Modular form tube and clamp system

Abstract

A method of constructing a wall form and of forming a wall includes employing a modular concrete form system having a clamping device to clamp adjacent modular form members to one another. The clamping device includes an elongated bar, a pair of clamps mounted on the bar, and a pair of clip assemblies mounted on the bar, the bar being shaped to complementarily engage the perimeter frames of the modular form members. The jaws of the clamps retain the perimeter frames of the adjacent modular form members against the bar, which clamps the form members to the bar and retains them in a flush orientation with one another. The clip assemblies each having a slidable tie clip formed with an opening for receiving a portion of a tie therein. The tie is tapered and is nominally of a circular cross section and formed with a plurality of spaced groves at the alternate ends thereof.

1 . A clamping device for retaining a first modular form member in a given orientation with respect to a second modular form member, the first modular form member being formed with a first indentation, the second modular form member being formed with a second indentation, the clamping device comprising: 
 an elongated bar having a first protrusion and a second protrusion, the first protrusion being structured to be engageable with the first indentation, the second protrusion being structured to be engageable with the second indentation; and    at least a first clamp having a first jaw and a second jaw, the first jaw being structured to removably engage the first protrusion with the first indentation, the second jaw being structured to removably engage the second protrusion with the second indentation.    
     
     
         2 . The clamping device of  claim 1 , in which the first protrusion is opposite the second protrusion.  
     
     
         3 . The clamping device of  claim 2 , in which the bar includes a mounting surface, the at least first clamp being mounted on the mounting surface, the mounting surface being between the first and second protrusions.  
     
     
         4 . The clamping device of  claim 3 , in which the bar is formed with at least a first tie hole extending therethrough, and in which the bar includes at least a first tie clip, the at least first tie clip being mounted on the mounting surface.  
     
     
         5 . The clamping device of  claim 4 , in which the at least first tie clip is movably mounted on the mounting surface, the at least first tie clip being formed with an opening that is structured to at least partially receive a tie therein.  
     
     
         6 . The clamping device of  claim 1 , in which the first protrusion and the second protrusion extend substantially the length of the bar.  
     
     
         7 . The clamping device of  claim 6 , in which the first and second protrusions are continuous.  
     
     
         8 . The clamping device of  claim 6 , in which the first and second protrusions are formed in the bar.  
     
     
         9 . The clamping device of  claim 6 , further comprising a plurality of structures mounted on the bar, and in which the structures are the first and second protrusions.  
     
     
         10 . The clamping device of  claim 9 , in which the structures are rods fixedly mounted on the bar.  
     
     
         11 . The clamping device of  claim 6 , in which the first protrusion extends outwardly from at least a first embossment extending into the bar, and in which the second protrusion extends outwardly from at least a second embossment extending into the bar.  
     
     
         12 . The clamping device of  claim 1 , in which the bar is formed with a pair of first bump members extending along substantially the length of the bar to form the first protrusion, and in which the bar is formed with a pair of second bump members extending along substantially the length of the bar to form the second protrusion.  
     
     
         13 . The clamping device of  claim 12 , in which the first and second bump members are formed with the bar as a monolithic structure.  
     
     
         14 . The clamping device of  claim 12 , in which the bar has a first surface and a second surface opposite one another, in which the first bump members are a pair of first structures mounted on the first surface, and in which the second bump members are a pair of second structures mounted on the second surface.  
     
     
         15 . The clamping device of  claim 12 , in which each first bump member is a plurality of first bumps that are spaced from one another and are substantially aligned with one another, and in which each second bump member is a plurality of second bumps that are spaced from one another and are substantially aligned with one another.  
     
     
         16 . The clamping device of  claim 15 , in which the first and second bumps are formed in the bar.  
     
     
         17 . The clamping device of  claim 16 , in which the bar has a first surface, and in which the first and second bumps are embossments extending outwardly from the first surface.  
     
     
         18 . The clamping device of  claim 15 , further comprising a plurality of structures mounted on the bar, and in which the structures are the first and second bumps.  
     
