Patent Abstract:
A stamped, sheet metal, form connector connects two concrete form boards together in end-to-end abutting relationship in one embodiment. In another embodiment, the connector connects two form boards in overlapping relationship. In a third and fourth embodiment, the connector connects two form boards at an inside and outside corner, respectively. Double headed nails fasten the connector to the form boards, allowing for easy removal without damage to the forms. The connector is inexpensive to manufacture, and is simple and convenient to use.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to the masonry field, especially to the art of laying up forms in which concrete footings are poured. Forms for concrete footings are usually made of dimensional lumber or heavy plywood panels, or may even be manufactured aluminum panels. Where these lengths of lumber or panels are laid up end to end, they must be joined together in a fixed relationship, so that the concrete will not blow out the joint in the forms.  
         [0002]     A typical method of joining form boards in end to end relationship is to nail a splice board over the joint. While this method can result in a satisfactory joint, it is an inefficient method in that wood must be cut to length and applied over the joint with sufficient nails to secure the splice. When such a splice is removed, as the forms are taken up, the forms are often damaged and cannot be reused.  
         [0003]     Another method of joining forms at corner joints is to nail through the face of one form board into the end of the other. Nailing into an end grain of a form board results in a weak joint. Again, the form boards are often destroyed when the forms are removed from the cured concrete.  
         [0004]     Some attempts have been made to provide a form connector for joining concrete form boards. Most of these devices are complex in structure, complicated to use, and expensive to manufacture. One such connector is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,320,888 to Oury. Oury shows a connector in the form of a plate with slots therein, where the slots slide over studs preformed into the form surface. The connector can be configured to connect two forms end-to-end, or in a corner relationship. A drawback of this connector is that the form boards must be preconfigured with the studs that the connector must engage. This limits its use to forms specifically made for this connector.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention provides a connector for connecting forms for concrete footings. A first embodiment provides a connector that joins two form boards in end to end abutting relationship. Another embodiment provides a connector for form boards in overlapping relationship. A third and fourth embodiment of the present invention provides a connector that connects form boards at a corner joint, both inside and outside.  
         [0006]     The connector of the present invention consists of a stamped, sheet metal bracket which sits over the top edge of the form boards spanning the joint therebetween. The bracket can extend downwardly over the inside face and outside face of the form boards, and is secured in place with a number of double headed nails. The connector of the present invention is simple and easy to use, is inexpensive to produce, and is effective in joining form boards in rigid relationship. Also, the present form connector does not cause damage to the form boards when in use or when being removed, and can be used over again. Further, the present connector can be used with dimensional lumber form boards. No specially made form boards are needed for use with this connector.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]     The invention will be further described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention, connecting two forms in end-to-end abutting relationship;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention, connecting two forms in overlapping relationship;  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a third embodiment, used for making a connection at an inside corner of two forms;  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment, used for making a connection at an outside corner of two forms;  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  shows the connector of  FIG. 3  in use connecting two form boards at an inside corner; and  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  shows the connector of  FIG. 4  in use connecting two form boards at an outside corner.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0014]      FIG. 1  shows a first embodiment of the form connector  1  in use connecting two form boards  7  and  8  in an end-to-end abutting relationship. Form connector  1  consists of a sheet metal body having an outside portion  2 , a top portion  3 , and an inside portion  4 . Form connector  1  sits atop the joint between two form boards  7  and  8 , spanning the joint therebetween. Outside portion  2  extends downwardly from the top of the form boards and extends over a portion of the outsides of the form boards. Top portion  3  is connected to the outside portion  2  and extends across the upper surface of the form boards, also spanning the joint therebetween. Connected to the top portion  3  is an inside portion  4 , which extends downwardly from top portion  3  and extends over a part of the inside surface of the form boards  7  and  8 . Nail holes  5  are strategically placed on the outer portion  2  and top portion  3  allowing for double headed nails  6  to pass therethrough, securing the connector  1  to the form boards  7  and  8 . Double headed nails  6  are used to allow quick and easy removal of the nails, connector and form boards after the concrete is cured. Preferably, two vertically spaced nail holes  5  are placed on the part of outside portion  2  extending over the outside of form board  7 , and two vertically spaced nail holes  5  are placed on the part of outside portion  2  extending over the outside of form board  8 . Nails  6  will pass through these nail holes  5 , fixedly securing the form connector  1  to the form boards  7  and  8 , thereby securing form boards  7  and  8  in an end-to-end fixed relationship. Nail holes  5  can also be placed in the top portion  3 , with one hole  5  being placed on each side of top portion  3 , allowing a single nail to be placed in the top of each of boards  7  and  8 .  