The invention relates to the field of building reinforcement structures and particularly, to an interlocking jacket for concrete columns and method of using the same.
All around the Pacific Rim there are cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Tokyo, and Vancouver that are built on, or near major earthquake producing fault lines. Many of these cities have high-rise office and condo buildings that are each supported by hundreds of reinforced concrete columns. It is these concrete columns supporting these buildings that the present invention is designed to protect.
For example, several concrete support columns fractured and crumbled as a result of the 2015. Chilean earthquake. Upon further review, it was determined that the reinforcing rebar used in the columns were unable to contain the concrete in the columns and consequently, several buildings failed. The columns would have retained their compression strength even if they were fractured had the columns been contained or reinforced. Containing or reinforcing concrete columns would have saved the buildings from collapse.
Accordingly, a need exists for a concrete jacketing apparatus to prevent columns failures. Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the description that follows.
The invention relates to two identical stainless steel sheet forms engineered to lock together around existing concrete columns enclosing them from floor to ceiling. With the many fixtures and fittings mounted on these columns, the invention can be fitted from back to front or from side to side. Under seismic activity the two interlocking seams tighten forever, preventing the fractured concrete column from losing compression strength and therefore maintaining its integrity.
There are no mechanical fasteners holding the invention together. The two ten-gauge stainless steel sheet forms are manufactured to tightly fit each column. The two matching seams slide together locking each form around the column. Under seismic activity, they provide a secure lock.
The invention includes identical sheets of stainless steel which surrounds with interlocking seams for enclosing existing concrete columns from floor to ceiling.
According to the present invention there is provided an interlocking jacket. The jacket may include a first planar member having first and second sides, top and bottom sides and first and second opposed faces. A second planar member may also be included and may also have first and second sides, top and bottom sides and first and second opposed faces. The first side of the second planar member may be connected to the first side of the first planar member wherein the first and second planar members form substantially a right angle with the first faces forming an inside angle of the right angle. The first and second planar members may be rectangular planar members. The second planar member may be connected to the first planar member along substantially a length of the first sides.
The jacket may also include a first hook connected substantially in-line with the first planar member at the second side of the first planar member. The first hook may have a hooking portion substantially parallel with the first planar member and may extend along the second face of the first planar member.
The jacket may also include a second hook connected substantially at a right angle with the second planar member at the second side of the second planar member.
The second hook may have a hooking portion substantially parallel with the first planar member and may extend towards the first face of the second planar member.
The hook of the first planar member may run substantially a length of the second side of the first planar member whereas the hook of the second planar member may run substantially a length of the second side of the second planar member. The ends of the hooking portions may each comprise a beveled edge at substantially an identical angle, for example, 45°.
The first and second planar members and hooks may be integrally formed. Indeed, the first and second planar members and hooks may be integrally formed from a substantially rigid material or they may be integrally formed from substantially a rigid yet flexible material.
In according with another embodiments of the invention there is provided a method of jacketing a structure. The method may include providing a first interlocking jacket which may include a first planar member having first and second sides, top and bottom sides and first and second opposed faces. A second planar member may also be included and may also have first and second sides, top and bottom sides and first and second opposed faces. The first side of the second planar member may be connected to the first side of the first planar member wherein the first and second planar members form substantially a right angle with the first faces forming an inside angle of the right angle. The first and second planar members may be rectangular planar members. The second planar member may be connected to the first planar member along substantially a length of the first sides.
The jacket may also include a first hook connected substantially in-line with the first planar member at the second side of the first planar member. The first hook may have a hooking portion substantially parallel with the first planar member and may extend along the second face of the first planar member. The jacket may also include a second hook connected substantially at a right angle with the second planar member at the second side of the second planar member. The second hook may have a hooking portion substantially parallel with the first planar member and may extend towards the first face of the second planar member.
The method may further include engaging the first interlocking jacket around the structure and providing a second interlocking jacket which may also include a first planar member having first and second sides, top and bottom sides and first and second opposed faces. A second planar member may also be included and may also have first and second sides, top and bottom sides and first and second opposed faces. The first side of the second planar member may be connected to the first side of the first planar member wherein the first and second planar members form substantially a right angle with the first faces forming an inside angle of the right angle. The first and second planar members may be rectangular planar members. The second planar member may be connected to the first planar member along substantially a length of the first sides. The jacket may also include a first hook connected substantially in-line with the first planar member at the second side of the first planar member. The first hook may have a hooking portion substantially parallel with the first planar member and may extend along the second face of the first planar member. The jacket may also include a second hook connected substantially at a right angle with the second planar member at the second side of the second planar member. The second hook may have a hooking portion substantially parallel with the first planar member and may extend towards the first face of the second planar member.
The method may further include rotating the second interlocking jacket 180° on an axis with respect to said first interlocking jacket and slidably engaging the second jacket to the structure and with the first interlocking jacket wherein the first hook of the first interlocking jacket engages with the second hook of the second interlocking jacket and wherein the second hook of the first interlocking jacket engages with the first hook of the second interlocking jacket. The second interlocking jacket may be horizontally engaged to the structure and with the first interlocking jacket.