     
         19 . The clamping device of  claim 1 , in which the bar has a first surface, and in which the first protrusion is a first pad member extending outwardly from the first surface.  
     
     
         20 . The clamping device of  claim 19 , in which the first pad member is a plurality of first pads that are spaced from one another along the first surface.  
     
     
         21 . The clamping device of  claim 20 , in which the first pads are formed in the bar.  
     
     
         22 . The clamping device of  claim 20 , in which the first pads are disposed on the first surface of the bar.  
     
     
         23 . The clamping device of  claim 22 , in which the bar has a second surface, and in which the second protrusion is a plurality of second pads disposed on and extending outwardly from the second surface.  
     
     
         24 . The clamping device of  claim 1 , in which the clamping device is made of metal.  
     
     
         25 . The clamping device of  claim 1 , in which the clamping device is at least partially nonmetallic.  
     
     
         26 . The clamping device of  claim 1 , in which the cross-section of the bar is substantially continuous through substantially the longitudinal extent of the bar.  
     
     
         27 . A retention system for retaining a first modular form member in a given orientation with respect to a second modular form member, the first modular form member being formed with a first indentation, the second modular form member being formed with a second indentation, the retention system comprising: 
 a first clamping device;    a second clamping device; and    an elongated tie;    the first clamping device including a first elongated bar having at least a first protrusion, at least a first clamp, and at least a first tie clip, the at least first protrusion being structured to be engageable with the first indentation, the at least first clamp having a jaw, the jaw of the at least first clamp being structured to removably engage the first protrusion with the first indentation, the at least first tie clip being mounted on the first bar and being formed with an opening that is configured to removably receive at least a portion of the tie therein; and    the second clamping device including a second elongated bar having at least a second protrusion, at least a second clamp, and at least a second tie clip, the at least second protrusion being structured to be engageable with the second indentation, the at least second clamp having a jaw, the jaw of the at least second clamp being structured to removably engage the second protrusion with the second indentation, the at least second tie clip being mounted on the second bar and being formed with an opening that is configured to removably receive at least a portion of the tie therein.    
     
     
         28 . The retention system of  claim 27 , in which the first and second bars are each formed with at least a first tie hole extending therethrough and include a mounting surface, the at least first clamp and tie clip being mounted on the mounting surface of the first bar, the at least second clamp and tie clip being mounted on the mounting surface of the second bar, the tie being removably receivable in the at least first tie holes of the first and second bars and being removably receivable in the openings of the at least first and second tie clips.  
     
     
         29 . The retention system of  claim 28 , in which the openings formed in the at least first and second tie clips each include at least a first slot, and in which the tie has a first end and a second end, each of the first and second ends being formed with at least a first retention structure, the at least first retention structure of the first end being removably receivable in the at least first slot of the at least first tie clip, the at least first retention structure of the second end being removably receivable in the at least first slot of the at least second tie clip.  
     
     
         30 . The retention system of  claim 29 , in which the tie is tapered inwardly along at least a portion thereof between the first and second ends.  
     
     
         31 . The retention system of  claim 29 , in which each of the at least first retention structures includes a first groove.  
     
     
         32 . The retention system of  claim 29 , in which each of the first and second ends is formed with a second retention structure, the second retention structures being longitudinally spaced along the tie from the first retention structures, the second retention structures being removably receivable in the slots of the at least first and second tie clips.  
     
     
         33 . The retention system of  claim 29  in which the at least first tie clip is movably mounted on the first bar, and in which the at least second tie clip is movably mounted on the second bar.  
     
     
         34 . The retention system of  claim 33 , in which the at least first tie clip is slidably mounted on the first bar, the at least first tie clip being slidable along a first sliding axis that is non-parallel with a longitudinal axis of the first bar, and in which the at least second tie clip is slidably mounted on the second bar, the at least second tie clip being slidable along a second sliding axis that is non-parallel with a longitudinal axis of the second bar.  
     
     
         35 . The retention system of  claim 34 , in which the openings formed in the at least first and second tie clips each include a second slot opposite the at least first slot, the at least first retention structures being removably receivable in the second slots.  
     
