US3880541A

US3880541A - Sealing member, sealing assembly and method for roadway curb and gutter intersections

Info

Publication number: US3880541A
Application number: US356819A
Authority: US
Inventors: Donald J Mcdowell; Jr John C Moerk
Original assignee: Felt Products Mfg Co LLC
Current assignee: Fel Pro Inc
Priority date: 1973-05-03
Filing date: 1973-05-03
Publication date: 1975-04-29
Anticipated expiration: 1992-04-29

Abstract

A sealing member, assembly and method for sealing a roadway gap at the intersection of curb and gutter portions of adjacent roadway slabs. The sealing member has at least one preformed bulge in a portion adapted to overlie the gutter portions of the adjacent slabs, the bulge increasing in size toward a side edge, thereby to accommodate a range of angles at which the main portion of the roadway gap extends away from its intersection with the curb portions. The bulge may be flattened and folded and is adapted to be sealed to the gutter portions to promote sealing of the gap and to facilitate its sealing securance with the roadway slabs and with an end dam assembly.

Description

United States Patent 11 1 McDowell et al.

[ 1 Apr. 29, 1975 SEALING MEMBER. SEALING ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR ROADWAY CURB AND GUTTER INTERSECTIONS [751 Inventors: Donald .1. McDowell, Riverside;

JohnC. Moerk. .lr.. Buffalo Grove.

[21] Appl. No.: 356,819

[52] US. Cl 404/74; 52/396 [51] Int. Cl. E0lc 11/02 158] Field of Search 404/74. 47. 64. 65. 69; 14/16; 52/394. 395. 396. 403. 658. 633. 573

[561 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 951.289 3/1910 Schnffer 14/16 2.103.337 l2/l937 Oury 52/396 2.192.269 3/1940 Maddock. 14/16 3.118.523 l/l964 Girot 52/573 3.381.435 5/1968 Smith 52/403 X 3.395.5(15 8/1968 Lamy 52/573 X 3.636.690 l/l972 White 52/633 3.713.368 1/1973 McDowell 404/67 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 504.570 4/1939 United Kingdom 404/67 Primun E.\'aminerNile C. Byers. Jr. Attorney. Agenl. 0r FirmDressler. Goldsmith. Clement & Gordon. Ltd.

[57] ABSTRACT A sealing member, assembly and method for sealing a roadway gap at the intersection of curb and gutter portions of adjacent roadway slabs. The sealing member has at least one preformed bulge in a portion adapted to overlie the gutter portions of the adjacent slabs. the bulge increasing in size toward a side edge. thereby to accommodate a range of angles at which the main portion of the roadway gap extends away from its intersection with the curb portions. The bulge may be flattened and folded and is adapted to be sealed to the gutter portions to promote sealing of the gap and to facilitate its sealing securance with the roadway slabs and with an end darn assembly.

18 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures SEALING MEMBER, SEALING ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR ROADWAY CURB AND GUTTER INTERSECTIONS This invention relates to an improved roadway joint assembly for sealing a narrow gap at the intersection of the curb and gutter portions of adjacent roadway slabs as found, for example, on elevated highways and bridges. The invention relates particularly to an improved sealing assembly for sealing such a gap when the portion of the gap between the gutter portion extends at a skew angle of other than ninety degrees to the longitudinal direction of the curb portions and to an assembly which is adapted effectively to seal such gap within a range of skew angles.

To prevent damage to the slabs and for other known reasons, it is very important that the gap between adjacent roadway slabs be sealed against the passage of water and debris thereinto and therethrough. One effective recent innovation which has been used to accomplish such sealing is disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,713,368 entitled Road Joint Seal and End Darn Construction, issued Jan. 30, I973.

