GB2441012A

GB2441012A - Apparatus for retaining shuttering

Info

Publication number: GB2441012A
Application number: GB0616455A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Jon Massey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-08-18
Filing date: 2006-08-18
Publication date: 2008-02-20
Also published as: GB0616455D0

Abstract

The invention relates to apparatus for retaining shuttering in place immediately beneath a space 10 between two beams 12. The apparatus 20 comprises a base member 22 with two resilient arms 24 extending downwardly and outwardly to engage against the sides of the beams 12. A connection member preferably a cable tie 28 is engageable with the base member 22 and the shuttering 18 to pull the base member and the shuttering together. The arms 24 engage against the beam sides 12 to retain the apparatus 20 and hence shuttering 18 in place. The base member may have four arms and may have the cable tie integrally formed. The apparatus is preferably formed from plastics such as nylon or polypropylene. A later embodiment relates to a method of using said apparatus.

Description

Aaratus for Retaining Shuttering This invention concerns apparatus for

retaining shuttering, and also a method of filling a space between two beams.

When installing a precast concrete floor using beams, there is often a shortlall in the floor width as the beams come in standard widths.

Accordingly, it may be necessary to fill the hole between two beams with concrete. Presently this is usually achieved by providing shuttering underneath the edge of the hole, pouring concrete on top of the shuttering, and removing it once the concrete has set.

The shuttering has usually been retained in place by providing a steel bar across the top of the hole and providing a wire extending through the hole between the steel bar and the shuttering to hold the latter in place. In practice this method is quite slow, and far from straightforward. Tightening the wire between the bar and the shuttering is a skilled job, and in some instances may not be carried out fully. Also the wire can subsequently stretch and/or break. At the top of the hole the iron bar prevents a smooth finish to the top of the concrete, and the bar often becomes stuck to the concrete. This then requires further steps to provide a smooth floor.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for retaining shuttering in place immediately beneath a space between two beams, the apparatus including a base member locatable in the space, at least two arms extending in use outwardly from the base member each to engage against a side of a respective one of the beams, and a connection member extendable from the base member to the shuttering, such that the shuttering can be held in position by engagement of the arms with the beam side walls and the pulling together of the base member and shuttering by the connection member.

The apparatus may be arranged such that in use the arms also extend downwardly from the base member.

The apparatus may be arranged such that the inclination of the arms relative to the base member can be varied for use in different size spaces.

The apparatus may be arranged such that the inclination of the arms relative to each other can be varied for use in different size spaces.

The connection member may extend through the base member, and the base member and connection member may be arranged such that the connection member can only be moved in the direction through the base member which pulls together the base member and shuttering.

The connection member may be integral with the base member, with the connection member extending from the base member.

The connection member may be extendable through a hole in the shuttering, and an enlarged head may be provided on the lower end in use of the connection member to engage with the shuttering on either side of the hole therein.

Alternatively the connection member may extend in a loop through two holes in the shuttering, with the free end of the connection member engageable with the base member to pull the shuttering theretowards.

More than one connecting member may be provided for each base member.

Four arms may be provided extending from the base member. The four arms may be provided in two pairs, with a different inclination between the arms in each pair and adjacent arms in respective pairs, such that the apparatus may be located with the arms of each pair engageable against a respective one of the beams, or one arm from each pair engageable against a respective one of the beams,dependent on the size of the space between the beams.

The apparatus may be formed of a resiliently deformable material.

The apparatus may be formed of plastics material, and may be formed of nylon or polypropylene. The base member and arms may be integrally formed.

The invention also provides a method of filling the space between two beams, the method including locating shuttering beneath the space so as to overlap the beams on either side thereof, locating an apparatus according to any of the preceding twelve paragraphs in the space to engage with the shuttering, with the arms engaging against the sides of the respective beams, pulling the connection means through the or respective base member to urge the apparatus and shuttering together and retain the shuttering in place, filling the space with a settable material, and following setting of the material removing the shuttering, leaving the set material with the apparatus located therein.

A part of the connection member above the base member may be removed prior to location of the settable material in the space.

A plurality of apparatus are preferably used, spaced apart along the shuttering.

To remove the shuttering, the head may be removed from the or each connection member, or a loop of connection member extending around a part of the shuttering may be cut.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of a first apparatus in use according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a similar view to Fig. 1 but with a second apparatus in use; Fig. 3 is a similar view to Figs. 1 and 2 but of a third apparatus in use; and Fig. 4 is a plan view of the apparatus of Fig. 3.

Fig. 1 shows a space 10 between two concrete floor beams 12. As can be seen this space has a distinctive profile with a short narrow upper opening 14 tapering into a central wider section 15, and a longer narrower lower opening 16. In Fig. 1 shuttering 18 can be seen and is held in place by apparatus 20 according to the invention. The shuttering 18 may be of wood or other materials.

The apparatus 20 includes an integral base member 22 and two arms 24 extending downwardly and outwardly therefrom to engage against the sides of the beams 12 at the junction between the central section 15 and the lower opening 16.

An opening 26 with a teeth formation is provided on the base member 22. The apparatus 20 also includes a connection member in the form of a cable tie 28 with an enlarged head 30 at the lower end. The tie 28 passes through a hole 32 in the shuttering 18, and the head 30 engages against the shuttering around the hole.

The tie passes up through the opening 26. The teeth formation in the opening 26 is arranged such that the tie 28 can be pulled upwardly to urge the apparatus 20 and shuttering 18 together, and hence hold the shuttering 18 immediately beneath the space 10, but the tie 28 can not be pulled downwardly through the opening 26.

