US3204918A - Concrete wall form panel units and connecting means therefor - Google Patents

Description

P 1965 G. BONIN ETAL 3,204,918

CONCRETE WALL FORM PANEL UNITS AND CONNECTING MEANS THEREFOR Filed April 23, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 q /NVEN7'0R5 LAWRENCE a. BON/N WILL/AM 6. SMITH ATT'X Sept. 7, 1965 L. G. BONIN ETAL 3,204,918

CONCRETE WALL FORM PANEL UNITS AND CONNECTING MEANS THEREFOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aprll 25, 1962 //V VE/V TORS $0 a4 mo /96 m 0H 7 a .T 5 we M P MW B P 1965 e. BONIN ETAL 3,204,918

CONCRETE WALL FORM PANEL .UNITS AND CONNECTING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Aprll 23, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 56 z I I n; "Hiih' l //VI/E'N7'0RS LA WRENCE G. BUN/N W/LL/AM 6. SMITH P 1965 L. G. BONIN ETAL 3,204,918

CONCRETE WALL FORM PANEL UNITS AND CONNECTING MEANS THEREFOR Filed April 23, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 "/76 "/74 /ao #16 L64- /64 /26 /96 E- 5 /Z6 A56 //VVNTOR$ ZAWRENC'E G. EON/N W/LL/AM 6. 5M/ TH ATT'X United States Patent 3,204,918 CONCRETE WALL FORM PANEL UNITS AND CONNECTING MEANS THEREFOR Lawrence G. Bonin, Chicago, and William G. Smith,

Elgin, 111., assignors to Symons Mfg. Company, Des

Plaines, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 23, 1962, Ser. (No. 189,588 SClaims. (CL 249-191) The present invention relates to concrete wall forms of the panel type and wherein opposed wall forms are each constructed or fabricated of a group of rectangular panel units in edge-to-edge relationship, with the wet concrete being poured into the space existing between the wall forms and with the two wall forms being connected together in spaced apart relationship by combined tie and spreader devices to prevent the forms from bulging outwardly under the thrust or weight of the wet concrete. The panel units commonly employed in this type of wall form consist of plywood facings against which the wet concrete lies. Marginal stiffening and strengthening frames are applied to the outer sides of the facings and serve to reinforce the panel units, such frames consisting of marginal horizontal and vertical members and intermediate crossbars which may extend either horizontally or vertically and are connected at their ends to the horizontal or the vertical marginal frame members.

The present invention is particularly concerned with wall forms of this type but which are known as prefabricated wall forms in that the individual panel units are assembled at the factory rather than in the field, and in that the plywood reinforcing frames, including the marginal vertical and horizontal members and any intermediate crossbars which may be employed, are in the form of lengths of steel channel or angle stock which may be rolled to special shape and perforated, notched, grooved and otherwise fashioned in order properly to receive therein the edges of the plywood facings, as well as to facilitate the use of suitable fastening devices or other concrete form hardware whereby the adjacent panel units may be fastened together.

There has long been upon the market a class of reusable prefabricated panel units which are known as Steel-Ply units and manufactured and sold by Symons Clamp & Mfg. Co., of Chicago, Illinois (now Symons Mfg. Company of Des Plaines, Illinois). A Steel-Ply panel unit differs from conventional prefabricated panel units in that the marginal frame members thereof are of outwardly facing shallow channel configuration so that when like units are positioned in edge-to-edge relationship to build up a concrete wall form, the channel ribs of adjacent marginal members abut each other and maintain the channel webs slightly spaced apart. The channel ribs are notched at intervals along the members and the notches enable the looped or apertured ends of combined tie and spreader devices to be inserted into the spaces existing between the channel webs. Holes which are formed in the webs of the marginal frame members at the level of the notches serve the purpose of receiving the slotted shank portions of T-bolts therethrough. The T-bolts are passed through the ends of the tie rods and the T-bolts are held in position by wedges which are driven through the slots in the shanks of the T-bolts. As the wedges are driven in place, they draw the abutting marginal frame members of adjacent panel units together 3,264,918 ?atented Sept. 7, 1965 due to extremely high tensional forces in the T-bolts. These T-bolts and wedges frequently constitute the sole means for effecting panel interconnection. Furthermore, these T-bolts and wedges are readily removable for concrete wall form dismantling operations, it being necessary merely to knock out the wedges and slide the T-bolts from their holes, thus releasing the panel units. The present invention is specifically concerned with such concrete wall form panel units as the Steel-Ply type.

