Gang form for use with a concrete form system and method of building a gang form

A gang form for use with a concrete form system. The concrete form system has a plurality of said gang forms and a plurality of tie rods. An improved insert having four sides is positioned between two adjacent form panels having flanges with flange openings therein. Side openings in the third and fourth sides of the insert are aligned with the flange openings. Attachment devices are inserted in the side openings and flange openings to attach the insert to the two adjacent form panels and to provide the gang form. At least one lock member is rotatably attached to the second side of the improved insert. One of the plurality of tie rods extends through a tie rod opening in the first and second sides of the insert and is firmly secured to the insert by moving the lock member from an unlocked position to a locked position. Thus, the gang form is interconnected to the concrete form system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates, in general, to concrete form systems. More 
particularly, the present invention relates to a gang form having an 
improved insert for use with a concrete form system and a method of 
building the gang form. 
2. Statement of the Problem 
It is well-known in the construction industry to use concrete form systems 
to provide forms for pouring concrete in desired shapes, such as walls, 
stairs, sides of tanks, etc. Such concrete form systems often are made of 
a plurality of gang forms. A gang form conventionally is made of several 
form panels attached together at their edges until a surface of the 
desired dimensions is achieved. The form panels may be made of wood, 
metal, or other substances that provide the requisite flat surface and 
strength to bear the load placed on them by the poured concrete. However, 
most conventional form panels today are made of metal, preferably, 
aluminum, and are quite expensive. Therefore, it is advantageous to be 
able to reuse the form panels in a subsequent concrete building project. 
To build concrete walls, the gang forms are generally positioned in a 
horizontally spaced relationship and interconnected with tie rods 
extending between the gang forms. After the concrete is poured and has 
hardened, the gang forms are removed. 
The form panels from which gang forms are made are generally attached 
together at their edges with wedge bolts passing through holes in flanges 
surrounding each form panel. Wedge bolts are conventionally bolts with a 
slot in the body of the bolt. The bolt is inserted through the holes in 
the flanges, and a wedge is then inserted into the slot in the bolt and 
tapped into place. These wedges often loosen and fall out when the gang 
form is moved from place to place, causing the bolts to become loose and 
the gang form to lose structural integrity. Further, using such wedge 
bolts means that many small pieces must be available to the construction 
crew in order to replace lost wedges and bolts. In addition, one or more 
persons are needed to hold the form panels in place while yet another 
person inserts and wedges the wedge bolts. This causes difficulties during 
construction when it is preferable to have a minimum number of workers at 
a site. 
The conventional form panels used for gang forms in concrete form systems 
generally include openings in the panels or in the flanges through which 
tie rods are received so that the gang forms can be interconnected to 
provide the concrete form system desired. The tie rods are generally 
attached to the form panels with a locking device, such as a cotter pin 
that passes through a hole in each end of the tie rod. Such a system for 
attaching the tie rods again has many small parts (the locking devices) 
which are easily misplaced and lost at a construction site. In order to 
position the tie rods, at least two persons must be present, one to insert 
and hold the tie rod in the opening and the other to attach the lock 
device to the tie rod. This system also limits the type of tie rod that 
can be used, as the tie rod is not directly attached to the form panel, 
which allows the form panel to slip along the tie rod. This is generally 
prevented by using tie rods with stops on the side of the form panel that 
faces the opposing form panel. It would be an advantage to be able to use 
other types of tie rods so that the same gang forms can be used in 
different types of construction projects. 
The forces generated by the concrete as it is poured into the concrete form 
system are concentrated at the locations of the tie rods. These loads on 
the tie rods may cause the form panels to bend or break at those locations 
where the tie rods pass through the form panels, damaging the expensive 
form panels. In order to withstand these loading forces, the form panels 
are often reinforced at the locations of the tie rod openings. This 
necessarily adds to the cost and weight of the form panels. Often the gang 
forms must be additionally braced to stand up to the concrete loads. This 
means that more openings must be made in the gang forms in order to attach 
the braces. 
When constructing a concrete wall, it is often advantageous to provide a 
scaffold on the gang form for the construction workers to stand on when 
they are directing the pouring of the concrete into the space between the 
gang forms or for other reasons. In order to attach a scaffold to a 
conventional form panel, the form panel must include either additional 
openings or additional brackets to permit the scaffold to be attached. 
Additional openings will tend to weaken the form panels and also provide 
places where concrete may leak through. Additional brackets add weight and 
expense to the form panels. 
