CONCRETE QUICK SNAP APPARATUS

A concrete quick snap apparatus and a method for creating control joints in concrete surfaces is provided The apparatus includes a cylindrical housing with a hollow interior, designed to accommodate a snap line, and a flat flanged bottom surface that acts as a guide for positioning. The housing features a small hole at one end for attaching the snap line and an opening with an attachment hole at the opposite end for connecting to one or more extendable support elements like extension poles. The invention includes a snap line holster, which stores the snap line and can be inserted within the housing for storage or transport. The method involves attaching the snap line to the housing, extending the apparatus with the extension poles to reach the desired location, and using the snap line to create a control joint in the concrete. This apparatus and method facilitate the creation of control joints in freshly poured concrete and in hard-to-reach areas, improving efficiency and precision in concrete construction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally concrete tools but more particularly a concrete quick snap apparatus for quickly cutting control joints.

2. Description of Related Art

Concrete expands and contracts with changes in temperature and moisture. If not properly controlled, cracks can begin to appear. Placement of concrete control joints and expansion joints are crucial when designing and pouring concrete slabs and sidewalks. The control joints provide a gap allowing each adjacent slab of concrete to move independently and freely from one another. As well known in the art, currently, you must wait for the concrete to harden enough to use knee boards or 2′×4′ boards to walk and physically cut the control joints by hand. This process is slow, and can lead to imperfections in the concrete before it sets. Consequently, a solution is needed.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a main object of the present disclosure to provide a concrete quick snap for efficiently and easily cutting control joints in concrete without damaging or causing imperfections in the concrete while it sets or hardens.

In order to do so an apparatus is provided, comprising a housing; a string line holster having string (snap line); and extension pole.

In another aspect of the invention, a method for creating control joints in concrete is provided, comprising steps: (a) providing a cylindrical housing having a flat guide with a small hole at one end of the housing and an opening and an attachment hole at the other end of the housing; (b) attaching string to the small hole, wherein the string is wound on a string holster; (c) attaching the housing to one or more extension poles; (d) using the flat guide with the attached extension pole to reach and place the flat guide at one end of a desired control joint, and having the string holster such that the string is extended from the small hole to the user extending the extension pole; and (e) snapping the control joints, via the string, in freshly laid concrete.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

It is to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. The terms “a” or “an,” as used herein, are defined as to mean “at least one”. The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as two or more. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, not necessarily mechanically, and not permanent. The term “providing” is defined herein in its broadest sense, e.g., bringing/coming into physical existence, making available, and/or supplying to someone or something, in whole or in multiple parts at once or over a period of time. As used herein, the terms “about”, “generally”, or “approximately” apply to all numeric values, whether or not explicitly indicated. These terms generally refer to a range of numbers that one of skill in the art would consider near the stated amount by about 0%, 5%, or 10%, including increments therein. In many instances these terms may include numbers that are rounded to the nearest significant figure.

Referring now to any of the accompanyingFIGS.1-6, the concrete quick snap apparatus is shown.FIGS.1A-B, show the housing100of the concrete quick snap apparatus. In one embodiment, the housing100comprises a hollow cylinder101having a flat flanged bottom surface102at one end of the cylinder and an opening104at the other end. In some embodiments, towards the opening104, is an attachment hole103which will be described in further details below. The flat flanged bottom surface102includes a small hole105configured to enable the tying of snap line string200, which will be described below.

FIGS.2A-BandFIG.3introduce the string line holster200which has a line of string (snap line)201wound to its cylinder. When the apparatus is in storage, transport, etc. the string line holster200may be inserted within the cylinder of the housing100(as seen inFIGS.2A-B).

FIGS.4A-Bshow the string line (snap line)201being threaded in the small hole105on the housing, then tied to connect an end of the string line to the housing. InFIGS.5A-B, the housing with attached snap line is attached to an extension pole300. The means of the attachment may vary as well known in the art. In one embodiment, the end of the extension pole300comprises a telescoping push button/pin301configured to be positioned in attachment hole103of the housing101securing the housing to the attachment pole. It should be understood, multiple extension poles300A,300B (best seen inFIG.6) may be used to extend the length of the apparatus, depending on the distance required to reach for the end of the snap line.

Best seen inFIG.6, a user using the apparatus extends the housing, via one or more extension poles, such that the flat bottom flange (acting as a guide) sits beyond or at one end of a desired control joint. Using the snap line, the user extends the line via the slack of the line or holster into position, then snaps the line to create a control joint at the desired location at a length between the user and the housing. This prevents a worker from having to physically be positioned at the end where the housing is located. Advantageously, the control joints can be created on freshly poured concrete and hard to reach areas.

It should be understood that the material selection of the apparatus may vary. In some embodiments, the housing, extension pole, and holster is constructed from aluminum. In other embodiments, the apparatus may be constructed from stainless steel. In yet other embodiments, a plastic material for the apparatus is used. In some embodiments, the string line (snap line) is nylon.

In another aspect of the invention, a method for creating control joints in concrete is provided, comprising steps: (a) providing a cylindrical housing having a flat guide with a small hole at one end of the housing and an opening and an attachment hole at the other end of the housing; (b) attaching string to the small hole, wherein the string is wound on a string holster; (c) attaching the housing to one or more extension poles; (d) using the flat guide with the attached extension pole to reach and place the guide at one end of a desired control joint, and having the string holster such that the string is extended from the small hole to the user extending the extension pole; and (e) snapping the control joints, via the string, in the freshly laid concrete.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail in language specific to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features described. Rather, the specific features are disclosed as exemplary preferred forms of implementing the claimed invention. Stated otherwise, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Therefore, while exemplary illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described, numerous variations and alternative embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. Such variations and alternate embodiments are contemplated, and can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

It should further be noted that throughout the entire disclosure, the labels such as left, right, front, back, top, bottom, forward, reverse, clockwise, counter clockwise, up, down, or other similar terms such as upper, lower, aft, fore, vertical, horizontal, oblique, proximal, distal, parallel, perpendicular, transverse, longitudinal, etc. have been used for convenience purposes only and are not intended to imply any particular fixed direction or orientation. Instead, they are used to reflect relative locations and/or directions/orientations between various portions of an object.

In addition, reference to “first,” “second,” “third,” and etc. members throughout the disclosure (and in particular, claims) are not used to show a serial or numerical limitation but instead are used to distinguish or identify the various members of the group.