Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of an assembly for making a concrete expansion joint insert includes an extruder a device that receives material from the extruder. The device includes a flow path through the device and at least one internal feature that directs the material away from a middle of the flow path and toward outside edges of the flow path to establish an approximately equal flow rate of the material through the middle and outside edges of the flow path.

Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of a method of making a concrete expansion joint insert includes moving a material including a resin having a melt temperature through a die having a flow passage that ends in an exit having a selected geometry, increasing a temperature of only a segment of the die near the exit to an elevated temperature that is at least 1.5 times the melt temperature, and increasing the temperature of a portion of the material to an increased temperature above the melt temperature through contact with the segment having the elevated temperature.

Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of an assembly for making a concrete expansion joint insert includes an extruder a device that receives material from the extruder. The device includes a flow path through the device and at least one internal feature that directs the material away from a middle of the flow path and toward outside edges of the flow path to establish an approximately equal flow rate of the material through the middle and outside edges of the flow path.

Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of a protective cap assembly includes a plurality of protective caps each including a stem and a top plate. The top plates each have a plurality of edges. One of the edges of a first one of the protective caps is connected to an adjacent edge of a second one of the caps in a manner that allows for manually separating the first or second one of the protective caps from the assembly.

Abstract: An illustrative example method of making a concrete expansion joint insert includes establishing an insert body having two ends, two longitudinal edges between the ends, and two side surfaces between the longitudinal edges and the ends. A sealant is secured to one of the longitudinal edges so that the insert and the sealant can be simultaneously inserted into an expansion joints.

Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of an assembly for making a concrete expansion joint insert includes an extruder a device that receives material from the extruder. The device includes a flow path through the device and at least one internal feature that directs the material away from a middle of the flow path and toward outside edges of the flow path to establish an approximately equal flow rate of the material through the middle and outside edges of the flow path.

Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of a protective cap assembly includes a plurality of protective caps each including a stem and a top plate. The top plates each have a plurality of edges. One of the edges of a first one of the protective caps is connected to an adjacent edge of a second one of the caps in a manner that allows for manually separating the first or second one of the protective caps from the assembly.

Abstract: An illustrative example method of making a concrete expansion joint insert includes establishing an insert body having two ends, two longitudinal edges between the ends, and two side surfaces between the longitudinal edges and the ends. A sealant is secured to one of the longitudinal edges so that the insert and the sealant can be simultaneously inserted into an expansion joints.

Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of a concrete joint insert includes a body having two ends, two longitudinal edges between the ends and two side surfaces between the longitudinal edges. A sealant is secured to one of the longitudinal edges so that the insert and the sealant can be simultaneously installed at the location of a concrete joint.

Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of a concrete expansion joint insert includes a body having two ends, two longitudinal edges between the ends and two side surfaces between the longitudinal edges. The body has a length, a width and a thickness. The length is greater than the width and the width is greater than the thickness. The width and thickness correspond to dimensions of the ends of the body. The length and the thickness correspond to dimensions of the longitudinal edges. The length and the width correspond to dimensions of the side surfaces. At least a portion of the body has a first surface characteristic and at least one of the longitudinal edges has a second surface characteristic that is different than the first surface characterization. The second surface characteristic comprises at least one of a color, a texture and a profile.

Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of a concrete joint insert includes a body having two ends, two longitudinal edges between the ends and two side surfaces between the longitudinal edges. A sealant is secured to one of the longitudinal edges so that the insert and the sealant can be simultaneously installed at the location of a concrete joint.