away from the first concrete slab, the termite barrier remains adhered to the first concrete slab. In this manner, an effective and viable barrier to termite penetration is maintained between the two slabs irrespective of their relative movement.

The tongue section of the termite barrier is preferably such that it extends perpendicularly from the longitudinal strip section. This gives rise to termite barrier configurations which, in cross-section, are substantially "T-shaped" and "L-shaped". Preferably, the "L-shaped" configuration is radiused at its corner.

The longitudinal strip section of the termite barrier preferably has a substantially flat surface for adhering to the vertical face of the first concrete slab.

The opposing surface can likewise be substantially flat and optionally include one or more inwardly projecting longitudinal ribs formed thereon.

Preferably, the termite barrier is fabricated from stainless steel, aluminium, polyvinylchloride or similar polymeric materials, and has a tongue width of approximately 50mm and a longitudinal strip section of approximately 50mm. The termite barrier can be adhered to the vertical face of the first concrete slab by the use of a flexible termite resistant adhesive which is applied in the form of a continuous bead. Suitably, the bead of adhesive is located approximately mid-way between the longitudinal edges of the longitudinal strip section and has a finished width of at least about BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a partial perspective of a termite barrier according to one aspect of the present invention; Figure 2 is a partial perspective of another termite barrier according to another aspect of the present invention; Figure 3 is a cross-section of the termite barrier illustrated in Figure 1, in situ; and Figure 4 is a cross-section of the termite barrier illustrated in Figure 2, in situ.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in all of which like reference numerals refer to like parts.

Referring firstly to Figure 1, the termite barrier 10, comprises a longitudinally extending strip 11 of stainless steel having a planar rear face for direct adhesion to a concrete slab, and a longitudinally extending tongue 12 which projects perpendicularly thereto. The width of the tongue 12 and the strip 11 is approximately 50mm. A longitudinally extending inwardly inclined rib 13 is formed on one end of the strip 11.

Figure 3 shows the termite barrier 10 in situ between a first concrete slab 14 and a second concrete slab 15. Concrete slab 14 is the slab of a building having outer framework 16, and concrete slab 15 is a path abutting the slab 14. The termite barrier 10 is adhered to the first concrete slab 14 with a flexible termite resistant adhesive 17.

To construct the arrangement illustrated in Figure 3, a bead of adhesive 17 is placed along the vertical face of a pre-existing concrete slab 14 at a predetermined spacing between the finished ground level 19 and the finished level 18 of the concrete slab 14.

The termite barrier is then urged against the bead of adhesive 17 to compress it over the rear face of the strip 11 as illustrated in the drawing, and the adhesive is allowed to cure. After curing, the second concrete slab 15 is poured to the height and position shown in Figure 3, and allowed to set. Once set, the passage of termites between the two concrete slabs is prevented notwithstanding that the second concrete slab 15 may move outward from the first concrete slab 14 over time. This is because the termite barrier remains adhered to the first concrete slab and outward movement of the first concrete slab merely causes slippage over the tongue 12 which produces a small internal cavity at the end of the tongue but still prevents termites from getting past the body of the tongue.

Figure 2 illustrates an "L-shaped" termite barrier 20 formed from polyvinylchloride. This termite barrier comprises a longitudinally extending strip 21 having a planar rear face for direct adhesion to a concrete slab, and an integrally formed longitudinally extending tongue 22 which projects perpendicularly from one edge thereof. The intersection 23 between the strip 21 and tongue 22 forms a uniform radiused curvature.

Figure 4 shows the termite barrier 20 in situ between a first concrete slab 24 and a second concrete slab 25. As in the previous example, concrete slab 14 is the slab of a building and concrete slab 15 is the slab of an abutting pathway. The termite barrier is adhered to the vertical face of the first concrete slab 24 by the 6 use of a flexible termite resistant adhesive 27. The construction and function of the arrangement illustrated in Figure 4 is analogous to that described above with respect to the Figure 3 embodiment.

Claims (3)

1. A method for preventing subterranean termite penetration between abutting first and second concrete slabs, which method comprises the steps of: adhering a termite barrier to the vertical face of a first concrete slab in a location at which a second concrete slab is to abut; and (ii) pouring the second concrete slab so as to completely cover the termite barrier; wherein the termite barrier comprises a longitudinal strip of termite resisting material having a tongue which extends into the second concrete slab.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the termite barrier is adhered to the first concrete slab by the use of a flexible termite resistant adhesive which is applied in the form of a continuous bead.

3. A termite barrier and/or method for preventing subterranean termite penetration between abutting first and second concrete slabs, substantially as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings. DATED this 3 0 th Day of December 2003 Terry John Trapnell By his Patent Attorneys CULLEN CO