U.S. patent number 10,385,564 [Application Number 15/831,013] was granted by the patent office on 2019-08-20 for stackable expansion joint frame assembly.
This patent grant is currently assigned to InPro Corporation. The grantee listed for this patent is InPro Corporation. Invention is credited to George Matthew Fisher, Joel M. Gavlitta.
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United States Patent |
10,385,564 |
Fisher , et al. |
August 20, 2019 |
Stackable expansion joint frame assembly
Abstract
A system for attaching a flexible expansion joint to the surface
of a building such as the floor of a building. The system for
attaching the joint is configured to secure the joint and provide,
in effect, a form up to which a top coat of material such as
concrete or asphalt can applied over an existing floor structure.
The system provides a universal base unit upon which common
extension units can be attached and stacked to vary the height of
the form for the surface coat.
Inventors: |
Fisher; George Matthew (New
Berlin, WI), Gavlitta; Joel M. (Waterford, WI) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
InPro Corporation |
Muskego |
WI |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
InPro Corporation (Muskego,
WI)
|
Family
ID: |
66658911 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/831,013 |
Filed: |
December 4, 2017 |
Prior Publication Data
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|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20190169836 A1 |
Jun 6, 2019 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04B
1/6807 (20130101); E04B 1/6813 (20130101); E04B
5/36 (20130101); E04B 1/6804 (20130101); E04B
2103/04 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E04B
1/68 (20060101); E04B 5/36 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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1808092 |
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Apr 1970 |
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DE |
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19646811 |
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Feb 1998 |
|
DE |
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3369870 |
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Sep 2018 |
|
EP |
|
WO-9201843 |
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Feb 1992 |
|
WO |
|
Other References
International Searching Authority, "International Search Report and
Written Opinion," issued in connection with International Patent
Application No. PCT/US2018/063814, dated Mar. 22, 2019, 12 pages.
cited by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Figueroa; Adriana
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren
s.c.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An adjustable height expansion joint assembly for bridging an
expansion gap in a floor or roof, the assembly is attachable to
surfaces of the floor or roof adjacent to the gap, the assembly
comprising: a pair of elongated base supports each including a
flange which provides an attachment to a respective said surface,
and a first interface having a first attachment configuration, each
flange including a lower surface which rests against and is
parallel to a respective said surface, the first interface being
displaced from and generally parallel to the lower surface; at
least a pair of elongated extension members each having a first
side including a second interface which includes a second
attachment configuration which mates with the first interface to
join the elongated extension member to the respective elongated
base support, each elongated extension member further including a
second side opposite to and generally parallel with the first side,
the second side including a third interface having a third
attachment configuration, the third attachment configuration being
the same as the first attachment configuration; and an elongated
expansion joint including a pair of flanges attachable to a
respective said third interfaces to bridge a gap between the
surfaces; wherein the first attachment configuration includes at
least three elongated walls; and wherein two opposing walls of the
at least three elongated walls include a plurality of opposed
notches which cooperate to provide a location into which a threaded
screw can be engaged; and wherein tops of two adjacent elongated
walls of the at least three elongated walls are offset from and
parallel to a top of a third elongated wall of the at least three
elongated walls.
2. The expansion joint assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a
pair of elongated cover members which attach to a respective said
third interface to capture a respective flange of said pair of
flanges between the respective third interface and the respective
elongated cover member.
3. The expansion joint assembly of claim 2, wherein the expansion
joint is fabricated from an elastic material.
4. The expansion joint assembly of claim 1, wherein the three
elongated walls define a pair of parallel channels extending the
length of a respective base support or extension member, each
channel including at least one engagement flange.
5. The expansion joint assembly of claim 4, wherein the second
attachment configuration includes at least 2 engagement members
extendable into a respective said channel and including an
engagement member engageable with a respective engagement flange to
join and hold the elongated extension member in engagement with a
respective said elongated base support.
6. The expansion joint assembly of claim 5, wherein each flange of
the expansion joint includes an engagement extension and wherein
the plurality of opposed notches are configured for gripping a
respective said engagement extension.
