US3134157A

US3134157A - Concrete step form assembly

Info

Publication number: US3134157A
Application number: US28033A
Authority: US
Inventors: Leonard A Pinner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-05-10
Filing date: 1960-05-10
Publication date: 1964-05-26
Anticipated expiration: 1981-05-26

Description

y 26, 1954 1 A. PINNER 3,134,157

CONCRETE STEP FORM ASSEMBLY y 26, 1954 L. A. PINNER 3,134,157

CONCRETE sTEP FORM ASSEMBLY Filed May 10. 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR LEONAQD A. Pmum ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,134,157 CONCRETE STEP FORM ASSEMBLY Leonard A. Pinner, 919i) Forest Lane, Dallas, Tex. Filed May 10, 1960, Ser. No. 28,033 1 Claim. (til. 25 118) This invention relates to the art of constructing step foundations from concrete or the like, and is particularly directed to a step form assembly which can easily be moved from position to position, as well as from job to job.

In order to construct stepped tiers for stadiums, auditoriums, coliseums, gymnasiums, or similar meeting places, from concrete, it is common practice to build a form into which concrete can be dumped, or through which concrete can be poured. Generally, when a large expanse is to be obtained, forms are built across the Whole expanse, or sections of the expanse are provided with forms which must be disassembled before they can be moved to another section.

The present invention has as one of is principal objects the provision of a concrete step form assembly which is easily movable from position to position without being disassembled. A further primary object of the present invention is to provide such a concrete step form assembly which can be disassembled for convenient movement from one location to another, or in the terms of the trade from job to job.

Still further objects of the present invention are:

(a) To provide a step form assembly conforming With the preceding objects which is rigid in assembled form and adapted to extend across an incline whereby concrete can be poured down the incline under the assembly to form steps;

(b) To provide such a concrete step form assembly which is provided with wheels whereby the assembly can be easily rolled from position to position;

(c) Toprovide such a concrete step form assembly wherein a plurality of spaced parallel riser stops depend from the assembly, and are adjustably supported thereby;

(d) To provide a concrete step form assembly wherein spaced rhombic trusses are used for side support, wherein means are provided for maintaining the trusses in spaced parallel relation, and wherein the riser stops are adjustably coupled to, and depend from, the bottoms of each of the trusses;

(e) To provide such a concrete step form assembly wherein the wheels carried thereby are adjustable so that the trusses can easily be correctly positioned relative to a given incline on which the assembly is disposed;

(f) To provide such a concrete step form assembly wherein each of the trusses comprises a plurality of sections releasably coupled together in end-toend relation, wherein the means for maintaining the trusses in spaced relation are detachably coupled with the trusses, and wherein the riser stops are not only adjustably, but detachably coupled with the truss assembly whereby the whole assembly may be collapsed and shipped in parts from place to place; and

(g) To provide such a concrete step form assembly which can be inexpensively manufactured, easily assembled, and which is durable in use.

The invention consists in the construction, arrangements, and combination of the various parts of the assembly, whereby the objects contemplated are attained description of the illustrative embodiments of the invention presented in the annexed drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a concrete step form assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the lower portion of the right side of the assembly shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side view of the upper portion of the right side of the assembly shown in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the assembly taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 3.

In the drawings, the numeral 2 has been used to generally designate the movable concrete step form assembly provided by the invention. The assembly 2 comprises at least two spaced-apart truss support structures 4 and 6, a plurality of pairs of transversely aligned brackets such as those designated by numeral 8, projecting from each of the truss structures, and a plurality of elongated plates 10 coupled between diiferent pairs of the brackets and extending below the truss structures.

Means in the form of cross bars 12 are provided for supporting the truss structures 4 and 6 in spaced parallel relation, and such cross bars are releasably coupled between the truss structure as explained in more detail hereinbelow. Each of the truss structures comprises at least two sections which are joined together releasably in endto-end relation. Coupling plates such as those designated by numeral 16 are welded, or otherwise suitably coupled, to the top and bottom end of one section of each truss, and such plates extend beyond the end of the section to which they are coupled. The other section of each truss fits under the plate, and can be coupled thereto by means of bolts 18 whereby the sections, when joined, form an elongated rhombic frame having a plurality of cross members such as those designated by numeral 20 extending between opposite sides of the frame.

