Patent Application
20240376714
This disclosure relates generally to floor constructions. More particularly, this disclosure relates to floor constructions using, for example but not necessarily limited to, post-tensioned concrete or reinforced concrete slabs. Further, this disclosure relates to a concrete slab connecting to a vertical structure such as, for example, a wall.
Generally, a process for new floor construction using concrete slabs cannot directly connect to a wall for the wall to support the concrete slab while the concrete is going through a curing process.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method for making a wall-to-floor construction including a concrete slab and a vertical structure, the method including: installing a splice device onto an end of a first rebar for the concrete slab, wherein the splice device includes a cylindrical body including a first bore at a first end, a second bore at a second end, an inlet, an outlet, and a cavity; positioning a portion of a second rebar of the vertical structure into the cavity, the splice device being supported by the second rebar; forming the concrete slab, the first concrete slab including the first rebar; after forming the concrete slab, filling a fill material into the cavity through one of the inlet and the outlet; and in response to the fill material curing in the cavity, the splice device securely fixes the second rebar in the cavity and couples the first rebar to the second rebar.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method, wherein the first bore includes one or more threads formed on an inner surface of the first bore, the one or more threads being configured to engage corresponding threads on the first rebar in response to installing the first rebar into the first bore.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method, wherein the splice device is configured to receive the portion of the second rebar in the cavity, the second bore permitting the second rebar to extend therethrough into the cavity and towards the first end.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method, wherein forming the first concrete slab further includes: pouring the first concrete slab so the first end of the splice device is embedded in the concrete slab.
References are made to the accompanying drawings that form a part of this disclosure and that illustrate embodiments in which the systems and methods described in this Specification can be practiced.
Like reference numbers represent the same or similar parts throughout.
Prestressed concrete is a type of reinforced concrete which has been subjected to external compressive forces prior to the application of load. Prestressed concrete is categorized as either pre-tensioned or post-tensioned.
Pre-tensioned concrete is formed by a process including initial stressing of a wire strand system and then casting concrete around the stressed wire strand system. The stress from the wire strand system transfers to the concrete after the concrete has reached a specified strength (e.g., cured to a set specification).
Post-tensioned concrete is formed by a process of casting wet concrete around an unstressed wire strand system and then stressing the wire strand system after the concrete has reached specified strength (e.g., cured to a set specification). This can be accomplished via bonded or unbonded post tensioning. For example, in the bonded post tensioning process, post-tensioned concrete can have a wire strand system which has a wire enclosed in a duct (e.g., pipe, conduit, etc.). Concrete is formed around the duct and the concrete sets and cures. Then, the wire is stressed and grout material (e.g., a mixture of cement, sand, aggregate, and water) is pumped into the cavity surrounding the wire. The grout material bonds the wire to the duct, and the duct is bonded to the cured concrete. Thus, the stress applied to the wire can be transferred to the concrete. The applied stress (e.g., forces applied to the wire strand system) in the post-tensioning process causes a volume change (and/or a length change) to the concrete material. The volume change of the concrete material causes a change in the length of the concrete slab. The length change is a shortening in the direction parallel to applied stress (e.g., the post-tensioning force).
Reinforced concrete is formed by a process of casting wet concrete around a reinforcing bar system. The reinforcing bar system includes a plurality of steel rods or bars, or a mesh. The reinforcing bar system in a reinforced concrete structure resists tensile forces and the concrete material resists compressive forces. Accordingly, concrete that is not reinforced can develop cracking that limits the tensile forces that may be applied to the concrete structure. Thus, although certain compression structures (e.g., arches) can be formed without steel reinforcement, concrete that does not include some type of reinforcement is generally not suited for applications where various forces may be applied to the concrete structure. In reinforced concrete, the tensile strength of the reinforcing system and the compressive strength of concrete cooperate to allow the member to sustain these various stresses over considerable spans. Prior to the introduction of reinforcing bar systems, however, the spans of elevated concrete floors were shorter compared to modern structures and concrete members were primarily applied in compression structures (e.g., arches).
As used herein, the term “reinforced concrete” refers to concrete material in which steel is embedded in the concrete. The concrete and steel act together to resist both tensile forces and compressive forces after the concrete material has reached a specified strength (i.e., fully cured).
As used herein, the term “reinforcing steel,” or “reinforcing bar system,” refers to steel rods, bars, or mesh that is embedded in the concrete before the concrete has reached a specified strength. The reinforcing steel provides support to the concrete material and resists tensile forces.
Generally, a process for new floor construction using concrete slabs cannot directly connect to a wall for the wall to support the concrete slab while the concrete is going through a curing process. This is because there can be a volume change of the concrete during the curing process. The volume change can lead to a change in the distance between the wall and the concrete slab. Accordingly, using traditional techniques, devices, and systems, a wall cannot provide a concrete floor to be self-supporting due to the necessary discontinuity between the concrete floor and the wall during the construction process.
Various embodiments of the present disclosure provides systems, devices, and methods for connecting a floor to a vertical structure (such as a wall) to provide a continuous wall-to-floor construction. According to some embodiments, the systems, devices, and methods disclosed herein advantageously provide a self-supporting wall-to-floor construction. According to some embodiments, the wall-to-floor construction includes or is a concrete floor slab with at least one rebar. According to some embodiments, the vertical structure (e.g., wall) includes a rebar. According to some embodiments, both the vertical structure and the floor slab include concrete with rebars, and a splice device is incorporated to connect to respective rebars such that the floor slab is self-supporting.
Various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to systems, devices, and methods for splicing together rebar from adjacent concrete parts (e.g., slab, wall, etc.). According to some embodiments, a splice device may be utilized to couple segments of rebar from the adjacent concrete parts together. The splice device may also be referred to as a coupler, splice coupler, rebar coupler, and the like. The splice device is utilized for connecting, or splicing together, elongate segments of metal rods such as rebar, the rebar providing structural support to the floor constructions. The splice device is used in floor constructions to connect rebar from adjoining concrete parts to provide improved structural support and stability to the floor construction. In some embodiments, the floor construction may include at least two separately formed concrete sections, and the splice device may be utilized to connect rebar from one concrete slab to the rebar from the other concrete wall. For example, one or more splice devices can be used to connect a rebar member from a first concrete part to a second concrete part, respectively. To build larger floor constructions, additional concrete sections may be constructed, and the adjoining concrete sections may be connected using additional splice devices. In some embodiments, the floor construction may include post-tensioned concrete slabs. In other embodiments, the floor construction may include reinforced concrete slabs.
