Patent Publication Number: US-11377852-B1

Title: Embed apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/767,350, filed Nov. 14, 2018, entitled EMBED APPARATUS, naming David Cotton as inventor, which is incorporated herein by reference in the entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure generally relates to the field of embed devices, and, more particularly, to an apparatus for embedding graphic elements into a surface. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Composite materials have long been used for the construction of roads and walkways. One example of this is concrete, which is a composite material including a cement binder and various aggregates. Such concrete is a prolific building material and, in some cases, may be used in aesthetic designs. The concrete may further include reinforcing materials, such as rebar, to improve durability. Before concrete hardens, the concrete is held in a slurry, which may feature properties similar to fluid, which may be difficult to work with. Placement of design elements in concrete is difficult due to the fluid nature of the liquid concrete. Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide a system and method that cures the shortcomings described above. 
     SUMMARY 
     An apparatus is disclosed in accordance with one or more illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure. In one illustrative embodiment, the apparatus includes a graphical element. In another illustrative embodiment, the apparatus includes a plurality of frames, where each of the plurality of frames includes an upper frame portion, a lower frame portion, and a plurality of truss members. In another illustrative embodiment, the plurality of truss members are disposed between and attach the lower frame portion to the upper frame portion. In another illustrative embodiment, the graphical element is attached to each of the plurality of frames. In another illustrative embodiment, the apparatus includes a plurality of struts disposed between and connecting the plurality of frames. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The numerous advantages of the disclosure may be better understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying figures in which: 
         FIG. 1A  illustrates a top perspective view of an embed apparatus, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 1B  illustrates an end view of the embed apparatus, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 1C  illustrates a side top view of the embed apparatus, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 1D  illustrates a side view of the embed apparatus, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 1E  illustrates a top view of the embed apparatus, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 1F  illustrates a bottom view of the embed apparatus, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 1G  illustrates a side view of a frame of the embed apparatus, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 1H  illustrates a side view of the embed apparatus embedded in a material, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 1I  illustrates a top view of the embed apparatus embedded in a material, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2A  illustrates a top perspective view of an embed apparatus, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2B  illustrates an end view of the embed apparatus, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2C  illustrates a side view of the embed apparatus, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2D  illustrates a top view of the embed apparatus, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2E  illustrates a bottom view of the embed apparatus, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2F  illustrates a side view of a frame of the embed apparatus, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2G  illustrates a side view of the embed apparatus embedded in a material, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 2H  illustrates a top view of the embed apparatus embedded in a material, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the subject matter disclosed, which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
       FIGS. 1A through 2H  generally illustrate an embed apparatus, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to an apparatus embeddable in a surface. Such surfaces may be formed from any material known in the art of construction, such as, but not limited to, concrete, asphalt, composite rubber, or mud. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1A through 1I , an apparatus  100  is shown, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a graphic element  110 . The graphic element  110  may be affixed to the apparatus  100  using any technique known in the art. For example, the graphic element  110  may be affixed using a thermal joining technique (e.g., welding, brazing, or soldering) or mechanical fastening hardware. 
     In some embodiments, the graphic element  110  is attached to one or more frames  102 . It is to be understood that the one or more frames  102  may comprise any number of frames, such as, but not limited to, a first frame  102   a  and a second frame  102   b . In this regard, the number of frames  102  is not intended as a limitation on the present disclosure. Furthermore, it is noted herein that the one or more graphic elements  110  may be affixed to any portion of the frame  102 . Therefore, the above description should not be interpreted as a limitation on the present disclosure but merely an illustration. 