FIG. 1  shows the outer portion  2  having an opening  30  therein. This opening  30  allows the installer of the connector to clearly see the joint between form boards  7  and  8  so that the connector can be quickly and properly aligned during installation, allowing for maximum strength of the connection. The connector could also be made without this opening  30 . To use the connector, form boards  7  and  8  are laid up into the desired position, with the ends in tight abutting relationship. Connector  1  is then placed over the top edge of form boards  7  and  8 , with the joint therebetween placed in the center of opening  30 . Double headed nails  6  are then nailed through openings  5  in the top portion and into the top edge of the form boards, to either side of the joint. Nails  6  can also be placed through openings  5  in the outer portion of the connector and into the outer surface of the form boards. It is to be understood that more or less nails can be placed through connector  1 , as is needed to secure a strong connection between form boards  7  and  8 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  shows another embodiment of the form connector. In this embodiment, form connector  9  is used in connecting two form boards  7  and  8  in overlapping relationship. Form connector  9  has outside portion  11 , top portion  10  and inside portion  12 . Portions  11 ,  10  and  12  lie in relationship to form boards  7  and  8  in the same way as portions  2 ,  3 , and  4  of  FIG. 1 , respectively. Outer portion  11  has a screw  13  threadably engaged therein, and passing therethrough to a plate  15 . Plate  15  is located inside the outer portion  11 , between outer portion  11  and form board  8 . Screw  13  has a T-handle  14  on its outer end to allow a user of the connector to tighten the screw placing a force on plate  15  and thereby securing the connector  9  to the form boards  7  and  8 . In use, connector  9  is placed over the overlapping form boards  7  and  8 , with the outer portion  11  placed over the exterior of the form board  8  and the inner portion  12  placed over the interior of form board  7 . Inner portion  12  engages the interior of form board  7 , while plate  15  engages the exterior of form board  8 . When screw  13  is tightened by turning T-handle  14 , the connector fixedly engages form boards  7  and  8  in overlapping relationship. As shown in  FIG. 2 , more than one connector  9  may be used at each joint to increase the strength of the overlapping joint.  
         [0016]      FIGS. 3 and 4  show form connectors for making connections of form boards at inside corners and outside corners, respectively.  FIG. 3  shows connector  16 , which is used for connecting two form boards at an inside corner. Connector  16  has a top portion  19  that extends over the upper edge of a form board, and inside portion  17  that extends downwardly over the inside face of the form board. Connector  16  is formed at a right angle to match the right angle between the form boards that make the inside corner. Connector  16  has nail holes  5  extending through the top portion  19 . Preferably, two nail holes  5  are provided in each part of the top portion  19 .  FIG. 4  shows a similar connector  20 , but made to a connection to form boards at an outside corner. Connector  20  has top portion  21  that extends over the upper edge of a form board, and an outside portion  22  that extends downwardly over the outside face of the form board. Connector  20  is also formed at a right angle to match the right angle between the form boards that make the outside corner. Similar to connector  16 , connector  20  also is provided with nail holes  5  in the top portion  21 .  
         [0017]      FIGS. 5 and 6  show connectors  16  and  20  in use, respectively. In  FIG. 5 , connector  16  is shown spanning the inside corner joint between form boards  27  and  28 . Double headed nails  6  pass through nail holes  5  in the top portion  19  and into the top edge of form boards  27  and  28 , thereby securing the form boards together at an inside corner, right angle relationship. In  FIG. 6 , connector  20  is shown spanning the outside corner joint between form boards  37  and  38 . Double headed nails  6  pass through nail holes  5  in the top portion  21  and into the top edge of form boards  37  and  38 , thereby securing the form boards together at an outside corner, right angle relationship.  
         [0018]     While the connectors have been described as being formed from stamped sheet metal, it is to be understood that the connectors could be made of other materials such as molded plastics, or forged metals such as steel or bronze.  
         [0019]     While the preferred embodiments of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various changes can be made in the disclosed embodiments without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention, as set forth in the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4