Tie for reusable form panels

Details Tie for reusable form panels Tie for reusable form panels

2000-01-12

2001-07-10

Safavi, Michael (Department: 3635)

Static structures (e.g., buildings)

Processes

Barrier construction

C249S041000, C249S214000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06256962

ABSTRACT:

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
(Not applicable)
STATEMENT AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
(Not applicable)
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1). Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to ties for connecting form panels to create a poured concrete wall system, and more particularly to an improved tie which is mechanically operable to be inserted through a form panel and then manipulated to retain the form panel in position, and a method for removing the form panel after the concrete has cured.
(2). Background Information
A popular wall forming system utilizes expanded polystyrene panels as forms for poured concrete walls. After the concrete has hardened, the panels may be left in place on the walls to serve as permanent insulation, or they may be stripped off to reveal the exposed concrete and permit reuse of the form panels.
Initially, these lightweight concrete forming systems utilized elongated one foot high sheets with tie slots formed along the upper and lower edges. The panels then were connected by plastic ties, the panels oriented parallel to one another and stacked vertically.
In order to permit use of a large four foot by eight foot panel as a concrete form panel, the inventor herein created a tie with an elongated connector strap and hinged end plates. The end plates could be pivoted to a position parallel to the strap, forming a small cross-section which could be easily pushed through the form panel. The end plate is then manipulated to a perpendicular position and pulled against the form panel to retain the form panel from movement outwardly off of the tie.
With both the initial systems and the four by eight sheet systems, the procedure for removing the form panels from the cured concrete wall was the same: a sharp vertical blow was applied to the end plate to break the end plate and permit removal of the form panel. A scraper was then used to scrap the projecting legs which initially interconnected the outer end plate with an inner retainer plate.
While both of these ties permitted removal of the form panels from the cured concrete wall, it was found that the large openings between the legs connecting the end plate with a retainer plate filled with residue and concrete which migrated during the pouring of the concrete. This in turn stayed within the slots formed in the form panels when the form panels were removed from the wall. Thus, it was necessary to clean out all of the slots in the form panels before the panels could truly be reused.
In addition, the vertical blow utilized to knock the end plate from the tie strap legs frequently damaged the exterior surface of the form panel. This occurred not only by the vertical blow applied to the plate, but by the affects of the scraper or hammer contacting the surface of the form panel, and gouging groves and the like in the form panel.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide an improved tie for use with polystyrene sheets used as form panels for poured concrete walls.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved method for removing the end plates from the ties, to permit reuse of the form panels.
A further object is to provide an improved tie for a concrete wall form system which significantly reduces residue remaining within slots formed in the form panels by the tie ends.
These and other objects of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
The tie for interconnecting a pair of parallel form panels of the present invention includes an elongated strap with an end plate pivotally connected at each end of the strap, permitting the end plate to be pivoted from a position generally orthogonal to the strap to a position generally parallel to the strap. Once an end plate is pivoted to a position parallel to the strap, the end plate is pushed through a polystyrene form panel to project therefrom. The end plate is then pivoted to a position orthogonal to the strap, and pulled into engagement with the outer face of the form panel. The second end plate is pivoted, pushed through a second form panel, and pivoted to the orthogonal position, in the same manner. Concrete is then poured between the panels and allowed to harden. After the concrete is cured, a form panel may be removed by striking the end plate with a rubber mallet in a direction aligned with the longitudinal axis of the strap. This causes the hinge between the end plate and strap to break, and the end plate to fall to the ground. Once the end plates are removed, the form panel will slide off the projecting ends of the tie straps. The projecting ends of the tie strap are preferably substantially solid plastic, to permit residue and concrete from forming in the form panel slots.


REFERENCES:
patent: 1126190 (1915-01-01), Fuehrer
patent: 1577343 (1926-03-01), Miller
patent: 3995825 (1976-12-01), Ward et al.
patent: 4154362 (1979-05-01), McKenney
patent: 4563381 (1986-01-01), Woodland
patent: 4889310 (1989-12-01), Boeshart
patent: 5039058 (1991-08-01), Boeshart
patent: 5890337 (1999-04-01), Boeshart

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