PATENT CLAIM ANALYSIS

Application Number: 16007845
Application Type: Utility
Filing Date: 2018-06
Publication Date: 2018-12
Patent Classification: ["052", "705000"]

Abstract:
Various implementations include methods and apparatuses for connecting concrete structural elements, such as pre-cast concrete structural elements. In one implementation, an apparatus includes a first concrete structural element into which a first duct is pre-cast, a second concrete structural element into which a second duct is pre-cast, and a duct coupler that couples the first duct in fluid communication with the second duct and prevents adhesive from flowing into the first or second duct when the first and second concrete structural elements are coupled together. In another implementation, a method of forming a concrete structural element includes disposing at least a portion of a duct within a form for receiving poured concrete, disposing a duct holder through an opening in the form and coupling the duct holder with the duct to hold the duct in position within the form during pouring, and removing the duct holder after the concrete hardens.

Claim (Index 1):
An apparatus comprising:\n a first concrete structural element comprising a first duct that is pre-cast therein, the first duct having an end adjacent a second surface of the first concrete structural element, at least a portion of a surface of the first duct adjacent the end comprises a first coupling portion; a second concrete structural element comprising a second duct that is pre-cast therein, the second duct having an end adjacent a first surface of the second concrete structural element, wherein the first surface of the second concrete structural element and the first surface of the second concrete structural element face each other and are spaced apart, the first and second surfaces defining a joint therebetween; and a duct coupler comprising an engagement portion, the engagement portion having a first end, a second end, and at least one wall extending between the first and second ends, wherein a central axis of the duct coupler extends between the first and second ends, and the at least one wall has an internal surface and an external surface, the internal surface faces the central axis of the duct coupler and defines a channel that extends between openings defined by the first end and the second end of the duct coupler, and at least a portion of the wall adjacent the first end of the duct coupler comprises a second coupling portion, wherein the second coupling portion is coupled to the first coupling portion to couple the first duct and the duct coupler, and the second end of the engagement portion is disposed closer to the first surface of the second concrete structural element than the first end of the engagement portion.

Metadata:
- Claim Count in Document: 1.0
- Percentile: 94.0
- Lexical Diversity: 2.25352
- Patent Class: 52.0
- Transitional Phrase Type: open
- Component Type: 1
- Foreign Priority: False
- Related Applications: ['15273042', '14548752', '12372621', '11861166', '12051775']

Analysis Scores:
- 35 USC 101 Eligibility (BERT): 0.815044548317037
- 35 USC 102 Novelty (BERT): 0.4696175654547346
- Combined Prediction Score: 0.7805018500308067
- Mean Citation Score: 211.414762
- Max Citation Score: 214.3993
- Similarity Product: 182.1933794544697

Labels:
- Claim Label 101: 1
- Claim Label 102: 1
- Claim Label 103: 1
- Claim Label 112: 0
- Combined Label: 1
- Label 101 Adjusted: 1

Dataset: test