US3491981A

US3491981A - Corner tie

Info

Publication number: US3491981A
Application number: US627744A
Authority: US
Inventors: Arney J Harbert
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1967-04-03
Filing date: 1967-04-03
Publication date: 1970-01-27
Anticipated expiration: 1987-01-27

Description

Jan. 27, 1970 A. J. HARBERT 3,491,981

CORNER TIE Filed April 8, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ARNEY J. HARBERT ydia k Jan. 27, 1970 A. J. HARBERT CORNER TIE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 5, 1967 INVENTOR ARNEY J. HARBERT ATTORNEY United States Patent U.S. Cl. 249-219 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The corner tie of the present disclosure is used in joining and clamping together the free ends of a pair of walers in perpendicular relation to one another at the corner of a rectangular mold or form. The tie consists of an open frame which can be slipped over the free ends of the walers and, when a wedge is driven through a wedge-receiving opening along one side of the frame it will drive one waler inwardly against the end of the other and further cause the opposite end of the frame to press inwardly against the other waler and in a direction such that the effect will be to urge both walers inwardly at right angles to one another against the sides of the form while main taining close-fitting engagement between the ends of the walers.

This invention generally relates to clamping devices by which members of a mold or form can be releasably but rigidly held together under a predetermined pressure and in desired angular relationship; and more particularly relates to novel and improved forms of corner ties being especially adapted for use in joining abutting ends of a pair of walers at each corner of a form, such as for example, a form of the type utilized in the construction of concrete columns, pillasters and the like.

As a rule, prior art clamping devices, so-called corner ties, have suffered from a number of disadvantages and drawbacks. In most cases, the corner ties must be positively connected or fastened to one or both walers and donot in fact exert proper directional forces inwardly against both walers and against the form or, very often the corner tie requires specially designed walers as well as specia means for interconnecting the walers and corner ties, and in general the corner ties presently in use cannot be rapidly assembled and fastened in place, as a result of which installation and removal of the form can be very tedious and time-consuming.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome the above and other disadvantages and drawbacks in the prior art by providing for novel and improved means by which members of a form or mold can be releasably but rigidly held together under a predetermined pressure and in desired angular relation to one another.

It is another object of the present invention to provide for novel and improved forms of corner ties which can be quickly and conveniently installed in clamping relation to the abutting ends of a pair of walers at each corner of a form without necessity of utilizing specially designed walers or fastening elements and yet in practice will firmly and positively hold the walers and forms in position while the concrete is being poured and allowed to harden and set.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide for a novel and improved corner tie which is compact and simplified in construction requiring a minimum number of parts, is economical and facilitates quick and convenient assembly into positive locking engagement with the free ends of a pair of walers, and is further rugged and durable in use.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide novel and improved forms of corner ties which are conformable for use with different sizes and types of 3,491,981 Patented Jan. 27, 1970 walers as well as with single or double walers, the corner ties being of unitary construction and being reusable without losing their effectiveness and accuracy in aligning and clamping the walers together.

The above and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more readily appreciated and understood from the following detailed description of preferred and alternate forms of corner ties when taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a somewhat fragmentary, perspective view illustrating a pair of corner ties in assembled relation at the corner of a concrete form, in accordance with the preferred form of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged plan view, partially in section of the preferred form of corner tie shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the preferred form of corner tie.

FIGURE 4 is a view of one end of the preferred form of corner tie.

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of a modified form of corner tie in assembled relation to the free ends of a pair of walers.

FIGURE 6 is an end view of the modified form of corner tie shown in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a view of the opposite end of the corner tie shown in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view of the form of corner tie shown in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of an alternate form of corner tie in accordance with the present invention; and

FIGURE 10 is a side elevational view of the alternate form of invention shown in FIGURE 9.