7. The expansion joint assembly of claim 1, further comprising a
second pair of elongated extension members joinable between
respective said elongated base supports and said elongated
extension member.
8. An assembly for forming the edge of a top coating applied to a
floor or roof and the assembly being attachable to a surface at the
edge of the floor or roof adjacent to an expansion gap, the
assembly being configured to support one side of an elongated
expansion joint which bridges the expansion gap, the assembly
comprising: an elongated base support including a flange which
provides an attachment to a respective said surface, and a first
interface having a first attachment configuration, the flange
including a lower surface which rests against and is parallel to a
respective said surface, the first interface being displaced from
and generally parallel to the lower surface at a first distance;
and a first elongated extension member having a first side
including a second interface which includes a second attachment
configuration mated with the first interface to join the elongated
extension member to the respective elongated base support, the
first elongated extension member further including a second side
displaced at a second distance from, opposite to and generally
parallel with the first side, the second side including a third
interface having a third attachment configuration, the third
attachment configuration being the same as the first attachment
configuration, the top coating having a thickness defined by at
least the sum of the first and second distances, wherein one side
of the expansion joint is attached to the third interface; wherein
the first attachment configuration includes at least three
elongated walls; wherein two opposing walls of the at least three
elongated walls include a plurality of opposed notches which
cooperate to provide a location into which a threaded screw can be
engaged; and wherein tops of two adjacent elongated walls of the at
least three elongated walls are offset from and parallel to a top
of a third elongated wall of the at least three elongated
walls.
9. The assembly of claim 8 further comprising a second elongated
extension member having the same configuration as the first
elongated extension member, wherein the second interface of the
second elongated extension member is joined to the third interface
of the first elongated extension member with the thickness of the
top coating being further defined by the second distance of the
second elongated extension member, wherein the one side of the
expansion joint is attached to the third interface of the second
elongated extension member instead of the third interface of the
first elongated extension member.
10. The assembly of claim 9 further comprising a third elongated
extension member having the same configuration as the first
elongated extension member, wherein the second interface of the
third elongated extension member is joined to the third interface
of the second elongated extension member with the thickness of the
top coating being further defined by the second distance of the
third elongated extension member, wherein the one side of the
expansion joint is attached to the third interface of the third
elongated extension member instead of the third interface of the
second elongated extension member.
11. The expansion joint assembly of claim 8, wherein the at least
three elongated walls define a pair of parallel channels extending
the length of a respective said base support or said extension
member, each channel including at least one engagement flange.
12. The expansion joint assembly of claim 11, wherein the second
attachment configuration includes at least 2 engagement members
extendable into a respective said channel and including an
engagement member engageable with a respective engagement flange to
join and hold the elongated extension member in engagement with a
respective said elongated base support.
13. The expansion joint assembly of claim 12, wherein each flange
of the expansion joint includes an engagement extension and at
least one of the pair of parallel channels includes the plurality
of opposed notches for gripping a respective said engagement
extension.
14. The expansion joint assembly of claim 10, wherein the three
elongated walls define a pair of parallel channels extending the
length of a respective said base support or said extension member,
each channel including at least one engagement flange.
15. The expansion joint assembly of claim 14, wherein the second
attachment configuration includes at least 2 engagement members
extendable into a respective said channel and including an
engagement member engageable with a respective engagement flange to
join and hold the elongated extension member in engagement with a
respective said elongated base support.
16. The expansion joint assembly of claim 15, wherein each flange
of the expansion joint includes an engagement extension and wherein
the plurality of opposed notches are configured for gripping a
respective said engagement extension.
