Concrete dowel system

Abstract

A dowel placement system including a fastener configured to be engageable with a form, and a radially compressible bushing coupled to the fastener and defining an adjustable outer diameter. The system further includes an elongate dowel sleeve having opposed proximal and distal end portions, and an axial opening having an inner diameter and extending into the dowel sleeve from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion. The bushing is insertable within the axial opening of the dowel sleeve, and the bushing and dowel sleeve are configured such that insertion of the bushing within the dowel sleeve causes the outer diameter of the bushing to compress and conform to the inner diameter of the dowel sleeve and to create a friction force between the bushing and the dowel sleeve to mitigate movement of the dowel sleeve relative to the bushing during formation of the concrete structure.

1 . A dowel placement system for placing dowels in a concrete structure fabricated using a form, the dowel placement system comprising:
 a fastener configured to be engageable with the form;   a radially compressible bushing coupled to the fastener and defining an adjustable outer diameter; and   an elongate dowel sleeve having a proximal end portion, an opposing distal end portion, and an axial opening having an inner diameter and extending into the dowel sleeve from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion;   the bushing being insertable within the axial opening of the dowel sleeve, the bushing and dowel sleeve being configured such that insertion of the bushing within the dowel sleeve causes the outer diameter of the bushing to compress and conform to the inner diameter of the dowel sleeve and to create a friction force between the bushing and the dowel sleeve to mitigate movement of the dowel sleeve relative to the bushing during formation of the concrete structure.   
     
     
         2 . The dowel placement system recited in  claim 1 , wherein the bushing includes at least one slit formed therein for enabling compression thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The dowel placement system recited in  claim 2 , wherein the at least one slit extends axially along a length of the bushing. 
     
     
         4 . The dowel placement system recited in  claim 1 , wherein the bushing is selectively transitional between an expanded configuration and a compressed configuration, the outer diameter decreasing as the bushing transitions from the expanded configuration toward the compressed configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The dowel placement system recited in  claim 4 , wherein the bushing is biased toward the expanded configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The dowel placement system recited in  claim 1 , wherein the bushing and dowel sleeve are configured such that the bushing exerts a radial force on the dowel sleeve when the bushing is inserted within the dowel sleeve. 
     
     
         7 . The dowel placement system recited in  claim 1 , wherein the bushing includes an inner sleeve configured to circumferentially engage with the fastener, and an outer sleeve including a plurality of outer sleeve panels. 
     
     
         8 . The dowel placement system recited in  claim 7 , wherein adjacent ones of the plurality of outer sleeve panels are separated by a slit. 
     
     
         9 . The dowel placement system recited in  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of outer sleeve panels are moveable relative to the inner sleeve. 
     
     
         10 . The dowel placement system recited in  claim 1 , wherein the bushing is fabricated from a plastic material. 
     
     
         11 . The dowel placement system recited in  claim 1 , wherein the fastener includes threads for threadably engaging with the form. 
     
     
         12 . The dowel placement system recited in  claim 1 , wherein the dowel sleeve is formed independent of a flange at the proximal end portion thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The dowel placement system recited in  claim 1 , wherein the friction force created between the bushing and the dowel sleeve mitigates axial and rotational movement of the dowel sleeve relative to the bushing. 
     
     
         14 . The dowel placement system recited in  claim 1 , wherein the dowel sleeve is fabricated from a plastic material. 
     
     
         15 . A dowel placement system for placing dowels in a concrete structure fabricated using a form, the dowel placement system comprising:
 a radially compressible bushing configured to be connectable to the form and defining an adjustable outer diameter; and   an elongate dowel sleeve having a proximal end portion, an opposing distal end portion, and an axial opening having an inner diameter and extending into the dowel sleeve from the proximal end portion to the distal end portion;   the bushing being insertable within the axial opening of the dowel sleeve, the bushing and dowel sleeve being configured such that insertion of the bushing within the dowel sleeve causes the outer diameter of the bushing to compress and conform to the inner diameter of the dowel sleeve and to create a friction force between the bushing and the dowel sleeve to mitigate movement of the dowel sleeve relative to the bushing during formation of the concrete structure.   
     
     
         16 . The dowel placement system recited in  claim 15 , wherein the bushing includes at least one slit formed therein for enabling compression thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The dowel placement system recited in  claim 15 , wherein the bushing is selectively transitional between an expanded configuration and a compressed configuration, the outer diameter decreasing as the bushing transitions from the expanded configuration toward the compressed configuration. 
     
     
         18 . The dowel placement system recited in  claim 15 , wherein the bushing and dowel sleeve are configured such that the bushing exerts a radial force on the dowel sleeve when the bushing is inserted within the dowel sleeve. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled)