U.S. patent application number 12/514719 was filed with the patent office on 2009-10-29 for moulded panel joint caulking means.
This patent application is currently assigned to SRB Construction Technologies Pty Ltd.. Invention is credited to Robert Sladojevic.
Application Number | 20090266020 12/514719 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39401228 |
Filed Date | 2009-10-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090266020 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sladojevic; Robert |
October 29, 2009 |
MOULDED PANEL JOINT CAULKING MEANS
Abstract
A caulking strip (15) for caulking a joint between components
includes an elongate body member defining a head portion (17) and a
stem portion (18) extending from the head portion (17) to be
received between the two components. A plurality of engaging
formations (19, 20, 21), at least some of which are of a
resiliently flexible material, project laterally from the stem
portion (18) to abut substantially sealingly against facing sides
of the components between which the body member is received.
Inventors: |
Sladojevic; Robert; (Kent
Town, AU) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SUGHRUE MION, PLLC
2100 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W., SUITE 800
WASHINGTON
DC
20037
US
|
Assignee: |
SRB Construction Technologies Pty
Ltd.
Kent Town ,South Australia
AU
|
Family ID: |
39401228 |
Appl. No.: |
12/514719 |
Filed: |
October 31, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
October 31, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/AU2007/001653 |
371 Date: |
June 18, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/459 ;
52/578 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04B 1/6813 20130101;
E04B 1/043 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/459 ;
52/578 |
International
Class: |
E04B 1/68 20060101
E04B001/68 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 14, 2006 |
AU |
2006906338 |
Claims
1. A caulking strip for caulking a joint between components, the
strip including an elongate body member defining a head portion and
a stem portion extending from the head portion to be received
between the two components; and a plurality of engaging formations,
at least some of which are of a resiliently flexible material,
projecting laterally from the stem portion to abut substantially
sealingly against facing sides of the components between which the
body member is received.
2. The strip of claim 1 in which the body member is a one-piece
unit of a resiliently flexible material.
3. The strip of claim 1 in which the stem portion is bifurcated to
form at least two limbs, each limb carrying an array of the
projections, at least one of the projections extending laterally
further than the remaining projections.
4. The strip of claim 1 in which the head portion defines abutment
surfaces which abut against the components, the abutment surfaces
being arranged on opposite sides of the stem portion.
5. A panel system which includes a pair of panels arranged in
aligned spaced relationship to define a gap between facing sides of
the panel; at least one caulking strip, as claimed in claim 1,
received in the gap to form a caulked joint.
6. The system of claim 5 which includes a pair of the caulking
strips, the strips being arranged in facing relationship at opposed
ends of the gaps.
7. The system of claim 5 in which an edge of each panel is shaped
to accommodate a part of the head portion of the body member of the
at least one caulking strip.
8. The system of claim 5 in which the facing side of each panel
defines a receiving zone to receive at least one of the engaging
formations of the caulking strip.
9. The system of claim 5 in which a fire-retardant material is
received in each caulking strip.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority from Australian
Provisional Patent Application No 2006906338 filed on 14 Nov. 2006,
the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates, generally, to the caulking of
joints, and more particularly to a caulking strip for caulking of
joints between construction panels. The panels are preferably
moulded concrete panels, more particularly, tilt-up panels which
are poured on site and, once set, raised and located in position.
The invention relates also to a panel system.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
[0003] At present, tilt-up building construction panels are caulked
using a caulking infill compound which is pumped into the panel
joints after they are erected. This procedure is very expensive and
time consuming and must normally be carried out by a specialised
tradesperson. A farther disadvantage is that the caulking compound
or material undergoes shrinkage as it dries and this can affect its
ability to seal the joint effectively and make it weather-proof.
This problem often requires that panel joints be re-caulked at a
later date which in turn creates additional cost and
inconvenience.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is
provided a caulking strip for caulking a joint between components,
the strip including
[0005] an elongate body member defining a head portion and a stem
portion extending from the head portion to be received between the
two components; and
[0006] a plurality of engaging formations, at least some of which
are of a resiliently flexible material, projecting laterally from
the stem portion to abut substantially sealingly against facing
sides of the components between which the body member is
received.
[0007] The body member may be a one-piece unit of a resiliently
flexible material.
[0008] The stem portion may be bifurcated to form at least two
limbs, each limb carrying an array of the projections, at least one
of the projections extending laterally further than the remaining
projections. It will be appreciated that the limbs are mirror
images of each other. The head portion may define abutment surfaces
which abut against the components, the abutment surfaces being
arranged on opposite sides of the stem portion.
[0009] According to second aspect of the invention, there is
provided a panel system which includes
[0010] a pair of panels arranged in aligned spaced relationship to
define a gap between facing sides of the panel;
[0011] at least one caulking strip, as described above, received in
the gap to form a caulked joint.
[0012] Preferably, the system includes a pair of the caulking
strips, the strips being arranged in facing relationship at opposed
ends of the gaps.
