A mating and fixing device for disposable forms

Abstract

 A mating and fixing device (1) for disposable forms made of plastic material for obtaining sanitary voids, ventilated air gaps, crawl spaces, ventilated floors and roofs, which have an upper surface (4) blended, at the corners (5), with vertically arranged lateral legs (6).
The device is constituted by at least one tab (11) which protrudes substantially longitudinally with respect to the lateral legs (6) and cooperates selectively with at least one seat (16) provided at the lateral legs (6).
The tab (11) and the seat (16) have a configuration and an arrangement which are adapted to allow the stacking of two or more forms.

Description

[0001] The present application relates to a mating and fixing device for disposable forms made of plastic material for obtaining sanitary voids, ventilated air gaps, crawl spaces, ventilated floors and roofs.

[0002] The use of disposable forms made of plastic material for obtaining ventilated air gaps, crawl spaces, ventilated floors and roofs has been known for many years.

[0003] US Patent 3,334,458 is known which relates to a form for foundations composed of a dome-shaped element that can be arranged adjacent to others in order to define a structure on which the casting of concrete is performed so as to obtain a ventilated floor slab.

[0004] Moreover, this solution has, at the archivolts, perimetric planar flanges that have protrusions, which protrude above said archivolts, so as to mutually connect adjacent domes (by folding said flanges).

[0005] This solution has drawbacks due to the connection between adjacent forms, which allows the infiltration of concrete during casting and therefore can fail to provide ventilation.

[0006] The concrete is in fact in the liquid phase and applies high pressures, especially on the legs.

[0007] EP0803618 is also known which claims two Italian priorities, and relates to a modular supporting and ventilation element for floors, and therefore to a form, in which a plurality of said modular elements can be coupled in order to provide a substantially continuous structure.

[0008] Stiffening means are present that pass through the center of the upper face and extend along the legs in which, at the upper face, there is at least one supporting and reinforcement pillar-like element in an underlying position.

[0009] However, these stiffening means and the pillar-like element do not solve the problem described earlier, because the pressure of the concrete in the liquid phase still entails the opening of the joint between adjacent forms because of the flexing of the legs, thus thwarting the function of the form.

[0010] Likewise, the presence of through slots on the upper face, which are arranged substantially at right angles to each other and define the seat for rods for reinforcing the layer of concrete, the depth of which is functionally correlated to the size of said reinforcement rods so that they lie below the upper surface of the upper face, does not solve the problem of the opening or flexing of the legs.

[0011] This technical problem becomes more significant as the height of the forms increases; for forms with a height of approximately forty-five centimeters it has been found that there is a problem of leg flexing also in the part comprised between the dome and the resting foot of the form due to the pressure of the concrete, which opens the joint between adjacent forms and therefore leaks and disperses in what should be the empty part of the crawl space, making the crawl space inefficient and causing an economic loss to the builder.

[0012] As a partial solution to this drawback, it is known that some building companies perform the casting in two steps: the first one only to fill the leg completely or partially, depending on the height, with a subsequent waiting time for hardening of the concrete; then a second casting is performed for the remaining part of the leg and for the thickness of the desired slab (upper layer).

[0013] This solution, however, has a considerable drawback, which is constituted by the long time needed to wait for the hardening of the first casting, which makes this solution economically unfeasible.

[0014] As a partial solution to this drawback, it is known to use rings that are arranged at the base of the legs before laying in order to improve the mutual fixing of the legs; even this solution, however, does not make it possible to solve the highlighted problem, because the joint between adjacent forms still opens, above the resting foot at approximately half-height, due to the flexing of the legs during the concrete casting step, said opening and the subsequent flexing becoming greater as the height of the legs increases.

[0015] It is also known to provide the legs with slots in which, after the forms have been placed mutually adjacent, a key is inserted which has a handle at one end of which there is an abutment with a circular plan shape from which a T-shaped retention means protrudes which is composed of a stem, protruding axially from said abutment and having a head that is arranged so as to be rotated through approximately ninety degrees with respect to said handle.

[0016] The head can be inserted in the slots and is then rotated so that it abuts against the adjacent surface of the leg and retains the other leg at the abutment provided on the handle.

[0017] The key is subject to possible detachments due also to an incorrect placement thereof by the operators, who have to insert four of them for each pillar of the form (one for each pair of adjacent legs).

