Patent Description:
An existing building formwork apparatus, as disclosed in <CIT>, includes at least four formworks and at least one connecting hornbeam block. Each formwork has a mold surface at one side thereof, a mounting surface opposite to the mold surface, and two connecting posts disposed on upper and lower ends of the mounting surface. Each connecting post has a plurality of through holes. The connecting hornbeam block has a plurality of connecting holes. The <CIT> and the <CIT> both show a framework like a concrete form, according to the preamble of claim <NUM>.

After the formworks are brought to align with and abut against each other, the connecting hornbeam block is then disposed on the connecting posts of the formworks, after which a plurality of fasteners are extended through the through holes and the connecting holes to fix the formworks and the connecting hornbeam block, thereby forming the existing building formwork apparatus.

Grout is poured between two existing building formwork apparatuses to make a wall. Since the dimensions of the wall differ due to different engineering works, and since there is no way to have a standard building formwork apparatus available, assembly of the existing building formwork apparatuses may not conform to the desired dimensions of the wall to be made, so that it is necessary to customize the existing building formwork apparatus so as to conform to the desired dimensions of the wall to be constructed.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a one way retractable building formwork apparatus that can alleviate at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art.

According to this invention as defined in claim <NUM>, the one-way retractable building formwork apparatus for mounting on a mounting surface of a substrate module includes a first side bar configured to be disposed on one end of the mounting surface that extends along a lateral direction, a second side bar configured to be disposed on another end of the mounting surface that extends along the lateral direction and opposite to the first side bar along an extending direction transverse to the lateral direction, and a retractable unit configured to be disposed on the mounting surface and connected to the first side bar. The retractable unit is extendable along the extending direction to fixedly connect to the second side bar. Further essential features are defined by the independent claim <NUM>.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is noted that various features may not be drawn to scale.

Before the invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that where considered appropriate, reference numerals or terminal portions of reference numerals have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements, which may optionally have similar characteristics.

Referring to <FIG>, a one-way retractable building formwork apparatus according to the first embodiment not according to the invention is configured to be mounted on a mounting surface <NUM> of a substrate module <NUM>, and includes a first side bar <NUM>, a second side bar <NUM>, a retractable unit <NUM> and a side connection unit <NUM>.

The first side bar <NUM> is disposed on one end of the mounting surface <NUM> that extends along a lateral direction (X). The second side bar <NUM> is disposed on another end of the mounting surface <NUM> that extends along the lateral direction (X), and is opposite to the first side bar <NUM> along an extending direction (Y) transverse to the lateral direction (X). The retractable unit <NUM> is disposed on the mounting surface <NUM>, is connected to the first side bar <NUM>, and is extendable along the extending direction (Y) to fixedly connect to the second side bar <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the retractable unit <NUM> includes two side bar modules <NUM>, two fixed plate assemblies <NUM>, and two side plate assemblies <NUM>. The side bar modules <NUM> extend along the extending direction (Y), and are disposed on another two opposite ends of the mounting surface <NUM> that extend along the extending direction (Y) such that the side bar modules <NUM> are opposite to each other along the lateral direction (X). The side bar modules <NUM> are fixedly connected to two opposite ends of the first side bar <NUM>. The fixed plate assemblies <NUM> are disposed on the mounting surface <NUM> between the first and second side bars <NUM>, <NUM>. The side plate assemblies <NUM> are respectively inserted into the fixed plate assemblies <NUM>, and are extendable out of the same along the extending direction (Y) to fixedly connect to the second side bar <NUM>.

For the convenience of description, only one of the fixed plate assemblies <NUM> and the corresponding side plate assembly <NUM> will be described below.

With reference to <FIG>, the fixed plate assembly <NUM> includes a guide fixed plate <NUM> having a pair of inner rails <NUM>. The side plate assembly <NUM> includes a plurality of side plates <NUM> telescopically connected to one another. An outermost one of the side plates <NUM> is slidably inserted into the guide fixed plate <NUM>; and, an innermost one of the side plates <NUM> is slidably engaged with and is extendable out of an adjacent one of the side plates <NUM> to fixedly connect to the second side bar <NUM>. Each side plate <NUM> has a pair of inner rails <NUM> extending along a length thereof, and a pair of outer rails <NUM> opposite to the pair of inner rails <NUM> and extending also along the length thereof. In this embodiment, each inner rail <NUM> is in the form of a groove having a T-shaped cross section, while each outer rail <NUM> is in the form of a protrusion having a T-shaped cross section, but not limited thereto.

