Abstract:
A mechanical connector for securing a dowel rod to a frame of a dowel bar assembly as well as a dowel bar assembly are detailed. Each embodiment of the mechanical connector includes a portion to receive the dowel bar. A second portion of the mechanical connector engages the frame of the dowel bar assembly. A third portion of the mechanical connector engages a separate part of the frame further stabilizing the mechanical connector and frame.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority to provisional patent application 61/709,393 which was filed on Oct. 4, 2012, and also claims priority to provisional patent application 61/781,403 which was filed on Mar. 14, 2013, both of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Dowel bar assemblies are used at both expansion and contraction type joints in concrete slabs. The function of both types of joints is to control random cracking of the concrete slab. The concrete slabs vary in thickness, width and length but are typically designed for commercial, industrial and roadway uses. The function of the dowel bar assembly at the joint locations is to position the dowel at the mid-point of the slab or at half the thickness of the slab off of the grade. The dowel itself is used to control the misalignment of adjacent slab areas in both vertical and horizontal directions. As the slabs move in fractional amounts due to temperature and other dynamic forces, the dowels maintain the position of the concrete slabs. 
     Present dowel bar assemblies are manufactured using a fusion process or welding method to make fixed connections between wire frame components and between the wire frame and the dowel. The assembly process varies widely and ranges from very manual methods to highly automated methods of assembly. In all cases, the connection between the wire support frame and the dowel is a welded connection. This is typically also the case when utilizing tie bars instead of dowel bars. 
     Tie bar assemblies are very similar in design to dowel bar assemblies but are used at joints that will not allow movement. Tie bar assemblies are manufactured in the same way as dowel bar assemblies, however, the tie bar has a deformed surface rather than the smooth surface of a dowel bar. 
     In cases where corrosion protection is used on the dowels, the welding process damages the protective coating due to the high temperatures at the weld location. Additionally, manual and automatic welding processes lead to weld impurities which in turn lead to broken welds and displaced dowels. Additionally, due to the rigid nature of the welded connection, vibrations during transporting of the assemblies can result in broken welds. In addition to traditional dowel, certain dowels are made of fiberglass while others are hollow synthetic tubes that are filled with materials such as cementious grout. These types of dowels do not allow for their use in a welding application. 
     The typical welding process for manufacturing dowel bar assemblies exposes labor forces to unhealthy working conditions. Automatic production methods can alleviate the exposure to such conditions, however, large amounts of smoke are generated due to the high temperatures of the welding process. With the burning of protective coatings used on the dowel bar assemblies during the welding process, the exposure to unhealthy conditions is only magnified. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a mechanical connection for a dowel bar assembly or tie bar assembly. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a mechanical connection for a dowel bar assembly or tie bar assembly which reduces exposure to harmful chemicals. 
     It is yet another object of the invention to provide a mechanical connection for a tie bar or dowel bar assembly, of various substances. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A mechanical connection for a dowel bar assembly as well as a dowel bar assembly containing a mechanical connection are presented. The mechanical connection or connecting device connects a dowel and a frame of the dowel bar assembly and can be one of three embodiments. It is to be understood that a tie bar could be substituted for the dowel bar in the invention. 
     The first embodiment is a friction type connector and is the preferred embodiment. The first embodiment is preferably made of a plastic and contains a cavity capable of receiving a dowel bar. A receiving member secures a first portion of the frame of the dowel bar assembly. Typically this is the “A-frame” portion of a dowel bar assembly. Additionally, the device includes a lip which provides further stabilization and support for the dowel bar assembly. Additional features such as a complimentary curved groove on the top and the bottom of the embodiment allow the device to be stacked upon one another. 
     A second embodiment achieves similar results to the first embodiment but is in the form of a clip design. The clip has a planar member with arms which serve to form a recess similar to the cavity of the first embodiment and serves to receive a dowel bar. A groove in a second arm engages the A-frame of a dowel bar assembly similar to the receiving member of the first embodiment. A flange on the first arm engages a second portion of the dowel bar assembly and further stabilizes the connection between the dowel bar and the remainder of the dowel bar assembly. 
     A third embodiment utilizes a metal structure in the form of a spring coil wire to secure a dowel rod to a remainder of a dowel bar assembly. At least one circular member forms a cavity for receiving the dowel bar. The connecting device has an arm which follows the dowel bar in one direction and then turns in a second direction before terminating in an end. The end then partially wraps around a first portion of a frame of the dowel bar assembly. The arm also abuts a second portion of the frame whereby the force exerted on the second portion and the first portion hold the dowel bar and frame in place. 