It is especially difficult to provide a reliable gap seal at the intersection of the curb and gutter, and that is especially so where the roadway gap is skewed or angled thereat. One means for sealing curb and gutter gaps has been disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,650,184. However, despite such prior art devices, a need has remained in the art for an effective and practical sealing means for use at such gap intersections, for sealing means which are capable of accommodating skews, for sealing means which are capable of accommodating ranges of skew variations, and for sealing means which are readily adaptable for use with the seal and end dam construction disclosed in the aforementioned US. Pat. No. 3,7l3,368.

This invention provides an improved curb and gutter gap sealing member for bridging the portions of a gap between both curb and gutter portions of adjacent roadway slabs in the region of their intersections, and which is usuable, within design limits, for sealing such gaps where the gutter gap extends at a variety of skew angles from the longitudinal direction of the curb portions.

The gap sealing member of this invention includes a first elastic sealing flap portion which is adapted to bridge and to span the portion of a gap between curb portions of adjacent roadway slabs and to be sealingly secured thereto. The sealing member further includes an expansive second flap portion which extends away from the first flap portion and toward the opposite side of the roadway. The second flap portion has side edges which extend away from the first flap portion and which define a generally flat second flap segment between them. The second flap segment defines at least one upwardly extending bulge which has a point of beginning between said sides, and which extends toward, and terminates at one of said sides. The bulge progressively increases in size from its point of beginning to the side at which it terminates. In a preferred embodiment the second flap segment defines two oppositely directed bulges, each of which has a point of beginning adjacent the portion of an upstanding joint membrane which overlies both the gutter gap portions. The gap sealing member preferably is sealingly secured with a pair of dam members adapted to be secured to the curb portion of the gapped slabs.

When such a sealing member is to be used, the first flap portion is secured to the curb portions of roadway slabs adjacent a gap, as by the dam members. The second flap portion is then positioned over the gutter portions and is moved and manipulated until its angular disposition conforms to the direction of the gap portion between the gutter portions. Because of the provision of the bulge, the second flap portion may be moved through a range of angular dispositions, such as a range of about 30, thereby to accommodate a range of angles of intersection between the direction of the gutter gap and the longitudinal direction of the curb portions of the slabs. When embodied in a sealing member having a gap sealing joint membrane and a pair of oppositely directed bulges, the second flap portion may be moved to either side of a predetermined central or neutral position.

The elastic sealing member is useful both in cases where relative movement will occur between adjacent roadway slabs, and where little or no such movement is encountered. In either case the respective flap portions are sealingly secured to the curb portions and gutter portions adjacent the gap. Preferably complementary end dams or pads in accordance with US. Pat. No. 3,713,368 are used to complete the sealing of the roadway gap along its length.

Further objects, features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings, of which:

FIG. I is a fragmentary perspective view of intersecting curb and gutter portions of adjacent roadway slabs adapted to be sealed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 in which a sealing assembly incorporating a sealing member of this invention has been positioned against the curb portions to be bridges and sealed;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the manner in which the gutter gap sealing flap of the sealing assembly has been angularly moved, suitably to bridge a skewed gap between gutter portions;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the completed installation of a sealing assembly in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a sealing member of this invention;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the sealing member of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5, showing a further sealing member of this invention;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the sealing member of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 4.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the invention and a variant thereof, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the embodiments illustrated. The scope of the inven' tion will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates portions of two adjacent roadway slabs l0 and the gap 12 between them at one side of the slabs in the region of the intersection of the curb and gutter portions I4 and 16, respectively, thereof. It is the gap in that region that requires sealing and with which this invention is particularly concerned.

The gapped adjacent slabs It) typically constitute, for example, elevated highway or bridge slabs. where the gap has been provided to accommodate relative movement of the slabs under dynamic loading, well as to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction. The gutter portions 16 of adjacent slabs 1O terminate at their side edges in a region of intersection 18 with the curb portions 14. In the roadway illustrated, curb portions 14 extend generally vertically upwardly from the gutter portions 16. Curb and

gutter portions

14 and 16 define a line of intersection X therebetween in region 18 which line X extends in the longitudinal direction of the curb portions 14. It should be noted that the inven tion is susceptible of use with curb portions which extend upwardly at right angles from gutter portions as well as with roadways in which the upward inclination is at some non-orthogonal angle or a combination thereof. Curb portions 14 may be formed integrally, as of concrete, with the gutter portions 16 at the time the slabs are formed, or may be assembled at the edges of the gutter portions 16 in any other conventional manner known in the art.