Thus, it would be advantageous in a concrete form system to provide a gang 
form that can be built by one person. It would also be advantageous to 
provide a gang form having a minimum of loose parts and a minimum of 
openings in the form panels. A gang form that can withstand the load 
forces placed on its tie rods by the concrete without additional bracing 
or strengthening of the form panels is needed Further, it would be 
desirable to provide a gang form that enables additional bracing and 
scaffolding to be removably attached without weakening the form panel with 
additional holes, or adding material to the form panel, thus raising its 
expense. Finally, a gang form that is easily reused from one construction 
project to the next would significantly reduce the costs of labor and 
materials. 
A search of the prior art in which gang forms are used in concrete form 
systems discovered the following patents: 
______________________________________ 
Williams 4,1551,975 May 1, 1979 
Durbin 4,192,481 
Mar. 11, 1980 
Durbin 4,254,932 
Mar. 10, 1981 
Slonimsky et al. 
4,811,927 
Mar. 14, 1989 
Reiner Oct. 19, 1943 
Gallis et al. 4,473,209 
Sep. 25, 1984 
Johanson et al. 
4,211,385 
July 8, 1980 
______________________________________ 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,151,975 issued to Williams set forth a panel junction 
assembly in which wall form panels with flanges along adjacent edges are 
joined by a channel strip traversed by tie systems securing opposite panel 
assemblies. Securing bolts traverse the adjacent flanges and the walls of 
the channel strip, and the tie systems are cross pinned to the channel 
strip. 
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,192,481 and 4,245,932 to Durbin disclose a concrete wall 
form including a support structure comprising a beam capable of 
functioning as a stringer with an associated tie rod locking system. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,811,927 to Slonimsky et al. teaches a tubular panel 
connecting member for use with tie rods and panels for a concrete forming 
structure. The tubular connecting member has two flanges having slots 
within to receive bolts. Aligned holes are provided in the tubular 
connecting member for passage of tie rods. 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,332,166 to Reiner sets forth a form for making concrete 
walls that includes a series of panels that are separated by strips placed 
between the panels. The strips engage the undercut edges of the panels and 
are held in place with a complex system of devices attached to keyhole 
slots in the panels. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,473,209 to Gallis et al. discloses a prefabricated modular 
wallform unit in which the panels are designed to mate against one another 
and to define an aperture through which a tie rod passes. The panels have 
flanges that are designed to be attached together with a T-bolt. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,211,385 to Johanson et al. shows concrete forms each 
including a plurality of rectangular panels secured edgewise together by 
connectors. Each connector includes a pair of half sleeves through with 
tie rods extend. 
None of the above-described patents provides a gang form that solves the 
problems discussed above. 
3. Solution to the Problem. The present invention provides a reusable gang 
form for use with a concrete form system. The gang form includes at least 
two form panels with flanges. An improved insert, preferably usable with 
conventional form panels, is positioned between the flanges of at least 
two adjacent form panels and is attached to the flanges with attachment 
devices, preferably bolts and nuts, that provide a secure and firm 
attachment that is not likely to be loosened during the movement or use of 
the gang form. 
The tie rods that interconnect the gang forms are preferably attached to 
the improved insert. The improved insert has at least one lock member 
rotatably attached to one side of the insert to secure a tie rod. Because 
the lock member is attached to the insert before the insert is positioned 
in the gang form, there is no need for the builder to find and attach a 
separate lock device to secure the tie rods. Thus, there is no risk that 
lock members will be lost or attached incorrectly, for example, in the 
wrong locations on the insert so that the tie rods are only attachable at 
one end, or attached insecurely. In a concrete form system having a 
plurality of gang forms of the present invention, one person can easily 
place the tie rods through the openings in the inserts and lock the tie 
rods in place. 
The gang form of the present invention can be built by one person. 
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved insert that 
can be positioned between conventional form panels to provide a gang form 
for use in a concrete form system. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a gang form that 
has a minimum of unattached or loose parts. 
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved insert that 
has a lock member attached. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method by which 
gang forms are built by one person. 
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a pick-up 
member that is retractable when not being used. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention discloses a gang form for use with a concrete form 
system that has a plurality of gang forms interconnected with a plurality 
of tie rods. The gang form has at least two adjacent form panels, which 
have forming surfaces. When the gang forms are interconnected by the tie 
rods in the concrete form system, the forming surfaces of the form panels 
preferably face each other at a predetermined distance apart, and the 
concrete is poured between the gang forms. 
Each of the form panels has flanges attached. The flanges extend in a 
direction away from and perpendicular to the forming surfaces. Flange 
openings are formed in the flanges at predetermined locations. 
