US3136023A - Form means for concrete structures - Google Patents

Description

June 9, 1964 J. o. VON DRASEK 3,136,023

FORM MEANS FOR CONCRETE STRUCTURES Fj led April 5, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet l R R a T m Q a Q R 6 R R2 R N N UR) b:

30k L25 11/26 e 11 June 9, 1964 J o. VON DRASEK FORM MEANS FOR CONCRETE STRUCTURES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 5, 1962 INVENTOR. Jase M, fifus wse m 0 f0. 27

June 9, 1964 J. o. VON DRASEK FORM MEANS FOR CONCRETE STRUCTURES 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 5, 1962 June 9, 1964 J. o. VO'N DRASEK FORM mus FOR CONCRETE STRUCTURES 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 5, 1962 QQN 051302 0. f0]? $2'af j M Z Mai/{ 61 June 9, 1964 J. o. VON DRASEK 3,135,023

FORM MEANS FOR CONCRETE STRUCTURES Filed April 5, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 W I 'INVENTOR. Ev nfosepfi G 022 flz'asek United States Patent 3,136,023 FORM MEANS FOR CONCRETE STRUCTURES Joseph 0. Von Drasek, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Dee Concrete Accessories Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Apr. 5, 1962, Ser. No. 185,315

Claims. (Cl. 25,118)

This invention relates to improved means for forming concrete structures such as sidewalks, driveways, slabs, curbs, footings, shallow walls and the like, and more particularly, is directed to improvements in sectional forms and related apparatus used in molding concrete structures of the aforementioned general category.

The art of forming concrete, according to well-recognized and established principles, particularly'as it applies to the horizontal shapes or molded structures, as indicated generally above, utilizes boundary defining rails or form boards, usually cut in lengths convenient for handling, which are set in an upright or edge-on condition on a graded base to define the boundaries of the volumetric area to be filled with poured or liquid concrete mix; Such form boards are usually interjoined at adjacent ends by suitable coupling means to form a railing or barrier definitive of the boundary for the poured concrete structure. The form boards are normally anchored in vertical position by means of suitable stakes driven into the sub-grade and connected to the form board. In the past, such form boards constituted, as the term implies, wooden members or structural timbers having a vertical dimension substantially definitive of the desired thickness for the molded concrete structure as, for example, a 2 x 4 or 2 x 6 for concrete sidewalks. Recently, however, the art has turned to more permanent types of forming elements comprising selected lengths of fabricated metal rails or structural channel members. Concrete forms of the metal variety usually include means for interconnecting ends of adjacent sections thereof along with suitable devices for securing the form rails to the stake members employed for maintaining the same in upright position on the sub-grade. It is to this latter variety of concrete forms that the present invention pertains.

In brief, the present invention contemplates an improved metal form means for use in molding concrete structures principally of, but not necessarily limited to, horizontal as opposed to vertical shapes; such shapes being typified,

for example, by curbing, sidewalks, horizontal slabs, low walls, foundation footings and the like. Among the several features of the improved form means are reduction in weight without sacrifice of structural strength and improved means for interconnecting adjacent form lengths or sections. To this purpose, the preferred embodiment of this invention is characterized by a structural steel rail or form member having a substantially C-shaped channel cross section of symmetrical formation for improved versatility in use and operation, particularly as to the reversability of operating position. Other improvements are pro vided by an'improved nose connector assembly adapted to be mounted in one end of each form member for inserted reception in a mating pocket recess presented by the open horizontal direction for form systems according to the a present invention. Improved arrangement of parts and structural elements also permit the nesting and interlocking of two form members to provide greater convenience in handling, storage and transportation. Since in certain locales the' use of separators to divide adjacent concrete sections is required, the present invention also contemplates an improved separator means cooperative with spaced boundary defining linear form members to satisfy such requirements; such separator means and form members being interconnected in a new and simplified manner vide a lightweight metal form means, as aforesaid, which embodies an improved means for interconnecting adjacent linear sections thereof.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide an improved means for interconnecting adjacent form members, as aforenoted, which embodies means enabling such interconnection with the form members at various relative positions of angularity.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a new and improved form structure for shaping and molding poured concrete which includes means for nesting two form sections or members to improve the convenience and ease of handling, transporting and storing the same.

It is still an additional object of this invention'to provide a new and improved concrete form system embodying form means of simplified relatively light weight construction and arrangement of related parts without sacrifice of rigidity and strength and operational effectiveness.