Gap 12 runs continuously between adjacent curb portions 14 and gutter portions 16 and extends from region 18 across the roadway. As may be seen from FIGS. 1-4, the portion 20 of gap 12 between gutter portions 16 extends outwardly from curb portions 14 at a substantial skew or angle to the longitudinal direction of the curb portions, i.e., to the longitudinal direction of the curb portions and line of intersection X, hence to the nominal direction of travel of traffic along the roadway.

In order to prevent damage to the roadway. and for other known reasons, gap 12 must be sealed against the passage of water and debris along its entire length. Although the major part of a gap across a roadway gutter may be sealed as in the manner disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,713,368, sealing problems at intersection region 18 and along the curb-gutter intersection line X are substantial and difficult, particularly where dynamic loading and constant movement of slabs 10 and their associated curb and

gutter portions

14 and 16 is en countered. Further. because roadways are usually crowned, higher at the center than at the curb. water, salts and debris tend to gravitate to the gutter area, making sealing at those points most important.

In accordance with this invention. curb and

gutter portions

14 and 16 have been prepared to receive a sealing member and assembly, as by providing them with suitable curb notches 22 and gutter notches 24 which may be preformed during the fabrication of the slabs, or which, where an existing curb-gutter intersection region 18 is to be sealed according to this invention. may be formed as necessary. by removing roadway material.

A sealing member according to this invention may be formed, as by molding, of a flexible elastic material, such as of natural rubber or polychloroprene or nitrile rubber. Member 30 includes a curb flap portion 32, and a gutter flap portion 34 extending transversely away from curb flap portion 32 and intersection line X. The flap portions intersect in a line Y at right angles thereby to precondition them for securance to an or thogonal curb-gutter intersection, or they may also intersect at another angle, better to accommodate a nonorthogonal curb-gutter intersection region. Curb flap portion 32 has a height which is preferably greater than the height of the crown of the road. Gutter flap portion 34 has generally parailel

sides

36 and 38 extending transversely outwardly and away from intersection Y and away from curb flap portion 32. Gutter flap portion 34 defines

flap segments

40A and 40B and upwardly extending projections or bulges 42 and 44.

Sealing member 30 is adapted to be placed over the gutter-curb intersection region 18 (as shown in FIGS. 2 and 9), with intersection lines X and Y coincident, the flap portion 32 within curb notches 22, and flap portion 34 within gutter notches 24. Each flap portion is wide enough to extend substantially across its

notch

22 and 24, respectively, and to bridge the curb and gutter portions of gap 12 in region 18.

Bulges

42, 44 are provided to adapt a sealing member 30 to a range of skewed gaps 12 to be sealed. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6, bulges 42 and 44 are oppositely directed. At one side, an edge ofeach of the bulges lie along a line Z which is generally parallel with and spaced away from flap intersection line Y by a distance D (see FIGS. 6 and 9). The

bulges

42, 44 protrude and project upwardly from the

flap segments

40A and 408 to define downwardly opening concave regions 45 and 46 in flap portions 34. Additionally, flap segments 40A are located between line Y and the bulges and are of a width equal to distance I), and flat flap segments 40B are located beyond the bulges and the end 47 of flap portion 34. The

bulges

42 and 44 are preferably thinner than segment 40 so that they will assume their upstanding configuration, but will readily flex and fold as required relative to the remainder of flap portions 34.