According to some embodiments, the splice device may include a body having openings at both ends, a cavity, and one or more bores at a side of the body. In some embodiments, the openings are configured to receive rebar. The openings of the splice device thereby enables the body of the splice device to receive the rebar in the respective opening so as to enable the splice device to be arranged around the portions of the rebar from the respective concrete slabs during the pouring of the concrete slabs of the floor construction.
According to some embodiments, one of the openings of the splice device may include an elongated structure, the elongated structure allowing for movement of rebar extending therethrough in a radial direction relative a central longitudinal axis of the splice device. For example, prior to the splice device being fixedly attached to the rebar, the splice device opening allows for rebar movement in the radial direction. The movement may be due to any of a plurality of reasons including, but not limited to, stress, curing, volume loss, temperature changes, settling, shifting, compressive forces, tensile forces, other factors, or any combinations thereof. For example, the movement of the rebar and/or the splice device can be due to loss of volume in one of the adjoining concrete slabs during construction. In another example, prior to the splice device being fixedly attached to the rebar, the splice device opening allows for movement of the splice device or the rebar located in the body of the splice device through the opening due to thermal expansion of the steel frame construction including the concrete floor construction. In some embodiments, the elongated structure of the opening may include a width that is greater than a height.
According to some embodiments, one of the openings may include a structure that allows movement of the rebar in an axial direction relative to the central longitudinal axis of the splice device. In some embodiments, one of the openings may include a structure that allows movement of the rebar in the axial direction, the axial direction being substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the splice device. In some embodiments, the splice device opening may include a cross-section that is larger than a cross-section of the rebar to allow for a portion of the rebar to extend into the body of the splice device through the opening and towards an opposite end of the splice device. As a result of the opening having a cross-section that is greater than the cross-section of the rebar, a portion of the rebar may be installed into the device through the opening and the splice device can accommodate for movement of the rebar and/or the splice device such as, but not limited to, due to stress, curing, volume loss, temperature changes, settling, shifting, compressive forces, tensile forces, other factors, or any combinations thereof. For example, prior to the splice device being fixedly connected to the rebar of the concrete slab extending through the opening, the rebar may move in an axial direction relative the splice device, or vice versa, in response to a change in volume of the concrete slab.
According to some embodiments, one of the openings of the splice device may include a structure configured to receive a rebar member therethrough to enable fixedly attaching the rebar to the splice device. In some embodiments, the opening may be formed by a bore extending through the body of the splice device from the splice device exterior and to the cavity. In some embodiments, the opening may include threads on an inner surface of the bore for engaging corresponding threads on the rebar and for fixedly attaching the rebar to the splice device. In some embodiments, the bore may include a conical shape, the bore including an opening diameter that is greater than a diameter of the bore that is closer to the splice device interior (e.g., adjacent the cavity). In some embodiments, the bore forming the opening may include a conical shape for improving engagement of the rebar when fixedly attaching the rebar to the splice device.
According to some embodiments, the splice device may include the cavity. In some embodiments, the cavity may be formed within the body. In some embodiments, the cavity may be in fluid communication with a region outside the splice device through the openings. In this regard, bores may extend through the body of the splice device and into the cavity, thereby forming the respective openings. In some embodiments, the cavity may be configured to receive rebar therein, the rebar being inserted into the cavity through one of the openings. In some embodiments, the cavity may be configured to receive a fill material in the cavity, the fill material being configured to cure to a hardened state in the cavity so as to retain the rebar in the cavity and fixedly attach the rebar to the splice device. In some embodiments, the fill material may act in cooperation with the splice device to retain the rebar in the cavity of the splice device, so that if the splice device is fixedly attached to the rebar from the adjoining concrete slab, the splice coupler thereby connects the rebar of the adjoining concrete slabs together, as will be further described herein.
According to some embodiments, the splice device may include an inlet. In some embodiments, the inlet may be located along a side of the body. In some embodiments, the inlet may be at a longitudinal side of the body between the respective ends that include the openings. In some embodiments, the inlet may be in fluid communication with the cavity. That is, in some embodiments, the inlet may include a bore extending through a sidewall of the body and into the cavity. In some embodiments, the inlet may be configured to allow the fill material to be directed into the cavity through the inlet.
According to some embodiments, the splice device may include an outlet. That is, in some embodiments, the splice device may include an inlet and an outlet, the outlet being offset from the inlet by a distance. In some embodiments, the outlet may be at a side of the body. In some embodiments, the outlet may be at a longitudinal side of the body between the ends that include the respective openings for the rebar, the outlet being offset from the inlet. In some embodiments, the outlet may be in fluid communication with the cavity. That is, in some embodiments, the splice device may include a bore extending through the body and into the cavity, the bore forming the outlet opening at the device exterior and another opening into the cavity.
According to some embodiments, the outlet may be located at a same side of the body as the inlet, both the inlet and the outlet being in fluid communication with the cavity. For example, in some embodiments, the bores of the inlet and the outlet may extend along respective axes that may be substantially parallel to each other, and the axes of the inlet and the outlet may also be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body. In other embodiments, the outlet may be located on substantially the same side of the body as the inlet. In some embodiments, by being located on the same side of the body, the inlet and the outlet of the splice device may be oriented so as to be positioned at or near a top of the splice device and relative a top surface of the concrete slab. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the inlet and outlet being positioned near the top may facilitate filling, or substantially filling, the cavity with the fill material directed into the cavity through the inlet. In some embodiments, the inlet and outlet may also be located at opposite ends of the cavity relative the longitudinal direction of the body, the location of the inlet and outlet being configured to facilitate the fill material filling the cavity space.