     A fourth embodiment utilizes a spring steel compression ring with a spring steel clip. The clip is similar to the second embodiment but instead utilizes a ring to lock the clip in place around the dowel. 
     It is to be understood that the embodiments described above can be placed on dowel bars and a wire frame to create dowel bar assemblies. Either one mechanical connection device can be utilized on only one side of the dowel bar or two mechanical connection devices can be utilized, one on each side of the dowel bar. Furthermore, when utilized in the field, several dowel bar assemblies are joined in a parallel formation. Depending on the specific circumstances and requirements, none, some or all of the dowel bar assemblies can have one mechanical connection device while the remaining dowel bar assemblies an have two mechanical connection devices. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the mechanical connection; 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the mechanical connection on a dowel bar assembly; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the mechanical connection; 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the second embodiment: 
         FIG. 8  is a front view of the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  is side view of the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the mechanical connection on a dowel bar assembly; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the mechanical connector; 
         FIG. 12  is a front view of the third embodiment; 
         FIG. 13  is a side view of the third embodiment; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the third embodiment of the mechanical connection on a dowel bar assembly; 
         FIG. 15  is perspective view of the fourth embodiment of the mechanical connection on a dowel bar assembly; 
         FIG. 16  is a side view of the fourth embodiment; 
         FIG. 17  is a front view of the fourth embodiment; 
         FIG. 18  is a perspective view of a retainer ring used in conjunction with the fourth embodiment; 
         FIG. 19  is a front view of the ring; 
         FIG. 20  is a side view of the ring; 
         FIG. 21  is a perspective view of the fourth embodiment with the retainer ring attached. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Now referring to the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows a first embodiment of a connecting device  20  which connects a dowel bar  22  (see  FIG. 5 ) and a frame  24  (see  FIG. 5 ) of a dowel bar assembly  26  (see  FIG. 5 ). The device depicted in  FIGS. 1-4  is also the preferred embodiment disclosed in the specification and drawings. The device  20  comprises a housing member  28  which has a cavity  30 . The cavity  30  is formed to be a shape so that it can receive an end  21  of the dowel bar  22 . As a typical dowel bar is rounded and/or cylindrical, the cavity of the preferred embodiment corresponds to a rounded and/or a cylindrical shape, however, the cavity  30  and the housing member  28  can be a variety of shapes to accommodate different shaped dowel bars. 
       FIG. 3  shows a receiving member  32  capable of receiving a first portion  34  of the frame  24  shown in  FIG. 5 . Again, as the first portion  34  of the frame  24  is typically round and made of metal, the receiving member  32  is preferably a cylindrical shaped slot  36  which corresponds to the rounded first portion  34 . The shape of the slot  36  and receiving member  32  can be varied based on the shape of the frame  24 . The receiving member further comprises a guide channel  46  which tapers toward the cylindrical shaped slot  36  which assists in placing the first portion  34  within the slot  36 . 
     Again referring to  FIG. 3 , the device  20  comprises a lip  38  which extends a distance passed a main body  40  of the housing member  28 . The lip  38  also extends at an angle toward a mid point of the housing member  28 . The lip  38  blends into an outer edge  44  of the housing member  28  preferably at an angle. When the device  20  is utilized in association with the dowel bar assembly  26 , a second portion  42  of the frame  24  is positioned on the dowel bar  22  and makes contact with the lip  38  and at least a portion of the outer edge  44 . 
     The device  20  further comprises a groove  47  which is preferably curved and corresponds to the shape of the dowel bar  22  and/or a wall  50  of the device  20 . The shape of the groove  47  allows multiple dowel bar assemblies  26  and/or connecting devices  20  to be stacked vertically upon one another. A back wall  52  as seen in  FIG. 4  serves as a stop to assist in the positioning of the dowel bar  22  and also assists in maintaining the position of the dowel bar  22  in relation to the overall dowel bar assembly  26  of  FIG. 5 . 
     Again referring to  FIG. 5 , a complete dowel bar assembly  26  is detailed. The dowel bar  22  comprises a first end  60  and a second end  62 . The first end  60  is inserted into a first connecting device  66  and the second end  62  is inserted into a second connecting device  68 . The frame  24  comprises two symmetrical A-frames  70  each comprising a cross member  72  and a U-shaped member  74 . The U-shaped member  74  is preferably shaped to correspond to the shape of the dowel bar  22 . Additionally, the U-shaped member  74  comprises the second portion  42  which abuts the lip  38  and at least a portion of the outer edge  44 . 
