U.S. patent number 3,750,359 [Application Number 05/259,567] was granted by the patent office on 1973-08-07 for expansion joint cover assembly.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Balco, Inc.. Invention is credited to Claude P. Balzer, Edward M. Corman, Almer A. Reiff.
United States Patent |
3,750,359 |
Balzer , et al. |
August 7, 1973 |
EXPANSION JOINT COVER ASSEMBLY
Abstract
An expansion joint cover assembly for covering an elongate
expansion joint between adjacent and spaced apart structural
sections. The assembly includes support members mounted on the
structural sections with an elongate rigid arcuate plate member
engaging the support members. The rigid plate member overlies the
joint and has a greater width with lateral portions engaging the
support members in such a manner as to permit relative movement
between the structural sections in any direction with the rigid
plate member covering the joint and maintaining its load carrying
capability.
Inventors: |
Balzer; Claude P. (Wichita,
KS), Corman; Edward M. (Wichita, KS), Reiff; Almer A.
(Wichita, KS) |
Assignee: |
Balco, Inc. (Wichita,
KS)
|
Family
ID: |
26947402 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/259,567 |
Filed: |
June 5, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/468;
52/396.05; 52/278; 404/67; 404/57 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04B
1/681 (20130101); D06B 5/16 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
D06B
5/16 (20060101); E04B 1/68 (20060101); D06B
5/00 (20060101); E04b 001/68 (); E04c 011/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;52/468,396,573,464,395,463,467,466,278 ;404/56,58,57,47,67 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Faw, Jr.; Price C.
Claims
What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:
1. An expansion joint cover assembly for a joint formed by spaced
structural sections, said assembly comprising:
a. elongate base members secured respectively to adjacent
structural sections, said structural sections having a joint
therebetween, at least one of said base members including a
plurality of spaced apart wall members extending longitudinally for
the length thereof and defining a cavity therein, a certain wall
member having an elongate slot therein communicating with said
cavity and opening toward said other base member, said slot being
defined by upper and lower wall edges;
b. an elongate arcuate cover member extending across said joint and
having a mid-portion and lateral side portions with at least one
lateral side portion inclined downwardly and outwardly of the
mid-portion of said cover member, said inclined lateral side
portion extending through said elongate slot into the cavity of the
respective base member and being in spaced relation to said wall
members defining said cavity;
c. said one inclined lateral side portion slidably and pivotally
engaging the lower edge defining said slot, said wall edge being in
supporting relation to said one inclined lateral side portion, said
other lateral side portion being pivotally associated with said
other base member and being supported thereby, whereby said
assembly of base members and cover member maintains covering
relation to said joint during multi-directional movement between
said structural sections.
2. An expansion joint cover assembly as set forth in claim 1
wherein:
a. said other base member having a plurality of spaced apart wall
members extending longitudinally for the length thereof forming a
cavity therein, a said wall member having an elongate slot therein
communicating with said cavity and facing toward said one base
member, said slot being defined by upper and lower wall edge
portions of said other base member;
b. said cover member other lateral side portion being inclined
downwardly and outwardly of said mid-portion and extending through
the slot in said other base member and being in spaced relation to
the wall members defining the cavity in said other base member;
c. said other inclined lateral side portion slidably and pivotally
engaging the lower wall edge defining said respective slot, said
other base member slot lower wall edge being in supporting relation
thereto.
3. An expansion joint cover assembly as set forth in claim 1
wherein:
a. said other base member having an elongate groove extending
longitudinally the length thereof opening generally toward said one
base member;
b. said other lateral side portion having an elongate member
projecting therefrom and extending longitudinally the length
thereof, said member extending into said elongate groove
cooperating therewith to provide pivotal association between
same;
c. means retaining said elongate member within said elongate groove
to prevent withdrawal therefrom.
4. An expansion joint cover assembly as set forth in claim 2
wherein:
a. said elongate cover member including a plurality of spaced apart
protuberances on a lower surface of said lateral side portions for
engaging said lower wall edge and resisting lateral movement of
said cover member.
