Concrete form support depth gauging tool

Abstract

A measuring and supporting tool for use with concrete formwork includes an elongated stake, a flange, and a guide bracket. The elongated stake has an upper stake portion and a lower stake portion, the upper stake portion includes pre-measured line guide notches. The flange extends transversely from the lower stake portion and is configured to rest at ground level when the tool is pounded into the ground. The guide bracket extends from a margin of the flange, parallel to the upper stake portion, forming a slot configured to receive a form board. The upper stake portion is separable from the lower stake portion after the concrete has cured, leaving the lower stake portion and flange embedded in the cured concrete.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of application number 17 / 457,182, filed Dec. 1, 2021. Application number 17 / 457,182 claimed the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application number 63 / 199,009, filed Dec. 1, 2020. The contents of application numbers 17 / 457,182 and 63 / 199,009 are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to concrete formwork and, more particularly, to a measuring and supporting tool for use therewith.

[0003] To prevent dips in concrete, a screed device must be used to level the concrete. Commercially available screed devices either do not secure or hold the screed board at an accurate depth or they are disruptive and time consuming to remove and / or cleanup and transport.

[0004] When pouring concrete, a form is constructed around the perimeter of the pour area to contain the slurry and define the boundaries of the finished concrete structure. The form typically comprises boards or panels held in place around the pour area. It is important that the form boards be accurately positioned and securely supported prior to and during the pour to ensure that the finished concrete conforms to the intended dimensions. Commercially available form support devices either do not provide an accurate depth reference or are difficult to install, remove, and clean.

[0005] As can be seen, there is a need for a device that supports concrete form boards, provides an accurate concrete depth gauge, and is easy to install, remove, and clean and provides fast site cleanup.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention provides a measuring and supporting tool for use with concrete formwork that is small, durable, and easy to set up, use, and remove. The tool supports a form board around the perimeter of a concrete pour area and provides a fixed depth reference for measuring the intended concrete depth. The tool is easy to pound into the ground, particularly in tight spots or hard-to-reach corners, and the upper stake portion is easily separated and removed after the concrete has cured, leaving the lower stake portion and flange embedded at ground level.

[0007] In one aspect, a measuring and supporting tool is provided, comprising: an elongated stake having an upper stake portion and a lower stake portion, the upper stake portion including a plurality of pre-measured line guide notches; a flange extending transversely from the lower stake portion; and a guide bracket extending from a margin of the flange, the guide bracket being parallel to the upper stake portion and forming a slot between the upper stake portion and the guide bracket configured to receive a board.

[0008] In another aspect, a method of supporting concrete formwork is provided, comprising: positioning a form board adjacent to a pour area; pounding a measuring and supporting tool into the ground adjacent to the form board until a flange extending transversely from a lower stake portion of the tool rests at ground level; seating the form board within a slot defined between the upper stake portion and a guide bracket extending from a margin of the flange; pouring concrete slurry into the pour area; allowing the concrete slurry to cure; and breaking the upper stake portion from the lower stake portion at a weakened break point, leaving the lower stake portion and flange embedded in the cured concrete.

[0009] Further features and advantages will be apparent from the following description and claims.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a screeding tool according to an embodiment, shown in use;

[0011] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view thereof;

[0012] FIG. 3 is a sectional view thereof, taken along line 3—3 in FIG. 2;

[0013] FIG. 4 is another sectional view thereof, taken along line 4—4 in FIG. 3;

[0014] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a measuring and supporting tool according to another embodiment;

[0015] FIG. 6 is a side elevational view thereof, shown in use with a form board;

[0016] FIG. 7 is a side elevation view thereof, showing a step of separation of an upper stake portion using a hammer;

[0017] FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a triangular flange for use with a measuring and supporting tool according to another embodiment, the circular flange shown in broken lines for reference;

[0018] FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a rectangular flange for use with a measuring and supporting tool according to another embodiment, the circular flange shown in broken lines for reference;

[0019] FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a trapezoidal flange for use with a measuring and supporting tool according to another embodiment, the circular flange shown in broken lines for reference;

[0020] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a T-shaped upper stake portion according to another embodiment;

[0021] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a triangular upper stake portion according to another embodiment;

[0022] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a rectangular upper stake portion according to another embodiment;

[0023] FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of a measuring and supporting tool according to another embodiment, showing the elongated stake separated from the bracket assembly; and

[0024] FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of a measuring and supporting tool according to another embodiment, showing the snap-fit connection between the stake and the flange.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The following description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts throughout. Embodiments described herein are illustrative and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims.