An improved insert is positioned between the two adjacent form panels. The 
improved insert preferably has a parallelogram shape having a first side, 
a second side opposite the first side, a third side, and a fourth side 
opposite the third side. The improved insert is positioned between the 
flanges of the form panels to align the first side with the forming 
surfaces of the form panels so that a smooth surface extends along the 
gang form. Thus, the concrete wall will have a smooth surface after the 
gang form is removed. 
The positioning of the improved insert is such that the third side and the 
fourth side of the insert are placed adjacent to the flanges of the form 
panels. The third side and the fourth side have side openings at 
predetermined locations that align with the flange openings in the flanges 
when the insert is placed adjacent to the flanges. 
Once the improved insert is positioned between the flanges so that the side 
openings are aligned with the flange openings, attachment devices are 
inserted through the flange openings and through the side openings to 
attached the insert to the flanges. The attachment devices are preferably 
reversible, so that the insert can be detached if desired. 
As described above, the gang form of the present invention is preferably 
used in a concrete form system having a plurality of gang forms 
interconnected with a plurality of tie rods extending between oppositely 
disposed gang forms. In order to provide this system, the improved insert 
also has at least one tie rod opening in the first side and the second 
side of the insert at a predetermined location. On the second side of the 
insert (the side that faces away from the forming surface), a lock member 
is rotatably attached at a predetermined location adjacent to the tie rod 
opening in the second side. The lock member can be rotated between in 
unlocked position and a locked position. The lock member can be attached 
directly to the second side of the insert, or it can be attached to a 
plate that is then attached to the second side. The plate in such an 
embodiment preferably has a plate opening therein that is aligned with the 
tie rod opening in the second side when the plate is attached to the 
second side of the insert. 
With the lock member in the unlocked position, one of the plurality of tie 
rods is extended through the tie rod openings in the first and second 
sides of the insert so that one end of the tie rod extends beyond the 
second side of the insert. The lock member is rotated from the unlocked 
position to the locked position in which it secures the tie rod to the 
insert and thus to the gang form, so that the gang form is interconnected 
with an opposing gang form to provide the concrete form system. 
In a preferred embodiment, a claw is attached to the lock member. The tie 
rod preferably has a slot or a loop in its end. The slot is preferably 
configured to receive the claw. When the lock member is rotated to the 
locked position, the claw on the lock member extends through the slot in 
the tie rod. 
In order to prevent the lock member from covering the plate opening and tie 
rod opening when the lock member is in its unlocked position, the plate 
also has a stop member attached at a location such that the lock member 
abuts the stop member when the lock member is rotated to the unlocked 
position. 
Because the lock member attaches the tie rod to the insert, and thus to the 
gang form, different types of tie rods can be used in the present 
invention, and the builder is not limited to tie rods having, for example, 
stop members to prevent the gang forms from sliding along the tie rods. 
The improved insert having the tie rods secured to it takes the majority of 
the load presented by the concrete as it is poured This prevents the need 
to reinforce the form panels. The insert can be made stronger than the 
form panels at less expense in order to resist these loading forces. The 
insert also provides a bracing function for the form panels. 
A method for building the gang form is also provided by the present 
invention. Preferably, the components of the gang form, that is, at least 
two form panels and an improved insert, are placed on a jig table that has 
a predetermined size corresponding to the desired size of the gang form to 
be built. The insert is positioned between the flanges of the form panels 
and attached to them with attachment devices that extend through the 
flange openings and the side openings in the insert. The form panels and 
insert are then lifted so that tie rods can be extended through the tie 
rod openings in the insert and secured to the insert with the lock members 
attached to the insert. The tie rods are then secured to additional gang 
forms to interconnect the gang form with the concrete form system. As will 
be evident to those skilled in the art, this method can be accomplished by 
a single person when necessary. 
These and other advantages, features, and objects of the present invention 
will be more readily understood in view of the following detailed 
description and the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
1. Overview. FIG. 1 illustrates in an exploded view a portion of a concrete 
form system 10 of the present invention, including a plurality of gang 
forms 100. The gang forms 100 are generally horizontally spaced at a 
predetermined distance to permit concrete to be poured therebetween in 
order to form a concrete wall. The gang forms 100 are placed on the ground 
900 (see FIG. 3) or other surface onto which the concrete will be poured. 
Each gang form 100 preferably comprises at least two adjacent form panels 
200. The form panels 200 are preferably conventional form panels made of 
aluminum. The form panels 200 can have any desired dimensions and size, 
that is, they can be rectangular with a size approximately twice as tall 
as they are wide, as illustrated herein, or they can be square, etc., 
depending on the use to which the gang form 100 will be put. 