5. An expansion joint cover assembly for a joint formed by spaced
apart structural sections, said assembly comprising:
a. first and second elongate channel members secured respectively
to adjacent and spaced apart structural sections, said first
channel member including a subchannel member having a bottom wall
and laterally spaced upright wall members thereon, a top wall
member removably secured to one said upright wall member, said wall
members defining an elongate cavity therein, said top wall member
having an elongate free edge portion generally above and in spaced
relation to a free edge portion of the other upright wall member,
said free edges defining an elongate slot facing toward said second
channel member and communicating with said cavity, said wall
members extending longitudinally the length of said first channel
member;
b. an elongate arcuate cover member extending across said joint
having a mid-portion with opposite lateral side portions extending
therefrom, and having upper and lower surfaces, at least one said
lateral side portion being inclined downwardly and outwardly of
said mid-portion extending through said elongate slot, said lower
surface slidably and pivotally engaging the free edge of said other
upright wall member whereby said other upright wall member is in
supporting relation to said inclined portion;
c. said second channel member being in cooperative pivotal
engagement with said other lateral side portion and being in
supporting relation thereto.
6. An expansion joint cover assembly as set forth in claim 5
wherein:
a. said second channel member including a second sub-channel member
formed by laterally spaced upright elongate side wall members and a
bottom wall member extending therebetween and including an elongate
top wall member removably secured to one said second sub-channel
side wall member, said last named wall members extending
longitudinally the length of said second channel member and
defining an elongate cavity therebetween, the second channel top
wall member having a free edge portion generally above and in
relative spaced relation to a free edge portion of the last named
other side wall member, said free edges defining an elongate slot
therebetween facing toward said first channel member and
communicating with said cavity;
b. said other lateral side portion being inclined downwardly and
outwardly of said mid-portion extending through said second channel
member elongate slot, said inclined portion being in spaced
relation to the second channel member wall members, the lower
surface slidably and pivotally engaging the free edge of the second
channel other side wall member and being supported thereby.
7. An expansion joint cover assembly as set forth in claim 6
wherein:
a. said first and second channel members being recessed in said
respective adjacent structural sections;
b. said structural sections each having an outer surface portion
disposed in angular relation to a respective surface defining said
joint, said top wall members each having an outer surface being
substantially flush with a respective structural section outer
surface;
c. said mid-portion being substantially flat and being
substantially flush with said top wall member outer surface forming
a smooth surface transversly thereacross;
d. said cover member lower surface opening downwardly and including
a plurality of transversly spaced ribs extending longitudinally the
length of said cover member, said ribs engaging respective other
side wall members' free edges urging said cover member to maintain
a centrally located position over said joint;
e. said sub-channels other side walls' free edges each being
transversly rounded;
f. said sub-channels one side wall members, each having an upper
surface portion with an elongate way therein;
g. an elongate rib portion on a lower surface of each said top wall
member cooperatively engaging a respective way;
h. each said top wall member free edge portion having an inclined
portion extending downwardly and outwardly of said top wall member
upper surface to eliminate a sharp corner at each said free edge
portion;
i. said top wall members', sub-channel members' and cover member
shapes being adapted to their manufacture by an extrusion
process;
j. said top wall members' outer surfaces and the cover member flat
portion having means thereon to provide a traction surface;
k. said side wall members and bottom wall members of each
sub-channel member being integral.
8. An expansion joint cover assembly as set forth in claim 5
wherein:
a. said second channel member including elongate longitudinally
extending members in spaced relation, said members each having a
free edge portion in spaced relation defining a slot therebetween
and having an arcuate surface extending from and between said
members free edges defining transversly enlarged elongate chamber,
said last named slot communicating with said elongate chamber;
b. said other lateral side portion having an elongate flange
projecting therefrom and extending longitudinally the length of
said cover member, said flange having an enlarged free edge
portion, said enlarged free edge portion cooperatively engaging
said enlarged chamber providing the cooperative pivotal engagement,
said enlarged free edge portion being transversly larger than the
width of said second channel member slot thereby preventing
separation of the cover member and the second channel member.