The above and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following description of preferred and modified forms of this inven tion as set forthin the illustrations thereof appearing in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective showing of atypical sidewalk form system embodying the form means and related apparatus according to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a schematic representation in plan view of the form system illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of the form system represented in FIGURES l and 2;

FIGURE 4 is a topplan view of a preferred metal form member according to the present invention;

FIGURE Sis a side elevation of the form member illustratedin FIGURE'4; I 7

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged partial view in cross section taken substantially at line 6 6,0f FIGURE 5 and looking in the direction of the arrows thereon;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the longitudinal center lines of two form members of this invention, and illustrating their nesting relationship;

FIGURES is a partial plan view of interfitting end portions of'adjacent form rail members, schematically showing their interjoined relationship in various positions of relative angularity in a horizontal plane;

FIGURE 9 is a partial view in side elevation showing end portions of adjacent form members, similar to FIG- URE 8, but illustrating the interpositioning thereof in various angular relations in a vertical plane;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken at line Ill-10 of FIGURE 6, and looking in the'direction of the arrows I thereon;

FIGURE 11 is a partial plan view with parts thereof broken away, of a modified form member including a modified stake pocket connector;

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken at line 12-12 of FIGURE 11 and looking in the direction of the arrows thereon;

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged plan view illustrating a modified nose connector assembly for use with form members according to the present invention;

FIGURE 14 is an end elevation of the modified nose connector assembly illustrated in FIGURE 13;

FIGURE 15 is a foreshortened view in front elevation of an improved separator device useful in the form system illustrated in FIGURE 1, according to the present invention;

FIGURE 16 is a view in side elevation showing an end portion of a modified high form member according to the present invention; and

FIGURE 17 is a partial cross-sectional view taken substantially at lines 17--17 of FIGURE 16 and looking in the direction of the arrows thereon.

Turning now to the features of the present invention, the same will be described in association with the embodiment illustrated in the drawings which is directed principally to the formation of sidewalks or horizontal slabs, it being understood that such embodiment is for illustrative purposes of the present description only.

In FIGURES 1 through 3 of the drawings, a typical forming system is indicated generally by numeral 20, such being assembled for molding and forming a concrete sidewalk structure according to the concepts and teachings of the present invention. As seen best in FIGURE 1, a plurality of linear metal form members 21, 22, 23 and 24, opposed by a corresponding number of form members 21', 22', 23 and 24 are placed in end-to-end in near abutting relationship along opposite and normally parallel margins of an area designated 25 and comprising a previously formed bed of sand, gravel or like aggregate, on which a concrete sidewalk slab is to be formed. Each of the several form members 21-24 and 21'24 is held in place and in an upright condition, resting on one edge, by means of two or more metal hold-down stakes or pins 26 spaced at appropriate intervals along its length. Such stakes or pins pass into the underlying sub-grade and are connected to the form members by suitable pocket connector members or assemblies 27, as will be described in greater detail presently. Means for interconnecting adjacent rail members at their opposing ends comprises novel curvilinear nose connector means 28, one of which is fastened to and extends outwardly of one end of each of the form members. For example, form member 21 carries one nose connector 28 which is received in a mating pocket or recess presented by the open end of a next adjacent form member 22. It will thus be understood that a nose connector means 28 extends between and joins the opposing ends of each pair of the adjacent rail members in the form system illustrated.

In certain instances encountered informing a concrete structure such as a sidewalk, the standard sectional length for the form members as, for example, the standard 10- foot lengths, do not accommodate the exact linear dimensioning of the sidewalk area to be covered. To meet such a happenstance, the form members of the present invention permit the utilization of short sections of structural timber, such as 2 x 4s, indicated generally at 29 and 29 in FIGURE 1, which are inserted axially into the open ends of two opposing rail members (21 and 21 in the illustrated assembly) to fill in the odd dimensional requirement. In order to hold such fill-in timber members in place, additional stake pins 26 may be associated therewith and, more importantly, the same are tied in position by means of nails or like fastener elements, such as 30 and 30', which pass through suitable openings in the top and bottom walls of the form members.

Also, due to the fact that in certain instances local building codes require division between adjacent sections of concrete, particularly in sidewalk structures, separator or divider plates 31 are placed transversely between opposing form rail members, such as between rails 24 and 24' in the illustrated form system 20 of FIGURE 1. As therein shown, such divider plates overbridge the upper edges of the form members and are held in place by nails or other suitable pin connectors 32 passing through suitable openings provided in the flange portions of the form members.

In certain other instances of operation, spreader bars 35 are required to maintain parallel spacing between opposing marginal form members. Such are pinned across the upper edges of the form members at desired location by pins or nails 37, pasing through openings 36 therein and receptive in one of the openings in the upper flange walls of the form members, similar to the system used for securing the divider plates 31 in place.