The form panels 200 have flat forming surfaces 202 that are placed in a 
facing relationship in the concrete form system 10. Thus, when the 
concrete is poured into the form system 10, the concrete is adjacent to 
the forming surfaces 202 so that a smooth surface results when the gang 
forms 100 are removed. Each of the form panels 200 has flanges 204 
attached to it, as can be more easily seen in FIGS. 2 and 12. In a 
preferred embodiment, the flanges 204 are attached to each edge of the 
form panel 200 as shown in FIG. 12. However, flanges 204 can be attached 
to one, two, or more edges of the form panel 200 as needed The flanges 204 
preferably extend in a direction away from and perpendicular to the 
forming surfaces 202 of the form panels 200, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 12. 
Flange openings 206 are formed in the flanges 204 at predetermined 
locations, as can be seen more easily in FIG. 12. 
Each gang form 100 preferably comprises an improved insert 300 positioned 
between the flanges 204 of the two adjacent form panels 200 to which the 
form panels 200 are attached, as described in greater detail below. The 
two adjacent form panels 200 when attached to the improved insert 300 
provide a gang form 100 having a predetermined size. If larger gang forms 
100 are desired, then additional form panels 200 and inserts 300 are 
attached until a gang form 100 of the desired size is provided. For 
example, FIG. 1 illustrates gang forms 100 having three adjacent form 
panels 200 with an insert 300 positioned between every two form panels 
200. 
After gang forms 100 of the desired size are built, they are interconnected 
by tie rods 400 to provide the concrete form system 10. The tie rods 400 
are preferably secured to the inserts 300 with lock members 500 rotatably 
attached to the inserts 300 at predetermined locations as described more 
completely below. FIG. 2 illustrates a portion of the concrete form system 
10 showing a tie rod 400 extending between the inserts 300 of opposing 
gang forms 100 and attached to each gang form 100 with the lock member 500 
attached to the insert 300. The relative positions of the opposing gang 
forms 100 in the concrete form system 10 are also illustrated in FIG. 3. 
Often the gang forms 100 are supported and braced with walers 700 extending 
horizontally across the width of the gang form 100 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 
3. In a preferred embodiment, a double waler 700 having a first waler 700a 
and a second waler 700b is used. The double waler 700 is attached to the 
improved insert 300 at a predetermined location; in a preferred embodiment 
as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, two double walers 700 are attached as shown in 
FIG. 3 and described in more detail below, one at top of the gang form 100 
and one at the bottom of the gang form 100. Additional walers 700 can be 
attached to the gang form 100 if more support is needed, for example, if a 
wider or taller wall is to be made. 
2. Improved insert. The improved insert 300 of the present invention is 
shown in greater detail in FIGS. 4 and 5. The insert 300 generally has a 
parallelogram shape with four sides, a first side 302, a second side 304 
opposing the first side 302, a third side 306, and a fourth side 308 
opposing the third side 306. The first side 302 and the second side 304 
are preferably substantially parallel to each other and at right angels to 
the third side 306 and the fourth side 308. In a preferred embodiment, the 
improved insert 300 is hollow, but in other embodiments the insert 300 can 
be of solid construction. The insert 300 is preferably made from cast or 
extruded aluminum or steel, but other materials are contemplated under the 
teachings of the present invention. 
Side openings 310 are formed in the third side 306 and the fourth side 308. 
The side openings 310 in the third side 306 are aligned with the side 
openings 310 in the fourth side 308. The side openings 310 are formed at 
predetermined locations to align with the flange openings 206 in the 
flanges 204 of the form panels 200. That is, in one type of conventional 
form panel 200, the flange openings 206 are located at certain 
predetermined locations, and the side openings 310 are placed to align 
with those flange openings 206, as shown in FIG. 4c. In another type of 
conventional form panel 200 from a different manufacturer, the flange 
openings 206 are located at other predetermined locations, and the inserts 
300 to be used to build gang forms 100 with these form panels 200 have 
side openings 310 formed to align with these other predetermined 
locations, as shown in FIG. 4d. The side openings 310 can also be made in 
various shapes to better align with the various flange openings 206, as 
illustrated in FIG. 4c, in which the side openings 310 are circular, and 
in FIG. 4d, in which the side openings 310 are rectangular. 