17. A method for bridging an expansion gap in a floor or roof and
forming the edge for a top coating applied to the surface of a
respective floor or roof, the method comprising: attaching a flange
of an elongated base support to the surface, the base support
having a first interface having a first attachment configuration,
the first interface being displaced from and generally parallel to
the lower surface at a first distance; attaching at least a first
elongated extension members to the elongated base, the elongated
extension member having a first side including a second interface
which includes a second attachment configuration engaged with the
first interface, the elongated extension member further including a
second side displaced at a second distance from, opposite to and
generally parallel with the first side, the second side including a
third interface having the first attachment configuration; and
attaching one side of the expansion joint to the third interface,
the top coating having a thickness defined by at least the sum of
the first and second distances; wherein the step of attaching one
side of the expansion joint to the third interface comprises:
inserting an engagement extension of a flange of the expansion
joint into a channel defined by two elongated walls of the third
interface; positioning an angle member over the flange so that the
flange is between the third interface and the angle member; and
inserting a fastener through the angle member and the flange into
the same channel as the engagement extension, the fastener engaging
a plurality of opposed notches formed into the two elongated
walls.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:
attaching a second elongated extension member having the same
configuration as the first elongated extension member to the first
elongated extension member instead of the expansion joint, wherein
the second interface of the second elongated extension member is
joined to the third interface of the first elongated extension
member; and attaching one side of the expansion joint to the third
interface of the second elongated extension member, the top coating
having a thickness defined by at least the sum of the first and
second distances.
19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of:
attaching a third elongated extension member having the same
configuration as the first elongated extension member to the second
elongated extension member instead of the expansion joint, wherein
the second interface of the third elongated extension member is
joined to the third interface of the second elongated extension
member; and attaching one side of the expansion joint to the third
interface of the third elongated extension member, the top coating
having a thickness defined by at least the sum of the first and
second distances.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein the first and second distances
are equal.
21. The expansion joint assembly of claim 1, wherein the first
attachment configuration comprises only three elongated walls.
22. The expansion joint assembly of claim 21, wherein the plurality
of opposed notches on the two opposing walls are located on the two
adjacent walls.
23. The expansion joint assembly of claim 1, further comprising a
top plate configured to provide a rigid cover for the expansion
joint.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a system for attaching a flexible
expansion joint to the surface of a building such as the floor or
roof of a building. In particular, the system for attaching the
joint is configured to secure the joint and provide, in effect, a
form up to which a top coat of material such as concrete or asphalt
can be applied over an existing structure. The system provides a
universal base unit upon which common extension units can be
attached and stacked to vary the height of the form for the surface
coat.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One embodiment provides for an adjustable height expansion joint
assembly for bridging an expansion gap in a floor or roof. The
assembly is attachable to the surfaces of the floor or roof
adjacent to the gap. The assembly includes a pair of elongated base
supports each including a flange which provides an attachment to a
respective surface, and a first interface having a first attachment
configuration. Each flange includes a lower surface which rests
against and is parallel to a respective surface, with the first
interface being displaced from and generally parallel to the lower
surface. The assembly further includes at least a pair of elongated
extension members each having a first side including a second
interface which includes a second attachment configuration which
mates with the first interface to join the elongated extension
member to the elongated base support. Each elongated extension
member also includes a second side opposite to and generally
parallel with the first side, with the second side including a
third interface having the first attachment configuration. an
elongated expansion joint including a pair of flanges is attachable
to a respective third interfaces to bridge a gap between the
surfaces.
Another embodiment provides for an assembly for forming the edge of
a top coating applied to a floor or roof. The assembly is
attachable to a surface at the edge of the floor or roof adjacent
to an expansion gap and is configured to support one side of an
elongated expansion joint which bridges the expansion gap. The
assembly includes an elongated base support including a flange
which provides an attachment to a respective surface, and a first
interface having a first attachment configuration. The flange
includes a lower surface which rests against and is parallel to a
respective surface, with the first interface being displaced from
and generally parallel to the lower surface at a first distance.
The assembly further includes a first elongated extension member
having a first side including a second interface which includes a
second attachment configuration mated with the first interface to
join the elongated extension member to the elongated base support.
The elongated extension member includes a second side displaced at
a second distance from, opposite to and generally parallel with the
first side, with the second side including a third interface having
the first attachment configuration. This assembly provides the top
coating with a thickness defined by the sum of at least the first
and second distances, wherein one side of the expansion joint is
attached to the third interface.