[0013] An edge of each panel may be shaped to accommodate a part of
the head portion of the body member of the at least one caulking
strip. The facing side of each panel may define a receiving zone to
receive at least one of the engaging formations of the caulking
strip.
[0014] A fire-retardant material may be received in each caulking
strip. More particularly, the fire retardant material may be
received in a slot defined between the limbs of the stem portion of
the caulking strip.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] An embodiment of the invention is now described by way of
example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:--
[0016] FIG. 1 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of a
caulked panel system in accordance with an embodiment of the
invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional plan view taken through the
panel system shown in FIG. 1; and
[0018] FIG. 3 is a plan view of an embodiment of a caulking strip
used to caulk the panel joint shown in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT
[0019] In FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, reference numeral 10
generally designates an embodiment of a panel system. The panel
system 10 comprises a pair of concrete building panels 11, 12 which
are arranged in aligned spaced relationship with their facing sides
13, 14, respectively, forming a gap 30.
[0020] In this embodiment, the gap 30 between the facing sides 13,
14 of the panels 11, 12 respectively, is caulked by means of two
elongate caulking strips 15, 16, also in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention, inserted in opposite ends of the gap
30.
[0021] Referring now to FIG. 3 of the drawings one of the caulking
strips 15 is described in greater detail. It will be appreciated
that the other caulking strip 16 is identical. The caulking strip
15 is approximately T-shaped in cross-section and has a head
portion 17 and a stem portion 18 projecting centrally from one side
of the head portion 17.
[0022] The stem portion 18 carries laterally projecting engaging
formations in the form of ribs 19, 20, 21, the purpose of which
will be described below. The stem portion 18 is bifurcated and is
formed to have spaced axially extending limbs 18', 18'' which are
separated by an open-ended slot 22. The slot 22 allows the leg
portions 18' 18'' to be squeezed together so as to compress the
stem portion 18 when it is inserted into the gap between the panels
11, 12. The limbs 18', 18'' are mirror images of each other and
each limb 18', 18'' carries an array of the ribs 19, 20, 21.
[0023] Each of the ribs 19, 20, 21 is approximately saw-tooth
shaped in vertical cross-section having a tapered leading end and a
blunt trailing end. The rib 19 has a lateral dimension greater than
that of each of the other ribs 20, 21.
[0024] The head portion 17 of the strip 15, 16 has a concave outer
face 25 and a tapered inner face 26 from which the stem portion 18
projects. The inner face 26 defines a pair of abutment surfaces 32,
the surfaces 32 being arranged on opposed sides of the stem portion
18.
[0025] As shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, each of the facing sides
13, 14 of the panels 11, 12 has moulded therein a pair of spaced,
parallel longitudinally extending grooves 28. Each groove 28 is
shaped approximately complementarily to the shape of an associated
rib 19 of each strip 15, 16. Thus, when the strips 15, 16 are fully
inserted in position, the ribs 19 are received in a locking manner
in their associated grooves 28.
[0026] Each edge 34 (FIG. 2) of the facing sides 13, 14 of the
panels 11, 12 is bevelled so as to form a bearing surface against
which one of the abutment surfaces 32 if the head portion of the
relevant strip 15, 16 abuts in a substantially sealing manner, The
head portion 17 thus lies substantially flush with surfaces of
adjacent panels 11, 12. In this embodiment, with the concave outer
face 25 of the head portion of each strip 15, 16, a shallow recess
extends longitudinally along the join.
[0027] When the strips 15, 16 are fully inserted into the gap 30,
the ribs 20, 21 are slightly deformed (as can be seen in FIG. 2)
and make tight frictional engagement with the sides 13, 14 of the
panels 11, 12. It will of course be appreciated that the ribs 19
will similarly deform but once they align with their associated
complementarily shaped grooves 28, they spring outwardly and
lockably engage with their associated grooves 28. The sealing
contact made between the outer surfaces of the stem portion 18 of
each strip 15, 16 and the sides 13, 14 of the panels 11, 12 is
effective to render the joint so formed weather-proof. It will be
appreciated that each strip 15, 16 is formed of a resiliently
flexible material, more particularly, an elastomeric material such
as a suitable rubber or rubber like material. This enhances the
sealing action of each strip 15, 16.
[0028] If desired, the slot 22 of each strip 15, 16 is filled with
a fire retardant material to increase the fire proof rating of the
panel system 10.
[0029] It will be appreciated that the panel system 10 may be used
to caulk panel joints for any type of concrete panel construction,
e.g. large concrete water tanks.
[0030] It is an advantage of the present invention that the shape
and dimensions of the strips 15, 16 inhibits shrinkage when
inserted into the joint 30. It is another advantage that, in the
event of a strip 15, 16 being damaged, it can be readily removed
and replaced with a new strip 15, 16.
[0031] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that
numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the
invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing
from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The
present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all
respects as illustrative and not restrictive.
* * * * *