Precast concrete slab connector

Abstract

A precast concrete slab connector for connecting two adjacent slabs in edge-by-edge juxtaposition, each with a recess in registry with a recess in and an adjacent slab. A pair of anchor plates are positioned the slab recesses and a shear plate spans the slabs recesses and overlies the anchor plates. The shear plate has openings that are in registry with one of an anchor plate opening. Multiple fasteners are extend through the openings in the anchor plates and the shear plates and include removable retainers that clamp the shear plates and the anchor plates together. The fasteners can be cast in part into each adjacent slab. Serration can be provided with facing surfaces of the anchor plates and the shear plate or on facing surfaces of the shear plate and washers that are mounted on the fastener.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A precast concrete slab connector for connecting two adjacent slabs in edge by edge juxtaposition and each of the slabs has a recess formed adjacent a corresponding recess in the adjacent slab to form a recess that spans both adjacent slabs, the connector comprising:
 a pair of anchor plates that each have at least one opening and each of which is configured to be positioned within one of the slab recesses;   a shear plate that has at least two openings and that is configured to span the slabs recesses and overlie the anchor plates; wherein the shear plate has at least two openings that are configured so that one of the at least two openings can be in registry with one of the anchor plate openings when the anchor plates are positioned within the slab recess, wherein the shear plate openings are formed by at least one set of slots that are perpendicular to each other; and   multiple fasteners configured to project through the openings in anchor plates and the shear plates, and the fasteners are configured pass through the anchor plate openings and the shear plate openings to clamp the shear plates and the anchor plates together and thereby bind the slabs together.   
     
     
         2 . The precast concrete slab connector according to  claim 1  wherein the fasteners comprise threaded bolts and nuts and the retainers comprise the nuts that are threadable onto the bolts and are configured to be cast in part into each adjacent slab. 
     
     
         3 . The precast concrete slab connector according to  claim 2  wherein the anchor plates are identical. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The precast concrete slab connector according to  claim 1  wherein the shear plate and the anchor plates have facing serrations that interlock with each other. 
     
     
         6 . The precast concrete slab connector according to  claim 5  wherein the serrations take the form of pyramids. 
     
     
         7 . The precast concrete slab connector according to  claim 1  wherein the shear plate has serrations on an upper surface thereof and further comprising washers that are configured to be positioned on the surface of the shear plate in registry with the shear plate serrations, and the washers have on the undersurface thereof serrations which mate with the serrations on the upper surface of the shear plate. 
     
     
         8 . The precast concrete slab connector according to  claim 7  wherein the washers are mounted on the fasteners and the fasteners clamp the washers to the shear plate. 
     
     
         9 . The precast concrete slab connector according to  claim 8  wherein the serrations on the shear plate are positioned adjacent the slots for interfacing with the serrations on the washers. 
     
     
         10 . The precast concrete slab connector according to  claim 7  wherein the serrations are formed by parallel rows of ridges and valleys. 
     
     
         11 . A connecting joint between two concrete slabs having a recess spanning the two slabs, the connecting joint comprising a connector according to  claim 1  mounted in the recess, wherein the anchor plates are anchored into their respective slabs, and the fasteners extend through the anchor plate openings and the shear plate openings and clamp the shear plates and the anchor plates together and thereby bind the slabs together. 
     
     
         12 . The connecting joint between two concrete slabs according to  claim 11  wherein the fasteners are with nuts fastened onto the bolts. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The connecting joint between two concrete slabs according to  claim 12  wherein the shear plate and the anchor plates have facing serrations that interlock with each other. 
     
     
         15 . The connecting joint between two concrete slabs according to  claim 14  wherein the serrations take the form of pyramids. 
     
     
         16 . The connecting joint between two concrete slabs according to  claim 12  wherein there are multiple bolts connecting each anchor plate and the shear plate. 
     
     
         17 . The connecting joint between two concrete slabs according to  claim 12  wherein the joints are free from welds between the anchor plates and the shear plate. 
     
     
         18 . The connecting joint between two concrete slabs according to  claim 12  wherein the shear plate has serrations on an upper surface thereof and further comprising washers mounted on the bolts between the fasteners and the shear plate, and the washers have on the undersurface thereof serrations which mate with the serrations on the upper surface of the shear plate. 
     
     
         19 . The connecting joint between two concrete slabs according to  claim 18  wherein the serrations on the shear plate are positioned adjacent the slots for interfacing with the serrations on the washers. 
     
     
         20 . The connecting joint between two concrete slabs according to  claim 19  wherein the serrations are formed by parallel rows of ridges and valleys. 
     
     
         21 . The connecting joint between two concrete slabs according to  claim 12  wherein the bolts are cast in part into a respective slab. 
     
     
         22 . A precast concrete slab connector for connecting two adjacent slabs in edge by edge juxtaposition and each of the slabs has a recess formed adjacent a corresponding recess in the adjacent slab to form a recess that spans both adjacent slabs, the connector comprising:
 a pair of anchor plates that each have at least one opening and each of which is configured to be positioned within one of the slab recesses;   a shear plate that has at least two openings and that is configured to span the slabs recesses and overlie the anchor plates; wherein the shear plate has at least two openings that are configured so that one of the at least two openings can be in registry with one of the anchor plate openings when the anchor plates are positioned within the slab recess;   wherein the shear plate and the anchor plates have facing serrations that interlock with each other; and   multiple fasteners configured to project through the openings in anchor plates and the shear plates, and the are configured pass through the anchor plate openings and the shear plate openings to clamp the shear plates and the anchor plates together and thereby bind the slabs together.   
     
     
         23 . The precast concrete slab connector according to  claim 22  wherein the serrations take the form of pyramids. 
     
     
         24 . A precast concrete slab connector for connecting two adjacent slabs in edge by edge juxtaposition and each of the slabs has a recess formed adjacent a corresponding recess in the adjacent slab to form a recess that spans both adjacent slabs, the connector comprising:
 a pair of anchor plates that each have at least one opening and each of which is configured to be positioned within one of the slab recesses;   a shear plate that has at least two openings and that is configured to span the slabs recesses and overlie the anchor plates; wherein the shear plate has at least two openings that are configured so that one of the at least two openings can be in registry with one of the anchor plate openings when the anchor plates are positioned within the slab recess;   wherein the shear plate has serrations on an upper surface thereof and further comprising washers that are configured to be positioned on the surface of the shear plate in registry with the shear plate serrations, and the washers have on the undersurface thereof serrations which mate with the serrations on the upper surface of the shear plate   multiple fasteners configured to project through the openings in anchor plates and the shear plates, and the are configured pass through the anchor plate openings and the shear plate openings to clamp the shear plates and the anchor plates together and thereby bind the slabs together.   
     
     
         25 . The precast concrete slab connector according to  claim 24  wherein the shear plate has serrations on an upper surface thereof and further comprising washers that are configured to be positioned on the surface of the shear plate in registry with the shear plate serrations, and the washers have on the undersurface thereof serrations which mate with the serrations on the upper surface of the shear plate. 
     
     
         26 . The precast concrete slab connector according to  claim 25  wherein the washers are mounted on the fasteners and the fasteners clamp the washers to the shear plate. 
     
     
         27 . The precast concrete slab connector according to  claim 26  wherein the serrations on the shear plate are positioned adjacent the slots for interfacing with the serrations on the washers. 
     
     
         28 . The precast concrete slab connector according to  claim 24  wherein the serrations are formed by parallel rows of ridges and valleys.