US3648423A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Expansion joint
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-11-19
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Granted: 1972-03-14
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Expires: 1989-11-19
Abstract
Abstract An expansion joint for structural panels adapted to bridge gaps between adjoining panels and to permit relative movement therebetween, said joint including a pair of side bars adapted to be affixed respectively to the contiguous edges of said panels and having smooth surfaces normally coplanar with said panels, a cover plate bridging the gap between said side bars, with its edges resting respectively in sliding engagement with the smooth surfaces of said bars, and linkages interconnecting said side bars at intervals along their lengths, each of said linkages having a center point always disposed midway between said side bars regardless of the spacing therebetween, said cover plate being attached to these center points whereby to be maintained in centered bridging relationship to said gap.
Inventors
- 👤 Delmar W Cole
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 15:09
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04B; E04B1/00; E04B1/62; E04B1/66; E04B1/68; E04B1/6815
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
279 words
An expansion joint for connecting spaced-apart contiguous edges of adjoining floor, wall, or ceiling panels in building structures, said joint comprising: a. a pair of elongated, generally parallel side bars, b. means for affixing said side bars respectively to said contiguous panel edges, c. an elongated cover plate bridging the space between said side bars, the plane of said cover plate being normally parallel to the plane of said panels, and each longitudinal edge of said cover plate resting slidably against a surface of one of said side bars which is parallel to the plane of said panels, and d. connecting means joining said side bars and said cover plate whereby said cover plate is maintained in transversely centered relation relative to the space between said side bars, said connecting means comprising a plurality of linkages extending transversely between and interconnecting said side bars at intervals along their lengths, each linkage being freely extendable and retractable in length to permit variation of the space between said side bars, and having a midpoint always spaced midway between the ends thereof, means connecting said cover plate to the midpoints of said linkage, each of said linkages constituting a lazy-tong linkage having an odd number of pivot points along the longitudinal midline thereof, the endmost of said midline pivots being connected respectively to said side bars by means permitting pivotal movement of said linkage relative to each side bar in a plane parallel to the planes of said panels, and the center of said midline pivots of each linkage being connected to said cover plate, and resilient means urging each longitudinal edge of said cover plate yieldably against its associated side bar.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
279 words
An expansion joint for connecting spaced-apart contiguous edges of adjoining floor, wall, or ceiling panels in building structures, said joint comprising: a. a pair of elongated, generally parallel side bars, b. means for affixing said side bars respectively to said contiguous panel edges, c. an elongated cover plate bridging the space between said side bars, the plane of said cover plate being normally parallel to the plane of said panels, and each longitudinal edge of said cover plate resting slidably against a surface of one of said side bars which is parallel to the plane of said panels, and d. connecting means joining said side bars and said cover plate whereby said cover plate is maintained in transversely centered relation relative to the space between said side bars, said connecting means comprising a plurality of linkages extending transversely between and interconnecting said side bars at intervals along their lengths, each linkage being freely extendable and retractable in length to permit variation of the space between said side bars, and having a midpoint always spaced midway between the ends thereof, means connecting said cover plate to the midpoints of said linkage, each of said linkages constituting a lazy-tong linkage having an odd number of pivot points along the longitudinal midline thereof, the endmost of said midline pivots being connected respectively to said side bars by means permitting pivotal movement of said linkage relative to each side bar in a plane parallel to the planes of said panels, and the center of said midline pivots of each linkage being connected to said cover plate, and resilient means urging each longitudinal edge of said cover plate yieldably against its associated side bar.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
71 words
An expansion joint as recited in claim 1 wherein each longitudinal edge of said cover plate is tiltable on its associated side bar about said edge as an axis, and wherein each of the endmost midline pivots of each of said linkages is connected to its associated side bar by means permitting pivoting of said linkage relative to said side bar in a plane normal to the planes of said panels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
84 words
An expansion joint as recited in claim 1 wherein said resilient means urging said cover plate yieldably against said side bars comprises a series of leaf springs extending between said side bars, the ends of each spring engaging surfaces of said side bars which face generally oppositely from the surfaces thereof engaged by said cover plate, and means connecting the center point of each of said springs to said cover plate, whereby said spring is maintained in transversely centered relation to said side bars.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
An expansion joint as recited in claim 1 wherein said cover plate is torsionally flexible about its longitudinal axis whereby to accommodate movement of said side bars into nonparallel relation in a direction normal to the planes of said panels, said springs being operable to apply torsional stress to said cover plate to maintain the edges thereof in continuous contact with said side bars despite the said nonparallel relation of the latter.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-03-14 | 1975-09-13 | 1976-03-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-03-14 | 1979-09-13 | 1980-03-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-03-14 | 1983-09-13 | 1984-03-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |