Patent ID: 6293068
Filing Date: 2001-09-25
Classification: E04B

Abstract:
A concrete wall forming structure comprising:a) a first concrete impervious form wall and a second concrete impervious form wall substantially parallel to one another and spaced apart from one another to define therebetween a space arranged to receive and hold reinforcing rods and poured concrete, each form wall comprised of a plurality of rigid foam panels, each panel having a length, a height, and a width dimension, each panel also having a top and a bottom planar surface extending in the length and width dimension and separated from one another by the height dimension, each panel having broad opposed front and back opposed planar faces, and each panel positioned in one of the form walls with its height dimension generally vertically and its width dimension generally horizontally, the foam panels disposed on top of one another and in side to side relation to thereby provide a form wall, the panels of the first form wall being spaced apart from, and unattached to, the panels of the second form wall; andb) a plurality of horizontal connector means for interlocking the bottom surface of an upper panel with the top surface of a lower panel upon which it is disposed in a concrete impervious connection, each horizontal connector means comprising:i) first and second elongate horizontal I beam channels for securing the panels of the first and second form walls respectively, each I beam channel having a web with upper and lower faces adapted to engage the bottom and top surfaces respectively of the upper and lower panels respectively, each I beam channel having flanges with inner and outer surfaces, the inner surfaces of the flanges adapted to engage the front and back faces of the panels adjacent the top and bottom panel surfaces in concrete impervious engagement, at least one of the outer surfaces of at least one of the flanges provided with longitudinal striation means with undercuts parallel to the web for securing materials thereto, at least one of the webs comprising an upper strip having the upper face and a lower strip having the lower face, the upper and lower strips being spaced apart to define therebetween an elongate channel that may be employed as a raceway for the containment of elongate items; andii) a plurality of spaced apart tie elements attached to, and extending between, the first and second I beam channels, the tie elements holding the I beam channels apart at a predetermined distance to thereby define the space to be filled by poured concrete and to resist relative movement between the first and second form walls, the tie elements being substantially arcuate in cross section.