According to some embodiments, the splice device may include the inlet and the outlet. In some embodiments, the inlet and the outlet may be located on a same side of the body, the inlet and outlet each in fluid communicable connection with the cavity. In some embodiments, the splice device may include the inlet and the outlet to allow filling the cavity of the splice device with the fill material. In this regard, by including the inlet and the outlet, the cavity of the splice device may be filled with fill material through the inlet and excess fill material may exit from the cavity through the outlet rather than allowing pressure to build up in the cavity. In some embodiments, the inlet and outlet may also allow air to vent or escape from inside of the cavity when filling the cavity with the fill material.
Depending on the application of the splice device, the position, size, shape, and dimensions of the various features on the splice device may vary, so long as the splice device may be capable of connecting a first rebar to a second rebar, in accordance with the present disclosure. It is to be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that the bores forming the inlet and the outlet as described in the present disclosure and as labeled in the figures are for ease of discussion purposes and is not intended to limit the filling of the splice device with the fill material using only the inlet. In this regard, it is to be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that the splice device may be filled using the inlet, the outlet, or both, during the floor construction.
According to some embodiments, the cavity may be filled with fill material. In some embodiments, the fill material may be configured to fill the unoccupied space in the cavity by being directed into the cavity through the inlet. In some embodiments, during the filling of the cavity, the fill material may also be configured to fill the unoccupied space in the cavity, thereby surrounding the rebar when arranged in the cavity. After a certain time period, the fill material in the cavity may then be configured to cure to a hardened state so as to retain the rebar in the cavity, thereby fixedly attaching the rebar to the splice device.
In this regard, the cavity may be filled using a fill material composed of one or more materials that may be configured to fixedly attach the rebar to the splice device when the fill material has cured to the hardened state, according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, after curing, the fill material may also be configured to restrict movement of the rebar in an axial or radial direction relative the splice device. In some embodiments, the fill material may include one or more materials that, when combined, may initially be in a liquid state capable of filling into the cavity. In addition, in response to the certain time period having elapsed, the fill material may cure from the liquid state to the hardened state, according to some embodiments.
In some embodiments, the fill material may include a cementitious material. In some embodiments, the fill material may include materials including, but not limited to, grout, concrete, epoxy, epoxy grout, other like structural materials, or any combinations thereof. For example, the fill material may include a grout material mixed with a volume of solution such as, but not limited to, water to form the fill material for filling the cavity of the splice device. In another example, the material may be a concrete material mixed with a volume of solution such as, but not limited to, water to form the fill material for filling the cavity of the splice device. In other examples, the cavity may be filled with a dry base material such as the grout material, and once the adjoining concrete slabs are ready for connecting, a volume of liquid may be directed into the splice device through the inlet to mix with the base material and surround the rebar in the cavity, which once cured hardens around the rebar and fixedly attaches the rebar to the splice device. In some embodiments, the fill material may also include one or more metallic materials.
In traditional floor constructions, adjacent concrete sections are poured so as to include a wide gap between the slabs, this gap may commonly be referred to as a pour strip. For example, the pour strip can be 3 ft. to 5 ft. wide. Rebar from the concrete sections located on either side of the gap can extend into and terminate in the area of the pour strip between the concrete sections. During the curing of the concrete section, the rebar can shift and move due to a plurality of different forces acting on the rebar as can be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art. When the pour strip is ready to be filled, wet concrete or some other cementitious material can be poured into the pour strip, which then hardens and connects the rebars from the concrete slabs on opposing sides of the pour strip.
Various embodiments of the present disclosure improve upon floor constructions by enabling utilizing the splice device to pour and set adjacent concrete sections without necessitating including a pour strip between the adjacent concrete sections. That is, in some embodiments, the splice device may be utilized by fixedly attaching a rebar of a first concrete slab to an opening at one end of the splice device and arranging a rebar of a second concrete slab into the cavity through an opening at an opposite end of the splice device. By accommodating a certain amount of movement in the axial and radial directions, the splice device enables the adjacent concrete slabs to be constructed without a pour strip. In addition, the splice device may then be utilized for fixedly coupling the rebar of the first concrete slab to the rebar of the second concrete slab by filling the cavity with fill material and allowing the fill material to cure to the hardened state, according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, the splice device may be utilized in the space of the pour strip to connect rebar from the concrete slabs on opposing sides of the pour strip.
According to some embodiments, the embodiments of the present disclosure provide improvements for constructing adjacent concrete slabs than compared with traditional floor constructions that include a pour strip. By not including the pour strip and thereby eliminating a need to fill the gap between adjacent concrete slabs with the wet cement to connect the rebars together, the adjacent concrete slabs may be formed including a relatively narrower gap therebetween, which may then be filled using less material and may need less time to cure to a hardened state. As such, the splice device simplifies the construction process for building floor constructions and reduces a total time needed to build the floor constructions.
Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide improvements for building floor constructions utilizing the splice device that can accommodate for thermal expansion until such a time as the adjoining concrete sections can be coupled together by filling the splice device with the fill material. Typically, a building may include a concrete frame construction and/or a metal frame construction, and the floor constructions may be built upon this structural frame. During the construction phase (e.g., before the building is complete), thermal loads may cause expansion and contraction of the structural frame. Historically, without limiting a length of the building, the structural frame of the building or its components may become damaged due to the thermal expansion. By accommodating for relative movement between the rebar from the adjacent concrete slabs, the splice device may thereby enable the structural frame of the building and its components to expand and contract with the thermal loads, thereby preventing the floor construction and/or the structural frame from damage as a result of the thermal expansion. Once the building is thermally controlled, the splice device may be utilized to structurally lock the building structural components by filling the cavity with the fill material. In this regard, the splice device may be utilized to eliminate or minimize expansion joints in both concrete frame constructions and steel frame constructions including the concrete floor constructions.
In some embodiments, the vertical structure (or a wall) 100 can be a concrete wall. In some embodiments, the vertical structure 110 can be a concrete wall, metal wall, wood wall, or any combinations thereof. In various embodiments, the vertical structure 110 may be made of any of a plurality of materials including, but not limited to, concrete, steel, wood, other metals, other materials, or any combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the splice device 104 may be further configured to mount to the vertical structural member as will be further discussed herein.
