Interlocking jacket and method for using the same to jacket a concrete structure

An interlocking jacket and method for using the same is provided to jacket a concrete structure. The jacket may include a first planar member and a second planar member connected at a right angle. A first hook may be connected to the first planar member and a second hook may be to the second planar member with the hook of one jacket operable to engage the hook of a second jacket when used to jacket a concrete structure.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of building reinforcement structures and particularly, to an interlocking jacket for concrete columns and method of using the same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

All around the Pacific Rim there are cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Tokyo, and Vancouver that are built on, or near major earthquake producing fault lines. Many of these cities have high-rise office and condo buildings that are each supported by hundreds of reinforced concrete columns. It is these concrete columns supporting these buildings that the present invention is designed to protect.

For example, several concrete support columns fractured and crumbled as a result of the2015. Chilean earthquake. Upon further review, it was determined that the reinforcing rebar used in the columns were unable to contain the concrete in the columns and consequently, several buildings failed. The columns would have retained their compression strength even if they were fractured had the columns been contained or reinforced. Containing or reinforcing concrete columns would have saved the buildings from collapse.

Accordingly, a need exists for a concrete jacketing apparatus to prevent columns failures. Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the description that follows.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to two identical stainless steel sheet forms engineered to lock together around existing concrete columns enclosing them from floor to ceiling. With the many fixtures and fittings mounted on these columns, the invention can be fitted from back to front or from side to side. Under seismic activity the two interlocking seams tighten forever, preventing the fractured concrete column from losing compression strength and therefore maintaining its integrity.

There are no mechanical fasteners holding the invention together. The two ten-gauge stainless steel sheet forms are manufactured to tightly fit each column. The two matching seams slide together locking each form around the column. Under seismic activity, they provide a secure lock.

The invention includes identical sheets of stainless steel which surrounds with interlocking seams for enclosing existing concrete columns from floor to ceiling.

According to the present invention there is provided an interlocking jacket. The jacket may include a first planar member having first and second sides, top and bottom sides and first and second opposed faces. A second planar member may also be included and may also have first and second sides, top and bottom sides and first and second opposed faces. The first side of the second planar member may be connected to the first side of the first planar member wherein the first and second planar members form substantially a right angle with the first faces forming an inside angle of the right angle. The first and second planar members may be rectangular planar members. The second planar member may be connected to the first planar member along substantially a length of the first sides.

The jacket may also include a first hook connected substantially in-line with the first planar member at the second side of the first planar member. The first hook may have a hooking portion substantially parallel with the first planar member and may extend along the second face of the first planar member.

The jacket may also include a second hook connected substantially at a right angle with the second planar member at the second side of the second planar member.

The second hook may have a hooking portion substantially parallel with the first planar member and may extend towards the first face of the second planar member.

The hook of the first planar member may run substantially a length of the second side of the first planar member whereas the hook of the second planar member may run substantially a length of the second side of the second planar member. The ends of the hooking portions may each comprise a beveled edge at substantially an identical angle, for example, 45°.

The first and second planar members and hooks may be integrally formed. Indeed, the first and second planar members and hooks may be integrally formed from a substantially rigid material or they may be integrally formed from substantially a rigid yet flexible material.

In according with another embodiments of the invention there is provided a method of jacketing a structure. The method may include providing a first interlocking jacket which may include a first planar member having first and second sides, top and bottom sides and first and second opposed faces. A second planar member may also be included and may also have first and second sides, top and bottom sides and first and second opposed faces. The first side of the second planar member may be connected to the first side of the first planar member wherein the first and second planar members form substantially a right angle with the first faces forming an inside angle of the right angle. The first and second planar members may be rectangular planar members. The second planar member may be connected to the first planar member along substantially a length of the first sides.

The jacket may also include a first hook connected substantially in-line with the first planar member at the second side of the first planar member. The first hook may have a hooking portion substantially parallel with the first planar member and may extend along the second face of the first planar member. The jacket may also include a second hook connected substantially at a right angle with the second planar member at the second side of the second planar member. The second hook may have a hooking portion substantially parallel with the first planar member and may extend towards the first face of the second planar member.