In the erection of any given wall form installation utilizing Steel-Ply panel units, due to the large quantity of hardware necessary to attach the various units together, it is customary for the workmen performing the erection and operating upon the scaffolding to carry with them large buckets of T-bolts and wedges. During such operations, the loss of hardware is appreciable, especially in inclement weather when it is hard to find the bolts or wedges in the mud. The cost of labor and materials are increased accordingly.

Another limitation that is attendant upon the use of conventional wedge and T-bolt assemblies, in connection with the joining together of Steel-Ply panel units, is the care that must be taken in properly positioning and interconnecting each T-bolt, wedge and tie rod assembly at the point of attachment to the adjacent panel units. The T- bolts are flat and the holes through which they pass are in the form of elongated slots. Therefore, the T-bolts must be angularly oriented to fit them through the slots. After a given T-bolt has been pushed through a pair of adjacent slots, it is customary to hang the looped end of a tie rod on the projecting end of the T-bolt shank preparatory to driving the wedge to its home position to unite the parts. Frequently the tie rod slips from the end of the T-bolt shank and must be retrieved and the effort repeated. A miscalculated blow upon a wedge will occasionally displace the wedge from its operative position, thus endangering the safety of workmen in the immediate vicinity. Exemplary of one attempt to minimize loss of tie rod from the ends of T-bolts is the special grooved T-bolt which is shown and described in and forms the subject matter of United States Patent No. 2,997,769, granted on August 29, 1961 to George F. Bowden and entitled Tie Rod Assembly for Concrete Wall Form Panels.

The present invention is designed to overcome the above-noted limitations that are attendant upon the construction, installation and use of conventional T-bolt and wedge assemblies in connection with the fastening of Steel-Ply panel units in position in a concrete wall form assembly and, toward this end, it contemplates the provision of a novel concrete wall form panel unit of the Steel-Ply type and wherein the unit itself has permanently associated therewith the necessary hardware whereby it may be joined to a like panel in edge-to-edge relation. The provision of a panel unit of this type constitutes a general and principal object of the present invention.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a prefabricated concrete wall form panel unit wherein the hardware which is permanently associated therewith does not differ appreciably in character from the conventional T-bolt and wedge assemblies by means of which the ends of tie rods are held in place, and in which the T-bolts of one panel unit are counterparts of and cooperate with the wedges of a like panel unit when the two panel units are assembled with respect to each other, the positioning of the T-bolts and wedges on the units being such that when the units are brought together in their normal edge-to-edge relationship, each of the T-bolts of one panel unit will register with a wedge of an adjacent panel unit, and vice versa.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a prefabricated concrete wall form panel unit having captured panel-connecting hardware as outlined above and wherein the bolts associated with the unit are movable between a retracted inoperative position of unit-release and an extended operative position of unit-engagement or connection, the bolts at all times and in either position thereof remaining in accurate registry with the adjacent holes through which they are projected for unit-engaging purposes so that at no time is it necessary for the operator to resort to bolt-aligning operations as is the case with conventional loose concrete wall form hardware.

A similar and related object of the invention is to provide such a panel unit wherein the associated wedges are movable between a retracted position of bolt-release and an advanced position of bolt-engagement, registry between the bolts and wedges being automatically attained as soon as each bolt is projected to its advanced position so that customary wedge-aligning operations are not required.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel form of permanently attachable bolt and wedge assembly which is designed primarily for a Steel-Ply panel unit and is capable of manufacture as original equipment on a new unit as well as being capable of application to an existing panel unit.

Finally, it is an object of the invention to provide a panel unit having permanently associated therewith the necessary hardware whereby it may be joined to a like panel, and wherein the various elements of such hardware are at all times maintained within the transverse confines of the panel unit so that there are no laterally projecting parts which otherwise would interfere with stacking of like units for shipment or storage or would be likely to catch upon adjacent objects in handling the panel unit.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will readily suggest themselves as the following description ensues.

In the accompanying four sheets of drawings forming a part of this specification, two illustrative embodiments of the invention have been shown.

