Stackable block for insulating concrete form system

Abstract

A concrete form system comprising a reversibly stackable insulating form blocks each block having a pair of panels separated by two or more ties. Each of the top, bottom and side edges of the panels includes either a tongue or groove so as to engage a corresponding tongue or groove of a panel of another block stacked vertically or horizontally adjacent thereto. The panels of each block are arranged in opposite orientation to each other so as to enable the block to be stackable in either an upside-down or right-side-up orientation.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 555,956 filed on Mar. 25, 2004.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to concrete form systems and, more specifically, to systems comprised of stackable foam block units. More particularly, the invention relates to insulating concrete form blocks that are reversibly stackable. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] In the field of constructing concrete walls, it is commonly known to use forms normally comprising a pair of panels arranged parallel to one another and separated by a distance. Concrete is then poured between the panels and allowed to set. After the concrete is set, the panels, usually made of wood, are removed. It is common to have ties extending between the two panels to ensure that the desired spacing is maintained. [0004] The advent of insulating concrete form (ICF) systems has provided an improvement in concrete form systems. In ICF systems, the pan...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] In another aspect, the invention provides an insulating concrete form block made of a pair of foam panels spaced apart by two or more ties and wherein the panels are provided with interlocking means to enable vertically and horizontally adjacent blocks to engage each other and an alignment means to ensure vertical alignment of the ties. The interlocking means of each panel are arranged opposite to the other of the block so as to allow the block to be reversible, or used in either vertical orientation.

[0011] In another aspect, the invention provides an insulating concrete form block comprising a pair of foam panels separated by two or more ties, wherein each of the panels has an interlocking means for engaging neighbouring blocks, and wherein the block has a first plane of symmetry extending diagonally between the top of one panel to the bottom of the other panel and a second plane of symmetry extending diagonally between the top right corner to the bottom left corner of the block. The panels of the block are provided with an alignment means to ensure vertical alignment of the ties when the blocks are stacked.

[0012] In another aspect, the invention provides a reversibly stackable insulating concrete form block, for use in a concrete form system, comprising: first and second foam panels, arranged opposed and parallel to each other and spaced apart by a predetermined distance; and two or more ties extending perpendicularly between the panels to maintain the panels in the spaced apart orientation. In each panel, its top and bottom edges and left and right ends have: a) a first interlocking means for engaging a respective panel of a block vertically adjacent thereto; b) a second interlocking means for engaging a respective panel of a block located horizontally adjacent thereto; and c) a tie aligning feature for vertically aligning ties of vertically adjacent blocks. In the block, the panels of the block are arranged in opposite orientation with respect to each other whereby the block can be engaged with other vertically adjacent blocks in either a right-side up or upside-down orientation.

[0013] In another aspect, the present invention provides a reversibly stackable insulating concrete form block, for use in a concrete form system, comprising: first and second foam panels, arranged opposed and parallel to each other and spaced apart by a predetermined distance; and two or more ties extending perpendicula...

Problems solved by technology

One of the problems associated with some known ICF block systems is that the blocks can only be used in one orientation.

This often results in wastage of product.

Such wastage is particularly faced when a block is cut to a smaller size and the remaining portion cannot be used since their orientation cannot be reversed.

However, this reference does not allow for the ties of the block to be aligned once stacked.

Images