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 line 5-5 of FIG. 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 INVENTION
A. 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 concrete construction keyway system 10, which comprises a steel form 14 to create a mold for a concrete slab 12, a keyway member 20 including a connecting side 22, wherein the connecting side 22 is removably attachable to an inside of the steel form 14 and wherein the keyway member 20 forms a groove 16 in the concrete slab 12. The keyway member 20 is magnetically attached to the steel form 14 through the use of a plurality of magnets 30 embedded within the keyway member 20. The steel form 14 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
A keyway member 20 is preferably comprised of a flexible and resilient material as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. The flexible and resilient material is preferably comprised of a rubber like material. The rubber like material of the keyway member 20 may be comprised of, but is not limited to, rtv silicon or polyurethane. This allows the keyway member 20 to conform to different curvatures of the steel forms 14 used in creating molds for concrete slabs 12. The keyway member 20 is also preferably comprised of a material that is able to be removed from a concrete slab 12 after being in contact with the concrete during the drying process, as shown in FIG. 7.
The groove 16 that's created after the removal of the keyway member 20 preferably is of a substantially similar shape and configuration to the keyway member 20. The shape of the keyway member 20 is preferably of an elongated trapezoidal structure, as shown in FIG. 5. The groove 16 from the trapezoidal structured keyway member 20 is also known as a joggle joint. It is appreciated that the keyway member 20 may be comprised of various other configurations, depending on the desired keyway structure and strength of the adjacent concrete slabs 12.
The keyway member 20 includes a first forming side 24 and a third forming side 26. The first forming side 24 and the third forming side 26 are preferably comprised of substantially similar structures as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5. The first forming side 24 and the third forming side 26 preferably mirror each other. When the keyway member 20 is submerged in the concrete the first forming side 24 and the third forming side 26 extend into the concrete at a substantially perpendicular angle to the steel form 14, as shown in FIG. 5. It is appreciated that the first forming side 24 and the third forming side 26 may be of different structures and configurations depending on the desired shape of the keyway member 20.
The first forming side 24 and the third forming side 26 are connected by a second forming side 25. The second forming side 25 forms the inner most side of the groove 16 in the concrete slab 12, as shown in FIG. 7. The second forming side 25 is preferably of a substantially planar structure and configuration to provide a consistent groove 16 in which to adjoin adjacent concrete slabs 12.
The keyway member 20 also includes a first end 28 and a second end 29 as illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 4. The first end 28 and the second end 29 are preferably comprised of substantially similar structures and configurations. The first end 28 and the second end 29 are also preferably comprised of a planar structure and configuration. This is to allow the first end 28 of a first keyway member 20 to match up with the first end 28 or the second end 29 of a second keyway member 20 when multiple keyway members 20 are assembled in series. The keyway members 20 may also be matched up also be matched up second end 29 to second end 29 or any other end to end configuration. The first end 28 and the second end 29 may also be comprised of multiple different structures and configurations, any of which allow the first end 28 to match up with another first end 28 or second end 29 or vice versa.
The connecting side 22 of the keyway member 20 is preferably of a planar structure and configuration, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 through 7. This is to allow the connecting side 22 to rest flat against the inner side of the steel form 14. It is desired that no concrete is able to flow in-between the connecting side 22 and the steel form 14 when the keyway member 20 is attached to the steel form 14. This is to ensure an accurate and consistent groove 16 in the concrete pouring process.
C. Magnets
The plurality of magnets 30 are preferably comprised of a circular structure and configuration as shown in FIG. 1. The magnets 30 are preferably neodymium magnets. The plurality of magnets 30 are also preferably equally spaced within the keyway member 20 as illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4. Further, the plurality of magnets 30 are preferably positioned completely within the keyway member 20. The plurality of magnets 30 are preferably embedded at a distance away from the connecting side 22 substantially similar to the thickness of the magnet 30, as shown in FIG. 5.
Positioning the magnet 30 farther away from the connecting side 22 than the thickness of the magnet 30 may provide too weak of a force for the keyway member 20 to attach to the steel form 14. It is appreciated that the magnets 30 may be closer to the connecting side 22 than the preferred embodiment as this will not hinder the use of the magnetic concrete construction keyway system 10.
D. Operation Invention
In use, the steel forms 14 are first positioned in a manner consistent with the desired shape of the concrete slab 12. In areas where a second concrete slab 12 will be adjacent with the current concrete slab 12, a groove 16 needs to be formed to prevent movement and provide added strength between the two concrete slabs 12. The magnetic concrete construction keyway system 10 is magnetically attached to the inner side of the steel form 14 on the side of the mold where a second concrete slab 12 will be poured in the future, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.
The magnetic concrete construction keyway system 10 is preferably vertically centered on the inside of the desired steel form 14 with the connecting side 22 of the keyway member 20 parallel and touching the steel form 14. This process is repeated for all sides of the mold where an adjacent concrete slab 12 will be poured in the future.
Once the initial concrete slab 12 is formed and is allowed to harden. The steel form 14 and the magnetic concrete construction keyway system 10 are removed. A groove 16 is now present in the side of the concrete slab 12 where the magnetic concrete construction keyway system 10 was positioned. The mold for the second concrete slab 12 may now be formed with the adjacent side of the first concrete slab 12 with the present groove 16 acting as one side of the mold. When concrete is poured into the second mold the concrete enters the groove 16 of the first concrete slab 12 providing a stronger binding area in-between the first concrete slab 12 and the second concrete slab 12. This process is repeated where any concrete slab 12 will have another concrete slab 12 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.
Patent Application
20080023621