In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view, partly in section, of one side of a concrete wall form installation, showing a number of panel units constructed according to one form of the present invention operatively installed therein in edge-to-edge relationship;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a limited portion of a complete installation including both sides of the form, the fragment being in the vicinity of a novel bolt and wedge assembly forming part of the invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the vertical plane indicated by the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3 but showing two adjacent panel units in exploded fashion arranged in juxtaposition immediately prior to assembly operations;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the horizontal plane indicated by the line 55 of FIG. 2 and in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 5 but showing a modified form of the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 7.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and in particular to FIG. 1, a fragmentary portion of one side of a composite concrete wall form of the metal-reinforced panel unit type has been illustrated herein and designated in its entirety by the reference numeral 10. The wall form 10 is made up of a series of rectangular panel units, only three of which have been fragmentarily shown herein at 12, 14 and 16, the panel 14 being arranged in edge-to-edge relationship with respect to the panels 12 and 16.

Each panel unit is of the Steel-Ply type, which is to say, that it is in the form of a generally rectangular plywood facing 18 having a steel marginal reinforcing frame applied to the outer face thereof, such frame consisting of vertical and horizontal marginal frame bars 20 and 22 and only the upper horizontal frame bar of each panel unit being shown herein. The bars 20 extend in contiguity at the juncture between the panel units 14- and 16 and between the panel units 14 and 12. As shown in FIG. 2, the wall form 10 is arranged in spaced opposition to a similar wall form 11 and is maintained in spaced relationship from such wall form by means of conventional tie rod and spreader devices, hereinafter referred to simply as tie rod assemblies, and one of which appears at 24 in FIG. 2. Intermediate horizontal crossbars 26 in the form of angle bars extend across each panel unit and such crossbars have their ends secured by welding to the opposed faces of the two vertical marginal frame bars 20. Specifically, the vertical marginal frame bars 20 are of shallow channel shape in transverse cross section and each bar includes inside and outside marginal ribs or flanges 3t) and 32 and a connecting web portion 34. A lateral flange 35 which is spaced inwardly a slight distance from the inside edge of each frame bar affords a right angle recess 36 in which the adjacent vertical edge of the plywood facing 18 seats with its inside face extending flush with the inside edge of the frame bars 20 and 22.

In erecting the concrete wall form 10, the two panel units 14 and 16 are brought into contiguity with adjacent vertical frame bars 20 abutting each other so that the respective ribs 30 and 32 are in edge-to-edge abutting relationship while the web portions 34 remain slightly separated. At vertically spaced regions along the marginal ribs 30 and 32, pairs of transversely registering notches 42 are provided and these notches, when the frame bars are in contiguity, define therebetween horizontal channel voids adapted to receive therethrough the tie rods proper of the tie rod assemblies 24. A rectangular hole 46 is formed in the web portion 34 at the horizontal level of each pair of notches 42 and is adapted to receive therethrough, where a conventional Steel-Ply panel unit is concerned, the shank of the T -bolt of the usual bolt and wedge assembly whereby the frame bars 20 may be drawn together. In the present instance, however, and as will be described in detail presently, the rectangular hole 46 is designed to receive therethrough the shank portion of the bolt of a specially constructed T-bolt and wedge assembly which, to a large extent, constitutes the principal feature of the present invention. Such a T-bolt and wedge assembly has been illustrated in detail in FIG. 3 of the drawings hereof and is designated in its entirety by the reference numeral 50. The horizontal frame bars 22 are substantially identical in their construction to the vertical frame bars 20 and, to avoid needless repetition of description, similar reference characters have been applied to the corresponding parts of both frame bars.

The arrangement of parts thus far described, with the exception of the brief reference to the T-bolt and wedge assembly 50, is more or less conventional in its design and construction and no claim is made herein to any novelty associated with the same. Concrete wall forms of this. type may vary widely in their details of construction and it will be understood that the wall form illustrated herein is purely exemplary of one embodiment of a concrete wall form embodying panel units employing the novel T-bolt and wedge assembly 50. Such wall forms may include numerous other articles of concrete hardware, such as waler-supporting brackets, panel-aligning devices, and the,

like, only such portions of a wall form as bear a relation to the present invention being illustrated herein.

