Precast Curb System and Method of Installation thereof

Abstract

The present invention discloses a precast curb and a joint used to constrain the lateral and vertical movement of the precast curb and to align adjacent precast curbs. The precast curb installed with the presented method can be removed after its installation without sustaining any damage and reused later. The method presented hereinafter allows the installation of the curb in almost any weather conditions.

1 . A precast curb system, comprising:
 a. a precast curb having a top, a bottom, a pair of lateral sides and two ends;   b. a joint adapted to be placed between two adjacent precast curbs, said joint having means to constrain relative lateral and vertical movement between said adjacent precast curbs.   
     
     
         2 . The precast curb system of  claim 1 , wherein said joint has a horizontal plate from which a first and a second vertical plates extend upwardly, said bottom of said precast curb is adapted to rest on said horizontal plate, and said first and said second vertical plates being adapted to constrain the lateral movement of said precast curb. 
     
     
         3 . The precast curb system of  claim 2 , wherein said joint further comprises a third vertical plate extending between said first and said second vertical plates, said third vertical plate being adapted to be in contact with said vertical surfaces of two adjacent said precast curbs. 
     
     
         4 . The precast curb system of  claim 1 , wherein said laterals sides of said precast curbs upwardly converge toward each other and said constraining means comprise a first plate having a plane that is substantially parallel to one of said lateral sides, a second plane that is substantially parallel to said other lateral side and means to connect said first plate to said second plate. 
     
     
         5 . The precast curb system of  claim 1 , wherein said precast curb has a groove on said bottom following the longitudinal axis of said precast curb. 
     
     
         6 . The precast curb system of  claim 5 , wherein said joint has a horizontal plate from which a vertical plate extend upwardly and wherein said groove is adapted to receive said joint, said bottom of said precast curb adapted to rest on said horizontal plate, and said vertical plate constraining the lateral movement of said precast curb. 
     
     
         7 . The precast curb system of  claim 6 , wherein said vertical plate is in the middle of said horizontal plate. 
     
     
         8 . The precast curb system of  claim 1 , wherein said precast curb has as least two slots on the bottom to allow their transport with a lift. 
     
     
         9 . The precast curb system of  claim 1 , further comprising gripping means allowing said precast curb to be lifted and displaced with the use of a gripping tool. 
     
     
         10 . The precast curb system of  claim 1 , wherein said precast curb has recesses along both longitudinal sides, said recesses comprising a substantially horizontal surface, allowing said precast curb to be lifted and displaced with the use of a gripping tool. 
     
     
         11 . A method of installation of a plurality of precast curbs having a bottom and two ends, comprising the following steps:
 a. placing a pair of joint, each said joint having means to constrain relative lateral and vertical movement between said adjacent precast curbs, said joint being placed on the ground at a predetermined distance from each other corresponding to the length of the curb to be installed;   b. and placing each said end of a precast curb on one of said joints.   
     
     
         12 . A precast curb having a top, a bottom and a pair of lateral sides comprising gripping means allowing said curb to be lifted and displaced with the use of a gripping tool cooperating with said gripping means. 
     
     
         13 . A precast curb as described in  claim 12 , wherein said gripping means and a pair of longitudinally extending slots are respectively located on said lateral side near said bottom. 
     
     
         14 . The precast curb of claim Error! Reference source not found., further comprising gripping means allowing said precast curb to be lifted and displaced with the use of a gripping tool. 
     
     
         15 . A joint adapted to receive two adjacent precast curbs, said curbs having a top, a bottom and a pair of lateral sides, said joint having means to constrain relative lateral and vertical movement between said adjacent precast curbs. 
     
     
         16 . The joint of  claim 15 , wherein said joint has a horizontal plate from which a first and a second vertical plates extend upwardly, said bottom of said precast curb is adapted to rest on said horizontal plate, and said first and said second vertical plates being adapted to constrain the lateral movement of said precast curb. 
     
     
         17 . The joint of  claim 16 , wherein said joint further comprises a third vertical plate extending between said first and said second vertical plates, said third vertical plate being adapted to be in contact with said vertical surfaces of two adjacent said precast curbs. 
     
     
         18 . The joint of  claim 15 , wherein said precast curb has a groove on said bottom following the longitudinal axis of said precast curb and wherein said joint has a horizontal plate from which a vertical plate extend upwardly and wherein said groove is adapted to receive said joint, said bottom of said precast curb adapted to rest on said horizontal plate, and said vertical plate constraining the lateral movement of said precast curb. 
     
     
         19 . The joint of  claim 16 , wherein said laterals sides upwardly converge toward each other and said constraining means comprise a first plate having a plane that is substantially parallel to one of said lateral sides, a second plane that is substantially parallel to said other lateral side and means to connect said first plate to said second plate. 
     
     
         20 . The joint of  claim 18 , wherein said vertical plate is at the middle of said horizontal plate.