Referring in more detail to the drawings, the adaptation and use of the present invention is best typified by the assembly and installation of one or more corner ties 10 on a form F used in forming of concrete structures, one corner of the form being illustrated in FIGURE 1. Generally the form may be composed of any suitable material such as metal, wood and the like which, when filled with concrete or like material, must be capable of resisting extreme pressures and maintain the desired configuration and shape until the material has hardened and set. In particular the side panels should be disposed in exact desired alignment and maintain this alignment until the material has hardened and set, especially at the corners or juncture of the form panel members. One corner of a form is shown in FIGURE 1 Where the form is com prised of panels P disposed in perpendicular edge-to-edge relation to one another. In order to support and to reinforce the form panels P, walers W and W are disposed for horizontal extension at vertically spaced intervals along the external surfaces of the panels. Here the walers may be comprised of elongated wooden planks, boards, or elongated metal bars, and the walers are disposed along the form panels with their side edges in contacting relation to the external surfaces of the panels. In FIGURE 1 two rows of walers are illustrated and each row includes a waler W having a free end 12 disposed in abutting relation to the inside edge 14 of the perpendicular waler W, and the end 16 of the waler W extends slightly beyond the end 12 of the first waler to facilitate installation of the corner tie in a manner to be described.

In accordance with the present invention, the corner ties 10 are in the form of open frames designed to rigidly but releasably secure and hold the walers together at the corners of the form in predetermined angular relation to one another and to maintain this relation until the material has set. Further, the preferred form of corner tie is so constructed and arranged as to facilitate rapid assembly and installation of the form without necessitating positive connection either to the walers or to the form panels. To this end, the preferred form of corner tie is defined by top and

bottom cover plates

20 and 21, each being five-sided and corresponding in configuration. The outer peripheral edges of each of the cover plates include perpendicular edges defining one side 24 and an end 25, respectively, with an opposite side 26 converging towards the end 25. A generally V-shaped end portion is defined by

side edges

27 and 28 converging toward one another from

opposite sides

24 and 26 and terminating in a pointed extremity 30. The cover plates are joined together in spaced parallel relation by a downwardly and inwardly sloping end wall 32 between the end edges 25, a vertical side wall 34 between convergent side edges 27 and another vertical side wall 35 extending forwardly for a limited distance from the pointed extremity 30- between the edges 28. Most desirably the cover plates, sides and end wall portions as described are composed of thinwalled high strength metal sections with adjoining edges being welded together into a unitary open frame. In assembled relation it will be noted that the slot or opening formed between the

cover plates

20 and 21, the end wall 32 and side wall 34 is sufficiently large to permit endwise insertion of the projecting end 16 of the waler W therethrough. In addition, one end of the side wall 34 opposite the pointed extremity 30 is provided with a tapered or knife-edge portion 38; similarly, the free end of the side wall 35 is provided with a tapered or pointed edge portion 40. Thus when the corner tie is passed over the end 16 the tapered edge 38 is contiguous to and in facing relation to the inside edge of the waler W, and the pointed edge 40 is contiguous and in facing relation to the outside edge of the waler 14.

In use, the desired clamping action is effected by driving a wedge 42 vertically through aligned upper and lower wedge-receiving slots or

openings

44 and 45 extending inwardly from and normal to the end wall 32 in the top and bottom cover plates, respectively. The outer end wall 32 is sloped downwardly and inwardly between the cover plates, and in turn the lower wedge-receiving slot 45 extends inwardly for a greater distance than the upper wedge-receiving slot. Further, each of the slots is of sufficient length to traverse the outside edge portion of the waler so as to permit direct wedging engagement between the wedge and outer edge of the waler when the wedge is driven through the slots. In this relation, the wedge 42 is relatively thin and has an inner, relatively sharp tapered edge 48 and an outer, downwardly sloping edge 49 inclining at an angle corresponding to the inclination of the end wall 32. In this way, when the wedge is driven downwardly through the wedge-receiving slots the outer inclined edge 49 will be guided along the inner surface of the end wall 32 thereby to maintain the inner contact edge 48 in vertical relation and establish uniform engagement and pressure against the outer edge of the waler. The wedge may also be suitably provided with an aperture 50 located between the top and bottom cover plates to receive a locking pin or nail, not shown, for the purpose of nailing or fastening the wedge to the side of the waler W. In addition the wedge may be held loosely in assembled relation to the frame by bending or crimping the lower extremity 52 after the wedge has been inserted through the slots.