9. An expansion joint cover assembly as set forth in claim 8
wherein:
a. said first channel member being recessed in a said respective
structural section;
b. said first channel member structural sections having an outer
surface portion being angularly disposed to the respective surface
forming said joint, an outer surface of said top wall member being
substantially flush with the outer surface portion of the
respective structural section;
c. said mid portion including a substantially flat portion being
substantially flush with said top wall member outer surface;
d. means on said top wall outer surface and said flat portion
providing a traction surface;
e. said sub-channel other side wall member free edge being
transversly rounded;
f. said sub-channel one wall member having an upper surface portion
with an elongate way therein;
g. an elongate rib portion on a lower surface of said top wall
member in cooperative engagement with said elongate way;
h. the top wall member free edge having a portion thereof inclined
downwardly and outwardly of the top wall member upper surface
eliminating a sharp corner at said free edge portion;
i. the top wall member, sub-channel member, second channel member
and cover member shapes being adapted to their manufacture by an
extrusion process.
10. An expansion joint cover assembly as set forth in claim 8
wherein:
a. said other lateral side portion having an elongate corner
portion adjacent to said mid-portion;
b. an elongate way in said second channel member positioned
adjacent to said corner portion having said corner portion
extending therein.
Description
The present invention relates to expansion joint cover assemblies
and more particularly to heavy duty expansion joint cover
assemblies for covering the joint between adjacent portions of
spaced structural sections which may vary in position relative to
each other.
In building structures of monolithic concrete, concrete blocks,
bricks and the like, it is necessary to provide relatively long
walls, ceilings and floors with expansion joints to prevent cracks
due to expansion and contraction of the structural sections. Earth
movement due to earthquake and other phenomena, either natural or
unnatural, can cause relative movement between adjacent sections of
a building and expansion joints must be provided to prevent
cracking of the building sections. Expansion joints are quite
useful and prevent costly building repair due to cracks, but unless
they are covered they present as much a problem as the ones they
alleviate. Many arrangements of strips to cover expansion joints
have been made to make attractive and functional coverings.
Previous cover structures and mountings have not singly been
capable of handling all conditions.
The principal objects of this invention are: to provide an
expansion joint cover assembly to cover expansion joints between
spaced building sections such as floors and floors and walls which
eliminate the above mentioned difficulties; to provide such an
expansion joint cover assembly adapted to cover an expansion joint
between adjacent structural sections having concrete, masonry,
asphalt or metal or combinations thereof with portions of the
assembly accommodating realtive movement between the adjacent
structural sections in any direction; to provide such an expansion
joint cover assembly that the load carrying capacity is not
appreciably affected by relative movement between the adjacent
building structures; to provide such an expansion joint cover
assembly with load bearing support members providing for a high
load capacity and a compact assembly; to provide such an expansion
joint cover assembly with an elongate rigid plate member to overly
the expansion joint that is designed to carry large loads with a
minimum of material that will remain substantially in the same
plane of at least one of the adjacent building structures thereby
maintaining a smooth planar surface, eliminating the need for
filler strips and that requires no resilient or spring members to
hold the cover plate in place; to provide such an expansion joint
cover assembly that is attractive, easy and inexpensive to
manufacture, that requires a minimal number of parts and that is
easy to install and repair; and to provide such an expansion joint
cover assembly that is narrow in width, requiring a minimum of
floor space for installation.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent
from the following detailed description taken in connection with
the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of
illustration and example certain embodiments of this invention.
FIG. 1 is a transverse sectional view of the expansion joint cover
assembly and adjacent floor portions.
FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of an expansion joint cover
assembly in place on a building floor in covering relation to an
expansion joint between adjacent building floor sections.
FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view of a form of the expansion
joint cover assembly and adjacent wall and floor portions.
FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of a form of the expansion
joint cover assembly in place to cover an expansion joint between
angularly disposed building sections.