In some embodiments, the wall-to-floor construction 100 may include a gap 112. The gap 112 is formed between the concrete slab 108 and the wall 110. In some embodiments, the gap 112 is positioned at an end of the splice device 104. In some embodiments, the gap 112 may be formed as a result of forming concrete slab 108. In some embodiments, the splice device 104 is positioned entirely within the concrete slab 108 or the wall 110. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the splice device 104 is not within the wall 110. In some embodiments, the gap 112 may allow for expansion or contraction of the slab 108. For example, the gap 112 may widen due to contraction of the concrete slab 108. In another example, the gap 112 may narrow due to thermal expansion of the structural frame. In some embodiments, the gap 112 may be a pour strip, as will be further described herein. In some embodiments, the concrete slabs may be post-tensioned concrete slabs. In some embodiments, the concrete slabs may be reinforced concrete slabs.
The concrete slab 108, which may hereinafter be referred to as a first concrete slab 108, may include rebar 116. In some embodiments, the concrete slab 108 may include a plurality of the rebar 116. In some embodiments, rebar 116 may be located in the volume of the concrete material of concrete slab 108. In some embodiments, an end of rebar 116 may extend from a side of the concrete slab 108. In some embodiments, an end of rebar 116 may be located in the volume of the concrete material of concrete slab 108.
The vertical structure 110, which may hereinafter be referred to as a wall 110, may include a rebar 118. In some embodiments, the rebar 118 may be located in the volume of the concrete material of vertical structure 110. In some embodiments, an end of the rebar 118 may be located in the volume of the concrete material of concrete wall 110. For example, one end of rebar 118 may extend into concrete slab 108.
In some embodiments, the rebars 116 in concrete slab 108 may be aligned substantially parallel with each other. In some embodiments, the rebar 118 in vertical structure 110 may be aligned substantially parallel with each other. In some embodiments, rebar 116 from concrete slab 108 and rebar 118 from the wall 110 may be colinearly aligned with each other. In other embodiments, the rebar 116 and at least a portion of the rebar 118 may be in substantially colinear alignment with each other. In some embodiments, the rebar 116 and the rebar 118 may be aligned along a length of the slab 108 in an axial direction (of the device 104). Although not shown in the schematic view, it will be understood that the wall-to-floor construction 100 may include the first concrete slab 108 including a plurality of rebars 116 and the wall 110 including a plurality of rebars 118, and one or more of the rebars 116 may be fixedly coupled to rebars 118 using a respective splice devices 104.
In some embodiments, the splice device 104 may fixedly attach to the rebar 116 and the rebar 118, as will be further described herein. In some embodiments, the splice device 104 can be made of a material suitable for use in floor construction. In some embodiments, the splice device 104 can be manufactured by a casting process or the like. In some embodiments, the splice device 104 can be a cast metal such as, but not limited to, a cast steel, cast stainless steel, cast aluminum, or the like. In some embodiments, the splice device 104 may be formed using one or more materials including, but not limited to, iron, carbon, chromium, nickel, other materials, or any combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the splice device 104 may be formed of one or more metallic materials and may include a coating applied to an exterior surface. It is to be appreciated that the one or more materials of the splice device 104 are examples and that other materials suitable in the construction of floors are possible.
In some embodiments, the splice device 104 may further include an anti-corrosive coating applied to the exterior surfaces of the splice device 104 to protect the splice device 104 from corrosion over time. In some embodiments, the coating may be applied using any of a plurality of methods including, but not limited to, spraying, painting, dipping, powder coating, electroplating, epoxy coating, enameling, electrocoating, other methods, or any combinations thereof.
The splice device 104 includes a body (see
In the floor 102, the splice device 104 may couple together rebar from respective concrete slabs such as, for example, from concrete slabs located adjacent each other. In some embodiments, the floor 102 includes concrete slab 108 including rebar 116 therein and vertical structure 110 including rebar 118 therein. Splice device 104 may fixedly couple together the rebar 116 of concrete slab 108 and the rebar 118 of vertical structure 110. In this regard, the splice device 104 may receive rebar 116 at opening 130 and may receive rebar 118 at opening 132. In some embodiments, the splice device 104 may fixedly attach to rebar 116 at opening 130 by engaging with the rebar 116. In addition, in some embodiments, the splice device 104 may fixedly attach to rebar 118 by positioning a portion of the rebar 118 in the cavity 128 and filling the cavity 128 with a fill material 140 and surrounding the rebar 118. In response to the fill material 140 surrounding the rebar 118 in the cavity 128 and the fill material 140 curing to a hardened state in the cavity 128, the rebar 118 is retained in the cavity 128 by the fill material 140, thereby fixedly attaching the rebar 118 to the splice device 104.
The splice device 104 may be arranged in concrete slab 108. The splice device 104 may be configured to fixedly couple the rebar 116 of concrete slab 108 to the rebar 118 of vertical structure 110. In this regard, the splice device 104 is configured receive the rebar 116 through opening 130, and the body 120 of splice device 104 is configured to engage with the rebar 116 to fixedly attach the rebar 116 to splice device 104. In addition, the body 120 of the splice device 104 is configured to receive rebar 118 in cavity 128 by extending the rebar 118 through opening 132. In addition, splice device 104 is configured to receive a fill material 140 for fixedly attaching the rebar 118 to the splice device 104, as will be further described herein.
In some embodiments, in use, the cavity 128 can be filled with fill material 140 for fixedly attaching (e.g., connecting) the splice device 104 to rebar 118. In some embodiments, the fill material 140 may be in a liquid state when filling the cavity 128 and may cure to a hardened state after a certain time period in the cavity 128. That is, the fill material 140 may be directed into the cavity 128 through inlet 134. In response to the fill material 140 sufficiently curing to a hardened state around the features of rebar 118 in cavity 128, the fill material 140 may fixedly attach rebar 118 to splice device 104 by restricting movement of the rebar 118. Similarly, if a portion of rebar 118 extends through the bore of opening 130 and into the cavity 128, the fill material 140 may also facilitate fixedly attaching the rebar 116 to splice device 104 by hardening around the features of the rebar 116 in the cavity 128. In some embodiments, the fill material 140 may be a cementitious material. In some embodiments, the fill material 140 may be a grout material. In some embodiments, the fill material 140 may include one or more materials including, but not limited to, water, cement, sand, epoxy, resin, binders, fillers, other like materials, or any combinations thereof.
