US20080023621A1 - Magnetic Concrete Construction Keyway System - Google Patents

Abstract

A magnetic concrete construction keyway system for strengthening adjacent concrete slabs through the use of a reusable and flexible keyway forming apparatus. The magnetic concrete construction keyway system includes a steel form to create a mold for a concrete slab, a keyway member including a connecting side, wherein the connecting side is removably attachable to an inside of the steel form and wherein the keyway member forms a groove in the concrete slab. The keyway member is magnetically attached to the steel form through the use of a plurality of magnets embedded within the keyway member.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• Not applicable to this application.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
• Not applicable to this application.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• 1. Field of the Invention
• The present invention relates generally to concrete strengthening and more specifically it relates to a magnetic concrete construction keyway system for strengthening adjacent concrete slabs through the use of a reusable and flexible keyway forming apparatus.
• 2. Description of the Related Art
• Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.
• Concrete strengthening has been in use for years. Typically, for large concrete surfaces there exists the need to pour several smaller connecting concrete slabs rather than one large concrete slabs. Having several smaller concrete slabs reduces cracks in the concrete and general wear over time. This is also common on sidewalk, where concrete slabs can extend for several miles. It is common practice use some type of construction joint (i.e. vertical joint, joggle joint, etc.) when pouring adjacent concrete slabs. To utilize a construction joint some type of keyway apparatus is generally used.
• Some common construction joint apparatuses used when pouring adjacent concrete slabs are forms with a keyway apparatus built in to the form. This severely limits the usability of the form in that whenever you use it, you will be forming a groove in the edge of your concrete. A lot of times, this is not desired. Another type of keyway apparatus used is one that you would nail or screw to the form. This can be very time consuming and overall unpleasant work.
• Keyway apparatuses are also generally comprised of a stiff material and are not able to conform to steel forms with curvatures or other abnormal shapes. This brings about the need to buy multiple keyway apparatuses when forming irregular shaped concrete slabs. This can be very expensive and an unnecessary cost.
• While these devices may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they are not as suitable for strengthening adjacent concrete slabs through the use of a reusable and flexible keyway forming apparatus. Past keyway apparatuses are generally fixed in the shape that they are able to conform to and can also be difficult to attach to the forms.
• In these respects, the magnetic concrete construction keyway system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of strengthening adjacent concrete slabs through the use of a reusable keyway forming apparatus.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of concrete strengthening now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new magnetic concrete construction keyway system construction wherein the same can be utilized for strengthening adjacent concrete slabs through the use of a reusable and flexible keyway forming apparatus.
• The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new magnetic concrete construction keyway system that has many of the advantages of the concrete strengthening mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new magnetic concrete construction keyway system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art concrete strengthening, either alone or in any combination thereof.
• To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a steel form to create a mold for a concrete slab, a keyway member including a connecting side, wherein the connecting side is removably attachable to an inside of the steel form and wherein the keyway member forms a groove in the concrete slab. The keyway member is magnetically attached to the steel form through the use of a plurality of magnets embedded within the keyway member.
• There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
• In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.
• A primary object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic concrete construction keyway system that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices.
• A second object is to provide a magnetic concrete construction keyway system for strengthening adjacent concrete slabs through the use of a reusable keyway forming apparatus.
• Another object is to provide a magnetic concrete construction keyway system that magnetically attaches to steel forms.
• An additional object is to provide a magnetic concrete construction keyway system that is able to bend and conform to curved edges.
• A further object is to provide a magnetic concrete construction keyway system that may be manufactured to adapt to various keyway joint structures and configurations.
• Another object is to provide a magnetic concrete construction keyway system that is easily attachable and removable from steel forms.
• Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects and advantages are within the scope of the present invention.
• To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:
• FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of the present invention.
• FIG. 2 is a top view of the present invention.
• FIG. 3 is a side view of the present invention.
• FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the present invention.
• FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along line5-5 ofFIG. 4.
• FIG. 6 is an upper perspective view of the present invention in use and positioned on both sides of a concrete slab.
• FIG. 7 is an upper perspective view of the present invention in use with one form removed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONA. Overview
• Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views,FIGS. 1 through 7 illustrate a magnetic concreteconstruction keyway system10, which comprises asteel form14 to create a mold for aconcrete slab12, akeyway member20 including a connectingside22, wherein the connectingside22 is removably attachable to an inside of thesteel form14 and wherein thekeyway member20 forms agroove16 in theconcrete slab12. Thekeyway member20 is magnetically attached to thesteel form14 through the use of a plurality ofmagnets30 embedded within thekeyway member20. Thesteel form14 may be comprised of a steel flexible form or a rigid steel form that is formed into a desired shape (e.g. straight, curved, etc.) capable of forming concrete into a desired shape.