[0018] Moreover, it is noted that the use of the key requires high precision in the mutually adjacent arrangement of the legs of the forms because if the slots between two adjacent legs do not match up, the insertion of the key is blocked; this misalignment can be due also to the imperfect planarity of the site in which the forms are arranged or due to the presence of residual material, such as very fine gravel, that has not been removed.

[0019] Likewise, this misalignment can also be due to different shrinkages of the recycled plastic material.

[0020] Moreover, the slots can also be blocked by the flashes of plastic material that form during molding because of the recycled material.

[0021] Moreover, there are two further problems: the first one is the management of a second part (the key) and the second one is the difficulty in inserting the key after placing the forms on the ground, in an awkward position for the operator; both of these problems, moreover, increase laying costs.

[0022] The aim of the present invention is therefore to solve the highlighted technical problems, eliminating the drawbacks of the cited background art and therefore devising an invention that makes it possible to obtain a ventilated floor slab by using disposable forms made of plastic material for obtaining sanitary voids, ventilated air gaps, crawl spaces, ventilated floors and roofs, which allow casting of the concrete in a single step, maintaining the forms in the correct position and avoiding possible openings of the joint between adjacent forms due to the flexing of the legs under the pressure of the concrete.

[0023] Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a device that allows stable mutually adjacent arrangement of the forms in a manner which is quick and easy for the installers.

[0024] Another object is to obtain a device that is structurally simple and convenient to be used, that has both low provision costs and installation costs and can be provided with usual known systems.

[0025] This aim and these and other objects that will become more apparent hereinafter are achieved by a mating and fixing device for disposable forms made of plastic material for obtaining sanitary voids, ventilated air gaps, crawl spaces, ventilated floors and roofs, which have an upper surface that is blended, at the corners, with vertically arranged lateral legs, characterized in that it is constituted by at least one tab, which protrudes substantially longitudinally with respect to said lateral legs and cooperates selectively with at least one seat provided at said lateral legs, said at least one tab and at least one seat having a configuration and an arrangement which are adapted to allow stacking of two or more of said forms.

[0026] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the detailed description of a particular but not exclusive embodiment, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top perspective view of the form;

Figure 2 is a bottom perspective view of the form;

Figure 3 is a bottom view of the form;

Figure 4 is a top view of the form;

Figure 5 is a first side view of the form;

Figure 6 is a second side view of the form;

Figure 7 is a top view of a series of mutually coupled forms;

Figure 8 is a sectional view along the plane VIII-VIII of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a sectional view along the plane IX-IX of Figure 7, in which the rear form is also highlighted;

Figure 10 is a side view of a series of mutually coupled forms;

Figure 11 is a view of a detail of the mating and fixing device;

Figures 12, 13 and 14 are views, similar to the previous ones, of other solutions for the mating and fixing device.

[0027] In the exemplary embodiments that follow, individual characteristics, given in relation to specific examples, may actually be interchanged with other different characteristics that exist in other exemplary embodiments.

[0028] With reference to the figures cited previously, the reference numeral 1 designates a mating and fixing device for disposable forms 2 made of plastic material for obtaining sanitary voids, ventilated air gaps, crawl spaces, ventilated floors and roofs.

[0029] Each form 2 made of plastic material has an upper surface 4, which is flat or arc-like and has a polygonal plan shape, preferably a square or rectangular one.

[0030] The upper surface 4 is blended, at the corners 5, with four lateral legs 6, which are arranged vertically so as to act as a support for the form.

[0031] The lateral legs 6 and the upper surface 4 are mutually blended by arches 7 which delimit openings 8.

[0032] Lips 9, which have a substantially U-shaped transverse cross-section, are present and protrude at said openings 8 and at the arches 7 so as to form a base 14; said lips are adapted to allow partial overlapping with other lips of adjacent forms.

[0033] At the base of the legs 6 there are adapted feet 10 for resting on the ground that have suitable centering and engagement means for other forms.

[0034] During use, in fact, the forms are arranged against each other and the lips 9 partially overlap so as to form a structural continuity over which to cast the concrete.

[0035] The mating and fixing device 1 can be applied to disposable forms made of plastic material for sanitary voids, ventilated air gaps, crawl spaces, ventilated floors and roofs because the legs of known products flex and open under the pressure of the concrete during casting.

[0036] The device is constituted by at least one tab 11, which has a substantially conical or frustum-like shape.

[0037] In the particular embodiment shown, the tab 11 has a conical shape with the vertex 12 directed toward the foot 10 of the lateral leg 6.

