Expansion Joint Bracket

Abstract

An expansion joint bracket retains an expansion joint board in a concrete installation. The expansion joint bracket may include a base member having multiple nail holes for securing the bracket to the earth (or sand or gravel put down prior to pouring concrete there upon). First and second board support members may run perpendicular to the base and parallel to each other to hold the expansion joint board in place. Gussets, typically triangular shaped gussets, extend from the board support members to the base member. The expansion joint brackets may be disposed every 12-24 inches on the expansion joint board and concrete may be poured over the expansion joint brackets.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An expansion joint bracket comprising:
 a first structure including a first base member, a first vertical support piece, and a first gusset coupled to both;   a second structure including a second base member, a second vertical support piece, and a second gusset coupled to both, the second base member slideably engaged with the first base member in an arrangement enabling the size of a gap between the first and second vertical support pieces to vary;   an attachment feature on each end of the base members, the attachment feature enabling the base members to be coupled to a surface;   wherein the first vertical support piece and the second vertical support piece form a channel adapted to receive an expansion joint board.   
     
     
         2 . The expansion joint bracket of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one support piece nail hole in each of the first and second vertical support pieces. 
     
     
         3 . The expansion joint bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second gussets are triangular-shaped members. 
     
     
         4 . The expansion joint bracket of  claim 1 , further comprising a support rib running along at least a portion of the length of the base member. 
     
     
         5 . The expansion joint bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second gussets each form an L-shaped connection with the respective base member and vertical support piece. 
     
     
         6 . The expansion joint bracket of  claim 5 , wherein the respective base members and vertical support pieces are formed from respective single pieces of sheet metal. 
     
     
         7 . The expansion joint bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second vertical support pieces have the same width as the respective base member. 
     
     
         8 . The expansion joint bracket of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second gussets extend from a central longitudinal axis of the respective first and second base member to a central axis of the respective first and second vertical support pieces. 
     
     
         9 . The expansion joint bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment feature is a nail hole.