US3220691A - Reusable clamp for beam forms - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 HOMER 7.' DUDLEY IN V EN TOR.

AT TORNE YS NN @N mv \mm NN om om Nov. 30, 1965 H. T. DUDLEY REUSABLE CLAMP FOR BEAM FORMS) Filed March e, 1964 Nov. 30,v 1965 H. T. DuDLEY REUSABLE CLAMP FOR BEAM FORMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 9, 1964 INVENTOR. HOME/fr T. DUDLEY BY ALAD leem-u A TTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,220,691 REUSABLE CLAMP FR BEAM FORMS Homer T. Dudley, Tulsa, Ukla., assigner to H. T. Dudley Company, Inc., Tulsa, Okla., a corporation of Oklahoma Filed Mar. 9, 1964, Ser. No. 350,341 2 Claims. (Cl. 249- -18) This invention relates to a clamp for concrete beam forms. More particularly, this invention relates to a clamp for retaining relatively horizontal beam forms used in building construction and is a continuation-in-part of co-pending application Serial No. 101,771, filed April 10, 1961, issued as U.S. Patent No. 3,162,418, dated December 22, 1964.

A primary object of this invention is to provide reusable apparatus for clamping together relatively horizontal beam forms as particularly used in the construction of multistory concrete structures.

Another object of this invention is to provide a clamp for concrete beam forms which eliminates the need for nails and other fasteners heretoore used in the prior art, and need not be vertically supported.

Another object of this invention is to provide a clamp for concrete beam forms which can be readily assembled and disassembled after set of the concrete and be ready for further use,

A still further object of this invention is to provide a clamp for substantially nailless concrete beam forms which includes a removable and pivotal lever for actuation of the clamp parts to a position where a wedge locked member may be inserted to hold said parts and said forms in that position and the pivotal lever removable to a next clamp.

These and other objects of this invention will become more apparent upon reading the specication and claims when taken in conjunction with the following illustrations Vof which:

FIGURE l is a side elevational view, partly in section of the beam clamp of this invention with respect to typical concrete beam forms which it will retain as shown in transverse cross section.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a first bracket generally used as a part of this invention.

FIGURE 3 is a partial sectional view of an alternate embodiment for a second bracket.

FIGURE 4 is a partial isometric view depicting a typical usage of the bracket of this invention.

Referring now to the drawings, and specifically FIG- URES l and 2, the apparatus of this invention is adapted to clamp substantially nailless beam form members used as forms or molds for concrete beams. As such, the forms comprise vertical side wall members and 12 spaced apart by internalhorizontal bottom member 14. Spacers orkickers 16 and 18 are positioned externally of the verticalside wall members 10 and 12 as shown. In some instances, thekickers 16 and 18 are aixed to the outside of verticalside wall members 10 and. 12, although this is not absolutely necessary in the adaptation and the use of this invention, but will merely provide ease of assembly and disassembling of the forms. Typically, these longitudinal members as shown in cross section in FIGURE lwill -be supported by spaced T-brace members (not shown) extending from the bottom of the beam form members shown downward to the oor or guound. Typiever, it became readily apparent that the disassembly of said parts would very often destroy their reuse. Ac-

cordingly, the clamp and means lof this invention is 'de-vv vised to obviate that problem.

The clamp basically comprises ahorizontal slide bar 20 which can be tubular in form, such as rectangularor round in cross section. The slide bar includes a multiplicity of horizontal openings extending across the full diameter of the slide bar and spaced along the length thereof as shown. At one end, as shown, apin 24 extends through the last most opening outwardly each side oi thehorizontal slide bar 20, for use with the removable pivot lever as hereinafter described. At spaced intervals along the length of the horizontal slide bar are av plurality ofvertical slots 26 which likewise extend through y the horizontal slide bar which represent the various;

locking positions for the clamp members. Adjacent the end opposite thepin member 24 is a r bracket generally designated by the numeral 2S. The i bracket includes asupport member 30 which is adapted to.

be telescopic about thehorizontal slide bar 20 to onev of a multiplicity of positions thereto and locked lby the placement of a key orpin 34 throughopenings 32 of the first bracket which coincide withopenings 22 of the horizontal slide bar. In some instances it may be desired to permanently aix the first bracket to the horizontal slide bar in those instances where there will be very little transverse dimensional change in the beam forms. Extending upwardly from the support mem-ber 30 is anangle bracket 36 having a vertical and a horizontal portion as shown for supporting connection withkicker 16. Theangle bracket 36 is supported tomember 30 by astructural gusset 38.