     The cross member  72  is fitted into the receiving member  32  via the guide channel  46  and into the slot  36 . Preferably, the cross member  72  is snapped into place within the slot  36  and held firmly in place. The devices  66  and  68  are still preferably selectively removable from the dowel bar  22  and the A-frames  70 . The A-frames  70  can be connected to one another via at least one base member  78 . A second cross member  80  can be utilized to span an open end  82  of the U-shaped member  74 . 
     Each connecting device  66  and  68  hold the dowel bar  22  and frame  24  in place through a friction type connection wherein the lip  38 , the receiving member  32  and the walls forming the cavity  30  exert forces which maintain the connection between the frame  24  and dowel bar  22 . It is to be understood that the cross member  80  can be attached to additional dowel bar assemblies to create a row or column of dowel bar assemblies. 
       FIGS. 6-10  show a second embodiment of a connecting device  120  which is also a mechanical connection for a dowel bar  122  (see  FIG. 10 ) and frame  124  (see  FIG. 10 ) of a dowel bar assembly  126  (see  FIG. 10 ). The device  120  comprises a clip  128 . The clip  128  comprises a planar member  130 , a first arm  132  and a second arm  134 . The planar member  130 , first arm  132  and second arm  134  form a cavity  136  capable of receiving the dowel bar  122 . 
     The first arm  132  preferably extends substantially perpendicular to the planar member  130 . The second arm  134  also preferably extends substantially perpendicular to the planar member  130 . However, the second arm  134  comprises a series of platforms resembling stairs that serve functional purposes. The second arm  134  further comprises a groove  138  that engages and secures a first portion  140  of the frame  124  which corresponds to a cross member  172  of an A-frame  170 . The first arm  132  comprises a flange  140  which engages a second portion  141  of the frame  124 . The second portion  141  is an apex  143  of the A-frame  170 . The planar member  130  comprises a hole  150  which can be utilized for an inlet fore screw or other fastening device to further secure the device  120  to the dowel bar  122 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 10 , the clip  128  of the second embodiment of the connecting device utilizes different structures to accomplish a similar function of the first embodiment of the connecting device. Again referring to  FIG. 10 , a complete dowel bar assembly  126  is detailed. The dowel bar  122  comprises a first end  160  and a second end  162 . The first end  160  is inserted into a first connecting device  166  and the second end  162  is inserted into a second connecting device  168 . The frame  124  comprises two symmetrical A-frames  170  each comprising a cross member  172  and a U-shaped member  174 . The U-shaped member  174  is preferably shaped to correspond to the shape of the dowel bar  122 . Additionally, the U-shaped member  174  comprises the second portion  141  which abuts the flange  140 . 
     The cross member  172  is fitted into the groove  138  which can be performed by manually bending the second arm  134  away from the dowel bar  122 . A band (not shown) can placed around the clip  128  and dowel bar  122  to further secure the frame  124  in the groove  138  and prevent slipping of the frame  124  out of the groove  138 . The devices  166  and  168  are still preferably selectively removable from the dowel bar  122  and the A-frames  170 . The A-frames  170  are connected to one another via at least one base member  178 . A second cross member  180  can be utilized to span an open end  182  of the U-shaped member  174 . 
     Each connecting device  166  and  168  hold the dowel bar  122  and frame  124  in place through a friction type connection wherein the groove  138 , the flange  140  and the structures defining the cavity  30  exert forces which maintain the connection between the frame  124  and dowel bar  122 . For additional support of the connection, a screw (not shown) or other attachment mechanism can be inserted into the hole  150  and attached to the ends  160 ,  162  of the dowel bar  122 . Furthermore, a first edge  171  of the second arm  134  abuts the first end  160  a distance from the planar member  130 . 
     The third embodiment of a connecting device  220  is shown in  FIGS. 11-14  which is also a mechanical connection for a dowel bar  222  and frame  224  of a dowel bar assembly  226  (see  FIG. 14 ). The device  220  comprises a spring coil wire  228 . The spring coil wire  228  comprises at least one circular member  230  forming a cavity  232  which is capable of receiving the dowel bar  222 . The spring coil wire  228  further comprising an arm  234  extending in a first direction parallel to the dowel bar  222 . The arm  234  then extends in a second direction substantially downward. 
