Universal corner form bracket

Details Universal corner form bracket Universal corner form bracket

1998-04-23

2001-02-13

Safavi, Michael (Department: 3635)

Static molds

In situ construction engineering type or building type-mold...

Forming building structure

C249S210000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06186469

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed to a bracket for retaining an object in position on the inside surface of a concrete form. It is more specifically directed to an interconnecting bracket properly positioned on the inside surface of a concrete form to hold at a corner an object which is embedded in the surface of a finished concrete structure. It is also directed to an arrangement for securing the bracket and object to the inside of the concrete form by use of a unique glue arrangement.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Simulated brick construction in conjunction with concrete forming and fabrication of structures is becoming increasingly common in the construction of modem buildings. This is due to the fact that it is quite expensive to use the services of masons in order to build a conventional laid-up brick or masonry wall. With the shortage of skilled masons today, fabricating a conventional brick or masonry wall is costly and difficult. In order to avoid high costs and inconvenience, many construction companies have gone to the use of simulated brick building panels having concrete backing and position them as required to form a wall or structure having a simulated brick exterior appearance. A problem with this type of construction is that the panels are difficult to handle and position at the construction site.
Construction of this type of wall has improved recently by the use of brick or object retainers which are fastened directly to the inside surface of the concrete wall form. Concrete is poured into the form and flows around the back of the brick which is embedded in the outer surface of the structure. The problem with this type of construction is that many retainers fail and cause the bricks to fall to the bottom of the form cavity during the pouring process. Thus, a large void is left in the finished wall surface or concrete is exposed where the missing brick should be located. In addition, the panels and retainers which are currently used have been quite expensive and difficult to install. Most of these retainers require the bricks to be inserted into recesses within the panel or retainers within the form and therefore must be placed one at a time to cover the interior surface of the concrete form prior to pouring the concrete.
A different type of retainer is the liner or mat which is used in the horizontal position. These retainers are usually formed from elastomeric material and have recesses which closely fit the outside of the objects which are to be retained and position these objects in a desired pattern. The most common of these is the type which is fabricated for holding brick pavers and is designed to have the appearance of a conventional brick wall. This type of form and retainer is usually arranged in a horizontal position because it lacks the required support to securely hold the bricks or objects in position.
Another type of retainer used in vertical construction incorporates a mechanical structure attached to the inside surface of the concrete wall form and securely retains the brick or object in proper position during the pouring of the concrete.
However, none of the existing retainers can retain an object in a perpendicular relationship around a corner of a wall, thus creating the appearance of an exposed brick corner of conventional masonry construction. There is a need for a low-cost, disposable retainer which can position an “L” shaped object on a form to create the appearance of a corner or edge of a traditional masonry wall.
Another area which has become of major concern is how to hold the bracket and object in proper position on the form. Many methods have been used in the past, but have proven to be inadequate. This is especially true in relation to the use of steel wall forms or other rigid materials. With the use of brackets for retaining objects the brackets must be individual anchored to the form by nails, staples or other devices to adequately retain the bracket in position but still releasable to allow removal when the forming process is complete.
INFORMATION DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
The following section is provided in order to comply with the applicant's duty to disclose any known prior art related to the present invention.
The Johnson patent (U.S. Pat. No. 3,594,968) teaches a retainer comprising a plurality of frames and spacers which adheres to a wall to define spaced openings for the insertion of decorative blocks. The blocks are later positioned within the openings and adhesively secured to the finished wall structure. The present invention teaches a bracket or frame for retaining a pair of bricks or objects at an angle at edge of a form to create the appearance of a cornerstone. The bracket of the present invention, is temporary and may be removed or released with the form to expose the embedded bricks or objects.
The Siek patent (U.S. Pat. No. 3,131,514) discloses the construction of a thin precast wall panel. The small plate-shaped objects are affixed by cement to a sheet of paper or a web of fabric and then inserted into a mold. The mold is used to cast the wall panel with the objects embedded in the exposed surface of the panel. The molding is preformed in the horizontal position. However, there is no teaching in the Siek patent of a retainer for securing bricks or other objects to a form such that the bricks or other objects create the appearance of a cornerstone.
The Conder et al patent (U.S. Pat. No. 3,231,646) describes the use of an upright form arranged with one side mounted on a trolley and having a plurality of horizontally positioned flanges for supporting and spacing a plurality of bricks vertically along the inside surface of the form. A spring biased hook passes through the form and mechanically holds a brick in position. Clips can also be used to hold the bricks in position with the supporting flanges. This arrangement is far removed from the disposable bracket for holding objects in a perpendicular configuration as disclosed in the present invention.
The Hicks et al. patent (U.S. Pat. No. 3,496,694) discloses a flexible grid which is bonded directly to decorative members, such as molded brick or other shapes. The prefabricated grid and decorative members are attached to the frame of the building to provide a prefabricated artificial facing for the structure. The Hicks patent does not teach a disposable bracket for holding the objects in a perpendicular configuration. Furthermore, as taught by the Hicks patent, the grid member and decorative members are attached directly to the surface of the building and remain permanently attached. The present invention is directed to a bracket or frame which holds a pair of bricks or other objects in proper position on the inside surface of the wall form during the concrete pouring process but is removed after the concrete has set.
The Samuel C. Scott et al. patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,009,387) discloses a form liner having a plurality of properly positioned recesses for the insertion and retention of brick pavers or other objects. Various retainers are disclosed which hold the objects in proper position against the inside surface of the vertical concrete wall form while the concrete is poured. The form liner is removed with the form and a portion of the retainer, in most cases, remains within the concrete after the form has been removed. Some of the form recesses may include tabs or extensions on opposite sides of the recess to hold the object in position during the concrete pouring process. However, the present invention is directed toward creating the appearance of a cornerstone, as well as a removable, disposable retaining bracket.
The Salazar patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,644,719) discloses a decorative wall panel which includes a patterned top layer which is formed from a slow-cured molded mixture of Portland Cement, sand and pigmented binder. There is no teaching in the Salazar patent of placing the mold on the inside surface of a concrete form or create the appearance of a cornerstone.
The Brouk patent (U.S. Pat. No. 2,825,221) discloses a thin brick embedded pane

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