[0026] One embodiment is a measuring and supporting tool comprising an elongated stake, a flange extending transversely from the stake, and a guide bracket extending from a margin of the flange.

[0027] As used herein, the term 'flange' refers to a structural member extending transversely from the stake along a plane substantially perpendicular to the stake’s longitudinal axis, and includes circular, rectangular, trapezoidal, triangular, and other geometric configurations.

[0028] In use, the measuring and supporting tool is pounded into the ground outside a pour area, adjacent to a form or frame that defines the boundary of the concrete pour. The flange comes to rest at ground level, and the guide bracket, being parallel to the upper stake portion and spaced therefrom, receives a board—such as a form board or screed guide board—within the slot defined between the upper stake portion and the guide bracket. The tool supports and holds the form board in position around the perimeter of the pour area prior to and during the pour. The upper stake portion, which extends above the flange, provides a reference point for measuring the intended concrete depth via the pre-measured line guide notches. After the concrete has been placed, the upper stake portion may be separated from the lower stake portion at the circumferential notch, for example by striking with a hammer, leaving the lower stake portion and flange embedded at ground level within the cured concrete while the upper stake portion is removed and reused.

[0029] In some embodiments, the flange may be circular, rectangular, trapezoidal, or triangular in plan view. The flange extends transversely from the lower stake portion to provide a bearing surface that rests at ground level when the tool is pounded into the ground, serving as a stop that arrests downward travel at the intended depth.

[0030] In some embodiments, the upper stake portion is formed as a sleeve configured to slide over and seat on a peg or post formed at the top of the lower stake portion. In this configuration, the upper stake portion is removably coupled to the lower stake portion and can be lifted and separated therefrom without requiring a severing step or a circumferential notch. This sleeve-over-peg arrangement allows the upper stake portion, together with the guide bracket, to be withdrawn and reused after the concrete has set, while the lower stake portion and flange remain embedded in the substrate. The lower stake portion may define a groove or shoulder on which the upper stake portion seats when fully engaged.

[0031] In some embodiments, the upper stake portion may have a cross-sectional profile that is non-circular. For example, the upper stake portion may have a T-shaped, triangular, or rectangular cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Such cross-sectional geometries may provide additional torsional resistance and may facilitate alignment of the guide bracket relative to the form board.

[0032] In some embodiments, the upper stake portion and the lower spike are formed as a single, unitary stake that is separable from the guide bracket, the flange, and any associated bracket structure. In this configuration, the unitary stake may be detached from an L-shaped bracket assembly—comprising the guide bracket, the flange, and any reinforcing fin—and may also be clipped or fastened to the bracket assembly for use. Because the flange is integrated with the bracket assembly rather than with the stake itself in this variant, the stop function of the flange is provided by a smaller stop point or abutment formed on the unitary stake at a location corresponding to the junction between the upper portion and the lower spike portion. This smaller stop point arrests downward travel of the stake through the bracket assembly when the stake is inserted, setting the working depth of the tool.

[0033] In some embodiments, the stop point comprises a protrusion extending transversely from the elongated stake on the side and a corresponding depression is formed in the flange or bracket assembly, the protrusion and depression being configured to mate with one another to releasably secure the elongated stake to the bracket assembly in a snap-fit engagement. The snap-fit engagement holds the elongated stake and bracket assembly together as a unitary structure during use while permitting separation of the elongated stake from the bracket assembly upon application of a separating force.

[0034] In some embodiments, the tool may be a single, unitary piece.

[0035] In some embodiments, the stake may comprise two pieces: an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion may form a sleeve over the lower portion and may rest on a groove. The lower portion of the device may be left in the pour and the upper portion may be removed.

[0036] In some embodiments, the lower portion of the device includes the flange or round base and the upper portion of the device includes the L-shaped bar or bracket. The lower portion may be detachable from the upper portion for easier removal.

[0037] In some embodiments, the upper portion of the device includes the L-shaped bar and the flange.

[0038] In some embodiments, the lower portion of the spike has a pointed end to improve ground penetration.

[0039] The tool may be used to measure the depth of any slurry which will harden into a solid.

[0040] The materials and methods of manufacture are not particularly limited. The components may comprise, for example, steel, aluminum, hard plastic, or any combination thereof. The components may be welded and / or injection molded as a single unitary piece or as multiple mating pieces.