Adjacent theend having pin 24 is Va second bracket generally designated by thenumeral 40. This bracket includes asupport member 42 which is adapted to be telescopic abouthorizontal slide bar 20. Thesupport member 42 may includehorizontal openings 44 which will be adapted to coincide or match withopenings 22 of the slide bar. The support member preferably includes avertical slot 46 extending from top to bottom thereof which is adapted to coincide with thevertical slot 26 of i the horizontal slide bar. Similar to the first bracket, anangle ybracket 48 is attached to thesupport member 42 in the manner shown and facing the iirst angle bracket. The bracket is supported bystructural gusset 50. In the embodiment shown, aliexible cable 52 vis attached at one end to the second bracket, specifically the structural gusset as shown, while the other end is adapted to retainawedge locking element 54. The locking element is adapted to be inserted withinvertical slots 46 of the second bracket and 26 of theslide bar 20. At the outward end of the second bracket some upwardly and outwardly extending lip mem- 3 42 or the lip portions S6 of the second bracket for forcing the form members together until such position is reached wherewedge locking element 54 can be inserted to lock the parts into place. Thereafter, the pivoting member 58 :can be removed and used at the next adjacent support clamp.

I n FIGURE 3 an alternate embodiment of this invention is described wherein ahorizontal slide bar 70 comprises a single piece (a cross section `of which is shown superimposed thereon) having a multiplicity of horizontal openings similar to that shown in FIGURES l and 2. At the one end, not shown, is xed a iirst bracket similar to that generally designated 28, while a second bracket, as shown in FIGURE l, is replaced by a wedge block 72 which is adapted to be yoked overbar 70 into a position clamping the parts together andy held by apin 76 which is carried by the wedge block 72 by a cable 74.

In the operation of the apparatus lof this invention, ordinarily the beam form members and kickers are in the position shown, being supported as shown in FIG. 4 by vertical T-brace supports 80 which extend between the door and the bottom offorms 10, 12 and 14 andkickers 16 and 18. Spaced therebetween are the clamps of this invention. Usually, the spacing required between the first bracket and the second bracket, relative to thevertical locking slots 26 has been established.. Accordingly, thefirst bracket 28 is ordinarily axed in a given position to thehorizontal slide bar 20 by a key orpin 34. The second bracket is generally not in position as yet. The brackets may be preliminarily hung in place by one man who positions theangle bracket 36 of the lirst bracket member overkicker 16. In such a position the clamp of this invention will hang balanced until raised to the substantially horizontal position wherein thesecond bracket 40 may be moved into its position and locked bywedged element 54, which may be inserted and hammered downward into place if desired. In some instances it will be necessary to use thepivotal member 58 to force the beam support forms into a tight position and to position thesecond bracket 40 whereinwedge lock member 54 may be inserted within the vertical slots so provided. As such, an 'operator may stand within the space between the vertical side wall members and 12 operating the pivotal means as desired and wedging the parts in position and thence moving to the next position. Of course, to disassemble the reverse procedure is followed.

In the embodiment 'of FIGURE 3 it is merely necessary to attach the first bracket over the kicker on the left side, not shown, and thereafter insert the wedge yoke 72 in that space between the vertical side wall on theA right side and retainingpin 76 and hammer into place to adequately clamp the forms together.

Although this invention has been described with reference to the specific and preferred embodiments, it will be understood that minor changes in constructions, combinations and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for clamping together unattached longitudinal vertical side wall forms spaced internally by a longitudinal horizontal bottom member with longitudinal rectangular kickers external of said side walls, said walls, member and kickers extending upward from a common lbottom plane and supported at spaced intervals upon vertical supports, comprising in combination therewith:

a horizontal rectangular conduit positioned transversely to said unattached forms, member, and kickers be- -tween said vertical supports, said conduit having a Aplurality of parallel, horizontally spaced openings therein across the side of said conduit, and a plurality of spaced vertical slots in said conduit;

a first bracket adjacent one kicker, said bracket comprising:

(l) a support conduit telescopically movable along7 said horizontal slide,

(2) at least one horizontal opening in said support conduit coincident to said openings in said horizontal slide to receive a pin therethrough whereby said support conduit is aflixed to a given position adjacent one end of said slide conduit, and

(3) an angle bracket attached to said support conduit and comprising a vertical leg terminating its upper end with a horizontal leg forming an inside corner for abutment against the respective outer corner formed by the vertical and horizontal edges of one of said kickers when said slide conduit is abutted against said forms along said common bottom plane;

a second bracket adjacent the other kicker comprising:

(l) a support conduit telescopically movable along said horizontal slide,

(2) a vertical slot in said bracket adjacent an outerend adapted to align with any of said vertical slots in said slide conduit,

(3) upwardly and outwardly extending lips along said outer end of said bracket,

(4) a wedged lock element adapted to be inserted in said aligned slots, said element retained to said bracket by a flexible cable, and

(5) an `angle bracket attached to said support conduit and comprising a vertical leg terminating its upper end with a horizontal leg forming an inside corner for abutment against the respective outer corner formed by the vertical and upper horizontal edges-of the other of said kickers when said slide conduit is abutted against said forms along said common bottom plane; and

removable means pivotal between a fixed stop pin on said slide conduit and said lip on said second bracket to force said second bracket towards said first to clamp said forms whereby said vertical slots will be substantially aligned to receive said wedge lock element.

Unattached concrete beam forms comprising:

a longitudinal horizontal member between longitudinal a removable clamp positionable between said vertical supports and transverse to said longitudinal forms along the bottom to retain said beam forms in fixed position to receive said concrete,

said clamp comprising:

(l) a horizontal slide bar abuttable with said common bottom plane of said beam forms and having spaced openings adjacent one end thereof,

(2) a first angle bracket affixed to said bar adjacent the other end, said bracket deiined by a substantially vertical leg terminating its upper end with a substantially horizontal leg, the inside corner formed by said vertical and horizontal legs facing toward said one end of said bar, and

(3) a second angle bracket identical to said first bracket with the inside corner of said vertical and horizontal legs facing towards said first angle bracket, said bracket telescopically movable along said bar adjacent one end of said bar;

the inside corners of said first and second brackets abuttable with the top outer corners of said kickers when said horizontal slide bar is abutted against said common bottom plane; and

means to cooperatively lock said second bracket in a given position with respect to said spaced openings.

UNITED References Cited by the Examiner STATES PATENTS 5 Federicks 254-15 Corrs 25-1315 Symons 25131.5 Symons 269--208 Hunter 26a-20s 10 Seely 269-208 Olsen ,Z5-131.5

Colt 25-131 Schneider 25-131.5

Wright 25-1315 Holmboe.

I. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner.

MICHAEL V. BRINDISI, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. 2. UNATTACHED CONCRETE BEAM FORMS COMPRISING: A LONGITUDINAL HORIZONTAL MEMBER BETWEEN LONGITUDINAL VERTICAL SIDE WALL MEMBERS WHICH ARE BETWEEN LONGITUDINAL AND SMALLER RECTANGULAR KICKERS, SAID HORIZONTAL MEMBER, VERTICAL SIDE WALL MEMBERS AND KICKERS EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM A COMMON BOTTOM PLANE AND SUPPORTED UPON A PLURALITY OF SPACED VERTICAL SUPPORTS, IN COMBINATION WITH A REMOVABLE CLAMP POSITIONABLE BETWEEN SAID VERTICAL SUPPORTS AND TRANSVERSE TO SAID LONGITUDINAL FORMS ALONG THE BOTTOM TO RETAIN SAID BEAM FORMS IN FIXED POSITIONS TO RECEIVE SAID CONCRETE, SAID CLAMP COMPRISING: (1) A HORIZONTAL SLIDE BAR ABUTTABLE WITH SAID COMMON BOTTOM PLANE OF SAID BEAM FORMS AND HAVING SPACED OPENINGS ADJACENT ONE END THEREOF, (2) A FIRST ANGLE BRACKET AFFIXED TO SAID BAR ADJACENT THE OTHER END, SAID BRACKET DEFINED BY A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL LEG TERMINATING ITS UPPER END WITH A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL LEG, THE INSIDE CORNER FORMED BY SAID VERTICAL AND HORI-

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