In practice, the corner tie is passed over the end 16 of the waler W and is advanced into position with the pronged edge 38 engaging the inside of the waler W and the pronged edge 40 engaging the outside of the waler W, as best seen from FIGURE 2, and the inner edges of the top and bottom cover plate partially overlapping the waler W. When the wedge is driven downwardly through the

slots

44 and 45 it will urge the pronged edge 38 more firmly against the inside of the waler W whereupon the pronged edge 40 is caused to undergo rotation or pivoting about the knife edge 38 and to be driven inwardly against the outside of the waler W and in a direction forcing the waler W inwardly against the form panel and somewhat forwardly so that its abutting end will be tightened against the inside of the waler W. Thus while the wedge 42 forces the waler W inwardly against the abutting end of the waler W and against the form panel, the pointed edge at the opposite end of the frame will force the waler W in an opposite direction opposing the force of the wedge whereby to rigidly clamp the walers together and cause the walers to be compressed inwardly against the form panels. Here it has been found that the most effective clamping action can be obtained where the inward force of the pointed edge 40 is directed along the line A of the convergent side 28, or substantially at degrees to the side of the waler W and such that the line of force will fall within the midsection of the abutting end of the waler and in this way avoid any tendency of the walers to rotate or shift with respect to one another. Generally it has been determined that shifting or rotation can be effectively avoided if the line of application of force falls within the middle one-third of the distance from the inner surface of the form panel P and the outer surface of the waler W and will be operative to clamp the walers together while holding them fiat and stable against each other.

It will be evident from the foregoing that each corner tie can be rapidly fixed in position by sliping it into place followed by driving the wedge downwardly for a distance necessary to secure rigid connection at each corner of the form. If desired, a nail may be driven through the opening 34' and into the waler W which together with the nail driven through the opening will maintain a rigid connection and prevent accidental shifting or loosening of the corner tie. Of course the walers will be positioned and vertically spaced at intervals to reinforce the form throughout its length.

When the concrete or cementitious material is poured into the form the pressure exerted outwardly by the material both by virtue of its weight and as a result of any expansion will be effectively resisted by the clamping action of the corner tie. Of course different types and sizes of walers are available for different applications and the length and width of the frame as well as the opening size of the slot through the frame may be correspondingly varied according to the size of the walers. Moreover the depth of the frame may be increased to accommodate double walers; and the thickness, shape and width of the wedge, along with the size of the wedge-receiving slots may be suitably varied or modified as desired. Further the corner tie may be installed in inverted relation and of course would require that the wedge be driven upwardly through the wedge-receiving slots to clamp the corner tie in place.

In the modified form of invention shown in FIGURES 5 to 8 the frame member is of generally rectangular configuration having top and

bottom cover plates

61 and 62 being joined together by

end walls

63 and 64 and a side wall portion 65 extending along the outside of the frame. Thus the end wall 64 and side wall 65 are disposed in perpendicular relation to one another, and the end wall 64 extends for the greater length of the end of the frame but terminates in spaced relation from the inside corner and has an inner terminal edge formed with tapered prongs 66. In a similar manner the side wall 65 extends for a limited distance along the outside of the frame with a terminal edge provided with tapered prongs 67 along one side of a clearance space or opening generally indicated at 68, the latter being of sufiicient width to permit endwise insertion of a waler W and leave an additional clearance space 69 outside of the waler W for lateral insertion of a wedge element 70. In the modified form, the wedge member 70 is of increased width and may suitably be of a generally U-shaped construction with inclined sides 71, a closed end portion 72 between the sides, and a striking end portion 73.

