U.S. patent number 3,604,169 [Application Number 04/849,225] was granted by the patent office on 1971-09-14 for sealing strips.
This patent grant is currently assigned to J-D Distributing Company. Invention is credited to Robert E. Smith.
United States Patent |
3,604,169 |
Smith |
September 14, 1971 |
SEALING STRIPS
Abstract
A unitary sealing strip for sealing the openings between the
surfaces of laterally spaced wall members. The sealing device is
made of a resilient material and is adapted to be forced into the
space created by raised, prefabricated wall members, the device
sealing the opening. Flanges with associated anchoring ribs prevent
inadvertent dislodgement of the sealing strip. A securing member
enables the sealing strip to be permanently secured in position
when the wall members are joined into an integrated unit.
Inventors: |
Smith; Robert E. (Lynwood,
CA) |
Assignee: |
J-D Distributing Company (Bell,
CA)
|
Family
ID: |
25305347 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/849,225 |
Filed: |
June 2, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/396.04;
52/441; 52/437; 52/287.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04B
1/6801 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E04B
1/68 (20060101); E04b 001/36 () |
Field of
Search: |
;52/393,396,288,258,259,287,437,438,468,441 ;94/18,18.2 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
678,685 |
|
Jan 1964 |
|
CA |
|
1,363,924 |
|
Jun 1964 |
|
FR |
|
1,427,163 |
|
Dec 1965 |
|
FR |
|
Other References
Architectural Record NAI.A66 May 1956 52/396.
|
Primary Examiner: Perham; Alfred C.
Claims
I claim:
1. A sealing strip of resilient material for sealing an opening
between joined wall members comprising:
a. a covering member, portions thereof adapted for cooperatively
engaging portions of said wall members;
b. a unitary web member having longitudinal surfaces extending
perpendicularly from a portion of said covering member;
c. flanges extending outwardly and upwardly from portions of said
longitudinal surfaces of said web member, said flanges engaging
said longitudinal surfaces at a given acute angle;
d. anchoring ribs projecting from portions of said flanges; and
e. an anchoring member extensibly protruding from a portion of said
web member securing said sealing strip to means for joining said
wall members.
2. A sealing strip of resilient material for sealing an opening
between laterally spaced concrete wall members joined by mortar
comprising:
a. a laterally tapered unitary web member having a pair of
longitudinal side surfaces, said web member adapted to be inserted
between the concrete wall members;
b. a covering member extending from and approximately perpendicular
to said web member, said covering member having adjacent bottom
surface portions each substantially abutting one of said
longitudinal side surfaces;
c. a pair of flanges comprising:
1. a top and bottom surface projecting upwardly and outwardly from
portions of said web member, said top and bottom surface laterally
converging into a substantially sharp edge, said edge cooperatively
engaging the laterally spaced concrete wall members whereby the
opening is sealed when said sealing strip is forcefully inserted
into said opening;
2. an anchoring rib extending from a portion of said bottom surface
of said flange, said anchoring rib having a concave top surface and
a convex bottom surface, said concave top surface and convex bottom
surface converging laterally into a substantially sharp edge, said
sharp edge frictionally engaging the laterally spaced wall member
when said sealing strip is forcefully inserted into the opening;
and
d. securing means extended from a given portion of said web member
for securing said sealing strip to mortar joining the wall
members.
3. A sealing strip as in claim 2, wherein said securing means
comprises a cylindrical extension of said web member, the diameter
of said cylindrical extension being substantially greater than the
lateral distance between said longitudinal side surfaces of said
portion of said web member immediately adjacent said cylindrical
extension.
4. A sealing strip of resilient material for sealing an opening
between prefabricated laterally spaced concrete wall members joined
by mortar comprising:
a. a laterally tapered unitary web member having a pair of
longitudinal side surfaces, said web member being adapted to be
inserted between said concrete wall members;
b. a covering member extending from and approximately perpendicular
to said tapered web member, said covering member having adjacent
bottom surface portions each substantially abutting one of said
longitudinal side surfaces;
c. first and second flanges each having a top and bottom surface,
said flanges projecting upwardly and outwardly from said web
member, said top and bottom surfaces converging laterally into a
substantially sharp edge;
d. an anchoring rib projecting from the bottom surface of said
flanges, said anchoring rib having a concave top surface and convex
bottom surface, said top and bottom surfaces converging laterally
into a substantially sharp edge; and
e. means extended from a given portion of said web member for
securing said sealing strip to the mortar joining the concrete wall
members.