As previously stated, the T-bolt and wedge assembly 50 of the present invention does not deviate appreciably in function from a conventional T-bolt and wedge assembly in that it is designed to draw the adjacent edges of the panel units hard together for panel-aligning and -erection purposes, as well as to constitute an anchor point for the adjacent end of one of the tie rod assemblies 24. A conventional T-bolt, tie rod and wedge assembly is shown and described in United States Patent No. 2,948,045, granted on August 9, 1960 and entitled Tie Rod Assembly for Concrete Wall Forms and Cone Therefor. The T-bolt and wedge assembly 50 of the present invention differs structurally from a conventional T-bolt and wedge assembly in that the component parts thereof are permanently attached to the panel units with which they are associated in a novel manner for immediate cooperation when adjacent like panel units are brought into operative edge-to-edge relationship for wall form erecting purposes as will now be more fully described in detail.

Inasmuch as counterpart or similar assemblies of the T-bolt and wedge assembly 50 exist on different panel units, the assembly is complete only when adjacent panel units containing these counterpart assemblies are assembled upon each other in edge-to-edge relationship as shown in FIG. 3. Each assembly 50 is comprised of a T-bolt assembly 52 and a wedge assembly 54, the bolt assembly 52 of FIG. 3 being disposed upon the panel unit 14 and the wedge assembly '54 being disposed upon the panel unit 16.

The bolt assembly 52 involves in its general organization a T-bolt proper 55 (hereinafter termed simply as the T-bolt) and an anchor post 56 therefor whereby the assembly may be permanently affixed to one of the intermediate horizontal crossbars 26 which constitutes a support therefor. The anchor post 56 is in the form of a short cylindrical stud which is riveted as at 60 and welded as at 62 to the horizontal flange 64 of the crossbar 26 (see FIG. 6) and is provided with a threaded socket 66 therein. A pin 68 has its externally threaded shank portion 70 threadedly received within the socket 66 and, when fully received therein, the head portion 72 f the pin assumes an elevated position above the upper end of the anchor post 56 so as to leave a length of the shank portion 70 exposed. Before threaded reception in the socket 66, the shank portion 70 of the pin 68 is passed through an elongated, longitudinally extending slot 74 in the T-bolt 55 in order that the T-bolt is permanently captured by the stud and loosely retained thereon at all times.

The T-bolt 55 is in the form of a length of flat steel bar stock having a wide rear section '76 (see FIG. and a reduced forward section 7 S. The T-bolt is loosely slidable on the stud 56 between a retracted position wherein its extreme forward end just enters the adjacent hole 46 in the panel unit 14, and an advanced or projected position wherein the reduced section 78 is projected through both of the adjacent registering holes 46 in the web portions 34 of the frame members 20 of the panel units 14 and 16. It is to be noted at this point that the anchor post 56 is so disposed on the horizontal flange 64 and the length of the slot 74 is such that, when the T-bolt 55 is in its retracted position, the forward end of the T-bolt just enters the adjacent hole 46. Thus, the T-bolt may not be completely withdrawn from the adjacent hole 46 and, therefore, the T-bolt is constrained to slide endwise along the intermediate crossbar 26 and is prevented from angular turning movement in a horizontal plane. In its advanced projected position, the shoulders 80 which exist at the juncture region between the sections 76 and 78 abut against the adjacent vertical frame member 20 of the panel unit 14, while an appreciable portion of the section 73 projects outwardly beyond the vertical frame member 26 of the panel unit 16, as shown in both FIGS. 3 and 4. This section 7 8 of the T-bolt is provided therein with an elongated slot 82 which is designed for reception of a wedge proper 84, the latter being associated with and forming a part of the wedge assembly 54 as will be described in detail presently.

As best shown in FIG. 2, when the T-bolt 55 is moved to its advanced position so that the reduced section 78 thereof is projected through the adjacent rectangular holes 46, this reduced section is adapted to extend through a slot 96 in the adjacent end of a tie rod 92 forming a part of the tie rod assembly 24, said adjacent end of the tie rod entering the void which exists between the adjacent web portions 34 and passing through a pair of the registering notches 42. The purpose of the T-bolt S5 is thus two fold in that it serves to maintain the edges of adjacent panel units in contiguity, and also serves as anchor points for the adjacent end of the tie rod 92. The particular tie rod illustrated herein forms no part of the present invention. For descriptive purposes herein it is suflicient to state that the tie rod 92 and similar tie rods extend between the two opposed wall forms and serve to maintain them in their proper spaced relationship. Said tie rod has associated therewith shoulderforming elements 94- which are commonly referred to as spacer cones and serve to prevent inward movement of the panel units with respect to the tie rods.

