Insulated concrete form
An insulated concrete form (ICF) is disclosed having opposed, spaced-apart foamed plastic panels with a plurality of unique protrusions on an inner surface, are held in spaced apart relationship with novel separators and easily fitted and removed connectors, including framing studs which are conveniently installed to provide secure attachment points for installing interior and exterior finishes, and rebar support boots which retain structural rebar in position spaced from contact with ground surfaces.
1 . An insulated concrete form system for constructing an insulated concrete wall comprising:
first and second, spaced apart opposing panels having facing interior surfaces comprising a plurality of aligned facing protrusions;
a plurality of spacers arranged between aligned facing protrusions of said first and second panels, said spacers arranged to define a distance between the panels; and,
a plurality of connectors arranged to pass through aligned protrusions spaced apart by spacers, said connectors arranged to secure said first panel to said second panel and restrain separation of the panels.
2 . The system of claim 1 wherein said first and second panels have generally flat exterior surfaces.
3 . The system of claim 1 wherein said protrusions are aligned in horizontal rows and vertical columns.
4 . The system of claim 1 wherein said protrusions are in the shape of truncated pyramids.
5 . The system of claim 4 wherein said protrusions have generally square bases.
6 . The system of claim 1 wherein the shape of said separator is selected from cylindrical, elliptical and tear-drop.
7 . The system of claim 1 wherein said connector comprises a rod having an enlarged head at a first end, a first washer having a central opening larger than the diameter of said rod and smaller than the diameter of said enlarged head, a second washer having a central opening larger than the diameter of said rod, and a releasable jam washer.
8 . The system of claim 1 comprising a rebar support boot arranged between said opposing panels, said support boot comprising a generally round body; an upwardly facing cavity for receiving a bottom end of a vertical piece of rebar; and a plurality of vanes extending into the cavity for engaging and securing the bottom end of a rebar rod.
9 . The system of claim 1 comprising a framing stud, said framing stud comprising a shaft with an entry end, a middle section and an opposite end, wherein the middle section comprises two adjacent bulbous elements incrementally increasing from the nominal diameter of the shaft to a diameter greater than the shaft and incrementally decreasing from said diameter greater than the shaft to about the diameter of the shaft.
10 . The system of claim 9 wherein said entry end of said shaft is pointed and said opposite end of said shaft is generally flat.
11 . A rebar support boot for use with an insulated concrete form, the support boot comprising:
a generally round body;
an upwardly facing cavity for receiving a bottom end of a vertical piece of rebar; and
a plurality of vanes extending into the cavity for engaging and securing the bottom end of the rebar.
12 . A panel for an insulated concrete form, said panel comprising an exterior side and an interior side, said exterior side having a generally flat surface, and said interior side having a plurality of protrusions aligned in horizontal rows and vertical columns.
13 . The panel of claim 12 wherein said protrusions are in the shape of truncated pyramids.
14 . The panel of claim 12 formed from foamed plastic.
15 . The panel of claim 12 formed in a generally rectilinear shape and comprising a channel arranged at a perimeter edge thereof.
16 . A connector for connecting foamed plastic panels in spaced alignment in an insulated concrete form, comprising:
a rod having first and opposite ends;
said first end of said rod having an enlarged head and comprising a removable first washer arranged adjacent thereto having a central opening larger than the diameter of said rod and smaller than the diameter of the enlarged head;
a removable second washer arranged spaced from said first washer toward said opposite end having a central opening larger than the diameter of said rod;
a jam washer, arranged between said second washer and said opposite end, said jam washer arranged to resist movement of said second washer toward said opposite end.
17 . The connector of claim 16 wherein said jam washer comprises a quick release jam washer.
18 . The connector of claim 17 wherein said quick release jam washer comprises an off perpendicular releasable jam washer.
19 . A framing stud for fastening a finish to a structural element of an insulated concrete foam wall, said stud comprising a shaft with an entry end, a middle section and an opposite end, wherein the middle section comprises two adjacent bulbous elements incrementally increasing from the nominal diameter of the shaft to a diameter greater than the shaft and incrementally decreasing from said diameter greater than the shaft to about the diameter of the shaft.
20 . The framing stud of claim 19 wherein said entry end is pointed.
21 . The framing stud of system of claim 19 wherein the shape of said opposite end of said shaft is generally flat.
22 . The framing stud of claim 19 formed from plastic.
23 . A wire-twister tool for use in tying wires for securing rebar used in an insulated concrete form system, the tool comprising:
a mounting shaft adapted to be mounted in a chuck of rotary-type tool and a head connected to said mounting shaft;
wherein said head includes at least one pair of spaced-apart parallel wire holes adapted to engage and twist together at least one pair of wires.
24 . The tool of claim 23 wherein said wire holes have funnel-shaped openings.
25 . The tool of claim 24 wherein each wire hole has an upper funnel-shaped opening and a lower funnel-shaped opening, the upper opening converging downwardly to an intermediary hole while the lower opening converges upwardly to the same intermediary hole.