5. A sealing strip of resilient material for sealing an opening
between prefabricated laterally spaced concrete wall members joined
by mortar comprising:
a. a laterally tapered unitary web member having a pair of
longitudinal side surfaces, said web member being adapted to be
inserted between said concrete wall members;
b. a covering member extending from and approximately perpendicular
to said tapered web member, said covering member having adjacent
bottom surface portions each substantially abutting one of said
longitudinal side surfaces;
c. means projecting upwardly and outwardly from portions of said
longitudinal side surfaces for securing said sealing strip to the
laterally spaced concrete wall members; and
d. a cylindrical extension depending from said web member, the
diameter of said cylindrical extension being substantially greater
than the lateral distance between said longitudinal side surfaces
of said portion of said web member immediately adjacent said
cylindrical extension.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to that class of devices adapted
to be inserted into the opening between two wall members and, more
specifically, to devices used to seal the openings created by
raised, prefabricated concrete wall sections commonly known as tilt
slab construction.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The devices disclosed by the prior art have been designed and
adapted to seal openings created between wall members, but these
devices have failed to resolve certain problems. When walls are to
be joined by conventional adhesives, typically mortar, there are no
provisions whereby the devices can be permanently held in place.
Several of the devices disclosed have rib structures which
functionally engage the wall members, but all of the disclosed
devices can intentionally or unintentionally become dislodged.
The present invention sealing strip solves this heretofore
unresolved problem by providing a securing member which will be
securely held by any adhesive means used to join wall members.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a sealing strip
adapted for the sealing of openings between wall members.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a sealing
strip which will be securely held by conventional wall-joining
adhesives.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a
sealing strip which can be directly mounted in joints created by
raised, prefabricated wall members.
It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide
a unitary sealing strip which is inexpensive and easily
installed.
Although the prior art discloses several devices which can be used
to seal the openings between wall sections, the prior art fails to
disclose any device which is adapted to be used for sealing joints
between prefabricated concrete wall members wherein the device will
be securely held in position after the wall members have been
joined. The problem that must be solved is the prevention of the
intentional or unintentional dislodgement of the sealing strip.
The present invention sealing strip has a central web section from
which are extended the requisite functional features. A covering
flanged member is extended across and substantially perpendicular
to the web member, the covering member forming a T section with the
web member and enclosing the opening between the wall members upon
insertion of the present invention sealing strip. A pair of flanges
extend upwardly and outwardly from a portion of the web member
below the covering flanges. The angle between the flanges and the
lateral distance between the outer edges of the flanges will
determine the size of the opening into which the present invention
sealing strip can be inserted. The bottom surfaces of the flanges
possess extended anchoring ribs. The anchoring ribs functionally
engage the wall members upon insertion of the sealing strip, the
engagement preventing an inadvertent removal of the sealing
strip.
The lower extremity of the web member is expanded into a securing
member. The securing member is typically cylindrical, the cylinder
having a diameter which is substantially greater than the lateral
distance between the sides of the web member adjacent the securing
member. This feature of the present invention sealing strip
provides assurance that the strip cannot be removed once the wall
members are joined. If mortar is used to join prefabricated wall
sections, the mortar will fully encompass the extended securing
member and abut the side surfaces of the web member. Once the
mortar solidifies, the present invention sealing strip cannot be
removed.
The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the
invention, both as to its organization and method of operation,
together with further objects and advantages thereof will be better
understood from the following description considered in connection
with the accompanying drawing in which a presently preferred
embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example. It is
to be expressly understood, however, that the drawing is for the
purpose of illustration and description only, and not intended as a
definition of the limits of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sealing strip made in accordance
with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view transversely through a pair of wall
members, the opening sealed with a sealing strip fabricated in
accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of joined wall members, the joint sealed
in accordance with the present invention; and
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a mounted alternative embodiment of
the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The details of a first preferred embodiment of the present
invention can be best seen by reference to FIG. 1. The present
invention sealing strip 10 is fabricated from a resilient material
such as synthetic rubber or plastic. The manner in which the
sealing strip 10 is fabricated can be by conventional methods such
as molding or extrusion. The central portion of the sealing strip
10 is the web 13. The web 13 has a pair of longitudinal side
surfaces 20. The web 13 can be tapered to increase the strength of
the sealing strip 10, the maximum distance between the longitudinal
side surfaces 20 being at the point where the web 13 adjoins the
covering member 11. The covering member 11 is perpendicular to and
extended from the upper body portion of the web 13. The covering
member 11 comprises a pair of flanges 12, the flanges 12 to extend
beyond the edges of a pair of wall members thereby sealing the
opening between the subject wall members.
In order to secure the present invention sealing strip 10 in an
opening between laterally spaced wall member, flanges 14 are
provided. The flanges 14 extend upwardly and outwardly from the
longitudinal side surfaces 20 of the web 13, the top and bottom
surfaces of the flanges 14 converging into substantially sharp
edges 21. The lateral distance between the edges 21 of the flanges
14 will be greater than the contemplated lateral distance between
the wall members. The salient angle 16 measured between the bottom
surfaces of the flanges 14 will typically approximate a right
angle, the centerline of the web 13 bisecting the salient angle 16.