The wedge assembly 54 is shown in detail in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 and comprises the previously mentioned wedge proper 84 (hereinafter referred to simply as the wedge) and a supporting post 96. The post 96 is in the form of a flat bar which is welded in upstanding position as at 98 to the horizontal flange 64 of the crossbar 26 of the panel unit 16. The wedge 84 is generally of L-shape configuration and includes a relatively long swinging arm section 160 and a tapered wedge section 102 which is connected to the distal end of and extends at right angles to the section 106. The forward edge 104 of the wedge section 162 is curved for clearance purposes where this wedge section approaches the adjacent vertical frame member 2t? of the panel unit 16. A loose pin and slot connection 106 connects the proximate end of the arm section 160 to the post 96. The post 96 is so disposed upon the flange 64 that, as the wedge 34 swings in the vertical plane in which it is constrained to move, the wedge section 102 moves from a retracted inoperative position remote from the adjacent frame member 20 as shown in FIG. 4 to an advanced operative position Wherein it substantially abuts the frame member and the pointed end region thereof enters the slot 32 of the adjacent T-bolt 55 on the panel 14 when the T-bolt is in its advanced projected position as shown in FIG. 3. In order to permit the wedge section 102 to move to its home position Within the slot 82 for wedging purposes, a clearance slot 108 is formed in the horizontal flange 64 immediately below the projected reduced section 78 of the T-bolt 55.

In the operation of the T-bolt and wedge assembly 50 of the present invention, in the erection of a given form installation, such as that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, adjacent panel units, such as the units 14 and 16, or the units 12 and 14, are brought into edge-to-edge contiguity in the usual manner of erection and, when properly aligned, the holes 46 in the adjacent vertical frame members 20 will move into registry. It is then necessary merely to project the T-bolt 55 to its advanced position so that the reduced section 78 thereof is projected completely through the adjacent registering holes 46 and so that the slot 82 is exposed for wedge-receiving purposes. Thereafter, the wedge 84 on the adjacent panel unit is swung from its retracted position to its advanced position so that the wedge section 1132 thereof enters the slot 82 and draws the T-bolt forwardly to cause the shoulders thereof to bear hard against the adjacent vertical frame member 20 of the panel unit 12 while at the same time the curved forward edge 104 bears hard against its adjacent vertical frame member 20 of the panel unit 14, thus forcing the two panel units together. Prior to projection of the T-bolt 55 through the registering holes 46, the adjacent end of the tie rod 92 is caused to enter the space existing between the slightly spaced web portions of the adjacent vertical frame member so that the T -bolt 55 may pass through the slot 90 in such end of the tie rod.

It is to be noted that the upper edge of the swinging arm section 100 of the wedge 84 affords an increased striking surface for driving the wedge to its home position through the slot 82 in the T-bolt 55, conventional wedges requiring that the blows be struck close to the vertical frame member. It also is to be noted that, when the panels are in their free state, neither the T- bolt 5 nor the wedge 84 can turn angularly about a vertical axis and thus these two elements are at all times wholly contained within the lateral confines of the panel unit. Thus, at no time does either element or part of the assemblySl) present any protruding parts which might interfere with normal stacking or handling of the panel units.

It also is to be noted that, in the form of the panel units 12, 14 and 16 illustrated herein for exemplary purposes, each of the intermediate horizontal crossbars 26 does not have a T-bolt and wedge assembly 56 associated therewith. Certain of the registering holes 46 in the vert1- cal frame members 29 are without function and do not receive T-bolts therethrough. This is because the invention has been illustrated in connection with existing wall form panel units of the .Steel-Ply type to which the present invention has been applied. Where the invention is to be applied to the panel units as original equipment at the factory, it is contemplated that the only holes/i6 which shall be formed in the web portions of the vertical frame members will be such holes as are intended for cooperation with adjacent sliding T-bolt 55 and that, furthermore, the notches 42 in the vicinity of such holes 46 shall also be omitted.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, a slightly different form of connecting means for a pair of adjacent panel units has been illustrated. The panel units shown in these two views are substantially the same as the panel units 12, 14 and 16 shown in FIG. 1 and the permanently attached connecting hardware by means of which the two un1ts are detachably connected together also remains substantially the same as the hardware previously described in connection with FIG. 1, except for the fact that the T-bolt assemblies thereof are applied to the intermediate horizontal crossbars on the underneath side of these crossbars so that they underlie the same. Since the elements of both the panel units and of the connecting hardware remain substantially the same, to avoid needless repetition of description similar reference characters but of a higher order have been applied to the corresponding parts as between the disclosures of FIGS. 1 and 3 on the one hand, and FIGS. 7 and 8 on the other hand.