Another embodiment provides for a method for bridging an expansion
gap in a floor or roof and forming the edge for a top coating
applied to the surface of a respective floor or roof. The method
includes the steps of attaching a flange of an elongated base
support to the surface, with the base support having a first
interface having a first attachment configuration, the first
interface being displaced from and generally parallel to the lower
surface at a first distance. The method further includes the step
of attaching at least a first elongated extension members to the
elongated base, with the elongated extension member having a first
side including a second interface which includes a second
attachment configuration engaged with the first interface. The
elongated extension member also includes a second side displaced at
a second distance from, opposite to and generally parallel with the
first side, with the second side including a third interface having
the first attachment configuration. The method also includes
attaching one side of an expansion joint to the third interface,
with the top coating having a thickness defined by at least the sum
of the first and second distances.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
This application will become more fully understood from the
following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the
accompanying figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like
elements in which:
FIG. 1 is an end view of an adjustable height expansion joint
assembly;
FIG. 2 is an end view of an adjustable height expansion joint
assembly which has been expanded to increase the height of the
assembly;
FIG. 3 is an end view of an alternative embodiment of the
adjustable height expansion joint assembly which includes a cover
plate;
FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of a base support;
FIG. 5 is an end view of the base support;
FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of an extension member;
FIG. 7 is an end view of the extension member;
FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of an expansion joint;
FIG. 9 is an end view of the expansion joint;
FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of an angle member; and
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the angle member of FIG. 10,
taken along line 26-26.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Before turning to the figures, which illustrate the exemplary
embodiments in detail, it should be understood that the present
application is not limited to the details or methodology set forth
in the description or illustrated in the figures. It should also be
understood that the terminology is for the purpose of description
only and should not be regarded as limiting.
Referring to FIG. 1, an adjustable height expansion joint assembly
10 for bridging an expansion gap 12 in a floor or roof is shown.
FIG. 1 is an end view of the assembly 10 and illustrates one
embodiment of the shapes of the components of the assembly 10. The
majority of the components are elongated sections which are
preferably extruded and/or extrusion molded. The assembly 10 is
shown attached to 2 concrete floor sections 14 and 16 which are
separated by the expansion gap 12. The assembly 10 supports an
elastic joint 15 above or partially within gap 12 (depends upon
particular configuration of joint 15 and stacking as discussed
below) between sections 14 and 16 and can be used to provide a
variable width form for a top coat 18 applied to sections 14 and 16
after assembly 10 is installed. The thickness of the top coat 18 at
the assembly 10 is defined by the total height of assembly 10 which
can be varied as discussed in further detail below.
Assembly 10 includes a pair of elongated bases supports 20. Base
supports 20 are made from an extruded material which in the
preferred embodiment is an extruded aluminum. As shown in FIG. 1,
the support 20 resting upon its respective floor section 16 is
rotated 180 degrees from the support 20 resting upon floor section
14. Supports 20 include a flange 22, which extends from the body 24
of support 20. Flanges 22 are fastened to the respective floor
sections 14 and 16 by a plurality of concrete screws 26 spaced
along the length of the respective supports 20 (e.g. every 12 to 24
inches).
The body 24 includes a first interface 27 having, by way of
example, an attachment configuration as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The
top surfaces 28 are generally parallel with the bottom surfaces 30
of flange 22. In a preferred embodiment body 24 includes at least 3
elongated walls 32, 34 and 36 which are positioned as shown to
define a pair of parallel channels 38 and 40 which extend the
length of support 20. Each channel 38, 40 includes an engagement
flange 42, 44 defined by the respective wall 32, 36. The flanges 42
and 44 may face opposite directions as shown. Walls 34 and 36 also
include a plurality of opposed notches or teeth 46, 48 which
cooperate to provide a location into which a threaded screw 49 can
be engaged. Wall 36 also includes a channel 52. Walls 32 and 34
include respective opposed prongs 55 and 57. The top of walls 34
and 36 are bounded by surfaces 28, and the top of wall 32 is
bounded by surface 54 which is parallel to surfaces 28, but offset
therefrom. The walls 32, 34 and 36 provide an engagement location
50.
Located upon and engaged to respective bodies 24 are extension
members 56. As shown in FIG. 1, the extension members 56 are
rotated 180 degrees when located upon and engaged with their
respective bodies 24. Each extension member 56 includes a top
engagement formation which has the same configuration as engagement
formation 50 and (referring to FIGS. 12-15) each element thereof is
numbered with the same number as the engagement formation 50 for
bodies 24.
