Unitary Foam Cement Form with Brick Ledge
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional methods for forming cement foundations are labor-intensive and require extensive setup and teardown, as well as additional insulation measures in cold climates to protect against temperature fluctuations, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A cement form with a single, unitary body and wedge-shaped cross-section, incorporating a foam material and a removable brick ledge portion, which allows for efficient cement support and insulation, reducing the need for traditional stakes and kickers, and enabling the cement form to remain in place after curing to provide insulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional metal stakes and kickers are used to hold cement forms in place, then the forms can be securely positioned during cement pouring, but the setup and teardown process becomes time-intensive and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The cement form is divided into modular sections that can be independently positioned and secured. Each module includes integrated stakes and kickers that are pre-positioned during manufacturing, allowing rapid assembly without requiring separate installation steps for support structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The stakes, kickers, and support structures are pre-attached to the cement form modules during manufacturing. This preliminary action eliminates the need to install these components separately on-site, significantly reducing setup time while maintaining form stability during pouring.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If foam insulation sheets are positioned against the foundation sidewall after form removal in cold climates, then thermal protection is provided against temperature fluctuations, but additional steps and materials are required
Solution Approach 1:
The foam insulation material is integrated directly into the cement form structure itself, merging the formwork and insulation functions into a single component. This eliminates the need for separate insulation sheet installation after form removal, reducing procedural complexity while maintaining thermal protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The cement form is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as the temporary mold for cement pouring and as the permanent insulation layer for the foundation. This universal design eliminates the need for separate insulation materials and installation steps.
3Ease of operation
If the entire cement form is removed after curing, then the foundation can be accessed, but additional backfilling and insulation steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The cement form is designed to remain in place permanently as a functional insulation component rather than being removed and discarded. This approach recovers the form's utility by transforming it from a temporary tool into a permanent asset that provides ongoing thermal protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The cement form provides self-service by continuing to fulfill its insulation function after curing, eliminating the need for additional backfilling and insulation steps. The form serves itself as both the mold during construction and the insulation layer in service.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution significantly reduces setup and teardown time, eliminates the need for additional insulation measures, and provides cost-effective and efficient formation of cement foundations while maintaining thermal protection.
Implementation Method 1
foam insulation sheets are positioned against the sidewall of the foundation... The foam insulation provide a desired R value that helps hold in heat from the building within the foundation, thereby providing protection again extreme expansion and contraction of the foundation resulting from outside temperature changes
Data Source
AI summary
A cement form can be made of foam and include a brick ledge portion that forms a brick ledge in a cement foundation. In some embodiments, the cement form includes a ground facing surface extending horizontally and configured to contact a ground surface and a cement facing surface extending vertically and configured to contact and support a volume of cement used to create the cement foundation. The cement facing surface can include two vertical surfaces offset horizontally from each other and configured to form a brick ledge in the cement foundation. The cement form can be a single unitary component having an elongated shape and a solid, continuous construction. The foam material can form at least a portion of the cement facing surface.