Preferably, the frame is formed from a plurality of pairs of right-angled beams, and each pair of beams is spaced apart by a cross member 20 secured therebetween, as by a weld. As shown in FIGURE 2, at least one of the right-angle beams which forms the bottom of each of the trusses, namely beam 160, is slotted as at 30, 30', 36", etc. As suggested above, the assembly also includes a plurality of brackets, which comprise a pair of legs disposed at an acute angle with respect to one another. The legs of the brackets are preferably also slotted as at 33, 33, and formed integrally from a single elongated strip. As shown in FIGURES 2 and 4, the

legs

32 and 32 of the brackets extend between the bottom pair of right-angle beams, 10d, 1tl2 of a truss structure, and are coupled therewith, preferably, by means of bolts 36 which extend through aligned slots in a base-member beam and the leg of a bracket. Wing nuts such as those designated by numeral 34 cooperate with the bolts 36 in accordance with the invention, and the slots on the legs of the brackets are elongated whereby the brackets may be adjustably positioned with respect to the truss structure, or more particularly with respect to the base-members of the truss structures made up from a pair of right-angle beams as explained hereinabove.

As shown in FIGURES 1 and 4, a plurality of flanges 40 project laterally from each of the truss structures. Preferably, as shown in FIGURE 4, such flanges are carried by, and suitably attached to, as by a weld, the inside top and bottom right-angle beams 1G2 and 102' of each truss structure. The flanges are apertured, as are the cross rods 12 and 12', and bolt means 42 extends through the aligned apertures in the flanges and ends of cooperating rods to couple the rods with the flanges whereby the rods serve to support the truss structures in spaced parallel relation. Of course, the bolt means 42 can be easily removed in the event it is desired to knock-down the whole assembly.

Carried at either end of the bottom of each of the truss structures are means for movably supporting the same. Preferably, such means take the form of wheels 60, whereby the truss structure can be rolled from position to position. The wheels 60 carried at the forward end of the assembly, as shown in FIGURE 2, are supported within a bracket 62 carried at one end of a threaded shaft 64. The shaft 64 cooperates with a threaded collar 66 carried between a pair of right-angle beams 1G0, 162 forming the base of a truss structure. The shaft 64 carries a handle 68 so as to facilitate vertical adjustment of the wheels 60 with respect to the truss structure. Specifically, upon turning the handle 68, the shaft 64 is caused to rotate, and as a result the collar 66 rides up thereon. Since the collar is attached to the truss, the truss is vertically elevated.

The wheels 60 carried at the upper or right end of the assembly shown in FIGURE 1, preferably rotate about axles 70 which pass through or between the pairs of rightangle beams 104, 166 making up the ends 72 of the trusses. The axles 70 are attached as by weld between the beams 104, 1&6 forming the ends 72, as well as welded between the beams 1%, 162 forming the bases of the trusses.

V In addition to the components discussed hereinabove, in detail, the concrete step form assembly provided by the invention, as suggested, also includes a plurality of elongated plates or riser stops which are carried between transversely-aligned pairs of brackets 8. The plates 10 are attached to the leg 32 of the brackets by means of bolts 82 as shown in FIGURE 4, since the plates are coupled between pairs of transversely-aligned brackets, and since in accordance with the invention the assembly is used to form steps, the plates are disposed in spaced parallel relation. By virtue of the adjustable coupling between the brackets and the truss structures, the plates can be adjusted to any suitable level desired. Moreover, the angle which the plates make with respect to the base of the truss structures can be adjusted so that the plates are at least substantially vertically disposed regardless of the angle of slope of the overall assembly.

Having thus set forth the detailed construction of the various components which make up the concrete step form assembly provided by the invention, attention can now be directed to the operational use of such assembly. Initially, the assembly would be moved to a job location in knock-down form. Then, the sections of each truss would be joined together by passing bolts through the coupling plates 16 and aligned apertures in the beams which make up the top and bottom of each truss frame. The cross bars 12 then would be fastened to the laterallyprojecting flanges 40 to maintain the truss structures in spaced parallel relation.

Once the assembly has been so set up and coupled together, it can be rolled from position to position. In FIGURE 1, the numeral 1 has been used to designate an incline or slope on which concrete steps are to be constructed by using the form provided by the invention.