In a preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 5a, the insert 300 is a hollow 
rectangle made of a single extruded piece of metal. In a more preferred 
embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5b, 5c and 5e, the insert 300 is made from 
two right-angle members 324a, 324b. This provides a significant cost 
savings over a single extruded hollow insert 300. The first right-angle 
member 324a comprises the first side 302 and the fourth side 308 of the 
insert 300, while the second right-angle member 324b comprises the second 
side 304 and the third side 306 of the insert 300. In a preferred 
embodiment shown in FIGS. 5b and 5c, the two right-angle members 324a, 
324b are welded together with welds 326 to form the insert 300. In another 
preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 5e, the two right-angle members 324a, 
324b have corresponding jigsaw extensions and slots that fit together to 
form the insert 300. It is evident that the two right-angle members 324a, 
324b can be attached by any conventional method known to those skilled in 
the art that results in a secure attachment that will withstand the 
loading forces of the form panels 200 and the concrete. 
When the insert 300 is positioned between the two adjacent form panels 200, 
preferably the first side 302 is aligned with the forming surfaces 202 of 
the form panels 200 to provide a smooth surface for the concrete facing, 
as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. In order to make the concrete facing 
surface with a rniimum of ridges, the comers of the insert 300 are 
preferably made square, as shown in FIG. 5d. In an alternative embodiment 
illustrated in FIG. 5a, an elongated plate 328 (shown only in cross 
section) is attached to the first side 302 of the improved insert 300 to 
provide square corners only where the insert 300 meets the edges of the 
form panels 200. 
In another preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 5d, the insert 300 has 
flanges 330 attached to the third side 306 and the fourth side 308. The 
flanges 330 abut the ends of the flanges 204 of the form panels 200 (not 
shown) when the insert 300 is positioned between the form panels 200 to 
provide the gang form 100. This assists in providing the correct 
positioning of the improved inset 300 so that its first side 302 is 
aligned correctly with the forming surfaces 202 of the adjacent form 
panels 200. These flanges 330 also assist in aligning the side openings 
310 in the third side 306 and the fourth side 308 with the flange openings 
206 in the flanges 204 of the form panels 200. 
After the improved insert 300 is positioned between the flanges 204 of the 
two adjacent form panels 200, attachment devices 318 are used to attach 
the insert 300 to the flanges 204. The attachment devices 318 are inserted 
through the flange openings 206 and then through the aligned side openings 
310 in the third side 306 and the fourth side 308 of the insert 300 to 
firmly attach the improved insert 300 to the flanges 204. In a preferred 
embodiment best seen in FIG. 12b, the attachment device 318 is a bolt 320 
and nut 322. The bolt 320 is inserted through the side openings 310 and 
the flange openings 206 and is firmly secured by the nut 322. Once the nut 
322 is tightened, movement of the gang form 100 will not tend to loosen 
the attachment device 318, nor is it likely that the pieces 320, 322 of 
the attachment device 318 will need to be replaced, meaning that no 
additional attachment devices 318 need be present at the construction 
site. When the insert 300 is not being used in a gang form 100, the 
attachment devices 318 are preferably inserted through the side openings 
310 and attached to the insert 300 until such time as the insert 300 is 
again used in a gang form 100. This also alleviates the need to have these 
parts separately available at a construction site. Other suitable 
attachment devices 318 will be evident to those skilled in the art and are 
contemplated under the teachings of the present invention. 
In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the third 306 and 
fourth 308 sides of the improved insert 300 are longer than the flanges 
204 that they abut, causing the second side 304 of the insert 300 to 
extend beyond the flanges 204. However, it is to be expressly understood 
that the third 306 and fourth 308 sides of the insert 300 can be of equal 
length with the flanges 204, causing the second side 304 of the insert to 
be aligned with the flanges 204 after the insert 300 is attached to the 
flanges 204. 
The improved insert 300 preferably has at least one tie rod opening 312, as 
shown in FIG. 4, formed at a predetermined location in the first side 302 
and the second side 304. The tie rod opening 312 in the first side 302 is 
aligned with the tie rod opening 312 in the second side 304. The number of 
tie rod openings 312 depends on the size of the gang form 100 and on the 
amount of load to be placed on the gang form 100 by the concrete. In a 
preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4e, at least three tie rod 
openings 312 are formed in the insert 300, one near each end 316 of the 
insert 300 and one approximately midway. 
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the improved insert 300 
has at least one lock member 500 rotatably attached to the second side 304 
of the insert 300 at a predetermined location Preferably, the lock member 
500 is attached adjacent to the tie rod opening 312, as shown in FIG. 4 
and as better seen in FIG. 6d. The lock member 500 preferably comprises a 
handle 502 and a claw 504. The lock member 500 is rotatable between an 
unlocked position and a locked position, as described in more detail 
below. 
