Adapter for a formwork support structure

The present invention relates to an adapter for a formwork support structure comprising a formwork support of a first type, the adapter comprising a mount for positioning the adapter with respect to said formwork support of a first type, said mount supporting a formwork support of a second type. In one form, the mount positions the adapter with respect to a crown type formwork support, and the mount supports a bearer support portion.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a National Stage Application claiming the priority of co-pending PCT Application No. PCT/AU2015/000117, filed Mar. 3, 2015, which in turn, claims priority from Australian Application No. 2014900721, filed Mar. 4, 2014. Applicant claims the benefits of 35 U.S.C. § 120 as to the PCT application and priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 as to the said Australian application, and the entire disclosures of both applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The following co-pending patent application is referred to in the following description:

PCT/AU2013/000855 titled “FORMWORK SUPPORT ELEMENT” and filed on 2 Aug. 2013 claiming priority from Australian Provisional Patent Application No 2012903312.

The content of this application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to concrete formwork. In a particular form the present invention relates to an adapter for concrete formwork support structure.

BACKGROUND

During the construction of buildings, formwork is used in concrete construction to provide a mould or a surface onto which wet concrete can be poured for forming of features such as floor slabs and beams for example. In the case of floor slabs, it is common for floors of a multi-story building to be formed sequentially and for formwork to be set out on a preceding floor in order to form the subsequent higher floor.

Generally, a frame or scaffold is used to support elevated forms comprising either lost (i.e. not reusable) formwork, or a formwork that can be removed from the concrete slab once the concrete is set, and be reused. Reusable formwork may comprise aluminium formwork pans which are supported at the top of the scaffolding. Alternatively, sheets or boards supported on bearers may be used at the top of the framework.

The aluminium formwork pans are normally rectangular in plan form and have lips or edges extending downwardly from the formwork surface. These aluminium pans can be supported via ‘crowns’-forks positioned atop scaffold uprights or props, and comprising four upwardly directed fingers extending from a single vertical support, each of which support a corner of four adjoining aluminium pans. These crowns are ill equipped to support anything other than these aluminium formwork pans.

It is against this background and the problems and difficulties associated therewith that the present invention has been developed.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect, there is provided an adapter for a formwork support structure comprising a formwork support of a first type, the adapter comprising a mount for positioning the adapter with respect to said formwork support of a first type, said mount supporting a formwork support of a second type.

In one form, one or both formwork supports is a female support. That is to say, they are or have a recessed part into which a corresponding part of the formwork (or a bearer) fits.

In one form, one or both of the formwork supports is a male support. That is to say, they are or have a part which is made to fit into a corresponding open or recessed part of the formwork (or a bearer).

In one form, the formwork support of a first type is adapted to provide direct support of formwork, and formwork panels in particular.

In one form, the formwork support of a first type is one which comprises a plurality of upwardly directed fingers extending from a single vertical support, and referred to as a crown.

In one form, the mount is adapted to nest between the fingers of the crown.

In one form, the formwork support of a second type is adapted to provide indirect support of formwork. In one form, the formwork support of a second type is adapted to provide support for bearers. In one form, the formwork support of a second type is so adapted by way of being shaped to nest a bearer.

In one form, the formwork support of a second type comprises a base, and a plurality of upwardly extending bearer guides.

In one form, the formwork support of a second type comprises an approximately u-shaped support.

In one form, the mount comprises a securement means for securing the adapter with respect to the formwork support of a first type. This securement means may comprise any one or more of fasteners, clamps (including quick release clamps), pins (including spring loaded pins), or threaded connection, but should not be considered limited to these.

In one form, the formwork support of a first type is adapted to cooperate with the mount of the adapter to at least effect stability of a positioning of the mount relative to the formwork support of a first type. The formwork support of a first type may be so adapted by being shaped to nest the mount, and/or comprising features (such as, but not limited to, lugs, pins or shoulders) to locate the mount.

In one form, the formwork support of a first type is further adapted to cooperate with the mount of the adapter to effect securement of the mount relative to the formwork support of a first type. The formwork support of a first type may be so adapted by being shaped and/or comprising features which cooperate with the securement means.

According to a second aspect, there is provided an adapter for a formwork support structure comprising a mount for positioning the adapter with respect to a crown type formwork support, said mount supporting a bearer support.

According to a third aspect, there is provided a framework bearer support bracket comprising a mount portion for positioning the bearer support bracket with respect to a formwork support, said mount supporting a bearer support potion.

According to a fourth aspect, there is provided a formwork support assembly comprising a formwork support of a first type, and an adapter comprising a mount for positioning the adapter with respect to said formwork support of a first type, said mount supporting a formwork support of a second type.

In one form, the formwork support of a first type and the adapter are operatively associated so as to effect stability of a positioning of the mount relative to the formwork support of a first type at least.

