Expansion joint cover

Abstract

An expansion joint cover ( 10 ) broadly comprises a cover plate ( 38 ) to cover an expansion joint ( 12 ) between a first and second surface ( 14,16 ), an anchor assembly ( 40 ) to secure the plate ( 38 ) to the first surface ( 14 ), an insert ( 46 ) to protect the second surface ( 16 ), and one or more resilient bushings ( 48 ) to isolate the plate ( 38 ) from the anchor assembly ( 40 ). Under adverse conditions, such as during seismic events, the surfaces ( 14,16 ) may move significantly with respect to one another, thereby causing the plate ( 38 ) to slide over the second surface ( 16 ) and the insert ( 46 ) and deform the bushings ( 48 ). Thus, the flexibility of the plate ( 38 ), the durability of the insert ( 46 ), and the resilience of the bushings ( 48 ) all cooperate to allow the cover ( 10 ) to minimize stresses otherwise transferred to the anchor assembly ( 40 ).

Having thus described a preferred embodiment of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following:  
     
         1 . An expansion joint cover operable to cover an expansion joint between a first surface and a second surface, the cover comprising: 
 a cover plate operable to span the joint;    an anchor operable to penetrate the plate, thereby securing the plate to the first surface; and    a bushing between and operable to physically isolate the plate and the anchor.    
     
     
         2 . The cover as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the bushing is resilient and thereby further operable to allow the plate to move with respect to the anchor allowing the cover to accommodate movement between the surfaces.  
     
     
         3 . The cover as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the anchor is secured directly into the first surface.  
     
     
         4 . The cover as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the anchor includes a concrete anchor member disposed within a hole in the first surface and a fastener threaded into the concrete anchor member.  
     
     
         5 . The cover as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the bushing includes a circular face and a cylindrical sleeve.  
     
     
         6 . The cover as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the face is approximately one and one half inches in diameter and approximately three sixteenths of an inch thick.  
     
     
         7 . The cover as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the sleeve has an approximately one half inch internal diameter that tightly fits around at least a portion of the anchor.  
     
     
         8 . The cover as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the 1 sleeve has an approximately three quarters of an inch external diameter that tightly fits within a penetration in the plate.  
     
     
         9 . The cover as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the sleeve has an approximately three eighths of an inch length allowing the sleeve to substantially completely penetrate the plate.  
     
     
         10 . An expansion joint cover operable to cover an expansion joint between a first surface and a second surface, the cover comprising: 
 a cover plate operable to span the joint;    an anchor secured directly into the first surface and operable to penetrate the plate, thereby securing the plate to the first surface; and    a resilient bushing between and operable to physically isolate the plate and the anchor, thereby operable to allow the plate to move with respect to the anchor allowing the cover to accommodate movement between the surfaces.    
     
     
         11 . The cover as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the anchor includes a concrete anchor member disposed within a hole in the first surface and a fastener threaded into the concrete anchor member.  
     
     
         12 . The cover as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the bushing includes a circular face and a cylindrical sleeve.  
     
     
         13 . The cover as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the face is approximately one and one half inches in diameter and approximately three sixteenths of an inch thick.  
     
     
         14 . The cover as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the sleeve has an approximately one half inch internal diameter that tightly fits around at least a portion of the anchor.  
     
     
         15 . The cover as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the sleeve has an approximately three quarters of an inch external diameter that tightly fits within a penetration in the plate.  
     
     
         16 . The cover as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the sleeve has an approximately three eighths of an inch length allowing the sleeve to substantially completely penetrate the plate.  
     
     
         17 . An expansion joint cover operable to cover an expansion joint between a first surface and a second surface, the cover comprising: 
 a cover plate operable to span the joint;    an anchor assembly including 
 a concrete anchor member disposed within a hole in the first surface, and  
 a fastener threaded into the concrete anchor member and operable to penetrate the plate, thereby securing the plate to the first surface; and  
   a flexible bushing between and operable to physically isolate the plate and the anchor, the bushing including 
 a circular face approximately one and one half inches in diameter and approximately three sixteenths of an inch thick, and  
 a cylindrical sleeve with an approximately one half inch internal diameter that tightly fits around the fastener, an approximately three quarter inch external diameter that tightly fits within a penetration in the plate, and an approximately three eighths of an inch length allowing the sleeve to substantially completely penetrate the plate.