The lock member 500 can be attached directly to the second side 304 of the 
insert 300, as shown in FIG. 6d. Alternatively, the lock member 500 is 
attached to a plate 506 that is then attached to the second side 304 of 
the improved insert 300, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5a-5c. The plate 506 has 
a plate opening 508 formed therein that is preferably aligned with the tie 
rod opening 312 in the second side 304. The plate 506 can be used in 
either a vertical position, as shown in FIGS. 6a and 6b, or a horizontal 
position, as shown in FIG. 6c. Furthermore, the plate 506 can be of any 
shape that permits it to be attached to the second side 304 of the insert 
300 and also permits the lock member 500 to be attached to the plate 506 
adjacent to the tie rod opening 312. For example, a rectangular shape is 
shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4a, whereas another shape is illustrated in FIGS. 
4b and 6. Such other shapes will be evident to those skilled in the art 
and the present invention is not meant to be limited by any particular 
descriptions herein. The plate 506, while providing a convenient 
attachment point for the lock member 500, also assists in spreading the 
load from the concrete over a wider area of the improved insert 300. 
In a preferred embodiment, the plate 506 has a stop member 510 attached to 
the plate 506 at a predetermined location. The lock member 500 abuts the 
stop member 510 when the lock member 500 is in its unlocked position, as 
shown in FIGS. 6a and 6c. The stop member 510 thus prevents the lock 
member 500 from swinging over in front of the tie rod opening 312 and 
blocking the opening 312. 
It is important to the present invention that the lock member 500 is 
attached to the improved insert 300 before the insert 300 is positioned 
between the two adjacent form panels 200. This assists in the securing of 
the tie rods 400 to the gang forms 100 and in aligning the tie rods 400 
from one gang form 100 to the facing gang form 100 in a concrete form 
system 10. It also reduces the number of loose parts that must be present 
at the construction site. A further advantage of an attached lock member 
500 is that it allows a single person to easily build a gang form 100, as 
described in more detail below. 
After the improved insert 300 is attached to the form panels 200 as 
described above, the tie rods 400 that interconnect the gang forms 100 in 
the concrete form system 10 are secured to the improved insert in the 
following manner. Each tie rod 400 preferably has a slot 404 in each end 
402, as illustrated in FIG. 7. One of the plurality of tie rods 400 is 
inserted in the at least one tie rod opening 312 in the improved insert 
300 so that one end 402 of the tie rod 400 extends through the tie rod 
opening 312, and the plate opening 508 if a plate 506 is present, beyond 
the second side 304 of the improved insert 300 as shown in FIG. 2. The 
slot 404 in the end 402 of the tie rod 400 is thus placed adjacent to the 
lock member 500 attached adjacent to the tie rod opening 312. The slot 404 
is preferably configured to receive the claw 504 of the lock member 500 
therethrough. The lock member 500 is then rotated 512 with the handle 502 
to the locked position as shown in FIGS. 6a and 6b (and in FIG. 6d) so 
that the claw 504 extends through the slot 404 in the tie rod. This firmly 
secures the tie rod 400 to the improved insert 300. When the other end 402 
of the tie rod 400 is similarly secured to the opposing gang form 100, 
this interconnects the gang form 100 with the concrete form system 10, as 
shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3a. 
The tie rod 400 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is 
illustrated in FIG. 7. This is a conventional tie rod 400 that comes in a 
number of predetermined lengths which are chosen depending on the desired 
thickness of the concrete wall to be built. The tie rod 400, in addition 
to having a slot 404 in each end 402 with which to be secured to the 
insert 300 of the gang form 100, also has a hole 410 in one end that is 
used to hang the tie rod 400 on a peg (not shown) when the tie rod 400 is 
not in use in the gang form 100. In the preferred embodiment, the tie rod 
400 is tapered 406 from a to b, with a slight step 408 occurring at 
position a. This taper 406 and step 408 enables the tie rod 400 to be 
removed from the concrete after the concrete has hardened. 
It is to be expressly understood that other types of tie rods 400 and lock 
members 500 can be used in the present invention as long as the lock 
member 500 is attached to the improved insert 300 and as long as the tie 
rod 400 can be firmly secured by the lock member 500. For example, in 
another preferred embodiment (not shown), the tie rod 400 has a center 
portion that is reversibly attached to two end portions such that the end 
portions can be removed from the hardened concrete, leaving behind the 
center portion to act as a support in the concrete wall. Other 
combinations of lock members 500 and tie rods 400 will be evident to those 
skilled in the art, and the present invention is not meant to be limited 
by any particular description herein. 
