US2819863A - Waler bracket for concrete forms - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 14, 1958 L. R. VINES 2,319,363

WALER BRACKET FOR CONCRETE FORMS Filed May 27, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l Z0 [UR-Q g EIG 4l= INVENTOR.

EI|3 El Aemae/EV/hes if p r I Jan. 14, 1958 R. VINES 2,319,363

WALER BRACKET FOR CONCRETE FORMS Filed May 27, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Le/m/e/ R. Vines United States 2,819,863 Patented Jan. 14, 1958 Fice WALER BRACKET FOR CONCRETE FORMS Lemuel R. Vines, Hayward, Calif. Application May 27, 1954, Serial No. 432,868 6 Claims. (Cl. 248-247) The invention relates to construction devices such as used in the erection of concrete forms and more particularly to a bracket for supporting walers in such forms The present application is a continuation-in-part of my copending applications, Serial No. 313,430, filed October 7, 1952, for Waler Bracket for Concrete Forms, now abandoned, and Serial No. 398,497, filed December 16, 1953, for Support Bracket for Walers in Concrete Forms.

In the construction to which the present invention relates, the form consists of spaced form walls positioned in parallel vertical planes between which the concrete is poured and which may be made up of plywood or other form lumber secured as by nailing to exteriorly posi tioned vertically extending studs, commonly 2 x 4 1um ber, set edgewise to the walls. Tie wires are usually used for retaining the walls against spreading and these may extend horizontally through openings provided in the walls for connection of their opposite outer ends to horizontally extending reinforcing members or stringers, which are customarily mounted across and supported on the outer edge faces of the studs. These latter sup porting members or stringers are commonly referred to in the art as walers and are usually composed of 2" x 4" lumber set edgewise to the studs across their outer faces. These walers are most commonly arranged in pairs with some vertical spacing provided therebetween to receive the outer ends of the tie wire which are fastened to the outer faces of the walers by various adjustable securing means and wedges, as is well known in the art.

In the building of concrete forms, as above described, the studs are erected to provide a frame for the forms. Cleats are usually nailed to the studs at the elevations desired for the walers and the latter are mounted upon the cleats and toe-nailed into the studs. The walers thus applied provide supports over which the workmen cus tomarily climb and upon which they are supported either by standing on the walers or by scaffolding supported from the walers, in performing the various required steps in the erection of the form.

The above described form and its method of construction have serious disadvantages, principal among which are the inadequacy of support provided by the cleats and toe-nailing of the walers, which constantly endangers the lives and limbs of the workmen who are required to depend upon these walers for their support in scaling the form to effect its erection; the requirement of considerable labor, cleats, nails, and other materials, in effecting the laborious work of fastening the walers by nailing, as above noted, and the substantial labor required in the stripping of the form and splitting, mutilation, or other loss of the form lumber, resulting from the toe-nailing, etc.; and the deflection of the walers, by reason of the toe-nailing, from their desired horizontal line extension across the form for proper registration with the tie wires and consequent misalignment of the space between the walers with the tie wire openings and bending of the tie wires.

. In accordance with the present invention and as a principal object thereof, I have provided a bracket of the character described for concrete forms of such improved form and constructions that it may be quickly and easily attached to the stud of the concrete form at the precise elevation desired, and when so secured will afford an immediate, rigid, and locked mounting for the walers in a positive straight line across the form, and afford a perfectly safe and ample support for the walers and superimposed weight of workmen standing or climbing hereon or of workmen on scaffolding suspended thererom.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bracket of the character described which may, with equal facility and with minimum of labor, be removed from the studs in the stripping of the form without harm or multilation of the studs or walers, to permit thereby immediate and continued re-use of thesemembers as Well as the brackets themselves and thus effect substantial savings in both labor and material in the building and dismantling of the forms.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bracket of the character above, which affords the use of positive, powerful and self-contained jaws means for firmly locking the bracket in position on the stud of the form without the requirement of nailing or screwing of the bracket to the stud.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a bracket of the character described, which is composed of a minimum number of ruggedly constructed parts adapted to withstand for a long and useful life the hard usage which it may encounter in the construction industry.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a bracket of the character above which may be used with studs of various sizes and without requiring any adjustment of the bracket.

The invention has other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by said drawings and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Figure l is a side elevation of a waler bracket constructed in accordance with the present invention and shown in operative waler supporting position with the supporting stud and walers in phantom lines.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the waler bracket illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view, similar to Figure 1 but showing a modified form of the bracket.