B. Keyway Member
• Akeyway member20 is preferably comprised of a flexible and resilient material as illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 7. The flexible and resilient material is preferably comprised of a rubber like material. The rubber like material of thekeyway member20 may be comprised of, but is not limited to, rtv silicon or polyurethane. This allows thekeyway member20 to conform to different curvatures of thesteel forms14 used in creating molds forconcrete slabs12. Thekeyway member20 is also preferably comprised of a material that is able to be removed from aconcrete slab12 after being in contact with the concrete during the drying process, as shown inFIG. 7.
• Thegroove16 that's created after the removal of thekeyway member20 preferably is of a substantially similar shape and configuration to thekeyway member20. The shape of thekeyway member20 is preferably of an elongated trapezoidal structure, as shown inFIG. 5. Thegroove16 from the trapezoidal structuredkeyway member20 is also known as a joggle joint. It is appreciated that thekeyway member20 may be comprised of various other configurations, depending on the desired keyway structure and strength of the adjacentconcrete slabs12.
• Thekeyway member20 includes a first formingside24 and a third formingside26. The first formingside24 and the third formingside26 are preferably comprised of substantially similar structures as illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 5. The first formingside24 and the third formingside26 preferably mirror each other. When thekeyway member20 is submerged in the concrete the first formingside24 and the third formingside26 extend into the concrete at a substantially perpendicular angle to thesteel form14, as shown inFIG. 5. It is appreciated that the first formingside24 and the third formingside26 may be of different structures and configurations depending on the desired shape of thekeyway member20.
• The first formingside24 and the third formingside26 are connected by a second formingside25. The second formingside25 forms the inner most side of thegroove16 in theconcrete slab12, as shown inFIG. 7. The second formingside25 is preferably of a substantially planar structure and configuration to provide aconsistent groove16 in which to adjoin adjacentconcrete slabs12.
• Thekeyway member20 also includes afirst end28 and asecond end29 as illustrated inFIGS. 2 through 4. Thefirst end28 and thesecond end29 are preferably comprised of substantially similar structures and configurations. Thefirst end28 and thesecond end29 are also preferably comprised of a planar structure and configuration. This is to allow thefirst end28 of afirst keyway member20 to match up with thefirst end28 or thesecond end29 of asecond keyway member20 whenmultiple keyway members20 are assembled in series. Thekeyway members20 may also be matched up also be matched upsecond end29 tosecond end29 or any other end to end configuration. Thefirst end28 and thesecond end29 may also be comprised of multiple different structures and configurations, any of which allow thefirst end28 to match up with anotherfirst end28 orsecond end29 or vice versa.
• The connectingside22 of thekeyway member20 is preferably of a planar structure and configuration, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 3 through7. This is to allow the connectingside22 to rest flat against the inner side of thesteel form14. It is desired that no concrete is able to flow in-between the connectingside22 and thesteel form14 when thekeyway member20 is attached to thesteel form14. This is to ensure an accurate andconsistent groove16 in the concrete pouring process.
C. Magnets
• The plurality ofmagnets30 are preferably comprised of a circular structure and configuration as shown inFIG. 1. Themagnets30 are preferably neodymium magnets. The plurality ofmagnets30 are also preferably equally spaced within thekeyway member20 as illustrated inFIGS. 1 through 4. Further, the plurality ofmagnets30 are preferably positioned completely within thekeyway member20. The plurality ofmagnets30 are preferably embedded at a distance away from the connectingside22 substantially similar to the thickness of themagnet30, as shown inFIG. 5.
• Positioning themagnet30 farther away from the connectingside22 than the thickness of themagnet30 may provide too weak of a force for thekeyway member20 to attach to thesteel form14. It is appreciated that themagnets30 may be closer to the connectingside22 than the preferred embodiment as this will not hinder the use of the magnetic concreteconstruction keyway system10.
D. Operation Invention
• In use, the steel forms14 are first positioned in a manner consistent with the desired shape of theconcrete slab12. In areas where a secondconcrete slab12 will be adjacent with the currentconcrete slab12, agroove16 needs to be formed to prevent movement and provide added strength between the twoconcrete slabs12. The magnetic concreteconstruction keyway system10 is magnetically attached to the inner side of thesteel form14 on the side of the mold where a secondconcrete slab12 will be poured in the future, as shown inFIGS. 6 and 7.
• The magnetic concreteconstruction keyway system10 is preferably vertically centered on the inside of the desiredsteel form14 with the connectingside22 of thekeyway member20 parallel and touching thesteel form14. This process is repeated for all sides of the mold where an adjacentconcrete slab12 will be poured in the future.
• Once the initialconcrete slab12 is formed and is allowed to harden. Thesteel form14 and the magnetic concreteconstruction keyway system10 are removed. Agroove16 is now present in the side of theconcrete slab12 where the magnetic concreteconstruction keyway system10 was positioned. The mold for the secondconcrete slab12 may now be formed with the adjacent side of the firstconcrete slab12 with thepresent groove16 acting as one side of the mold. When concrete is poured into the second mold the concrete enters thegroove16 of the firstconcrete slab12 providing a stronger binding area in-between the firstconcrete slab12 and the secondconcrete slab12. This process is repeated where anyconcrete slab12 will have anotherconcrete slab12 poured adjacent to it.
• What has been described and illustrated herein is a preferred embodiment of the invention along with some of its variations. The terms, descriptions and figures used herein are set forth by way of illustration only and are not meant as limitations. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention, which is intended to be defined by the following claims (and their equivalents) in which all terms are meant in their broadest reasonable sense unless otherwise indicated. Any headings utilized within the description are for convenience only and have no legal or limiting effect.

