Concrete form having adjustable curvature
View Patent ↗Supplemental bridging straps are used to increase the strength of a flexible metal concrete form assembly. A metal form has a flexible panel member with a perimetral flange projected laterally from one side thereof. Each of a pair of transversely opposite side sections of the flange is segmented by a plurality of longitudinally spaced V-shaped notches having their apices adjacent the one side of the panel member to provide for a lateral flexing movement of the panel member to a preselected shape. With the panel member in the predetermined shape, the segments in each of the flange side sections are connected together against relative movement to retain the predetermined shape of the panel member. In a first preferred embodiment, each flange segment is connected to an adjacent flange segment by a flexible metal strap. In a second preferred embodiment, extended flexible metal straps are used to interconnect a central flange segment to each of the pair of adjacent flange segments. The supplemental bridging straps bridge or span across adjacent flexible metal straps and the straps are interconnected to a corresponding flange segment.
1. A concrete form having a flexible panel member with an upstanding perimetral flange projected laterally from one side thereof and wherein said flange has a pair of transversely opposite side sections disposed on opposite ends of said form each of which side sections has a terminal surface portion extended inwardly in a direction parallel to said one side of the form, each of said opposite flange side sections is divided into a plurality of segments by a plurality of notches longitudinally spaced over the length thereof, with each notch terminating in a V-shape portion having the apex thereof adjacent said one side of the panel member whereby said panel member is laterally flexibly movable to a preselected generally curve shape, a plurality of bendable metal strap segments aligned end-to-end, and a plurality of central flange segments each having a terminal surface portion separated by a V-shaped notch, and each of said plurality of bendable metal strap segments interconnecting one of said plurality of central flange segments with a pair of flange segments adjacent on either side of each of said plurality of central flange segments, the improvement comprising a plurality of supplemental bridging straps each connected across a pair of adjacent bendable metal strap segments and to the corresponding flange segments.
2. The concrete form according to claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of bendable metal strap segments comprises a central portion fixed to one of said plurality of central flange segments, and a pair of opposing end portions releasably secured to said adjacent flange segments whereby said central flange segments are held in a fixed position relative to said adjacent flange segments.
3. The concrete form according to claim 1 , wherein the end portions of a pair of adjacent bendable metal strap segments and a supplemental strap are interconnected to a flange segment by a pair of nut and bolt assemblies.