Concrete construction with control joint protective strip

Abstract

A concrete construction includes a formed concrete slab having at least one control joint formed into a surface of the slab to control the location of stress cracks as the slab cures. A control joint protective strip is removably received in the control joint and has a head portion which overlays upper edges of the control joint. The control joint protective strip further includes a stem portion which is configured to engage frictionally interior side walls of the control joint when the stem portion is inserted into the control joint.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A concrete construction comprising: 
 a concrete slab having a control joint formed therein, said control joint having side walls and upper edges;    an elongate control joint protective strip, including a head portion and a stem portion;    said stem portion being removably received in said control joint in frictional engagement with said side walls thereof; and    said head portion overlying said upper edges of said control joint.    
     
     
         2 . The construction of  claim 1 , wherein said stem portion resiliently engages said side walls of said control joint.  
     
     
         3 . The construction of  claim 1 , wherein said stem portion is bulbous in configuration.  
     
     
         4 . The construction of  claim 3 , wherein said bulbous stem portion comprises opposed arcuate portions.  
     
     
         5 . The construction of  claim 1 , wherein said stem portion includes at least one flange extending in a direction away from said stem portion.  
     
     
         6 . The construction of  claim 5 , wherein said flange is formed integrally with said stem portion.  
     
     
         7 . The construction of  claim 1 , wherein said stem portion has an angled cross section shaped to engage said side walls of said control joint.  
     
     
         8 . The construction of  claim 1 , wherein said stem portion has an arcuate cross section shaped to engage said side walls of said control joint.  
     
     
         9 . The construction of  claim 1 , wherein said head portion includes a design formed into a surface of said head portion.  
     
     
         10 . A method of forming a concrete construction, comprising: 
 forming a concrete slab;    forming at least one control joint in the concrete slab; and    inserting at least one control joint protective strip in the control joint.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 forming at least one wall section atop the slab.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 forming a reveal in the wall section corresponding to the location of the control joint on the slab.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the control joint protective strip has a design formed into a head portion of the strip and the step of forming a reveal in the wall section provides an architectural reveal corresponding to the design.  
     
     
         14 . A concrete construction comprising: 
 a concrete slab;    a plurality of concrete wall sections positioned on said slab in stacked, overlying relationship to each other;    said slab having at least one elongated control joint formed adjacent an upper surface thereof;    said control joint comprising a groove extending downwardly from said upper surface of said slab for a depth less than the thickness of the slab within which it is formed;    said control joint having opposed, spaced side walls extending downwardly away from said upper surface of said slab and defining with said upper surface pairs of opposed upper edges;    a protective strip associated with said control joint;    said protective strip comprising a head portion and a stem portion;    said stem portion being removably received within said control joint and frictionally engaging said side walls thereof;    said head portion overlying said control joint with an undersurface of said head portion disposed proximate said upper edges of said control joint;    whereby said control joint is maintained free of debris and concrete from overlying slabs and said side edges are protected from spalling.    
     
     
         15 . A method of forming a concrete construction comprising: 
 casting a first concrete slab;    cutting a control joint in an upper surface thereof extending downwardly away from said upper surface for a depth less than the thickness of said slab and thereby defining opposed, spaced side walls and opposed upper edges at the juncture of said side walls and said upper surface;    providing an elongated control joint protective strip having a head portion and a stem portion formed integrally therewith and projecting substantially normally therefrom;    inserting said stem portion of said control joint protective strip into said control joint in frictional engagement with said side walls thereof and with said head portion overlying said upper edges of said control joint; and    thereafter casting an additional concrete slab on said upper surface of said first concrete slab.