Patent ID: 8839594

Claim:
A concrete exclusion structure for a coupler assembly configured for receipt of metal tubes at each end thereof, the concrete exclusion structure comprising: a housing having: an elongated shell with an outer surface and an inner surface, and a first wall thickness, the inner surface of said shell defining a void dimensioned for receipt of a coupler assembly, the shell having at least one region with a second wall thickness less than said first wall thickness, said at least one region substantially positioned about a periphery of the shell, said at least one region comprising at least one score line so as to allow positionment of the concrete exclusion structure between a first construction member and a second construction member which the concrete exclusion structure spans so that the at least one score line is positionable between the first and second construction members and thereby provides a weakened area allowing for fracture of the concrete exclusion structure along said at least one score line positioned between the first construction member and the second construction member after said unhardened concrete has hardened relative to each construction member, and end walls respectively positioned on each end of the elongated shell so as to enclose the void, each end wall having at least one knockout formed therein configured for removal so as to define an opening in the end wall dimensioned for passage of one of the metal tubes associated with the coupler assembly, wherein said shell is formed by two sections so as to allow receipt of said coupler assembly when the sections are in a first, opened, configuration and to enclose the coupler assembly when the sections are in a second, closed, configuration; and wherein said housing is formed from a material having sufficient rigidity to exclude unhardened concrete from said void but which can later fracture after said unhardened concrete has hardened, said later fracture at least about one of said at least one region with a second wall thickness.