Each of

bulges

42 and 44 begins at its respective point of beginning 48 and 49 inwardly of, and between, flap sides 36 and 38, and extends sidewardly to terminate at a respective one of the flap sides 36 and 38. Moreover, each one of

bulges

42 and 44 increases in size progressively from its point of beginning to its termination side, so that if a succession of cross-sections are taken of each bulge along uniformly spaced parallel planes transverse to flap intersection line Y, the areas of such cross sections progressively increases outwardly and sidewardly to its respective side of termination. Similarly, with each projection or

bulge

42 and 44 in a fully upstanding attitude, as illustrated in FIG. 5, it is seen that each bulge has a height as measured from the plane of flat segments 40A and 403 which increases uniformly and progressively from its point of beginning to its termination side.

The illustrated example of sealing member 30 shows each of

bulges

42 and 44 generally to have the configuration of a longitudinal half of a cone, with the base of the cone coinciding with a projection of a

flap side

36, 38, and with its apex thereof located medially on flap portion 34. However, bulges 42 and 44 may have transverse cross-sections other than those of semicircles which are defined by the semi-conical configurations. For example, the bulge configuration may be that of a simple upstanding pleat or fold of sidewardly increasing height (and having a triangular transverse cross section) or the cross-sectional shape may be other than that of a circular curved form, such as elliptical. Similarly, a plurality of smaller side-byside bulges of the conical type, or pleats or bulges of other types, may be utilized in place of the single

large bulges

42 and 44.

Flap portions

32 and 34 are also preferably provided with a continuous gap-bridging joint membrane 50. Joint membrane 50 may be of the upstanding, arched type disclosed and described in US. Pat. No. 3,713,368 and may function as there described. Joint membrane 50 comprises segments 50A and 508 which merge gradually at 50C into each other and which lie generally medially of their associated

flap portions

32 and 34. Each extends toward and intersects intersection line Y such as at a right angle where the flap portions are disposed to seal a curbgutter gap in which the curb extends vertically upwardly. Joint membrane 50 may be relatively thicker than other portions of the sealing member 30, thereby to maintain its upstanding orientation. In a specific embodiment, membrane 50, flat flap segments 40A and flap portion 32 may all be of the same thickness, such as 0.125 inch, flat flap segments 40B may be substantially thinner, such as 0.060 inch, and bulges 42 and 44 may be of the thinnest material, such as 0.045 inch. The apices or points of beginning of each of the cone-shaped

bulges

42 and 44 are closely adjacent opposite sides of membrane 50, so that the bulges extends outwardly and sidewardly from the membrane 50 to the

sides

36, 38.

The joint membrane 50 is provided so that relative movement of the adjacent curb and

gutter portions

14 and 16 may take place without disturbing the sealing of the roadway gap, as described in US. Pat No. 3,713,368. However, it should be understood that where substantial relative movement under the dynamic loading is not encountered, a sealing member 30 providing bulges of the type described herein need not necessarily include such a joint membrane.

The manner in which bulges 42 and 44 serve to enable sealing member 30 to accommodate to a range of gap skews may be seen by reference to FIGS. 3 and 6 particularly. FIGS. 3 and 6 (in dotted line) show how flap portion 34 may be angled 30 from its preformed stable or neutral position (FIGS. 2, 5 and 6) in which sides 36 and 38 are perpendicular to intersection line Y and in which the flap portion 34 extends away from line X at a ninety degree angle. Of course, any intermediate angle or skew of less than 30 to each side of the stable or neutral position (as seen in FIG. 6), may be accommodated because a pair of

bulges

42, 44 are present.

When the gutter flap portion 34 is moved to one side, bulge 42 is moved toward a flattened form. When the skew is 30, bulge 42 is fully flat and lies in coplanar alignment with the coplanar

flat flap segments

40A and 408. At the same time, the other side portion tends to bunch up and to overlap in the region of bulge 44. Bulge 44 is then neatly gathered and is downwardlyfolded, flat against segments 408 (FIG. 9). If the gap skew is more moderate, so that gutter flap portion 34 is not angled to the maximum, then the remaining unused portion of bulge 42, is also folded downwardly, flat against segments 408. An appropriate adhesive or sealant is then used to fix and maintain the folded portions of gutter flap portion 34 in their flattened attitudes. Similarly, if the gap 12 were skewed oppositely, i.e., to the other side of the neutral position, flap portion 34 and bulges 42, 44 would accommodate to this skew as readily, with bulge 44 being flattened and bulge 42 tending to bunch up to be gathered and folded.

