US2693628A

US2693628A - Locking device for concrete forms

Info

Publication number: US2693628A
Application number: US283309A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hummel John Clarence
Original assignee: ROBERT R ANDERSON CO
Current assignee: ROBERT R ANDERSON CO
Priority date: 1952-04-21
Filing date: 1952-04-21
Publication date: 1954-11-09
Anticipated expiration: 1971-11-09

Description

NOV. 9, 1954 J c HUMMEL LOCKING DEVICE FOR CONCRETE FORMS Filed April 21, 1952 Z mm /W% Z W M n w 3 .k h a Z w J Q V #9 \Z F, i I w II/L h- United States Patent LOCKING DEVICE FOR CONCRETE FORMS John Clarence Hummel, Palatine, Ill., assignor to Robert 'R. Anderson Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application April 21, 1952, Serial No. 283,309

Claims. (Cl. 25-131) The present invention relates to a locking device for detachably connecting together a pair of separate members, disposed side by side in approximately parallel relation. The locking device, embodying the present invention, is particularly suitable for use in detachably connecting together a pair of adjacent panel units of concrete forms.

.As is well known, in producing concrete walls and columns, a form is made up of a plurality of panel units arranged to provide at least two spaced-apart walls between which wet concrete is poured. Generally, each of said walls is made up of a plurality of separate panel units, disposed in edge to edge relationship. Opposite sets of panel units, of the two respective walls, are usually interconnected by form ties to maintain proper spaced relationship of the form walls. It has been the usual practice to secure adjacent panel units together in various manners, such as by nailing them together, or by nailing a series of consecutive .panels to a suitable timber, which is then suitably braced by other timbers to secure the form wall in proper position to support the weight of wet concrete when poured between the form walls. Sometimes adjacent panel units are secured together by panel lock bolts. In all of these prior arrangements heretofore employed, a substantial amount of time is required in properly connecting adjacent panel units together, and when nails are used additional time is required in stripping down the forms, and frequently in removing the nails from the forms said forms are damaged and require either repair or replacement. Where panel lock bolts are applied, a substantial amount of time is required and necessitates the use of tools. Furthermore, such latter type of fastenings, by reason of their being composed of a number of separate pieces, frequently become lost and must be replaced.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a novel locking device which may be quickly and easily applied to secure together a pair of separate members, disposed side by side in approximately parallel relation, without the use of tools or other implements.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel locking device of the character indicated, which is particularly .adaptable for quickly and easily detachably connecting together a pair of adjacent panel units of a concrete form, and which eliminates the foregoing disadvantages and difficulties now experienced in the securement of such panel units together by current, conventional practices.

A further object is to provide a novel locking device of the character indicated which is especially adapted for quick and easy detachable connection of panel units of concrete forms in a manner which effects great savings in labor as well as materials and which reduces to a practical minimum possible damage to the panel units so as to insure their being capable of reuse over and over again.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a concrete wall with forms in position, and with the form panel units of each of the respective walls interconnected by locking devices embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the locking device embodying the present invention.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken as indicated at line 3-3 on Figure 1, showing the locking device in its initial position of adjustment preparatory .to connecting a pair of adjacent panel units .together.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, showing the locking device in an operative locking position.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view, taken as indipated at line 55 of Figure 1, showing the locking device In an intermediate stage of adjustment preparatory to assuming an operative locking position.

Figure 6 is a sectional view similar to Figure 5, showmg the locking device in its operative locking position, corresponding to the position seen in Figure 4.

As indicated above, the locking device embodying the present invention is shown for purposes of illustration, as applied to panel units of a concrete form. As seen in Figure 1 of the drawing, there are disclosed two horizontally spaced-apart form walls, indicated generally at 10 and 11, between which there has been formed a concrete wall 12, supported upon a concrete footing 14..

