Patent Publication Number: US-8985894-B1

Title: Methods of constructing a pump island protector, and a pump island protector formed by such methods

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a method of constructing a pump island protector to alleviate continuous maintenance required for a deteriorating existing steel pump island base, and a pump island protector constructed by such a method. 
     More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of constructing a pump island protector to alleviate continuous maintenance required for a deteriorating existing steel pump island base and higher portions disposed on the base, and to a pump island protector constructed be such method. 
     It is a desideratum of the present invention to avoid the animadversions of conventional techniques for dealing with deterioration of existing pump island bases and/or higher portions disposed on such bases. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a method of constructing a pump island protector to alleviate continuous maintenance required for a deteriorating existing steel pump island base, comprising the steps of: bending an existing steel perimeter form of the existing steel pump island base to a 90-degree angle for use as an anchoring point from the existing pump island base to new concrete and to create a clean edge; forming a cut in the perimeter of the existing island to a predetermined depth for accepting in said cut a stainless steel member to be dropped into said cut; positioning an adjustable form system a predetermined distance away from the existing pump island base; cutting and bending said stainless steel member to line the adjustable form system; pouring ready mix concrete into the adjustable form system flush with the top surface of the existing pump island base and finishing the concrete; and removing the adjustable form system to provide the completed pump island protector. 
     The present invention also provides a method of constructing a pump island protector to alleviate continuous maintenance required for a deteriorating existing steel pump island base and higher portions disposed on the base, comprising the steps of: bending an existing steel perimeter form of the existing steel pump island base to a 90-degree angle for use as an anchoring point from the existing pump island base to new concrete and to create a clean edge; forming a first cut in the perimeter of the existing island to a predetermined depth for accepting in said cut a stainless steel member to be dropped into said cut; positioning an adjustable form system a predetermined distance away from the existing pump island base; cutting and bending said stainless steel member to line the adjustable form system; pouring ready mix concrete into the adjustable form system flush with the top surface of the existing pump island base and finishing the concrete; removing the adjustable form system; bending an existing steel perimeter form of at least one of the higher portions disposed on the base to a 90-degree angle for use as an anchoring point from the existing higher portion to new concrete and to create a clean edge; forming a second cut in the perimeter of the existing higher portion to a predetermined depth for accepting in said second cut a second stainless steel member to be dropped into said second cut; positioning a second adjustable form system a predetermined distance away from the existing higher portion; cutting and bending said second stainless steel member to line said second adjustable form system; pouring ready mix concrete into said second adjustable form system flush with the top surface of the existing higher portion and finishing the concrete; and removing said second adjustable form system to provide the completed pump island protector. 
     The present invention also provides a pump island protector constructed in according to any of the aforementioned methods. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a method as described hereinabove wherein the cut is formed by saw cutting. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a method as described hereinabove wherein the stainless steel member is a 20-gauge stainless steel member to line the adjustable form system. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a method as described hereinabove wherein the forming step forms a cut in the perimeter of the existing island to a predetermined depth of approximately an inch and a half for accepting in the cut the stainless steel member to be dropped into the cut. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a method as described hereinabove wherein the positioning step positions the adjustable form system a predetermined distance of approximately four inches away from the existing pump island base. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a method as described hereinabove which uses a form system that follows all contours of existing concrete around the pump island. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a method as described hereinabove which uses an adjustable form system and acombination of stainless steel and concrete. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a method as described hereinabove wherein the existing pump bases and/or higher portions mounted on the pump base are re-wrapped with stainless steel and filled with concrete to alleviate/avoid yearly maintenance and deterioration of the existing (non-stainless) steel wrapped pump island. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a pump island protector produced according to any of the methods described hereinabove. 
     Other objects, advantages, features and modifications of the present invention will become more apparent to those persons skilled in this particular area of technology and to other persons after having been exposed to the present patent specification with its accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a pump island protector according to the invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows a section of an existing pump island. 
         FIG. 3  shows the section of  FIG. 2  with the existing steel bent to 90 degrees according to the invention 
         FIG. 4  shows the section of  FIG. 3  with a saw cut in the existing concrete to accept a stainless steel member according to the invention. 
         FIG. 5  shows the section of  FIG. 4  with the set up adjustable form system around the perimeter according to the invention. 