Figure 4 is an end elevational view of the bracket illustrated in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view, similar to Figure 1 but showing a further modified form of the invention.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a plan sectional view taken substantially on line 7-7 of Figure 5.

The waler bracket 11 of the present invention 'here preferably consists of a fiat plate-like member adapted for mounting against and securing to the side 12 of a rectangular wooden stud 13, the member being formed with offset means 14 and 15 arranged to engage the outer face 16 of the stud with a first portion 17 of the member positioned against the stud side 12 and with a second portion, here consisting of spaced parallel arms 18, 19 and 20, which project outwardly from the face 16 for the support of a pair of walers 26 and 27. As will be best seen from Figure l, the arms 18, 19 and 20 provide a pair of vertically spaced horizontally extending slots 28 and 29, which are preferably of rectangular form adapted to receive walers of a 2" x 4" construction and to hold such walers firmly against twisting action. To complete the general combination and as an important feature of the present invention, means 31 is provided at the outer extremity of one or more of the arms 18 to 29 for closing off the slots for retaining the walers 26 and 27 therein.

As will be observed from Figure 1, the bracket 11 is generally of E-shape having a generally planar portion 17 adapted for mounting against the side 12 of the stud, with the three spaced arms 18, 19 and 2t) projecting perpendicularly therefrom to define the E and the slotted portions 28 and 29 above described, it being further noted in this connection that the center arm 19 is located between and functions as a separator or spacer for the walers 26 and 27.

As a nice feature of the present invention, and serving the interest of strength and economical use of material, the offset means 14 and here preferably consist of a pair of tongues which may be pressed out from the slotted areas 28 and 29 so as to extend generally perpendicular to the plane of the member for engagement with the outer stud face 16. Securing of the bracket to the stud side is, in the preferred form of the invention, elfected by nailing, and for this purpose the portion 17 of the bracket is provided with perforations 35 for receipt of nails 36. The latter are preferably of double headed form, as commonly used in construction, so as to facilitate their removal.

The means 31 for closing off of the outer sides of slots 28 and 29 consists in the preferred form of the invention, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, of a wedge shaped member which is mounted for reciprocation on one of the arms 18 to for engagement with the outer faces 37 and 38 of the walers for urging the walers at their opposite inner faces 39 and 40 against the outer stud face 16. Preferably, the center arm 19 is extended outwardly somewhat beyond the outer ends of arms 18 and 20 and is provided with a stop means 46, here in the form of a pin arranged for cooperation with a relatively inclined face 47 of the wedge member, so as to urge its opposite inclined face 48 against the outer faces 37 and 38 of the walers upon relative movement of the Wedge with respect to the arm 19' and stop means 46. The wedge 31 is here illustrated of conventional form, having a longitudinal center slot 49 adapted to straddle arm 19, and being formed with enlarged opening 50 at one end for movement into registration with the cross pin 46 so as to effect mounting of the wedge onto the arm and removal of the wedge from the arm.

A modified form of the invention is illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, wherein the means for retaining the walers within the slotted portions 28a and 29a here consists of sockets 56, 57 and 58 provided at the outer ends of arms 18a, 19a and 20a and arranged for receipt of pin means, such as the common nail 59, here illustrated for extending across the outer extremities of the slots for retaining the walers 26a and 27a. The sockets 56, 57 and 58 may be provided by striking out from the slotted areas flange portions to extend perpendicular to the plane of arms 18a to 20a and perforating such flange portions to provide co-axial eyelets 60, 61 and 62 for the receipt of a nail or the like, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4.

A further modified form of the invention is illustrated in Figures 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings, wherein means for fastening the bracket to the stud consists of a sharpened lug 71 mounted for reciprocation on the member 1317 for driving into side 12]) of the stud, and which cooperates with the offset means or tongues 14b and 15b to fasten the member on the stud. For further amplification of the structural features and important advantages of this form of fastening means, reference is made to my copending application Serial No. 398,497 aforesaid. Preferably and as here shown, the lug 71. is provided at the end of an arm 72 having a pivotal connection 73 to the member 13b, so as to swing in a plane perpendicular thereto. 1' he pivotal connection is here conveniently formed by mounting the arm 72 ebtween a pair of opposed horizontally extending flanges 74 and 75, pressed out from the slotted areas 28b and 29b into parallel planes perpendicular to the plane of the portion 13b, and the connection is efiected by a pivot pin mounted through registering openings in the flanges and the arm.

