Precast thermally separated cantilevered balcony system and method of using same

Abstract

A precast thermally separated cantilevered balcony system includes a concrete slab, a thermal separation component and a plurality of reinforcing bars. The concrete slab has an inside edge and a plurality of reinforcing bars extending therethrough generally orthogonal to the inside edge. The thermal separation component is an elongate member extending along the inside edge of the concrete slab. The plurality of reinforcing bars extend through the thermal separation component and extend inwardly from the thermal separation component. A method of constructing a building having at least one precast thermally separated cantilevered balcony system is discussed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A precast thermally separated cantilevered balcony system comprising:
 a concrete slab having an inside edge and a plurality of reinforcing bars extending therethrough generally orthogonal to the inside edge;   a thermal separation component being an elongate member extending along the inside edge of the concrete slab; and   wherein the plurality of reinforcing bars extend through the thermal separation component and extend inwardly from the thermal separation component.   
     
     
         2 . The precast thermally separated cantilevered balcony system of  claim 1  wherein the cantilevered balcony is designed to be positioned on an external wall of a building. 
     
     
         3 . The precast thermally separated cantilevered balcony system of  claim 2  wherein the thermal separation component is positioned in the middle of the wall. 
     
     
         4 . The precast thermally separated cantilevered balcony system of  claim 2  wherein the thermal separation component is positioned at the outside of the wall. 
     
     
         5 . The precast thermally separated cantilevered balcony system of  claim 2  wherein the thermal separation component is positioned at the inside of the wall. 
     
     
         6 . The precast thermally separated cantilevered balcony system of  claim 1  wherein the thermal separation component has a cross section which is generally rectangular. 
     
     
         7 . The precast thermally separated cantilevered balcony system of  claim 1  wherein the thermal separation component has a cross section which is generally L-shaped and having a bottom portion with a bottom face generally in alignment with a bottom face of the concrete slab. 
     
     
         8 . The precast thermally separated cantilevered balcony system of  claim 1  wherein the thermal separation component has a cross section which is generally J-shaped and having a bottom portion with a bottom face generally in alignment with a bottom face of the concrete slab and top portion generally on a top face of the concrete slab. 
     
     
         9 . The precast thermally separated cantilevered balcony system of  claim 1  wherein the thermal separation component has a cross section which is generally I-shaped and having a bottom portion with a bottom face generally in alignment with a bottom face of the concrete slab and top portion generally on a top face of the concrete slab. 
     
     
         10 . The precast thermally separated cantilevered balcony system of  claim 1  wherein the concrete slab has a step along the inside edge. 
     
     
         11 . The precast thermally separated cantilevered balcony system of  claim 1  wherein the thermal separation component has an inside face and the reinforcing bars are arranged in a plurality of upper reinforcing bars and lower reinforcing bars and further including a joist bearing seat attached to inside face of the thermal separation component and the plurality of lower reinforcing bars extend therethrough and the plurality of upper reinforcing bars extend over the joist bearing seat. 
     
     
         12 . The precast thermally separated cantilevered balcony system of  claim 11  wherein the joist bearing seat is designed to receive a joist. 
     
     
         13 . The precast thermally separated cantilevered balcony system of  claim 12  wherein the joist is an open webbed steel joist. 
     
     
         14 . The precast thermally separated cantilevered balcony system of  claim 12  wherein the plurality of upper reinforcing bars and the plurality of lower reinforcing bars are designed to be embedded in a thickened floor slab. 
     
     
         15 . The precast thermally separated cantilevered balcony system of  claim 12  wherein the plurality of upper reinforcing bars are designed to be embedded in a thin floor slab. 
     
     
         16 . The precast thermally separated cantilevered balcony system of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of reinforcing bars are designed to be embedded in a structural floor slab. 
     
     
         17 . A method of constructing a building having at least one cantilevered balcony comprising the steps of:
 constructing at least one exterior wall   attaching a precast thermally separated cantilevered balcony system including:
 a concrete slab having an inside edge and a plurality of reinforcing bars extending therethrough generally orthogonal to the inside edge; 
 a thermal separation component being an elongate member extending along the inside edge of the concrete slab; and 
 wherein the plurality of reinforcing bars extend through the thermal separation component and extend inwardly from the thermal separation component; and 
   a floor slab having the plurality of reinforcing bars embedded therein.   
     
     
         18 . The method of constructing a building of  claim 17  wherein the precast thermally separated cantilevered balcony system further includes a joist seat and further including a joist attached thereto. 
     
     
         19 . The method of constructing a building of  claim 18  wherein the floor slab is a thickened floor slab. 
     
     
         20 . The method of constructing a building of  claim 18  wherein the floor slab is a thin floor slab. 
     
     
         21 . The method of constructing a building of clmikeaim  17  further including the steps of attaching a plurality of precast thermally separated cantilevered balcony systems.