Granted Patent B2

US 7,051,988 · App. 10/425,519 · Granted May 30, 2006

Abstract

Claims (69)

1. A brace for securing concrete forms to a base, comprising:

first and second leg members having first and second ends, said leg members joined at said first ends and spaced to form an angle therebetween;

a bridging member extending between said first and second leg members, proximate said second ends of said leg members and integrally molded with said first and second leg members;

at least one aperture proximate said second ends of said first and second leg members, said aperture sized to receive a fastener therethrough; and

a strut extending from said first ends of said leg members to said bridging member.

2. The brace of claim 1 , wherein said first and second leg members have enlarged portions proximate said second ends, said aperture formed through said enlarged portions.

3. The brace of claim 1 , further comprising:

first and second raised rib portions, extending along said first and second leg members, respectively.

4. The brace of claim 3 , further comprising:

first and second flange portions proximate said first ends of said leg members, on opposing sides of said first and second rib portions.

5. The brace of claim 4 , further comprising:

a third rib portion, extending along said bridging member.

6. The brace of claim 1 , wherein said angle formed by said first and second leg members is approximately 90 degrees.

7. The brace of claim 1 , wherein said angle formed by said first and second leg members is greater than 90 degrees.

8. The brace of claim 1 , wherein said angle formed by said first and second leg members is less than 90 degrees.

9. The brace of claim 2 , wherein said enlarged portions of said first and second leg members are shaped to facilitate removal of the fastener installed through said aperture.

10. A brace for securing concrete forms to a base, comprising:

first and second leg members having first and second ends, said leg members joined at said first ends and spaced to form an angle therebetween;

a bridging member extending between said first and second leg members, proximate said second ends of said leg members and integrally molded with said first and second leg members;

at least one aperture proximate said second ends of said first and second leg members, said aperture sized to receive a fastener therethrough; and

a web extending between said first and second leg members and said bridging member to substantially fill an area bounded by said legs and said bridging member.

11. The brace of claim 1 formed from polymeric material.

12. The brace of claim 1 , further comprising:

at least one generally elongate reinforcing member extending between said strut and one of said first and second leg members.

13. The brace of claim 4 , further comprising:

at least one aperture formed into said first and second flange portions, said aperture sized to receive a fastener therethrough.

14. An assembly for forming concrete structures, comprising:

at least one concrete form arranged on a surface; and

at least one brace for securing said concrete form, said brace comprising:

first and second leg members having first and second ends, said leg members joined at said first ends and spaced to form an angle between said leg members,

a bridging member extending between said first and second leg members, proximate said second ends of said leg members and integrally molded with said first and second leg members,

a strut extending from said first ends of said leg members to said bridging member; and

at least one aperture proximate said second ends of said first and second leg members, said aperture sized to receive a fastener therethrough.

15. The assembly of claim 14 , wherein said first and second leg members have enlarged portions proximate said second ends, said aperture formed through said enlarged portions.

16. The assembly of claim 14 , further comprising:

first and second rib portions, extending adjacent said first and second leg members, respectively.

17. A construction assembly comprising:

a casting surface;

form members having inner and outer faces positioned on said casting surface with said faces disposed substantially normally with respect thereto and said inner faces defining a concrete casting form;

molded plastic, truss-reinforced form braces positioned outwardly of said concrete casting form;

said braces each comprising a form-engaging leg and a casting surface-engaging leg;

said legs having inner opposing surfaces, outer surfaces and side edges;

said outer surfaces of said form-engaging legs being disposed in supporting engagement with said outer faces of said form members;

said outer surfaces of said casting surface-engaging legs engaging said casting surface; and

a truss member formed integrally with said legs at said opposing surfaces thereof and intermediate said side edges thereof;

said truss member comprising a bridging member extending between said opposing surfaces of said legs and a strut extending between a medial portion of said bridging member and said legs;

said truss member further including at least one elongate reinforcing member extending from said strut to one of said legs.

18. The assembly of claim 17 , wherein:

said legs have enlarged outer ends and reduced intermediate sections.

19. The assembly of claim 17 , wherein:

said truss member further comprises raised ribs extending along said opposing surfaces and formed integrally therewith and with said strut.

20. The assembly of claim 18 , wherein:

said enlarged outer ends have fastener-receiving openings formed therethrough.

21. The assembly of claim 20 , wherein:

said fastener-receiving openings extend to said side edges of said legs.

22. A concrete construction assembly comprising:

a concrete casting slab surface;

a plurality of form members each having inner and outer faces, with said form members positioned on said casting surface and said inner and outer faces disposed substantially perpendicularly with respect to said casting surface;

said inner faces of said form members defining a concrete casting form for the reception of concrete in a plastic state;

a plurality of one-piece molded plastic form braces positioned on said casting surface outwardly of the casting form defined by said form members;

each of said braces comprising a pair of relatively thin flat legs each having enlarged outer ends and reduced intermediate portions and joined to each other at one of said enlarged outer ends of each of said legs;

said legs each having inner opposing surfaces, outer surfaces and side edges;

fastener-receiving openings formed through said enlarged ends of said legs and extending to said side edges thereof;

said outer surfaces of said legs of each of said braces engaging said outer faces of said form members and secured thereto by a fastener extending through said fastener-receiving openings and into said form members;

an outer surface of the other of said legs overlying said casting surface and secured thereto by fasteners extending through said fastener-receiving openings and into said casting surfaces; and

a truss member molded integrally with said legs and joined thereto medially of said side edges at said opposing inner surfaces of said legs;

said truss member including a relatively flat thin bridging member extending between distal portions of said legs, raised ribs extending along said inner surfaces of said legs medially of said side edges thereof and a strut member extending from the juncture of inner ends of said legs to said bridging member;

whereby said integrally formed legs and truss member provide a lightweight, relatively rigid, force resistant construction.

23. The concrete construction assembly of claim 22 , wherein said truss member further includes at least one elongate reinforcing member extending between said strut and one of said first and second members.

Assignments (14)