The pair of the outer rails <NUM> of the outermost side plate <NUM> are slidably engaged with the pair of the inner rails <NUM> of the guide fixed plate <NUM> to limit the outermost side plate <NUM> to adjust the position thereof only along the extending direction (Y). The pair of the outer rails <NUM> of one of each two adjacent ones of the side plates <NUM> are slidably engaged with the pair of the inner rails <NUM> of the other side plate <NUM> to limit the one of each two adjacent side plates <NUM> to adjust the position thereof only along the extending direction (Y). Each outer rail <NUM> of each side plate <NUM> is provided with a plurality of threaded holes <NUM> spacedly arranged along the length thereof.

The side connection unit <NUM> includes a plurality of side connectors <NUM> and a plurality of fixing screws <NUM>. Each side connector <NUM> includes a base plate <NUM> disposed on the mounting surface <NUM>, and a vertical plate <NUM> extending upwardly from one end of the base plate <NUM> and adjacent to a respective one of the side plates <NUM>. Some of the fixing screws <NUM> are respectively inserted through elongated holes in the base plates <NUM> of the side connectors <NUM> to fix the base plates <NUM> to the mounting surface <NUM>. Each of the other ones of the fixing screws <NUM> is inserted through an elongated hole in a respective one of the vertical plates <NUM> of the side connectors <NUM> and is threadedly connected to a selected one of the threaded holes <NUM> in a respective one of the side plates <NUM> to fix each vertical plate <NUM> to the respective side plate <NUM> along the lateral direction (X).

In use, a plurality of basic building formworks (not shown) having fixed dimensions are first made according to a wall to be constructed, and then, according to the length difference between an assembly of the basic building formworks and the wall to be constructed, the substrate module <NUM> that meets the length difference is further manufactured.

Next, based on the dimensions of the substrate module <NUM>, the first side bar <NUM>, the second side bar <NUM> and the side bar modules <NUM> corresponding to the dimensions of the substrate module <NUM> are fixedly connected to the mounting surface <NUM> of the substrate module <NUM> through a plurality of screws, and the first side bar <NUM> is fixed between the side bar modules <NUM> through a plurality of screws. Afterwards, the fixed plate assembly <NUM> is also fixed to the mounting surface <NUM> through a plurality of screws, and the side plates <NUM> inside the guide fixed plate <NUM> of the fixed plate assembly <NUM> are pulled out toward the second side bar <NUM> along the extending direction (Y) to fix the innermost side plate <NUM> to the second side bar <NUM> through a plurality of screws. Finally, the side plates <NUM> are fixed to their respective positions through the side connectors <NUM> and the fixing screws <NUM>, thereby achieving the effect of strengthening the substrate module <NUM>. Since the side plates <NUM> are retractable relative to the guide fixed plate <NUM>, they are suitable for use in different dimensions of the substrate module <NUM>.

After the components of the one-way retractable building formwork apparatus are assembled to the substrate module <NUM>, the one-way retractable building formwork apparatus together with the substrate module <NUM> is then assembled to the basic building formworks so as to meet the dimensions of the wall to be constructed, thereby saving the labor cost.

Referring to <FIG>, a one-way retractable building formwork apparatus according to the second embodiment not according to the invention is shown to be identical to the first embodiment, but differs in that, in the second embodiment, the substrate module <NUM> includes a first substrate <NUM> and a second substrate <NUM> adjacently connected to each other along the extending direction (Y). The first substrate <NUM> has a first surface <NUM>, while the second substrate <NUM> has a second surface <NUM> in the same direction as the first surface <NUM>. The first side bar <NUM> is disposed on one end of the first surface <NUM> that extends along the lateral direction (X) and that is distal to the second surface <NUM>. The second side bar <NUM> is disposed on one end of the second surface <NUM> that extends along the lateral direction (X) and that is opposite to the first side bar <NUM> along the extending direction (Y). The retractable unit <NUM> is disposed on the first surface <NUM>, and is retractably connected to the second side bar <NUM>. In this embodiment, the first substrate <NUM> is made of a material having fixed dimensions, while the second substrate <NUM> is made of a leftover material from the previous projects, but not limited thereto. That is, the first and second substrates <NUM>, <NUM> may both be made of the leftover materials.