The body 120 of the splice device 104 may be embedded in the concrete material of concrete slab 108. In some embodiments, the splice device 104 may be embedded in the concrete material of concrete slab 108 adjacent a side of the concrete slab 108 that is next to vertical structure 110. In some embodiments, the splice device 104 may be embedded in the concrete slab 108 so that the second end 124 of body 120 is adjacent the side of the concrete slab 108 facing the vertical structure 110 and the first end 122 may extend towards an opposite direction of the concrete slab 108. In this regard, the first end 122 of the body 120 of splice device 104 may receive the rebar 116 of concrete slab 108 at opening 130 and the second end 124 of the body 120 of splice device 104 may receive the rebar 118 at opening 132. In some embodiments, the splice device 104 may be embedded in the concrete slab 108 so that the second end 124 of the body 120 is exposed in the side of the concrete slab 108 so as to allow the rebar 118 of the vertical structure 110 to be positioned in the cavity 128 of the body 120. In some embodiments, the splice device 104 may be arranged in the concrete material of the concrete slab 108 so that the second end 124 of the body 120 is substantially flush with the side of the concrete slab 108. In other embodiments, the splice device 104 may be arranged in the concrete material of the concrete slab 108 so that the second end 124 of the body 120 is inset from the side of the concrete slab 108. In yet other embodiments, the splice device 104 may be arranged in the concrete material of the concrete slab 108 so that the second end 124 of the body 120 extends beyond the side of the concrete slab 108. It is to be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that the splice device 104 is not limited to being embedded in the concrete slab 108 and may instead, for example, be embedded in the vertical structure 110 and receive in the cavity 128 the rebar 116 from the concrete slab 108.
It is to be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that the location of the splice device 104 in concrete slab 108 is not intended to be limiting, and the splice device 104 may be arranged in concrete slab 108, vertical structure 110, and/or other locations depending on a particular application or use of the splice device 104.
In some embodiments, the body 120 of splice device 104 may include a generally cylindrical shape. In some embodiments, the body 120 may be a cylindrical body extending in a longitudinal direction along an axis, L1. In some embodiments, the body 120 of splice device 104 may have an elongate shape with a geometric base. For example, the body 120 of splice device 104 may include a flat surface on one of its exterior sides, the flat surface extending in the longitudinal direction between first end 122 and second end 124. In other embodiments, the body 120 of splice device 104 may include a geometric shape (e.g., a circle, an ovoid, a triangle, a square, a rectangle, a hexagon, an octagon, or the like).
The body 120 of splice device 104 may include cavity 128, opening 130, opening 132, inlet 134, and outlet 136. In some embodiments, the body 120 may define each of the cavity 128, opening 130, opening 132, inlet 134, and outlet 136. In other embodiments, the body 120 may be formed so as to include each of the cavity 128, opening 130, opening 132, inlet 134, and outlet 136 extending therethrough. That is, in some embodiments, one or more bores may extend through body 120 and into cavity 128, thereby placing cavity 128 in fluid communication with an exterior region of the splice device 104 through the respective bores. In this regard, in some embodiments, opening 130, opening 132, inlet 134, and outlet 136 may be openings formed on an exterior surface 144 of body 120 and associated with respective bores extending through the body 120 and into the cavity 128.
The splice device 104 includes the cavity 128. The cavity 128 is formed within the body 120. The cavity 128 may be a cylindrical cavity extending along a longitudinal length of the body 120 and substantially parallel to axis, L1. The cavity 128 may be in fluid communication with the opening 130, opening 132, inlet 134, outlet 136, or any combinations thereof.
The cavity 128 may include ridges 156 circumferentially formed on the side of the cavity 128. That is, in some embodiments, the body 120 may be formed including the ridges 156 in the cavity 128. The ridges 156 may be configured to facilitate retaining the fill material 140 in the cavity 128. That is, the fill material 140 may fill the unoccupied space in the cavity 128 including the space formed by the ridges 156. When the fill material 140 cures to the hardened state, the fill material 140 thereby fills the space of the cavity 128 and the space of the ridges 156. Accordingly, the hardened material of the fill material 140 is formed around the eccentric features (e.g., threads) of the rebar 118 and is formed in the space of the ridges 156, thereby preventing movement of the fill material 140 in the cavity 128 and also restricting movement of the rebar 118 in the axial direction and the radial direction.
The rebar 116 may be connected to the body 120 of splice device 104 by installing the rebar 116 into the opening 130 so as to engage the threads 148 of bore 146 using the corresponding threads on rebar 116. In addition, to connect rebar 116 to rebar 118 using the splice device 104, the rebar 116 is positioned so that a portion of the rebar 116 is located in the cavity 128, and then fill material 140 is directed into cavity 128 using inlet 134 so as to fill the unoccupied space of the cavity 128 with the fill material 140. In response to the fill material 140 that is filling the cavity 128 curing to the hardened state, the fill material 140 hardens around the rebar 118 and retains the rebar 118 in the cavity 128 and in the splice device 104.
The splice device 104 includes opening 130. Opening 130 is located at the first end 122 of body 120. In addition, opening 132 is located at the second end 124 of body 120 opposite from the first end 122 along the longitudinal length of the body 120. Opening 130 and opening 132 may be in fluid communication with cavity 128. In this regard, in some embodiments, the opening 130 and opening 132 may be in fluid communication with each other through cavity 128.
Opening 130 may include a bore 146 extending through the body 120 and into the cavity 128. The opening 130 includes a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the rebar extending therethrough. In addition, in some embodiments, bore 146 may include threads 148 formed on an inner surface of the bore 146, the threads 148 being configured to engage corresponding threads located on an outer surface of the rebar 116 for fixedly attaching the body 120 of splice device 104 to the rebar 116. In this regard, in some embodiments, splice device 104 may be installed into concrete slab 108 by installing the rebar 116 into the opening 130 of body 120 of splice device 104 so as to fixedly attach the rebar 116 to the splice device 104, and then the wet concrete material may be poured to form the concrete slab 108, the splice device 104 and rebar 116 being positioned in the concrete material so that the second end 124 of the splice device 104 is arranged on the side of the concrete slab 108 that is facing the vertical structure 110.