In a preferred embodiment, the improved insert 300 has an end 316 attached 
to the first 302, second 304, third 306, and fourth 308 sides, as 
illustrated in FIG. 4a. A pick-up member 600 is preferably attached to the 
end 316 in order to enable the insert 300 and/or the gang form 100 to be 
lifted with, for example, a crane. In one preferred embodiment, the pickup 
member 600 is a loop 602, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3a and 3b. The loop 602 
is preferably simply screwed into the end 316 of the improved insert 300, 
as shown in FIG. 3b. In another preferred embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 
8, the end 316 of the improved insert 300 is recessed. A slot 604 is 
formed in the recessed end 316. The pick-up member 600 comprises a blade 
606 that extends through the slot 604. The blade 606 has an opening 608 at 
its top portion, and a plate 610 is attached to its bottom portion, as 
shown in FIG. 8. When the pick-up member 600 is not in use, the pick-up 
member 600 is retracted 616 by its own weight inside the insert 300, as 
shown in FIGS. 8c and 8e. A stop pin 612 abutting the end 316 prevents the 
blade 606 from falling down into the insert 300 when it is retracted. When 
it is desired to use the pick-up member 600 to lift the gang form 100 or 
insert 300, the blade is extended 614 above the improved insert 300 until 
the opening 608 is available, as shown in FIG. 8d. The plate 610 abuts the 
end 316 and prevents the blade 606 from being pulled out of the insert The 
plate 610 also supports the insert 300 when it is lifted by the pick-up 
member 600. 
It will be evident to those skilled in the art that other types of pick-up 
members 600 can be used in the present invention, and the present 
invention is not meant to be limited by any particular description found 
herein, but only by the claims. 
A crane or other mechanical device can be used to lift the gang form 100 by 
being attached to the pick-up members 600. In another preferred embodiment 
shown in FIG. 11, a pick-up device 1100 is first attached to the pick-up 
members 600, either the loop 602 shown in FIG. 11a or the blade 606 as 
shown in FIG. 11b, so that the crane need only be attached at one location 
rather than several. The pick-up device 1100 preferably comprises a rod 
portion 1102 and a wing portion 1104. The ends of the rod portion 1102 are 
inserted through adjacent pick-up members 600 as shown in FIG. 11a and 
attached securely with attachment devices 1108, such as bolts, that are 
secured with cotter pins 1110. Other types of attachment devices 1108 will 
be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and are contemplated under 
the teachings of the present invention. After the pick-up device 1100 is 
attached to the pick-up members 600, a crane or other device is attached 
to the wing 1104, for example, by being attached to the opening 1106 in 
the wing, and the gang form 100 is lifted by the crane. If desired, the 
pick-up device 1100 can remain attached to the gang form 100 when not in 
use. 
In a preferred embodiment, the improved insert 300 has at least one bracket 
hole 314 formed in its second side 304. The bracket hole 314 is placed at 
a location other than that of the tie rod openings 312. The bracket hole 
314 is preferably used so that a scaffold bracket 800 can be attached when 
a scaffold is desired to be used with the gang form 100. The scaffold 
bracket 800 is held on the insert 300 in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 
9b and 9c. That is, the scaffold bracket 800 preferably has a pin 802 
attached to the scaffold bracket 800. In the preferred embodiment, the pin 
802 is J shaped. The pin 802 is inserted 808 into the bracket hole 314 as 
shown in FIG. 9b, and then the scaffold bracket 800 is lowered in the 
direction shown by arrow 810 in FIGS. 9b and 9c until the scaffold bracket 
800 abuts the second side 304 of the improved insert 300. Once two or more 
scaffold brackets 800 are thus held on the insert 300, a platform can be 
laid across the scaffold brackets 800 to make a scaffold, as shown in FIG. 
3. 
In another preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9a, at least one 
bracket holder 804 having a slot 806 is attached to the second side 304 of 
the improved insert 300, again at a location away from the tie rod 
openings 312. In this embodiment, the pin 802 attached to the scaffold 
bracket 800 is T shaped. In order to hold the scaffold bracket 800 on the 
bracket holder 804, the scaffold bracket 800 is rotated to enable the 
t-shaped pin 802 to fit into the slot 806 on the bracket holder 804, as 
shown by arrow 812 in FIG. 9a. After the insertion 812 of the pin 802 into 
the slot 806, the scaffold bracket 800 is rotated in the direction 
indicated by arrow 814 until the scaffold bracket 800 abuts the second 
side 304 of the insert 300. 
