Abstract:
A piping clamp for holding a pipe to a concrete form. The piping clamp includes a base having a vertical standoff and a spring clamp extending horizontally from the base. The vertical standoff prevents the spring clamp from contacting the top surface of a poured concrete structure, thus allowing workers to trowel the concrete&#39;s surface without interfering with the clamp. In addition, a web portion of the spring clamp acts as a horizontal standoff and precludes a clamped piping run from coming into contact with the concrete form. The base may include a plurality of staggered fastener openings facilitating adjustment of the piping clamp during installation. In use, the spring clamp removably secures a piping run to a concrete form until the concrete form is removed. During removal, the spring clamp allows the piping run and the concrete form to be easily separated without disturbing the piping run.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention pertains generally to building construction techniques and more specifically to clamps used to temporarily hold objects during a step in construction. 
   Modern building construction techniques rely on the coordination of specialized tradesmen capable of quickly entering a job site and performing a next step in a construction project. Each trade is responsible for its own layout, rough, and finish work stages which sometimes must be interleaved with the work stages of other trades. An example of this is the layout and roughing-in of piping for a building, usually a residential building, having a concrete slab foundation. As many of the services of the building, particularly Drain Waste and Vent (DWV) piping, must be routed underneath the building, these services must be laid-out and roughed-in before the concrete slab is poured and surfaced. 
   Since each trade is only on a job site during their respective work stages, the work of one trade may interfere with the work of another. For example, sometimes when a slab foundation is poured and surfaced, the process dislodges the roughed-in services of other trades. While usually not fatal to the overall project, a tradesman must sometimes expend additional efforts to correct a dislodged service after the slab foundation has cured. In addition, sometimes a tradesman&#39;s rough-in work interferes with the pouring of the slab. For example, if a vertical piping run is placed too close to a concrete form this prevents poured concrete from effectively filing the space between the piping run and the concrete form. Once the concrete form is removed, there may be an unsightly or even structurally significant defect in the unfinished side of the concrete slab. 
   To prevent such occurrences, tradesmen doing rough-in work around concrete forms typically use the concrete forms as anchoring surfaces to which the roughed-in services are temporarily tied. The methods of tying a roughed-in service to a concrete form are usually ad-hoc as the tradesmen use whatever materials may laying around to make the temporary connection to the concrete form. For example, for DWV services, the DWV piping is typically tied to the concrete form using a combination of nails and plumber&#39;s tape or wire. This method is not only time consuming, but may result in damage to the piping run when the concrete form is removed if the piping run is too tightly bound to the concrete form. 
   Therefore a need exists for a method to tie piping runs to concrete forms temporarily that is both efficient to install and reduces damage to a piping run when the concrete form is removed. Various aspects of the present invention meet such a need. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In one aspect of the invention, a piping clamp is provided for temporarily holding a piping run to a concrete form. The piping clamp includes a base having a vertical standoff and a spring clamp extending horizontally from the base. The vertical standoff prevents the spring clamp from contacting the top surface of a poured concrete structure, thus allowing workers to trowel the surface without interfering with the clamp. In addition, a web portion of the spring clamp acts as a horizontal standoff to prevent a clamped piping run from coming into contact with the concrete form. This allows concrete to flow completely around the piping run. In addition, the base may include a plurality of staggered fastener openings facilitating adjustment of the piping clamp during installation. In use, the spring clamp removably secures a piping run to a concrete form until the concrete form is removed. During removal, the spring clamp allows the piping run and the concrete form to be easily separated without disturbing the piping run. 
   In another aspect of the invention, a piping clamp for a concrete form has a base with an upper portion and a standoff portion and a spring clamp extending from the upper portion of the base. 
   In another aspect of the invention, the piping clamp for a concrete form further includes a top surface and a bottom surface and a plurality of fastener openings extending from the top surface to the bottom surface. 
   In another aspect of the invention, the base for the piping clamp for a concrete form further includes a front surface and a back surface, wherein the plurality of fastener openings are staggered in a spaced apart configuration with respect to the front surface and the back surface. 
   In another aspect of the invention, the spring clamp has a web portion adjacent the upper portion of the base and having an inner surface, a first curved finger extending from the web portion and having an inner surface, and a second curved finger extending from the web portion and having an inner surface, wherein the web portion&#39;s inner surface, the first finger&#39;s inner surface, and the second finger&#39;s inner surface define a substantially circular clamping area. 