[0041] The measurements of the various component parts are generally selected to ensure accurate concrete depth measurement and to support a form board. The stake may be about 5 / 8 inch to about 7 / 8 inch in diameter, such as about 3 / 4 inch, and may be about 12 inches to about 24 inches long, such as about 18 inches. The bores may be about 1 / 8 inch to about 1 / 4 inch in diameter, such as about 3 / 16 inch, and may be orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the stake. The flange may be about 1 / 8 inch to about 3 / 8 inch thick, such as about 1 / 4 inch thick, with a diameter or width of about 2 inches to about 5 inches, such as about 3 1 / 2 inches. The flange may be positioned about 7 to 10 inches from the top of the stake, such as about 7 1 / 2 inches, about 8 1 / 2 inches, or about 9 1 / 2 inches. The distance from the flange to the guide bracket may vary from about 3 inches to about 7 inches, such as about 4 inches, about 5 inches, or about 6 inches, depending upon the intended concrete depth. The components are formed with sufficient thickness to withstand being pounded into the ground without breaking.

[0042] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 7, FIGS. 1 through 4 show a screed tool according to an embodiment, positioned in poured concrete 46 in a form or outer frame 40, with most of the screed tool shown in broken lines indicating that it is hidden by the concrete 46. The screed tool comprises an upper stake 10, a lower stake 12, a disc 16, and an L-bar 18. The upper stake 10 and the lower stake 12 each have a substantially solid cylinder shape. A screed guide board 42 may rest between the upper stake 10 and the L-bar 18 and across upper surfaces of the form 40. A guide screed 44 may be supported on the screed guide board 42 and the form 40. A user may slide the guide screed 44 along the screed guide board 42 to level the poured concrete 46. The device is shown more clearly in FIG. 2, with a plurality of stake holes 14 or bores in alternating horizontal directions perpendicular to one another within the upper stake 10, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0043] A screed tool according to another embodiment is shown in FIGS. 5 through 7, comprising an upper stake 20, a lower stake 22, stake holes 24, and a disc 26, as well as a guide bracket 28 with a reinforcing fin 30, which serves to support the form board 40 in use, as shown in FIG. 6. Premeasured line guide notches 34 for use with a straight line or string are formed in the upper stake 20. The upper stake 20 is scored to provide a weak point or circumferential notch 32 at a junction with the flange or disc 26, which circumferential notch may be severed with a hammer 48, as shown in FIG. 7.

[0044] Referring now to FIGS. 8 through 15, several additional embodiments are shown. FIGS. 8 through 10 illustrate alternative flange geometries for use with the measuring and supporting tool. In each of FIGS. 8 through 10, a circular flange is shown in broken lines for reference, representing the flange geometry of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 through 7. FIG. 8 shows an embodiment in which the flange is triangular in plan view. FIG. 9 shows an embodiment in which the flange is rectangular in plan view. FIG. 10 shows an embodiment in which the flange is trapezoidal in plan view. In each of these embodiments, the flange extends transversly from the lower stake portion and is configured to rest at ground level when the tool is pounded into the ground, serving as a stop that arrests downward travel at the intended depth. The guide bracket extends from a margin of the flange in each embodiment, parallel to the upper stake portion, forming a slot configured to receive a form board. The non-circular flange geometries of FIGS. 8 through 10 may provide increased resistance to rotation of the tool about the longitudinal axis when pounded into the ground, as the corners of the flange engage the surrounding soil.

[0045] FIGS. 11 through 13 illustrate alternative cross-sectional profiles for the upper stake portion in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. FIG. 11 shows an upper stake portion having a T-shaped cross-section. FIG. 12 shows an upper stake portion having a triangular cross-section. FIG. 13 shows an upper stake portion having a rectangular cross-section. In each of these embodiments, the non-circular cross-section of the upper stake portion may provide increased torsional resistance and may facilitate consistent angular alignment of the guide bracket relative to the form board during use. The pre-measured line guide notches are formed in the upper stake portion in each of these embodiments. The alternative cross-sectional profiles of FIGS. 11 through 13 may be used in combination with any of the flange geometries shown in FIGS. 5 through 10.

[0046] FIG. 14 shows a measuring and supporting tool according to another embodiment, in which an upper stake portion is configured as a sleeve removably seated over a peg formed at the upper end of a lower stake portion. The upper stake portion and the lower stake portion are shown in an exploded view, separated along the longitudinal axis, with a double-headed arrow indicating the direction of engagement and separation. The lower stake portion includes the flange and the guide bracket and terminates in a pointed lower end configured for ground penetration. The upper stake portion carries the pre-measured line guide notches and, when engaged, seats on a shoulder defined at the upper end of the lower stake portion. After the concrete has cured, the upper stake portion is removed by lifting it from the peg without requiring a breaking step at a circumferential notch, leaving the lower stake portion, flange, and guide bracket embedded in the cured concrete.