         FIG. 6  shows the section of  FIG. 5  with the form system lined with 20-gauge stainless steel according to the invention. 
         FIG. 7  shows the section of  FIG. 6  with new concrete poured and finished flush with the existing concrete according to the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a pump island protector  10  according to the invention. 
       FIGS. 2 through 7  illustrate the method by which the pump island protector  10  is constructed. 
       FIG. 2  shows the existing concrete island base  11 , the existing concrete  12 , the existing top surface  13  of the concrete  12 , the existing steel retainer or form  14  with a bull nose  15 , and the existing concrete drive  16 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates how the existing steel retainer  14  is bent to 90 degrees. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates saw cutting the existing concree drive  16  to form a cut  17  for accepting a stainless steel member  18 . 
     The stainless steel member  18  is 20-gauge stainless steel. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an adjustable form system  19  set up around the perimeter of the existing concrete island base  11 . 
     The adustable form system  19  follows all contours of the existing concrete  12 . 
     Using the adjustable form system  19  and the combination of the stainless steel member  18  and new concrete  20 , the existing pump island base  11  is re-wrapped with the stainless steel member  18  and the new concrete  20 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates new concrete  20  which is poured in and finished flush to the existing top surface  13  of the existing concrete  12 . 
     The completed pump island protector  10  is approximately 4½ inches larger than the existing island all the way around. 
     One of the methods of constructing the pump island protector  10  to alleviate continuous maintenance required for a deteriorating existing steel pump island base  11 , comprises the steps of: 
     bending an existing steel perimeter form  14  of the existing steel pump island base  11  to a 90-degree angle for use as an anchoring point from the existing pump island base  11  to new concrete  20  and to create a clean edge; 
     forming the cut  17  in the perimeter of the existing island  11  to a predetermined depth for accepting in the cut  17  a stainless steel member  18  to be dropped into the cut  17 ; 
     positioning the adjustable form system  19  a predetermined distance away from the existing pump island base  11 ; 
     cutting and bending the stainless steel member  18  to line the adjustable form system  19 ; 
     pouring ready mix concrete  20  into the adjustable form system  19  flush with the top surface  13  of the existing pump island base  11  and finishing the concrete  20 ; and 
     removing the adjustable form system  19  to provide the completed pump island protector  10 . 
     Another one of the methods of constructing the pump island protector  10  to alleviate continuous maintenance required for a deteriorating existing steel pump island base  11  and higher portions  21  and  22  disposed on the existing steel island base  11 , comprises the steps of: 
     bending an existing steel perimeter form  14  of the existing steel pump island base  11  to a 90-degree angle for use as an anchoring point from the existing pump island base  11  to new concrete  20  and to create a clean edge; 
     forming the cut  17  in the perimeter of the existing island  11  to a predetermined depth for accepting in the cut  17  a stainless steel member  18  to be dropped into the cut  17 ; 
     positioning the adjustable form system  19  a predetermined distance away from the existing pump island base  11 ; 
     cutting and bending the stainless steel member  18  to line the adjustable form system  19 ; 
     pouring ready mix concrete  20  into the adjustable form system  19  flush with the top surface  13  of the existing pump island base  11  and finishing the concrete  20 ; and 
     removing the adjustable form system  19  from the pump island base; 
     bending an existing steel perimeter form of at least one of the higher portions  21  and  22  disposed on the base  11  to a 90-degree angle for use as an anchoring point from the existing higher portion  21  or  22  to new concrete and to create a clean edge; 
     forming a second cut  17  in the perimeter of the existing higher portion  21  or  22  to a predetermined depth for accepting in the second cut  17  a second stainless steel member  18  to be dropped into the second cut  17 ; 
     positioning a second adjustable form system  19  a predetermined distance away from the existing higher portion  21  or  22 ; 
     cutting and bending the second stainless steel member  18  to line the second adjustable form system  19 ; 
     pouring ready mix concrete into the second adjustable form system  19  flush with the top surface of the existing higher portion  21  and  22  and finishing the concrete; and 
     removing the second adjustable form system  19  to provide the completed pump island protector  10 . 
     While the foregoing describes only exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that the present invention covers all variations, modifications and changes thereof which will occur to those persons skilled in the art and to other persons after having been exposed to the present patent application.