Title: Concrete panel with gripping ribs and method of use
Abstract: A concrete forming panel and its method of use is provided wherein the forming panel has a face plate including a frame, a front side and a back side, and one or a plurality of pairs of ribs which extend longitudinally along the back side. The pairs of ribs are provided sufficiently closely together to grip an element passing through the face plate or to grip a wedge which in turn engages the element. The element may be a nail, stake, or other fastener used to hold the forming panel in the ground, to connect the forming panel to other forming panels, or to indicate a desired level for concrete poured against the front side to be cured and hardened into a finished structure, such as a foundation for a building. The ribs may be provided with slots for receiving a reinforcing element of a relatively harder material, and the reinforcing element may be shiftably received in the slot so that its position may be changed as the reinforcing element wears during use.
Patent Number: 6,918,567 Issued on 07/19/2005 to Ward, et al.
| Inventors:
|
Ward; Philip T. (Leawood, KS);
Austin; Larry D. (Independence, MO)
|
| Assignee:
|
Western Forms, Inc. (Kansas City, MO)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
360398 |
| Filed:
|
February 7, 2003 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
249/4; 249/7; 249/189 |
| Intern'l Class: |
E04G 009/06; E04G011/36 |
| Field of Search: |
249/189,190,40,2,3,4,5,7
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
Western Forms, Inc. Catalog titled "World's Leading Innovator in Aluminum Forming
Systems" copyright 1999, all pages.
|
Primary Examiner: Safavi; Michael
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Hovey Williams LLP
Parent Case Text
RELATED APPLICATION
This application relates to and claims the benefit of priority of prior copending
U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/420,807, filed Oct. 23, 2002, said Provisional
Application being hereby incorporated by reference into the present specification.
Claims
1. A form for forming a cement structure from a pourable cementatious material
received thereagainst, said form comprising:
a metal face plate having a front, cement receiving side, a rear side, and a
surrounding frame extending rearwardly from the rear side to define a rear area
bordered by said rear side and said frame;
a first pair of first and second elongated metal ribs mounted to said face plate
and extending into said rear area,
said ribs each including an inner margin coupled to the face plate and a free
margin extending into the rear area,
said first rib being positioned substantially parallel to and adjacent said second
rib and separated by a gap of less than about 25 centimeters whereby said ribs
may grip objects positioned between the first pair of ribs in said gap; and
at least one nail passing through said face plate into said gap and held by said
ribs.
2. A form as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first pair of ribs is coupled
to the rear side.
3. A form as set forth in claim 2, wherein said frame includes a top rail, a
bottom rail parallel to said top rail, and a pair of end rails, said pair of ribs
being substantially parallel to said top rail.
4. A form as set forth in claim 3, wherein said end rails are substantially parallel
to one another and define a width of the rear side therebetween, said pair of rails
extending substantially the width of said rear side.
5. A form as set forth in claim 1, wherein said frame includes a top rail, a
bottom rail parallel to said top rail, and a pair of end rails, said top rail and
bottom rail each including at least a first set of holes and a second set of holes,
the first set of said holes of said top rail being positioned substantially opposite
the first set of holes of said bottom rail and the second set of holes of said
top rail being positioned substantially opposite the second set of holes of said
bottom rail, each of said sets of holes including a plurality of holes.
6. A form as set forth in claim 1, including an opening extending through the
face plate and aligned with said gap.
7. A form as set forth in claim 1, including a second pair of first and second
elongated metal ribs mounted to said face plate and extending into said rear area,
said ribs of said second pair of ribs each including an inner margin coupled to
the face plate and a free margin extending into the rear area, said first rib of
said second pair of ribs being positioned substantially parallel to and adjacent
said second rib of said second pair of ribs and separated by a gap of less than
about 25 centimeters whereby said ribs of said second pair may grip objects positioned therebetween.
8. A form as set forth in claim 7, wherein said second pair of ribs is oriented
substantially parallel to said first set of ribs.