In situations where gap 12 is skewed at more extreme angles, a sealing member having larger bulge means to accommodate a range of gap angles of greater than 60 may be provided. Alternatively, the preformed, stable or neutral position of the gutter flap portion ofa sealing member may be at an angle of other than ninety degrees to the line ofintersection X, of which the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7 is exemplary.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, a sealing member 30 may comprise a curb flap portion 32', which is essentially the same as flap portion 32, and a gutter flap portion 34' providing generally

flat segments

40A and 40B. Bulges 42' and 44', which, like

bulges

42 and 44, increase in size progressively from their points of beginning to their termination at the sides of gutter flap portion 34', and spaced from intersection line Y' by a dis tance D.

In its preformed stable or neutral position, a joint membrane 50 comprises a segment 50A formed with flap portion 32' and a segment 508' formed with flap portion 34'. A portion ofjoint membrane segment 508' extends, together with segment 408' at an angle to the line of intersection Y. This angle, in the preformed stable position of sealing member 30, may, for example, be an angle of 45 with respect to line of intersection Y. Bulges 42' and 44 are formed to permit a l5 range of movement of flap portion 34' to either side of the stable position, thereby to provide a sealing member 30' which will accommodate a skew angle of from 30 to 60 with respect to the longitudinal direction of the curb portions of adjacent roadway slabs. Of course, other skew angles and ranges of angles may be provided for by appropriately formed sealing members.

In the embodiments illustrated, the gutter flap portions, such as portions 34 and 34' are provided with two bulges. In some cases, however, a single bulge, which may extend completely or partially across a gutter flap portion, as across flap portion 34 from side 36 to side 38, will provide a generous range of tolerances for gaps skewed to one side of the preformed stable position. Further, the bulges need not necessarily be positioned at any particular distance D with respect to intersection Y, except that distance D should be adequate to provide for contact between flap portion 34 and other portions of the sealing assembly without interfering with the movement of the sealing assembly within its design range.

Sealing member 30 may be sealed to the curb-gutter intersection region 18 by applying a suitable sealant or adhesive to

notches

22 and 24, and by then positioning curb flap portion 32 in curb notches 22 and gutter flap portion 34 in gutter notches 24 so that the line of intersection Y aligns with curb-gutter intersection line X. Gutter flap portion 34 is then suitably angled, and the bulges thereof are gathered, flattened and folded as cle scribed above, so that the gutter flap portion is positioned to be sealed to a further sealing assembly, such as an end dam assembly of the type described in US. Pat. No. 3,713,368. Further end dam assemblies may then be joined thereto in an appropriate array to seal the remainder of the gap across the roadway. It is also possible to surface-mount sealing member 30 with suitable curb and gutter gap sealing members in overlap ping relationship, in which case roadway surfacing material may then be added adjacent the gap to bring the roadway level up to that of the completed sealing assembly.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention, the sealing member 30 is preformed into a unitary gap sealing assembly 54. This may be accomplished. as by integrally molding a unitary gap sealing assembly, or by otherwise sealingly securing the curb flap portion 32 of a sealing member 30, as to back surfaces 56 of dam and membrane portions of assembly 54, and by securing flat segments 40A of gutter flap portion 34 to the lower edges 57 of dam and membrane portions of assembly 54. Such a unitary gap sealing assembly 54 comprises a pair of parallel, spaced apart side pads 62 centrally joined by a gap-bridging, arched joint membrane 64. Pads 62 are genrally rectangular in transverse cross section, and are adapted to fit within adjacent curb notches 22. Joint membrane 64 is shaped like the membrane 50 of sealing member 30. Membrane 64 is flexible, substantially thinner than pads 62, and is sealingly secured to pads 62 adjacent their lower edges. Preferably this is done by forming these elements, together with sealing member 30, in a single integral unit, as by molding them of suitable elastomeric material such as natural rubber, polychloroprene or nitrile rubber. The functioning, construction and sealing advantages of the pads 62 and membrane 64 is described in greater detail in US. Pat. No. 3,713,368.

