Stackable expansion joint frame assembly

Abstract

A system for attaching a flexible expansion joint to the surface of a building such as the floor of a building. The system for attaching the joint is configured to secure the joint and provide, in effect, a form up to which a top coat of material such as concrete or asphalt can applied over an existing floor structure. The system provides a universal base unit upon which common extension units can be attached and stacked to vary the height of the form for the surface coat.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An adjustable height expansion joint assembly for bridging an expansion gap in a floor or roof, the assembly is attachable to surfaces of the floor or roof adjacent to the gap, the assembly comprising:
 a pair of elongated base supports each including a flange which provides an attachment to a respective said surface, and a first interface having a first attachment configuration, each flange including a lower surface which rests against and is parallel to a respective said surface, the first interface being displaced from and generally parallel to the lower surface; 
 at least a pair of elongated extension members each having a first side including a second interface which includes a second attachment configuration which mates with the first interface to join the elongated extension member to the respective elongated base support, each elongated extension member further including a second side opposite to and generally parallel with the first side, the second side including a third interface having a third attachment configuration, the third attachment configuration being the same as the first attachment configuration; and 
 an elongated expansion joint including a pair of flanges attachable to a respective said third interfaces to bridge a gap between the surfaces; 
 wherein the first attachment configuration includes at least three elongated walls; and 
 wherein two opposing walls of the at least three elongated walls include a plurality of opposed notches which cooperate to provide a location into which a threaded screw can be engaged; and 
 wherein tops of two adjacent elongated walls of the at least three elongated walls are offset from and parallel to a top of a third elongated wall of the at least three elongated walls. 
 
     
     
       2. The expansion joint assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pair of elongated cover members which attach to a respective said third interface to capture a respective flange of said pair of flanges between the respective third interface and the respective elongated cover member. 
 
     
     
       3. The expansion joint assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the expansion joint is fabricated from an elastic material. 
     
     
       4. The expansion joint assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the three elongated walls define a pair of parallel channels extending the length of a respective base support or extension member, each channel including at least one engagement flange. 
     
     
       5. The expansion joint assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the second attachment configuration includes at least 2 engagement members extendable into a respective said channel and including an engagement member engageable with a respective engagement flange to join and hold the elongated extension member in engagement with a respective said elongated base support. 
     
     
       6. The expansion joint assembly of  claim 5 , wherein each flange of the expansion joint includes an engagement extension and wherein the plurality of opposed notches are configured for gripping a respective said engagement extension. 
     
     
       7. The expansion joint assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a second pair of elongated extension members joinable between respective said elongated base supports and said elongated extension member. 
     
     
       8. An assembly for forming the edge of a top coating applied to a floor or roof and the assembly being attachable to a surface at the edge of the floor or roof adjacent to an expansion gap, the assembly being configured to support one side of an elongated expansion joint which bridges the expansion gap, the assembly comprising:
 an elongated base support including a flange which provides an attachment to a respective said surface, and a first interface having a first attachment configuration, the flange including a lower surface which rests against and is parallel to a respective said surface, the first interface being displaced from and generally parallel to the lower surface at a first distance; and 
 a first elongated extension member having a first side including a second interface which includes a second attachment configuration mated with the first interface to join the elongated extension member to the respective elongated base support, the first elongated extension member further including a second side displaced at a second distance from, opposite to and generally parallel with the first side, the second side including a third interface having a third attachment configuration, the third attachment configuration being the same as the first attachment configuration, the top coating having a thickness defined by at least the sum of the first and second distances, wherein one side of the expansion joint is attached to the third interface; 
 wherein the first attachment configuration includes at least three elongated walls; 
 wherein two opposing walls of the at least three elongated walls include a plurality of opposed notches which cooperate to provide a location into which a threaded screw can be engaged; and 
 wherein tops of two adjacent elongated walls of the at least three elongated walls are offset from and parallel to a top of a third elongated wall of the at least three elongated walls. 
 