The combination of (1) the distance from the longitudinal side
surface 20 to the flange edge 21, and (2 ) the salient angle 16
will determine the size of the opening into which the present
invention sealing strip can be inserted. The two elements can be
varied to fit the application.
To prevent the present invention sealing strip 10 from being
inadvertently dislodged from the opening between the laterally
spaced wall members, anchoring ribs 15 protrude from the bottom
surface from the flanges 14. As the sealing strip 10 is forced
between the wall members, the flanges 14 will be compressed along
the top surface of the flanges 14. The pressure exerted by the
compressed flanges 14 will force the anchoring ribs 15 against the
wall surfaces. The anchoring ribs 15 have a concave top surface 18
and convex bottom surface 19 which laterally converge into a
substantially sharp edge. The anchoring ribs 15 will be compressed
against the wall member, the rib edges frictionally engaging the
surface of the wall member. The anchoring ribs 15 will inhibit
inadvertent dislodgement of the sealing strip 10 when the wall
members are being adhesively joined, typically by poured
concrete.
An object of the present invention is to provide a sealing strip 10
which will be firmly secured in an opening between wall members
after an adhesive has been inserted between the wall members to
join the wall members into an integrated unit. To accomplish this
objective, an extension 18 is provided adjacent the lower end 17 of
the web 13. The extension 18 shown in FIG. 1 is a cylinder, but the
geometrical shape can be any conventional shape. Once the adhesive
is disposed between the wall members, it will encircle the
cylindrical extension 18 thereby preventing dislodgement of the
sealing strip 10. To insure the effectiveness of the cylindrical
extension 18, the diameter of the cylindrical extension 18 will be
substantially greater than the lateral distance between the
longitudinal side surfaces 20 immediately adjacent the cylindrical
extension 18. Substantially greater will be understood to mean
approximately twice as great.
The manner in which the present invention sealing strip is utilized
can be best seen by reference to FIG. 2. The sealing strip 10 is
forced between the laterally spaced wall members 30. The wall
members 30 can be any conventional wall material, the wall members
and materials, therefore, not being a part of the present
invention. The wall members 30 illustrated have bevelled edges
typical of prefabricated concrete tilt wall sections. When the
sealing strip 10 is forced between the wall members 30, the flanges
12 of the covering member 11 fully enclose the openings. The
lateral distance 31 between the wall surfaces 32 of the wall
members 30 must not exceed the span of the uncompressed flanges 14.
A typical lateral distance 31 is from one-fourth inch to 1 inch
with the variation being a function of the accuracy of the wall
sections. Thus, the sealing strips can accommodate or alter some
margin of error, assuming that the preferably ideal spacing to be
approximately one-half inch. The flanges 14 will be compressed
along the top surfaces of the flanges 14, the force of the
compression holding the sealing strip 10 in place against the wall
surfaces 32. As the flanges 14 are compressed, the salient angle 16
between the bottom surfaces of flanges 14 will be decreased
enabling the anchoring ribs 15 to make contact with the wall
surfaces 32. The anchoring ribs 15 will prevent the sealing strip
10 from becoming inadvertently dislodged.
Use of the present invention sealing strip 10 with concrete wall
members can be best seen by reference to FIG. 3. A pair of sealing
strips 10 are shown inserted into an opening between prefabricated
wall sections 40. Sealing strips 10 are secured in place in a
manner consistent with that described with reference to FIGS. 1 and
2. To join the wall sections 40, mortar 41 or any other
conventional adhesive is disposed into the orifice bounded by the
wall sections 40 and the sealing strips 10. The mortar 41 will fill
the orifice and surround the cylindrical member 18. Since the
diameter of the cylindrical member 18 is substantially greater than
the lateral distance between the longitudinal side surfaces 42, the
mortar 41 will provide an enveloping means to secure the sealing
strips 10 thereby preventing removal of the sealing strips 10 after
the mortar 41 has solidified.
An alternative embodiment of the present invention sealing strip 62
is shown in FIG. 4. The wall members 60 and 61 shown therein form a
corner section, the joint between the wall members 60 and 61 being
sealed by the alternative embodiment of the sealing strip 62. It is
understood that nothing herein precludes the use of the sealing
strip 10, as described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, to seal
the corner joint between wall members 60 and 61. The covering
member 65 is comprised of a pair of flanges 63 and 64 extending
perpendicular to the web 66 as in the prior embodiment. In this
embodiment of the present invention, the flange 64 has been
extended to provide the required additional coverage of the surface
of the wall member 61. The flanges 67 with the accompanying
anchoring ribs and the web extension 68 perform the same function
as that described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.
* * * * *