9. A form as set forth in claim 8, including a third pair of first and second
elongated metal ribs mounted to said face plate and extending into said rear area,
said third pair of ribs being oriented substantially parallel to said second pair
of ribs.
10. A form as set forth in claim 1, including a first stake hanger coupled to
said face plate and extending into said rear area and a second stake hanger coupled
to said face plate and extending into said rear area, said second stake hanger
being aligned with and spaced from said first stake hanger, each of said hangers
including an opening sized and oriented whereby a stake may pass through the openings
and held by said hangers.
11. A form for forming a cement structure from a pourable cementatious material
received thereagainst, said form comprising:
a metal face plate having a front, cement receiving side, a rear side, and a
surrounding frame extending rearwardly from the rear side to define a rear area
bordered by said rear side and said frame; and
a first pair of first and second elongated metal ribs mounted to said face plate
and extending into said rear area,
said ribs each including an inner margin coupled to the face plate and a free
margin extending into the rear area,
said first rib being positioned substantially parallel to and adjacent said second
rib and separated by a gap of less than about 25 centimeters whereby said ribs
may grip objects positioned between the first pair of ribs in said gap,
said first pair of ribs being coupled to the rear side,
at least one of said ribs including an elongated slot, and further including
a metal rod of a greater hardness than said rib received in said slot.
12. A form as set forth in claim 11, wherein said rod is shiftably carried within
the slot of said at least one rib for longitudinal movement along said slot.
13. A form as set forth in claim 11, wherein each of said first and second ribs
includes an elongated slot communicating with said gap, each slot of said first
and second ribs including a metal rod received in a respective one of said slots,
said metal rod being of a hardness greater than the hardness of said rib.
14. A form for forming a cement structure from a pourable cementatious material
received thereagainst, said form comprising:
a metal face plate having a front, cement receiving side, a rear side, and a
surrounding frame extending rearwardly from the rear side to define a rear area
bordered by said rear side and said frame; and
a first pair of first and second elongated metal ribs mounted to said face plate
and extending into said rear area,
said ribs each including an inner margin coupled to the face plate and a free
margin extending into the rear area,
said first rib being positioned substantially parallel to and adjacent said second
rib and separated by a gap of less than about 25 centimeters whereby said ribs
may grip objects positioned between the first pair of ribs in said gap,
including an opening extending through the face plate and aligned with said gap,
said opening receiving therein a plug having a body sized corresponding to said
opening and at least one wing extending into said gap and sized for gripping by
said first and second ribs.
15. A form as set forth in claim 14, wherein said plug is of metal.
16. A form for forming a cement structure from a pourable cementatious material
received thereagainst, said form comprising:
a metal face plate having a front, cement receiving side, a rear side, and a
surrounding frame extending rearwardly from the rear side to define a rear area
bordered by said rear side and said frame; and
a first pair of first and second elongated metal ribs mounted to said face plate
and extending into said rear area,
said ribs each including an inner margin coupled to the face plate and a free
margin extending into the rear area,
said first rib being positioned substantially parallel to and adjacent said second
rib and separated by a gap of less than about 25 centimeters whereby said ribs
may grip objects positioned between the first pair of ribs in said gap,
said frame including a top rail, a bottom rail parallel to said top rail, and
a pair of end rails,
said top rail and bottom rail each including at least a first set of holes and
a second set of holes,
the first set of said holes of said top rail being positioned substantially opposite
the first set of holes of said bottom rail and the second set of holes of said
top rail being positioned substantially opposite the second set of holes of said
bottom rail,
each of said sets of holes including a plurality of holes,
said holes being positioned on said rails to be in a plane rearward of the free
margin of said ribs.
17. A form as set forth in claim 16, including an elongated stake extending through
one of the holes of said first set of holes in the top rail and one of the holes
of said first set of holes in the bottom rail.
18. A form as set forth in claim 17, including a wedge received in said gap and
engaged by said ribs.
