Static molds – Miscellaneous mold adjuncts – In situ construction engineering or building type
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-31
2001-08-14
Safavi, Michael (Department: 3635)
Static molds
Miscellaneous mold adjuncts
In situ construction engineering or building type
C249S019000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273393
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of supporting assemblies to hold concrete form structures in place to pour concrete floors for bridges and the like, and particularly, to an easily removable, adjustable bracket assembly.
2. Description of the Related Art
Typical form structures for pouring concrete floors for bridges, high rise buildings and the like, comprise ledgers, (sometimes called whalers), which are wooden supports, extending laterally between the bridge beams or floor beams; stringers (or spacers) which are typically wooden boards extending longitudinally across and on the top of the ledgers; and plywood sheets on top of the stringers to provide the floor on which the concrete is to be poured. The ledgers are supported by hanger bolts hanging down from hanger bars laying laterally across the upper surface of the bridge beam or floor beams, having support plates at the lower ends of the hanger bolts bearing against threaded nuts and with end portions of the ledgers resting on the support plates.
RELATED ART
Examples of patents that are related to the present invention are as follows, and each patent is herein incorporated by reference for the supporting teachings:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,559 is a concrete form support assembly.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,252 is a joist hanger.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,223,866 is an adjustable bracket.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,989,219 is an adjustable means connecting a deck member to a support.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,806,074 is an interior fascia overhang form for concrete and related components, support systems and methods.
The foregoing patents reflect the state of the art of which applicant is aware and are tendered with the view toward discharging applicant's acknowledged duty of candor in disclosing information which may be pertinent in the examination of this application. It is respectfully stipulated, however, that none of these patents teach or render obvious, singly or when considered in combination, applicant's claimed invention.
An example of a related art support assembly is shown in FIG.
1
and FIG.
2
. The related art support assembly includes a hanger assembly
10
. The hanger assembly includes a hanger bar
22
, which spans each I-beam
24
. I-beams
24
may be made of concrete, steel or other suitable material. Each hanger bar
22
has a receiving channel
20
affixed to each end. The receiving channel
20
is positioned on an upper corner of I-beam
24
so that a bolt
18
passes through receiving channel
20
. A nut
26
is threaded on bolt
18
to prevent bolt
18
from slipping through channel
20
. A ledger support plate
25
is threaded onto bolt
18
to support ledgers
12
. The bottom surface
13
of ledgers
12
bear on ledger support plate
25
. Stringers
14
are laid laterally across ledgers
12
to support plywood decking
16
. The concrete floor is poured so that plywood decking
16
serves as the lower form for the floor. The height of the plywood decking
16
can be adjusted by turning a second nut
21
which is permanently affixed to the lower end of bolt
18
.
One of the problems with the related art support assemblies shown in FIG.
1
and
FIG. 2
is that ledgers
12
must be paired and nailed together. A ledger spacer
23
is placed between each pair of ledgers
12
so that one ledger is on each side of bolt
18
. Paired ledgers
12
require a large quantity of wood, which makes them heavy and increases the cost. Paired ledgers
12
are also awkward to assemble and disassemble, thereby creating a safety hazard to workers who must handle them.
A related art bracket assembly
30
has been devised as shown in
FIG. 3
that can be used to eliminate the need for double ledgers and stringers. A single ledger
32
is supported in the hanger bracket
34
. The position of ledger
32
can be adjusted in the bracket using bolt
36
. The ledged is affixed to the bracket during pouring of the concrete by using nails or other securing means in holes
42
. The bottom of bracket
34
is spaced away from I-beam
47
by means of a U bracket
49
. The U bracket
49
is attached to bracket
34
with pin
44
and key
48
. Instead of a hanger bar spanning the top of beam
47
, assembly
30
utilizes an L shaped bracket
40
that bears against the top surface
27
of the I-beam.
The problem with the bracket support assembly
30
is that a styrofoam block
41
or block of other suitable material must be used to prevent concrete from covering L bracket
40
and pouring down between the L bracket and ledger
32
. Styrofoam block
41
allows the support bracket assembly
30
to be removed after the concrete floor has hardened. However, after the bracket support assembly
30
is removed, a large void remains on the underside of the concrete floor where styrofoam block
41
was positioned. This void must be patched with either concrete or another suitable filler. This process is time consuming and can result in defects or voids as any concrete or filler material must be applied against gravity.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a feature of the invention to provide a concrete form bracket and assembly which can be used economically and efficiently to pour concrete bridge decks or building floors.
An additional feature of this invention is to provide a concrete form bracket for being used in pairs comprised of a base plate for use as a bearing surface of the form ledgers, a pair of spaced apart side walls extending in parallel from rear wall, means for securing the ledger, and an opening in the base plate for providing a means to support and adjust the bracket.
A further feature of the invention is to provide a hanger bar, receiving channel and adjustable bolt as the support means for the bracket. Yet another feature of the invention is to provide the means for securing the ledger as holes in the side plate for securing the ledger with nails to the bracket. The invention resides not in any once of these features, per se, but rather in a particular combination of all of them herein disclosed and claimed and is distinguished from the prior art in this particular combination of all of its structures for the functions specified. Other features of the present invention will become more clear from the following detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention.
There has been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3806074 (1974-04-01), Ward
patent: 3989219 (1976-11-01), Pruitt
patent: 4223866 (1980-09-01), Black
patent: 4349491 (1982-09-01), Eyden
patent: 4856252 (1989-08-01), Cornell
patent: 5092559 (1992-03-01), Tjelle
Baker & Daniels
Safavi Michael
LandOfFree
Concrete form support bracket and assembly does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Concrete form support bracket and assembly, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Concrete form support bracket and assembly will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2505385