In use, when the wedge 70 is driven through the clearance space 69 along the outside of the waler W the waler W is forced inwardly to be firmly gripped and engaged by the prongs 67; and in applying the force of the wedge at the inside corner of the frame will have a tendency once again to pivot or rotate the prongs 66 inwardly about the prongs 67 and in a direction forcing the waler W inwardly against the form panel and forwardly against the inside of the waler W,

In the alternate form of invention shown in FIGURES 9 and 10, the corner tie 75 comprises an open, grid-like frame composed of heavy gauge wire with top and bottom triangular frame portions 76and 77 joined together at their vertices by

vertical rods

78, 79 and 80. The rod portion 78 has a tapered lateral edge 81 and the rod 79 is similarly provided with a tapered lateral edge 82. In turn the rod 80 is inclined downwardly aiid inwardly at an angle conforming to the angle of inclination of the inclined side 49' of the wedge member 42' where the wedge member 42' substantially corresponds to the wedge 42 shown in the preferred form of invention, and accordingly like parts are enumerated correspondingly with prime numerals. In order to limit downward movement of the wedge, transverse stops 84 and85 are disposed across the upper and lower

triangular frame portions

76 and 77 in spaced but adjacent relation to the rod 80. Further to guide the wedge and force it to ride against the rod 80,

wire elements

86 and 87 of limited length extend between each of the

respective stop members

84 and 85 and the upper and

lower frame portions

76 and 77 alongside opposite ends of the rod 80 and in spaced parallel relation to the longer side of the triangular frame portions thereby forming a limited clearance space for passage of the wedge.

Again, the opening formed between the upper and

lower frame portions

76 and 77, the rod 80 and the edge 82 is of sufficient depth and width to permit endwise insertion of the overhanging end of the waler. In driving the wedge 42 downwardly against the outside of the waler W' the lateral edge '82 is aligned at an angle such that it will be forced into the side of the waler at a slight angle away from normal and inwardly towards the wedge member. Moreover the knife edge 81 is once again directed inwardly at an angle such that its application of force will be in a line passing through the midsection of the end of the other waler as described with reference to the preferred form shown in FIGURES l to 4. Thus the installation and clamping of the corner tie 75 is intended to accomplish the same desired result of compressing the walers together while simultaneously forcing the walers inwardly against their respective form panels. It will be evident however that the triangular frame structure shown in FIGURES 9 and does not have the rigidity and strength of forms of invention shown in FIGURES 1 to 6.

In the preferred and modified forms of corner ties herein illustrated and described, each can be positively and rigidly secured in place Without special connecting elements or positive connection to the walers or form panels by the simple expedient of wedging one end of the frame along the outer edge surface of one of the walers. The effect of this will be to urge the opposite end of the frame inwardly against the outside of the other waler, as a result of which the walers are held rigid and in a common plane against one another. and against the respective form panels so as to maintain the desired angular relationship at the corners 'of the form notwithstanding application of extremely high pressures. Preferably the force applied by the inner end of the frame is in the direction described with reference to the preferred form of invention of FIGURES 1 to 4 or the alternate forms of FIGURES 9 and 10 with the inner edge of the frame being adapted to rotate about the terminal edge of the frame bearing against the inside of the first waler. In this relation, it is not essential that the waler contacting edges be pron-ged or tapered but may be of any equivalent form which is capable of penetrating or firmly gripping the side of the waler so as not to slide or shift when a wedging force is applied. The same is true of the inner edge of the frame, namely, that it effect gripping engagement with the outside of the other waler when wedging force is applied at the opposite end of the frame.

The preferred and alternate forms of the present invention are readily conformable for use in numerous applications where a corner clamp is required to rigidly secure the ends of a pair of members at some specified angle, and of course the clamp may either be removable or may be permanently installed. For instance, in other applications it is not essential that the clamping forces applied through opposite ends of the frame be resisted by the form panels or the like since the application of force is in opposite directions and in a common plane.

