U.S. patent application number 11/330141 was filed with the patent office on 2006-07-20 for concrete slab corner support.
Invention is credited to Zach Stateson.
Application Number | 20060156660 11/330141 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36682389 |
Filed Date | 2006-07-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060156660 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Stateson; Zach |
July 20, 2006 |
Concrete slab corner support
Abstract
A concrete slab corner support is a unitary corner support and
reinforcement element for a concrete slab or the like. The corner
support element is placed inside the corner of a form prior to
pouring concrete therein to form a concrete slab. A corner support
is placed in each corner of the form and affixed to the form with
nails, or screws through break-away flanges extending outward from
the upper end of the support. The corner support is an angle
element forming two walls defined by a center angle bend and the
outer edges thereof. A series of rod-like or finger-like anchors
extend from the inner sides of the walls inwardly toward the middle
of the form. These anchors help the corner support to remain
attached to the pad or foundation when the process is complete.
Once the concrete has set, the forms and bread-away flanges are
removed.
Inventors: |
Stateson; Zach; (Aubrey,
TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LITMAN LAW OFFICES, LTD
PO BOX 15035
CRYSTAL CITY STATION
ARLINGTON
VA
22215
US
|
Family ID: |
36682389 |
Appl. No.: |
11/330141 |
Filed: |
January 12, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60644589 |
Jan 19, 2005 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
52/275 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04B 5/32 20130101; E04G
21/185 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/275 |
International
Class: |
E04B 1/00 20060101
E04B001/00; E04B 5/00 20060101 E04B005/00 |
Claims
1. A concrete slab corner support for attachment to slab form
corners, comprising: an elongated, vertically disposed angle plate
having a pair of sidewalls, each said sidewall having an inner side
and an outer side, said pair of sidewalls defining an angle plate
bend, said elongated, vertically disposed angle plate having a
lower end portion, an upper end portion, and outer vertical edges;
a break-away fastener flange extending outward from at least one of
said sidewalls and extending from said upper end portion thereof
for attachment to the upper edge of the slab form; and, a plurality
of spaced anchors extending inward from the inner side of at least
one of said pair of angle plate sidewalls, whereby said concrete
slab corner support is placed on the inner side of a corner of said
slab form for pouring a concrete slab, said plurality of spaced
anchors extending into said concrete slab, whereby upon the pouring
and setting of the concrete slab, the form is removed, and said at
least one fastener flange is broken away and removed.
2. The concrete slab corner support as recited in claim 1, wherein
said plurality of spaced anchors are each elongated rods.
3. The concrete slab corner support as recited in claim 2, wherein
each said elongated rod extends inwardly from points approximately
halfway between said angle bend and one of said sidewall edges.
4. The concrete slab corner support as recited in claim 2, wherein
each said elongated rod has a distal end mounted to one of said
pair of sidewalls, each said elongated rod further having an
opposed proximal end terminating in a hook.
5. The concrete slab corner support as recited in claim 1, wherein
said plurality of anchors are flat extensions extending inwardly
from said outer vertical edges.
6. The concrete slab corner support as recited in claim 5, wherein
each said flat extension has an anchoring opening formed centrally
therethrough.
7. The concrete slab corner support as recited in claim 6, wherein
each said flat extension includes a central portion and a proximal
end, said proximal end having a greater width than the width of
said central portion.
8. The concrete slab corner support as recited in claim 1, further
comprising a pair of elongated flanges formed on said outer
vertical edges of said pair of sidewalls, respectively, said
elongated flanges extending inwardly and being positioned
substantially orthogonally to said pair of sidewalls.
9. The concrete slab corner support as recited in claim 1, wherein
said pair of sidewalls are contoured to form a plurality of
inwardly facing securement surfaces for said concrete slab.
10. The concrete slab corner support as recited in claim 9, wherein
at least one of said plurality of inwardly facing securement
surfaces is formed along said angle plate bend.