     In some embodiments, the frame  102  is formed as a truss with an upper frame  114 , a lower frame  116 , and one or truss members  118 . It is noted herein that the frame  102  may include any truss design known in the art. For example, such truss may have, but is not limited to, a rectangular prism shape (e.g., the truss has a square or rectangular cross-section when viewed from the end of the frame  102  as depicted in  FIG. 1B ), a triangular prism shape (e.g., the truss has a triangle cross-section when viewed from the end of the frame  102 ), or any N sided design (e.g., the truss has an N-side cross-section when viewed from the end of the frame  102 ). By way of another example, the frame  102  may be constructed from one or more curved structures. For instance, at least a portion of the one or more curved structures (i.e., parabolic structures or bow structures) may be arranged in a substantially vertical direction (i.e., 90 degrees from ground), a substantially horizontal direction (e.g. 0 degrees from ground), or at a selected angle from the ground (e.g., angle ranging from 1 to 89 degrees from ground). 
     The depiction of truss members (e.g., truss member  118 ) is not intended to be limited to the specific configuration disclosed herein. Rather, the truss members may be in any suitable configuration to support the graphic element  110  and resist tensile and compressive forces (e.g., due to a weight on the graphic element). In this regard, the truss member configuration may include, but is not limited to, a Pratt Truss, a Warrant Truss, or an X member Truss. By way of another example, the truss members may be formed from shapes, such as, but is not limited to, a triangle, a square, a pentagon, a hexagon, a “K shape”, or the like. 
     For the purposes of the present disclosure, the truss members  118  may be fabricated using any fabrication process known in the art. For example, the truss members  118  may be formed via one or more subsequent fabrication processes including, but not limited to, using laser cutting, hand cutting, CNC milling, or the like. By way of another example, the truss members  118  may be formed from one or more concurrent fabrication processes including, but not limited to, casting, molding, or the like. 
     In some embodiments, the apparatus  100  may further include one or more struts  108  disposed between the one or more frames  102 . The struts  108  may be attached to the frame  102  by a portion of the frame  102  which is configured to receive the strut  108  (e.g., a hole  106 ). The use of strut  108  is used to provide spacing between two or more frames  102 . In this regard, the strut  108  may provide compressive and/or tensile force to the frames  102 , thereby restricting movement of the frames  108  along the strut  108 . The use of such struts  108  may create enhanced rigidity in the apparatus  100 . It is noted herein that the strut  108  may be fabricated from a material including, but not limited to, metal, a composite fiber, or the like. For example, the strut  108  may be a bar stock metal or rebar. 
     As illustrated by  FIG. 1B , the apparatus may include a plurality of frames  102   a ,  102   b ,  102   c ,  102   d , supported by a plurality of struts  108   a ,  108   b . The struts  108   a ,  108   b  may be of varying length, according to number of frames  102  to which the strut  108  must attach. In this regard, strut  108   a  is shorter than strut  108   b  because  108   a  attaches to frames  102   a ,  102   b , while strut  108   b  attaches to frames  102   a ,  102   b ,  102   c , and  102   d . The number and recitation of strut  108   a  and  108   b  is not intended as a limitation on the present disclosure but rather to highlight that the length of strut  108  may vary depending on the number of attached frames  102 . The length of each frame  102  may correspond to the size of the graphic element  110  or may be uniformly sized. 
     In some embodiments, the strut  108  is configured to attach to the frame  102  by one or more holes  106  (or other receiving structure). The hole  106  may be configured to receive a portion of the strut  108  for coupling the frame  102  to one or more additional frames  102 . The one or more struts  108  may be affixed to the one or more holes  106  using any technique known in the art. For example, the one or more struts  108  may be welded, brazed, soldered, or the like to one or more holes  106  on the frame  102 . 
     In some embodiments, the holes  106  may be round holes with a diameter corresponding to a round bar strut. For example, the frame  102  may include one or more holes  106  of suitable diameter for receiving the strut  108 . By way of another example, the hole may have a receiving structure of any suitable geometry, such as, but not limited to, a slot, a lip, a square hole, or a recess. In this regard, the frame  102  may receive the strut  108  for ease of assembly (e.g., insertion of the strut  108  within the receiving structure and subsequently welding the strut  108  to the frame  102 ). 