The splice device 104 includes opening 132. Opening 132 may include a bore 150 extending through the body 120 and into cavity 128. The opening 132 and bore 150 including a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the rebar extending therethrough to permit the rebar 118 to extend through the opening 132 and into the cavity 128 towards the first end 122. In addition, the opening 132 may include a size and dimensions that allows the rebar 118 to move in an axial direction and a radial direction relative the splice device 104.
In some embodiments, the opening 132 may be a slot 142. The slot 142 having a width that is greater than a height to permit both an axial movement and a lateral movement of the rebar 118 extending through the slot 142 and into the cavity 128 prior to filling the cavity 128 with the fill material 140. In this regard, the splice device 104 may be fixedly attached to the rebar 116 at the bore 146 and the size of the slot 142 at the second end 124 may allow the rebar 118 extending therethrough to move in the axial and lateral direction to accommodate for movement of the rebar 118 relative the splice device 104 prior to filling the cavity 128 with the fill material 140. In some embodiments, the slot 142 may be rectangular in geometry with arcuate ends. That is, in some embodiments, the sides of the slot 142 may have an arcuate shape similar to a shape of the rebar 118 extending therethrough. In some embodiments, the slot 142 includes an upper surface configured to be able to contact a rebar's outer surface and provide sufficient strength to be a part of a self-supporting concrete slab (which uses rebars and splice devices) and/or be a part of a floor to a wall connection. In some embodiments, the slot 142 includes a lower surface configured to be able to contact a rebar's outer surface and provide sufficient strength to be a part of a self-supporting concrete slab (which uses rebars and splice devices) and/or be a part of a floor to a wall connection.
In some embodiments, the body 120 of splice device 104 may further include portions 160a, 160b. Each portion 160 may protrude from the body 120 at the second end 124 in a radial direction relative the axis, L1. In some embodiments, each portion 160a, 160b may further include an aperture 162a, 162b extending therethrough. The splice device 104 may receive one or more fasteners, each of the aperture 162a, 162b receiving a respective fastener therethrough for mounting the splice device 104 to a structural member such as a form work (e.g., made of wood) connected to the concrete slab 108 or vertical structure 110 during the floor construction process. In some embodiments, the splice device 104 may include one or more of the portions 160a, 160b. In some embodiments, the splice device 104 may include a first portion 160a and a second portion 160b arranged at opposite sides of the body 120 from each other, the first portion 160a including a first aperture 162a and the second portion 160b including a second aperture 162b for receiving a respective fastener therethrough.
In some embodiments, the splice device 104 includes inlet 134. In some embodiments, the splice device 104 includes outlet 136. Referring to
Inlet 134 includes bore 152 extending through the body 120 and into cavity 128 at a side of the body 120. The inlet 134 may extend in a radial direction along axis, L2. In some embodiments, the axis, L2, may be perpendicular to axis, L1. In other embodiments, the axis, L2, may be substantially perpendicular to axis, L1. The inlet 134 may include a diameter sufficient to allow fill material 140 to be directed into the cavity 128 through the inlet 134.
The splice device 104 includes outlet 136. Outlet 136 includes bore 154 extending through the body 120 and into cavity 128 at a side of the body 120. The outlet 136 may extend in a radial direction along axis, L3. In some embodiments, the axis, L3, may be perpendicular to axis, L1. In other embodiments, the axis, L3, may be substantially perpendicular to axis, L1. In some embodiments, the axis, L2, may be parallel to axis, L3. In other embodiments, the axis, L2, may be substantially parallel to the axis, L3, and the axis, L2, and the axis, L3, may be substantially perpendicular to the axis, L1. The outlet 136 may include a diameter sufficient to allow fill material 140 to exit the cavity 128 through outlet 136 in response to the cavity 128 being filled with the fill material 140.
In some embodiments, the inlet 134 and outlet 136 may be located at a same side of the body 120. In some embodiments, the inlet 134 may be in alignment with the outlet 136 on the side of body 120. In other embodiments, the inlet 134 and outlet 136 may be located at substantially the same side. In yet other embodiments, the inlet 134 and outlet 136 may be located at different sides of the body 120. For example, the axis, L2, of the inlet 134 and the axis, L3, of the outlet 136 may both be substantially perpendicular to the axis, L1, but the axis, L2, and the axis, L3, not be parallel to each other.
It is to be appreciated that the location of inlet 134 and outlet 136 along the side of the body 120 is not intended to be limiting, and the inlet 134 and outlet 136 may be located anywhere along a side of the body 120 between the first end 122 and second end 124 so long as they are in fluid communication with the cavity 128 and enables the cavity 128 to be filled with the fill material 140, in accordance with the present disclosure.
The splice device 104 includes the body 120, the body 120 including the opening 130 extending through the body 120 at the first end 122. In some embodiments, the body 120 may include a protrusion 170 distally extending from body 120 to the first end 122. The splice device 104 may include the bore 146 extending through the protrusion 170 from the first end 122 and towards the second end 124 to the cavity 128.
In some embodiments, the bore 146 may be a conical bore. In this regard, a diameter, D1, of opening 130 at the first end 122 may be wider (e.g., greater) than a diameter, D2, of opening 172 at the cavity 128. By including a varying diameter, the splice device 104 may receive rebar 116 in the bore 146 through the opening 130 at the first end 122 and the threads 148 at the inner surface of the bore 146 may engage the corresponding thread or threads on the rebar 116 to fixedly attach the rebar 116 to the splice device 104. In this regard, in some embodiments, an end of the rebar 116 may include a tapered end having dimensions that correspond to the dimensions of the bore 146 and to enable fixedly attaching the rebar 116 to the splice device 104 at the bore 146.
In some embodiments, the rebar configured to be inserted into the opening 130 and installed into the bore 146 may include a straight thread of substantially uniform diameter. In other embodiments, the corresponding rebar may include a tapered thread of narrowing diameter. In such embodiments, the threads 148 can receive the threads of the rebar and securely fix the rebar to the splice device 104. In the illustrated embodiment, the opening 130 has a varying diameter such that a diameter D1 at the opening 130 is relatively larger than a diameter D2 at the cavity 128. In some embodiments, the relative diameters could be reversed such that the diameter D1 is relatively smaller than the diameter D2. It is to be appreciated that the threaded rebar may have a corresponding shape to the shape of the bore 146 to enable engaging with the threads 148 at the opening 130. In some embodiments, the opening 130 may have a constant diameter. That is, in some embodiments, the diameter D1 and the diameter D2 can be the same.
