Patent ID: 8485494

Claim:
A mold is adapted for making pre-formed concrete elements, wherein the mold comprising: a casting bed; a form liner configured to rest on a surface of the casting bed; a hold-down frame configured to rest above the liner opposite the surface of the casting bed; and a separate form attached to an outer surface of the frame opposite the surface of the liner, the form including a plurality of side-panel members, wherein at least one of the plurality of side-panel members includes at least one hinge member connecting the at least one of the plurality of side-panel members to the frame, wherein each of the plurality of side panel members includes an inside face which faces inwardly when the side panel members are in the closed position and an outside face which faces outwardly when the side panel members are in the closed position, wherein each of the at least one hinge members includes an inner portion which contacts the outside face of the at least one side-panel member and an outer portion which is opposite the inner portion, which contacts the outer surface of the frame, wherein each side-panel member including ends complementarily configured to fit together to create a closed perimeter defined within a single plane, wherein the plurality of side-panels are in a closed position when the ends create a closed perimeter and in an opened position when the at least one of the plurality of side-panel members has been rotated about the at least one hinge member, toward said outer surface of the hold-down frame and the ends of the form no longer create a closed perimeter.