The bracket hole 314 also can be used to attach a double waler 700 to the 
insert 300 and thus to the gang form 100. In this preferred embodiment, 
two walers 700a, 700b are positioned within a waler bracket 702 as seen in 
FIG. 3b so that a gap 703 remains between the two walers 700a, 700b. A 
waler bolt 704 is then inserted through the waler bracket 702 and into the 
gap 703 between the walers 700a, 700b and is threaded into the bracket 
hole 314, as shown in FIG. 3b. Thus, a double waler 700 is held securely 
and reversibly on the gang form 100. 
In many instances, the end of the gang form 100 does not have an improved 
insert 300 attached, as illustrated in FIG. 10, for example, when the gang 
form 100 is to be used at a comer of the concrete form system. At these 
positions, an extension bracket 706 is attached to the flange 204 at the 
end of the form panel 200 with a bolt 708 to provide an attachment point 
for the waler bolt 704 that is at the same position with reference to the 
insert 300 as the other waler 700 attachment positions. 
3. Method for providing the gang form 100. It is advantageous in the 
present invention to provide a method by which a gang form 100 can be 
built by one person. A preferred method to do so follows. 
First, a jig table 1000 as shown in FIG. 12 is provided so that a smooth 
surface is provided on which to place the components of the gang form 100. 
The jig table 1000 has a predetermined size that is based on the desired 
size of the gang form 100 to be built. For example, in FIG. 12, the jig 
table 1000 is sized for a gang form 100 having three adjacent form panels 
200. 
Next, at least two form panels 200 as described above are placed on the jig 
table 1000 so that the forming surfaces 202 face down abutting the surface 
of the jig table 1000. An improved insert 300 as described above is then 
positioned between the two adjacent form panels 200 so that the first side 
302 of the insert 300 abuts the surface of the jig table 1000 and is thus 
automatically aligned with the forming surfaces 202 of the adjacent form 
panels 200. The insert 300 is positioned so that the side openings 310 in 
the third 306 and fourth 308 sides are aligned with the flange openings 
206 in the adjacent flanges 204. 
The two adjacent form panels 200 are then moved toward the improved insert 
300 positioned therebetween as shown by arrows 1002 in FIG. 12b. 
Attachment devices 318, preferably bolts 320 and nuts 322, are inserted 
through the flange openings 206 and the side openings 310 and tightened in 
order to attach the improved insert 300 to the two adjacent form panels. 
Thus, the gang form 100 is provided. 
If the pick-up member 600 is not already attached, the pick-up member 600 
is attached to the end 316 of the insert. The gang form 100 thus provided 
is then lifted off the jig table 1000 with the pick-up member 600. This is 
preferably done by using a crane or other lifting device attached to the 
pick-up member 600. Once the gang form 100 is in a vertical position, one 
of a plurality of tie rods 400 is inserted into a tie rod opening 312 and 
secured with the attached lock member 500 to the insert 300. This step is 
repeated until the desired number of tie rods 400 are secured to the 
insert 300, and the gang form 100 is ready to be interconnected with other 
gang forms 100 to provide a concrete form system 10. At that time, 
scaffold brackets 800 and double walers 700 are attached to the gang form 
100 if desired. 
After the concrete is poured and hardens, one end of each tie rod 400 is 
unlocked from one of the opposing gang forms 100 in the concrete form 
system 10, and the gang form 100 is lifted away from the new concrete 
wall. The gang form 100 can be reused to build many concrete walls. 
Thus, a reusable gang form 100 with an improved insert 300 has been 
provided for use in a concrete form system 10. The gang form 100 is easily 
built and moved by one person. Once the gang form 100 is built, there are 
no loose pieces that must be attached to the gang form 100 to enable its 
use. The gang form 100 can be interconnected to the concrete form system 
10 using many types of conventional tie rods 400. Damage to the gang form 
100 of the present invention is minimal during use, and thus the gang form 
100 can be reused many times, resulting in significantly less expense to 
the contractor. 
The foregoing discussion of the invention has been presented for purposes 
of illustration and description. Further, the description is not intended 
to limit the invention to the form disclosed herein. Consequently, 
variation and modification commensurate with the above teachings, within 
the skill and knowledge of the relevant art, are within the scope of the 
present invention. The embodiment described herein and above is further 
intended to explain the best mode presently known of practicing the 
invention and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention 
as such, or in other embodiments, and with the various modifications 
required by their particular application or uses of the invention. It is 
intended that the appended claims be construed to include alternate 
embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art.