As will be understood by reference to FIGURES 2 and 3 of the drawings, the form system 20 accommodates both vertical and horizontal direction changes in the subgrade of area 25 and the path of the sidewalk in accordance with the operational adaptability of this invention. Thus, as shown in FIGURE 2, the form members 24 and 24 are disposed in angular relation with respect to form members 23 and 23; such being effected by virtue of the improved nose connector means 28 of this invention. In a like manner, it will be recognized that the form members 22 and 22' are angularly inclined from the horizontal to follow a change in vertical elevation according to the inclined sub-grade on which the slab or sidewalk is to be formed. This, again, is permitted by features of the improved nose connector 28 of this invention as will be detailed hereinafter.

With the foregoing general aspects in mind of a typical sidewalk form system utilizing the present invention, detailed descriptions will now be made of the several features, improvements and elements thereof.

Turning first to FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings, the features of one form member 21 will be described as shown therein; it being understood that the other form members 22-24, etc. illustrated in FIGURE 1 are of like character, so that the description of one herein will suffice for all.

The form member 21 illustrated in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 comprises an elongated channel body 40 formed of a linear metal channel structure having a substantially C- shaped cross section, as best shown in FIGURE 10. Such body portion 40 constitutes, in integral relation, a planar top flange wall 41 joined to a parallel disposed bottom flange wall 42 by a transversely related and uninterrupted barrier or side wall 43 extending between corresponding edges of the two walls 41 and 42. Wall 43, in turn, is paralleled by a shortened secondary flange portion 44 depending from the opposite edge of the top wall portion 41 and also by a corresponding secondary flange portion 45 extending transversely upwardly of the plane of the bottom wall 42; the flange portions 44 and 45 being c0- planar. This double flange construction for the channel body member permits maximum strength and rigidity to the channel cross section while permitting minimum weight through reduced wall thickness thereof. Typically, the desired cross sectional thickness and strength for the several wall portions 41-45 of the channel section may be achieved in practice by utilizing a 14-gauge, HRS channel for body 40. Also, typicially, for sidewalk forms, the top and bottom walls 41 and 42 may bear a dimension of approximately 2" while side wall 43 bears a dimension of approximately 4" so as to substantially emulate a wooden 2 x 4 structural timber. In this latter respect, the inside dimensions of the channel C-shaped cross section of the body member 40 accommodate close fitting reception of a conventional 2 x 4 timber to permit the extensible variation in form length thereof by fill- in elments 29, 29 as described above and illustrated in FIGURE 1 of the drawings.

To provide for the attachment of the fill-in members 29, divider plates 31 and spreader bars 35, illustrated in FIGURE 1, both the top and bottom flange walls 41 and 42 of the body member 40 are provided with a plurality of spaced openings 46 which receive fastening pins, such as the construction nails 3% and 32 as previously mentioned.

As will be seen from FIGURES 5 and 6 in particular, each of the form members includes at least two stake pocket connector assemblies 27 for attaching of the form members to the hold-down stakes 26 which reach into the sub-grade and determine the linear positioning and support for the form members in operation. Each of the pocket connector assemblies 27 comprises a generally rectangular metal strap suitably bent or rolled near its midpoint to formulate a V-shaped member having a central curvilinear pocket section or portion 43 as best shown in FIGURE 6. Such curvilinear pocket section bears a radius in substantial conformity to the radius of the holddown stake 26 with which it cooperates, as will appear presently. Diverging outwardly from the central pocket section 48 are a pair of planar leg portions 4-9, 49, each of which terminates at its outer end in an outwardly turned mounting foot portion Stl adapted to be fastened, as by welds 51, SI, to the inside face of the barrier wall 43 of the channel-shaped body 40 of the form member. In the particular form of pocket assembly illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 10, the extent of the wall portions 49, 49 is such as to dispose the pocket section 48 thereof laterally outward of the flange portions 44 and 45 of the channel-shaped body of the form member. Further, each such wall portion 49 is formulated with a rectangular slotted opening 52 with two openings 52, 52 thus provided being registeringly aligned and receptive of a slidable locking wedge 53.

The locking wedge 53, as its name implies, comprises a trapezoidal-shaped metal body 54 of substantial thickness or ruggedness as compared to the wall thickness of the form members channel-shaped body 40, for example. The body 54 is further distinguished by a lengthwise camming edge 55 disposed in angular relation with respect to a sliding edge 56 thereof; edges 55 and 56 constituting opposing lengthwise edges of the wedge 53 (see FIGURE 6). Body portion 54 is also turned over at one end to provide a locking ear 57 which is interferingly engageable with one of the leg portions 49 to prevent removal of the wedge member from the slotted openings 52, 52 when moving in one direction therein. It will further be appreciated that the right-hand or enlarged end 58 of the wedge member, as viewed in FIGURE 6, is sufficiently wider than the width of the adjacent slotted opening 52 to prevent removal of the wedge member when moving in the opposite direction.

