Concrete Expansion Joint

Abstract

A concrete expansion joint and seal assembly includes opposed generally planar side frame members with spaced apart flanges forming channels which are operable to bond the side frame members to opposed sections of concrete when the expansion joint is placed in its working position. A flexible seal member includes a loop portion and opposed legs coextruded with and bonded to edges of the side frame members. The side frame members are temporarily held contiguous with each other at their respective distal ends by adhesive tape, an adhesive or a hook portion formed on one of the side frame members for engaging the distal end of the other side frame member. The seal member is preferably formed of an extrudable thermoplastic elastomer and the side frame members are preferably formed of extrudable polypropylene.

1 - 26 . (canceled) 
   
   
       27 . A method of forming an expansion joint and seal assembly for a concrete structure comprising the steps of:
 providing extrudable material for forming said expansion joint and an extrudable material for forming said seal assembly;   coextruding an expansion joint and a seal assembly through an extrusion die, wherein said expansion joint has a pair of elongated generally planar side frame members, each of said side frame members, including a substantially planar plate part and laterally projecting flanges forming channels for receiving concrete and for bonding said side frame members to adjacent sections of concrete, each of said side frame members including a distal end part, and a flexible seal member including a loop portion formed integral with opposed legs, said legs being joined to cooperating edges of said plate parts of said side frame members by coextrusion of said seal member with said side frame members; and   applying securing means to at least one said side member for securing side members together.   
   
   
       28 . The method set forth in  claim 27  wherein:
 the step of forming side frame members includes forming said side members from an extrudable polymer selected from a group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, polystyrene, poly-vinyl chloride and Nylon.   
   
   
       29 . The method set forth in  claim 27  wherein:
 the step of coextruding said seal member includes forming said seal member from an extrudable material comprising a thermoplastic elastomer.   
   
   
       30 . The method set forth in  claim 27  wherein:
 said step of coextruding said seal member includes forming said seal member from an extrudable material having an elastic memory for biasing said side frame members to separate from each other.   
   
   
       31 . The method set forth in  claim 27  wherein:
 said step of applying a securing means to at least one said side member for securing side members together includes applying said means to said side frame members at their respective distal ends.   
   
   
       32 . The method set forth in  claim 31  wherein:
 said step of applying a securing means comprises adhesive tape secured to said plate parts of said side frame members, respectively.   
   
   
       33 . The method set forth in  claim 31  wherein:
 said step of applying a securing means comprises an adhesive applied to said plate part of at least one of said side frame members.   
   
   
       34 . The method set forth in  claim 31  wherein:
 said step of coextruding comprises extruding said one of said side frame members to have a hook part for engaging a distal end of the other of said side frame members for securing said side frame members to each other.   
   
   
       35 . The method set forth in  claim 27  wherein:
 said step of coextruding comprises extruding said side frame members having opposed outwardly bowed portions of said plate parts, respectively, for urging the distal ends of said side frame members to form a chisel or knife edge when contiguous with each other.   
   
   
       36 . A method of forming an expansion joint and seal assembly for a concrete structure comprising the steps of:
 providing an extrudable polymer selected from a group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride and Nylon for forming a side frame member;   providing an extrudable material comprising a thermoplastic elastomer for forming a seal member;   coextruding said extrudable polymer and said an extrudable material comprising a thermoplastic elastomer to form an expansion joint, wherein said side frame member has a pair of elongated generally planar side frame members, each of said side frame members, including a substantially planar plate part and laterally projecting flanges forming channels for receiving concrete and for bonding said side frame members to adjacent sections of concrete, each of said side frame members including a distal end part, and said seal member includes a loop portion formed integral with opposed legs, said legs being joined to cooperating edges of said plate parts of said side frame members by coextrusion of said seal member with said side frame members; and   releasably securing said side frame members to each other at their respective distal ends.   
   
   
       37 . The method set forth in  claim 36  wherein:
 said step of coextruding said seal member includes forming said seal member from an extrudable material having an elastic memory for biasing said side frame members to separate from each other.   
   
   
       38 . The method set forth in  claim 36  wherein:
 said step of applying a securing means comprises adhesive tape secured to said plate parts of said side frame members, respectively.   
   
   
       39 . The method set forth in  claim 36  wherein:
 said step of applying a securing means comprises an adhesive applied to said plate part of at least one of said side frame members.   
   
   
       40 . The method set forth in  claim 36  wherein:
 said step of coextruding comprises extruding said one of said side frame members to have a hook part for engaging a distal end of the other of said side frame members for securing said side frame members to each other.   
   
   
       41 . The method set forth in  claim 36  wherein:
 said step of coextruding comprises extruding said side frame members having opposed outwardly bowed portions of said plate parts, respectively, for urging the distal ends of said side frame members to form a chisel or knife edge when contiguous with each other.   
   
   
       42 . A method of forming an expansion joint and seal assembly for a concrete structure comprising the steps of:
 providing an extrudable polymer selected from a group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride and Nylon for forming a pair of elongated generally planar side frame members;   providing an extrudable material comprising a thermoplastic elastomer for forming a seal member;   coextruding said extrudable polymer and said an extrudable material comprising a thermoplastic elastomer to form an expansion joint, wherein said coextruded side frame members have a pair of elongated generally planar side frame members, each of said side frame members including a substantially planar plate part and laterally projecting flanges forming channels for bonding said side frame members to adjacent sections of concrete, each of said side frame members including a distal end part, said side frame members are formed with opposed outwardly bowed portions of said plate parts, respectively, for urging the distal ends of said side frame members to form a chisel edge when contiguous with each other, and said seal member including a loop portion formed integral with opposed legs, said legs being joined to cooperating edges of said plate parts of said side frame members by coextrusion of said seal member with said side frame members;   
     and
 applying a releasable adhesive tape to temporarily secure said side frame members to each other at their respective plate parts, distal ends, or both.