Further, the innermost side plate <NUM> and the side plate <NUM> immediately adjacent thereto are not extended out of the guide fixed plate <NUM> of the fixed plate assembly <NUM>.

Moreover, each side bar module <NUM> includes a main side bar <NUM> extending the extending direction (Y) and fixedly connected to one end of the first side bar <NUM>, three extension side bars <NUM> sequentially arranged along the extending direction (Y), and five side bar screws <NUM> inserted through the extension side bars <NUM> along the extending direction (Y) and screwed to the main side bar <NUM> to thereby connect the extension side bars <NUM> to the main side bar <NUM>. The longest one of the extension side bars <NUM> is disposed immediately adjacent to the main side bar <NUM> at a side opposite to the first side bar <NUM>. In this embodiment, the main side bar <NUM> is made of a material having fixed dimensions, while the extension side bars <NUM> are made of leftover materials from the previous projects, but not limited thereto. That is, the main side bar <NUM> and the extension side bars <NUM> may all be made of the leftover materials. However, in other variations, the extension side bars <NUM> may be directly fixed to the second surface <NUM> using the side bar screws <NUM>, and the side bar screws <NUM> may not be limited to extend through the extension side bars <NUM> along the extending direction (Y), but may extend through the extension side bars <NUM> in a direction transverse to the extending direction (Y) and the lateral direction (X) to similarly achieve the fixing effect.

Therefore, the second embodiment can achieve the same effect as that of the first embodiment. Further, since the substrate module <NUM> can be formed by splicing multiple substrates and the side bar modules <NUM> can also be formed by splicing multiple extension side bars, different lengths of the substrate module <NUM> and the side bar modules <NUM> can thus be made.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, a one-way retractable building formwork apparatus according to the third embodiment not according to the invention is shown to be identical to the second embodiment, but differs in that only the outermost side plate <NUM> is partially extended out of the guide fixed plate <NUM> of the fixed plate assembly <NUM> of the retractable unit <NUM>. The third embodiment can achieve the same effect as that of the second embodiment, and is suitable for use with the substrate module <NUM> having a short length along the extending direction (Y).

Referring to <FIG>, a one-way retractable building formwork apparatus according to the fourth embodiment not according to the invention is shown to be identical to the first embodiment, but differs in that, in the fourth embodiment, the substrate module <NUM> includes a first substrate <NUM> and a second substrate <NUM> adjacently connected to each other along the extending direction (Y). The first substrate <NUM> has a first surface <NUM>, while the second substrate <NUM> has a second surface <NUM> in the same direction as the first surface <NUM>. The first side bar <NUM> is disposed on one end of the first surface <NUM> that extends along the lateral direction (X) and that is distal to the second surface <NUM>. The second side bar <NUM> is disposed on one end of the second surface <NUM> that extends along the lateral direction (X) and that is opposite to the first side bar <NUM> along the extending direction (Y).

The retractable unit <NUM> is disposed on the first surface <NUM>, and is retractably connected to the second side bar <NUM>. In this embodiment, the retractable unit <NUM> includes the two side bar modules <NUM>, but only one fixed plate assembly <NUM> and only one side plate assembly <NUM>. The fourth embodiment can achieve the same effect as that of the first embodiment, and is suitable for use with the substrate module <NUM> having a short length along the lateral direction (X).

Referring to <FIG>, a one-way retractable building formwork apparatus according to the fifth embodiment according to the invention is shown to be identical to the first embodiment, but differs in that, in the fifth embodiment, the retractable unit <NUM>' includes two fixed plate assemblies <NUM>', two connecting bar assemblies <NUM>, and two slide bar assemblies <NUM>. The side bar modules <NUM> (see <FIG>) are omitted in this embodiment. For the convenience of description, only one of each of the fixed plate assemblies <NUM>', the connecting bar assemblies <NUM> and the slide bar assemblies <NUM> will be described below.

