Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture – Methods – Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
Reexamination Certificate
1997-05-05
2001-02-06
Yao, Sam Chuan (Department: 1733)
Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
Methods
Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
C052S396040, C404S068000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06183575
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to method and strip for sealing and formation of a sealable groove in a body of settable material.
In concrete construction work, for example, it is frequently necessary to seal gaps between adjacent surfaces, such as opposed surfaces of a groove. Pre-formed sealing strips may be employed for this purpose. A particularly satisfactory material is expanding cork material such as that sold under the registered trade mark SPANDEX. This material when inserted into a groove will, over time, expand to firmly press against the opposed sides of the groove to provide an effective seal.
While the use of sealing strips as above described is convenient and effective where grooves are of standard configuration, such as having planar opposed parallel surfaces, such that strips of standard complimentary configuration can be readily formed, difficulties may arise where it is desired to seal between opposed surfaces which are not so formed. This may arise, for example where one of two opposed surfaces is irregular. This situation arises particularly where grooves formed in concrete or the like are subjected to erosion such as may occur over a period of service where the concrete work is exposed to the elements, and where it becomes necessary to replace a pre-existing seal. In these cases, where one of the opposed surfaces is linear the sealing strip may be introduced against that surface and any gap as between an opposite irregular surface and the adjacent surface of the sealing strip filled with a fluid settable composition such as cement. In these cases, however, the introduction of the cement filler, which needs to be downwardly compacted, tends to result in the filler passing to the bottom of the groove. It may therefore accumulate at the bottom of the groove and tend to cause the sealing strip to dislodge from the bottom of the groove, or pass the bottom of the sealing strip and be lost if the surfaces to be sealed do not have a base connecting surface. Also, cement filler may bridge the gap which in most instances is formed below the groove by adjacent slabs of concrete between which the groove is formed. This bridging is undesirable because it will then interfere with natural movement of the slaps towards each other, possibly inducing spalling of edges of the slab, directly or indirectly reducing the efficiency of sealing performed by the sealing strip.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, the invention provides a method of sealing between opposed surfaces utilizing a sealing strip which is introduced between the surfaces, and settable material which is provided between the sealing strip and one of the surfaces, wherein the sealing strip is provided with an elongate body portion and a lengthwise extending and laterally extending flexible barrier means, the sealing strip being introduced through an opening defined by the surfaces such that the barrier means resiliently engages said one surface and, when the strip is in position, provides a barrier between the body portion and said one surface.
The settable material is preferably introduced into the groove with the sealing strip but may be introduced after introduction of the sealing strip.
In another aspect, there is provided a sealing strip for use in the abovedescribed method, comprising an elongate body portion and a resiliently flexible barrier means extending lengthwise and laterally of the body portion. Preferably, the barrier means is secured to the body portion adjacent a junction between side and lower end surfaces of the body portion. Preferably, the body portion includes at least one side surface which is non-linear when viewed in cross-section, such as being sinuous or grooved.
The sealing strip may be formed of expandable material such as a composition including expandable cork. Suitable compositions include those containing cork, rubber and a suitable binder. The barrier may be formed of expanded polyethylene or other flexible and/or resilient materials.
In another aspect, the invention provides a method of forming a groove in a body of settable material for introduction of a sealing strip, the groove defining an opening and opposed side surfaces, comprising penetrating the surface of the material, prior to setting, with a forming tool having opposed side portions mounted for movement towards and away from each other, under a condition where the side portions are adjacent each other, to form a depression in the material, moving the side portions away from each other into a spaced condition whereby to sidewardly expand the depression to form the groove, and removing the tool from the groove.
The invention also provides a method of providing a sealing strip in a body of settable material comprising forming a groove by the last described method, and inserting the sealing strip thereinto.
The invention also provides a tool for carrying out the last described method, comprising two elements mounted for movement between a first position, at which first end portions of the elements are adjacent each other to enable the surface of the settable material to be penetrated by movement of the tool into the material with an end portion thereof first, which end portion is defined by the end portions of the two elements, and to a second position at which the elements are moved away from each other for effecting said forming of the groove by sideward displacement of the settable material.
The elements may present substantially parallel outer surfaces when in said second position.
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G. P. Embelton & Co. Pty. Ltd.
Sughrue Mion Zinn Macpeak & Seas, PLLC
Yao Sam Chuan
LandOfFree
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