   In another aspect of the invention, each of the inwardly curving fingers include an outwardly curving entry portion having an inner surface with the outwardly curving entry portions defining a throated entry for the clamping area. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood when considered with respect to the following detailed description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective drawing of a piping clamp for a concrete form in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown in relation to a concrete form and a clamped pipe illustrated in broken lines; 
       FIG. 2  is an enlarged top view of the piping clamp of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a vertical cross-sectional view of a piping clamp taken along the line  3 — 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a diagram depicting installation of the piping clamp of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the piping clamp in use taken along the line  5 — 5  of  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 6  is a diagram depicting removal of ef. the piping clamp of  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1  is a perspective drawing of a piping clamp for a concrete form in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown in relation to a concrete form and a clamped pipe illustrated in broken lines. For purposes of illustration, the piping clamp is herein described with reference to orthogonal vertical and a horizontal axes, it being understood that the piping clamp may be used in orientations other than that which is illustrated herein. A piping clamp  100  for a concrete form has a base  102  and a spring clamp  104  extending along a horizontal axis from the base  102 . In use, the base  102  is fixedly attached to a concrete form  106  and the spring clamp  104  holds a pipe  108  in a spaced apart relationship to the concrete form  106 . 
   The base  102  has a top portion  110  from which the spring clamp  104  extends horizontally and a lower standoff portion  112  extending along a vertical axis. The standoff portion  112  acts as a vertical spacer separating the top portion of the base  102  from a top surface  114  of the concrete form  106 . As such, the standoff portion  112  also creates a vertical spaced apart relationship between a bottom surface  118  of the spring clamp  104  and a plane  120  defined by the top surface of the concrete form  106 . 
   The base  102  further includes a top surface  121 , a front surface  126 , and a back surface  127 . A plurality of fastener openings, such as fastener opening  129 , may extend through the base  102 . The plurality of fastener openings are distributed in a staggered and spaced apart manner between the front surface  126  of the base  102  and the back surface  127  of the base  102 . In use, one or more fasteners are inserted through the fastener openings and into the top surface  114  of the concrete form  106 , thus fixedly attaching the piping clamp to the top surface  114  of the concrete form  106 . 
     FIG. 2  is an enlarged top view of the piping clamp of  FIG. 1 . A piping clamp for a concrete form  100  includes a base  102  and a spring clamp  104  extending from the base  102 . The spring clamp  104  has a curved web portion  122  having an inner surface  123  with a first finger  124  extending from the web portion  122 . The first finger  124  curves outwardly and then inwardly toward a central plane  125  of the piping clamp  100  and has an inner surface  128  facing the central plane  125 . The spring clamp  104  also includes a second finger  130  extending from the web portion  122 . The second finger  130  curves outward 1 ly and then inwardly toward a central plane  125  of the piping clamp  100  and has an inner surface  132  facing the central plane  125 . The inner surface  123  of the web portion  122 , the inner surface  128  of first finger  124 , and the inner surface  132  second finger  130  define a clamping area having a substantially circular interior surface for coupling to a circular pipe. 
   The first finger  124  further includes a first entry portion  134  having an inner surface and curving outwardly away from the central plane  125 . The second finger  130  further includes a second entry portion  136  having an inner surface and curving outwardly away from the central plane  125 . The inner surface of the first entry portion and the inner surface of the second entry portion define a throated entry for the clamping area. In addition, the fingers are tapered, thinning in cross-section as they extend from the web portion  122  to their respective entry portions. 
   The web portion  122  may be relieved leaving a well  138  in the web portion  122  of the spring clamp  104 . The dimensions of the web portion  122  and fingers may be altered in order to accommodate the outside diameters of different standard pipes. 
   As previously described, the base  102  of the piping clamp  100  may include a plurality of fastener openings, such as fastener opening  129 , extending through the base  102 . As shown, the plurality of fastener openings are distributed in a staggered and spaced apart manner alternating between a first side and a second side of the central plane  125 . The plurality of fastener openings are distributed between the front surface  126  of the base  102  and the back surface  127  of the base. In alternative embodiments of the base  102 , the fastener openings are omitted. In such embodiments, the fasteners pierce the material of the base  102  and create their own openings during an installation process. 
   In one piping clamp in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the length of the base  102  as measured from the front surface to the back surface is sized to accommodate 2X lumber commonly used in construction, namely the base is approximately two inches long as measured between the front surface  126  of the standoff portion  112  and the back surface  127  of the base. In addition, the plurality of fastener openings may be spaced apart at approximately quarter inch intervals allowing adjustment of the position of the piping clamp  100  relative to the top surface  114  of the concrete form  106 . 
