Patent Publication Number: US-6705583-B2

Title: Apparatus for building foundation stem wall forms

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to the field of building construction, and more specifically, relates to constructing foundation stem wall forms. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Foundations for housing structures are surrounded by a stem wall, which is a small perimeter concrete wall, usually between six and ten inches tall, upon which the perimeter of the house sits. This stem wall elevates the wooden structural members of a house, above the surrounding earth, so as to avoid standing water, rot and the like. In pouring a foundation and its associated stem wall, it is most desirable that the concrete pour be done continuously, so that there are no seams between the footing and stem wall to serve as an opportunity for water to seep through and cause damage. The set up of the stem wall portion of the continuous pour forms usually requires up to three laborers to properly space and elevate the form boards and then stake them into place. This process is time consuming and labor intensive. 
     Therefore, a needs exists for an apparatus which allows for the fast set up of stem wall forms with minimal labor requirements. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The inventive apparatus for building stem wall forms can be easily deployed by a single laborer to set up the stem wall forms at a building site. The apparatus is collapsible for easy deployment and removal from a stem wall form. In use, the apparatus functions by holding opposing form boards of a stem wall form in parallel alignment, so that the form boards can be staked and nailed into place. Once the form boards are staked in place to create a stem wall form, the apparatus can be collapsed, and removed from the form to be reused again at another location. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus is comprised of a center structure that is collapsible, and is coupled to a board holder for holding a one board side of a stem wall form in precise parallel alignment with an opposite board side of the stem wall form. Once aligned in a parallel orientation, the form boards are nailed to stakes, in the conventional way, and the form is complete. Preferably, for a typical form, (e.g. with a 2″×10″ form board having any standard length), a form laborer would deploy two to three of the apparatus along this length to set up a section of stem wall form. 
     When a section of form is set up, the worker needs only to collapse the apparatus and move to the next section of stem wall form and reuse the apparatus at that location. Accordingly, the following objects and advantages of the invention apply: 
     It is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus for more efficiently setting up a stem wall form. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide an apparatus for saving on labor costs required to set up a stem wall form. 
     It is a final object of this invention to provide an apparatus for setting up a stem wall form that is easily removable from a stem wall form, following set up, and which can be reused. 
     Further objects and advantages of the invention will be brought out in the following portions of the specification, wherein the detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing preferred embodiments of the invention, without placing limitations thereon. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following drawings which are for illustrative purposes only: 
     FIG. 1 is an elevated perspective view of the inventive apparatus deployed within a stem wall foundation form. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the inventive apparatus shown in a deployed state. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the inventive apparatus shown in a collapsed state. 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the inventive apparatus. 
     FIG. 5A is a closeup front view of the end of rod support engaging the deployed position of the slot element of the inventive apparatus. 
     FIG. 5B is a closeup front view of the end of rod support engaging the collapsed position of the slot element of the inventive apparatus. 
     FIG. 6 is a closeup perspective view of the board holder element of the inventive apparatus. 
     FIG. 7 is a closeup perspective view of the board support element of the inventive apparatus. 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a preferred arrangement of three of the inventive apparatus being used to set up a section of a stem wall foundation form, this view showing the apparatus suspended from a first form board, with the second form board yet to be placed on the apparatus. 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a preferred arrangement of three of the inventive apparatus being used to set up a section of a stem wall foundation form, this view showing the apparatus having received the second form board which is shown nailed to foundation stakes as a final step in setting up the form section. 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a preferred arrangement of the inventive apparatus being used to set up a corner section of a stem wall foundation form, this view showing the apparatus suspended from a first side of the corner section, with the second side yet to be placed on the apparatus. 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a preferred arrangement of the inventive apparatus being used to set up a corner section of a stem wall foundation form, this view showing the apparatus having received the second side of the corner section, which is shown nailed to foundation stakes as a final step in setting up the form corner section. 
     FIG. 12 is a frontal view of the inventive apparatus shown collapsing inside of a stem wall foundation form with the board support shown pivoting away from the underside of the second form board. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment of the inventive apparatus  10  is shown deployed for purposes of constructing a foundation stem wall form  18 . Stem wall form  18  is formed atop footer well  16 . The opposing form boards  12 ,  14  of stem wall form  18  are shown being held by the inventive apparatus  10  in a precise parallel orientation to each other. The typical horizontal distance between the inside of the form boards (arrows  22 ) is either 6″ or 8″ depending on the height of the structure being built. The apparatus  10  is used to spacially support form boards  12 ,  14  a similar horizontal distance, and therefore, center structure  24 , is approximately 6″ to 8″ at its widest point along its horizontal sides  26 ,  28 , to provide the proper spacing for form boards  12 ,  14 . Board holder  30  and board support  32  are coupled to center structure  24  in a substantially diagonal relation so that board holder  30  engages the top portion  34  of a first form board  12  and board support  32  engages and supports second form board  14  at its bottom portion. Board holder  30  and board support  32  extend outward from the vertical sides  38 ,  40  of center structure  24  so as to capture the opposing form boards  12 , 14 , with center structure  24  supplying the appropriate spacing between the boards  12 ,  14  in a manner further described below. 