11. The concrete slab corner support as recited in claim 9, wherein
at least one of said plurality of inwardly facing securement
surfaces is defined by a recess formed in at least one of said pair
of sidewalls.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 60/644,589, filed Jan. 19, 2005.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to concrete corner protectors
and supports. More particularly, the present invention relates to a
concrete slab or column corner support having imbedded anchors.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Many corners of concrete pads are damaged in the pouring
process, prior to the concrete or other pourable setting material
being hardened and put into use. Present corner supports and
protectors are generally elongate angle elements, which are
connected to cover the exposed corner with adhesive. These types of
supports and protectors may easily deteriorate or be knocked away
from the corner, leaving it exposed.
[0006] The breaking off of corners of poured and set concrete
slabs, such as those used in housing, is a common problem. The
corner of the slab may break years after building the structure,
resulting in damage to brick or other materials resting on the
corner. It would be desirable to provide a corner support for
protecting and reinforcing the corners of poured concrete slabs. It
would also be desirable that such a support be resistant to
accidental damage and degradation, so as to provide reinforcement
and support to the concrete slab over a period of years.
[0007] Thus a concrete slab corner support solving the
aforementioned problems is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The concrete slab corner support of the present invention is
a unitary corner support and reinforcement element for a concrete
slab or the like. The corner support element is placed inside the
corner of a form prior to pouring concrete therein to form a
concrete slab. A corner support is placed in each corner of the
form and affixed to the form with nails, or screws through
break-away flanges extending outward from the upper end of the
support. The corner support is an angle element forming two walls
defined by a center angle bend and the outer edges thereof. A
series of rod-like or finger-like anchors extend from the inner
sides of the walls inwardly toward the middle of the form. These
anchors help the corner support to remain attached to the pad or
foundation when the process is complete.
[0009] Once the concrete has set, the forms are removed, the
break-away flanges being removed with the forms, leaving the
finished slab having, supported corners. The end result is a
concrete foundation having a series of corner supports. The corner
supports can be made from galvanized metal or any other material
that is capable of withstanding the environment and the load and
stresses encountered by the corner support.
[0010] These and other features of the present invention will
become readily apparent upon further review of the following
specification and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a concrete
slab corner support before pouring according to the present
invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the concrete slab corner
support of FIG. 1 after setting of poured concrete.
[0013] FIG. 3 is an environmental plan view of the concrete slab
corner support of FIG. 3.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
concrete slab corner support of the present invention as embedded
in a slab corner after setting.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a plan view of a stamping of corner plates to be
formed into the concrete pad corner plate of FIG. 4.
[0016] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of
the concrete slab corner support of the present invention as
embedded in a slab corner after setting.
[0017] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features
consistently throughout the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] The present invention is an anchored concrete pad corner
support and protector for use in the pouring of a concrete or other
setting material within a form to form a slab.
[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown an environmental
perspective view of the concrete slab corner support as attached to
a corner of a concrete pad form and an exploded view thereof,
respectively. The concrete slab corner support of the present
invention is referred to by the reference numeral 10 and is shown
in place in form F, as prepared for the pouring of concrete (not
shown). Corner support 10 includes a corner support angle plate 12,
preferably made of sheet metal and having two sidewalls 14, which
define a lengthwise angle plate bend 16. Angle plate bend 16 is
shown as being a right angle, however, any desired included angle
may be formed. Angle plate 12 has a lower end portion 18 and an
upper end portion 20, with angle plate break-away nail flanges 22
extending outward at right angles from respective angle plate
sidewalls 14, at the upper end portion 20 thereof. Break-away nail
flanges 22 are formed by stamping or machining a groove in the
sheet metal between the nail flanges 22 and the angle plate upper
end 18 in a conventional manner.
[0020] Angle plate 12 has outer vertical edges 28 oriented
substantially parallel with angle plate bend 16. Anchors 30 are
attached to the inner sides of angle plate sidewalls 14, preferably
extending perpendicular therefrom and spaced vertically along
vertical lines drawn approximately halfway between bend 16 and
respective angle plate outer edges 28. The anchors 30 are offset
along one sidewall 14 in relation to those along the other sidewall
14 so as to cross without interference (as shown in FIG. 3).
Anchors 30 include anchor rods 32 having remote hook ends 34, and
are attached to the inner sides of anchor plate 36 at anchor plate
proximate ends 36. Anchor hook ends 34 extend at right angles from
rods 32 to form a secure anchor within the concrete slab, once it
is poured.