     In some embodiments, the hole  106  may be may be formed by a portion of the frame  102  (e.g., one or more of the upper frame  114 , lower frame  116 , and/or the truss member  118 ). Although the hole  106  may be formed by a portion of the frame  102 , this is not intended as a limitation on the present disclosure. For example, the hole  106  may be attached to the frame  102  by a subsequent process (e.g., welding). 
     In some embodiments, hole  106  is disposed between the lower frame  116  and the truss members  118  (as depicted in  FIGS. 1A-1F ). Although the hole has been discussed as being disposed between the lower frame  116  and the truss member  118 , this is not intended as a limitation on the present disclosure. For example, the hole  106  may be disposed on any portion of the frame  102 , such as, but not limited to, between the upper frame  114  and the truss members  118 , attached directly to the lower frame  116 , attached directly to the upper frame  114 , or disposed on one of the truss members  118 . In this regard, a plurality of the holes  106  may be selectively spaced for receiving a plurality of struts  108 . The distance between the holes  106  may be selectively determined based on considerations such as, but not limited to, weight of the apparatus  100  and a desired rigidity between the frames  102  (e.g., a greater number of holes may allow for a greater number of struts, resulting in increased rigidity). 
     In some embodiments, the frame  102  (including upper frame  114 , lower frame  116 , and truss members  118 ) and/or the graphic element  110  may be formed from a plate. The plate may have a nominal thickness such as, but is not limited to, from 7 gauge to 30 gauge. Furthermore, the plate may comprise any suitable material for being embedded in concrete, such as, but not limited to, steel (e.g., low-carbon steel, medium-carbon steel, high-carbon steel), a steel alloy (e.g., steel with chromium, cobalt, molybdenum, nickel, niobium, titanium, tungsten, vanadium, and/or zirconium, etc.), alternative metals (e.g., aluminum), a plastic (e.g., polyvinyl chloride (PVC)), or a composite material. The plate may be treated by any suitable process including, but not limited to, hot rolling, cold rolling, galvanization, or heat treating. Such material may be selected for properties such as, but not limited to ability to resist corrosion within concrete, ease of manufacturing, ability to be cut (e.g., by laser, waterjet, plasma, etc.), ability to be welded, cost, or material strength. In this regard, the material selected is not intended as a limitation of the present disclosure. 
     Although embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to the use of one or more struts  108 , it is noted herein that the one or more holes  106  of the frame  102  may be configured to receive and/or couple to rebar (e.g., metal rebar or composite rebar) embedded within the surface of the ground. For example, some or all of the one or more struts  108  may be replaced with rebar. In this regard, the one or more connecting members  108  may not be integrated or required. Therefore, the above description should not be interpreted as a limitation on the present disclosure but merely an illustration. In this example, the rebar may include any bar size known in the art, such as, but not limited to, bar with a diameter ranging from 0.25 inches to 2.25 inches (e.g., imperial bar size 2 through 18). In cases where rebar is used in place of strut  108 , such rebar may be used with tied rebar cages. 
     In some embodiments, the graphic element  110  may include one or more beveled edges. In this regard, the beveled edges of the graphic element  110  may improve with retaining the apparatus by the concrete (e.g., due to an improved adhesion between the beveled edge and the concrete). In this regard, the bevel may be slanted from a top or bottom surface of the graphic element  110 . Such bevel may be formed during one or more processes described herein (e.g., during a plasma cutting of the graphic element). Alternatively, the bevel may be formed by one or more post processes, such as, but not limited to, punching, grinding, cutting, or milling. The bevel may be any suitable angle for retaining the graphic element  110 , such as, but not limited to, 0 to 45 degrees from a side face of the graphic element. In a further embodiment, a top surface of the graphic element  110  may be treated to improve resistance to wear and corrosion. This may be beneficial if the apparatus  100  is deployed in a high-traffic area or an area which uses corrosive chemicals (e.g., road salts). Furthermore, in some embodiments, the graphic element  110  may include one or more display materials (e.g., copper) with one or more desired colors or textures. 
