US1704307A - Form clamp - Google Patents

Description

Match 5, 1929.

A. H. SYMONS FORM CLMIP Filed March 12, 1928 FQ H H Patented Mar. 5, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,704,307 PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR H. SYMONS, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, assrenoa To sinuous mm a mire.

GOMPANY, or CHICAGO, rumors, A conc usion or rumors.

FORM CLAMP.

Application flled uarch 12, 1928. Serial No. 260,909.

The invention relates to clamps for holding together the separable sections that form a mold into which concrete or other plastic material is poured and set in the construction of buildings and other structures, and more particularly to those clamps which comprise. a series of independent or separate'units each consisting of a single bar which is adapted to be placed against one of the sections of the mold and has a longitudinal series of spaced wedge'slots at one end thereof, a bracket which is rigid] secured to the other end of the bar anc has formed therein a transversely extending chamber for receiving and holding in so called overlapped or intersecting relation the slotted end of the adjoining bar, and a wedge which is adapted to extend through slots in the bracket and one of the slots in the said adjoining bar and is operative to effect relative movement of the two bars to urge or clamp them against their respective sections so as to hold the latterin connected relation during the pouring and setting periods.

One objectoi the resent invention is to provide a clamp of tlis character inwhich the brackets and the wedge-slots in the brackets are so formed and arranged that,

changeable and may be assembled in either an upright or an inverted position without effecting or changing the adjustabilit of the clamp.

provide a one-piece clamping bracket for a bar of a form or column clamp, which is of new and improved construction, embodies as an integral fpartthereof an anvil which may he used to hammer against when shifting the bracket into its operative position, and is reinforced so as to efliciently and effectively withstand the comparativel great pressures or forces to which it is sulijected during use. v

A still further object of the invention is to provide a column clam of the aforementioned type, inwhich t is brackets offer 35 a minimum amount of adjustability and are to when the bars are placed in their operative vide a clamp inwhich the units are inter-s compact so that the units may be conven lently and economically handled during sln ping. i

ther objects will be manifest as the description proceeds. i a

The invention consists in the several novel featureshereinafter set forth and more par-. ticularly defined by the claims at the conclusion hereof. a i

In the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of this specification and in.

which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several ofone of the brackets.

and the bracket atv p 75 v Figure 6 is an end viewshowing the anvil at the end of the bracket.

The inventionis exemplified in a clamp for securing together in squared relation the four sides or sectionsof a mold for form ing a column of concrete, cement,or anyother plastic material. Thefisections are separable and to ether form a rectangular mold in which the concrete is cured and allowed to set. as well understoo in the art.

The clamp which forms thesubject matter a of the present inventionicomprises four bars 10 which are made of any desired length a a and are referabl formed of stra iron. A further object of the invention 1s to p y p One end of each baris providedwith a: longitudinal series of transverse openings or slots 11 which are spaced equidistantl and are adapted to receive a substantial V- shaped wedge 12. The other ends 0 the bars are provided with. brackets 13 which are adapted to receive and hold the slotted ends as shown in Figure .1; In applying the clamp to a mold, the bars 10 are positioned againstgthe sides or sections respectively and in such a manner that the slotted ends project outwardly from thecorners of the mold and intersect the brackets 13. I The slotted ends of the bars are held against outward movement by the bracket and the latter have slots as hereinafter described, which receive and support the wedges 12 and cooperate therewith to effect relative movement of the bars and urge them into clamping relation around the sections.

Each bracket 13 is formed of a one-piece casting and comprises a substantially square plate 14: which fits against one face of the extreme unslotted end of the bar with which the bracket is associated. The plate is rigidly held in this position by a rivet 15 which extends through ali ned holes 16 and 17 punched in the bar and plate respectively. At the end margin of the plate is an end wall 18 which is coextensive with the end of the bar and abuts thereagainst so as to prevent the bracket from rotating or turning relatively to said bar. Projecting outwardly from the wall 18 and disposed adjacent the end of the bar is an arm or holding member 19 for receiving the slotted end oi. the adjacent bar. This arm extends at right angles to the plate and bar and comprises a lower wall 20 and an upper wall 22. These walls are spaced apart by an end wall 21 to form a transversely elongated chamber or channel 23 which opens toward the riveted end of the bar and is adapted to receive the slotted end of the adjoining or contiguous bar. The latter insertabie edgewise or laterally into the chamber and is long tudinally slidable therein in response to the action or operation of the wedge 12 as will appear here after. The lower wall 20 is flush with the top surface of the bar so that the slotted bar-end may be laid upon the unslotted and riveted end and slid directly onto said lower wall and into the chamber 23. The walls 20 and 21 are coextensive and the sides thereof project laterally with respect to the side edges of the bar and terminate at equal distances from the longitudinal center of the bracket andbar.