In operation, a stake 26 is inserted in the connector 27 to engage the inside surface of the pocket section 48 and driven home. The wedge 53 is then driven to the left as viewed in FIGURE 6 to lock the stake to the pocket assembly by wedging action. Thus, the form member 21 may be securely locked to the upright ground engaging stakes 26 and thereby secured in upright position, with body of the form member is 14-gauge material, the

nose member 60 may be in the order of IO-gauge material, although these dimensional specifications are by no means so limited.

In any event, it will be understood that the U-shaped metal nose member of connector means 28 is symmetrically formed and is defined by an end or nose wall portion 61 which merges integrally at its lateral extremes with a pair of curvilinear or radiused corner portions 62, 62 definitive of the leading upright edges for the nose member. The corners 62, 62 in turn merge with intermediate planar wall sections or portions 63, 63 which are divergently related as best illustrated in FIGURE 6 for example. Each such intermediate wall section 63 further merges with one of a pair of parallel planar mounting wall portions 64, 64 by which the nose member is connectively associated with the body 40 of the form member 21. In this latter regard, it will be understood that the spacing between the mounting wall portions 64, 64 permits one wall portion 64 to be securely welded to the inside face of the barrier wall 43 of the form member 21, while the other or opposite wall portion 64 is welded securely to the inside faces of the two secondary flange portions 44 and thereof. Thus, the nose member is adapted to be secured to the one end 59 of the form member 21 so that the portions M, 62 and eirthereof lie wholly beyond the outer end 59 of the channel body 40, with mounting wall portions 64 extending only partially therebeyond.

With reference to FIGURES 5 and 9, it will be seen that the nose wall portion 61 is of less vertical dimension than the mounting wall portions 64, 64, and that the upper and lower edges 66 and 67 of the nose member at the intermediate wall portions 63, 63 and corner portions 62, 62 incline or taper slightly so as to extend between wall portions 64 and upper and lower edges of the nose wall 61. This feature permits adjacent form members to be adjustably positioned over a range of angular positions in a vertical plane as previously mentioned (see FIGURE 9). As mentioned previously, each nose connector means 28 is adapted to be insterted in a pocket recess presented by the open end 70 of an adjacent form member when two such form members, such as 21 and 22 for example, are assembled end-to-end to formulate a mold for a concrete structure to be cast. In order to reinforce such pocket end of each form member, a strap '71 is Welded between the secondary flange portions 45 and 46 of the channel-shaped body 40 to parallel wall 43 thereof. This strap serves to reinforce the pocket end of the form body to deter distortion, particularly. when adjacent form members are placed in various angular relationships, both vertically and horizontally as illustrated in FIG- URES 8 and 9 of the drawings.

Additionally, the strap members 71 come into play to prevent the longitudinal displacement of two form members in one direction when such are nested and interlocked for storage and transportation (see nested forms its bottom wall 42 resting on the sub-grade and the wall I curvilinear metal nose member 6% having a substantially U-shaped cross section, as viewed best in FIGURE 6 of the drawings. Preferably, the nose member is formulated with a heavier or thicker wall than that utilized for the channel-shaped body of the form member 21. g

This provides improved ruggedness and wearability; For example, if the wall thickness for the channel-shaped 21 and 22 as illustrated in FIGURE 7). As therein shown, by placing the flange portions 44 and 45, of two form members in adjacent contacting relationship or, in other words, face to face, any two form members may be'successfully nested in interlocking condition with the several stake pocket assemblies 27 of one form member projecting into the hollow interior of the other form member. The strap member 70 of the two nested form members each engages the adjacent end 59 of the other form member. This prevents longitudinalsliding movement of the two form members relative to one another in one direction. The projecting portions of the several stake. pocket assemblies 27 likewise deter longitudinal dis placement or sliding movement of the nested form members in the opposite direction.

It will thus be appreciated that the nesting relationship, A

as illustrated in FIGURE 7, provides for improved versatility and ease of handling, particularly when storing two form members of this invention, since such feature enables the two nested form members to be handled substantially as a unit, particularly if the same are tied together as by a strap or a length of tape wrapped thereabout. Even without such a tape or strap holding medium, however, the interlocking and nesting interengagement of the strap portions and several stake pocket assemblies associated with the two nested form members provides substantial unity to the nested members for ease of handling.