19. A form as set forth in claim 18, wherein said wedge includes a top surface
and a bottom surface respectively engaged by said first and second ribs, a substantially
linear front edge positioned adjacent said rear side, and a back edge obliquely
angled relative to said front edge.
20. A form for forming a cement structure from a pourable cementatious material
received thereagainst, said form comprising:
a metal face plate having a front, cement receiving side, a rear side, and a
surrounding frame extending rearwardly from the rear side to define a rear area
bordered by said rear side and said frame; and
a first pair of first and second elongated metal ribs mounted to said face plate
and extending into said rear area,
said ribs each including an inner margin coupled to the face plate and a free
margin extending into the rear area,
said first rib being positioned substantially parallel to and adjacent said second
rib and separated by a gap of less than about 25 centimeters whereby said ribs
may grip objects positioned between the first pair of ribs in said gap,
further including a first stake hanger coupled to said face plate and extending
into said rear area and a second stake hanger coupled to said face plate and extending
into said rear area,
said second stake hanger being aligned with and spaced from said first stake
hanger,
each of said hanger including an opening sized and oriented whereby a stake may
pass through the openings and held by said hangers,
the opening of said first stake hanger having an elastomeric grommer.
21. A form for forming a cement structure from a pourable cementatious material
received thereagainst, said form comprising:
a metal face plate having a front, cement receiving side, a rear side, and a
surrounding frame extending rearwardly from the rear side to define a rear area
bordered by said rear side and said frame; and
a first pair of first and second elongated metal ribs mounted to said face plate
and extending into said rear area,
said ribs each including an inner margin coupled to the face plate and a free
margin extending into the rear area,
said first rib being positioned substantially parallel to and adjacent said second
rib and separated by a gap of less than about 25 centimeters whereby said ribs
may grip objects positioned between the first pair of ribs in said gap,
said frame including at least one reinforcing hat adjacent the rear side of the
face plate, and wherein said first pair of first and second ribs are integrally
formed with said reinforcing hat.
22. A form as set forth in claim 21, wherein said hat includes a first sidewall
and a second sidewall and wherein said first pair of ribs is positioned adjacent
said first sidewall and including a second pair of first and second ribs substantially
parallel spaced apart ribs adjacent said second sidewall.
23. A forming system for forming a concrete structure comprising:
first and second forming panels,
at least one of said first and second forming panels comprising
a metal face plate having a front, cement receiving side, a rear side, and a
surrounding frame extending rearwardly from the rear side to define a rear area
bordered by said rear side and said frame; and
a first pair of first and second elongated metal ribs mounted to said face plate
and extending into said rear area,
said ribs each including an inner margin coupled to the face plate and a free
margin extending into the rear area,
said first rib being positioned substantially parallel to and adjacent said second
rib and separated by a gap of less than about 25 centimeters whereby said ribs
may grin objects positioned between the first pair of ribs in said gap,
said first and second forming panels being positioned in opposed, spaced relationship
to one another and defining a concrete pouring area therebetween;
first and second anchors respectively connected to said first and second forming
panels and located in said concrete pouring area;
a cable connected between said anchors; and
at least one fastener engaged with one of said anchors and passing through said
face plate of said at least one form into the gap between said ribs,
said ribs gripping and retaining said fastener.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a concrete forming panel which includes a forming
face which has a reinforcement on the rear side of the forming face adapted for
gripping elements removably attached thereto. The reinforcement is configured to
resist expansion of openings through the forming face. More particularly, it is
concerned with a concrete form and method of its use in connection with the pouring
of low concrete walls or pads where the form may be held in place by stakes driven
into the ground.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The formation of concrete walls and pads is well known and often involves the
use of wooden or metal forms. Metal forms are more expensive, but also more durable
and may be repeatedly used. When concrete pads are to be poured in residential
construction, there is a need for concrete forms which can be quickly and economically
set up and dismantled for use at the next site. Examples of known forming panels
include those shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,708,315, 4,958,800, 5,058,855, 5,184,439
and 5,965,053, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein.