As best seen in FIG. 7, the anchor post 156 is inverted on the crossbar 26 and is welded thereto as at 162 so that the horizontally shiftable T-bolt proper 155 is spaced from and underlies the crossbar. The disposition of the I crossbar 26 with respect to the rectangular holes 146 is such that each T-bolt associated with a panel unit will register horizontally with one of these holes to the end that it may be slid axially through such hole for PIOJCC" tion into the rectangular confines of the next adjacent panel unit to present the wedge-receiving slot 182 there in for cooperation with the wedge proper 184 of the ad acent wedge assembly 154. The position of the wedge assembly 154 is not disturbed, which is to say that it is attached to the upper side of the crossbar 126 as in the previously described form of the invention. The wedge proper 1S4 engages the T-bolt proper 155 after it has been projected vertically downwardly through the ad acent clearance slot 208 instead of before such projection through the slot as in the case of the overlying T-bolt assembly of FIGS. 1 to 6, inclusive. In all other respects, the connecting means for the two panel units of FIGS. 7 and 8 remains the same as the connecting means previous- .ly described.

The invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings or described in this specification as various changes in the details of construction may be resorted to without departmg from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, only insofar as the invention has particularly been pointed out in the accompanying claims is the same to be limited.

Having thus described the invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a concrete wall form structure, in combination, a pair of aligned contiguous prefabricated similar panel un ts disposed in edge-to-edge and upstanding relationship, each panel unit embodying a pair of opposed vertical marginal frame members, a panel facing bridging the distance between said frame members, and a horizontal cross member also bridging the distance between the frame members and secured at its ends to said frame members, each panel unit having one of its marginal frame members abutting the adjacent marginal frame member of the other panel unit throughout the length thereof, there being a hole in each of the abutting frame members at substantially the same height in the .wall form and a small distance away from the associated cross member whereby the two holes are in registry, an elongated bolt positioned adjacent to, and in parallel relation with, the cross member of one panel unit, slidable lengthwise in a path which is in alignment with the registering holes, and movable bodily between a retracted rear position wherein the bolt is moved within the confines of said one panel unit and an advanced forward position wherein the forward end portion of the bolt is projected through both of the registering holes and extends into the confines of the other panel unit, said bolt being provided with a first elongated slot in the rear end portion thereof, a first anchor post mounted on the cross member of said one panel unit and projecting through said slot for guiding the rear end portion of the bolt in said path, the forward end portion of the bolt being guided in the hole in said one panel unit, a shoulder on the bolt engageable with the marginal frame member of said one panel unit for estabnshmg the forward position of the bolt, there being an elongated slot in the forward end portion of the bolt, a second anchor post mounted on the cross member of the other panel unit, a wedge-supporting arm pivoted to said second anchor post and free to swing about an axis extending normal to the general plane of said other panel unit, a tapered wedge on the distal end of the arm, said arm being movable between a retracted position wherein the wedge is remote from the projected forward end portion of the bolt and an advanced position wherein the wedge 15 projected into said second slot in binding engagement with the adjacent frame member and one end of the sectiond slot for drawing said panel units hard against each 0 er.

2. In a concrete wall form structure, the combination set forth in claim 1, and wherein the pivotal connection between the wedge-supporting arm and the second anchor post is in the form of a lost motion pin and slot connection.

3. In a concrete wall form structure, the combination set forth in claim 1, and wherein the two posts extend vertically in the same direction.

4. In a concrete wall form structure, the combination set forth in claim 1, and wherein the two posts extend vertically in opposite directions.

5. In a concrete wall form structure, the combination set forth in claim 1, and wherein the end of the cross member of the other panel that is adjacent to the abut- 9 11) ting frame member is provided with a longitudinally ex- 2,799,072 7/57 Grundy 25118 tending slot for accommodating the outer end of the 2,997,769 8/61 Bowden 25131 wedge when the wedge is projected through said second FOREIGN PATENTS 5 555,733 3/23 France.