     FIG. 3  is a vertical cross-sectional view of a piping clamp taken along the line  3 — 3  of  FIG. 2 . In the cross-sectional view of the piping clamp, the first finger  124  is shown along with the first finger&#39;s inner surface  128 . The web portion  122  of the spring clamp  104  includes a top surface  140  and a bottom surface  142 . Recesses  138  and  144  extend from the top surface  140  of the web portion  122  and the bottom surface  142  respectively. The recesses extend into the web portion  122  but do not meet, leaving a wall  146  between the two recesses. In use, an outer surface of a pipe held in the spring clamp  104  abuts against an inner surface  123  of the web portion  122  with the outer surface of the pipe held in a spaced apart relationship to a front surface  126  of the standoff portion  112 . In this configuration, the web portion  122  acts as a horizontal standoff extending from the front surface  126  of the standoff portion  112 . 
   As previously described, the dimensions of the fingers of the spring clamp  104  may be varied in order to accommodate different sizes of the pipes to be clamped. However, the dimensions of the standoff portion  112 , specifically the height, and the distance between the inner surface of the web portion  122  and the front face of the standoff portion  112  may be fixed regardless of the size of the pipe to be clamped. In piping clamps in accordance with various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the height of the standoff portion  112  is approximately one-half inch. In addition, the distance between the inner surface of the web portion  122  and the front surface of the standoff portion  112  is approximately one-half inch. 
     FIG. 4  is a diagram depicting installation of the piping clamp of  FIG. 1 . The concrete form  106  is used to define a perimeter of a concrete structure, such as a concrete slab foundation, while the concrete is being poured and leveled. Generally, the concrete form  106  is put in place and piping, such as pipe  108 , is routed as needed within the defined perimeter. The piping clamp  100  includes a spring clamp  104  having a throat defined by the first entry portion  134  of the first finger  124  and the second entry portion  136  of the second finger  130  of the spring clamp  104 . Before the concrete is poured, the piping clamp  100  is removably attached to the pipe  108  by pushing (as indicated by arrow  145 ) the spring clamp  104  against the pipe  108  at the throat of the spring clamp  104  causing the pipe  108  to be inserted into the spring clamp  104  and grasped by the spring clamp&#39;s fingers. The piping clamp  100  is then secured at its base  102  to a top surface  114  of the concrete form  106  by one or more fasteners, such as fasteners  146  and  148 , passing through one or more fastener openings, such as fastener opening  149 . 
     FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the piping clamp in use taken along the line  5 — 5  of  FIG. 1 . The piping clamp  100  secures the pipe  108  to the concrete form  106  temporarily while concrete  150  is poured around the pipe. The piping clamp  100  includes a base  102  having a top portion  110  and a standoff portion  112 . The base  102  is fixedly attached to a top surface  114  of the concrete form  106  by one or more fasteners (not shown). The spring clamp  104  extending horizontally from the top of the base  102  is removably attached to the pipe  108 , thus attaching the pipe to the concrete form  106  via the base in a removable manner. Since the spring clamp  104  extends from the top portion  110  of the base  102 , the standoff portion  112  holds the spring clamp in a spaced apart relationship between a bottom surface  142  of the spring clamp and a top surface  152  of the concrete. This spaced apart relationship allows workers to trowel the top surface of the concrete in an area that would have normally been occluded by the spring clamp  104  if it where not held above the top surface  152  of the concrete  150 . 
   In addition, the web portion  122  of the spring clamp  104  functions as a horizontal standoff holding the pipe  108  such that an exterior surface  154  of the pipe is held in a spaced apart relationship with an interior surface  156  of the concrete form  106 . This spaced apart relationship allows concrete to completely surround the exterior surface  154  of the clamped pipe  108  when the concrete  150  is poured. 
     FIG. 6  is a diagram depicting removal of the piping clamp of  FIG. 1 . Once the concrete has been poured, surfaced, and allowed to harden, the concrete form  106  defining the perimeter of the poured concrete structure is separated from the hardened concrete. As the piping clamp  100  is fixedly attached to the concrete form  106  by one or more fasteners, such as fasteners  146  and  148 , separating the concrete form  106  from the hardened concrete (as indicated by arrow  158 ) also separates the piping clamp from the pipe  108  to which the piping clamp is removably attached. The pipe  108  is removed by forcing the pipe to pass through a throat of the piping clamp  100  defined by the first entry portion  134  of the first finger  124  and the second entry portion  136  of the second finger  130 . 
   Although this invention has been described in certain specific embodiments, many additional modifications and variations would be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is therefore to be understood that this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. Thus, the present embodiments of the invention should be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention to be determined by any claims supportable by this application and the claims&#39; equivalents.