     In some embodiments, the graphic element  110  may include, but is not limited to, at least one of a letter, a character, a logo, an icon, an emblem, an image, a number, a memorial plaque, or the like. 
       FIGS. 1H and 1I  illustrate the apparatus  100  embedded in a volume of material, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     In one embodiment, the apparatus  100  is configured to be embedded in concrete or other material. The apparatus  100  may include a graphic element  110  coupled to the upper frame  114  such that a face of the one or more graphic elements are positioned at or near ground level  101  (e.g., a paved surface) when the frame  102  is embedded. A bottom face of the lower frame  116  may generally have a flat profile. In this regard, the bottom face of the lower frame  116  may rest on a ground surface (e.g., after a road milling operation but before a paving operation). After pouring the concrete, the graphic element  110  may be generally at the ground level  101  (e.g., a bottom surface of the graphic element  110  may be coplanar with ground level  101 ; a top surface of the graphic element  110  may be coplanar with ground level  101 ; or a plane disposed between the top surface and the bottom surface may be coplanar with ground level  101 ). Alternatively, graphic element  110  may be raised from ground level  101  (e.g., by one inch or more). It is envisioned that the height of the apparatus  100  may be selectively adjusted based on a desired depth of pour and the geometry of the apparatus  100  (e.g., struts  108 ). In some embodiments, apparatus  100  allows for liquid concrete with varying levels of slump to flow in and around the plurality of truss members  118 . In this regard, the position, orientation, geometry, and configuration of the frame  102  and the struts  108  may provide minimal restriction to the flow of said concrete. When surrounded by concrete, the plurality of frames may be configured to secure the graphic element at a top surface of the liquid concrete (e.g., due to a predetermined concrete pour height corresponding to a distance between the graphic element  110  and a bottom surface of the apparatus  100 ). 
     Alternatively, in some embodiments, the apparatus  100  may be affected by buoyant forces, such that the bottom face of the lower frame  116  raises from the pre-paved surface as material is poured. In this regard, the graphic element  110  may feature one or more faces which may resist the buoyant forces exerted by the concrete (e.g., a planar flat face). 
     Referring generally to  FIGS. 2A through 2F , an apparatus  200  is shown, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. The apparatus  200  may include frames  202 , holes  206 , struts  208 , graphic element  210 , upper frame  214 , lower frame  216 , and truss members  218 . Furthermore, the apparatus  200  may include tabs  212  to attach the graphic element  210  to the frame  202 . 
     It is recognized herein that the frames  202 , holes  206 , struts  208 , graphic element  210 , upper frame  214 , lower frame  216 , and truss members  218  of the apparatus  200  are similar to the frames  102 , holes  106 , struts  108 , graphic element  110 , upper frame  114 , lower frame  116 , and truss members  118  of the apparatus  100 . As such, the description of apparatus  100  should be interpreted to extend to apparatus  200 , except where otherwise noted. 
     In one embodiment, the graphic element  210  is attached to the frame  202  by one or more tabs  212 . The one or more tabs  212  may extend from the upper frame  214  of the one or more frames  202 . In this regard, the tabs  212  may provide an offset between the upper frame  214  and graphic element  210 . Such offset may provide selective control of the spacing of the graphic element  210  relative to one or more surfaces (e.g., ground level pre-pour). Additionally, the offset may allow for an improved contact between the apparatus  200  and the material used to retain the apparatus (e.g., concrete). In this regard, the offset between the frame and the graphic element may allow for concrete with varying levels of slump to flow in and around the tabs  212  to retain the graphic element  210 . 
