Corner web member and corner of a form system

Abstract

A corner web member is disclosed that may be used for making corner structures in building form systems, such as systems used to construct concrete walls. When used for this purpose, the corner web member is preferably at least partially disposed within a side panel that forms a corner section of the form system used to construct walls. The present invention further includes methods of manufacturing the corner structures and methods of using the same to construct buildings. It is noted that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to ascertain quickly the subject matter of the technical disclosure. The abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims pursuant to 37 C.F.R. § 1.72( b ).

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A corner block, comprising: 
 a. a panel; and    b. a corner web member at least partially disposed within the panel, the corner web member comprising: 
 i. first and second mounting bodies each having an inner edge and an outer edge, the inner edge of the first mounting body connected to the inner edge of the second mounting body;  
 ii. a first bridging member having an exterior edge and an interior edge which is connected to the outer edge of the first mounting body; and  
 iii. a second bridging member having an exterior edge and an interior edge which is connected to the outer edge of the second mounting body,  
 wherein at least one of the first and second mounting bodies, the first mounting body and the first bridging member, or the second mounting body and the second bridging member are oriented non-linearly to each other in plan view.  
   
     
     
         2 . The corner block of  claim 1 , wherein the panel is formed of polystyrene.  
     
     
         3 . The corner block of  claim 1 , wherein the panel has an interior surface, and wherein at least a portion of a selected one of the first bridging member or the second bridging member extends through and out of the interior surface of the panel.  
     
     
         4 . The corner block of  claim 3 , wherein a portion of both the first and second bridging members adjacent their respective exterior edges extend out of the interior surface of the panel.  
     
     
         5 . The corner block of  claim 4 , wherein the portions of the first and second bridging members that extend out of the interior surface of the panel define at least one opening therethrough.  
     
     
         6 . The corner block of  claim 5 , wherein each opening is of a size to receive a portion of a respective flexible linking member therethrough.  
     
     
         7 . The corner block of  claim 6 , wherein each of the first and second bridging members include at least two openings, and wherein when the panel is disposed upright, the openings are vertically spaced apart from each other.  
     
     
         8 . The corner block of  claim 1 , wherein the corner web member is an integral structure.  
     
     
         9 . The corner block of  claim 1 , wherein the corner web member is formed of plastic.  
     
     
         10 . The corner block of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second mounting bodies and the first and second bridging members are substantially planar and substantially stiff between their respective edges.  
     
     
         11 . The corner block of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second mounting bodies are pivotally connected to each other at their respective inner edges.  
     
     
         12 . The corner block of  claim 1 , wherein the first mounting body is pivotally connected to the first bridging member and wherein the second mounting body is pivotally connected to the second bridging member.  
     
     
         13 . The corner block of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second mounting bodies defines at least one aperture therethrough.  
     
     
         14 . The corner block of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second bridging members defines at least one aperture therethrough.  
     
     
         15 . The corner block of  claim 5 , wherein each of the first and second bridging members defines at least one aperture, each aperture disposed intermediate the respective interior edge and the opening.  
     
     
         16 . The corner block of  claim 1 , wherein the panel has an exterior surface that forms a panel corner comprising a non-linear angle in the exterior surface in plan view, 
 wherein the inner edges of the respective first and second mounting bodies are substantially linear along a length and form a corner panel edge where the mounting bodies intersect, and    wherein the corner panel edge is disposed within the panel adjacent its panel corner.    
     
     
         17 . The corner block of  claim 16 , wherein the corner panel edge is disposed substantially parallel to the panel corner.  
     
     
         18 . The corner block of  claim 1 , wherein the panel has an exterior surface that forms a panel corner comprising a non-linear angle in the exterior surface in plan view, 
 wherein the first and second mounting bodies are oriented at substantially a right angle to each other in plan view, and    wherein the panel corner also forms substantially a right angle.    
     
     
         19 . A corner web member, comprising: 
 a. first and second mounting bodies each having an inner edge and an outer edge, the inner edge of the first mounting body pivotally connected to the inner edge of the second mounting body;    b. a first bridging member having an exterior edge and an interior edge pivotally connected to the outer edge of the first mounting body; and    c. a second bridging member having an exterior edge and an interior edge pivotally connected to the outer edge of the second mounting body,    wherein the first mounting body, second mounting body, first bridging member, and second bridging member have apertures therethrough.    
     
     
         20 . The corner web member of  claim 19 , wherein the first and second mounting bodies and the first and second bridging members are formed of plastic.  
     
     
         21 . The corner web member of  claim 19 , wherein a portion of at least one of the first mounting body, second mounting body, first bridging member, and second bridging member is disposed within a side panel.  
     
     
         22 . The corner web member of  claim 19 , wherein a portion of at least one of the first mounting body, second mounting body, first bridging member, and second bridging member is integrally formed into a side panel.  
     
     
         23 . The corner web member of  claim 19 , wherein the first and second bridging members each define at least one opening therethrough adjacent the respective exterior edge.  
     
     
         24 . The corner web member of  claim 19 , wherein the corner web member is an integral structure.  
     
     
         25 . A form system, comprising: 
 a. a corner side panel having an interior surface and having a corner web member at least partially disposed therein, the corner web member comprising: 
 i. first and second mounting bodies each having an inner edge and an outer edge, the inner edge of the first mounting body connected to the inner edge of the second mounting body;  
 ii. a first bridging member having an exterior edge and an interior edge which is connected to the outer edge of the first mounting body; and  
 iii. a second bridging member having an exterior edge and an interior edge which is connected to the outer edge of the second mounting body;  
   b. a first side panel having a first end and an interior surface that is spaced apart from the interior surface of the corner side panel;    c. a second side panel having a second end and an interior surface that is spaced apart from the interior surface of the corner side panel, wherein the first end of the first side panel is disposed adjacent the second end of the second side panel at an interface so that the first and second side panels form a non-linear angle in plan view at the intersection thereof; and    d. means for interconnecting the first side panel and the corner side panel and interconnecting the second side panel and the corner side panel.    
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the interconnecting means comprises at least one flexible linking member.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the interconnecting means comprises at least one connector.  
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the first and second side panels and the corner panel are formed of polystyrene.  
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the non-linear angle formed at the intersection is substantially a right angle and a junction formed at the inner edge of the first mounting body and the inner edge of the second mounting body is also substantially a right angle in plan view.  
     
     
         30 . A method of constructing a form system, comprising: 
 a. providing a corner side panel having an interior surface and having a corner web member at least partially disposed therein, the corner web member including: (i) first and second mounting bodies each having an inner edge and an outer edge, the inner edge of the first mounting body connected to the inner edge of the second mounting body; (ii) a first bridging member having an exterior edge and an interior edge which is connected to the outer edge of the first mounting body; and (iii) a second bridging member having an exterior edge and an interior edge which is connected to the outer edge of the second mounting body;    b. positioning a first side panel having a first end and an interior surface at a location that is spaced apart from the interior surface of the corner side panel;    c. positioning a second side panel having a second end and an interior surface at a location that is spaced apart from the interior surface of the corner side panel and also so that the first end of the first side panel is located adjacent the second end of the second side panel at an interface so that the first and second side panels form a non-linear angle in plan view at the intersection thereof; and    d. interconnecting the first side panel and the corner side panel; and    e. interconnecting the second side panel and the corner side panel.    
     
     
         31 . The method of claim  30 , wherein the first and second side panels are interconnected to the corner side panel using at least one flexible linking member.