One problem especially presented by the use of metal forms for pouring foundations
such as concrete pads involves their use on rough ground. The metal forms have
a permanent shape, and there is a desire to avoid permanently altering or damaging
the forms by drilling openings to receive tie rods, bars or tensioning cables therethrough,
or driving nails through the frame or face plate of the form to indicate level
lines so that the concrete can be poured to a desired depth with a level, horizontal
surface. Also, rocks, stumps or other solid objects maybe buried just below grade,
and stakes conventionally used for anchoring the forms may encounter such objects
are particularly presented in using concrete forms for form.
In addition, it is known to post-tension concrete slabs by the use of such tensioning
cables. Post-tensioning concrete slabs uses tensioning cables surrounded by sheaths
which are positioned in the pouring area and after the poured concrete is hardened,
stretching the cable by applying tensioning at the ends through the use of a stressing
jack and then anchoring the cable ends in the concrete. Such a practice improves
the response of the resulting concrete slab to loading, and reduces deflections
and cracking. Further, the use of post-tensioning in concrete slabs may result
in slabs which are generally thinner, relatively longer, and reducing the weight
of the resulting poured structure. However, in order to initially position the
live end anchor which is typically received within a cone to create a pocket for
access after concrete hardening and the dead end anchor which is encased within
the hardened concrete, it has been heretofore largely necessary as a practical
matter to employ wooden forms which must be discarded after use.
There is thus a need for an improved concrete forming panel and method of use
which overcomes these problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These and other needs are largely met by the concrete forming panel of the
present invention. That is to say, the concrete forming panel hereof is particularly
useful in forming foundations such as concrete pads where it is desirable to anchor
the forming panel to the ground by stakes, and wherein the forming panel may need
to be penetrated through the front side of the face plate. To this end, the concrete
forming panel hereof includes at least one and preferably a plurality of sets of
reinforcing ribs on the back side of the face plate which are configured and position
for gripping a variety of elements passing through the face plate, either themselves
or with the use of wedges depending on the orientation of the element relative
to the front side of the face plate.
Broadly speaking, the concrete forming panel of the present invention includes
a face plate having a frame, a front side and a rear side, and at least one set
of reinforcing ribs received on the back side, the ribs being positioned closely
adjacent one another and parallel for gripping objects placed therebetween. The
face plate may be formed with a face panel having the front side and rear side
which is separate from the frame, or a portion of the frame may be cast by extruding
or the like or forged so that the face panel is integral with some of the rails
and the reinforcing ribs. The elongated reinforcing ribs preferably extend longitudinally
along the back side of the face plate, but alternatively or in addition may extend
along the frame. The face plate and the ribs are preferably provided of aluminum,
which as used herein includes both elemental aluminum and alloys wherein the primary
constituent is aluminum. Because aluminum is relatively soft and subject to wear,
the ribs may include longitudinally extending slots which receive therein reinforcing
elements of a harder material, such as steel. Most preferably, the reinforcing
elements are shiftably received in the slots, thereby permitting the reinforcing
elements to be moved along the slots to vary the locations where wear occurs and
also permitting the reinforcing elements to be located to engage an element to
be gripped.
The face plate is preferably provided with opposing top and bottom rails, and
at least one set of holes in the frame on each of the top and bottom rails. A stake
may be placed through one of the holes of each set, so that the stake penetrates
the ground and holds the forming panel in place. The stake may be positioned perpendicular
or skew to the rails to avoid rocks or other impediments to penetration into the
soil. The ribs may themselves engage the stake, or more preferably a wedge may
be placed between the ribs and engage the stake to secure it and therefore the
form in the desired placement. The wedge may be driven into engagement with the
stake by a hammer or the like, whereby the face plate is firmly held in place.
Two or more stakes may be used to resist movement of the forming panel.