Each of the form walls is made up of a series of panel units, indicated at 15, disposed in edge to edge abutting relation. The form panel units are of generally elongated, rectangular form and include a face panel 16, such as wood. These panel units usually are disposed in upright position, as seen in Figure l of the drawing, and secured to the rear side of the face panel, adjacent each of the vertical marginal edges are vertical elements 18, and secured to the top and bottom of said rear of said face panel 16, at their respective marginal edges, are horizontal elements 19. The

elements

18 and 19 which are herein shown as 2 by 4s, but which may be of any other desired and convenient size, are secured together and to the face panel 16 to form a box-like structure. It, of course, is to be understood that said

elements

18 and 19 may be 2 x 4s as shown, or may be of any other suitable form, such as angle irons or channels. As shown in the drawing, the vertical elements 18 are disposed inwardly a short distance from the marginal edges of the face panel 16, and the projecting edge portions of said face panel are notched to provide seats for a plurality of horizontally extending form ties, indicated generally at 22. Said form ties are of a conventional type for insuring proper spacing of the form walls 10 and 11.

It is to be understood that the form panel units 15, when positioned on a footing preparatory to making up a form for making a concrete wall or column, are initially secured in place by nailing to a board on the footings or by direct securement to the footing proper, or may be directly seated in the soil. The form ties 22 are placed in proper position as the panel units are mounted in place. As adjacent panel units are placed in edge to edge abutting relation, it is necessary that they be firmly connected together to form a wall form of desired length. For this purpose each of the vertical elements 18 of each panel units is provided with two vertically spaced-apart apertures 25, and which apertures are similarly located in all panel units so that when two panel units are disposed in edge to edge abutting relation, said apertures of adjacent panels are disposed in registering relation with each other.

The locking device, indicated generally at 30, and embodying the present invention, permits quick and easy detachable connection of two adjacent panel units when disposed in edge to edge abutting relation, without the use of tools and implements, and insures against possible damage to the forms when the form panels are being stripped from the formed wall or column. The locking device as herein shown is formed from a single length of round rod metallic stock, suitably bent to form a terminal or pintle portion 31, together with a pair of

spacedapart arms

32 and 33, disposed in approximately parallel planes, and said arms are interconnected by an intermediate portion 34. As may be seen in the drawing, the terminal portion 31, the arm 32, and the intermediate portion 34, provide a structure of generally U-shape formation and all said portions lie in the same main parallel planes. The arm 33 is bent at an acute angle in downwardly offset relation to said main planes defining the

portions

31, 32 and 34 of said locking device, as clearly seen in Figures 2 and 4 of the drawing, and the in a laterally out- 32 and 33 is approximately equal to, or slightly less than,

the distance between the outer faces indicated at 18a, of the vertical elements 18 of the two adjacent form panels, as seen in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawing. It will also be noted in the drawingthat the terminal end portion 'of the arm 33 is disposed from the free end of the terminal portion 31 a distance slightly greater than the distance from the apertures 25 to the outer edges of said elements 18 so as to permit insertion of the terminal portion 31 into a pair of registering apertures 25 of the adjacent elements 18 of two abutting panel units, as clearly seen in Figure 3 of the drawing. After the locking device is disposed in the position seen in Figure 3, it may be swung downwardly so that its

arms

32 and 33 snugly and firmly embrace the outer surface 18a of the vertical elements 18 of the two abutting adjacent panel units, and thereby serves to firmly and detachably lock said adjacent panel units together. The purpose of providing the outwardly bent portion 36 on the arm 33 is to insure free, quick and easy engagement of the outer faces 18a of said vertical elements of the two adjacent panel units by the inner surfaces of the

arms

32 and 33 of the locking device. The free end of the terminal, or pintle portion 31, is preferably slightly tapered to facilitate its entrance into the apertures 25 in the vertical elements of the panel units.

Because the size panel units most frequently employed are of the proportions indicated, namely, two feet by eight feet, it has been found that two of such locking devices are sufficient for connecting two of such panel units. However, for different size panel units it may be preferable to use more or less than two of such devices for the purpose indicated.

It will be apparent that by virtue of the present invention, considerable time is saved in both initially connecting and in subsequently disconnecting adjacent panel units of a concrete form, as well as insuring against possible damage to the forms which often occurs as a result of stripping the panel units from the formed concrete wall or' column.