     The tabs  212  may be formed directly onto the frame  202  by one or more processes. In this regard, the tabs  212  and the frame  202  may be cut (e.g., by laser, oxy-fuel, plasma, waterjet, etc.) from a piece of plate steel. However, this is not intended as a limitation on the present disclosure. For example, the tabs  212  may be attached to the frame  202  by a subsequent process, such as, but not limited to, welding or riveting. Such tabs  212  may further assist in selectively controlling the height of the apparatus  200  relative to the depth of pour (e.g., longer tabs may allow for a higher depth of pour). 
     Referring generally again to  FIGS. 1A-2H , an apparatus for embedding in concrete is disclosed. 
     In some embodiments, the apparatus (e.g., apparatus  100 , or apparatus  200 ) may include a plurality of frames in parallel, and a plurality of struts orthogonal to the frames (see for example  FIG. 2E ). This is not intended as a limitation on the present disclosure, unless noted otherwise. For example, a first frame and a second frame may be positioned at a selected angle other than parallel (e.g., 60 to 89 degrees, 91 to 120 degrees, etc.). Similarly, the struts may be positioned at an angle other than orthogonal to the frames. For instance, two non-parallel frames may be positioned at 85 degrees relative to one another (not depicted). In this instance, hole in the non-parallel frames may be angled (not depicted). 
     In some embodiments, the apparatus (e.g., apparatus  100 , or apparatus  200 ) may include a plurality of frames orthogonal to a ground surface and a plurality of struts parallel to the ground surface. This is not intended as a limitation on the present disclosure, unless noted otherwise. For example, the frames may be a selected angle other than orthogonal (e.g., 60 to 89 degrees, 91 to 120 degrees, etc.). Similarly, the struts may be positioned at an angle other than parallel to the ground. For instance, a tilted frame may be positioned 85 degrees from orthogonal to the ground. In this instance, a hole in the tilted frame may be angled (not depicted). 
     One skilled in the art will recognize that the herein described components, devices, objects, and the discussion accompanying them are used as examples for the sake of conceptual clarity and that various configuration modifications are contemplated. Consequently, as used herein, the specific exemplars set forth and the accompanying discussion are intended to be representative of their more general classes. In general, use of any specific exemplar is intended to be representative of its class, and the non-inclusion of specific components, devices, and objects should not be taken as limiting. 
     Various modifications to the described embodiments will be apparent to those with skill in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments. Therefore, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments shown and described, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features herein disclosed. 
     With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations are not expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity. 
     The herein described subject matter sometimes illustrates different components contained within, or connected with, other components. It is to be understood that such depicted architectures are merely exemplary, and that in fact many other architectures can be implemented which achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense, any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality is effectively “associated” such that the desired functionality is achieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve a particular functionality can be seen as “associated with” each other such that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective of architectures or intermedial components. Likewise, any two components so associated can also be viewed as being “connected,” or “coupled,” to each other to achieve the desired functionality, and any two components capable of being so associated can also be viewed as being “couplable,” to each other to achieve the desired functionality. Specific examples of couplable include but are not limited to physically mateable and/or physically interacting components and/or wirelessly interactable and/or wirelessly interacting components and/or logically interacting and/or logically interactable components. 
     In some instances, one or more components may be referred to herein as “configured to,” “configurable to,” “operable/operative to,” “adapted/adaptable,” “able to,” “conformable/conformed to,” etc. Those skilled in the art will recognize that such terms (e.g., “configured to”) can generally encompass active-state components and/or inactive-state components and/or standby-state components, unless context requires otherwise. 
     While particular aspects of the present subject matter described herein have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and modifications may be made without departing from the subject matter described herein and its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are to encompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as are within the true spirit and scope of the subject matter described herein. It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to claims containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that typically a disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms unless context dictates otherwise. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be typically understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.” 
     Although particular embodiments of this invention have been illustrated, it is apparent that various modifications and embodiments of the invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the foregoing disclosure. It is believed that the present disclosure and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components without departing from the disclosed subject matter or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form described is merely explanatory, and it is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the claims appended hereto.