The upper wall 22 has formed therein a pair of transversely extending slots 24 which extend on either side oi the long udinal center of the bracket and bar and are equidistantly spaced therefrom. These slots are aligned with a pair of slots 25 formed in the lower wall 20 and form therewith a pair of sockets for receiving and supporting one of the wedges 12. .The upper wall has also formed therein a pair of open-ended slots 26. These slots are termed in the ends of said upper wall and are spaced equal distances from the longitudinal center of the bracket. Slots 26 are aligned with a pair of open-ended slots 27 which are formed in the ends of the lower wall 20. The slots 26 and 27 at the side of the braclret remote from the mold operate in a similar manner to the slots 24' and 25 to form. sockets for receiving the wedge 12, it being obvious that the openended slots at the other side are inoperative in this position of the bracket, although when the bracket is used in an inverted position they are operative. The slots in the upper wall and consequently the slots in the lower wall are spaced apart distances which are different than those between the slots 11 with the result that there is always available one combination of slots (24, 11, 25 or 26, 11, 27) through which the operator may insert a wedge andupon driving it down, effect a relative movement of the arm and bar for clamping purposes. Since the arm is arranged that it terminates at equal distances from the longitudinal center of the bar and bracket and since the wedge slots in the arm are similarly arranged, the bracket U may be used equally as well in an inverted position as in an upr ht position. This operates to facilitate assembly of the clamp units and furthermore makes it possible to arrange the bars in parallelism by having one set of diagonally opposite brackets in an upright position and the other set in an inverted position. A characteristic of ere tending the sides oi the arm 19 beyond the side edges of the bar and utilizing openended vv'edge slots isthat the bracket offers a maximum amount of adjustability and still is con'ipact so that it may be conveniently handled during shipping.

To reinforce and strengthen. the parts of the arm that contact with the wedge, the outer faces of the walls 20 and 22 are providcd adjacent the slots with pads or raised portions 28. The end wall 21 is disposed at the outer end of the bracket and forms an abutment for the outer edge of the bar that extends through the chamber 23. The inner end of the lower wall 20 is provided adjacent the ends of the wall 18 with pair 01 lugs 29. The latter extend at right angles to said wall 18 and form therewith a socket in which the nnslotted end of the'bar that is associated with the bracket tits and is locked against relative movement.

To prevent the upper and lower walls of the bracket from being forced apart or broken and to strengthen the connection between the plate 14 and the arm, a pair of ll-shaped reinforcing members 30 and 31 are provided. These members are integral with the bracket and extend around the upper end and lower walls as illustrated in Figures at and 5. Tl101l'ltl'l'lb0lfj 30 and 31. are positioned adjacent the outer ends of the arm and between the wedge slots. The inner ends of the lower legs of these members extend towards each other, as at 32, and then outwardly along the side edges oi the plate 14 to form reinforcing ribs To permit the bracket to be hammered into place, an anvil 34: is formed on the back of the arm. This anvil is formed as an integral part of the end wall 21 and operates to distribute the hammer blows to the various parts oi" the casting from which the bracket is made lill) so that no injury to the latter will result.

Ribs 35 extend across the central portions of the walls 20 and 22 and are connected to the anvil so as to assist the latter in distributing the hammer blows and reinforcing the bracket. l I i The clamp is operated as follows: The bars 10 are arranged againstthe sides of the mold respectively in such a manner that the slotted ends cross or intersect the end edges of the unslotted bar-ends at the corners of the mold or form and project through the chambers 93 of the brackets as .illus trated in Figure 1. The bars are then manually shifted in a longitudinal direction as far as possible so that "thebrackets operate to jam the bars into close contact or abutting relation with the mold-sections. Thereafter the wedges 12 are inserted through the wedge slots in the brackets and bars tolock the bars against outward movement. These Wedges are then driven down as far as possible to effect relative movement of the brackets and intersecting bar-ends which results in the units being shifted towards each other and the inner edges of the bars which extend between the brackets being urged intotheir clamping position against the mold-sections; In this manner the mold is held togethenwhile the concrete or plastic material is poured and allowed to set. When it is desired to remove the clamp, slight tapping on the small ends of the wedges operates to release the latter so that theymay be withdrawn and the bars dismantled.

The clamp herein disclosed consists of units which maybe quickly assembled without selection or relative arrangement and readily applied to the separable sections; of a mold, includes abracketof new and im-' proved constrnct-ion,and may be manufaclured at a comparatively lowfcost.

