Concrete slab load transfer and connection apparatus

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a cast-in-place concrete slab load transfer and slab connection apparatus and method of employing same.

1 . A concrete slab load transfer and connection apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of load transfer dowels; and   a basket supporting the load transfer dowels, the basket including:
 a first side frame including a first lower elongated member, a first upper elongated member, a plurality of first dowel holding hands connected to the first lower elongated member and the first upper elongated member, 
 a second side frame including a second lower elongated member, a second upper elongated member, a plurality of second dowel holding hands connected to the second lower elongated member and the second upper elongated member, and 
 a plurality of side frame connectors connecting the first side frame and the second side frame, 
 wherein a plurality of first sections of the first upper elongated member and a plurality of second sections of the second upper elongated member are biased against their natural positions to apply tension to the load transfer dowels to securely connect the load transfer dowels to the basket. 
   
     
     
         2 . The concrete slab load transfer and connection apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first sections of the first upper elongated member and the plurality of second sections of the second upper elongated member are biased outwardly against their natural positions to apply tension to the load transfer dowels to securely connect the load transfer dowels to the basket. 
     
     
         3 . The concrete slab load transfer and connection apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of first sections of the first upper elongated member and the plurality of second sections of the second upper elongated member are aligned with the load transfer dowels. 
     
     
         4 . The concrete slab load transfer and connection apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein one of the holding hands for each dowel includes an alignment finger extending into an alignment notch for that dowel. 
     
     
         5 . The concrete slab load transfer and connection apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first sections of the first upper elongated member and the plurality of second sections of the second upper elongated member are biased inwardly against their natural positions to apply tension to the load transfer dowels to securely connect the load transfer dowels to the basket. 
     
     
         6 . The concrete slab load transfer and connection apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of first sections of the first upper elongated member and the plurality of second sections of the second upper elongated member are between the load transfer dowels. 
     
     
         7 . The concrete slab load transfer and connection apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein one of the holding hands for each dowel includes an alignment finger extending into an alignment notch for that dowel. 
     
     
         8 . The concrete slab load transfer and connection apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein one of the holding hands for each dowel includes an alignment finger extending into an alignment notch for that dowel. 
     
     
         9 . The concrete slab load transfer and connection apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each dowel defines opposing alignment notches, and each holding hand includes an alignment finger that extends into one of the alignment notches of one of the dowels. 
     
     
         10 . A method of forming a concrete slab load transfer and connection apparatus, said method comprising:
 forming a first side frame of a basket including a first lower elongated member, a first upper elongated member, a plurality of first dowel holding hands connected to the first lower elongated member and the first upper elongated member;   forming a second side frame of the basket including a second lower elongated member, a second upper elongated member, a plurality of second dowel holding hands connected to the second lower elongated member and the second upper elongated member;   connecting a plurality of dowels to the first upper elongated member and the first dowel holding hands;   connecting the plurality of dowels to the second upper elongated member and the second dowel holding hands; and   connecting a plurality of side frame connectors to the first side frame and the second side frame, such that a plurality of first sections of the first upper elongated member and a plurality of second sections of the second upper elongated member are biased against their natural positions to apply tension to the load transfer dowels to securely connect the load transfer dowels to the basket.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , which includes causing the plurality of first sections of the first upper elongated member and the plurality of second sections of the second upper elongated member to be biased outwardly against their natural positions to apply tension to the load transfer dowels to securely connect the load transfer dowels to the basket. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of first sections of the first upper elongated member and the plurality of second sections of the second upper elongated member are aligned with the load transfer dowels. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , which includes causing the plurality of first sections of the first upper elongated member and the plurality of second sections of the second upper elongated member to be biased inwardly against their natural positions to apply tension to the load transfer dowels to securely connect the load transfer dowels to the basket. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of first sections of the first upper elongated member and the plurality of second sections of the second upper elongated member are between the load transfer dowels. 
     
     
         15 . A concrete slab load transfer and connection apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of load transfer dowels, each dowel including an alignment notch; and   a basket supporting the load transfer dowels, the basket including:
 a first side frame including a first lower elongated member, a first upper elongated member, a plurality of first dowel holding hands connected to the first lower elongated member and the first upper elongated member, 
 a second side frame including a second lower elongated member, a second upper elongated member, a plurality of second dowel holding hands connected to the second lower elongated member and the second upper elongated member, and 
 a plurality of side frame connectors connecting the first side frame and the second side frame, 
 wherein one of the holding hands for each dowel includes an alignment finger extending into the alignment notch for that dowel. 
   
     
     
         16 . The concrete slab load transfer and connection apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein each dowel defines opposing alignment notches, and each holding hand includes an alignment finger that extends into one of the alignment notches of one of the dowels. 
     
     
         17 . The concrete slab load transfer and connection apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein a plurality of first sections of the first upper elongated member and a plurality of second sections of the second upper elongated member are biased outwardly against their natural positions to apply tension to the load transfer dowels to securely connect the load transfer dowels to the basket. 
     
     
         18 . The concrete slab load transfer and connection apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein a plurality of first sections of the first upper elongated member and a plurality of second sections of the second upper elongated member are biased inwardly against their natural positions to apply tension to the load transfer dowels to securely connect the load transfer dowels to the basket.