It may also be desirable to provide openings in through the face side of the
face
plate for the passage of tie rods, anchoring cables or the like. After their use,
the openings would permit leakage of concrete therethrough. However, the forming
panel of the present invention permits these holes to be plugged through the use
of elements such as plugs or the like which may be gripped by the ribs. This not
only permits the forming panel to be reused, but permits removal of the elements
as desired when it is again necessary to use the opening.
Further, it may be desirable to penetrate the face plate during its use.
Because the face plate is preferably provided of aluminum, a nail or other fastener
may be driven through the face plate so that it passes between the ribs. The nail
may be used to connect the forming panel to lumber on a face of the forming panel
or to wood forming panels, reinforcements or stakes. This may be especially advantageous
where tensioning cables are used to hold spaced-apart and opposed panels in position
during the pouring and curing of the concrete, and there is a need to attach the
cable to the panel.
These and other advantages will be readily apparent to those skilled in the
art with reference to the drawings and the description of the preferred embodiment
which follows.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a concrete forming panel in accordance
with the present invention, showing the reinforcing ribs along the back side of
the face plate, the concrete forming panel being anchored to the ground by stakes
and connected to and opposing other forming panels by live end and dead end anchors
and tensioning cables passing through a pouring area between the forming panels
for receiving flowable concrete for curing and hardening;
FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view thereof, showing one of the stakes perpendicular
to the upper rail and another stake skew thereto, and showing in dashed lines the
position of a stake when held by a hanger on the forming panel;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary horizontal cross-sectional view taken along
line 3-3 of FIG. 2, showing the receipt of a plug element in an opening
extending through the face panel of the face plate, a reinforcing rod received
in a slot in the reinforcing ribs, and a wedge gripped between the ribs;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view taken along
line 4-4 of FIG. 3, showing a nail fastener penetrating through the
front side of the face plate and gripped between one of the pairs of reinforcing
ribs for attachment of wood blocks or the like to the panel;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view taken along
line 5-5 of FIG. 2, showing the plug element gripped by a pair of
ribs and a hanger for retaining the stake prior to use, the hanger including an
elastomeric grommet;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary rear isometric view of another embodiment of a forming
panel constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 6; and
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG.
6 taken substantially along line 8-8 of FIG. 7.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings, a forming panel
10 for use in forming
structures from flowable cementatious material such as concrete broadly includes
a face plate
12 and at least one, and preferably a plurality of pairs of,
reinforcing ribs
14. A hanger
16 may be provided for holding a steel
stake
18 used with the forming panel
10. A fastening element
20
may be used with the forming panel
10, and one or a plurality of plug elements
22 may be used to close openings in the face plate
12. As shown in
FIG. 2, the forming panel
10 is particularly useful for forming foundations
such as concrete pads which rest directly on the ground
24.
In greater detail, the face plate
12 is preferably fabricated of an aluminum
alloy such as ASTM 6061 T-6, and includes a frame
26 and a face panel
28
having a front side
30 and a back side
32. The frame
26 preferably
includes a top rail
34 and a bottom rail
36, and first and second
side rails
38 and
40 which together with the back side
32
of the face panel
28 define a rear area
41 inwardly of the margins
of the rails. The face panel
28 may be formed separately and welded to the
frame
26, or alternatively as shown in the drawings, the face panel
28
and top and bottom rails may be integrally formed by casting, such as extrusion,
and the side rails
38 and
40 then welded to the extrusion. The frame
26 including the rails is fabricated of a greater thickness of material
along at least some parts thereof than the face panel
28.
The top rail
34 and the bottom rail each include at least one, and preferably
a plurality of sets
42 of holes
44 therethrough. As used herein,
a set
42 of holes
44 is meant to mean a plurality of holes
44
more closely spaced together than the distance between holes
44 of different
sets
42. As shown in FIG. 1, the top rail
34 thus includes four sets
42A,
42B,
42C and
42D of three holes
44 each,
and the bottom rail
36 includes four sets
42E,
42F,
42G
and
42H of three holes
44 each, the set
42A being positioned
in registry above and opposite the set
42E, and the same respective relationship
existing between set
42B and
42F, set
42C and
42D,
and set
42D and
42G.
