Patent ID: 7481031

Claim:
A system for transferring loads across a joint between concrete on-ground cast-in-place slabs, the system comprising: a first concrete on-ground cast-in-place slab; a second concrete on-ground cast-in-place slab; an expansion joint separating the first and second slabs, wherein the joint is oriented substantially perpendicular to a substantially planar upper surface of the first slab, and a longitudinal axis of the joint is formed by an intersection of the joint and the upper surface of the first slab; a load-plate end cap embedded within the first slab; a tapered load plate having a width measured in a direction substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis, and having only one relatively wide portion and only one relatively narrow portion, that tapers from said relatively wide portion, said taper from said relatively wide portion being a generally progressive reduction of said width of said load plate as said load plate extends from said wide portion across said expansion joint, said taper including said generally progressive reduction of said width continuing past said expansion joint as said load plate extends to said relatively narrow portion, the wide portion protruding into said first slab and a portion of the end cap, and the narrow end protruding into the second slab, such that the load plate transfers between the first and second slabs a load applied to either of the slabs directed substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the first slab; and whereby the load plate restricts relative movement between the first and second slabs in a direction substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the first slab, and the load plate moves farther into the end cap as the joint closes via the first and second slabs moving toward each other in a direction substantially perpendicular to the joint.