Accordingly it is to be understood that various other modifications and changes may be resorted to in the preferred and alternate forms described and illustrated herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A corner tie for joining perpendicular ends of a pair of walers at the corner of a form wherein the end of one waler extends beyond the other waler and the end of the other waler is disposed in abutting relation to the inside of the one waler, said corner tie comprising an open, generally box-shaped frame having spaced parallel frame portions, end and side portions rigidly interconnecting said frame portions with a waler-receiving opening between said frame portions being adapted for endwise insertion of the end of the one waler therethrough, a wedgereceiving space at one end of said frame outwardly of the waler-receiving opening and in communication therewith, and end portions at the opposite end of said frame, each portion terminating in a tapered edge being disposed in facing relation to the inside of the one waler and the outside of the other waler, respectively, and a wedge movavle through the wedge-receiving space to cause inward forcing of the one waler against the end of the other waler while forcing each of the tapered edges of the divergent end wall portions in an opposite direction against the inside of the one waler and the outside of the other waler.

2. A corner tie according to claim 1, one of the tapered edges engaging the outside of the other waler in a plane passing through the midsection of the end of the other waler abutting the inside of the one waler.

3. A corner tie according to claim 1, the Wedge-receiving space including aligned slots in the spaced parallel frame portions adjacent to the one end of said frame.

4. A corner tie according to claim 3, the end portions at the opposite end of the frame being defined by generally V-shaped, divergent wall portions.

5. A corner tie according to claim 1, said frame portions being in the form of relatively flat, planar wall portions and the side and end portions being in the form of wall portions rigidly interconnecting said planar wall portions in spaced parallel relation.

6. A corner tie for clamping together adjoining ends of a pair of boards and the like at substantially right angles to one another without positive connection thereto, said corner tie being comprised of a rigid frame provided with an opening therein for endwise insertion of one of the boards, wedging means movable through a wedge-receiving space in said frame into engagement with the outside of the one board to cause inward forcing of the one board against the end of the other board, and releasable gripping means at the opposite end of said frame including first releasable gripping means releasably engageable with the inside of the one board, second gripping means pivotal about said first gripping means into gripping engagement with the other board upon inward forcing of the one board by said wedging means against the end of the other board.

7. A corner tie for clamping together adjoining ends of a pair of boards and the like at substantially right angles to one another, said corner tie comprising a frame having spaced parallel wall portions, end and side wall portions rigidly interconnecting said spaced parallel wall portions with an aligned opening through opposite sides of said frame between said end and side wall portions to provide for endwise insertion of the one board through the space between said spaced parallel Wall portions, wedging means movable through a wedge-receiving space in said frame into engagement With the outside of the oneboard to cause inward forcing of the one board against the end of the other board, and said side wall portion being releasably engageable with the inside of the one board and responsive to inward forcing of the One board by said wedging means against the end of the other board to advance in a direction urging the end of the other board against and normal to the inside of the one board.

8. A clamping device according to claim 7, the leading edges of said spaced parallel wall portions overlapping the outer edge of the other board, and further including gripping means being defined by a gripping edge at the terminal end of a side wall in spaced relation to the other board.

9. A clamping device according to claim 6, said frame being defined by spaced parallel wall portions, end and side wall portions rigidly interconnecting said spaced parallel wall portions, the first gripping means being defined by a tapered edge at the terminal end of one of the side wall portions in facing relation to the one board and said second gripping means being defined by a tapered edge at the terminal end of an outer side wall portion in facing relation to the other board.

10. A clamping device according to claim 6, said wedge being movable in a vertical direction through a wedge-receiving slot at one end of the frame and said wedge having an outer, downwardly and inwardly sloping side and an inner vertical tapered side edge engageable with the outside of the one board, and the one end of said frame being inclined downwardly and inwardly at a complementary angle to that of the downwardly sloping side whereby to guide said inner vertical tapered edge into uniform engagement with the outside of the one board.

11. A clamping device according to claim 6, the wedgereceiving opening being defined by a clearance space between the outside of the one board and the one end of said frame and said wedge being movable through the space in a direction parallel to the one board.

12. A clamping device according to claim 6, said frame being defined by heavy-gauge wire frame portions being rigidly interconnected in spaced parallel relation to define the opening for endwise insertion of the one board and the wedge-receiving space outwardly of and in communication with the opening.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS J. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner DE WALDEN wjJoNEs, Assistant Examiner Us. 01. X.R. 24--263; 24948; 269-122