Form corner clip and methods for making and using the same

Abstract

A form corner clip and method for making and using the same. A form corner clip is formed having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is a latch to attach to a projection on a first form panel and the second portion, which is immovably attached to the first portion, has a projection that can be engaged by a latch on the second form panel.

Description

REFERENCE TO PROVISIONAL APPLICATION [0001] This application claims the benefit of the provisional patent application entitled “OUTSIDE CORNER CLIP FOR PLYWOOD CONCRETE FORM PANELS,” filed May 16, 2003, by the applicants of this patent application.TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The present invention relates to concrete form systems, and more particularly, to concrete form system corner clips and methods for making and using the same. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] In the prior art there are many methods for casting poured concrete into the shape of walls, pads, and other such shapes. In most of these methods, flat panels, usually of plywood, are used as the molding elements, or forms, to define the surface of the concrete being cast. Originally, these form panels were custom-made for each concrete forming job, then discarded. Eventually it was seen to be advantageous to make reusable, modular forming panels that could be assembled in a variety of configurations and reused many times. [0...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] A strong metal clip, such as that shown in FIG. 3, used at each adjoining panel bar, replaces the burdensome connected assembly of swing latches and studs in the prior art, full-height corner. Each corner clip is fashioned to slip over the attachment stud on one end of the panel bar, and has a second attachment stud to engage the pivoting latch on the adjacent panel. Thus, each clip serves the purpose of securely connecting adjacent form panels at a 90 degree angle without the unnecessary structure of a full-height bar or tube.

[0012] A significant advantage of the proposed corner clip is the need to stock only one type of clip for use with any style of form panel. Thus, the same collection of corner clips may be used on eight-foot 4-bar panels, nine-foot 5-bar panels, etc. In addition, a set of corner clips may be fabricated for less than the cost of a corresponding old-style corner. These two advantages greatly reduce the cost to forming contractors of maintaining a stock of parts to create outside corners with all of their form panels.

[0013] The present invention fulfills the identical requirements of the present fabricated corners, namely: 1) holding the adjacent form panels on a 90 degree outside corner in the proper position, 2) providing a means to connect the form panels, through the system of ¼″×2″ metal bars, swinging latches, and hex-head studs, sufficient to resist the forces exerted by the liquid concrete during a pour.

[0014] In addition, the clip of the present invention has the following advantages over the present fabricated corners: 1) the clip may be mass-produced by high-volume metal stamping techniques, without requiring expensive and error-prone assembly or welding, 2) the small clips are less easily damaged in use, storage, or transport than the long, slender fabricated corners in present use, 3) one set of clips may be used on any size of form panel within the 1-⅛″ forming system, requiring a lower investment in corner hardware to create the same forming capability, 4) the clip can be produced at a lower cost than an equivalent fabricated metal corner.

Problems solved by technology

In addition, these corners, because of their narrow proportions, tend to be easily damaged in the rough environment in which they are used.

Images