GB2472869A

GB2472869A - An infill expansion strip for a concrete slab

Info

Publication number: GB2472869A
Application number: GB0914756A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dean Charles Smith
Original assignee: EXPANSION JOINTS Ltd
Current assignee: EXPANSION JOINTS Ltd
Priority date: 2009-08-22
Filing date: 2009-08-22
Publication date: 2011-02-23
Also published as: GB0914756D0

Abstract

An infill strip assembly, comprising a central flexible section 1 which may contain openings or holes 5 along its length. Planar strips 3 with a textured outer surface 2 may be securely bonded to the sides. The uppermost planar surface may have a depressed or concave form 4 to allow for bulging created when the assembly is in its compressed state. The whole assembly may be formed with a slight taper to the lower portion to facilitate easy location and entry into the saw cut slot or channel in the concrete slab.

Description

I

Expandable Saw Cut Infill Strip This invention relates to the filling of saw cuts made in concrete or other settable material slabs.

Saw cuts are commonly used in newly installed concrete slabs, screeds, and other settable materials to induce a crack through the slab depth. Thereby reducing the shrinkage and drying stresses of the curing slab and controlling the formation of cracks in the floor.

The aforementioned saw cuts are most commonly filled with a compound material, usually resin based to provide a degree of flexibility, thereby accommodating the movement between the divided sections of the floor slab. There are also some products available on the market which can be driven into the saw cut to fill the gap, acting like a caulking to the floor.

The problem with the presently available compounds and particularly the caulking materials is that they are time consuming to install and only have a relatively small degree of expansion capability, also they are affected by temperature extremes such as freezer stores.

According to the present invention there is provided an infill strip that is quick and easy to fit, and has a high degree of expansion capability in excess of 40% in width, also the materials used in the construction of the infill strip are corrosion resistant and have a high tolerance to temperature extremes. Said infihl strip may be formed in discrete lengths which can be joined together as required The centre section of the infill strip may be manufactured from a flexible rubberlike or latex based material, which is resistant to chemical and oil attack. Said section may be formed with a plurality of openings along its length to assist with flexibility and permit compaction. There may also be formed a depression along the uppermost planar surface to accommodate external bulging of the section when it is in its compressed state fitted into the newly saw cut slot.

On either side of the centre flexible section there may be placed individual planar strips of non-ferrous metal or other materials. Said planar strips may be bonded to the centre section by such means as vulcanising or other permanent fixing methods so as to become homogenous with the flexible centre section, Said planar strips may also be textured or lightly ribbed on the external surface in order to permit better grip onto the sides of the saw cut slot.

The resulting assembly when viewed in the correct orientation cross section may be slightly tapered in its relaxed state, Therefore the width dimension for the lower thickness of the infill strip will be substantially less than at the top. The reason for this taper is to provide for easy insertion into the saw cut slot when installing.

Fig. 1, Shows a diagrammatic cross sectional view of an Expandable Saw Cut Infill Strip assembly according to the invention.

Fig. 2, Shows a diagrammatic cross sectional view of the assembly in its relaxed state and in its compressed state.

Fig. 3. Shows a diagrammatic cross sectional view of the assembly in use in a concrete slab.

The drawings show an expandable saw cut infill strip assembly, suitable for quick installation into a saw cut in a concrete or other settable material slab.

The central flexible section 1 is designed with holes or openings 5 to allow a good degree of compression and yet still provide sufficient resistance to enable the strips at the sides to grip firmly into the saw cut slot. Testing has shown that better than 40% expansion from the relaxed state can be achieved, which is approximately twice that of a standard proprietary resin based filler. This flexible section also has a depression or concave form 4 on the uppermost planar surface, to cope with the bulge created when the assembly is compressed Metal or other material strips 3 are vulcanised or securely bonded to the sides of the central flexible section 1, these stnps have a textured or ribbed finish 2, in order to better provide grip to the sides of the saw cut slot in the concrete slab.

The assembly is tapered to provide for easier placement into the saw cut slot or channel, thereby effectively giving a leading edge to the assembly.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance, it should be understood that the applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

Claims 1. An Infihl Strip assembly which can be easily compressed to permit insertion into a saw cut channel or slot in a concrete or other settable material slab.
2. An infihl Strip assembly according to claim 1. containing a central flexible section which may have a plurality of openings or holes along its length.
3. An infill strip assembly according to claims 1. or 2. which may have a depressed or concave form to its uppermost planar surface.
4. An infihl strip assembly according to any of the preceding claims, which may expand in excess of 40% in width from its compressed state.
5. An infihl strip assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the centrai flexible section may be formed from coloured material to suit a clients requirement.
6. An infill strip assembly according to any of the preceding claims, which may have individual planar strips along the sides of its centre section.
7. An infihl strip according to claim 6. which may have a textured or lightly ribbed surface to the planar strips to provided grip to the sides of the saw cut slot or channel.
8. An infill strip assembly according to any of the preceding claims, in which the textured planar side strips may be securely bonded or vulcanised to the central flexible section.
9. An infihl strip assembly according to any of the preceding claims, whereby the assembly is tapered vertically to permit easy insertion into the saw cut slot or channel.
10. An infill strip assembly according to any of the preceding claims, which is resistant to general corrosion.
11. An infihl strip assembly according to any of the preceding claims, that is specifically resistant to fuel, oil and chemical attack.
12. An infihl strip assembly according to any of the preceding claims, that is specifically designed for use in extremes of temperature environments such as cold stores and for urvderfloor heating applications.