The fixed plate assembly <NUM> includes a first fixed plate <NUM> that extends along the extending direction (Y), that is disposed on one end of the mounting surface <NUM> which extends along the extending direction (Y) and that is fixed to one end of the first side bar <NUM>, and a second fixed plate <NUM> that extends along the extending direction (Y), that is spaced apart from and that is located inwardly of the first fixed plate <NUM> along the lateral direction (X) and that is shorter than the first fixed plate <NUM>. Each of the first and second side plates <NUM>, <NUM> has a slide groove <NUM>, <NUM> extending along a length thereof and having a T-shaped cross section. The slide grooves <NUM>, <NUM> of the first and second side plates <NUM>, <NUM> face each other.

The connecting bar assembly <NUM> includes a first connecting bar <NUM> and a second connecting bar <NUM> extending along the extending direction (Y) and located between the first and second fixed plates <NUM>, <NUM>. Each of the first and second connecting bars <NUM>, <NUM> has an inner rail <NUM>, <NUM> and an outer rail <NUM>, <NUM> respectively provided on two opposite sides thereof that are opposite along the lateral direction (X) and extending along a length thereof. Each of the inner and outer rails <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> has a T-shaped cross section. The outer rail <NUM> of the first connecting bar <NUM> is slidably inserted into the slide groove <NUM> of the first fixed plate <NUM>. The outer rail <NUM> of the second connecting bar <NUM> is slidably inserted into the slide groove <NUM> of the second fixed plate <NUM>.

The slide bar assembly <NUM> of this embodiment includes one slide bar <NUM> extending along the extending direction (Y) and having an inner groove <NUM> and an outer groove <NUM> respectively provided on two opposite sides thereof that are opposite along the lateral direction (X) and extending along a length thereof. Each of the inner and outer grooves <NUM>, <NUM> has a T-shaped cross section. The inner groove <NUM> is slidably engaged with the inner rail <NUM> of the second connecting bar <NUM>, while the outer groove <NUM> is slidably engaged with the inner rail <NUM> of the first connecting bar <NUM>. Through this, the slide bar <NUM> is slidable between the first and second connecting bars <NUM>, <NUM> along the extending direction (Y) to fixedly connect to the second side bar <NUM>.

In other implementations, when the retractable unit <NUM>' includes a plurality of the connecting bar assemblies <NUM> corresponding to the same fixed plate assembly <NUM>', the connecting bar assemblies <NUM> are sequentially connected in series from outside to inside. The first and second connecting bars <NUM>, <NUM> of an outermost one of the connecting bar assemblies <NUM> are slidably engaged to the respective first and second side plates <NUM>, <NUM> of the fixed plate assembly <NUM>'. The first and second connecting bars <NUM>, <NUM> of an inner one of the connecting bar assemblies <NUM> are slidably engaged to the respective first and second connecting bars <NUM>, <NUM> of an adjacent outer one of the connecting bar assemblies <NUM>. The slide bar <NUM> is slidably engaged between the first and second connecting bars <NUM>, <NUM> of an innermost one of the connecting bar assemblies <NUM>. A slidable connection between the fixed plate assembly <NUM> and the outermost connecting bar assembly <NUM>, between two adjacent connecting bar assemblies <NUM>, and between the slide bar <NUM> and the innermost connecting bar assembly <NUM> are by way of slide groove and slide rail engagement to limit the first and second connecting bars <NUM>, <NUM> of the connecting bar assemblies <NUM> and the slide bar <NUM> to adjust the position thereof only along the extending direction (Y).

In another implementations, not according to the invention, the connecting bar assemblies <NUM> may be omitted, so that the slide bar <NUM> can be slidably inserted between the first and second side plates <NUM>, <NUM> of the fixed plate assembly <NUM>. A slidable connection between the slide bar <NUM> and the first and second side plates <NUM>, <NUM> is by way of slide groove and slide rail engagement to limit the slide bar <NUM> to adjust the position thereof only along the extending direction (Y).

Therefore, The fifth embodiment can achieve the same effect as that of the first embodiment. Further, since the slide bars <NUM> of the slide bar assemblies <NUM> are retractable relative to the respective connecting bar assemblies <NUM> or the respective fixed plate assemblies <NUM>, this embodiment is suitable for use with the substrate module <NUM> having different dimensions.