Gap sealing assembly 54 is installed as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 by means of a suitable adhesive, and by skewing and folding gutter flap portion 34 as described above. Anchoring holes 66 are preferably provided to accommodate anchoring studs suitably positioned in notches 22.

To complete the sealing of the curb-gutter intersection region 18, a gutter gap sealing member 70 may be used. It may be an end dam assembly made in accordance with US. Pat. No. 3,713,368 and is similarly received within gutter notches 24, whereat it overlaps and is sealingly secured to the previously installed and flat-folded gutter flap 24. Sealing and securance is pref erably accomplished by suitable adhesive and anchor' ing studs. Gutter gap sealing member 70 may comprise a pair of spaced parallel side pads 76 joined by a gapbridging, arched joint membrane 78. It desirably has a leading edge 80 which is proportioned to butt flap against front surfaces of pads 62 (see FIG. 9).

The appearance of a typical finished installation is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 9; the latter illustrates particularly the manner in which a bulge 44 has been folded flat, and the manner in which assembly 54 incorporating a sealing member 30 cooperates sealingly with a gutter gap sealing member 70 to provide continuous sealing across intersection region 18. The continuity of the gap-bridging joint membrane across region 18 over gap 12 additionally insures the stability and dynamic sealing of the joint seal under relative movement of slabs at gap 12.

The sealing arrangement of this invention is highly advantageous in use, and is readily, easily and quickly adaptable to seal within a range of gap skew angles, rather than requiring a special part for each different skew angle. Not only is it universal to a range of skew angles, so also does it effectively provide a seal for a curb and gutter intersection which is maintained under repeated dynamic loading.

What is claimed is:

l. A sealing member for bridging a gap between curb and second slab portions of adjacent roadway slabs in the region of the intersection of said curb and second slab portions, comprising: a first elastomeric sealing portion adapted to bridge the portion of a gap between curb portions of adjacent roadway slabs and to be sealingly secured thereto; and a second elastomeric sealing flap portion lying along a line of intersection with and extending away from said first portion, said second flap portion having sides edges extending away from said first portion and between said side edges defining generally flat flap segments and at least one preformed bulge having a point of beginning between said side edges and extending toward and terminating at one of said side edges, said bulge progressively increasing in size from said point of beginning to said one side edge, thereby enabling said second flap portion to be adjustably skewed in the planes of the flat flap segments to one side in the region of said bulge into a plurality of angular positions to conform to a gap between said second portions which is skewed at an angle to said curb portions, said second flap portion being adapted to bridge the gap between said second slab portions and to be sealingly secured to said second slab portions to complete the sealing of a roadway gap.

2. A sealing member in accordance with claim 1, in which the cross-sectional area of said bulge taken along uniformly spaced parallel planes transversely intersecting said bulge progressively increases sidewardly to said one side edge.

3. A sealing member in accordance with claim 1, in which said bulge defines a concave region opening downwardly.

4. A sealing member in accordance with claim 3, in which said concave region generally has the form of a longitudinal half ofa cone, with the apex thereof defining said point of beginning, and with the base thereof being coincident with said one side edge.

5. A sealing member in accordance with claim I, in which said second flap portion defines a pair of oppositely directed preformed bulges, said bulges having their respective points of beginning located centrally of said second flap portion.