[0038] The tab 11 protrudes substantially longitudinally to the lateral leg 6 at a step 13 provided at the base 14 of the lip 9, preferably approximately halfway along the height of said leg 6.

[0039] The step 13 protrudes toward the outside of the base 14 of the lip 9 so as to form, in the direction of the foot 10, a protrusion 15 that is substantially parallel to the base 14 of the lip 9 and terminates by blending with the foot 10.

[0040] The tab 11 protrudes downward to the rear of the protrusion 15.

[0041] In the particular embodiment shown, the tabs 11 protrude at two adjacent openings 8 of said legs 6.

[0042] Moreover, at least one seat 16 forms part of the device 1, cooperates selectively with said at least one tab 11 and is shaped complementary thereto.

[0043] Advantageously, said seat 16 is constituted by a hole within which said tab 11 can be arranged selectively.

[0044] The at least one seat 16 also is provided at said lateral leg 6; in the particular embodiment, the seat 16 is provided at a step 17.

[0045] The step 17 is, again in the particular embodiment, provided at the base 14 of the lip 9, at a height comprised between said foot 10 and the connection to the upper surface 4 and in any case at such a height as to allow cooperation with the tabs 11.

[0046] Preferably, the step 17 is provided approximately halfway along the height of said leg 6 and in any case at a slightly different height than the step 13, in order to allow optimum overlapping.

[0047] The step 17 protrudes toward the outside of the base 14 of the lip 9 so as to form, in the direction of the foot 10, a similar protrusion 15 that is substantially parallel to the base 14 of the lip 9 and terminates by blending with the foot 10.

[0048] In the particular embodiment shown, the seats 16 are provided at two adjacent openings 8 of said legs 6 that are not affected by said tabs 11.

[0049] Considering each individual opening 8, the accompanying figures show parts of two legs in which each one has either a tab 11 or a seat 16.

[0050] During the mating of the forms 2, the overlapping of the lips 9 corresponds to the insertion of the tabs 11 in the seats 16 and the subsequent mutual locking of the legs 6 of the adjacent forms 2.

[0051] It is therefore very easy to arrange and mutually associate the forms while keeping the legs mutually jointly coupled; moreover, the particular arrangement of the tabs, which are arranged substantially longitudinally to the legs 6, increases, during the casting of the concrete, the mating and locking between the legs, which thus cannot be subjected to any flexing, keeping the structure stable.

[0052] In practice it has been found that the invention has achieved the intended aim and objects, an invention having been obtained which allows the use of disposable forms made of plastic material for sanitary voids, ventilated air gaps, crawl spaces, ventilated floors and roofs that allow performing the concrete casting in a single step while keeping the forms in the correct position and avoiding any openings of the joint between adjacent forms due to flexing of the legs under the pressure of the concrete.

[0053] Moreover, the invention allows installers to quickly and easily arrange the forms mutually adjacent, obtaining, already in this step, the mutual stable interconnection thereof and thus avoiding any openings of the joint between adjacent forms at the legs and thus preventing the concrete from leaking into the cavity below the forms during the casting step.

[0054] Finally, the invention allows mutual coupling and fixing of the legs of said forms without requiring the use of any additional element or of particular skill by the installer, reducing at the same time the laying time and the total costs.

[0055] Finally, the shape and arrangement of the tabs 11 and of the seats 16 make it possible to achieve stacking of multiple forms, optimizing the costs for storage and transport.

[0056] Of course, the materials used, as well as the dimensions that constitute the individual components of the invention, may be more pertinent to the specific requirements.

[0057] The various means for performing certain different functions need not certainly coexist only in the illustrated embodiment but can be present per se in many embodiments, including embodiments that are not illustrated.

[0058] Thus, for example, in Figure 12 the mating and fixing device is constituted again by a tab 11, which has a substantially conical or frustum-like shape that, in the particular embodiment shown, has a limited length and a vertex 12 that is directed toward the foot (not shown) of the lateral leg.

[0059] The device is also constituted by at least one seat 16 that cooperates selectively with the at least one tab 11 and is shaped complementary thereto.

[0060] Advantageously, the seat 16 has a box-like shape and accommodates the tab 11 inside it.

[0061] Figure 13 shows a mating and fixing device which is constituted again by a tab 11, which has a substantially lance-like shape and a vertex directed toward the foot (not shown) of the lateral leg.

[0062] The tab 11 protrudes toward the outside of the base 14 of the lip 9 so as to form, in the direction of the foot, a protrusion 15 that is substantially parallel to the base 14 of the lip 9 and terminates by blending with the foot.