As an important feature of this construction, the lug is formed of curved hook shape in the plane of rotation, as shown in Figure 7, so as to most efiectively enter, penetrate and interlock. with the stud. Preferably, the outer extremity 76 of the lug that is most remote from the pivot 73 is here curved on an are about the pin as a center, and the opposite inner extremity 77 of the lug is tapered toward the side 76 so as to define a leading point 78 for the lug. As will be understood, the arcuate form of the outer edge 76 of the lug swinging about the pivot 73 provides a hook action in the penetration of the lug into the wood fibers of the stud, thus obtaining a selflocking action necessitating the shearing of wood fibers to remove the bracket when the lug is in driven position. At the same time, the wedge form of the lug draws the offset means 14b and 15b tightly against the outer face 16b of the stud.

As a further precaution, means is provided for positively locking the arm 72 against retracting movement of the lug 71 when the latter is driven home into the stud as above described. As here shown, such means consists of a pin, such as a common nail, which may be dropped through registering openings 81 provided in the flanges 74 and 75, in position to engage behind the rear edge 82 of the arm when the lug 71 is driven home into the stud, so as to prevent thereby a retracting movement of the arm. As will also be best seen from Figure 7 the arm 72 is pivoted intermediate its ends upon pin 73 to provide a lever action with the sharpened lug 71 at one end 83 of the lever, with the opposite end 86 of the lever extending from the pivotal connection in spaced relation to the bracket to permit swinging of such end to and from the bracket upon reciprocation of the lug from and into the stud. Preferably, both ends are formed with striking heads 84 and 85, adapted for being struck with a hammer or the like, the head 84 being used to drive the lug 71 into the stud, and the head 85 being used to drive the lever in an opposite direction to retract the lug from the stud.

In applying the bracket of the present invention, the member 11 is held at precise elevation desired on the stud with the flat portion 17 pressed against the side 12 of the stud and with the tongues 14 and 15 engaged with the outer stud face 16. In this position, the bracket may be easily and quickly nailed to the stud, preferably using double headed nails, as illustrated, to facilitatesubsequent removal of the bracket; or, in the case of the modified form as illustrated in Figures 5 through 7, the head 84 is struck with a hammer or the like so as to embed the lug 71 into the stud, after which a nail may be dropped through openings 81 to hold the lug in place. The walers 26 and 27 may then be inserted into the slotted portions 28 and 29 with the arm 19 positioned between the walers to provide a desired spacing for the accommodation of the form tie wires. The wedge 31 may then be dropped in place and tapped lightly with a hammer so as to firm up the assembly. In the modified form of the bracket, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, a nail 59 may be dropped through eyelets 60 and 61 as illustrated. The walers will thus be firmly secured in place across the outer faces of the studs in precise registration with the tie wire openings previously drilled in the form wall.

To dismantle the form, it isonly necessary to reverse the above operations. In the forms illustrated in Figures 1 through 4, the wedge 31 or the nail 59 (as the case may be) is removed and the nails driven through openings 35 are withdrawn. In the modified form illustrated in Figures 5 through 7, the nail or pin is removed from opening 81 and the head 85 is struck with a hammer so as to withdraw the lug instantly from its embedded position in the stud. In either instance, the dismantling of the form is accomplished without harm or mutilation of the members so that they may be immediately and repeatedly reused with subsequent saving of time, labor and material.

I claim:

1. A waler bracket for concrete forms comprising, a member adapted for mounting against and securing to the side of a rectangular wooden stud and having three spaced and substantially parallel arms extending from an edge of said member for projection horizontally outwardly from the outer face of said stud and with said arms vertically superimposed so as to define with said edge a pair of compartments open at their outer sides at the ends of said arms and being dimensioned for receipt of a pair of vertically superimposed walers, the lower of said arms being dimensioned to underlie and support the lower of said walers, the middle arm being dimensioned to underlie and support the upper of said walers in vertically spaced relation to the lower waler, the upper of said arms being dimensioned to overlie said upper waler and to cooperate with said lower arm to lock said walers against relative vertical deflection, said member being provided with an offset portion spaced inwardly from said edge and positioned to engage said stud face with said member edge spaced from and exposing said stud face in said compartments to define the inner boundaries thereof, and means carried by one of said arms and engageable with the outer faces of said walers for compressively securing said walers against said stud face.

2. A waler bracket as characterized in claim 1 wherein said member is formed from metal plate and said ofiset portion is composed of a pair of tongues bent from the metal of said lower and upper arms and extending thererfom substantially perpendicular to the plane of said member.