Having thus described the several individual features of the improved metal form member of this invention, it will be recognized that the same provides a unique lightweight mold system for casting concrete structures, particularly of the horizontal class, as shown in FIGURE 1. With respect to certain features of its versatility and operation, it will be understood that the described pocket connector means 28, shown associated with form member 24' in FIGURE 1 for example, is capable of being utilized as a locating means in determining the alignment and initial positioning of a form system according to the present invention. That is to say, the nose connector means 28 is receptive of a vertical stake 26 between the spaced intermediate wall portions 63, 63 of its nose member 60. So positioned, the stake may be driven into the sub-grade with the form members axis aligned thereon to provide a reference point for starting alignment and layout of the form system illustrated.

It will be recognized that the curvilinear formation of the nose connector means 28 provides a guide system for simple inserted connection thereof with an adjacent pocket recess, While the lateral walls of the connector provide bearing surfaces engageable with opposite sides of drawings, a modified form member designated generally by numeral 80 will now be described. As seen therein, the modified form member 80 comprises a channel body 81 substantially identical to the body 40 of form member 21 described previously in conjunction with FIGURES 4 and 5. A nose connector means 28 is mounted at one end of body 81, also as previously described. Modification of the form member 80 is effected, however, by the provision of a modified stake connector assembly 82 which the pocket recess to give immediate lateral stability to joined form members to maintain the same aligned and upright until the stakes 26 can be installed. The connector means 28 also provides desired angular adjustment between forms to accommodate turns and elevation changes in the layout of the form system 20. This feature will be understood more readily from the schematic illustrations of FIGURES 8 and 9. From FIGURE 8, it will be recognized that the radiused and tapered corner and side wall configuration of the nose member 60, associated with the form member 21 therein illustrated, permits the adjacent form member 22 to be angularly aligned relative to member 21 within a range of horizontal positions indicated by the full line position therefor, designated A, and its dotted line position designated B in that figure. Such range approximates and is fully operational without disengagement between the nose connector means 60 and the receptive pocket end of the related form member 22. In a similar manner, the tapered or inclined edges 66 and 67, and the reduced vertical dimension of the nose wall 61, permits adjustment of form member 22 within a substantially 30 range of vertical angular positions as indicated by its full line position designated C and its dotted line position designed D in FIGURE 9. It is further to be noted that the closed wall formation of the U-shaped nose member 60, particularly as presented by the intermediate wall sections 63, 63 and the portions of the mounting wall sections 64, 64 thereof which extend beyond the end 59 of the form member, substantially prevents leakage of liquid concrete through the junction or joint between adjacent form members even though the same be positioned in various angular relationships either in the vertical or horizontal planes.

Of added importance and advantage is the symmetrical formation of the channel body 40 utilized for the form members of this invention and, more particularly, the provision of like top and bottom flange walls 41 and 42 thereof. This construction permits reversal of the form members so that either flange wall 41 or 42 may engage the ground or grade with equal facility in use, Thus, there are no rightor left-hand form members in a form system of the nature herein described.

With reference now to FIGURES 11 and 12 of the is disposed wholly within the confines or open center of the channel-shaped body member 81 or, that is, wholly between the top and bottom flanges walls 83 and 84 and the barrier walls and secondary flange portions 85, 86 and 87, respectively, as shown particularly in FIGURE 12. To permit interconnection of such a stake connector assembly 82 and a stake means 26, the upper and lower flange walls 83 and 84 of the channel body member 81 are modified to include enlarged registeringly aligned openings 88 and 89, respectively, through which the stake means 26 may pass when the same is driven into the subgrade. Interlock between the stake and the connector assembly 82 occurs through operation of the wedge means 90, all as previously related in association with the description of the connector assembly 27, illustrated in FIG- URE 6.

Such modified form member of FIGURES l1 and 12 provides certain advantages in handling since the extension of its stake connector assemblies 82 beyond the lateral limits of the top and bottom flange Walls 83 and 84, respectively, of the channel body member is eliminated. This eliminates the need for inserting the stake connector assemblies into the interior of an adjacent form member when nesting or stacking the same in the manner indicated in FIGURE 7. Thus, handling and storage of the modified form members 80 is somewhat more eflicient and less time-consuming than in stacking form members such as 21 and 22 according to FIGURE 7.

