US2695157A - Concrete forms stripping tool - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 23, 1954 E. E. WILSON 2,695,157

CONCRETE FORM STRIPPING TOOL Filed May 15, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z7 INVENTOR.

EVERETT E. WlLSON @3 I .fgv a a Z ATTORNEY NOV. 1954 E. E. WILSON ,695,157

CONCRETE FORM STRIPPING TOOL Filed May 15, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 33 EVERETT E. WILSON ATTORNEY bars, hammers, and the like.

United States Patent CONCRETE FORMS STRIPPING TOOL V Everett E. Wilson, Detroit, Mich.

Application May 15, 1951, Serial No. 226,449

2 Claims. (Cl. 254-131) This invention relates to hand tools and more particularly to a novel hand tool used particularly advantageously for dismantling forms used in concrete constructions. The present application is a continuation-inpart of my co-pending application Serial No. 60,245, filed November 16, 1948, and now abandoned.

It ,is commonly known that in erecting reinforced concrete constructions, such as buildings or portions thereof, bridges, stadiums, dams, retaining walls, and constructions of numerous other types, steel reinforcements are first erected in a certain manner, whereupon wooden molds or forms are built-up around such reinforcements to provide molding cavities of desired shape and having smooth inner surfaces. Thereupon wet concrete is poured into such forms and is permitted to set and harden therein. After the concrete hardens, the wooden forms are dismantled or removed, or as it is termed in the art, the forms are stripped.

It can be easily appreciated that in order to provide smooth surfaces of large areas, closely fitted boards must be used. Moreover, since heavy weights have to be supported and high forces resisted without sagging by such forms, form boards must be properly reinforced from the outside with planks nailed at frequent intervals or otherwise secured in a substantial and dependable manner to the boards. Thus such forms present as a rule strongly built constructions disassembling of which re quires skill and considerable efforts. Similarly to other operations in concrete constructions, stripping of forms is done by special crews well accustomed to work in various difficult positions and in surroundings which may present danger of sudden collapse of supporting structures, and understanding the order in which dismantling of forms must proceed for reducing the efforts required.

In spite of highly specialized nature of such stripping operations and efforts required thereby, they have been performed for many years, and in fact from the very advent of the concrete building industry, with the aid of common hand tools, such as conventional wrecking Such tools have proved to be totally inadequate and inefficient in stripping operations. They are exceedingly inconvenient or even nearly impossible of application in many instances, do not provide sufiicient leverage and therefore often require very heavy effort, are not fully safe, and in general are responsible for great waste of time, effort, materials, limb and often life in such operations.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel tool whereby the above difiiculties and disadvantages are overcome and largely eliminated, and form-stripping operations are rendered more 'safe,easy, and efiicient.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel hand tool of great universality and efiiciency in form-stripping operation in concrete constructions, and of great general utility in construction and similar work.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel tool particularly advantageous for formstripping and similar operations, which tool can be applied in many instances where conventional tools such as wrecking bars either cannot be applied at all, or can be applied with difiiculty or only after some. other tools, such as a wedge and a hammer, have been first used for aportion of the intended operation. 7 q

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved hand tool for form-stripping and Patented Nov. 23, 1954 similar operations, which does not damage appreciably in the process of stripping the material of forms.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved hand tool for form-stripping and similar operations, which can be passed through a relatively narrow hole or slot and thus be used in otherwise inexcessible places.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved hand tool for form-stripping and similar operations, which tool possesses nearly the maximum strength and rigidity for its weight and convenience of handling.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved tool of the foregoing character which is simple and rugged in construction; safe and dependable in use, convenient to handle, to carry to and from work and to ship, and is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the appended drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating on a small scale my novel tool.

Fig. 2 is a side view on a larger scale of the tool illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the arm of the tool, the section being taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a top view partly in section of the tool shown in Fig. 2, the section being taken on the section plane passing through the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, the observer being presumed to look downward.

Fig. 5 illustrates the use of the tool for removing a plank the access to which is open only through a narrow nitch between the plank and a concrete wall. 7

Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the use of my novel tool for turning a stake in the ground or turning a two-by-four plank on a construction job.

Fig. 7 illustrates the use of my novel tool for pulling oif a two-by-four from a form board to which it is nailed.

Fig. 8 illustrates application of my novel tool for bending steel reinforcement bar.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view illustrating the use of my novel tool for raising a heavy timber standing on its end.

Fig. 10 illustrates the manner in which my novel tool fits into a standard carpenters tool-carrying box.

Fig. 11 is a top view similar in part to Fig. 4 and showing my novel tool of a modified construction.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view illustrating the use of the tool of Fig. 11 for tightening aperforated steel strip, which is a common operation in construction work.

