Abstract:
An assemblage which form a beveled edge in a slab-on-grade foundation trench. The device is comprised of straight members corner members, and a connector member to hold the larger members together, an angle brace to maintain the proper bevel angle of 45° degrees, and a stake to anchor the device to the ground. When the device is assembled it forms a box-like structure whose sides and corners are sloped inwards at a 45° degree angle. The device simply needs to be positioned within the perimeter form, and filled with dirt from digging the trench; in order for the device to properly function as a device designed to make foundations much stronger.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/274,500 filed 2005 Apr. 26 by the present inventors 
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
     Not Applicable 
     SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     This invention relates to foundation trenches for buildings, specifically to such trenches that are required by certain building code standards to have a 45° degree bevel incorporated into the trench. 
     2. Prior Art 
     The present system of slab-on-grade construction requires the layout and construction of the perimeter form, which is then filled with fill-dirt up to the height that will allow the proper slab thickness to be installed. The fill-dirt is neither packed or leveled. The trenches are dug, forming island-like, square or rectangular areas between the trenches. Dirt from the perimeter trenches is thrown outside the perimeter form. Dirt from the interior trenches is thrown on to the island which makes the island higher. 
     After the trenches are finished the island has to be lowered and leveled. Fill-dirt that was moved from the trenches to the islands has to be moved again; from the island to outside of the perimeter form. In the process of removing and leveling the fill-dirt, trenches frequently cave in. 
     Generally no effort is made to repair this widening of the trench. Additional traffic damage occurs when the foundation is covered with plastic film. The most serious traffic damage occurs when the metal reinforcement systems are installed. Falls and stumbling causes additional damage. Usually, no effort is made to cut or carve the code required 45° degree bevel into the foundation trench. 
     OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
     The object of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art, and to provide a very simple, lightweight and inexpensive means of installing a 45° degree bevel in a foundation trench. Accordingly, several objects and advantages are:
     (a.) to provide a device that makes building foundations stronger.   (b.) to provide a device that makes foundation construction a faster process.   (c.) to provide a device that makes foundation construction an easier process.   (d.) to provide a device that makes foundation construction less expensive.   (e.) to provide an easily manufactured device.   

     Further objects and advantages are to provide compliance with the International Code Council rules. The International Code Council requires 45° degree bevels in slab-on-grade foundation trenches. 
     The foregoing may be summarized into four (4) primary objectives.
     1. Comply with International Code Council rules requiring 45° degree beveled trenches   2. Make a stronger foundation   3. Save time   4. Save money   

     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with the present invention a material shaped to produce a cross-section profile of a hollow, opened end, “V” shaped wedge. The wedge being in one configuration horizontally elongate; and in the other configuration elbow shaped 90° degree outside corner. Said corners and elongated sections joined to produce a four sided enclosure whose sides form the bevel of a slab-on-grade foundation trench. 
    
    
     
       DRAWING 
       Figures 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the assembled invention without the small parts. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of parts of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the invention laid out inside a perimeter form. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-section of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-section view of the invention after the trenches have been dug, with the fill-dirt and previously undisturbed soil from digging the trenches being used to fill the inventions form. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-section view of the invention after the perimeter form has been filled with cement and screeded. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-section view of the finished foundation after the perimeter forms have been disassembled. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the connecting and bracing systems. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view showing how the brace and connectors work with the stake. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view showing how the connector works with the bevel forming members. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view showing continuing action of  FIG. 11   
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of how the brace and the elongated bevel member works together. 
     