In yet a further aspect there is provided a formwork support which is adapted to effect stability of a positioning of a mount of an adapter relative to the formwork support, where said mount supports a formwork support of another type.

In yet a further aspect there is provided an adapter for a bearer support, the adapter comprising a mount for positioning the adapter with respect to the bearer support, said mount supporting a crown.

In a further aspect, there is provided an adapter for a formwork support structure, the adapter comprising a generally box shaped mount comprising a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls which are longer than, and extend lower than, the side walls, wherein the mount attaches the adapter to a formwork panel support comprising a plurality of upwardly directed fingers extending from a single vertical member, each of the end walls flanking opposing sides of the formwork panel support to nest the mount between the fingers of the formwork panel support, and the mount further comprising a securement means on each end wall to secure the adapter to the formwork panel support, and the mount further comprising a beam support atop of the mount.

In a further aspect, there is provided a beam support bracket comprising a generally box shaped mount comprising a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls which are longer than, and extend lower than, the side walls, wherein the mount attaches the bracket to a formwork panel support comprising a plurality of upwardly directed fingers extending from a single vertical member, each of the end walls flanking opposing sides of the formwork panel support to nest the mount between the fingers of the formwork panel support, and the mount further comprising a securement means on each end wall to secure the adapter to the formwork panel support, and the mount further comprising a beam support atop of the mount.

In a further aspect, there is provided a formwork support assembly comprising a formwork panel support comprising a plurality of upwardly directed fingers extending from a single vertical member, an adapter comprising a mount adapted for positioning the adapter on the formwork panel support, the adapter further comprising a support atop of the mount, which is adapted to support a beam, the formwork support assembly further comprising a beam supported on the support of the adapter.

A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the invention is provided below along with accompanying figures and photographs that illustrate by way of example the principals of the invention. While the invention is described in connection with such embodiments, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to any particular embodiment. On the contrary, the scope of the invention is limited only by the appended claims and the invention encompasses numerous alternatives, modifications and equivalents. For the purpose of example, numerous specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention.

The present invention may be practiced according to the claim without some or all of the specific details. For the purpose of clarity, technical material is known in technical fields related to the invention has not been described in detail so that the present invention is not unnecessarily obscured.

In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the figures.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring now toFIGS. 1 through 3, where there is illustrated an upper portion of an upright or ‘prop’100of a scaffold structure of the type discussed in PCT/AU2013/000855.

At its uppermost terminal end, the prop100supports a crown110, where this crown110is a forked element comprising a neck111and four upwardly directed fingers112. When used as intended, each finger112supports a corner of a formwork panel (not shown). Moreover, the crown110is typically supported on a screw jack (not shown) atop the prop100so that the crown110can be raised or lowered relative to the prop100.

Crowns110are not well suited for supporting bearers (typically a timber beam)120, which in use support formwork sheets (not illustrated). In this case, an adapter1can be employed.

With reference toFIGS. 1 through 5, it can be seen that adapter1comprises a mount10, and a support20.

In the embodiment illustrated, the mount10is adapted to mount the adapter1to a crown110. Accordingly, the mount10is generally box shaped, and so comprises a pair of side walls12and a pair of end walls14. Referring now toFIG. 14, the mount10rests upon a platform114provided by the crown110, and is sized to securely nest between the fingers112and guide lugs116of the crown110. The end walls14are longer than, and extend lower than, the side walls12and on either side of the neck111to a level beneath the fingers112of the crown100. Each end wall14comprises a nut15carrying a bolt16which is screwed into the nut15to secure the adapter1on the crown100by driving an end of a shank of the bolt16into contact with the neck of the crown100.

Supported atop of the mount10is a support20in the form of a support bracket comprising a base plate22and four (4) upwardly extending bearer guides24arranged into two pairs of opposing bearer guides24.

In use, the mount10of the adapter1is positioned on the platform114between the fingers112and guide lugs116of the crown110as described above, and the bolts16tightened. A bearer120can then be positioned on base plate22of the support bracket and between the bearer guides24, which will serve to prevent the bearer120from sliding off of the base plate22. Sheets of formwork (typically plywood sheets) can then be supported on the bearers120.

When formwork panels (without bearers) are to be supported on the props100, the bolts16will be loosened until the adapter1can be removed from the crown110.

In the embodiment illustrated the crown110is a cast component and the adapter1is fabricated, but these parts are not restricted to manufacture in this way.

In an alternate embodiment, an adapter may have a reverse configuration to that described above, namely comprising a mount adapted to be positioned with respect to either of a bearer or a bearer support, and a crown for supporting a plurality of formwork panels.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention is not restricted in its use to the particular application described. Neither is the present invention restricted in its preferred embodiment with regard to the particular elements and/or features described or depicted herein. It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth and defined by the following claims.