Patent ID: 9540830
Date: 2017-01-10
CPC Classifications: E04G

Claim:
1. A bracket assembly for a hardware assembly for forming an elevated concrete slab or the like, the bracket assembly comprising a body shaped like a u-shaped saddle which is sized and adapted to seat over a supporting structure, the body comprising a first plate-like side portion spaced apart from a second plate-like side portion, and a bridging portion connecting the first and second side portions, and each side portion terminating in a hinge connected to a support carriage, each hinge extending along a transverse edge of a respective side portion that is distal to the bridging portion, each hinge pivoting about an axis in line with the transverse edge of the respective side portion, each support carriage being pivotable between at least an upper position and a lower position relative to the body whilst depending therefrom, wherein each support carriage is adjacent an outwardly directed face of its respective side portion when in the upper position, wherein each support carriage is releasably securable in the upper position, and wherein each support carriage comprises a flange positioned at an end distal to the hinge, each flange extending outwardly and away from the bridging portion when the respective support carriage is in the upper position, each flange thereby being configured to support formwork for concrete casting in the upper position only, and in the lower position, each support carriage hangs down from its respective hinge so that each carriage is spaced apart from the upper position and from the slab that the formwork can be separated from the slab, and in use, after the concrete slab has been formed each support carriage is configured to be moved from the upper position to the lower position, so that the formwork is configured to be removed without disturbing the hardware assembly, which hardware assembly is configured to remain in place to support the concrete slab until the concrete slab is sufficiently cured as to be self-supporting when the hardware assembly is configured to be removed.