IP Library Granted Patent US 12,559,934
Granted Patent B2
US 12,559,934 · App. 18/230,306 · Granted Feb 24, 2026

Building structure

Inventors: Simon Hoffmann (Constance, DE); Moustafa Imam (New Westminster, CA); Pascal Savioz (Shanghai, CN)
Assignee: Mageba Services & Technology AG
E04B1/6803E01C11/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,559,934
App. No.
18/230,306
Granted
Feb 24, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A building structure with a base unit and building unit that can be moved relative to the base unit is provided with a joint cover, which bridges a compensating joint between the building unit and base unit, supported on the building unit and on the base unit. At least one of the two support structures has sliding partners, one of which is a sliding partner paired with the building or base unit in a fixed position and the other of which is a sliding partner paired with the joint cover in a fixed position. One of the sliding partners is designed as a sliding ramp in a region such that when the sliding ramp contacts the paired sliding partner, an approaching movement of the building unit towards the base unit raises the joint cover. The sliding ramp may be designed with a continuously decreasing pitch.

Claims (21)

1 . A building structure comprising:

a walkable or drivable joint cover covering an expansion joint, the expansion joint having a clear width; and

a bracing structure allowing for lateral relative movement, the bracing structure comprising a braced sliding partner associated in a positionally fixed relationship with the joint cover and a bracing sliding partner,

wherein the joint cover is braced by the bracing structure, and within the bracing structure, the braced sliding partner is braced on the bracing sliding partner,

wherein the bracing sliding partner has a lifting region constructed as a sliding ramp such that during sliding contact of the braced sliding partner with the sliding ramp of the bracing sliding partner generated by a reduction of the clear width, such sliding contact leads to lifting of the joint cover adjacent the bracing structure,

wherein the sliding ramp comprises a degression curvature portion with a steadily decreasing slope such that, upon sliding contact of the braced sliding partner with the degression curvature portion of the sliding ramp generated by the reduction of the clear width, a ratio of a vertical velocity of lifting of the joint cover adjacent the bracing structure to a horizontal velocity of the reduction of the clear width decreases steadily.

2 . The building structure of claim 1 , wherein the degression curvature portion of the sliding ramp has a sliding face curved with steadily changing curvature.

3 . The building structure of claim 2 , wherein the curvature of the curved sliding face at the degression curvature portion of the sliding ramp curves according to a parabola portion or a clothoid portion.

4 . The building structure of claim 1 , wherein the braced sliding partner sliding on the degression curvature portion of the sliding ramp has a convexly curved geometry.

5 . The building structure of claim 4 , wherein a sum of a smallest radii of curvature of the degression curvature portion of the sliding ramp and the braced sliding partner cooperating slidingly therewith is at least 25 mm.

6 . The building structure of claim 5 , wherein the sum of the smallest radii of curvature of the degression curvature portion of the sliding ramp and the braced sliding partner cooperating slidingly therewith is at least 40 mm.

7 . The building structure of claim 4 , wherein a sum of a smallest radii of curvature of the degression curvature portion of the sliding ramp and the braced sliding partner cooperating slidingly therewith is at most 90 mm.

8 . The building structure of claim 7 , wherein the sum of the smallest radii of curvature of the degression curvature portion of the sliding ramp and the braced sliding partner cooperating slidingly therewith is at most 70 mm.

9 . The building structure of claim 1 , wherein the bracing sliding partner further comprises a displacement region having a horizontal sliding face that, during sliding contact of the braced sliding partner with the horizontal sliding face, a laterally directed movement of the braced sliding partner relative to the bracing sliding partner has no effect on a vertical position of the joint cover adjacent the bracing structure.

10 . The building structure of claim 9 , wherein the sliding ramp and the horizontal sliding face merge directly into one another, wherein, during the reduction of the clear width, continuous bracing of the joint cover on a corresponding bracing structure is maintained at either the displacement region or the lifting region.

11 . The building structure of claim 10 , wherein the sliding ramp merges into the horizontal sliding face without any discontinuity with respect to the slope.

12 . The building structure of claim 1 , wherein the sliding ramp has a progression curvature portion with a steadily increasing slope such that, upon sliding contact of the braced sliding partner with the progression curvature portion of the sliding ramp during the reduction of the clear width, the ratio of the vertical velocity of lifting of the joint cover adjacent the bracing structure to the horizontal velocity of the reduction of the clear width increases steadily.

13 . The building structure of claim 12 , wherein the progression curvature portion of the sliding ramp has a sliding face curved with steadily increasing curvature.

14 . The building structure of claim 13 , wherein the curvature of the curved sliding face adjacent the progression curvature portion of the sliding ramp curves according to a clothoid portion.

15 . The building structure of claim 1 comprising two bracing structures and a centering device acting on the joint cover.

16 . The building structure of claim 15 , wherein the centering device comprises a hold-down means acting on the joint cover.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 15, 2026
From: HOFFMANN, SIMON; IMAM, MOUSTAFA; SAVIOZ, PASCAL
To: MAGEBA SERVICES & TECHNOLOGY AG
Reel/Frame 073481/0697 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2021 102 710.1 · Feb 5, 2021 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTEP2022052701 · Feb 4, 2022
Related Publication 20240026702A1 · Jan 25, 2024
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