Referring more in detail to the drawings:
Detailed embodiments of the invention are disclosed herein as
required. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed
embodiments are merely exemplary and that the invention may be
embodied in many forms different from the illustrative embodiments
presented herewith. Therefore, specific structural and functional
details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but
merely as a basis for the claims that actually define the scope of
this invention.
The reference numeral 1 designates generally an expansion joint
cover assembly overlying and covering an elongate expansion joint
or space 2 between adjacent portions of a building structure having
structural sections 3 and 4 spaced apart and separated by the
expansion joint or space 2. The structural sections 3 and 4 may be
floor, wall or ceiling sections and may be constructed from
monolithic concrete, building blocks, bricks, metal, asphalt, or
any combination thereof or other suitable materials. The expansion
joint cover assembly 1 is adapted to permit and accommodate
relative movement between the adjacent structural sections 3 and 4
in any direction. In the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS.
1 and 2, the structural sections 3 and 4 preferably have outer
surfaces 5 and 6 and recesses 7 and 8 respectively with the
expansion joint cover assembly 1 arranged therewith to cover the
expansion joint 2 therebetween.
The expansion joint cover assembly 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2 includes an
elongate rigid base or channel member 9 secured to each of the
structural sections in opposed relation. In the structure
illustrated base members 9 are positioned in recesses 7 and 8 of
the respective sections 3 and 4. The base members 9 are preferably
formed of metal and of a structure adapted for extension. Each has
a portion or wall member 10 generally perpendicular to an upper
face 11 thereto that is substantially flush with the respective
upper surface portions 5 or 6. The wall member 10 engages recess
surface 12 and has a bottom wall member or portion 13, engaging the
respective lower recess surface 14 or 15, extending generally
perpendicular to the wall member 10 and terminating in a face
portion 16 that is substantially flush with the surface 17 or 18 of
the structural section 3 or 4 respectively.
The base member 9 has an integral rigid support or wall member 19
extending upwardly and generally perpendicular to the bottom wall
member 13 and is positioned adjacent to the respective surface 17
or 18 and has a curved free elongate edge 20.
The rigid support members 19 of the base members 9 provides support
for an elongate arcuate rigid cover or plate member 22. The support
members 19 are positioned as close as practicable to the joint 2
thereby decreasing or minimizing the distance that the plate member
22 must span between the support members 19 thereby tending to
maximize the load carrying capability of the plate member 22. The
free edges 20 of the support members 19 engage a lower surface 23
of the cover member providing support therefor. The arcuate shape
of the cover member 22 eliminates the need for filler strips to
maintain a smooth surface across the expansion joint cover assembly
1.
In the illustrated structure of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the lower or
inner surface 23 of the plate member 22 is contoured or arcuate and
diverges downwardly and is in covering relation to the joint 2. The
plate member 22 has an upper surface 24 corresponding in shape or
contour to the lower surface 23 whereby the plate member is
substantially uniform in thickness for reasons as later described
herein.
An elongate plate or top wall member 25 is secured to the base
member 9 and has an upper surface 26 that is substantially flush
with the surface 11 of the base member 9. A notch or groove 27
forms a corner recessed below the surface 11 by having a surface 28
perpendicular to the surface 11 and a surface 29 extending
perpendicularly from the surface 28. The surface 29 has an elongate
groove or way 30 receiving therein an elongate rib 31 of the lower
surface 32 of the plate member 26, the rib 31 and the groove 30
cooperate to position the plate member 25 with the base member 9.