Preferably, at the top and bottom of the slope a flat bearing surface is provided, and such surface can take the form of a plank 90 as shown. The assembly is rolled onto the planks and moved to the desired position. Then, if necessary, the Wheels 60 at the front of the assembly are adjusted to vertically position the truss structures. Of course, the riser stops or plates 10 can be coupled with the brackets and installed after the truss has been moved to its initial position, or the plates 10 can be installed on the brackets after the brackets have been coupled to the trusses. The particular sequence of steps followed in setting up the assembly will vary from job to job depending on the conditions.

Regardless of the steps followed in coupling all of the components of the assembly together, after the assembly has once been set up, concrete is poured down the incline. As the concrete flows down the incline, the riser stops 10 serve to maintain the concrete at given levels whereby tiers are formed. After one section of tiers has been formed, the assembly is merely rolled laterally to an adjacent section, and the same procedure is followed again. Thus, it should be apparent that with the assembly provided by the invention an expanse of steps can be formed easily and speedily. The need for disassembling the step forms and re-assembling such forms in different sections is eliminated.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention provides for utilizing wheels 66 at the rear of the assembly which are carried on the axle 7b as explained, it should be understood that the Wheel means provided at the rear f the assembly can take the same form as those provided at the front of the assembly. Moreover, the wheel brackets 62 can be rotatably supported at the end of the threaded shaft 64 to facilitate rolling of the step assembly around a curve if desired.

Although not specifically emphasized hereinabove, the invention not only eliminates adjustment of the risers as adjacent sections are poured, but facilitates proper alignment of steps in adjacent sections. Specifically, after one section is poured and has set, the assembly is rolled transversely with the riser plates 16 aligned with the steps of the section completed, and no new adjustment is necessary.

While the dimensions of the various components are not necessarily critical, I have found that satisfactory operation, and easy shipping with existing equipment, can be obtained if the trusses are spread approximately 10 to 12 feet apart and extend over a length of 50 to 60 feet. Thus, the trusses are preferably made 64 feet long, and each section of the truss is 32 feet in length. Although two truss structures have been shown in the drawings, preferably a series of six truss structures are set up at the same time. The additional truss structures are coupled together in exactly the same manner as those shown, and it should be apparent that any number of the structures can be used if desired.

Notwithstanding the fact that the invention has been described as providing a concrete step form assembly it should be understood that other flowable materials which are used for making steps can be formed with the assembly provided by the invention. Moreover, the assembly, while particularly adapted for use in constructing expanses of steps, can be suitably adapted to use for forming small step structures such as one would find in a building or at a home.

Undoubtedly, after reading the foregoing description, various modifications within the scope and spirit of the invention other than those specifically suggested will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.

What is claimed is:

A knock-down movable concrete step form assembly comprising at least two spaced-apart truss support structures, each of said structures comprising an elongated rhombic frame, each of said truss structures comprising at least two truss sections detachably joined together in end-to-end relationship, each of said truss sections having a base formed by a pair of right angle members; a plurality of brackets detachably and adjustably secured to the base of said sections between said right angle members, pairs of said brackets being aligned with each other, said base being provided with slots along the length thereof, said brackets comprising a pair of leg members disposed at an acute angle with respect to one another and also having slots therein; bolt means extending through said slots in said leg members and said slots in said base for adjustably coupling said brackets with said truss structures; a plurality of elongated plates, each of said plates being connected to and between a different aligned pair of said brackets and extending below said truss structures to define riser stops, a plurality of pairs of aligned flanges projecting laterally of said truss structures, each pair of flanges including one flange disposed at the bottom portion of one of said truss structures and another flange disposed at the top portion of the other of said truss structures, a plurality of rods detachably secured to and extending between different pairs of said flanges; wheel means disposed at opposite ends of said truss support structures, said wheel means being carried at one end of each of said truss support structures comprising a threaded collar fixed between said pair of right angle members, a threaded shaft longitudinally adjustable within said threaded collar, a handle projecting from said shaft, and a wheel coupled with said shaft whereby said wheel is vertically adjustable upon rotation of said handle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Cornelius Aug. 11, 1914 Vandegrift Feb. 22, 1916 Gottschalk Oct. 21, 1919 Brynoldt Mar. 8, 1927 Brynoldt Oct. 19, 1937 Cline Apr. 10, 1951 Einbinder et al Apr. 28, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS France Aug. 14, 1922