3. A waler bracket for concrete forms comprising, a flat plate-like member adapted for mounting against and securing to the side of a rectangular wooden stud and having three spaced and substantially parallel arms extending from an edge of said member for projection horizontally outwardly from the outer face of said stud and with said arms vertically superimposed so as to define with said edge a pair of compartments open at their outer sides at the ends of said arms and being dimensioned for receipt of a pair of vertically superimposed walers, the lower of said arms being dimensioned to underlie and support the lower of said walers, the middle arm being dimensioned to underlie and support the upper of said walers in vertically spaced relation to the lower waler, the upper of said arms being dimensioned to overlie said upper waler and to cooperate with said lower arm to lock said walers against relative vertical deflection, said member being provided with an offset portion spaced inwardly from said edge and positioned to engage said stud face with said member edge spaced from and exposing said stud face in said compartments to define the inner boundaries thereof, and a wedge-shaped member mounted for reciprocation on said middle arm for engagement with the outer faces of said walers for compressively securing said walers against said stud face.

4. A waler bracket as characterized in claim 3 wherein said middle arm is of flat elongated form, a cross-pin carried by said middle arm at the outer end thereof, said wedge member being of elongated form and having an elongated center slot mounted on said middle arm and being retained thereby for reciprocation in the plane of '6 said first named member, said wedge member having an inclined face 'engageable with said pin for urging said wedge memberagainst walers when said wedge member is displaced in a normally downward direction on said middle arm.

5. A.waler bracket for concrete forms comprising, a flat plate-like member adapted for mounting against the side of a rectangular wooden stud and having three spaced and substantially parallel arms extending from an edge of said memberfor projection horizontally outwardly from the outer face of said stud and with said arms vertically superimposed so as to define with said edge a pair of compartments open at their outer sides at the ends of said arms and being dimensioned for receipt of a pair of vertically superimposed walers, the lower of said arms being dimensioned to underlie and support the lower of said walers, the middle arm being dimensioned to underlie and support the upper of said walers in vertically spaced relation to the lower waler, the upper of said arms being dimensioned to overlie said upper waler and to cooperate with said lower arm to lock said walers against relative vertical deflection, said member being provided with an offset portion spaced inwardly from said edge and positioned to engage said stud face with said member edge spaced from and exposing said stud face in said compartments to define the inner boundaries thereof, means carried by one of said arms and engageable with the outer faces of said walers for compressively securing said walers against said stud face, and a lever having a pivotal connection intermediate its ends to said member to swing in a plane perpendicular thereto and having a sharpened lug at one end formed for driving into said stud side and cooperating with said offset portion to fasten said member to said stud, the opposite end of said lever extending from said pivotal connection in spaced relation to said member to permit swinging to and from said member and being formed for striking to withdraw said sharpened lug from said stud.

6. A waler bracket for concrete forms comprising, a flat plate-like member adapted for mounting against and securing to the side of a rectangular wooden stud and having three spaced and substantially parallel arms extending from an edge of said member for projection horizontally outwardly from the outer face of said stud and with said arms vertically superimposed so as to define with said edge a pair of compartments open at their outer sides at the ends of said arms and being dimensioned for receipt of a pair of vertically superimposed walers, the lower of said arms being dimensioned to underlie and support the lower of said walers, the middle arm being dimensioned to underlie and support the upper of said walers in vertically spaced relation to the lower waler, the upper of said arms being dimensioned to overlie said upper waler and to cooperate with said lower arm to lock said walers against relative vertical deflection, said member being provided with an offset portion spaced inwardly from said edge and positioned to engage said stud face with said member edge spaced from and exposing said stud face in said compartments to define the inner boundaries thereof, means carried by one of said arms and engageable with the outer faces of said walers for compressively securing said walers against said stud face, a pair of flanges pressed out from said member on opposite sides of said middle arm and extending substantially perpendicular to said member, and a lever mounted between said flanges and having a pivotal connection intermediate its ends to said flanges for swinging in a plane perpendicular to said member and having a sharpened lug at one end formed for driving into said stud side and cooperating with said offset portion to fasten said member to said stud, the opposite end of said lever extending from said pivotal connection in spaced relation to said member to permit swinging to and from said member and being formed for striking to 1,875,366 Beghetti Sept. 6, 1932 withdraw said sharpened lug from said stud. 2,236,616 Bosco Apr. 1, 1941 2,330,990 Neptune Oct. 5, 1943 References Cited in the file of this patent 2,452,203 Luppino Oct. 26, 1948 UNITED 5 2,711,002 Dahlstrom June 21,

1,554,029 Pulis Sept. 15, 1925 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,649,355 Lindsay et a1. Nov. 15, 1927 661,705 Germany June 24, 1938 1,680,923 Williams Aug. 14, 1928 666,476 Great Britain Feb. 13, 1952

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