The method may further include engaging the first interlocking jacket around the structure and providing a second interlocking jacket which may also include a first planar member having first and second sides, top and bottom sides and first and second opposed faces. A second planar member may also be included and may also have first and second sides, top and bottom sides and first and second opposed faces. The first side of the second planar member may be connected to the first side of the first planar member wherein the first and second planar members form substantially a right angle with the first faces forming an inside angle of the right angle. The first and second planar members may be rectangular planar members. The second planar member may be connected to the first planar member along substantially a length of the first sides. The jacket may also include a first hook connected substantially in-line with the first planar member at the second side of the first planar member. The first hook may have a hooking portion substantially parallel with the first planar member and may extend along the second face of the first planar member. The jacket may also include a second hook connected substantially at a right angle with the second planar member at the second side of the second planar member. The second hook may have a hooking portion substantially parallel with the first planar member and may extend towards the first face of the second planar member.

The method may further include rotating the second interlocking jacket 180° on an axis with respect to said first interlocking jacket and slidably engaging the second jacket to the structure and with the first interlocking jacket wherein the first hook of the first interlocking jacket engages with the second hook of the second interlocking jacket and wherein the second hook of the first interlocking jacket engages with the first hook of the second interlocking jacket. The second interlocking jacket may be horizontally engaged to the structure and with the first interlocking jacket.

The method may further include providing a beveled edge to each end of the hooking portions wherein slidably engaging the second interlocking jacket to the structure and with the first interlocking jacket comprises engaging the hooks with one-another along the beveled edges.

In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention there is provided an interlocking jacket. The jacket may include a curved planar member having first and second sides, top and bottom sides and first and second opposed faces. The jacket may also include a first hook connected substantially in-line with the first side, the first hook having a hooking portion substantially parallel with the first side and extending along the second face of the curved planar member. The jacket may also include a second hook connected substantially in-line with the second side, the second hook having a hooking portion substantially parallel with the second side and extending along the first face of said curved planar member.

The first hook may run substantially a length of the first side of the curved planar member whereas the second hook may run substantially a length of the second side of the curved planar member. The ends of the hooking portions may each comprise a beveled edge at substantially an identical angle, for example, 45°.

The curved planar member and hooks may be integrally formed. Indeed, the curved planar member and hooks may be integrally formed from a substantially a rigid material or they may be integrally formed from substantially a rigid yet flexible material.

In accordance with another embodiments of the invention there is provided a method of jacketing a structure. The method may include providing a first interlocking jacket which may include a curved planar member having first and second sides, top and bottom sides and first and second opposed faces. The jacket may also include a first hook connected substantially in-line with the first side, the first hook having a hooking portion substantially parallel with the first side and extending along the second face of the curved planar member. The jacket may also include a second hook connected substantially in-line with the second side, the second hook having a hooking portion substantially parallel with the second side and extending along the first face of the curved planar member.

The method may further include engaging the first interlocking jacket around the structure and providing a second interlocking jacket which may also include a curved planar member having first and second sides, top and bottom sides and first and second opposed faces. The jacket may also include a first hook connected substantially in-line with the first side, the first hook having a hooking portion substantially parallel with the first side and extending along the second face of the curved planar member. The jacket may also include a second hook connected substantially in-line with the second side, the second hook having a hooking portion substantially parallel with the second side and extending along the first face of the curved planar member.

The method may further include rotating the second interlocking jacket 180° on an axis with respect to said first interlocking jacket and slidably engaging the second jacket to the structure and with the first interlocking jacket wherein the first hook of the first interlocking jacket engages with the second hook of the second interlocking jacket and wherein the second hook of the first interlocking jacket engages with the first hook of the second interlocking jacket. The second interlocking jacket may be horizontally engaged to the structure and with the first interlocking jacket.

The method may further include providing a beveled edge to each end of the hooking portions wherein slidably engaging the second interlocking jacket to the structure and with the first interlocking jacket comprises engaging the hooks with one-another along the beveled edges.

Other aspects of the invention will be appreciated by reference to the detailed description of the preferred embodiment and to the claims that follow.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIG. 11, three embodiments of an interlocking jacket10is provided. Now referring toFIGS. 1 to 8,FIGS. 1 to 4represent a first embodiment whereasFIGS. 5 to 8represent a second embodiment with the second embodiment merely being a 90° rotation of the first embodiment. The jacket10includes a first planar member12having first14and second16sides, top18and bottom20sides and first22and second24opposed faces. A second planar member26is included which also has first28and second30sides, top32and bottom34sides and first36and second38opposed faces. The first28side of the second planar member26is connected to the first side14of the first planar member12along substantially the entire length of the first sides and form a substantially a right angle with the first22and36faces forming an inside angle of the right angle. Preferably, the first12and second26planar members are rectangular planar members.

