Patent Publication Number: US-9834922-B2

Title: Embedded dowel inserts

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 61/683,042 filed Aug. 14, 2012, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 13/964.834, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to embedded dowel inserts and, more particularly, to embedded dowel inserts for concrete application. 
     Currently, during new concrete construction, steel dowels may be embedded in the concrete for the construction of a budding. The steel dowels are left exposed and protruding from the cured concrete. The dowels may expose construction workers to impalement. To prevent this, the dowels need to be covered with materials. 
     As can be seen,her need for a device that prevents the dowels from being exposed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention, a dowel supporting device comprises: a substantially hollow tube having a top end and a bottom end, wherein the substantially hollow tube forms an opening at the top end formed to receive a dowel: and a base at the bottom end comprising a fastening component. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a method of securing dowels during construction comprises: providing at least one substantially hollow tube having a top end and a bottom end, wherein the substantially hollow tube forms an opening at the top end, and the bottom end comprises a base; fastening the base of the substantially hollow tube to a concrete deck; pouring concrete within the concrete deck; and inserting a dowel into the opening of the substantially hollow tube. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention in use; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a section view of the present invention along line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a section view of the present invention along line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 1  illustrated with a dowel inserted; 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of a rigid plastic tie of present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of the rigid plastic tie of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of two rigid plastic ties joined together; 
         FIG. 11  is a top view of an alternative rigid plastic tie of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 12  is a side view of the rigid plastic tie of  FIG. 11 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a dowel supporting device that is a substantially hollow tube having a top end and a bottom end. An opening may be formed at the top end and a base may be formed at the bottom end. The base of the dowel supporting device may be fastened to a concrete deck. Concrete may be poured into the concrete deck. When dowels are ready to be used, the dowels may be inserted into and secured to the dowel supporting device. 
     The present invention may include a pre-molded assembly of tubes installed in concrete to support metal dowels. The pre-molded tube assemblies may be placed and mechanically fastened to surfaces prior to the placement of concrete. Once the concrete has been laid, and the use for dowels is needed, the steel dowels may be placed and secured within the tubes. In certain embodiments, epoxy may be used within the tubes to secure the metal dowels. 
     This process may eliminate the dangerous exposure of dowels that could be the cause of impalement. In addition, the process may reduce the cost of maintaining exposed dowels by using covers. The tubes of the present invention may be made of a resin, or non-corrosive lightweight material including but not limited to polymers, such as plastic, polyvinyl chloride, and fiberglass. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 12 , the present invention may include a dowel insert tube  28  that may include a top end and a bottom end. The dowel insert tube  28  forms an opening  40  at the top end shaped to receive a dowel  36 . A base  16  may form at the bottom end. In certain embodiments, the base  16  may include fastener holes  18  in which fasteners  30 , such as bolts or screws, may be secured through to fasten the base  16  to a surface of a concrete deck  24 . 
     In certain embodiments the dowel insert tube  28  may include an adjustable leg section  12  near the bottom end, a mid section  14  and an upper tube section  10  near the top end. The leg section  12  may have a larger diameter than the mid section  14  and the mid section  14  may have a larger diameter than the upper tube section  10 . The leg section  12 , mid section  14 , and upper tube section  10  may telescope relative to one another to adjust the height of the dowel insert tube  10 . 
     In certain embodiments he present invention may have a cap  22  such as a thin sealed covering. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the cap  22  may be located at the top of the upper tube section  10  as well as the top of the mid section  14 . In certain embodiments, glue, such as epoxy  20  may be stored within the dowel insert tube  28  and the cap  22  may preserve the epoxy  20 . Therefore, when the dowel insert tube  28  is ready to be used, the cap  22  may be removed or punctured by the dowel  36  and the dowel  36  may be placed within the tube  28 . Alternatively, the cap  22  may be removed and epoxy  20  may be inserted into the tube  28 . Then the dowel  36  may be placed within the dowel insert tube  28 . The epoxy  20  may secure the dowel  36  in the dowel insert tube  28 . 
     The present invention may further include ties  32 . In certain embodiments, the ties  32  may be rigid plastic ties  32 . The ties  32  may be used to align the dowel insert tubes  28  prior to the concrete filling. The ties  32  may be substantially straight and have a substantially flat body portion, which may include openings  42 . The openings  42  may fit over the upper  10  and mid sections  14  and may rest on the lip of the leg section  12 . Therefore, the dowel insert tubes  28  may be easily aligned prior to mounting the base  16 . In certain embodiments, the ties  42  may include ends that may be joined with one another. The ends may pivot relative to one another so that a user may align the dowel insert tubes  28  at angles. 
     A method of securing the dowels during construction may include the following. At least one substantially hollow tube having a top end and a bottom end may be provided. The hollow tube may form an opening at the top end, and the bottom end may include a base. The base may be fastened to a concrete deck. Concrete may be poured into the concrete deck and surround the hollow tubes. The concrete may solidify around the hollow tubes. Dowels may then be placed within the tubes when construction is ready to continue. 
     In certain embodiments, the at least one substantially hollow tube may be a plurality of substantially hollow tubes. Therefore a tie having a substantially flat body portion having openings may be provided. The tie may be placed over the plurality of substantially hollow tubes to align the plurality of substantially hollow tubes prior to fastening the hollow tubes to the concrete deck. This allows for proper alignment of the dowels once inserted into the tubes. 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.