It is to be understood that the invention isnotlimited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

In accordance with the invention, I discard elements of conventional hand tool .heretofore used for formstripping, such as hooks, nail drawing curved ends and the like. I provide a hand tool having a body or arm with a handle on one end and a head on'the other, on which head there are provided two shouldered fingers with chiselshaped ends, each arranged at approximately degree angle to the tool arm. The fingers are straight and not curved as in conventional structures, the length of said fingers and location of the shoulders thereon are so selected that the fingers provide sufiicient leverage for usual applications in stripping operations without imperiling the strength of the tool, and apply required effort at the most advantageous points of standard parts of wooden forms such as two-by-four planks, nail intervals at boards of standard widths, and the like. The tool is so designed that it may be made in a number of standard lengths using the same forging or upsetting dies.

In the drawings there is shown by way of example a novel tool embodying the present invention. Referring to Figs. 1-4, the tool illustrated therein comprises an arm 19 consisting of sections or portions designated in Fig. 2 by the letters A, B and C. Beyond the lower extremity of the section A the arm is bent at an angle of approximately 90 degrees and forms a head on which there are provided two fingers 20 disposed with respect to each other at an angle from 70 to 95 degrees or in other words forming an included angle of such a magnitude between themselves. In the embodiment illustrated the included angle is approximately 78 degrees. The fingers are of hexagonal cross-section with the flat sides thereof being within the bottom plane of the tool, perpendicular to the tool arm.

The free ends of the fingers 20 are tapered down to form chisel-shaped ends as shown at 21 and are also shaped to provide shoulders 22 adjacent said ends. The spread of said fingers between the inner shoulders 22 (indicated in Fig. 4 by the character D) is preferably between 3 and 3% inches. The length of the fingers is so selected that they extend forwardly from the back of the arm for a distance (indicated in Fig. 4 by the numeral E) of between 3 /2 to 5 inches. A tool with this dimension being equal to 4% of an inch actually made and tried gave very good results. By virtue of such a construction the tool provides sufficient leverage in fingers forwardly, backwardly, to the right or to the left, up and down, as required in the great majority of stripping operations, considering the length of the arm and strength of the tool. Moreover, provision of shoulders 22 spread as mentioned above insures a proper hand grip on an end of a standard two-by-four as shown in Fig. 6.

I prefer to make the total length of the tool to be slightly less than 30 inches, thus insuring that the. tool goes lengthwise into a standard carpenters box 30 inches long. As is shown in Fig. 10, my novel tool fits along one corner of such a box with the fingers extending along the end corners thereof. Thus my novel tool can be conveniently carried to a job together with the rest of the tools and it occupies very little space in the box. It iswell known that many conventional tools such as some wrecking bars cannot be so conveniently carried, and if placed in a box occupy entirely too much space therein and disorganizes arrangement of other tools. In addition to the convenience of carrying, my improved tool may also be shipped in a tool-carrying box, i. c. it does not require special packaging or handling.

The arm of the tool is made generally decreasing in cross-section toward the free end thereof. I prefer to make the lower portion of the arm for approximately 4 inches of approximately cylindrical shape, in order to increase the strength of the tool and to prevent breakage thereof near the head of the tool, that is near the fingers thereof. From said nearly cylindrical portion I prefer to make the arm of a uniformly tapering cross-section for a distance of approximately 12 inches, bringing the thinner end of such tapering cross-section to approximately .8 of an inch in diameter. Thereupon I prefer to make the tool cylindrical i. e. of uniform diameter. The cylindrical portion near the head is indicated in Fig. 2 by the numeral A, the tapering portion by the numeral B, and the thinner cylindrical portion by the numeral C. Should it be desired to increase the length of the tool, such an increase is effected by increasing the length of the portion C, but without affecting the head of the tool or portions A and B of the arm. By virtue of such a construction my improved tool may be made in several sizes using the same forging or upsetting dies. It should also be appreciated that by virtue of such a construction the portion C is insured to be of suificient thickness to provide or furnish a dependable grip or hold.

The hexagonal cross-section of the fingers 20 and its illustrated arrangement in the tool are important in order that the tool stand fiat in its upright position and contact the supporting surface at a relatively large area; also that the side ribs of the hexagonal bar forming the fingers 20 increase the holding power of the fingers by slightly digging into the material of the work such as a wooden board or a steel bar. Moreover, the fiat top and bottom surfaces of the hexagonal bar are made to merge into the chisel surfaces much easier as far as manufacturing of the tool is concerned.