6. A sealing member in accordance with claim 5, in which one of the edges of each of said aligned bulges lies along a line generally parallel to, but spaced from the intersection of said first and second elastomeric sealing portions.

7. A sealing member in accordance with claim 1, in which each of said elastomeric sealing portions defines an elongate, centrally located upstanding arched membrane portion, said membrane portions merging into each other and being continuous, said membrane portions being adapted to bridge a gap.

8. A sealing member in accordance with claim 1, in which said first and second elastomeric sealing portions are disposed generally at right angles to each other, thereby to precondition said sealing member for securance to curb and gutter portions of adjacent roadway slabs.

9. A sealing member in accordance with claim 1, in which said second flap portion in a stable, neutral condition extends away from said line of intersection at an angle of other than 10. A sealing member in accordance with claim 9, in which said preformed bulge accommodates a range of skew angles of from about 30 to about 60.

11. A curb-gutter gap sealing assembly for dynamically sealing a gap between curb and gutter portions of adjacent relatively movable roadway slabs where said gap between said gutter portions is skewed at an angle to the longitudinal direction of said curb portions comprising: a pair of elongated parallel side pads adapted for securance to curb portions of adjacent roadway slabs, an elongate, arched flexible joint membrane sealingly secured to said side pads to prevent the passage of water and debris between the joint membrane and the side pads, an elastomeric sealing flap projecting away from one end of said pads and having side edges extending away from said pads, said side edges defining between them a generally flat flap segment, said sealing flap also defining at least one bulge having a point of beginning between said side edges, and extending toward and terminating at one of said side edges, said bulge progressively increasing in size from said point of beginning to said one side edge, said sealing flap further defining an elongate arched membrane portion extending away from said curb gap sealing member, said membrane portion being continuous with said joint membrane and of like configuration, said sealing flap being movable to a plurality of skewed positions about said bulge, in each of which positions said bulge may be flattened, and said membrane portion may be directed at an angle so that the membrane portion lies in the direction of the skew of a gutter gap portion, said sealing flap being adapted for sealing securance to adjacent gutter portions of roadway slabs and said side pads being adapted for sealing securance to adjacent curb portions of roadway slabs, thereby to seal the intersection between adjacent curb and gutter portions of roadway slabs.

12. A curb-gutter gap sealing assembly in accordance with claim 11, in which said elastomeric sealing flap projects generally at right angles to said side pads, thereby to precondition said sealing assembly for securance to curb and gutter portions which are disposed at right angles to each other.

13. A curb-gutter gap sealing assembly in accordance with claim 11, in which said sealing flap defines two oppositely directed bulges.

14. A curb-gutter gap sealing assembly in accordance with claim 13, in which said bulges have their respective points of beginning located on opposite sides of the membrane portion.

15. A sealing member for dynamically sealing a gap between curb and gutter portions of adjacent roadway slabs in the region of the intersection of said curb and gutter portions, comprising: a first elastomeric sealing flap portion adapted to bridge the portion of a gap between curb portions of adjacent roadway slabs and to be sealingly secured thereto; and a second elastomeric flap portion extending away from said first flap portion generally at right angles thereto, said flap portions defining a line of intersection therebetween, each of said flap portions defining elongate, centrally-located, upstanding arched membrane portions extending away from said line of intersection, said membrane portions merging into each other and being continuous and being adapted to bridge a roadway gap and to permit relative movement of curb and gutter portions under dynamic loading, said second flap portion having side edges extending away from said first flap portion and defining generally flat flap segments between said side edges, said second flap portion further defining two oppositely directed bulges spaced from said line of intersection, each of said bulges defining a downwardly opening concave region generally in the form of a longitudinal half of a cone, with the apex of each of said bulges being located on opposite sides of the second flap membrane portion, and the base of each of said bulges generally coinciding with a respective second flap side edge, thereby enabling said second flap portion to be adjustably skewed to one side to conform to a gap between gutter portions which is skewed at an angle to the longitudinal direction of said curb portions, said second flap portion being adapted for sealing securance to said gutter portions to complete the dynamic sealing of a gap.