The plate member 25 has a plurality of longitudinally spaced
apertures 33 registering with apertures 34 in the base member 9
receiving securing devices 35 such as screws to secure the plate
member 32 to the base member 9. The screws 35 preferably have
tapered heads fitting in countersunk portions thereby providing a
smooth surface. The plate member 25 has a portion 36 extending over
the plate member 22 and has a free edge 37 terminating
approximately over the support member 19 in the illustrated
structure in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The spacing between the portions 36
and support member 19 is sufficient to allow the arcuate plate
member 22 to move freely therebetween, and the plate member is of
sufficient strength to prevent the plate member 25 from bending or
flexing excessively if it is overloaded. The uniform thickness of
the arcuate plate 22 maintains a constant uniform clearance between
the plate member 25 and the plate 22 preventing dirt and the like
from entering the assembly and minimizes slop therebetween. The
plate members 25 and the plate member 22 provide a substantially
smooth and uninterrupted surface between the adjacent structural
sections 3 and 4.
Relative movement of the structural sections 3 and 4 may tend to
move the plate member 22 off center with the joint 2. The lower
surface 23 of the plate member 22 is provided with spaced apart
elongate ribs 38 to engage the free edges 20 of the support members
19 and resist movement of the plate member 22 to off center
position. The ribs 38 also tend to prevent transverse movement of
the plate 22 when vehicular traffic goes over the plate 22 whereby
the tires or the like of a vehicle might tend to force the plate 22
in a direction opposite to the movement of the vehicular
traffic.
Decorations may be added to the upper surface 26 of each plate
member 25 and the upper surface 24 of the plate member 22 to make
the joint more sightly or as in the illustrated structure of FIG. 1
and FIG. 2 a series of ridges 39 or other similar markings or
protuberances are added to the surfaces 24 and 26 to provide for
attractive or friction surfaces on the expansion joint cover
assembly 1.
A U-shaped channel or anchor member is formed in the base member 9
by the support member 19 and the portions 10 and 13 and provides
for drainage of the expansion joint cover assembly 1 by catching
and conveying any moisture that runs off the plate 22 conveying the
moisture to a suitable disposal point or means (not shown). It may
also be desirable to have a gutter or seal member 40 secured to the
opposed base members 9 to collect and convey moisture passing
between the structural sections 3 and 4. The base member 9 has an
elongate groove 41 between the surface 16 and the support member 19
receiving therein a flange portion 42 of the groove 43 of the
gutter member 40. The flange portion 44 of the groove 41 is
received within the groove 43 thereby securing the edges 45 of the
gutter member 40 to the base members 9.
It is desirable that the base members 9, the arcuate plate member
22 and the top wall member 25 be suitably shaped so as to permit
their manufacture by an extrusion process and would be preferably
extruded from metal such as aluminum or brass.
The expansion joint cover assembly 1 is particularly adapted to
cover a joint between two sections of floor. The sections of floor
may both be new or one floor section may be old and the other floor
section may be a new section as when adding an addition to an older
building structure.
Securing the base member 9 within a respective recess is preferably
done by positioning the base member 9 in the pouring forms adjacent
to the joint 2 and having anchor bolt heads 46 received within an
elongate longitudinal T-shaped slot 47 and having the shank 48
engaging the bolt head 46 extending therefrom and being cast in the
respective structural section 3 and 4 thereby securing in the base
member 9 in position. One such method being that one of the base
member portions 10 and 13 having a plurality of through apertures
(not shown) spaced apart longitudinally therealong in aligned
relation to threaded bushings (not shown) secured in the structural
sections and have a bolt (not shown) received therethrough to
threadably engage the bushings to secure the base member 10 in
position. Another method would use the slot 49 having parallel
walls 50 in opposed relation defining a space therebetween. The
walls 50 have a series of V-shaped ribs 51 and valleys 52 thereon.
The ribs 51 and valleys 52 on one wall 50 are positioned opposite
the valleys 52 and the ribs 51 of the opposite wall 50 thereby
forming an elongate slot to threadably receive a threaded shank or
bolt (not shown) having a diameter corresponding to the width of
the slot 49 and having a pitch corresponding to the pitch of the
ribs 51 and the valleys 52. Anchor bolts or the like (not shown)
would be threadably received in the slot 49 and have a shank (not
shown) secured in the respective structural sections 3 or 5
securing the base member 9 in position.