[0021] The rods 32 are shown in FIG. 1 as being vertically aligned.
In some environments, and in use with particular materials, this
alignment could create a weak point in the slab. Thus,
alternatively, the rods 32 could be staggered, i.e., when viewed
from the vertical, the rods 32 would be arrayed at a variety of
angles with respect to one another and with respect to walls
14.
[0022] Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a plan view of the
corner support 10 as embedded in concrete slab C. In FIG. 3, The
form F has been removed and angle plate break-away nail flanges 22
have been separated from sidewalls 14. Anchors 30 extending
perpendicularly to the inner sides of angle plate sidewalls 14 are
shown embedded within concrete slab C. Corner support angle plate
12 protects and supports the corner of concrete slab C from
damage.
[0023] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, there is shown a perspective
view of another embodiment of the corner support of the present
invention and a plan view of a stamping of corner support flats to
be formed into the corner plate of FIG. 5, respectively. Corner
support 50 is preferably made of corrosion resistant sheet metal
and includes a corner support angle plate 52 having sidewalls 54,
forming an included angle plate bend 56. Angle plate bend 56 is
shown as a right angle, however any desired included angle may be
formed as desired. Angle plate 52 has a lower end portion 58 and an
upper end portion 60 and forms outer vertical edges 62. Anchors 64
are spaced along and extend from angle plate outer edges 62.
Anchors 64 are formed of anchor flats 66 and define inner anchor
bends 68 with sidewalls 54. Inner anchor bends 68 are preferably
right angle bends, however, they may be formed in any desired
included angle as desired. Anchor flats 66 have mushroom ends 70 to
provide a good anchor in the concrete slab C (see FIG. 3). Anchor
flats 66 are also shown defining anchor apertures 72 which also
enhance anchoring in the concrete slab C.
[0024] As best seen in FIG. 5, corner supports 50 may be
efficiently made and distributed as a stamping 80. Stamping 80
forms a plurality of corner supports 50 in flat form having
break-away portions 82 and corner support unit break-away lines 84.
The break-away lines are formed by stamping into the sheet metal to
form grooved weak points in a well-known manner. The angle plate
bends 56 and anchor bends 68 may be stamped in the stamping 80 as
shown to provide ease in bending to the desired angle by the user.
Break-away flanges 90 having nail receiving holes 92 may be bent
along a stamp formed groove or serrations for break-away from
corner supports 50 upon removal of the frame F from the set
concrete, in a manner similar to the embodiment of FIG. 1 as
described above. The break-away portions 82 are discarded.
[0025] Additionally, the user may wish to secure anchor apertures
72 to the slab's rebar, post tension cable or similar reinforcement
elements prior to the pouring of the concrete. Similarly, the
anchor rods 32 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 could be secured
to the reinforcement elements within the slab prior to pouring.
[0026] The corner supports of the present invention are preferably
made of corrosion resistant sheet and rod material of galvanized
metal, however, other appropriate material may be employed in their
construction.
[0027] The corner supports of the present invention may be of any
desired length for applications such as foundations, pillars, and
columns.
[0028] Further, in the alternative embodiment illustrated in FIG.
6, the corner support 50, shown in FIG. 4, includes a pair of
flanged extensions 100, which are formed along edges 68 and project
into the slab C in a substantially orthogonal direction to the
walls 54. The flanged extensions 100 strengthen the edges and
provide a further surface for the anchoring of the system 10 within
the concrete.
[0029] Additionally, at least one mid-plate anchor 110 is formed in
walls 54, through stamping and pressing or similar conventional
processes. The mid-plate anchor 110 provides for additional
securement to the concrete near the corner bend 56. A plurality of
mid-plate anchors 110 could be provided, depending upon the needs
and desires of the user. Additionally, a stamped recess 120 could
be formed along corner 56, providing an additional securement
surface for the concrete of the slab C.
[0030] A recess 130 could also be formed in each wall 54,
projecting inwardly, providing a further anchoring surface for the
concrete. Recess 130 could be used alone or in combination with the
alternative mid-plate anchors 110 and stamped recesses 120.
Further, a plurality of recesses 130 could be provided.
[0031] It is to be understood that the present invention is not
limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and
all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
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