16. A method of sealing a roadway gap at the curbgutter intersection of adjacent roadway slabs where said gap between gutter portions is skewed at an angle to the longitudinal direction of said curb portions, comprising the steps of: positioning at the curb-gutter intersection a sealing assembly having a first portion and an elastomeric flap portion extending therefrom along a line of intersection, said flap portion being bounded by side edges which extend away from said first portion, and at least one bulge in said flap portion extending outwardly from a point of beginning to a side edge of the elastomeric flap portion thereby to bridge said gap in the region of the curb-gutter intersection; sealingly securing said first portion to said curb portions; positioning said flap portion to span the gap between said gutter portions and to overlie gutter portions of said slabs; pulling said flap portion toward a bulge flattening position to conform it to said skewed gutter gap orientation, and securing sealingly said flap portion to said gutter portions to complete the sealing of said gap at said curb-gutter intersection.

17. A method in accordance with claim 16, wherein said bulge is not fully flattened, and the further step of downwardly folding the remainder of said bulge into a flat configuration prior to securing sealingly said flap portion to said gutter portions.

18. A method in accordance with claim 16, wherein the step of pulling said flap portion to a bulge flattening position causes a further portion of said flap to overlap and fold, said method further comprising the step of folding said overlapping portion into a flat configuration prior to sealingly securing said flap portion to said gutter portions.

Claims

1. A sealing member for bridging a gap between curb and second slab portions of adjacent roadway slabs in the region of the intersection of said curb and second slab portions, comprising: a first elastomeric sealing portion adapted to bridge the portion of a gap between curb portions of adjacent roadway slabs and to be sealingly secured thereto; and a second elastomeric sealing flap portion lying along a line of intersection with and extending away from said first portion, said second flap portion having sides edges extending away from said first portion and between said side edges defining generally flat flap segments and at least one preformed bulge having a point of beginning between said side edges and extending toward and terminating at one of said side edges, said bulge progressively increasing in size from said point of beginning to said one side edge, thereby enabling said second flap portion to be adjustably skewed in the planes of the flat flap segments to one side in the region of said bulge into a plurality of angular positions to conform to a gap between said second portions which is skewed at an angle to said curb portions, said second flap portion being adapted to bridge the gap between said second slab portions and to be sealingly secured to said second slab portions to complete the sealing of a roadway gap.

4. A sealing member in accordance with claim 3, in which said concave region generally has the form of a longitudinal half of a cone, with the apex thereof defining said point of beginning, and with the base thereof being coincident with said one side edge.

5. A sealing member in accordance with claim 1, in which said second flap portion defines a pair of oppositely directed preformed bulges, said bulges having their respective points of beginning located centrally of said second flap portion.

9. A sealing member in accordance with claim 1, in which said second flap portion in a stable, neutral condition extends away from said line of intersection at an angle of other than 90*.

10. A sealing member in accordance with claim 9, in which said preformed bulge accommodates a range of skew angles of from about 30* to about 60*.

16. A method of sealing a roadway gap at the curb-gutter intersection of adjacent roadway slabs where said gap between gutter portions is skewed at an angle to the longitudinal direction of said curb portions, comprising the steps of: positioning at the curb-gutter intersection a sealing assembly having a first portion and an elastomeric flap portion extending therefrom along a line of intersection, said flap portion being bounded by side edges which extend away from said first portion, and at least one bulge in said flap portion extending outwardly from a point of beginning to a side edge of the elastomeric flap portion thereby to bridge said gap in the region of the curb-gutter intersection; sealingly securing said first portion to said curb portions; positioning said flap portion to span the gap between said gutter portions and to overlie gutter portions of said slabs; pulling said flap portion toward a bulge flattening position to conform it to said skewed gutter gap orientation, and securing sealingly said flap portion to said gutter portions to complete the sealing of said gap at said curb-gutter intersection.