With reference now to FIGURES 13 and 14 of the drawings, there is therein illustrated a modified nose connector means, indicated generally by numeral 95, which is similar in most respects to the previously described nose connector means 28, except for provision of closing wall portions 96, 96 at the upper and lower ends of the nose member 97 thereof. That is to say, the nose member 97 of this modified connector means is substantially U-shaped in cross section as will be observed from FIGURE 17, for example, but instead of being completely open in its top and bottom ends, is partially enclosed by a pair of inwardly turned ear portions 96, 96' which extend from the upper and lower edges of the planar and parallel mounting wall sections 98, 93 thereof. It will be noted that such portions 96 and 96' are located axially beyond the outer end 99 of the associated channel-shaped body of the form member, except for minor marginal areas thereof which extend under the upper and lower flange walls thereof. Wall sections 96 and 96' are also distinguished by curvilinear cut-away corner surfaces, indicated at 100 and 100' in FIGURE 13, which bear a radius of formation substantially equal to the radius of a hold-down stake 26. It will be appreciated immediately that the curvilinear surface formulated by such matching and opposed corner sections 100 and 100 in both the upper and lower ends of the modified nose member provide a positive guide means for aligning the stake 26 on the longitudinal center line of the connector means and thus the form member with which it is associated. This feature provides an easy, convenient and positive means for locating form members so equipped on a given center or line of direction in laying out a form system embodying a plurality of form members according to the present invention. Thus, the modified nose connector means 95 provides an improvement over the locating function provided by the passing of stake 26 through the nose connector means 28 in form member 24 as described briefly hereinabovc (see FIGURE 1).

As previously mentioned, form systems, particularly for sidewalks, often require that adjacent sections of poured concrete be separated, for which purpose the improved divider or separator means 31, as illustrated in FIGURE 1 of the drawings, is used according to the present invention. The detailed features of separator means 31 are shown in FIGURE of the drawings wherefrom it will be understood that such means comprises a rectangular, planar divider plate 102 of a length suitable to accommodate the spacing between the parallel form members defining the margins of the molded concrete structure to be formed as, for example, the distance between the parallel form members 24, 24' of FIGURE 1. Such plate 102 is preferably folded over at its upper edge to provide a transverse mounting flange portion 103. Attached to the flange portion 103, adjacent each end of the plate 102, is a mounting support bar194 comprising a rectangular metal strap having a downwardly turned leg portion 105 at its one end which is spaced outwardly of the adjacent lateral edge 106 of the plate 102 to accommodate the lateral width of a form member on which it is mounted, as shown in FIGURE 1. Such strap 104 is preferably welded to the flange 103 and the same is provided with an opening 107 to accommodate passage of a construction nail or like pin means, such as nail 32 in FIGURE 1, whereby the divider means is connected to the form member with which it is associated, all as hereinbefore described. It will be understood that the depending leg portions 105 extend a suflicient distance past the upper secondary flange portion of the form members to permit engagement thereof by a hammer or like instrument. Thus, when it is desired to remove the separator from between the opposing form members, the nails or pins 32 are simply pulled and the outer ends of the depending leg portions 105 are tapped with a hammer to dislodge or release the separator means from the molded concrete. Thereafter, the entire separator means may be manually lifted upwardly and removed from its operating or separating position between adjacent poured sections of the concrete structure.

With reference now to FIGURES l6 and 17 of the drawings, there is therein illustrated a second modified high form member 110 of this invention which is substantially similar in most respects to the structure of form member 21 previously described, except for an increased vertical dimension of the barrier wall 111 of its channel body member. Likewise, the nose connector means 112 is modified to meet the increased'vertical dimension of the high form member 110. More uniquely, a pair of pocket connector assemblies 113 and 113', disposed registeringly one above the other, are utilized in this modified form of the present invention. While itis common in the high form structures of this character to provide a single pocket connector means for each stake means, usually such extend substantially uninterruptedly from near the upper and lower edges of the form body. The present modified high form member 110 of FIG- URE 16, however, immediately indicates the desirability of the two vertically separated pocket connector assemblies for attachment with a single stake 114 passing therethrough. Such feature enables a typical stake puller means, indicated generally at 115, to engage the main body of the stake 114 intermediate the two pocket connector assemblies, as shown, thereby to permit a convenient mode of removing the stake at the disassembly of such a form system. In this respect, it will be recognized, particularly from FIGURE 17, that the pocket connector assembly 113 extends laterally outwardly of the lateral limits of the bottom flange wall 116 of the form member like the construction and arrangement of the pocket connector assemblies 27 described previously. In all other respects, the modified form member 110 operates and is formulated substantially in accordance with the features previously described in relation to the form member 21 of FIGURE 4, and therefore adapts it) the teachings of the present invention for low wall or curb concrete structure in which the vertical height of the cast structure is substantially greater than that of a conventional slab or sidewalk structure to which the form members 21-24, etc. are principally directed. However, in

this respect, it is fully contemplated that low wall or curb forming can be accomplished with smaller dimensioned form members, such as 21 described in detail hereinbefore, by stacking two or more thereof in edge-to-edge superposed registration to provide an increased vertical dimension to a form barrier, according to known practice in the art.