References Cited by the Examiner 486,797 6/38 Great f f 872,590 7/ 61 Great Bntam. UNITED STATES PATENTS 3 5 7 /86 Faulder w1 J. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner. 1,369,713 2/21 Smith 292101 10 ROBERT F. WHITE, MICHAEL V. BRINDISI,

1,473,324 11/23 Schmitt 70-98 Examiners.

Claims (1)

1. IN A CONCRETE WALL FORM STRUCTURE, IN COMBINATION, A PAIR OF ALIGNED CONTIGUOUS PREFABRICATED SIMILAR PANEL UNITS DISPOSED IN EDGE-TO-EDGE AND UPSTANDING RELATIONSHIP, EACH PANEL UNIT EMBODYING A PAIR OF OPPOSED VERTICAL MARGINAL FRAME MEMBERS, A PANEL FACING BRIDGING THE DISTANNCE BETWEEN SAID FRAME MEMBERS, AND A HORIZONTAL CROSS MEMBER ALSO BRIDGING THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE FRAME MEMBERS AND SECURED AT ITS ENDS TO SAID FRAME MEMBERS, EACH PANEL UNIT HAVING ONE OF ITS MARGINAL FRAME MEMBERS ABUTTING THE ADJACENT MARGINAL FRAME MEMBER OF THE OTHER PANEL UNIT THROUGHOUT THE LENGTH THEREOF, THERE BEING A HOLE IN EACH OF THE ABUTTING FRAME MEMBERS A SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME HEIGHT IN THE WALL FORM AND A SMALL DISTANCE AWAY FROM THE ASSOCIATED CROSS MEMBER WHEREBY THE TWO HOLES ARE IN REGISTRY, AN ELONGATED BOLT POSITIONED ADJACENT TO, AND IN PARALLEL RELATION WITH, THE CROSS MEMBER OF ONE PANEL UNIT, SLIDABLE LENGTHWISE IN A PATH WHICH IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE REGISTERING HOLES, AND MOVABLE BODILY BETWEEN A RETRACTED REAR POSITION WHEREIN THE BOLT IS MOVED WITHIN THE CONFINES OF SAID ONE PANEL UNIT AND AN ADVANCED FORWARD POSITION WHEREIN THE FORWARD END PORTION OF THE BOLT IS PROJECTED THROUGH BOTH OF THE REGISTERING HOLES AND EXTENDS INTO THE CONFINES OF THE OTHER PANEL UNIT, SAID BOLT BEING PROVIDED WITH A FIRST ELONGATED SLOT IN THE REAR END PORTION THEREOF, A FIRST ANCHOR POST MOUNTED ON THE CROSS MEMBER OF SAID ONE PANEL UNIT AND PROJECTING THROUGH SAID SLOT FOR GUIDING THE REAR END PORTION OF THE BOLT IN SAID PATH, THE FORWARD END PORTION OF THE BOLT BEING GUIDED IN THE HOLE IN SAID ONE PANEL UNIT, A SHOULDER ON THE BOLT ENGAGEABLE WITH THE MARGINAL FRAME MEMBER OF SAID ONE PANEL UNIT FOR ESTABLISHING THE FORWARD POSITION OF THE BOLT, THERE BEING AN ELONGATED SLOT IN THE FORWARD END PORTION OF THE BOLT, A SECOND ANCHOR POST MOUNTED ON THE CROSS MEMBER OF THE OTHER PANEL UNIT, A WEDGE-SUPPORTING ARM PIVOTED TO SAID SECOND ANCHOR POST TO FREE TO SWING ABOUT AN AXIS EXTENDING NORMAL TO THE GENERAL PLANE OF SAID OTHER PANEL UNIT, A TAPERED WEDGE ON THE DISTAL END OF THE ARM, SAID ARM BEING MOVABLE BETWEEN A RETRACTED POSITION WHEREIN THE WEDGE IS REMOTE FROM THE PROJECTED FORWARD END PORTION OF THE BOLT AND AN ADVANCED POSITION WHEREIN THE WEDGE IS PROJECTED INTO SAID SECOND SLOT IN BINDING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE ADJACENT FRAME MEMBER AND ONE END OF THE SECOND SLOT FOR DRAWING SAID PANEL UNITS HARD AGAINST EACH OTHER.

Images