In addition, the side rails
38 and
40 are each provided with a
plurality
of holes
44 for receiving therethrough couplers, such as pins
46
and their associated wedges for coupling the forming panel
10 to similar
or compatible adjacent forming panels as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Furthermore, the
side rails
38 and
40 may include recesses
48 on their outer
surface which, in some applications, may facilitate the receipt of tie bars or
the like which may be secured by pins
46 for connecting the forming panel
10 to an opposite forming panel
10A or to an adjacent forming panel.
A pouring area
50 into which flowable concrete maybe poured is located between
opposed forming panels
10 and
10A for forming the structure between
front sides of the opposing face panels. The face panel
28 may be smooth
or textured on its front side
30, texturing being provided to form a pattern
to be imparted to the concrete hardening thereagainst, such as a brick pattern.
The pairs of reinforcing ribs
14 preferably extend longitudinally across
the back side
32 and may either extend the width of the form between the
side rails
38 and
40 as shown with respect to the pair of reinforcing
ribs
14C, or may be interrupted by openings
52 in the face panel
28 as shown by pairs of reinforcing ribs
14A and
14B as described
below. Each pair of ribs
14 includes an elongated first rib
54 and
an elongated second rib
56 which are preferably mirror images and cantilevered
from the back side
32 of the face panel
28. The ribs
54 and
56 may be cast by extrusion or the like as a part of the face plate
12
as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, or may formed separately and secured by welding, brazing
or the like to the face panel
28.
Each of the ribs
54 and
56 preferably includes a longitudinally
extending slot
58 which faces the opposite rib and the gap
60 therebetween,
so that the slot
58 communicates with the gap
60. The gap
60
is preferably less than about
25 centimeters across between the ribs in
order that the ribs
54 and
56 of each pair
14 may grip elements
received therebetween. One or a plurality of reinforcing elements
62 are
preferably of a shorter length than the ribs and thus slidably received in the
slot
58 which permits the reinforcing elements
62 to be shifted longitudinally
along the slot.
The reinforcing elements
62 are preferably steel rods
64. Aluminum
has a much lower hardness than steel (about 30 on the Brinnell hardness scale (Bhn)
for cold rolled ASTM 6061 aluminum versus a Bhn number of about 111 for hot rolled
SAE 1020 steel and a Bhn of 179 for hardened, tempered SAE 1020 steel). Thus, the
use of the steel reinforcing element
62 greatly reduces wear on the ribs.
The use of steel for the reinforcing element
62 also provides increased
strength to the rib
54 or
56 to which it is attached. For example,
ASTM 6061 aluminum has a tensile strength of about 20,000 to 40,000 psi and a yield
strength of about 8,000 psi, whereas hot rolled SAE 1020 steel has a tensile strength
of about 55,000 psi and a yield strength of about 30,000 psi and hardened, tempered
SAE 1020 steel has a tensile strength of about 90,000 psi and a yield strength
of about 60,000 psi. A particularly preferred steel for use as the wear element
is an ASTM-228-93 steel wire having a tensile strength of about 254,000 psi to
about 259,000 psi and a Bhn of about 518 to 529.
The hanger
16 is provided for retaining the stake
18 in place on
the form when form
10 is not in use. The hanger
16 is typically provided
of two aluminum brackets
64 and
66 longitudinally spaced along the
back side
32 and secured thereto by welding, brazing, rivets or the like,
each having a passage
68 of sufficient size to receive the stake
18
therethrough as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. At least one of the brackets
64,
66 includes an elastomeric grommet
70 of synthetic resin or rubber
to grip and hold the stake.
