Contraction and Expansion Dowel Support Assembly

Abstract

An expansion and contraction dowel support assembly is provided. The dowel support assembly includes a base member having a pair of expansion board guides that extend perpendicularly from a proximal area of the base member. The expansion board guides are parallel with one another and form a channel therebetween, wherein the channel is sized to receive an expansion joint board or a contraction joint therein. A dowel alignment unit is positioned at the distal ends of the base member. In some embodiments, the dowel alignment unit is able to receive a removable dowel support member and orient a dowel to run parallel to the base. In other embodiments, the dowel alignment unit includes a main panel having a plurality of sections vertically aligned and each including an aperture. A score line is disposed between each section to facilitate separation of an unused upper section from the main panel.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A contraction and expansion dowel support assembly, comprising:
 a base member and a pair of expansion board guides extending perpendicularly from the base member;   wherein the pair of expansion board guides form a channel therebetween and are configured to hold an expansion joint board within the channel;   a dowel alignment unit disposed at each distal end of the base member;   wherein an upper end of the removable dowel support member is configured to receive and orient a dowel to run parallel to the base member.   
     
     
         2 . The contraction and expansion dowel support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the dowel alignment unit comprises:
 a front wall, a rear wall, and a pair of cross members extending perpendicularly between the front wall and rear wall;   wherein the front wall and rear wall extend substantially perpendicularly to the base member;   a pair of side channels disposed on an exterior side of the pair of cross members;   an interior channel disposed between the pair of cross members.   
     
     
         3 . The contraction and expansion dowel support assembly of  claim 2 , wherein an upper end of the pair of cross members, the front wall, and the rear wall are level with one another. 
     
     
         4 . The contraction and expansion dowel support assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising a brace extending between the base member and the front wall. 
     
     
         5 . The contraction and expansion dowel support assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the width of the front wall and rear wall comprise a same width as the base member. 
     
     
         6 . The contraction and expansion dowel support assembly of  claim 1 , a removable dowel support member removably securable to each of the dowel alignment units. 
     
     
         7 . The contraction and expansion dowel support assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the removable dowel support members comprise a pair of flexible arms that secure within the pair of channels to semi-permanently secure to the base member. 
     
     
         8 . The contraction and expansion dowel support assembly of  claim 7 , wherein a distal end of the pair of flexible arms each comprise a flange configured to secure within the interior channel when the removable dowel support member is secured within the dowel alignment unit. 
     
     
         9 . The contraction and expansion dowel support assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the removable dowel support member comprises a dowel retention clip adapted to receive the dowel therethrough. 
     
     
         10 . The contraction and expansion dowel support assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the dowel retention clip comprises an open ring configured to flex to form a larger ring diameter. 
     
     
         11 . The contraction and expansion dowel support assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a fastening aperture extending through the base member. 
     
     
         12 . The contraction and expansion dowel support assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of expansion board guides comprises a planar interior face that is adapted to abut the expansion joint board. 
     
     
         13 . The contraction and expansion dowel support assembly of  claim 12 , wherein each of the pair of expansion board guides comprises a first and second bracket extending on a same lateral side of the base member. 
     
     
         14 . The contraction and expansion dowel support assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the expansion board guides are disposed centrally on the base member. 
     
     
         15 . The contraction and expansion dowel support assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the pair of expansion board guides are parallel to each other. 
     
     
         16 . A contraction and expansion dowel support assembly, comprising:
 a base member and a pair of expansion board guides extending perpendicularly from the base member;   wherein the pair of expansion board guides form a channel therebetween and are configured to hold an expansion joint board within the channel;   a pair of dowel alignment units disposed at distal ends of the base member, wherein each of the pair of dowel alignment units comprises a main panel extending perpendicularly from the base member;   wherein the main panel comprises a plurality of sections vertically aligned and each comprising an aperture;   wherein each of the plurality of sections are separated via a score line to facilitate separation of one or more of the sections of the plurality of sections from a lower section of the main panel.   
     
     
         17 . The contraction and expansion dowel support assembly of  claim 16 , further comprising a brace extending between the base member and the main panel. 
     
     
         18 . The contraction and expansion dowel support assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the pair of dowel alignment units are aligned with one another and configured to orient a dowel to run parallel to the base member. 
     
     
         19 . The contraction and expansion dowel support assembly of  claim 16 , further comprising a fastening aperture extending through the base member. 
     
     
         20 . The contraction and expansion dowel support assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the pair of expansion board guides are disposed on opposite lateral sides of the base member and offset from one another.