Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
221 words
In a roadway transition, for expansion joints on road bridges and the like, of the type including at least one intermediate bar extending, in an expansion joint; parallel to the joint edges and supported at at least two points along its length, at least two lazy tongs guiding each intermediate bar and articulated, in laterally spaced relation to each other, on the joint edges, with each lazy tongs having at least two tong sections connected by intermediate hinges and each lazy tongs being variable in its opening width transversely of the expansion joint, so thAt the spacings of opposite sides of the associated intermediate bar, from the adjacent respective joint edges or from adjoining intermediate bars, vary uniformly in variations of the joint width and are always the same relative to each other; the improvement comprising, in combination, said lazy tongs having their hinges extending horizontally and parallel to the joint edges, and said lazy tongus being oriented vertically and forming supporting beams for the intermediate bars; said lazy tongs having upper end hinges fixedly articulated at points in the range of the joint edges and having upper and lower intermediate hinges which thereby are in common vertical planes, with the upper intermediate hinges lying, in any position of the lazy tongs, in the horizontal plane of the upper end hinges.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
221 words
In a roadway transition, for expansion joints on road bridges and the like, of the type including at least one intermediate bar extending, in an expansion joint; parallel to the joint edges and supported at at least two points along its length, at least two lazy tongs guiding each intermediate bar and articulated, in laterally spaced relation to each other, on the joint edges, with each lazy tongs having at least two tong sections connected by intermediate hinges and each lazy tongs being variable in its opening width transversely of the expansion joint, so thAt the spacings of opposite sides of the associated intermediate bar, from the adjacent respective joint edges or from adjoining intermediate bars, vary uniformly in variations of the joint width and are always the same relative to each other; the improvement comprising, in combination, said lazy tongs having their hinges extending horizontally and parallel to the joint edges, and said lazy tongus being oriented vertically and forming supporting beams for the intermediate bars; said lazy tongs having upper end hinges fixedly articulated at points in the range of the joint edges and having upper and lower intermediate hinges which thereby are in common vertical planes, with the upper intermediate hinges lying, in any position of the lazy tongs, in the horizontal plane of the upper end hinges.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
In a roadway transition for expansion joints, the improvement claimed in claim 1, including plural intermediate bars; and means fixedly connecting each intermediate bar with the upper intermediate hinges of at least two lazy tongs, which upper intermediate hinges of the at least two lazy tongs are coaxial with each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
In a roadway transition for expansion joints, the improvement claimed in claim 2, including at least one mounting support secured to each intermediate bar and constructed and arranged to inhibit tilting of the associated intermediate bar.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
In a roadway transition for expansion joints, the improvement claimed in claim 3, including respective guide means with vertical slots on the respective joint edges, the outer tong sections of respective said lazy tongs having bottom end hinges engaged with the vertical slots.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
In a roadway transition for expansion joints, the improvement claimed in claim 3, in which each tong section articulated to joint edges has two interconnecting tong bars, with that tong bar pivotally connected to the tong bar having its upper end hinge fixedly articulated in the range of the joint edge being pivotally connected to the latter at a central hinge interconnecting said two tong bars.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
In a roadway transition for expansion joints, the improvement claimed in claim 3, wherein the transition includes edge beams extending along the joint edges; and respective edge bars detachably connected with said edge beams, the upper end hinges of said lazy tongs being fixedly articulated to said edge bars.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
In a roadway transition for expansion joints, the improvement claimed in claim 3, wherein each mounting support is secured to the base of the associated intermediate bar and extends downwardly beyond the lower intermediate hinge which is vertically beneath the upper intermediate hinge; each mounting support having, at its lower end, a vertical slot for guiding the hinge pin of the associated lower intermediate hinge.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
In a roadway transition for expansion joints, the improvement claimed in claim 3, in which each mounting support is secured to the base of the associated intermediate bar and extends horizontally beyond the upper intermediate hinge at the adjacent intermediate bar; each mounting support having a horizontal slot guiding the hinge pin of said last-named upper intermediate hinge.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
In a roadway transition for expansion joints, the improvement claimed in claim 8, in which the two end bars of each lazy tongs, whose upper end hinges are fixedly articulated at points in the range of the joint edges, extend downwardly and are pivotally interconnected at their lower ends.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
In a roadway transition for expansion joints, the improvement claimed in claim 3, in which the hinges of said lazy tongs and sliding surfaces of said mounting supports are coated with a friction-reducing material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
In a roadway transition for expansion joints, the improvement claimed in claim 3, including elastic rubber pads secured to and extending along opposite sides of said intermediate bars and forming seals between adjacent intermediate bars.