At the free end of the arm of my improved tool I provide a portion generally designated by the numeral extending at an angle to the arm and provided with a chisel-shaped end, which end is split to provide a nailpulling recess.

At the back side of the arm and along its portion A there is provided a flat spot 26 extending from the rounded heel 27 of the tool head toward the free end of the tool for any desired distance such as approximately 3 K14- inches. By virtue of such a construction the tool may be used to drive nails or be employed for pounding against boards and the like. Ridges 28 are formed on the heel 27 to prevent slippage of the tool in use.

By virtue of the construction described above my novel tool can be used with success and ease in situations wherein conventional wrecking bars with hooks as well as similar tools cannot be used at all. Referring partrcularly to Fig. 5, wherein the tool is used for separating a two-by-four plank 29 accessible only from a narrow nitch along the concrete wall 30, it can be clearly seen that the degree angle between the arm and the fingers enables starting of the tool in the position shown with the aid of a wedge 31 to pry the two-by-four for a small distance, whereupon complete separation may be effected by rocking the end of the arm from side to side, forward or backwards, until complete separation of the twoby-four is attained. It is also important to appreciate that the sides of the fingers are such that in prying a board the pulling finger operates in line with a nail instead of only at the edge of the board, thereby preventing splitting of the board.

It should be understood that the fingers 20 provide leverage for each other, and therefore the tool may be moved in the plane of one finger to operate the other finger, as shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 8 illustrates bending of a steel reinforcing bar, which operation is constantly required in concrete work. Performing such an operation is not possible with a conventional wrecking bar.

Fig. 9 shows use of my improved tool for raising heavy timbers standing on its end, or a leg of a machine frame, and the like. It can be clearly seen from an examination of Fig. 9 that a conventional wrecking bar cannot be used at all in such an instance because of its hook, until such heavy body is first raised for a distance of several inches with the aid of a wedge or other device. Moreover, providing no lateral support, a conventional bar is very dangerous to use in such instances, since the heavy body may easily slip off and cause an accident. It can also be understood in view of the foregoing that my improved tool may be passed through a narrow hole or a slot between boards for reaching spaces which cannot be reached with hand. Such instances are common where steel reinforcements have to be somewhat realigned through a clean-out hole provided at the bottom of a form for a concrete column or a wall. Because of such feature my tool can be used to reach for tools that fell down into a crack, a narrow ditch, and in similar instances.

I have also found that my improved tool can be used for raising from the ground boards and planks without bending to do so. This operates to reduce fatigue of a workman which now cannot use a conventional wrecking bar or a hammer for such an operation but has to bend down every time when picking up a board or plank or some tool is required. It may also be used for raising tools, planks, and the like from water, which is of particular advantage in winter time when wetting hands in ice cold water and wind is most unpleasant. Numerous other operations can also be performed with my novel tool, which operations heretofore required equipment other than hand tools or had to be performed by hand in a more difficult manner. The above described instances are therefore only a few examples of such operations.

While my novel tool is not intended for nail pulling with application of the pull directly on the nail head, and while in most instances the end 25 is sufficient for such a purpose, fingers of my tool may be split at either chisel-shaped ends to provide nail recesses 32 as shown in Fig. 11. Such expedient increases the leverage as compared to that available with one finger tool and in addition to nail pulling also facilitates strip-tightening operations such as illustrated in Fig. 12, wherein a steel strip 33 is being tightened using the split finger of the tool on the nail 34 passed through one of the perfora tions in the strip 33. Holding the strip tight, the nail 35 is then driven for fixing the strip in place.

While my tool is herein illustrated and described as a stripping tool, a smaller tool of the same nature may be made for general household use, and take place of several hand tools required in a home.

By virtue of the above described construction the objects of the present invention listed above and numerous additional advantages are attained.

I claim:

1. In a hand tool of the character described, a substantially straight bar having one end forming a handle, two and only two substantially identical and straight fingers provided on the other end of said bar and extending therefrom at substantially right angles to said bar, said fingers forming between them an included angle of beween 70 and 95 degrees and having a chisel-like free en s.

2. In a hand tool of the character described, a substantially straight bar having one end forming a handle, two and only two substantially identical and straight fingers provided on the other end of said bar and extending therefrom at substantially right angles to said bar, said fingers forming between them an included angle of approximately 90 degrees and having chisel-like free ends, and a rounded shoulder on each of said fingers adjacent its free end and within said included angle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 977,986 Waddell Dec. 6, 1910 1,030,660 Hunt June 25, 1912 1,405,339 Schoonover Jan. 31, 1922 1,486,820 Wilder Man-31, 1924 1,517,591 Shook Dec. 2, 1924 2,087,148 Hempy July 13, 1937

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