The jacket10also includes a first hook40connected substantially in-line with the first planar member12at the second side16of the first planar member. The first hook40includes a hooking portion42substantially parallel with the first planar member12and extends along the second face24of the first planar member.

The jacket also includes a second hook44connected substantially at a right angle with the second planar member26at the second side30of the second planar member. The second hook44also includes a hooking portion46substantially parallel with the first planar member12and extends towards the first face36of the second planar member.

The hook40of the first planar member12preferably runs substantially the length of the second side16of the first planar member whereas the hook44of the second planar member26runs substantially the length of the second side30of the second planar member. As best illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 7, the ends46of the hooking portions each comprise a beveled edge at substantially an identical angle, preferably at 45°.

Preferably, the first12and second26planar members and first40and second44hooks are integrally formed from a substantially rigid material or they may be integrally formed from substantially a rigid yet flexible material such as ten-gauge stainless steel.

Referring toFIGS. 9 to 12, there is provided another embodiment of an interlocking jacket50. The jacket50includes a planar curved member52having first54and second56sides, top58and bottom60sides and first62and second64opposed faces. The jacket50also include a first hook66connected substantially in-line with the first side54, the first hook having a hooking portion68substantially parallel with the first side and extending along the second face64of the curved planar member52. The jacket50also includes a second hook70connected substantially in-line with the second side56, the second hook having a hooking portion72substantially parallel with the second side and extending along the first face62of the curved planar member52.

The first hook66of the curved planar member52runs substantially a length of the first side54of the curved planar member whereas the second hook70of the curved planar member runs substantially a length of the second side56of the curved planar member. The ends72of the hooking portions68and72each comprise a beveled edge at substantially an identical angle, preferably at 45°.

Preferably, the curved planar member52and first66and second70hooks are integrally formed from a substantially rigid material or they may be integrally formed from substantially a rigid yet flexible material such as ten-gauge stainless steel.

As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the dimensions of interlocking jacket10may be configured to suit any size of concrete column100.

Operation

Referring toFIGS. 4, 8, and 12 to 17, typically a structure, such as a concrete pillar100runs from the floor102to the ceiling104of a building (not illustrated) making it impossible to provide jacketing from above or below the concrete pillar. As best illustrated inFIGS. 12 to 17. to provide structure jacketing to an installed and existing pillar100, a first interlocking jacket200as described above is provided and along line300, is horizontally engaged around the structure. A second interlocking jacket200′ is then provided and is simply rotated on an axis with respect to said first interlocking jacket200. Second jacket200′ is then along line300′ slidably and horizontally engaged to the structure100and with the first interlocking jacket200so that the first hook40of the first interlocking jacket engages with the second hook44of the second interlocking jacket and the second hook of the first interlocking jacket engages with the first hook of the second interlocking jacket. By slidably engaging the interlocking jackets to the structure and to one-another, no tools or fasteners are required as the beveled edges to each end46of the hooking portions40and44engage one-another to provide a mechanical lock.

Referring toFIG. 18ain a pre-engaged position, hooks40and44of jackets200and200′ are disengaged from one another as the jackets are brought together to wrap around the concrete column100. Advantageously, hooks40and44have rounded portions202and202′ so that when brought together hook44of jacket200′ can slide underneath hook40of jacket200. As those skilled in art will appreciate, the reverse is true of the other ends of jackets200and200′. By sliding underneath hook40, hook44deflects hook40as shown by the dotted position of hook40given that the interlocking jacket may be made of substantially a rigid yet flexible material.

Referring toFIG. 18bin a pre-engaged position, first hook44of jacket200′ has fully slid past second hook40of jacket200. Hooks40and44are now positioned to begin the engagement process. To begin engagement, jackets200and200′ are merely pulled in the opposite direction from one another to look hooks40and44to one-another.

Referring toFIG. 18c, hooks40and44are now in an engaged position. Advantageously, ends46′ of hooks40and44each have beveled edges to facilitate sliding engagement of the hooks to one-another. During an earthquake, column100may begin to buckle as shown by area300. Advantageously, as the column100buckles, the buckling forces will pull locking jackets200and200′ away from one-another which further engages hooks40and44into a tight interlocking position. With a tight interlock, jackets200and200′ will prevent column100from further buckling.

While embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, such embodiments should be considered illustrative of the invention only. The invention may include variants not described or illustrated herein in detail. Thus, the embodiments described and illustrated herein should not be considered to limit the invention as construed in accordance with the accompanying claims.