Tie for concrete forms - Patent Review 4938449

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TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to ties for poured concrete wall systems, and more particularly to an improved tie which will hold various walers on the outside of the form panels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

While wall forming systems have been in use for many years, a recent development in this industry is in the use of expanded polystyrene panels as forms for the poured concrete walls. After the concrete has hardened, the panels may be left in place on the walls to serve as permanent insulation or may be stripped off to reveal the exposed concrete.

Upon introduction of this new wall forming system, it was found that it was unnecessary to use small "building blocks" to create the form panels. Rather, larger and larger panels are now being utilized to create the concrete forms. As the panels grew in size, the applicant herein devised a new type of tie, described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,109, which had special ends that could be "knocked off" to easily remove the large panels from the walls. While the patented tie has proved successful for its intended purpose, there are various instances where a different kind of tie would be more convenient and useful.

One problem with the previous tie design was in situations where a large four-foot by eight-foot panel is desired to be used as the forming structure. Because the previous ties were designed to fit in slots in the upper or lower edges, it was not possible to insert a tie intermediate the edges in the panel.

Another problem with prior art forming systems was in the use of ties which would retain the insulation panel permanently on the wall. Such systems are not capable of use on those occasions where an exposed concrete surface is desired. In such instances, it was necessary to revert to the older methods of wooden forms which could be removed from the wall, but which left markings on the concrete wall which remained. While the applicant's previous tie design of U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,109 solved many of these problems in the use of its "knock off ends", those ties could not be utilized in any location other than the edges of the panels. Thus, it would be desirable to create a tie having removable and reusable end pieces, for use in intermediate locations on the form panel.

A further problem in the prior art is in the use of walers to support the form panel system. Typically such walers were bulky systems which had to be supported on their own against the wall, and which required a large number of ties and other materials to install and remove. Not only is the time loss considerable, but it is necessary to utilize a large number of materials and tools which must be carried by the construction crew from site to site.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide an improved tie for use with polystyrene panel-type forms on poured concrete walls.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tie which can be inserted through the intermediate portion of a polystyrene panel form to retain the form panel in position.

A further object is to provide a concrete wall form tie which has removable end pieces for retaining the panel in position.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a concrete form panel tie which has reusable end pieces for retaining the panels in positions.

Yet another object is to provide a form panel tie which will receive a waler system to maintain alignment of the forming panels.

These and other objects of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The tie for concrete forms of the present invention includes an elongated strap with opposing first and second ends. The strap has an upwardly projecting intermediate portion which prevents the movement of form panels inwardly on the strap. A notch in each outer end of the strap receives a waler to hold the form panel from moving outwardly along the strap. Beveled ends allow the strap to be forced through a polystyrene panel without the need for forming an aperture in the panel prior to insertion of the tie. Two forms of notches are presently being utilized, one version designed to receive a cylindrical reinforcing rod as a waler, and the other notch designed to receive a length of dimensional lumber as the waler.

A removable end piece has also been designed for use with the tie having a notch designed for the reinforcing rod. The end piece is a generally rectangular plate member with a slot in the middle and a pin projecting across the slot which will be received in the notch of the tie. In this fashion, the plate member is pressed against the form panel to prevent outward movement of the panel on the tie. The end piece may be removed as desired from the tie, thereby allowing reuse of the end piece in other locations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the tie of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the tie of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tie of the present invention being inserted through one form panel;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a pair of concrete form panels with both embodiments of the ties of the present invention installed therethrough ready to receive two different waler systems;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view the same as FIG. 4, having two different walers installed on the ties;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a removable end piece of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a pair of concrete form panels with ties and end pieces of the present invention installed thereon.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, in which similar or corresponding parts are designated with the same reference numeral throughout the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, the tie of the present invention is designated generally at 10, and is formed from an elongated strap 12 of a synthetic plastic material. Preferably tie 10 is of a thin material so as to have a height substantially greater than its thickness, for a purpose to be described in more detail hereinbelow.

Strap 12 of tie 10 has first and second ends 14 and 16 with a beveled edge 18 and 20, respectively, which may be utilized to force the tie end through a polystyrene form panel, as shown in FIG. 3. An intermediate portion 22 of strap 12 has a height H.sub.1 greater than the height of end portions 14 and 16 (identified as H.sub.2), so as to form a step 24 between center portion 22 and ends 14 and 16. When an end of strap 12 is inserted through panel 21, as shown in FIG. 3, step 24 will serve as a stop to hold the panel at the appropriate position on tie 10.