The method may further include providing a beveled edge to each end of the hooking portions wherein slidably engaging the second interlocking jacket to the structure and with the first interlocking jacket comprises engaging the hooks with one-another along the beveled edges.
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention there is provided an interlocking jacket. The jacket may include a curved planar member having first and second sides, top and bottom sides and first and second opposed faces. The jacket may also include a first hook connected substantially in-line with the first side, the first hook having a hooking portion substantially parallel with the first side and extending along the second face of the curved planar member. The jacket may also include a second hook connected substantially in-line with the second side, the second hook having a hooking portion substantially parallel with the second side and extending along the first face of said curved planar member.
The first hook may run substantially a length of the first side of the curved planar member whereas the second hook may run substantially a length of the second side of the curved planar member. The ends of the hooking portions may each comprise a beveled edge at substantially an identical angle, for example, 45°.
The curved planar member and hooks may be integrally formed. Indeed, the curved planar member and hooks may be integrally formed from a substantially a rigid material or they may be integrally formed from substantially a rigid yet flexible material.
In accordance with another embodiments of the invention there is provided a method of jacketing a structure. The method may include providing a first interlocking jacket which may include a curved planar member having first and second sides, top and bottom sides and first and second opposed faces. The jacket may also include a first hook connected substantially in-line with the first side, the first hook having a hooking portion substantially parallel with the first side and extending along the second face of the curved planar member. The jacket may also include a second hook connected substantially in-line with the second side, the second hook having a hooking portion substantially parallel with the second side and extending along the first face of the curved planar member.
The method may further include engaging the first interlocking jacket around the structure and providing a second interlocking jacket which may also include a curved planar member having first and second sides, top and bottom sides and first and second opposed faces. The jacket may also include a first hook connected substantially in-line with the first side, the first hook having a hooking portion substantially parallel with the first side and extending along the second face of the curved planar member. The jacket may also include a second hook connected substantially in-line with the second side, the second hook having a hooking portion substantially parallel with the second side and extending along the first face of the curved planar member.
The method may further include rotating the second interlocking jacket 180° on an axis with respect to said first interlocking jacket and slidably engaging the second jacket to the structure and with the first interlocking jacket wherein the first hook of the first interlocking jacket engages with the second hook of the second interlocking jacket and wherein the second hook of the first interlocking jacket engages with the first hook of the second interlocking jacket. The second interlocking jacket may be horizontally engaged to the structure and with the first interlocking jacket.
The method may further include providing a beveled edge to each end of the hooking portions wherein slidably engaging the second interlocking jacket to the structure and with the first interlocking jacket comprises engaging the hooks with one-another along the beveled edges.
Other aspects of the invention will be appreciated by reference to the detailed description of the preferred embodiment and to the claims that follow.
The preferred embodiment of the invention will be described by reference to the drawings thereof in which:
Referring to
The jacket 10 also includes a first hook 40 connected substantially in-line with the first planar member 12 at the second side 16 of the first planar member. The first hook 40 includes a hooking portion 42 substantially parallel with the first planar member 12 and extends along the second face 24 of the first planar member.
The jacket also includes a second hook 44 connected substantially at a right angle with the second planar member 26 at the second side 30 of the second planar member. The second hook 44 also includes a hooking portion 46 substantially parallel with the first planar member 12 and extends towards the first face 36 of the second planar member.
The hook 40 of the first planar member 12 preferably runs substantially the length of the second side 16 of the first planar member whereas the hook 44 of the second planar member 26 runs substantially the length of the second side 30 of the second planar member. As best illustrated in
Preferably, the first 12 and second 26 planar members and first 40 and second 44 hooks are integrally formed from a substantially rigid material or they may be integrally formed from substantially a rigid yet flexible material such as ten-gauge stainless steel.
Referring to
The first hook 66 of the curved planar member 52 runs substantially a length of the first side 54 of the curved planar member whereas the second hook 70 of the curved planar member runs substantially a length of the second side 56 of the curved planar member. The ends 72 of the hooking portions 68 and 72 each comprise a beveled edge at substantially an identical angle, preferably at 45°.
Preferably, the curved planar member 52 and first 66 and second 70 hooks are integrally formed from a substantially rigid material or they may be integrally formed from substantially a rigid yet flexible material such as ten-gauge stainless steel.
As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the dimensions of interlocking jacket 10 may be configured to suit any size of concrete column 100.
Operation
Referring to
Referring to
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Referring to
While embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, such embodiments should be considered illustrative of the invention only. The invention may include variants not described or illustrated herein in detail. Thus, the embodiments described and illustrated herein should not be considered to limit the invention as construed in accordance with the accompanying claims.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20210017779 A1 | Jan 2021 | US |