Referring to <FIG>, a one-way retractable building formwork apparatus according to the sixth embodiment not according to the invention is shown to be identical to the fifth embodiment, but differs in that, in the sixth embodiment, the substrate module <NUM> includes a first substrate <NUM> and a second substrate <NUM> adjacently connected to each other along the extending direction (Y). The first substrate <NUM> has a first surface <NUM>, while the second substrate <NUM> has a second surface <NUM> in the same direction as the first surface <NUM>. The first side bar <NUM> is disposed on one end of the first surface <NUM> that extends along the lateral direction (X) and that is distal to the second surface <NUM>. The second side bar <NUM> is disposed on one end of the second surface <NUM> that extends along the lateral direction (X) and that is opposite to the first side bar <NUM> along the extending direction (Y).

The retractable unit <NUM>' is disposed on the first surface <NUM>, and is retractably connected to the second side bar <NUM>. The connecting bar assemblies <NUM> and the slide bar assemblies <NUM> of the retractable unit <NUM>' are not extended, and the first fixed plate <NUM> of each fixed plate assembly <NUM> includes a plurality of interconnected side plate portions <NUM> extending along the extending direction (Y).

Therefore, the sixth embodiment can achieve the same effect as that of the fifth embodiment. Since the substrate module <NUM> can be formed by splicing multiple substrates and the first fixed plate <NUM> can also be formed by splicing multiple side plate portions, different lengths of the substrate module <NUM> and the first fixed plate <NUM> can thus be made.

In summary, with the retractable unit <NUM> being retractably connected to the substrate module <NUM> and the first and second side bars <NUM>, <NUM>, the structure of the substrate module <NUM> can be strengthened. Further, since the substrate module <NUM> can be formed by splicing multiple substrates which can be made of leftover materials from the previous projects, and since the side bar modules <NUM> can also be formed by splicing multiple extension side bars which can be made of leftover materials from the previous projects, in comparison with the existing building formwork apparatus which must spend labor and material costs for customizing the existing building formwork apparatus and the leftover material thereof cannot be reused, the one-way retractable building formwork apparatus of the present invention can achieve the effect of cost reduction. Therefore, the object of this invention can indeed be achieved.

Claim 1:
A one-way retractable building formwork apparatus for mounting on a mounting surface (<NUM>) of a substrate module (<NUM>), comprising:
a first side bar (<NUM>) configured to be disposed on one end of the mounting surface (<NUM>) that extends along a lateral direction (X);
a second side bar (<NUM>) configured to be disposed on another end of the mounting surface (<NUM>) that extends along the lateral direction (X) and opposite to said first side bar (<NUM>) along an extending direction (Y) transverse to the lateral direction (X); and
a retractable unit (<NUM>') configured to be disposed on the mounting surface (<NUM>) and connected to said first side bar (<NUM>), said retractable unit (<NUM>') being extendable along the extending direction (Y) to fixedly connect to said second side bar (<NUM>);
whereby said retractable unit (<NUM>') includes:
a fixed plate assembly (<NUM>') configured to be disposed on the mounting surface (<NUM>) and including a first fixed plate (<NUM>) that extends along the extending direction (Y), that is configured to be disposed on one end of the mounting surface (<NUM>) which extends along the extending direction (Y), and that is fixed to one end of said first side bar (<NUM>), and a second fixed plate (<NUM>) that extends along the extending direction (Y), that is spaced apart from and that is located inwardly of said first fixed plate (<NUM>) along the lateral direction (X);
characterized in that said retractable unit (<NUM>') includes
at least one connecting bar assembly (<NUM>) including a first connecting bar (<NUM>) and a second connecting bar (<NUM>) extending along the extending direction (Y) and located between said first fixed plate (<NUM>) and said second fixed plate (<NUM>), said first connecting bar (<NUM>) being slidably engaged with said first fixed plate (<NUM>), said second connecting bar (<NUM>) being slidably engaged with said second fixed plate (<NUM>); and
a slide bar assembly (<NUM>) including at least one slide bar (<NUM>) that extends along the extending direction (Y) and that is slidable between said first connecting bar (<NUM>) and said second connecting bar (<NUM>) to fixedly connect to said second side bar (<NUM>).