    
    
     DRAWINGS 
     Reference Numerals 
     In the following description the reference numerals in the drawings be noted to correspond with the following elements.
       21  straight bevel member     22  corner     23  stake     23   b  “T” shaped slot     24  connector member     24   a  “T” shaped extension     25  angle brace member     25   a  “T” shaped extension     26  perimeter     27  undisturbed earth     28  earthen fill     29  cement     30  mixture of earthen fill and excavated earth from the beam trench   

     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIGS.  1 - 13 —Preferred Embodiment 
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of bevel forming device without its small parts 
       FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the parts to said device with elongated section  21 , corner member  22 , stake  23 , connector  24 , angle brace  25   
       FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the device installed in a foundation perimeter form  26 , the sloped edge of said device will form the edge of the foundation trenches 
       FIG. 4  show a cross-section view of the device installed in a foundation perimeter form. Said device installed on earthen fill  28  which sits on undistributed earth  27 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a cross-section view of the device after the trenches have been dug and the excavated fill-dirt  2  and excavated earth  27  are used to fill the entire volume of said device. 
       FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of  FIG. 5 . Fill-dirt  28 , and previously undistributed soil  27 , have been used as a mixture  30  to fill the entire volume of the device, said device is screeded. 
       FIG. 7  shows a cross-section view of the entire foundation form after said form has been filled with cement  29 . 
       FIG. 8  shows a cross-section view of the finished foundation after the cement  29  hardens and the perimeter form  26  had been removed. 
       FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of the connector member  24 , angle brace member  25  and the stake  23 . The connector member  24  has a “T” shaped extension  24   a  on the vertical leg of the connectors member  24 . The angle brace member  25  also has a “T” shaped extension  25   a . Both “T” shaped extensions  24   a  and  25   a  are designed to interlock with the “T” shaped slot  23   b  of the stake  23 . 
       FIG. 10  shows a perspective view of the connector member  24  with said connectors “T” shaped extension  24   a  engaging with the stake&#39;s  23  “T” shaped slot  23   b.    
       FIG. 11  shows a perspective view showing the connector member  24  can be used to connect two (2) lengths of straight bevel member  21 , or a straight bevel  21  connecting to a corner bevel  22 . 
       FIG. 12  show a perspective view showing a completed connection of connector member  24  with two lengths of straight bevel member  21 . 
       FIG. 13  shows a perspective view of the angel brace  25  being used with a straight bevel member  21 . The angle brace  25  is placed inside the straight bevel member  21  about every 24 inches in order to prevent the straight bevel member  21  from sagging to less than 45° degree angle. 
     OPERATION 
     FIGS.  1 - 13   
     The best way to realize the maximum benefit from the present invention is to make some small but important changes to the way fill-dirt  28  is handled in the perimeter form  26 . 
     The usual way of handling the fill-dirt question is to fill the entire perimeter from  26  to within a few inches of the slab thickness level. For example, if the building plans specify a four (4) inch slab thickness, the perimeter form may be filled to within five (5) inches of the top of the perimeter form. The missing one (1) inch of fill-dirt comes from the trench excavation. Excess dirt is removed from the perimeter form. 
     Operating the present invention when the present invention is used, the perimeter form  26  should only be filled to within ten (10) inches of the top of the perimeter form for a four (4) inch thick slab. After the desired level, 10 inches from the top of the perimeter form has been reached, the fill-dirt  26  is leveled. The bevel forming device is then installed. 
     A good overall understanding of the device can be obtained by looking at  FIG. 1 . The illustration in  FIG. 1  shows that the invention is comprised of only two (2) structural or main members straight, elongated member  21  and a corner member  22 . These two (2) members,  21  and  22  form a boxlike enclosure whose sides as well as corners are sloped inwardly at a 45° degree angle. 
     The three smaller, fastener type member can be seen in  FIG. 2  which shows a slotted ground stake  23 . A connecting member  24 , and an angle bracing member  25 . The connecting member  24  is used to connect member  21  or member  22  or member  21  to member  21 . The angle brace  25  is used to internally support member  21  so as to prevent sagging and maintain a perfect 45° degree bevel. 
     The general way that the invention is used is shown in  FIG. 3  which shows a perimeter form  26  that has been filled with fill-dirt  28 . The device is precisely laid out within the perimeter form  26 . 
     The cross-section view is seen in  FIG. 4  which shows the device laid out and ready for the trench to be dug. The finished trenches are shown in  FIG. 5 . The trenches were dug and the fill-dirt  28 , and excavated earth  27  was used to fill the boxlike device. At this point the device has been successfully deployed. 
     The perspective view of  FIG. 6  shows the same point in development as  FIG. 5 . When the trenches have been dug and the fill-dirt  28  and excavated  27  have been used to completely fill the volume of said device, with said device also being screeded; the device at this point has been fully and successfully installed. 
     The perimeter form  26  has been filled with cement  30  in  FIG. 7 . After the cement has hardened as shown in  FIG. 8 , the perimeter form  26  is removed. 
     The three small members of the device are shown in a perspective view in  FIG. 9 . The stake  23  has a “T” shaped slot down its length. The slot of the stake was designed to engage with the “T” shaped extension on both the connecting member  24  and the angle bracing member  25 . 
     The actual engagement of the stake  23  and the connecting member  24  is shown in  FIG. 10 . 
     The connecting members  24  role in connecting the elongated members  21  to each other is shown in  FIG. 11 . The connecting member  24  also connects the straight member  21  to the corner member  22 . 
     The completed connection between the two straight, elongated members  21  as shown in  FIG. 12 . In the perspective view of  FIG. 13 , the straight, elongated member  21  is shown being supported internally by the angle brace  25 . The angle bracing member  25  is to be inserted into the elongated member  21  about every 24 inches along the length of said elongated member  21 . 
     The bevel forming device can be easily manufactured. If the device is made of plastic the straight elongated member  21  can be extruded in 8 ft.-10 ft. lengths. The corner member  22  can be injection molded or cut from straight elongated  21  stock and ultrasonically welded. The stake  23  is extruded and the connection member  24  and the angle brace  25  can be injection molded. 
     From the operational description above, it becomes evident that the present invention accomplishes its four primary objectives:
     1. Provide a device that will allow the user to install a 45° degree bevel into a foundation trench thereby making the entice foundation stronger.   2. Provide a device that when used correctly automatically causes the foundation to become compliant with the International Code Council rules.   3. Provide a device that makes foundation construction a faster process.   4. Provide a device that makes foundation construction an easier process.   

     CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATION, SCOPE 
     In reality, using our bevel forming device is as simple as the act of placing a box on the ground and filling that box with dirt. Our box is made up of corner members  22  and side members  21 . The side and corner members are sloped inwards at 45° degree angle. The corner members and side members are held together by a connector member of the same profile. The perfect 45° degree angle is maintained in the elongated side member with a 45° degree angle keeping member. A specially designed stake is used with the connector member and the angle keeping member. The purpose of the stake is to prevent any lateral movement of our box. When our boxes have been correctly laid out, filled, packed and screeded, the bevel forming device has been successfully installed. 
     Our invention was designed to be used primarily on foundations for residential building, but our invention can be used in commercial construction that requires a 45° degree bevel in the trench. 
     The biggest problem of the American home building industry is poorly built foundations. Although every home builder is aware of the required 45° degree bevel, very few home builders comply with the rule because of the difficulty of carving or cutting a 45° degree bevel in fill-dirt. The knowledge of the 45° degree bevel&#39;s role in making foundations stronger was discovered using solid, scientific engineering principles that require accurate measurements. 
     The people who actually dig the foundation trenches have not been trained and equipped to carve or cut an accurate 45° degree bevel in a foundation trench. Even if the attempt to cut a 45° bevel was made by a very skilled laborer, chances are the real angle in the trench bevel would vary along the entire length and width of the trench. 
     Without our bevel forming device in foundations of America&#39;s homes, the home builders, warranty companies, mortgage companies, banks, investment companies, Fannie Mae, HUD and the American home buyer will continue to suffer great financial loss due to poor, faulty foundations.