Patent Publication Number: US-2011072757-A1

Title: Reuseable Cross Tie System and Arrangements for Concrete Forms

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This United States National patent application claims priority to pending International Patent Application having Serial No. PCT/US2006/043701 filed Nov. 8, 2006, entitled “Reuseable Cross Tie System and Arrangements for Concrete Forms”, having a common applicant herewith. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure is generally related to concrete wall forms and more particularly to a wall form tie retrieval system. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Each year construction workers form and pour millions of feet of concrete walls. A typical concrete wall form system is modular, where panels are assembled to one another. These panels face each other and a series of cross ties, ties, or form clips are placed to secure the forms together. Tying the two forms securely together is important because when heavy concrete is poured into the form, a significant amount or pressure is placed on the face of the form and ties can prevent the wall forms from bowing or separating during the pour operation. If the wall form bows, then the resulting wall would have unsightly waves and excess concrete would be expended. In conventional wall forming systems these metal ties that secure the opposing wall forms become part of the wall after the concrete hardens. Thus, ties are inserted through each wall form, fastened on each side of the wall form and act in tension to keep the walls from parting or bowing during the pour. Since the ties run between the wall forms and the concrete is poured in this area, the ties become surrounded on all sides with concrete and when the forms are removed the clips protrude from the cured wall and are typically broken off flush with the wall with a hammer or cutting device. Thus, in an average home that has a basement, hundreds of ties will be consumed on the project. Ties are commonly fabricated from steel and can cost over a dollar a piece. Thus, in a hundred feet of poured wall the cost of disposable ties can be as hundreds of dollars. Accordingly, there is a need for a way to reduce the cost of disposables in the manufacture of concrete walls. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an orthogonal drawing of a concrete wall form with a tie retrieval system; and 
         FIG. 2  is an orthogonal view of a retrieval casing. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The following is a detailed description of novel embodiments depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the subject matter. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit anticipated variations of the described embodiments, but on the contrary, the claims and detailed description are to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present teachings as defined by the appended claims. The detailed descriptions below are designed to make such embodiments understandable to a person having ordinary skill in the art. 
     Generally, methods and arrangements for a retrieving wall form ties is provided herein. While specific embodiments will be described below with reference to a particular embodiment, those of skill in the art will realize that embodiments may advantageously be implemented with other configurations. 
     A wall form tie retrieval system is disclosed that provides a wall form tie casing. The casing can be a channel with a lid sized to fit between two assembled concrete wall forms. The wall form tie secures the two concrete wall forms together and can space the forms apart a predetermined distance. The channel can have an open side and the lid can engage the open side of the channel such that placement of the lid substantially encloses the wall tie. After concrete is poured and cured, the wall form tie can be removed from the casing and re-used. The plastic or reinforced paper wall tie casings can be manufactured for a fraction of the cost of the metal ties, thus saving money in the construction of concrete walls. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  a typical wall forming system  100  is depicted. In the construction of a concrete wall, a footing  102  will typically be formed and poured first. Then, after the footing cures, wall forms  104  and  106  will be brought in and assembled on top of the footing  102 . Wall forms  104  and  106  typically have opposing holes  110  that will line up when forms  104  and  106  are placed into position. Cross ties, ties or clips such as tie  112  can be placed through the holes in each form  104  and  106  and a fastener  114  and fastener  116  can be placed on the end of the tie  112  to secure the tie  112  to the wall  106 . Tie  112  can have a spacer  118  that keeps the wall forms  104  and  106  spaced apart the appropriate distance. Alternately, tie casing  108  can space the forms  104  and  106  apart a predetermined distance. 
     In accordance with the present disclosure, a tie casing  108  can be placed around a tie, such as tie  120  such that after the concrete is poured between wall forms  104  and  106 , the tie  120  can be removed and reused in another job. A tie casing can be a shell, a structure, a housing, or a covering that envelops the wall tie  120 . Wall tie  112  can be round, square, or a thin strip of steel material as wall ties of all shapes could be accommodated by the tie casing  108 . 
     A metal tie  112  can cost over a dollar when purchased. The tie casing  108  can be manufactured from a tarred paper or an inexpensive plastic wherein the cost to manufacture the tie casing  108  can be less than ten cents each. Generally, tie casing  108  allows the ties such as tie  112  to be easily removed after the concrete cures within the form. Thus, hundreds of dollars can be saved during construction of a single concrete wall. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2  an orthogonal view of a tie casing  200  is depicted. Tie casing  200  can be a two piece design having a U shaped member or channel  202  and a lid  204  to form a box when assembled. In another embodiment, the tie casing  200  can be manufactured as a single piece where a flexible plastic hinge attaches the lid  204  to the channel  202  and a plastic latch (not shown) can hold the lid  204  down to the channel  120  to form a box. In a particular embodiment, the lid  204  can have tabs  208  and the channel  202  can have grooves or tab receivers  210  such that when the tie casing  200  is assembled around the tie, the lid  204  can be secured to the open side of the channel  202 . 
     The tie casing  200  can be made from plastic and can be injection molding or it can be extruded. Many different materials could be utilized such as polyethylene, polypropylene and Acrylonitrile, butadiene and styrene (ABS) and even recycled plastic. In a particular embodiment tie casing  200  could be made from a thick waxy paper or tar paper or from recycled, compressed glued cardboard or paper. This embodiment can include plant fibers made rigid by some binding material that sets up in a rigid manner, such as glue. 
     In one embodiment a hole  206  can be placed in the channel  202  to assist in securing the channel  202  to the footing prior to pouring the wall. In this manner the tie casing  200  can stay in position during the pour and make it easier for the tie to be removed when the concrete has cured. In another embodiment an adhesive  212  such as a construction glue or double sided tape can be utilized to fasten tie casing  200  to the footing. 
     The tie casing  200  could be made in varying lengths based on the dimension between the forms. The tie casing  200  could also come in eight foot lengths and be cut at the job site to the desired length. The majority of pored walls are six inches thick however, eight and twelve inch walls are also common. 
     The tie casings  200  can be utilized for tie locations wherever desired but are useful at the bottom of the forms. The utilization of inexpensive tie casings  202  as a disposable instead of relatively expensive metal ties is a cost effective approach to building formed walls. An additional feature provided by the tie casing  200  is that after the wall cures the through holes provided can be utilized as drain holes, as conduit for stringing wires and for a drain on water pipes. If the through holes are not going to be utilized, the holes can be filled with patching concrete or some other material. 
     The above disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, and not restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications, enhancements, and other embodiments which fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, to the maximum extent allowed by law, the scope of the present invention is to be determined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the following claims and their equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by the foregoing detailed description.