Patent ID: 7487949
Filing Date: 2009-02-10
Classification: B28B,E01C,E04G,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A void former, comprising: an elongate tubular body having a closed inner end and an open outer end; a wall of said body defined by coextensive inner and outer surfaces; a groove formed in said wall and extending from one of said inner and outer surfaces thereof toward, but not through, the other of said inner and outer surfaces, such that a web of material substantially thinner than said wall is retained between said groove and the other of said inner and outer surfaces; a flange circumscribing a portion of the periphery of said elongate tubular body at said open outer end and extending radially outwardly therefrom so as to facilitate grasping of the flange prior to removal from a concrete void; and a slot formed in said flange and having side edges positioned on opposite sides of said groove, wherein said groove extends along said body and terminates within the slot; said web being configured to both rupture and permit said body to collapse inwardly in response to a grasping force applied to said flange and directed longitudinally away from said elongate tubular body.