As shown in FIGS. 3,
4 and
5, the pairs of reinforcing ribs
14
are configured to grip elements received in the rear area
41. Openings
52
may be provided in the forming panel
10, preferably along the longitudinal
length of the pairs of reinforcing ribs
14, to permit the use of tie rods
or cables which must pass through the face plate
12. When it is desired
to block or close an opening
52 in the face plate
12 which extends
from the front side
30 through to the rear side
32, a plug element
22 may be held by the opposing ribs
54 and
56. The plug
22
preferably is provided of aluminum or other durable material, but may also be provided
of synthetic resin or rubber and includes a central, substantially cylindrical
body
72 and wings
74 extending diametrically opposite therefrom.
The body
72 may be placed in the opening
52 with the ribs
54
and
56 holding the wings
74 as shown in FIGS. 1,
2,
3
and
5.
The pairs of reinforcing ribs
14 are also useful to grip a fastening element
20, such as a nail
76 driven through the face plate
12. The
nail
76 penetrates the face plate
12 which is typically of aluminum,
and then may be gripped between the rods
64 as shown in FIG. 4 to provide
steel-to-steel contact and thus avoid wear to the face plate
12, the cantilevered
arrangement of the ribs
54 and
56 permitting them to yield and thus
grip the nail. Nails
76 or other fastening elements
20 are useful
if a piece of wood
77 needs to be attached to the forming panel
10,
or when an anchor
78 is used when a tensioning cable
79 received
in a surrounding sleeve (not shown) is passed through the pouring area and connected
to the anchors
78 for anchoring an end of the cable
79. The head
of the nail
76 may be exposed to facilitate removal of a piece of wood or
the anchor. The provision of several pairs of reinforcing ribs
14A,
14B
and
14C is especially useful for receiving and gripping nails
76
at different heights for different depths of concrete.
In addition, the pairs of reinforcing ribs
14 are particularly useful
in
connection with fixing the reinforcing panel
10 relative to the stakes
18.
The position of the holes
44 in each set
42 causes the stakes to
pass through the rear area
41. Retaining elements such as wedges
80
of mild steel or other suitably hard material may be provided for receipt in the
gap and gripping by the ribs
54 and
56. The wedges
80 are
shown in detail in FIG.
3 and are preferably flat and of a thickness complemental
to the gap
60.
The wedges have a front margin
82 and a back margin
84 which is
at an acute angle relative to the front margin. Fingers
86 and
88
are located along the sides of the wedge
80 and extend toward the back margin
84 to aid in placement of the wedge in the gap and permit driving of the
wedge
80 longitudinally along the pair of reinforcing ribs
14 which
receives it. The depth between the front margin
82 and back margin
84
thus varies as shown in FIG. 3, whereby a stake received in the holes
42
may initially pass by the narrowest part of the wedge
80, and the wedge
then driven longitudinally along the pair of reinforcing ribs
14 receiving
it until the back margin
84 engages the stake
18 as shown in FIG.
3. Because the holes
42 have a greater diameter than the diameter
of the stakes
18, the stake may be angled to avoid rocks
90 in the
ground as shown in FIG. 2, but the forming panel
10 may nonetheless remain
fixed to the stake
18 whether the stake is substantially perpendicular to
the top rail or at an acute angle thereto, each of which is shown in FIG.
2.
FIGS. 6,
7 and
8 illustrate an alternative forming panel
10B
in accordance with the present invention, with like numbers used to indicate features
common to forming panels
10 and
10A, wherein the face plate
12B
includes a frame
26B having first and second side rails
38B and
40B,
top rail
34B and a bottom rail (not shown), and wherein the pairs of reinforcing
ribs
14B are integrally formed with hats
94. The hats
94 may
extend either parallel to the top and bottom rails
34B and
36B or
extend perpendicular or at other angles relative to the top and bottom rails as
shown in FIG.
6.