     
     
       9. The assembly of  claim 8  further comprising a second elongated extension member having the same configuration as the first elongated extension member, wherein the second interface of the second elongated extension member is joined to the third interface of the first elongated extension member with the thickness of the top coating being further defined by the second distance of the second elongated extension member, wherein the one side of the expansion joint is attached to the third interface of the second elongated extension member instead of the third interface of the first elongated extension member. 
     
     
       10. The assembly of  claim 9  further comprising a third elongated extension member having the same configuration as the first elongated extension member, wherein the second interface of the third elongated extension member is joined to the third interface of the second elongated extension member with the thickness of the top coating being further defined by the second distance of the third elongated extension member, wherein the one side of the expansion joint is attached to the third interface of the third elongated extension member instead of the third interface of the second elongated extension member. 
     
     
       11. The expansion joint assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the at least three elongated walls define a pair of parallel channels extending the length of a respective said base support or said extension member, each channel including at least one engagement flange. 
     
     
       12. The expansion joint assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the second attachment configuration includes at least 2 engagement members extendable into a respective said channel and including an engagement member engageable with a respective engagement flange to join and hold the elongated extension member in engagement with a respective said elongated base support. 
     
     
       13. The expansion joint assembly of  claim 12 , wherein each flange of the expansion joint includes an engagement extension and at least one of the pair of parallel channels includes the plurality of opposed notches for gripping a respective said engagement extension. 
     
     
       14. The expansion joint assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the three elongated walls define a pair of parallel channels extending the length of a respective said base support or said extension member, each channel including at least one engagement flange. 
     
     
       15. The expansion joint assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the second attachment configuration includes at least 2 engagement members extendable into a respective said channel and including an engagement member engageable with a respective engagement flange to join and hold the elongated extension member in engagement with a respective said elongated base support. 
     
     
       16. The expansion joint assembly of  claim 15 , wherein each flange of the expansion joint includes an engagement extension and wherein the plurality of opposed notches are configured for gripping a respective said engagement extension. 
     
     
       17. A method for bridging an expansion gap in a floor or roof and forming the edge for a top coating applied to the surface of a respective floor or roof, the method comprising:
 attaching a flange of an elongated base support to the surface, the base support having a first interface having a first attachment configuration, the first interface being displaced from and generally parallel to the lower surface at a first distance; 
 attaching at least a first elongated extension members to the elongated base, the elongated extension member having a first side including a second interface which includes a second attachment configuration engaged with the first interface, the elongated extension member further including a second side displaced at a second distance from, opposite to and generally parallel with the first side, the second side including a third interface having the first attachment configuration; and 
 attaching one side of the expansion joint to the third interface, the top coating having a thickness defined by at least the sum of the first and second distances; 
 wherein the step of attaching one side of the expansion joint to the third interface comprises:
 inserting an engagement extension of a flange of the expansion joint into a channel defined by two elongated walls of the third interface; 
 positioning an angle member over the flange so that the flange is between the third interface and the angle member; and 
 inserting a fastener through the angle member and the flange into the same channel as the engagement extension, the fastener engaging a plurality of opposed notches formed into the two elongated walls. 
 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of:
 attaching a second elongated extension member having the same configuration as the first elongated extension member to the first elongated extension member instead of the expansion joint, wherein the second interface of the second elongated extension member is joined to the third interface of the first elongated extension member; and 
 attaching one side of the expansion joint to the third interface of the second elongated extension member, the top coating having a thickness defined by at least the sum of the first and second distances. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of:
 attaching a third elongated extension member having the same configuration as the first elongated extension member to the second elongated extension member instead of the expansion joint, wherein the second interface of the third elongated extension member is joined to the third interface of the second elongated extension member; and 
 attaching one side of the expansion joint to the third interface of the third elongated extension member, the top coating having a thickness defined by at least the sum of the first and second distances. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19  wherein the first and second distances are equal. 
     
     
       21. The expansion joint assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first attachment configuration comprises only three elongated walls. 
     
     
       22. The expansion joint assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of opposed notches on the two opposing walls are located on the two adjacent walls. 
     
     
       23. The expansion joint assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a top plate configured to provide a rigid cover for the expansion joint.