Expansion joint system

Abstract

A compression seal for concrete expansion joints is extruded as a one-piece unit from rubber-like material. The compression seal includes a compressible sealing portion and a pair of load-bearing wings that extend laterally from the compressible sealing portion. The one-piece design facilitates easy installation of the compression seal in an expansion joint. In use, the compressible sealing portion is inserted the expansion joint. Simple zipper-like motion may be used to press fit the compressible portion into the expansion joint. The lateral load-bearing wings are bonded to concrete surfaces adjoining the expansion joint to hold the compressible sealing portion in place.

1 . A compression seal for an expansion joint, comprising: 
 a compressible sealing portion having elastic membranes; and    at least a lateral wing extending from the compressible sealing portion, wherein the lateral wing has a thickness that is larger than a thickness of the elastic membranes, and wherein the compressible sealing portion and the lateral wing form structurally integrated parts of a one-piece extruded material.    
   
   
       2 . The compression seal of  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the lateral wing is at least about one half of an inch.  
   
   
       3 . The compression seal of  claim 1 , wherein the extruded material comprises ethylene propylene terpolymers.  
   
   
       4 . The compression seal of  claim 1 , wherein the extruded material comprises EPDM rubber.  
   
   
       5 . The compression seal of  claim 1 , wherein the compressible sealing portion comprises longitudinal tubes.  
   
   
       6 . The compression seal of  claim 1 , wherein the compressible sealing portion comprises an elastic accordion-like membrane structure.  
   
   
       7 . The compression seal of  claim 1 , wherein the lateral wing comprises longitudinal channels.  
   
   
       8 . The compression seal of  claim 1 , wherein the lateral wing comprises grooved surfaces.  
   
   
       9 . The compression seal of  claim 1  wherein the lateral wing is hinged from the compressible sealing portion.  
   
   
       10 . The compression seal of  claim 1 , wherein cross sections of the compression seal along its length have substantially the same structural configuration.  
   
   
       11 . An expansion joint system for use in a concrete structure, the system comprising: 
 an expansion joint spacing between adjacent concrete elements of the concrete structure;    a one-piece compression seal having a compressible sealing portion made of elastic membranes and at least a lateral load-bearing wing extending from the compressible sealing portion, wherein the lateral load-bearing wing has a thickness that is larger than a thickness of the elastic membranes; and    a blockout region disposed in the adjacent concrete elements, wherein the blockout region is adapted to receive the lateral load-bearing wing, wherein the compressible sealing portion is inserted in the expansion joint spacing and wherein a surface of the lateral load-bearing wing is bonded to a surface of the blockout region.    
   
   
       12 . The expansion joint system of  claim 11 , wherein the depth of the blockout region is about the same as or slightly greater than the thickness of the lateral load-bearing wing.  
   
   
       13 . The expansion joint system of  claim 11 , wherein the thickness of the lateral load-bearing wing is at least about one half of an inch.  
   
   
       14 . The expansion joint system of  claim 11 , wherein the surface of the lateral load-bearing wing is bonded to the surface of the blockout region by adhesives.  
   
   
       15 . The expansion joint system of  claim 11 , wherein the surface of the lateral load-bearing wing is bonded to the surface of the blockout region by masonry anchoring bolts.  
   
   
       16 . The expansion joint system of  claim 11 , wherein the surface of the lateral load-bearing wing bonded to the surface of the blockout region comprises a plurality of grooves.  
   
   
       17 . The expansion joint system of  claim 11 , wherein the one-piece compression seal comprises extruded ethylene propylene terpolymers.  
   
   
       18 . The expansion joint system of  claim 11 , wherein the one-piece compression seal comprises extruded EPDM rubber.  
   
   
       19 . The expansion joint system of  claim 11 , wherein the compressible sealing portion comprises longitudinal tubes.  
   
   
       20 . The expansion joint system of  claim 11 , wherein the compressible sealing portion comprises an elastic accordion-like membrane structure.  
   
   
       21 . The expansion joint system of  claim 11 , wherein the lateral wing comprises longitudinal channels.  
   
   
       22 . The expansion joint system of  claim 11 , wherein the lateral wing is hinged from the compressible sealing portion.  
   
   
       23 . The expansion joint system of  claim 11 , wherein cross sections of the compression seal along its length have substantially the same structural configuration.  
   
   
       24 . The expansion joint system of  claim 11 , wherein the adjacent concrete elements comprise a floor slab and a vertical wall, wherein the compressible sealing portion comprises a substantially vertical sidewall, and wherein the sidewall is bonded to a surface of the vertical wall.  
   
   
       25 . The expansion joint system of  claim 11 , wherein the adjacent concrete elements comprise stepped concrete slabs having a horizontal step portion and a vertical riser portions, and wherein the one-piece compression seal comprises a horizontal section bridging the horizontal step portions and a vertical section bridging the vertical riser portions, and wherein the lateral load-bearing wing is discontinuous by a cut between horizontal section and the vertical section.