From the foregoing it will be recognized that the present invention sets forth new and improved structures for lightweight, reversible metal concrete form members to be utilized in the formulation of suitable molds 01' forming systems as required for the casting of poured concrete structures or the like. More particularly, the

present invention teaches the features of a unique, highly efficient and dependable means for interconnecting adjacent form members while providing means for accommodating direction changes in the form systems both in horizontal and vertical directions. Further, it will be recognized and understood by those familiar with the art that while the foregoing description sets forth certain particulars or preferred and modified forms of the present invention and certain apparatus associated therewith, numerous changes, modifications and substitutions of equivalents may be made in the herein illustrated and described embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It is therefore intended that this invention be unlimited by the foregoing description and accompanying illustrations, except as may appear in the following appended claims.

I claim:

1. A form member for use with other such form mei bers in defining and shaping marginal portions of concrete structures, comprising an elongated hollow metal channel body member of symmetrical, substantially C- shaped cross section having a normally vertically disposed uninterrupted leakproof barrier wall defining one lengthwise side thereof, with the opposite side thereof open; curvilinear nose connector means closing over and extending axially outwardly of one end of said channel body member, pocket recess means formed by the op posite open end of said channel body member and receptive of a nose connector means associated with. an adjacent form' member to form a substantially leakproof junction therewith; said nose connector means comprising a unitary metal member substantially U-shaped in cross section and tapered toward its outer end with divergently related opposing side wall portions and divergently related top and bottom edges disposed axially outwardly of said channel member whereby the connector means is readily insertable in the pocket recess means of an adjacent form member to provide substantially leak- I member and extending laterally from the barrier wall 1 thereof to provide a curvilinear pocket portion receptive of a hold-down stake laterally outwardly of said body member and including means operative with said pocket portion to anchor the form member to ground engaging hold-down stakes. I

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 in which each of said pocket connector assemblies comprises a pair of registeringly aligned, superposed and vertically spaced pocket connector means each receptive of a single vertical hold-down stake, whereby the said stake may be removed by operation of a stake puller engageable therewith at the portion thereof lying intermediate and acces- 1 1 sible between the said vertically spaced pocket connector means.

3. In a concrete form system in which marginal barriers for east concrete structures are formed by a plurality of linear metal form members of hollow channel cross section joined end-to-end, an improved means for interconnecting the ends of adjacent form members com prising a U-shaped metal nose member disposed symmetrically of the longitudinal axis of the form member and substantially enclosing the channel cross section thereof at one end, said nose member including a nose wall portion merging at its lateral extremes with curvilinear corner portions definitive of the leading lateral edges of the nose connector means, divergently related intermediate planar wall sections extending integrally from said corner portions, and planar parallel spaced mounting wall portions integrally merging with said intermediate wall sections and adapted to be fixed to the interior walls of said form member; said nose wall being disposed symmetrically and transversely of the longitudinal axis of the form member and bearing a lesser longitudinal and lateral dimension than the channel cross section thereof, the top and bottom edges of said intermediate Wall sections diverging outwardly from the top and bottom limits of said nose wall and extending from said corner portions to the top and bottom edges of said mounting wall portions whereby said nose member presents a symmetrically tapered configuration both longitudinally and laterally so that the same may be insertingly received in the open end of an adjacent form member, as defined by the channel cross sectional configuration thereof; the said tapered configuration of said nose member serving to provide substanially leak-proof interconnection between the ends of adjacent form members while the latter are disposed with their longitudinal axes coaxial and at various angles of intersection.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said nose member includes wall means extending transversely between the opposing top and bottom margins of said intermediate wall sections thereof to thereby partially enclose the top and bottom ends of said nose member, said wall means being spaced from said nose wall and having a central curvilinear portion in the edge thereof adjacent said nose wall, such curvilinear portions being registeringly aligned to define means for guiding a stake between the said curvilinear edges and said nose wall and aligning the same transversely of the longitudinal axis of the nose member and an associated metal form member to which the latter is connected.