The body 120 of splice device 104 may include portion 174 and portion 176. The portion 174 may be located adjacent the second end 124 and the portion 176 may be located adjacent the first end 122. In some embodiments, portion 174, portion 176, or both may include a cylindrical shape. In other embodiments, portion 174, portion 176, or both may include a geometric shape. In some embodiments, the portion 174 and the portion 176 may be contiguously formed from one piece.
In some embodiments, the body 120 may be formed including portion 174 and portion 176. In some embodiments, the portion 174 of body 120 may include the inlet 134 and the outlet 136 arranged thereon. That is, the bore 152 and the bore 154 may extend through the portion 174 of body 120 and to the cavity 128. In some embodiments, the portion 174 of body 120 may further include the opening 132 arranged thereon. In this regard, the bore 150 may extend through the portion 174 of body 120 and to the cavity 128.
In some embodiments, portion 176 of body 120 may include the opening 130 arranged thereon. That is, the bore 146 may extend through portion 176 of body 120 and to the cavity 128. As such, the cavity 128 may be formed by the portion 174 and the portion 176.
In some embodiments, the body 120 may further include an end wall 178, the end wall 178 located at the second end 124 of the body 120 and including the opening 132 extending therethrough. That is, in some embodiments, the bore 150 may extend through the end wall 178 into the cavity 128.
According to some embodiments, the splice device 104 may include a cap (not shown). In some embodiments, the splice device 104 may include a cap for each of the openings arranged in the body 120. In some embodiments, the splice device 104 may include a cap for the inlet 134. In some embodiments, the splice device 104 may include a cap for the outlet 136. In other embodiments, the splice device 104 may include a cap for each of the inlet 134 and the exterior surface 144. In some embodiments, the cap may be configured to prevent concrete material from entering into cavity 128 during pouring of the floor surrounding the splice device 104. For example, the splice device 104 may be fixedly attached to the rebar 116 and the other openings of the splice device 104 may include caps to cover the openings to prevent the concrete material from entering the cavity 128 and interfering with the splice device 104 being utilized to couple the rebar 116 to the rebar 118.
The method 200 may include, in some embodiments, a first concrete slab and a second concrete slab that may be connected together using one or more splice devices such as, for example, concrete slab 108 as shown in
At 202, the method 200 includes obtaining a splice device. At 204, the method 200 includes installing the splice device onto an end of a first rebar of the first concrete slab. In some embodiments, the splice device includes a cylindrical body including a first opening at a first end, a second opening at a second end, an inlet, an outlet, and a cavity within the cylindrical body. In some embodiments, installing the splice device onto the end of the first rebar includes installing the first rebar into a first opening of the splice device. In some embodiments, the first bore comprises one or more threads formed on an inner surface of the first bore, the one or more threads being configured to engage corresponding threads on the first rebar in response to installing the first rebar into the first bore. In this regard, in some embodiments, installing the splice device onto the end of the first rebar includes threading the first rebar into a first opening of the splice device, the first rebar including threads corresponding to one or more threads formed on an inner surface of a first bore of the first opening.
At 206, the method 200 includes positioning the splice device such that a portion of a second rebar of the wall is inside the cavity of the splice device. In some embodiments, the splice device is configured to receive the portion of the second rebar in the cavity, the second bore permitting the second rebar to extend therethrough into the cavity and towards the first end. An exemplary second opening is shown as opening 132 in
At 208, the method 200 includes forming the first concrete slab, the first concrete slab including the first rebar. In some embodiments, forming the first concrete slab includes pouring a wet concrete material into a frame or mold to form the first concrete slab and positioning the first rebar in the wet concrete material so as to embed the splice device in the first concrete slab.
At 210, the method 200 includes allowing for the concrete slab to cure. This can cause the position of the splice device to move axially and/or laterally, relative to the second rebar.
In some embodiments, the splice device may be arranged adjacent a side of the first concrete slab such that second opening is facing a side of the second concrete slab so as to allow the second rebar to extend therethrough and into the cavity. In some embodiments, the splice device may be embedded in the first concrete slab so that a second end of the splice device that includes the second opening is exposed at the side of the first concrete slab adjacent the second concrete slab. The first concrete slab is shown as concrete slab 108, the first rebar is shown as rebar 116, the second concrete slab is shown as vertical structure 110, and the second rebar is shown as rebar 118 in
At 212, the method 200 includes filling a fill material into the cavity through one of the inlet and the outlet. The fill material may be used to fill the cavity while the fill material is in a liquid state. That is, the fill material may be directed into the cavity through the inlet when in the liquid state. In addition, in the liquid state, the fill material may fill the unoccupied space in the cavity. The splice device may be filled with the fill material until excess fill material is observed escaping from the outlet in response to the cavity being full of the fill material.
In some embodiments, when the second rebar is located in the cavity, the fill material fills the space of the cavity and surrounds the second rebar. In some embodiments, the second rebar may further include one or more features formed on its outer surface such as, for example, threads, and the fill material may form around the threads of the second rebar. The fill material is shown as fill material 140 in
In some embodiments, the method 200 includes, in response to the fill material curing in the cavity, the splice device securely fixes the second rebar in the cavity and couples the first rebar to the second rebar. In some embodiments, the fill material may cure in the cavity after a certain amount of time. In addition, since the fill material fills the space of the cavity and surrounds the second rebar, the second rebar is retained in the cavity by the fill material once the fill material has sufficiently cured to the hardened state. That is, once hardened, the fill material restricts movement of the second rebar relative the splice device in the axial or radial direction. As the splice device is fixedly attached to the first rebar at the first opening, the curing of the fill material in the cavity fixedly attaches the second rebar to the splice device in the cavity, and the splice device thereby fixedly couples the first rebar of the first concrete slab to the second rebar of the second concrete slab.