     
         36 . The retention system of  claim 34 , in which the at least first tie clip is pivotably mounted on the first bar, and in which the at least second tie clip is pivotably mounted on the second bar.  
     
     
         37 . The retention system of  claim 36 , in which a first strap member movably retains the first tie clip on the first bar, the first tie clip being formed with a first notch, the first strap member being removably receivable in the first notch of the first tie clip, and in which a second strap member movably retains the second tie clip on the second bar, the second tie clip being formed with a first notch, the second strap member being removably receivable in the first notch of the second tie clip.  
     
     
         38 . The retention system of  claim 37 , in which the first and second tie clips each include a second notch opposite the first notch.  
     
     
         39 . The retention system of  claim 37 , in which the first strap member includes a pair of first straps, and in which the second strap member includes a pair of second straps.  
     
     
         40 . A clamping device for retaining a first modular form member in a given orientation with respect to a second modular form member, the first modular form member being formed with a first form engagement structure, the second modular form member being formed with a second form engagement structure, the clamping device comprising: 
 an elongated bar having a first bar engagement structure and a second bar engagement structure, the first bar engagement structure being structured to be engageable with the first form engagement structure, the second bar engagement structure being structured to be engageable with the second form engagement structure; and    at least a first clamp having a first jaw and a second jaw, the first jaw being structured to removably engage the first bar engagement structure with the first form engagement structure, the second jaw being structured to removably engage the second bar engagement structure with the second form engagement structure.    
     
     
         41 . The clamping device of  claim 40 , in which the first bar engagement structure is opposite the second bar engagement structure.  
     
     
         42 . The clamping device of  claim 41 , in which the bar includes a mounting surface, the at least first clamp being mounted on the mounting surface, the mounting surface being between the first and second bar engagement structures.  
     
     
         43 . The clamping device of  claim 42 , in which the bar includes a first surface and a second surface opposite one another, in which the first bar engagement structure extends outwardly from the first surface, and in which the second bar engagement structure extends outwardly from the second surface.  
     
     
         44 . A method of constructing a wall form for receiving a construction material such as concrete, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing clamping device having an elongated bar and at least a first clamp;    providing a first modular form member and a second modular form member; and    clamping the first and second modular form members to the bar with the at least first clamp.    
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , in which the step of clamping the first and second modular form members to the bar includes the step of aligning the first and second modular form members with one another.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , in which the step of aligning the first and second modular form members with one another includes the steps of receiving a first protrusion formed on one of the bar and the first modular form member in a first indentation formed in the other of the bar and the first modular form member and receiving a second protrusion formed on one of the bar and the second modular form member in a second indentation formed in the other of the bar and the second modular form member.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising the steps of providing a third modular form member, a fourth modular form member, and a second clamping device having a second bar and a second clamp, clamping the third and fourth modular form members to the second bar with the second clamp, and connecting at least a first tie between the first and second clamping devices.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , in which the step of connecting at least a first tie includes the step of rotating the at least first tie to align a first key and a second key formed on the tie with a slot formed in each of a first tie clip mounted on the first bar and a second tie clip formed on the second bar.  
     
     
         49 . A method of forming a wall out of a building material, the method comprising the steps of: 
 assembling a wall form, the step of assembling a wall form including the steps of: 
 providing a first clamping device and a second clamping device, each of the first and second clamping devices having an elongated bar and at least a first clamp;  
 providing a first modular form member and a second modular form member;  
 clamping the first modular form member to the first bar with the first clamp;  
 clamping the second modular form member to the second bar with the second clamp; and  
 connecting at least a first tie between the first and second clamping devices; and  
   delivering the building material into the wall form.    
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , in which the step of clamping the first modular form member to the first bar includes the step of receiving a first protrusion formed on one of the first bar and the first modular form member in a first indentation formed in the other of the first bar and the first modular form member, and in which the step of clamping the second modular form member to the second bar includes the step of receiving a second protrusion formed on one of the second bar and the second modular form member in a second indentation formed in the other of the second bar and the second modular form member.