Installation of the expansion joint cover assembly 1 includes
mounting of a base 9 in each of the recesses 7 and 8 of the
structural sections 3 and 4 by securing the base member 9 and the
anchor bolts in position within the forms during construction of
the respective structural section when the concrete is poured as
discussed or by mounting the base member 9 to a finished structural
section by expansion bolts (not shown). After the base member 9 is
mounted in a respective structural section 7 or 8, the gutter
member 40 is installed and the rigid cover member 22 is then
installed over the joint to rest in place on the support members
19. A plate member 25 is positioned on each base member 9 and the
apertures 33 are aligned with the respective threaded holes 34 and
the bolts 35 are installed securing a plate member 25 to each base
member 9 completing the installation.
To provide a smooth uninterrupted surface between the structural
section 3 and 4, the upper surface 26 of each plate member 25 is
substantially flush with the upper surface portion 5 or 6 of the
respective structural sections 3 and 4 and the free edge 37 of the
plate member 25 tapers outwardly and downwardly from the surface 26
to eliminate a sharp corner providing a smooth transition from the
upper surface 26 of the plate members 25 and the upper surface 24
of the contoured rigid plate member 22. Preferably the plate member
22 has an elongate substantially flat or mid portion 53 on the
upper surface 24 centrally located between the edges of the plate
member 22. This flat portion 53 varies in elevation depending on
the width or separation of the joint 2 as the structural sections 3
and 4 move during expansion and contraction. But, because of the
small angular disposition of the lower surface 23 from a horizontal
plane, the flat portion 53 is maintained substantially flush with
the upper surface 26 of the flange member 25.
FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 illustrate an embodiment of the expansion joint
cover assembly 1 for use in a corner to cover an elongate expansion
joint 54 between structural sections 55 and 56 in generally
perpendicular relation and spaced apart forming the expansion joint
54 therebetween. A base member 9 is mounted or secured in a recess
57 of the structural section 5 and is the same in construction to
the recess 7 or 8 as previously described wherein the surface 13
terminates at a face 60 that forms one side of the expansion joint
54. In the illustrated structure of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the base
member 9 is secured in the recess 57 the same as the base member 9
is secured in the recess 7 or 8.
A base member or channel member 62 having a plurality of
longitudinally spaced apertures 63 corresponding in position to a
like plurality of threaded bushings 64 recessed in and secured to
the structural section 56. Securing devices 65 such as bolts are
received through the apertures 63 and threadably engage the
threaded bushing 64 securing the base member 62 to the structural
section 56.
To cover the expansion joint 54 an elongate arcuate rigid cover or
plate member 66 extends between, engaging and being supported by
the support member 19 of the base member 9 and the base member 62.
A pivotal connection between the base member 62 and the cover plate
66 is provided in the form of an elongate hinged structure
connecting same. A generally cylindrical elongate groove or chamber
67 is positioned on the outer surface 68 of the bracket 62 and is
formed by elongate longitudinal arcuate fingers or members 69 and
70 extending from the bracket 62 and communicating with an elongate
slot 71 between the free ends or edges of the fingers 69 and 70.
The inner surface of the groove 67 would preferably circumscribe
more than a semi-circle. An elongate flange or rib 72 is integral
with and extends from the cover plate 66 and has a generally
cylindrical enlarged portion 73, forming an elongate longitudinal
free edge thereon. The enlarged cylindrical portion 73 preferably
would also circumscribe, cross sectionally, more than a
semi-circle. The cylindrical portion 73 is smaller than the groove
67 and is mounted therein, the flange 72 extending through the slot
71. The slot 71 is wider than the flange 72 is thick thereby
allowing the plate 66 to pivot in the groove 67 without binding or
interference and because the groove 67 and the enlarged cylindrical
portion 73 both circumscribed more than a semi-circle and the
enlarged portion 73 is wider than the spacing of the slot 71. They
are secured together and unable to separate. In the illustrated
structure, the flange member 72 and the slot 71 are disposed
upwardly at an angle from the vertical, say 30 to 45 degrees.
