Control Joint and Related Accessories

Abstract

An elongated strip of control joint material includes a first lateral flange, a second lateral flange, and a central portion laterally interposed between the first and second lateral flanges. The first and second lateral flange each terminate laterally into a respective first and second edge. The central portion includes a first manufactured crease line extending longitudinally along the elongated strip of control joint material. The central portion can transition between a flattened configuration and a folded configuration. The central portion is substantially coplanar with a directly adjacent portion of the first and the second lateral flange in the flattened configuration; and extends vertically away from the directly adjacent portions of the first and second lateral flanges in the folded configuration. The central portion flexes relative to both the first and second lateral flanges in the folded configuration. The first manufactured crease line facilitates the central portion in transitioning from the flattened configuration into the folded configuration.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An elongated strip of control joint material, comprising:
 (a) a first lateral flange terminating laterally at a first edge;   (b) a second lateral flange terminating laterally at a second edge; and   (c) a central portion laterally interposed between the first lateral flange and the second lateral flange, wherein the central portion is configured to transition between a flattened configuration and a folded configuration, wherein the central portion is substantially coplanar with a directly adjacent portion of the first lateral flange and the second lateral flange in the flattened configuration, wherein the central portion extends vertically away from the directly adjacent portion of the first lateral flange and the second lateral flange in the folded configuration, wherein the central portion is configured to flex relative to both the first lateral flange and the second lateral flange in the folded configuration, wherein the central portion comprises a first manufactured crease line extending longitudinally along the elongated strip of control joint material, wherein the first manufactured crease line is configured to facilitate the central portion in transitioning from the flattened configuration into the folded configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The elongated strip of control joint material of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated strip of control joint material forms a roll while in the flattened configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The elongated strip of control joint material of  claim 2 , wherein a segment having a customizable length is configured to be unrolled from the roll and separated from the rest of the elongated strip of control joint material. 
     
     
         4 . The elongated strip of control joint material of  claim 1 , wherein the central portion comprises a first member and a second member, wherein the first member and the second member are coupled to each other at the first manufactured crease line. 
     
     
         5 . The elongated strip of control joint material of  claim 4 , further comprising a second manufactured crease line extending longitudinally along the elongated strip of control joint material, wherein the second lateral flange and the second member are coupled to each other via the second manufactured crease line. 
     
     
         6 . The elongated strip of control joint material of  claim 5 , further comprising a third manufactured crease line extending longitudinally along the elongated strip of control joint material, wherein the first lateral flange and the first member are coupled to each other via the third manufactured crease line. 
     
     
         7 . The elongated strip of control joint material of  claim 5 , wherein the first member and the second member form a V-shape when the central portion is in the folded configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The elongated strip of control joint material of  claim 1 , wherein the first lateral flange, the second lateral flange, and the central portion are formed of a plastic material. 
     
     
         9 . The elongated strip of control joint material of  claim 1 , wherein the first lateral flange and the second lateral flange define a plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         10 . The elongated strip of control joint material of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated strip of control joint material is wrapped around a central roll tube. 
     
     
         11 . A pre-rolled control joint assembly, comprising:
 (a) an elongated strip of control joint material rolled around itself into a roll, the elongated strip of control joint material comprising:
 (i) a first lateral flange terminating laterally at a first edge; 
 (ii) a second lateral flange terminating laterally at a second edge, and 
 (iii) a central portion laterally interposed between the first lateral flange and the second lateral flange, wherein the central portion is configured to transition between a flattened configuration and a folded configuration, wherein the central portion is substantially coplanar with a directly adjacent portion of the first lateral flange and the second lateral flange in the flattened configuration, wherein the central portion extends vertically away from the directly adjacent portion of the first lateral flange and the second lateral flange in the folded configuration, wherein the central portion is configured to flex relative to both the first lateral flange and the second lateral flange in the folded configuration to thereby form a control joint; and 
   (b) a container defining an interior cavity, wherein the elongated strip of control joint material is positioned within the interior cavity, the container comprising:
 (i) an opening dimensioned to receive a segment of control joint material from the interior cavity of the container to thereby feed the segment out of the container, and 
 (ii) a folding plate associated with the opening, wherein the folding plate is configured to engage the central portion of the segment of control joint material to thereby transition the central portion of the segment of control joint material from the flattened configuration toward the folded configuration as the segment is fed through the opening. 
   
     
     
         12 . The pre-rolled control joint assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the folding plate comprises a protrusion extending within the opening. 
     
     
         13 . The pre-rolled control joint assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the elongated strip of control joint material is rotatably positioned within the interior cavity. 
     
     
         14 . A control joint installation tool, comprising:
 (a) a base;   (b) a handle receiver extending from the base;   (c) a control joint engagement body attached to and extending away from the base; and   (d) a plurality of guide rollers rotatably coupled to the control joint engagement body.   
     
     
         15 . The control joint installation tool of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the plurality of guide rollers comprises an outer lateral surface, an inner lateral surface, and a tapered section connecting the outer lateral surface and the inner lateral surface, wherein the outer lateral surface comprises an outer lateral surface circumference and the inner lateral surface comprises an inner lateral surface circumference, wherein the outer lateral surface circumference is greater than the inner lateral surface circumference. 
     
     
         16 . The control joint installation tool of  claim 14 , wherein the control joint engagement body is configured to directly engage a central portion of a control joint located within a gap defined by a pair of panels while the plurality of guide rollers simultaneously engages and rolls along the pair of panels. 
     
     
         17 . The control joint installation tool of  claim 15 , wherein the control joint engagement body comprises a longitudinally extending wedge. 
     
     
         18 . The control joint installation tool of  claim 17 , wherein the wedge comprises a convex longitudinal end. 
     
     
         19 . The control joint installation tool of  claim 14 , wherein the control joint engagement body comprises a first yoke and a first disc rotatably attached to the first yoke. 
     
     
         20 . The control joint installation tool of  claim 19 , wherein the control joint engagement body further comprises a second yoke and a second disc rotatably attached to the second yoke.