While the clamp has been shown and described as consisting of four bars andutilizing brackets which have holding arms ex tending at right angles to the rivet bearing ends of t-hebars it is to be understood that more orless barsn'iay be used depending upon the shape of the mold or form and that;

the angle of the arms may be changed accordingly. It is also to'be understood that the invention is not to be restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is: i

1. A form clamp consisting of a series of independent units adapted to be placed against the sides of the form respectively, each unit comprising a bar having slots adjacent one end thereof and an arm rigidly secured to its other end, said arm having an elongated transversely extending chamber formed therein together with wedge slots -I portion, the slotted ends adjacent the centre of the bars fittingun the chambers of the arms when the units are assembled, and wedge means extending through the slots in the bars and arms to clamp the bars around the form. a H

2. A form clamp consisting of a series independent units adapted to be placed against the sides of the form respectively, each unit comprising aflbarhaving slots ad jacentoneend thereof and a transverselyem tending arm rigidly secured to its otherend u and pro ecting from both sides thereof, said arm having slots and an elongated transversely extending chamber formed therein,

the slotted ends of the barsfitting in tfhe chambers of the arms when the units are assembled, and wedges extendingthrough the slots in the arms and bars operative to? clamp said bars around the form. A form clamp consisting of independent units adapted to be placed a series of against the sides v ofthe form respectively,

each unit comprising a bar having slots adjacennone end thereof and it separately formed'one-piece bracket rigidly secured to its other end, said bracket embodyin an arm projecting laterally from each site of i the bar and having an elongated transverse chamber formed therein, the slotted endsof formedl one-piece bracket rigidly secured to its other end, said bracketembod ying an arm disposed outwardly of the unslotted end of the bar andhaving closed wedge slots and a transverse chamber formed therein,

the slotted ends of the bars fittinggin the chambers of the arms when the units are assembled, and Wedges extending through the slots in the armsand bars operative to clamp said bars around the form; 3 i

5. A form clam consistingof a series of independentunlts ada ted tobe placed against the sides of the; orm respectively, each unit comprising a bar having slots adjacent one end thereof and a separately formed one-piece bracket having a socket formed therein in which the other end of the bar fits and is rigidly secured, said of a series of bracket embodying an arm disposed outwardly of the socket and the unslotted end of the bar and having an elongated transversely extending chamber formed therein,

the slotted ends of the bars fitting in the chambers of the arms when the units are assembled, and wedges extending through the slots and bearing against portions of the arms to clamp the bars around the form. 6. A form clamp consisting of a series of independent units adapted to be placed against the sides of the form respectively, each unit comprising a bar having slots adjacent one end thereof and a bracket secured to the other end, having an arm projecting outwardly equal distances from the sides of the bar, said arm forming an elongated transverse chamber and having wedgeslots formed in both sides thereof, the slotted ends of the bars fitting in the chamberso'f the arms, and wedges extending through the slots in the arms and bars operative to clamp the bars around the form. V

7. In a clamp of the character described, the combination of a pair of bars, the ends of which intersect each other, the end of one of'the bars having formed therein a longi-- tudinal series of slots, and means for holding the bars inclamping relation comprising a one-piece bracket embodying a plate secured to the end of the other bar, a wall connected to the plate and fitting against the end edge of said other bar to lock said plate and bar against relative movement, and an arm connected to the wall and extending transversely with respect to said other bar, said arm having an elongated chamber formed thereinin which the slotted bar-end fits and is longitudinally slidable, and wedge means extending through one of the slots and bearing against the arm.

8. In a clamp of the character described, the combination of a pair of bars, the ends of which intersect each other, the end of one of the bars having formed therein a longitudinal series of slots, and means for holding the bars in clamping relation comprising a one-piece bracket embodying a plate secured to the end of the other bar,a wall joined to the plate and fitting against the end edge of said otherbar, and an arm connectedto the wall and extending transversely with respect to said other her, said arm comprising upper and lower walls and a side wall forming together an elongated chamher in which the slotted bar-end fits and is longitudinally slidable, the lower wall having lugs positioned to abut against the sides of said other bar to cooperate with the first mentioned wall in locking the bracket and bar against relative movement, and wedge means extending through one of the slots and bearing against the arm.

9. A one-piece bracket for use is securing together the intersecting ends of a pair of form clamping bars, comprising means at one end thereof forming a socket for receiving and confining against movement the end of one of the bars, and an arm disposed out wardly of said socket and projecting transversely, said arm having an elongated chamher for receiving the end of the other bar, and wedge slots formed therein.

10. A one-piece bracket for use in securing together the intersecting ends of a pair of form clamping bars, comprising means at one end thereof forming a socket for receiving and confining against movement the end of one of the bars, an arm disposed outwardly of said means and arranged so as to extend transversely with respect to said one bar, said arm comprising upper and lower walls and a side Wall forming a chamber for receiving the end of the other bar, and a U-shaped reinforcing member connected to and extending around said walls, said member having a portion thereof extending under and connected to the socket forming means.

11. A form clamp consisting of a series of independent units adapted to be placed against the sidesof the form respectively, each unit comprising a bar having a cast one piece bracket rigidly secured to one of its ends, said bracket having formed therein a transverse chamber for receiving the end of the adjoining bar and being provided with an integral anvil whereby it may be hammered into its operative position.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 9th day of March, 1928. y

' ARTHUR H. SYMONS.

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