While I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, manifestly it is capable of modification and re-arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. I do not, therefore, wish to be understood as limiting this invention to the precise embodiment herein disclosed, except as I may be so limited by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A locking device for clamping together a pair of separate members disposed side by side with approximately parallel outside surfaces and having a pair of registering apertures located a distance inwardly from the outer edges thereof, said device being formed of a single piece of metal stock having a terminal cylindrical portion adapted for insertion in said registering apertures to constitute a pintle, and having a pair of spacedapart arms, disposed in approximately parallel planes, one of said arms being a continuation of said pintle portion, and an intermediate portion connecting said arms, said arms being spaced apart a sufiicient distance to provide firm engagement with the outside surfaces of said pair of members when the latter are disposed in side by side relation, said pintle portion, said one arm and said intermediate portion being of generally U-shape formation and being in substantially the same main planes, the other arm being offset at an acute angle with respect to said main planes with its terminal end positioned a substantial distance from the free end of said terminal portion.

2. A locking device for clamping together a pair of separate members disposed side by side with approximately parallel outside surfaces and having a pair of registering apertures located a distance inwardly from the outer edges thereof, said device being formed of a single piece of metal stock having a terminal cylindrical portion adapted for insertion in said registering apertures to constitute a pintle, and having a pair of spaced-apartarms, of substantially the same length, disposed in approximately parallel planes, one of said arms being a continuation of said pintle portion, and an intermediate portion connecting said arms, said arms being spaced apart a sufficient distance to provide firm engagement with the outside surfaces of said pairof members when the latter are disposed in side by side relation, said pintle portion, said one arm and said intermediate portion being of generally U-shape formation and being in substantially the same main planes, the other arm being offset at an acute angle with respect to said main planes with its terminal end positioned a substantial distance from the free end of said terminal portion.

3. A locking device for clamping together a pair of separate members disposed side by side with approximately parallel outside surfaces and having a pair of registering apertures located a distance inwardly from the outer edges thereof, said device being formed of a single piece of metal stock having a terminal cylindrical portion adapted for insertion in said registering apertures to constitute a pintle, and having a pair of spacedapart arms, disposed in approximately parallel planes, one of said arms being a continuation of said pintle portion, and an intermediate portion connecting said arms, said arms being spaced apart a sufficient distance to provide firm engagement with the outside surfaces of said pair of members when the latter are disposed in side by side relation, said pintle portion, said one arm and said intermediate portion being of generally U-shape formation and being in substantially the same main planes, the other arm being offset at an acute angle with respect to said main planes with its terminal end positioned a substantial distance from the free end of said terminal portion, the distance from the terminal end of said other arm to the free end of said pintle portion being greater than the distance of said apertures from the outer edges of said members, whereby said arms, when the device is swung about the pintle axis, will be caused to engage said outside faces of said members and tend to crowd said members together.

4. A locking device for clamping together a pair of separate members disposed side by side with approximately parallel outside surfaces and having a pair of registering apertures located a distance inwardly from the outer edges thereof, said device being formed of a single piece of metal stock having a terminal cylindrical portion adapted for insertion in said registering apertures to constitute a pintle, and having a pair of spaced-apart arms, disposed in approximately parallel planes, one of said arms being a contination of said pintle portion, and an intermediate portion connecting said arms, said pintle portion, said one arm and said intermediate portion being of generally U-shape formation and being in substantially the same main planes, the other arm being offset at an acute angle with respect to said main planes with its terminal end positioned a substantial distance from the free end of said terminal portion, the distance from the terminal end of said other arm to the free end of said pintle portion being greater than the distance of said apertures from the outer edges of said members, and the distance between said arms being approximately the distance between said outside faces of said members when disposed in abutting side by side relation, whereby said arms, when the device is swung about the pintle axis,

will be caused to engage said outside faces of said mem-' bers and tend to crowd said members together, the terminal portion of said other arm being bent in a laterally outward direction.

5. A locking device for clamping together a pair of separate members disposed side by side with approximately parallel outside surfaces and having a pair of registering apertures located a distance inwardly from the outer edges thereof, said device being formed of a single piece ,of round rod stock having a terminal portion adapted for positioned a substantial distance from the free end of said terminal portion, the distance from the terminal end of said other arm to the free end of said pintle portion being greater than the distance of said apertures from the, outer edges of said members, and the distance between said arms being approximately the distance between said outside faces of said members when disposed in abutting side References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Ma Feb. 6, 1877 Kiefer Feb. 6, 1923 Fairley June 12, 1923 Hyre Nov. 18, 1952