The frame
26B may also include reinforcing plates
96 of steel or
aluminum alloy which are interior to the rails and serve to reinforce the rails
in the vicinity of the holes
44 through the rails. The hats
94 serve
to reinforce the face panel
28B against deflecting loads imparted by the
cementations material received thereagainst, and preferably include sloping sidewalls
98 and
100 connected by stretch
102. The pairs of reinforcing
ribs
14B are preferably integrally formed by extrusion as a part of the
hat
94, and as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, are positioned adjacent each of the
sloping sidewalls
98 and
100.
The ribs
54B and
56B are similar in configuration to ribs
54
and
56, but include a web
104 connecting the ribs
54B and
56B. The web
104 lies against the back side
34B of the face
panel
28B. The web
104 may be provided with elongated slots
106
at longitudinally spaced intervals therealong to facilitate the passage of fastening
elements
20 through the web and the face panel, so that openings
108
created by drilling or driving a nail through the face panel are in registry with
the slots
106. Reinforcing elements
62B such as rods
64B are
received in slots
58B in each of the ribs
54B and
56B so that
the rods
64B oppose one another to grip elements inserted therebetween as
described with regard to the forming panel
10.
In use, the forming panels
10,
10A or
10B hereof are assembled
into forming walls
92 by the use of couplers, and depending on the distance
between opposing forming walls, tie bars, tie rods, cables or other connecting
structures may be used to hold the forming walls in the desired shape. When cables
or tie rods are used which must pass through the forming panel
10, they
pass through the openings
52 in the face plate
12. Otherwise, plugs
22 are used to close the openings, the plugs being held in place by the
clamping action of the ribs
54 and
56 of a pair
14.
The wedges
80 are placed at desired locations along the length of the
pairs of reinforcing ribs
14 proximate to the desired alignment for the
corresponding holes
42 of a particular set
40 where the stake
18
is to pass through. The stake
18 is removed from the hanger
16 and
driven into the ground, and then the wedge
18 is driven longitudinally along
one of the pairs of reinforcing ribs
14 until it engages with the stake
18. If desired, nails may be driven through the face plate
12 to
attach pieces of wood for use as a part of the forming wall or as otherwise needed.
Concrete is then poured into the pouring area
50 between the forming walls
and against the front side
30. After curing and hardening of the concrete
into the pad or other concrete structure, the stakes are pulled and the forming
walls
92 are disassembled for reuse.
As shown in FIG. 1, the forming panel
10 is useful in connection with a
post tensioning system, where anchors
78 include both dead end anchor
110
and live end anchor
112, and a cone
114 is provided between the live
end anchor
112 and the forming panel to create a pocket for access. The
cable
79, having a first end
116 connected and fixed to the dead
end anchor
110 and a second end
118 which initially passes through
the live end anchor
112, extends through the pouring area between the forming
panels
10 and through an opening
52 in the face plate. The anchors
78 maybe held in place by nails driven into the form and gripped by the
ribs
14 prior to pouring of the concrete. After the concrete is hardened,
the forming panels
10 may be removed, the dead end anchor
110 holding
the first end of the cable being encased in the concrete. The cable, permited to
shift because it is encased within its sheath, then has its second end
118
connected to a stressing jack to apply a tensioning load on the cable
79.
This tensioning force is transmitted to both of the anchors when the tensioned
cable is fixed to the live end anchor
112. As a result, the tension is then
imparted to hardened concrete because the anchors
78 are embedded in the
hardened concrete. The cone
114 creating a pocket in the concrete may then
be filled and grouted.
Although preferred forms of the invention have been described above, it
is to be recognized that such disclosure is by way of illustration only, and should
not be utilized in a limiting sense in interpreting the scope of the present invention.
Obvious modifications to the exemplary embodiments, as hereinabove set forth, could
be readily made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of
the present invention.
The inventors hereby state their intent to rely on the Doctrine of Equivalents
to determine and assess the reasonably fair scope of their invention as pertains
to any apparatus not materially departing from but outside the literal scope of
the invention as set out in the following claims.
*