[0063] The device is further constituted by at least one seat 16 that cooperates selectively with said at least one tab 11 and is shaped complementary thereto.

[0064] Advantageously, the seat 16 has a pocket-like shape so as to accommodate the tab 11 inside it and protrudes at the base 14 of the lip 9, at such a height as to allow cooperation with the tabs 11.

[0065] Figure 14 illustrates a mating and fixing device in which there are again a tab 11 and a seat 16, which however are provided in a mirror-symmetrical fashion with respect to the solution illustrated in Figure 13, the tab 11 protruding toward the inside of the base 14 of the lip 9 to form, in the direction of the foot, a protrusion 15 that is substantially parallel to the base 14 of the lip 9 and terminates by blending with the foot (not illustrated).

[0066] In a further variation, not shown, the step 13 can also protrude toward the inside of the base 14 of the lip 9, and so can the step 17.

[0067] In a further variation, not shown, the at least one tab 11 can protrude downward, to the rear of the protrusion 15, or upward, in front of the base 14 of the lip 9.

[0068] The number of the tabs 11 and seats 16 can also vary depending on the specific requirements; thus, for example, two seats 16 and two tabs 11 can be used for each device.

[0069] The characteristics indicated as advantageous, convenient or the like may also be omitted or be replaced with equivalents.

[0070] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. TV2011A000168 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

[0071] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A mating and fixing device (1) for disposable forms made of plastic material for obtaining sanitary voids, ventilated air gaps, crawl spaces, ventilated floors and roofs, which have an upper surface (4) blended, at the corners (5), with vertically arranged lateral legs (6), characterized in that it is constituted by at least one tab (11) which protrudes substantially longitudinally with respect to said lateral legs (6) and cooperates selectively with at least one seat (16) provided at said lateral legs (6), said at least one tab (11) and at least one seat (16) having a configuration and an arrangement which are adapted to allow stacking of two or more of said forms.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said lateral legs (6) and said upper surface (4) are mutually blended by arches (7) which delimit openings (8) at which lips (9) having a substantially U-shaped transverse cross-section are present and protrude so as to form a base (14), at the base of said legs (6) adapted feet (10) being provided for resting on the ground, characterized in that it is constituted by at least one tab (11) which has a substantially conical or frustum-like shape, said at least one tab (11) protruding substantially longitudinally to said lateral leg (6).

3. The device according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said at least one tab (11) is provided at said lateral leg (6) substantially at a height comprised between said foot (10) and the beginning of the blending with said upper surface (4) of said leg (6) and in any case at such a height as to allow said at least one tab (11) to cooperate with said at least one seat (6).

4. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one seat (16) which cooperates selectively with said at least one tab (11) and is shaped substantially complementary thereto.

5. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one seat (16) is constituted by at least one hole within which it is possible to arrange selectively said at least one tab (11).

6. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one seat (16) is provided at said lateral leg (6) substantially at a height comprised between said foot (10) and the beginning of the blending with said upper surface (4) of said leg (6) and in any case at such a height as to allow said seat (16) to cooperate with said at least one tab (11).

7. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that considering each individual one of said openings (8), each one of two of said legs is provided individually with either a tab (11) or a seat (16).

8. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one tab (11) protrudes substantially longitudinally to said lateral leg (6) downward or upward at a step (13) provided at said base (14) of said lip (9).

9. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that said step (13) protrudes toward the outside or the inside of said base (14) of said lip (9) so as to form, in the direction of said foot (10) or of said upper surface (4), a protrusion (15) which is substantially parallel to said base (14) of said lip (9).

10. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that said at least one tab (11) protrudes downward to the rear of said protrusion (15) or upward in front of said base (14) of said lip (9).

11. The device according to claims 1 and 10, characterized in that said step (17) protrudes toward the outside or the inside of said base (14) of said lip (9) so as to form, in the direction of said foot (10) or in the direction of said upper surface (4), said protrusion (15) which is substantially parallel to said base (14) of said lip (9).

12. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a tab (11) which has a conical shape with a vertex (12) of limited length, said device being further constituted by at least one seat (16) which has a box-like shape in order to accommodate said tab (11) inside it.

13. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a tab (11) which is substantially lance-shaped, said device having at least one pocket-shaped seat (16) which cooperates selectively with said at least one tab (11) and is shaped complementary thereto.

14. The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one tab (11) and said at least one seat (16) protrude toward the inside or the outside of said base (14) of said lip (9).

Drawing