The support member 19 of the base member 9 engages the inclined
lower or inner surface 74 of the plate 66 providing support
therefor. Preferably, the support member 19 and groove 67 are
positioned adjacent to and as close as practicable to the joint 54
decreasing the unsupported distance that the plate member 66 must
span thereby tending to maximize the load carrying capacity of the
plate member 66. The upper surface 75 of the plate member 66
inclines downwardly and outwardly and substantially corresponds to
the contour of of the lower surface 74 providing for a uniformally
thick plate. Because the plate member 66 is arcuate, no filler
strips are required to provide a substantially smooth surface
across the expansion joint cover assembly 1. A plate member 25 is
secured to the base member 9 as previously discussed and has an
upper surface 26 substantially flush with the surface portion 61 of
the structural section 55. The lower surface 32 of the plate member
25 is substantially parallel with the upper surface 26 and is
angularly disposed with the surface 75 of the plate 66 thereby
permitting pivotal movement of the plate 66 during relative
movement of the structural section 55 and 56, thereby preventing
any interference between the lower surface 32 and the surface 75
during said relative multidirectional movement. The surfaces 74 and
75 also are in spaced relation to the other wall members of the
base member 9.
In the illustrated structure in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the upper
surface 75 of the plate 66 preferably has an elongate flat or mid
portion 76 substantially flush with the surface 61 of the
structural section 55, and extends transversely from a corner 77 of
the plate 66 say for approximately one-fourth of the width of the
plate 66. To prevent the corner 77 from contacting the surface 68
of the base member 62 during pivotal movement of the plate 66
thereby causing interference, an elongate groove or way 78 is
provided in the base member 62 which eliminates an exposed vertical
space between the corner 77 and the base member 62 while still
permitting substantial pivotal movement of the cover plate member 6
without interference. The elimination of the vertical space
prevents dirt and other matter from interferring with the pivotal
movement by becoming entrapped between the cover plate 66 and the
plate member 62.
A U-shaped channel is formed in the base member 9 as previously
described to provide drainage for the expansion joint cover
assembly 1 to convey moisture to a convenient drainage point (not
shown). It may also be desired to have a gutter member 79 secured
between the bracket 62 and the base member 9. To collect and convey
moisture passing between the structural sections 55 and 56. The
base member 9 has an elongate groove 41 and the base member 62 has
a similar elongate groove 80 being disposed generally perpendicular
to the groove 48 and positioned adjacent to the lower end 81 of the
base member 62. The gutter 79 has two flanges 82 spaced apart
forming a groove 83 on each edge of the gutter 79. The outermost
flange 82 on each edge of the gutter 79 is tightly received within
the respective groove 41 or 80 and the flange 44 of the groove 41
and the flange 82 of the groove 80 are tightly received in the
respective groove 83 securing the gutter 79 between the base member
9 and the base member 62.
The expansion joint cover assembly 1 covering the expansion joint
54 may be decorated or provided with ridges 84 or the like on the
surfaces 26 and 76 for the same reasons they are provided for the
joint cover assembly 1 covering the expansion joint 2.
The base member 9, plate member 25, cover member 66 and the base
member 62 preferably would be in shapes adapted to permit their
manufacture by an extrusion process and would be preferably
extruded from metal such as aluminum or brass.
In installing the expansion joint cover assembly 1, the first step
would be to secure the base member 9 in the recess 57 similar to
the installation of the base member 9 in the recess 7 or 8 as
previously discussed. Preferably the plate member 66 and the base
member 62 would be assembled at the factory and shipped to the
construction site in one section, the base member 62 is then
secured to the structual section 56 and by pivoting the plate
member 66 upwardly the gutter member 79 can then be installed.
After lowering the plate member 66 to engage the support member 26,
the plate member 25 may then be secured in place over the plate
member 66, completing the installation of the expansion joint.
It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described
certain forms of my invention, it is not to be limited to these
specific forms or arrangement of parts herein described and shown
except to the extent that such limitations are set forth in the
claims.
* * * * *