Patent Publication Number: US-8985892-B1

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

Description:
The present patent application claims priority from and is a continuation-in-part of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/019,578 filed Sep. 6, 2013. 
    
    
     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. 
     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: making a saw-cut in pavement around an existing pump island; placing expansion material around an existing dispenser and columns on the existing pump island; cutting off bollards on or near the existing pump island; drilling a plurality of holes in the existing pump island; placing re-rod in said holes to protrude from said holes; placing adjustable forms around the existing pump island; anchoring said adjustable forms to the pavement around the existing pump island; placing stainless steel components into said saw-cut around the existing pump island; placing stainless steel components at a new bollard location for the pump island; anchoring forms to said stainless steel components; applying a bonding agent to existing concrete of the pump island; pouring 4,000 psi new concrete level with a top surface of said stainless steel components and said expansion material to form a cap over the extire pump island; finishing said new concrete; and removing said adjustable forms to provide the completed pump island protector. 
     The present invention provides a pump island protector constructed in according to the method described above. 
     The object of the present invention is to provide a method as described hereinabove wherein the saw-cut is made approximately 2 to 4 inches away from the existing pump island, and at a depth of approximately 1 to 1½ inches. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a method as described hereinabove including placing the re-rod in the holes to protrude approximately 2 to 3 inches from the holes. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a method as described hereinabove wherein the stainless steel components are 20 gauge stainless steel. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a method as described hereinabove including pouring 4,000 psi concrete and a 1½-2 inch cap over the entire island and filling the new bollard location, making the concrete level with a top surface of the expansion material. 
     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 typical conventional pump island. 
         FIG. 2  shows the  FIG. 1  pump island with a saw-cut in the pavement around the pump island. 
         FIG. 3  shows the  FIG. 2  pump island with expansion material in place. 
         FIG. 4  shows the  FIG. 3  pump island with the existing bollards cut off. 
         FIG. 5  shows the  FIG. 4  pump island with re-rods protruding therefrom. 
         FIG. 6  shows the  FIG. 5  pump island with stainless steel placed in the saw-cut and at a new bollard location. 
         FIG. 7  shows the  FIG. 6  pump island with adjustable forms anchored to the stainless steel. 
         FIG. 8  shows the  FIG. 7  pump island with a bonding agent applied to the existing concrete. 
         FIG. 9  shows the  FIG. 8  pump island with 4,000 psi concrete placed thereon. 
         FIG. 10  shows the  FIG. 9  pump island with the adjustable forms removed therefrom. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a typical conventional pump island  10  with a fuel dispenser  11 , bollards  12  and  13 , and a canopy support column  14 . 
       FIGS. 2 through 10  illustrate the steps of the method by which the pump island protector  30  is constructed. 
       FIG. 2  shows the saw-cut  15  made in the pavement  16  around the pump island  10 . 
     The saw-cut  15  is offset 2 to 4 inches away from the existing pump island  10 . 
     The saw-cut  15  is cut 1 to 1¼ inches deep. 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , expansion material  16  is placed around the existing pump dispenser  11 , and any column  14 , to allow for future removal or service. This gives the option to pull the pump dispenser  11  if necessary in the future. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates cutting off the existing bollards  12  and  13 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 5 , holes  16  are drilled in the existing pump island  10 , and then re-rods  17  are placed in the holes  16 . 
     The re-rods  17  protrude 2 to 3 inches from the pump island. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates placing the adjustable forms and anchoring them to the pavement or existing concrete around the pump island  10 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates placement of stainless steel members  18  into the saw-cut  15  around the island  10  and at a new bollard location  19 . 
     The bollard form  20  is set on top of an end of the existing pump island  10 , and lined with stainless steel members  18 . 
     The stainless steel  18  is 20-gauge stainless steel. 
       FIG. 7  shows the adjustable forms  21  anchored to the stainless steel members  18 . 
     The adjustable forms  21  are also anchored to the pavement or existing concrete around the pump island  10 . 
       FIG. 8  shows the bonding agent  22  spread or applied to the existing concrete. 
       FIG. 9  shows the placement of 4,000 psi concrete level with the top of the stainless steel members  18  and expansion material  24  to form a 1½-2 inch cap over the entire pump island. 
     The 4,000 pound concrete  23  is poured and a 1½-2 inch cap over the entire island and fill the bollard. 
     The concrete  23  is made level with the top of the expansion material  24 . 
     The concrete  23  is then finished. 
       FIG. 10  shows the new pump island  30  with the adjustable forms  21  removed therefrom. 
     The invention thus provides a method of constructing a pump island protector  30  to alleviate continuous maintenance required for a deteriorating existing steel pump island base, comprising the steps of: 
     making a saw-cut in pavement around an existing pump island; 
     placing expansion material around the existing pump and columns of the existing pump island; 
     cutting off bollards on or near the existing pump island; 
     drilling a plurality of holes in the existing pump island; 
     placing re-rod in said holes to protrude from said holes; 
     placing adjustable forms around the existing pump island; 
     anchoring said adjustable forms to the pavement around the existing pump island; 
     placing stainless steel components into said saw-cut around the existing pump island; 
     placing stainless steel components at a new bollard location for the pump island; 
     anchoring forms to said stainless steel components; 
     applying a bonding agent to existing concrete of the pump island; 
     pouring 4,000 psi new concrete level with a top surface of said stainless steel components and said expansion material to form a cap over the extire pump island; 
     finishing said new concrete; and 
     removing said adjustable forms to provide the completed pump island protector. 
     The invention also provides a pump island protector produced according to the above-described method. 
     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. 
     There have described hereinabove only one possible unique and novel embodiment of the present invention which can be practiced and constructed in many different embodiments, configurations, materials, arrangements of components, sizes, and shapes. 
     It should be understood that many changes, modifications, variations, and other uses and applications will become apparent to those persons skilled in this particular area of technology and to others after having been exposed to the present patent specification. 
     Any and all such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention are therefore covered by and embraced within the present invention and the patent claims set forth hereinbelow.