5. In a form system for defining linear marginal portions of a poured concrete structure, a metal form member adapted to be joined end-to-end with an adjacent like form member and anchored in position by vertically disposed stake means to define a barrier for the said marginal portions of the concrete structure, comprising an elongated metal channel body member of symmetrical, substantially C-shaped cross section defined by an operationally upright disposed planar, uninterrupted barrier wall, top and bottom planar flange walls extending transversely of said barrier wall at the top and bottom limits of the latter, and secondary coplanar flange portions extending in spaced parallelism to said barrier wall and in opposite directions outwardly from the planes of said flange walls, said flange portions terminating intermediate said flange walls and defining the upper and lower limits of a spacing therebetween; the said walls and portions of said channel member being disposed substantially symmetrically of the longitudinal axis thereof and defining an interior spacing extending the length thereof and open at one side at the spacing between said flange portions; plural stake pocket connector assemblies mounted on and intermediate the ends of said barrier wall within the hollow interior of said channel body member and extending laterally outwardly therefrom between said flange walls and portions, each of said pocket connector assemblies presenting a stake receptive pocket section disposed laterally outwardly of said flange portions and including means for positive connection with hold-down stake means employed to anchor said form member in an operating position with the said barrier wall thereof generally upright; nose connector means having a tapered, U-shaped cross-section mounted in and substantially enclosing one end of said channel body member, said nose connector means comprising a unitary nose member of substantially U-shaped cross section having anose wall disposed axially outwardly of said one end of said channel body member and transversely of the latters longitudinal axis, said nose wall being of lesser lateral and longitudinal dimensions than the corresponding cross sectional dimensions of the interior spacing of said channel body member; said nose wall being integrally merged with a pair of divergently related intermediate side wall sections at its lateral margins and said side wall sections being merged with a pair of parallel spaced, planar mounting wall portions, the latter being connected to the said barrier wall and flange portions of said channel body member; said intermediate sections also having divergently related top and bottom edges extending between the said nose wall and the corresponding edges of said mounting wall portions, whereby said nose connector means has a tapered side, top and bottom configuration to effect substantially leak-proof connection between the ends of adjacent form members when the latter are positioned coaxially or at various positions of relative angularity, both in horizontal and vertical directions; and pocket recess means formed in the opposite open end of said channel body member for receiving a nose connector means associated with an adjacent form member, the said pocket recess means being defined by the said walls and portions of said channel body member adjacent said open end thereof and reinforcing strap means bridging and interconnecting the said fiange portions thereof to prevent their separation adjacent said end portion and thereby to present a walled opening of a cross sectional configuration substantially conforming to that of said channel body member and matingly receptive of a nose connector means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 789,992 Miller May 16, 1905 1,897,530 Pandolfi Feb. 14, 1933 2,611,169 Torrelli Sept. 23, 1952 2,887,756 Brechel May 26, 1959 3,058,312 McDowell Oct. 16, 1962

Claims (1)

1. A FORM MEMBER FOR USE WITH OTHER SUCH FORM MEMBERS IN DEFINING AND SHAPING MARGINAL PORTIONS OF CONCRETE STRUCTURES, COMPRISING AN ELONGATED HOLLOW METAL CHANNEL BODY MEMBER OF SYMMETRICAL, SUBSTANTIALLY CSHAPED CROSS SECTION HAVING A NORMALLY VERTICALLY DISPOSED UNINTERRUPTED LEAKPROOF BARRIER WALL DEFINING ONE LENGTHWISE SIDE THEREOF, WITH THE OPPOSITE SIDE THEREOF OPEN; CURVILINEAR NOSE CONNECTOR MEANS CLOSING OVER AND EXTENDING AXIALLY OUTWARDLY OF ONE END OF SAID CHANNEL BODY MEMBER, POCKET RECESS MEANS FORMED BY THE OPPOSITE OPEN END OF SAID CHANNEL BODY MEMBER AND RECEPTIVE OF A NOSE CONNECTOR MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH AN ADJACENT FORM MEMBER TO FORM A SUBSTANTIALLY LEAKPROOF JUNCTION THEREWITH; SAID NOSE CONNECTOR MEANS COMPRISING A UNITARY METAL MEMBER SUBSTANTIALLY U-SHAPED IN CROSS SECTION AND TAPERED TOWARD ITS OUTER END WITH DIVERGENTLY RELATED OPPOSING SIDE WALL PORTIONS AND DIVERGENTLY RELATED TOP AND BOTTOM EDGES DISPOSED AXIALLY OUTWARDLY OF SAID CHANNEL MEMBER WHEREBY THE CONNECTOR MEANS IS READILY INSERTABLE IN THE POCKET RECESS MEANS OF AN ADJACENT FORM MEMBER TO PROVIDE SUBSTANTIALLY LEAKPROOF INTERCONNECTION BETWEEN ADJACENT FORM MEMBERS IN SELECTED AND VARIOUS POSITIONS OF RELATIVE ANGULARITY THEREBETWEEN, BOTH IN VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL DIRECTIONS; AND STAKE POCKET CONNECTOR ASSEMBLIES MOUNTED ON SAID BARRIER WALL, INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OF SAID CHANNEL BODY MEMBER AND EXTENDING LATERALLY FROM THE BARRIER WALL THEREOF TO PROVIDE A CURVILINEAR POCKET PORTION RECEPTIVE OF A HOLD-DOWN STAKE LATERALLY OUTWARDLY OF SAID BODY MEMBER AND INCLUDING MEANS OPERATIVE WITH SAID POCKET PORTION TO ANCHOR THE FORM MEMBER TO GROUND ENGAGING HOLD-DOWN STAKES.

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