Applications of the embodiments disclosed herein include all aspects of construction, including, but not limited to, buildings, towers, floating terminals, ocean structures and ships, storage tanks, nuclear containing vessels, bridge piers, bridge ducts, foundation soil anchorages, and virtually all other types of installations where normally reinforced concrete may be acceptable.
Preferred embodiments have been described. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed and disclosed, including the full scope of equivalents thereof.
The terminology used herein is intended to describe embodiments and is not intended to be limiting. The terms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural forms as well, unless clearly indicated otherwise. The terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this Specification, specify the presence of the stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a device including: a body extending along a first longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end, the body including: a first opening, wherein the first opening includes a first bore at the first end, the first bore being configured to receive a first rebar of a first concrete slab; a second opening, wherein the second opening includes a second bore at the second end, the second bore being configured to receive a second rebar of a second concrete slab; an inlet, wherein the inlet is at a second longitudinal axis, the second longitudinal axis extending in a first direction substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis; an outlet, wherein the outlet is at a third longitudinal axis, the third longitudinal axis extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis; and a cavity, wherein the cavity extends along the first longitudinal axis and the cavity is in fluid communication with the first opening, the second opening, the inlet, and the outlet.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a device, wherein the first bore includes one or more threads on an inner surface, the one or more threads being configured to engage corresponding threads on the first rebar in response to installing the first rebar into the first bore so as to connect the device to the first rebar.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a device, wherein the device is configured to receive a portion of the second rebar in the cavity, the second bore permitting the second rebar to extend therethrough into the cavity and towards the first end.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a device, wherein the device is configured to receive a fill material in the cavity through one of the inlet and the outlet, wherein, in response to the fill material curing in the cavity, the fill material and the portion of the second rebar are retained in the cavity and connects the device to the second rebar.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a device, wherein the second bore includes a slot, the slot having a width that is greater than a height to permit a lateral movement of the second rebar.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a device, wherein the second bore is rectangular in geometry with arcuate ends.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a device, wherein the body includes: a first cylindrical portion, wherein the first cylindrical portion includes the inlet and the outlet arranged thereon, a second cylindrical portion, wherein the second cylindrical portion includes the first opening axially extending therethrough, and an end wall, wherein the end wall is at the second end, the end wall including the second opening axially extending therethrough.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a device, wherein the first bore is a conical bore extending from the first opening having a first diameter to an opening to the cavity having a second diameter, the first diameter being wider than the second diameter.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a device, wherein the body is made of stainless steel.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an apparatus for splicing together rebar of concrete slabs, the apparatus including: a splice device including: a cylindrical body including: a first end, a second end, and at least one sidewall; a first bore extending through the cylindrical body at the first end, the first bore including: one or more threads on an inner surface, the one or more threads configured to engage corresponding threads on a first rebar of a first post-tensioned concrete slab in response to installing the first rebar into the first bore; a second bore extending through the cylindrical body at the second end, the second bore including: a slot, the slot configured to permit a portion of a second rebar of a second post-tensioned concrete slab to extend therethrough; a third bore extending through the at least one sidewall; a fourth bore extending through the at least one sidewall; and a cavity, wherein the cavity is in fluid communication with the first bore, the second bore, the third bore, and the fourth bore.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an apparatus, wherein the splice device is configured to receive a grout material in the cavity through one of the third bore and the fourth bore; and wherein, in response to the grout material curing in the cavity, the grout material and the portion of the second rebar are retained in the cavity and connects the splice device to the second rebar.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an apparatus, wherein the second bore is rectangular in geometry with arcuate ends, the slot having a width that is greater than a height to permit a lateral movement of the second rebar.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an apparatus, wherein the cylindrical body includes: a first cylindrical portion including: a first sidewall, the first sidewall including the third bore and the fourth bore extending therethrough, a second cylindrical portion including: a second sidewall, wherein the second cylindrical portion includes the first bore axially extending therethrough, and an end wall, wherein the end wall includes the second bore axially extending therethrough.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an apparatus, wherein the first bore is a conical bore extending from a first opening having a first diameter to an opening to the cavity having a second diameter, the first diameter being wider than the second diameter.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an apparatus, wherein the splice device is made of stainless steel; wherein the splice device further includes a coating material coating an exterior surface of the splice device to resist corrosion.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method for making a concrete construction including a first concrete slab, a second concrete slab, the method including: installing a splice device onto an end of a first rebar for the first concrete slab, wherein the splice device includes a cylindrical body including a first bore at a first end, a second bore at a second end, an inlet, an outlet, and a cavity; positioning a portion of a second rebar of the second concrete slab into the cavity, the second rebar extending through the second bore; forming the first concrete slab, the first concrete slab including the first rebar; forming the second concrete slab, the second concrete slab including the second rebar; after forming the first concrete slab and the second concrete slab, filling a fill material into the cavity through one of the inlet and the outlet; and in response to the fill material curing in the cavity, the splice device securely fixes the second rebar in the cavity and couples the first rebar to the second rebar.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method, wherein the first bore includes one or more threads formed on an inner surface of the first bore, the one or more threads being configured to engage corresponding threads on the first rebar in response to installing the first rebar into the first bore.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method, wherein the splice device is configured to receive the portion of the second rebar in the cavity, the second bore permitting the second rebar to extend therethrough into the cavity and towards the first end.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method, wherein forming the first concrete slab further includes: pouring the first concrete slab so the first end of the splice device is embedded in the first concrete slab.
In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method, wherein forming the second concrete slab further includes: pouring the second concrete slab so the second end of the splice device is adjacent the second concrete slab, wherein the second concrete slab is formed adjacent the first concrete slab to minimize a gap between the first concrete slab and the second concrete slab.
It is to be understood that the terms “first” and “second” can be interchangeable.
It is to be understood that changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of the construction materials employed and the shape, size, and arrangement of parts without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. This Specification and the embodiments described are examples, with the true scope and spirit of the disclosure being indicated by the claims that follow.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/464,826, filed on May 8, 2023, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/464,828, filed on May 8, 2023, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/464,829, filed on May 8, 2023; which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63464826 | May 2023 | US | |
| 63464828 | May 2023 | US | |
| 63464829 | May 2023 | US |
