Telescoping Concrete Form Assembly with Coplanar Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional concrete forms, such as wooden boards and telescoping metal forms, often result in non-planar upper and vertical surfaces due to uneven surfaces and spacing ridges, leading to suboptimal screeding and alignment issues in concrete slabs.
Innovation Solution
A telescoping concrete form assembly with a reduced end on the inner member, allowing for alignment of the second member's outer surface with the first member's outer surface, ensuring a substantially planar upper surface when extended, and utilizing support assemblies to maintain the form's orientation and prevent shifting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a telescoping metal form with C-shaped members is used, then the form length can be extended beyond standard board lengths, but the upper surface becomes non-planar due to spacing ridges and uneven member positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs nested telescoping members where an inner member is disposed within an outer member, allowing the form to extend beyond standard board lengths while maintaining a planar upper surface. The inner member's upper surface is positioned at the same elevation as the outer member's upper surface, eliminating the non-planar condition caused by spacing ridges in prior art.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing a planar upper surface specifically at the critical interface where screeding occurs, while allowing the telescoping mechanism to provide extended length elsewhere. The inner member is configured with a planar upper surface that aligns with the outer member's upper surface, ensuring local planarity where it matters most for concrete finishing.
2Strength
If spacing ridges are added to the outer member to maintain telescoping structure, then the form can support wet concrete, but the vertical face becomes uneven with multiple non-aligned planar surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The nested telescoping configuration allows the inner member to be positioned within the outer member such that their upper surfaces are coplanar. This nesting arrangement provides structural support through the telescoping connection while maintaining a smooth, aligned vertical face without the need for external spacing ridges that would create surface irregularities.
3Length of moving object
If multiple wooden boards are coupled together to achieve desired length, then the form can be extended, but additional wood and assembly time are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple form length requirements into a single telescoping assembly where the inner member can slide within the outer member to provide the desired extended length. This eliminates the need to couple multiple separate boards together, reducing both material requirements and assembly time while providing the same extended length capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A telescoping concrete form assembly is provided. The concrete form assembly includes a hollow first member assembly with an elongated hollow body and a generally planar vertical first sidewall, as well as a second member assembly including an elongated body with a medial portion having an outer cross-sectional shape corresponding to the first body inner cross-sectional shape. The second member is slidably disposed within the first member and is structured to move between a retracted first position, wherein the second member is substantially disposed within the first member, and a second position, wherein the second member extends from the first member. The second body first end is a reduced portion. When the second body is in the second position, the second body is further in an offset position wherein a portion of the second body outer surface substantially aligns with a portion of the first body outer surface.