Extension members 56 also include a bottom interface 58 which
interfaces with channels 38 and 40 to hold members 56 in engagement
with respective bodies 24. Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, each
interface includes a pair of elongated extension members 60 and 62
which each include an attachment configuration such as a tab/prong
64, 66. In the preferred embodiment the respective tabs 66, 64 are
located at the ends of members 60 and 62 to oppose each other. This
configuration allows members 60 and 62 to be flexed toward each
other when an extension member 56 is engaged with a respective body
24 and, upon full engagement, have tabs 64 and 66 forced/biased
into the respective flanges 42 and 44 as shown in FIG. 1. When
fully engaged, surfaces 68, 70 and 72 of interface 58 rest upon the
respective surfaces 28 and surface 54.
Elongated elastic expansion joint 15 is configured as shown and
includes pair of flanges 74 which each may include a hook member
76. Depending upon the height chosen for assembly 10 (as discussed
in further detail below in reference to FIG. 2) hook members 76
will engage the teeth/notches 46 and channels 52 in walls 36 of an
engagement formation 50 of either a body 24 or an extension member
56 stacked upon and engaged with a body 24. This interaction of
members 76, notches 46 and channels 52 located and, at least
partially, hold joint 15 in place. In addition, an angle member 78
may be located to capture and hold flanges 74 in engagement with a
respective body 24 or member 56. Screws 49 are engaged with
respective teeth 46, 48 to hold members 78 in place.
An example of a joint 15 and portions thereof are described in
detail in U.S. Pat. No. 9,494,235, the entirety of which is
incorporated herein by reference. However, the joint in U.S. Pat.
No. 9,494,235 includes a bottom configuration which is a variant of
the bottom of joint 15 which includes a more rounded or smoother
bottom surface which allows a joint 15 which may compress
differently that the joint shown in the 235 patent. Additional
examples of expansion joints are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. D 739,564
and D 781,466, the entirety of which, are incorporated herein by
reference.
Referring now to FIG. 2, the assembly 10 in FIG. 2 is similar to
the assembly 10 in FIG. 1 with the exception that the left and
right sides of the assembly 10 shown in FIG. 2 include 3 extension
members 56 engaged to each other and the respective base support
20. In a preferred embodiment, the distance between surfaces 30 and
28 is about 1 inch, and the distance between surfaces 28 and 68, 70
is about 1 inch. Accordingly, in the assembly configuration of FIG.
1, assembly 10 is about 2 inches high which defines the top coat 18
thickness when combined with the thickness of flange 74 and angle
member 78. For the assembly configuration of FIG. 2, assembly 10
has been extended with the addition of 2 extension members 56 on
each side to provide a top coat thickness of 4 inches combined with
the thickness of flange 74 and angle member 78. The thinnest top
coat 18 is provided when assembly 10 does not include an extension
member 56. This use of common engagement formations 50 and
interfaces 58 provide for a readily expandable/stackable assembly
10 which provides a form and thickness control for top coat 18
which in many cases is a concrete surface formed upon the
respective floor sections 14, 16 form the final surface of a
building floor or roof surface.
FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment of assembly 10. In
particular, this embodiment includes a modified angle member 80 and
a top plate 82 which provides a ridged cover for rubber joint 15.
Such an alternative may be required where the width of expansion
gap 12 may be too wide to permit joint 15 to properly support loads
on top of gap 12. In this embodiment member 80 replaces angle
member 78 to capture and hold flanges 74 in place as discussed
above. Screws 49 are also used to hold members 80 in place. Member
80 provides a location at which top plate 82 can be fastened to one
side of assembly 12. For example, members 80 include threaded holes
84 which are engaged by screws 86 to fix plate 82 to either an
extension member 56 or base support 20 on one side of assembly 12
(see right side of FIG. 3). Plate 82 is not fixed to the other side
of assembly 12. Rather, plate 82 only rests upon the top surface of
angle member 80 on the other side of assembly 12 (see left side of
FIG. 3). This permits plate 82 to slide relative to assembly 10 on
the un-fastened side when the width of gap 12 changes due to
building movement/expansion/contraction.