Claims (20)

1. A magnetic concrete construction keyway system, comprising:

a steel form to create a mold for a concrete slab;

a keyway member including a connecting side;

wherein said keyway member is designed to form a groove in said concrete slab; and

at least one magnet attached to said keyway member, wherein said at least one magnet attaches said connecting side of said keyway member to said steel form.

2. The magnetic concrete construction keyway system ofclaim 1, wherein said keyway member is comprised of a rubber material.

3. The magnetic concrete construction keyway system ofclaim 1, wherein said keyway member is comprised of a flexible and resilient material.

4. The magnetic concrete construction keyway system ofclaim 1, wherein said at least one magnet is embedded in said keyway member at a distance away from said connecting side substantially similar to a thickness of said at least one magnet.

5. The magnetic concrete construction keyway system ofclaim 1, wherein said connecting side rests flat against said steel form when said keyway member is magnetically attached to said steel form.

6. The magnetic concrete construction keyway system ofclaim 1, wherein said keyway member includes a first forming side, a second forming side extending downwardly from said first forming side and a third forming side extending inwardly from said second forming side.

7. The magnetic concrete construction keyway system ofclaim 6, wherein said first forming side and said third forming side are comprised of substantially similar structures and configurations.

8. The magnetic concrete construction keyway system ofclaim 6, wherein said first forming side and said third forming side mirror each other.

9. The magnetic concrete construction keyway system ofclaim 6, wherein said first forming side, said second forming side, said third forming side and said connecting side of said keyway member form a trapezoidal structure and configuration.

10. The magnetic concrete construction keyway system ofclaim 1, wherein said keyway member is comprised of an elongated structure.

11. The magnetic concrete construction keyway system ofclaim 10, wherein said keyway member has a trapezoidal cross sectional shape.

12. The magnetic concrete construction keyway system ofclaim 1, wherein said keyway member is comprised of an elongated member having a consistent structure.

13. The magnetic concrete construction keyway system ofclaim 11, wherein said first end of one said keyway member matches up with a second end of a second keyway member.

14. The magnetic concrete construction keyway system ofclaim 12, wherein said keyway member is comprised of a solid and non-hollow structure.

15. A magnetic concrete construction keyway system, comprising:

a steel form to create a mold for a concrete slab;

a keyway member including a connecting side, a first forming side, a second forming side and a third forming side, wherein said connecting side is removably attached to an inside of said steel form;

wherein said connecting side rests flat against said steel form when said keyway member is attached to said steel form;

wherein said connecting side, said first forming side, said second forming side and said third forming side form a trapezoidal structure and configuration;

wherein said keyway member is comprised of a flexible and resilient material;

wherein said keyway member forms a groove in said concrete slab;

a first end;

a second end substantially similar in structure and configuration to said first end, wherein said first end and said second end match up with each other when multiple said key units are connected in series; and

a plurality of magnets embedded within said keyway member, wherein said plurality of magnets magnetically attach said connecting side of said keyway member to said steel form.

16. The magnetic concrete construction keyway system ofclaim 15, wherein said keyway member is comprised of a rubber material.

17. The magnetic concrete construction keyway system ofclaim 15, wherein said groove in said concrete slab is substantially similar in depth to said keyway member.

18. The magnetic concrete construction keyway system ofclaim 15, wherein said first end and said second end are comprised of a planar structure and configuration.

19. The magnetic concrete construction keyway system ofclaim 15, wherein said plurality of magnets are embedded in said keyway member at a distance away from said connecting side substantially similar to a thickness of said plurality of magnets.

20. A magnetic concrete construction keyway system, comprising:

a steel form to create a mold for a concrete slab; and

a means for forming a keyway in said concrete slap.

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