[0047] FIG. 15 shows a measuring and supporting tool according to another embodiment, in which an elongated stake is detachably connected to a bracket assembly by a snap-fit connection. The elongated stake comprises an upper stake portion and a lower spike portion formed as a single unitary piece, terminating in a pointed lower end configured for ground penetration. The upper stake portion carries the pre-measured line guide notches. The bracket assembly comprises a guide bracket and a flange extending transversely from a lower margin of the guide bracket. A partially cut-away view at the junction of the elongated stake and the flange shows a protrusion extending from the elongated stake and a corresponding depression in the flange, the protrusion and depression mating to releasably secure the elongated stake to the bracket assembly. The bracket assembly is shown separately below the elongated stake, with a double-headed arrow indicating the direction of engagement and separation.

[0048] The foregoing describes illustrative embodiments of the invention. Modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Claims

1. A measuring and supporting tool for use with concrete formwork, comprising:an elongated stake having an upper stake portion and a lower stake portion;a flange extending transversely from the elongated stake; anda guide bracket parallel to the upper stake portion and spaced therefrom, the guide bracket and the upper stake portions together defining a slot therebetween configured to receive and retain a board on opposing sides thereof.

2. The measuring and supporting tool of claim 1, wherein the flange is configured to rest at ground level when the tool is pounded into a ground surface.

3. The measuring and supporting tool of claim 1, wherein the upper stake portion is formed with a circumferential notch at a junction between the upper stake portion and the flange, the circumferential notch defining a weakened break point.

4. The measuring and supporting tool of claim 3, wherein the elongated stake, the flange, and the guide bracket are formed as a unitary piece.

5. The measuring and supporting tool of claim 1, wherein the guide bracket further comprises a reinforcing fin formed longitudinally along a surface thereof.

6. The measuring and supporting tool of claim 1, wherein the flange is non-circular in plan view.

7. The measuring and supporting tool of claim 6, wherein the flange is rectangular, trapezoidal, or triangular in plan view.

8. The measuring and supporting tool of claim 1, wherein the upper stake portion has a T-shaped, triangular, or rectangular cross-section in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the elongated stake.

9. The measuring and supporting tool of claim 8, wherein the elongated stake, the flange, and the guide bracket are formed as a unitary piece.

10. The measuring and supporting tool of claim 8, wherein the guide bracket further comprises a reinforcing fin formed longitudinally along a surface thereof.

11. The measuring and supporting tool of claim 1, wherein the upper stake portion is configured as a sleeve removably seated over a peg formed at an upper end of the lower stake portion, the upper stake portion being separable from the lower stake portion by lifting.

12. The measuring and supporting tool of claim 11, wherein the upper stake portion includes a plurality of pre-measured line guide notches.

13. The measuring and supporting tool of claim 11, wherein the lower stake portion defines a shoulder on which the upper stake portion rests when engaged with the peg.

14. The measuring and supporting tool of claim 1, wherein the flange extends transversely from a lower margin of the guide bracket, and wherein the elongated stake is receivable through the guide bracket along a longitudinal axis of the elongated stake and is detachable from the guide bracket.

15. The measuring and supporting tool of claim 14, wherein the stop element comprises a protrusion extending transversely from the elongated stake and the guide bracket defines a corresponding depression configured to mate with the protrusion in a snap-fit engagement.

16. The measuring and supporting tool of claim 14, wherein the stop element is a flange extending transversely from the elongated stake.

17. A method of supporting concrete formwork using the measuring and supporting tool of claim 3, comprising:pounding the measuring and supporting tool into a ground surface adjacent to a pour area until the flange rests at ground level, an upper stake portion extending above the flange;seating a form board within the slot between the upper stake portion and a guide bracket;pouring concrete slurry into the pour area;allowing the concrete slurry to cure; andbreaking the upper stake portion from the lower stake portion at the weakened break point defined by the circumferential notch, leaving the lower stake portion and flange embedded.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising removing the upper stake portion from the pour area after the breaking.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein pounding the tool into the ground surface comprises pounding until pre-measured line guide notches on the upper stake portion are positioned at predetermined heights above ground level for use as reference points during the pouring.

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