Referring to FIG. 4, base support 20 is shown in detail and labeled
in accordance with FIGS. 1-3.
Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, extension member 56 is shown in detail
and partially labeled in accordance with FIGS. 1-3. In particular,
to avoid confusion, only the general features of member 56 are
labeled in FIGS. 1-3 with the above-described details being labeled
in FIGS. 6 and 7.
Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, joint 15 is shown in detail and labeled
in accordance with FIGS. 1-3.
Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, angle member 80 is shown in detail
and labeled in accordance with FIGS. 1-3.
Referring to the Figures, and in particular FIGS. 1-3, the method
for installing the assembly 10 and thereby bridging the gap 12 in a
building floor 14, 16 or roof will be described in further detail.
Elongated base supports 20 are first fastened to opposing floor
sections 14 and 16 using concrete screws engaged with appropriately
sized holes drilled into sections 14 and 16. Based upon the
required thickness of top coat 18, the appropriate number of
extension members 56 are stacked and engaged with the respective
base supports 20. By way of example, the top coat 18 thicknesses
selected for the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 required a
single extension member 56 engaged and stacked on each support 20,
whereas for the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, 3 engagement members 56
were required for each side of assembly 10.
Subsequently, the joint 15 is positioned between each side of
assembly 10 such that tabs 76 engage the respective teeth 46, 48.
As discussed in more detail above either angle member 78 or
modified angle member 80 is then screwed in place to capture the
flanges 74 of joint 15. After installation of members 78 or 80 the
top coat 18 (e.g. concrete, asphalt, etc.) is installed upon floor
sections 14 and 16 generally flush with the top surface of the
members 78 or 80.
If the top plate 82 embodiment is chosen, top plate 82 is
positioned on the top of members 80 and the top coat 18 and fixed
to one side of assembly 10.
In various exemplary embodiments, the relative dimensions,
including angles, lengths and radii, as shown in the Figures are to
scale. Actual measurements of the Figures will disclose relative
dimensions and angles of the various exemplary embodiments. Various
exemplary embodiments include any combination of one or more
relative dimensions or angles that may be determined from the
Figures. Further, actual dimensions not expressly set out in this
description can be determined by using the ratios of dimensions
measured in the Figures in combination with the express dimensions
set out in this description.
The use of the terms "a" and "an" and "the" and similar referents
in the context of describing the invention (especially in the
context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover both
the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or
clearly contradicted by context. The terms "comprising," "having,"
"including," and "containing" are to be construed as open-ended
terms (i.e., meaning "including, but not limited to,") unless
otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely
intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually
to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise
indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the
specification as if it were individually recited herein. All
methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order
unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted
by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language
(e.g., "such as") provided herein, is intended merely to better
illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the
scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the
specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed
element as essential to the practice of the invention.
Further modifications and alternative embodiments of various
aspects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the
art in view of this description. Accordingly, this description is
to be construed as illustrative only. The construction and
arrangements, shown in the various exemplary embodiments, are
illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments have been
described in detail in this disclosure, many modifications are
possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes
and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters,
mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations,
etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and
advantages of the subject matter described herein. Some elements
shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or
elements, the position of elements may be reversed or otherwise
varied, and the nature or number of discrete elements or positions
may be altered or varied. The order or sequence of any process,
logical algorithm, or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced
according to alternative embodiments. By way of specific example,
depending upon the application, joint 15 may be extruded from a
thermoset or thermoplastic elastic compound such as an appropriate
rubber material. Additionally, the preferred embodiments of base
supports 20, extension members 56 and members 78 are extruded
aluminum with cross-sections as shown and described herein, there
may be design considerations which result in variations in the
cross-sectional shapes, and the material used for these components.
For example, an appropriate plastic may be used to replace the
aluminum in some or all of components 20, 56 and 78. Other
substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may also be
made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the
various exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of
the present invention. For example, another example of the mounting
elements are a combination of magnets and/or ferromagnetic
materials.
* * * * *