     Referring also to FIG. 2, center structure  24  is preferably a rectangle having left and right vertical sides  38 ,  40  and top and bottom horizontal sides  26 ,  28 . Board holder  30 , is located at a top corner of the rectangle and board support  32  is located at a bottom corner. Center structure is preferably 6″ to 8″ along its width w, corresponding with the inside horizontal distance between form boards  12 ,  14  of form well  16  as shown by arrows  22 . The distance l from the top of board support  32  to the top of upper horizontal side  26 , is preferably between 9″ to 10″ to accommodate 2×10 form boards which are commonly used in form building. Center structure further includes four pivot points  42  located at each of the its four corners, these pivot points allowing center structure to progress from a fully deployed position as shown in FIG. 2 to a collapsed position as shown in FIG.  3 . Pivot points  42  are accomplished by imparting holes  43  through sides  26 ,  28 ,  38 ,  40  and placing bolts  44  in said holes and anchoring with nylon threaded stop-nuts  46 , as shown in FIG.  4 . 
     Referring again to FIGS. 2 and 3, apparatus  10  can alternate between a deployed and a collapsed state. This alternating state between deployment and collapse is made possible by rod support  48 . Rod support  48  is pivotally coupled  49  to lower horizontal side  28 , this pivotal coupling allowing rod support  48  to alternate between a first deployed position and a second collapsed position. Upper horizontal side  26  includes slot  50  which has a first deployed position  52  and a second collapsed position  54  between which the opposite end of rod support  48  alternates. As further shown in FIG. 5A the first deployed position  52  of slot  50  causes center structure  24  to lock in a deployed state with rod support  48  lying substantially diagonal on center structure  24 . This deployment causes center structure  24  to become rigid, against which form boards  12 ,  14  can lean and be supported against. As further shown in FIG. 5B placing rod support  48  in the second collapsed position  54  of slot  50 , causes center structure  24  to collapse. Upon rod support  48  collapsing, pivot points  42  cause sides  26 ,  28 ,  38 ,  40  to pivot and collapse, which in turn causes board support  32  to pivot away from the underside of form board  14 , in a manner further described below. 
     Referring also to FIGS. 6 and 7, board holder  30  and board support  32  can be examined. Form boards  12 , 14  are held in a vertical position against sides  38 ,  40  of the deployed center structure  24  by board holder  30  and board support  32 . As seen in FIG.  6  and FIG. 2, board holder  30  preferably comprises an elongate member  56  of approximately 4″ to 6″ long along length l- 2 , having a top surface  58  with a cutout  60  located therein. Elongate member  56  is oriented perpendicular to horizontal side  38 . Cutout  60  has a length l- 3  of approximately 2¾″ and provides a window exposing form board material so that a stake can be nailed to form board  12  and anchor the apparatus  10  in place, if desired, thereby preventing apparatus from traveling. Protruding downward at right angles to top surface  58  are tabs  62  and side  64 . The distance l- 4  between tabs  62  and side  64  is preferably 1{fraction (9/16)}″, the current standard board width of a 2×10 board. However this distance can be wider to accommodate non-conventional board widths as well. Tabs  62  and side  64 , along with top surface  58  form an overlapping three-sided structure at each end of board holder  30 . This three sided structure allows the apparatus  10  to be hung from a form board that is already staked in place as shown in FIG.  8 . The three sided structure of board holder  30  overlaps form board  12  and the downward pressure caused by the hanging weight of apparatus  10  holds board holder  30  against form board  12 . Subsequently, a second form board  14  can be supported upon board support  32  and nailed to stakes, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 9. The distance l- 5  on board support is preferably 1{fraction (9/16)}″ or wider. A board stop  66  protrudes slightly above board support  32  to prevent the second form board  14  from laterally sliding off of board support. 
     In a preferred set up arrangement as shown in FIGS. 8-9 three copies of the apparatus  10  are used along a form section. As shown in FIG. 8, three samples of apparatus  10  are set via board holder  30  along a first form board  12  previously staked  68  into place. At this point, each apparatus  10  is locked into a deployed condition with rod support  48 . Next, as seen in FIG. 9 a second form board  14  is placed, this form board  14  lining up on each board support  32  of each apparatus  10 . Board stop  66  maintains second form board  14  on each board support  32  holding second form board  14  tightly against vertical side  40 . Second form board  14  is next nailed to stakes  68  set alongside second form board  14 . 
     FIGS. 10-11 illustrates the setup of a corner section  70  of a stem wall foundation form. An outside corner  72  can be constructed and staked in place. A number of the apparatus  10  can then be hung from the outside corner  72  via board holder  30 . An inside corner  74  can then be constructed and placed upon the board supports  32  of apparatus  10  and nailed to stakes, to finish out the corner section  70 . 
     As a final step, apparatus  10  is collapsed and extracted from the completed stem wall form  18 . As shown in FIG. 5B rod support  48  is actuated to its second positioning  54  in slot  50  and the center structure  24  goes from a locked, to a collapsed position. FIG. 12 shows board support  32  which is an extension of lower horizontal side  28  pivoting away from the underside of second form board  14 , toward the inside of footer well  16 . When board support  32  is free from second form board  14 , the apparatus  10  can be easily lifted out of the footer well  16  and moved to be reused at a second section of stem wall form  18 . 
     Finally, although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. This invention may be altered and rearranged in numerous ways by one skilled in the art without departing from the coverage of any patent claims which are supported by this specification.