In use with the apparatus 20 and shuttering 18 arranged as described above, the space 10 can be filled with concrete to a level which is flush with the top of the beams 12. Once the concrete has set, the head 30 can be cut from the remainder of the tie 28, thereby permitting the shuttering 18 to be removed. If required the upper free end of the cable tie 28 can be removed prior to pouring of the concrete in the space 10. It is to be realised that a plurality of such apparatus 20 will be provided spaced along the length of the shuttering 18.

Fig. 2 shows a similar arrangement, and only the differences relative to the arrangement in Fig. 1 will be outlined. In this instance the base member 34 is broader, and two cable ties 36 extend through two openings 38 in the member 34, and through respective holes 40 in the shuttering 18. Such an arrangement is suitable for use with larger spaces 42.

Figs. 3 and 4 show a third apparatus. Here four arms 44 extend from the base member 46. The arms 44 curve gently downwardly and are provided in two pairs 48 with a smaller angle between the arms 44 in each pair 48 than between the arms 44 in adjacent pairs 48. This means that for instance with a smaller space the apparatus could be rotated through 900 such that an arm 44 from each pair 48 engages against a respective beam 50. The arms 44 are of a resiliently deformable material such that if necessary the apparatus can be flexed to fit into a particular space.

The base member 46 has a cable tie 52 integrally formed therewith with a short upper section 54 mounting a locking head 56. The cable tie extends downwardly from the base member 46 and can form a loop 58 through a pair of holes in shuttering 60 as shown in Fig. 3. The free end 62 of the cable tie 52 extends back through an opening 64 in the base member 46 to lockingly pass through the head 56 to enable the shuttering 60 to be pulled up against the undersides of the beams 50. Once concrete has been poured into the space between the beams 50 and has set, the loop 58 can be cut allowing the shuttering 60 to be removed. Any ends of the loop 58 can be cut away.

There is thus described apparatus and a method of using such apparatus, which readily permits shuttering to be put in place beneath a space between two beams. The apparatus permits the shuttering to easily be removed for subsequent use. The apparatus itself can be inexpensively produced and thus readily sacrificed. The apparatus permits the upper layer of the concrete to be smooth without further processing.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The above described examples are made from nylon, but other materials such as polypropylene may be used, and the base member and arms may be other than integrally formed. The apparatus is preferably made of a resiliently deformable material such that if necessary it can be deformed to fit into particular sizes and shapes of spaces. The connection members may take a different form.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. Apparatus for retaining shuttering in place immediately beneath a space between two beams, the apparatus including a base member locatable in the space, at least two arms extending in use outwardly from the base member each to engage against a side of a respective one of the beams, and a connection member extendable from the base member to the shuttering, such that the shuttering can be held in position by engagement of the arms with the beam side walls and the pulling together of the base member and shuttering by the connection member.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the apparatus is arranged such that in use the arms also extend downwardly from the base member.

1 5 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which the apparatus is arranged such that the inclination of the arms relative to the base member can be varied for use in different size spaces.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, in which the apparatus is arranged such that the inclination of the arms relative to each other can be varied for use in different size spaces. S. * . * ***

5. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, in which the * * *S** connection member extends through the base member. * * S * **

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, in which the base member and connection member are arranged such that the connection member can only ***.

* be moved in the direction through the base member which pulls together the *..*.S * base member and shuttering.

7. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, in which the connection member is integral with the base member, with the connection member extending from the base member.

8. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, in which the connection member is extendable through a hole in the shuttering.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, in which an enlarged head is provided on the lower end in use of the connection member to engage with the 1 0 shuttering on either side of the hole therein.

10. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 7, in which the connection member extends in a loop through two holes in the shuttering, with the free end of the connection member engageable with the base member to pull the 1 5 shuttering theretowards.

11. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, in which more than one connecting member is provided for each base member.

12. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, in which four arms are provided extending from the base member. S. * * *.S

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, in which the four arms are provided in two pairs, with a different inclination between the arms in each pair and *:Zs adjacent arms in respective pairs, such that the apparatus may be located with the arms of each pair engageable against a respective one of the beams, or one arm from each pair engageable against a respective one of the beams,dependent on the size of the space between the beams. *.*S * .

14. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, in which the apparatus is formed of a resiliently deformable material.

15. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, in which the apparatus is formed of plastics material.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15, in which the apparatus is formed of nylon or polypropylene.

17. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, in which the base member and arms may be integrally formed.

18. A method of filling the space between two beams, the method including locating shuttering beneath the space so as to overlap the beams on either side thereof, locating an apparatus according to any of the preceding claims in the space to engage with the shuttering, with the arms engaging against the sides of the respective beams, pulling the connection means through the or respective base member to urge the apparatus and shuttering together and retain the shuttering in place, filling the space with a settable material, and following setting of the material removing the shuttering, leaving the set material with the apparatus located therein.

19. A method according to claim 18, in which a part of the connection member above the base member is removed prior to location of the settable material in the space. S... * S S...

20. A method according to claims 18 or 19, in which a plurality of * ..

apparatus are used, spaced apart along the shuttering.

21. A method according to any of claims 18 to 20, in which to remove the *..: * shuttering, the head may is removed from the or each connection member.

* ** S *S * 22, A method according to any of claims 18 to 20, in which to remove the shuttering, a loop of connection member extending around a part of the shuttering is cut.

23. Apparatus for retaining shuttering in place, the apparatus being substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.

24. Apparatus for retaining shuttering in place, the apparatus being substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.

1 0 25. Apparatus for retaining shuttering in place, the apparatus being substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to Figs. 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

26. A method of filling the space between two beams, the method being 1 5 substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to Fig. 1.

27. A method of filling the space between two beams, the method being substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to Fig.
2.

28. A method of filling the space between two beams, the method being substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to Figs. 3 and 4. * * * S.. *.S* * S * S. * S * * 55 *..S

S *.*.

* *SSSS

S S