A notch 26 is formed in the upper edge 28 of each end portion 14 and 16 and will receive a cylindrical rod as a waler therein (see FIG. 5). The distance between notch 26 and step 24 is equal to the thickness of the panel through which the tie will be extended, such that a waler will hold the panel securely in position.

A notch 30 in the upper edge 32 of center portion 22 of tie 10 is of a width and depth sufficient to retain a reinforcing rod therein (see FIG. 5).

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 3-5, tie 10 is utilized by inserting one end 14 through an aperture 34 in a form panel 36, until step 24 abuts against the form panel 36. Beveled surface 18 is provided on end 14 in instances where an aperture 34 is not present in the panel. In such a case, tie 10 is inserted through panel 36 by forcing the beveled edge through the panel. After a series of ties 10 are inserted in panel 36, a reinforcing rod may be inserted in notches 26 protruding on the exterior side of the panel so as to act as a waler rod 38 to lock the panel in position on the ties. A second panel 40 is then attached to the other ends 16 of ties 10, and a second waler rod 38 is dropped in notches 26 thereof to retain panel 40 in place.

The thickness of the wall to be poured is determined by the width of intermediate portion 22 of strap 12, as measured between steps 24. For walls of a greater thickness, a tie having a greater length between steps 24 would be necessary. Once the concrete wall has been poured, waler rod 38 is removed from notches 26 and may be utilized in other construction. Panels 36 and 40 may then slide outwardly off the ends of the ties and can be reused in other construction as well.

Ties 10 are composed of a synthetic plastic material and have a thin cross-section, such that the protruding ends of the ties 14 and 16, which protrude from the concrete wall after removal of form panels 36 and 40, may be easily broken off and removed. This is easily accomplished using a scraper tool or the like and applying a quick sharp blow to the protruding end of the tie. All that will remain will be the concrete wall and a flush cross-section of the tie where it was broken.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a second embodiment of the present invention is designated generally at 10' and includes an elongated strap 12' of synthetic plastic material. Tie 10' includes first and second ends 14' and 16' each having a beveled end 18' and 20'. Intermediate portion 22' has a height H.sub.1, greater than that of the ends H.sub.2, so as to form steps 24' in a fashion similar to tie 10. In this embodiment of the invention, a notch 26' is formed in each end 14' and 16' which has a width sufficient to retain a 2.times.4 (41) or other piece of dimensional lumber therein. Thus, the width of notch 26' would be approximately three and one-half inches. The distance between notch 26' and step 24' would be equal to the thickness of the panel used for the concrete form. A central notch 30' is again utilized to retain a reinforcement rod or the like.

As shown in FIG. 5, a simple 2.times.4 (41) can be utilized for a twofold purpose: (1) to retain panels 36 and 40 in position as concrete forms; and (2) to serve as a waler between a series of panels to retain the alignment of the forms.

In situations where large panels are utilized as concrete forms, and where a greater spacing between the ties is desired, a special removable and reusable end bracket 42 (see FIGS. 6 and 7) is utilized in conjunction with tie 10. End bracket 42 includes a generally square plate 44 having a flat rearward surface 46 (not shown) which will abut and bias against the concrete form panel. Preferably, plate 44 is about four to six inches wide and four to six inches long to create a great surface area for holding the forming panel. A slot 48 is cut in the center of plate 44 and has a width equal to the width of tie 10, and a height greater than the height of end portion 16 of tie 10, such that end portion 16 may be inserted through the slot as discussed hereinbelow. A pair of walls 50 project outwardly from plate 44 adjacent the length of slot 48, and have a pin 52 mounted therebetween. Pin 52 is generally of a diameter which will snugly fit within notch 26 of tie 10 (shown in broken lines). Pin 52 is located between walls 48 near the rearward side 46 such that when bracket 42 is installed on tie 10, rearward surface 46 will be generally flush with the inward edge 26a of notch 26.

In order to strengthen plate 44 against large loads on the panel, a series of ribs 54 extend diagonally from each corner substantially to the center of plate 44 and walls 50. A pair of intermediate walls 56 connect the ends of each pair of ribs 54 on each side of aperture 48.

Each bracket can be placed on the end of tie 10 with pin 52 sliding into notch 26 to thereby retain a polystyrene panel in position. The size of the plate 44 assists in retaining the form when a large distance is necessary or desirable between the ties 10.

Whereas the invention has been shown and described in connection with the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that many modifications, substitutions and additions may be made which are within the broad scope of the appended claims. For example, the cross-sectional shape of the tie 10 and 10' is not critical to the invention, as long as the cross-sectional dimension allows for the tie to be easily broken by a sharp blow once the concrete wall has been formed.

Thus, it can be seen that the concrete form tie of the present invention fulfills at least all of the above-stated objectives.

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