     The arm  234  has a first end  236  and a second end  238  wherein the second end  238  engages a first portion  240  of the frame  224 . The arm  234  abuts or engages a second portion  242  of the frame  224 . The first end  236  and second end  238  can be manually moved to manipulate the spring coil wire  228  such that the spring coil wire can be selectively removed from the dowel bar  222  and frame  224 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 14 , the spring coil wire  230  of the third embodiment of the connecting device utilizes different structures to accomplish a similar function of the first embodiment of the connecting device. Again referring to  FIG. 14 , a complete dowel bar assembly  226  is detailed. The dowel bar  222  comprises a first end  260  and a second end  262 . The first end  260  is inserted into a first connecting device  266  and the second end  262  is inserted into a second connecting device  268 . The frame  224  comprises two symmetrical A-frames  270  each comprising a cross member  272  and a U-shaped member  274 . The U-shaped member  274  is preferably shaped to correspond to the shape of the dowel bar  222 . Additionally, the U-shaped member  274  comprises the second portion  242  which abuts the arm  234 . 
     The second end  238  is manipulated around the cross member  272  by manually bending the second end  238  under and around the cross member  272 . The A-frames  270  are connected to one another via at least one base member  278 . A second cross member  280  can be utilized to span an open end  282  of the U-shaped member  274 . Once attached the frictional forces of the arm  234  abutting the second portion  242  and the second end  238  wrapping at least a portion around the cross member  272  and the at least one circular members abutting the dowel bar  222  maintain the dowel bar  222  and the frame  224  in a fixed position. 
     A fourth embodiment shown in  FIGS. 15-21  is of a connecting device  320  which is also a mechanical connection for a dowel bar  322  and frame  324  of a dowel bar assembly  326 . The device  320  comprises a clip  328 . The clip  328  comprises a planar member  330 , a first arm  332  and a second arm  334 . The planar member  330 , first arm  332  and second arm  334  form a cavity  336  capable of receiving the dowel bar  322 . 
     The first arm  332  preferably extends substantially perpendicular to the planar member  330 . The second arm  334  also preferably extends substantially perpendicular to the planar member  330 . The second arm  334  further comprises a groove  338  that engages and secures a first portion  343  of the frame  324  which corresponds to a cross member  372  of an A-frame  370 . The first arm  332  comprises a second groove  340  which engages a second portion  341  of the frame  324 . The second portion  341  is an apex  345  of the A-frame  370 . Once the clip  328  is inserted over the dowel bar  322 , a retaining ring  350  is slid over the clip  328  to lock the clip  328  in place. 
     As seen in  FIG. 15 , the clip  328  utilizes different structures to accomplish a similar function of the first embodiment of the connecting device. Additionally, the fourth embodiment is similar to the second embodiment, but instead uses the retaining ring  350  and does not utilize a screw for further securing the device to the dowel bar and frame. Again referring to  FIG. 15 , a complete dowel bar assembly  326  is detailed. The dowel bar  322  comprises a first end  360  and a second end  362 . The first end  360  is inserted into a first connecting device  366  and the second end  362  is inserted into a second connecting device  368 . The frame  324  comprises two symmetrical A-frames  370  each comprising a cross member  372  and a U-shaped member  374 . The U-shaped member  374  is preferably shaped to correspond to the shape of the dowel bar  322 . Additionally, the U-shaped member  374  comprises the second portion  341 . 
     The cross member  372  is fitted into the groove  338  which can be performed by manually bending the second arm  134  away from the dowel bar  122 . A band  350  is placed around the clip  328  and dowel bar  322  to further secure the frame  324  in the groove  338  and prevent slipping of the frame  324  out of the groove  338 . The devices  366  and  368  are still preferably selectively removable from the dowel bar  322  and the A-frames  370 . The A-frames  370  can be connected to one another via at least one base member  378 . A second cross member  380  can be utilized to span an open end  382  of the U-shaped member  374 . 
     Each connecting device  366  and  368  hold the dowel bar  322  and frame  324  in place through a friction type connection wherein the grooves  338  and  340  and the structures defining the cavity  336  exert forces which maintain the connection between the frame  324  and dowel bar  322 . For additional support of the connection, the band  350  is selectively slidable over the clip  328 . 
     Having thus described the invention in connection with the several embodiments thereof, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that various revisions can be made to the several embodiments described herein with out departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is my intention, however, that all such revisions and modifications that are evident to those skilled in the art will be included with in the scope of the following claims. Any elements of any embodiments disclosed herein can be used in combination with any elements of other embodiments disclosed herein in any manner to create different embodiments.