Lightweight concrete forming panel with face sheet reinforcement

Abstract

A lightweight concrete reinforcing panel with face sheet reinforcement is provided having a face sheet and a frame with reinforcing members. The reinforcing members preferably extend between opposed rails of the frame and have openings therethrough with braces extending transversely to the axis ofthe reinforcing members. The braces may be provided by cutting and bending the reinforcing member to form flanges and the openings, and may alternate on either side of the reinforcing member, or alternatively may be separate, discrete bracing elements which pass through the openings. Thus positioned, the bracing elements may pivot on the reinforcing member to flex with the face sheet. The bracing elements may be linear, such as bars, loops, or other shapes to spread the load applied to the front side of the face sheet.

1 . A lightweight concrete forming panel with face sheet reinforcement comprising: 
 a face sheet having a front concrete-receiving side and a back side;    a frame coupled to said face sheet and extending rearwardly therefrom, said frame including first and second opposed elongated rails and an elongated reinforcing member having a longitudinal axis, a first side and an opposed second side, a first edge adjacent said back side of said face sheet and a second edge relatively remote from said back side of said face sheet, said reinforcing member extending along said back side substantially between said rails, said reinforcing member including at least one opening along the length thereof, said frame further including at least one brace positioned for engagement with said back side of said face sheet and extending from said first side of said reinforcing member transversely to said longitudinal axis and positioned proximate said opening.    
     
     
         2 . A lightweight concrete forming panel as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said brace is a flange formed from said reinforcing member and extending transversely to the longitudinal axis thereof.  
     
     
         3 . A lightweight concrete forming panel as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein said reinforcing member includes a plurality of openings and a plurality of braces comprising flanges formed from said reinforcing member, at least one of said plurality of flanges extending from said first side of said reinforcing member and at least another of said plurality of flanges extending from said second side of said reinforcing member generally opposite to said one flange.  
     
     
         4 . A lightweight concrete forming panel as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein there are a plurality of said one flanges and a plurality of said another flanges along the length of said reinforcing member, said one flanges alternating with said another flanges.  
     
     
         5 . A lightweight concrete forming panel as set forth in  claim 4 , including a plurality of said reinforcing members in spaced-apart, substantially parallel orientation, said flanges extending only a portion of the distance between adjacent reinforcing members.  
     
     
         6 . A lightweight concrete forming panel as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said braces include a discrete bracing element passing through said opening.  
     
     
         7 . A lightweight concrete forming panel as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein said discrete bracing element is pivotally engaged by said reinforcing member at said opening.  
     
     
         8 . A lightweight concrete forming panel as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein said discrete bracing element is welded to said back side of said face sheet.  
     
     
         9 . A lightweight concrete forming panel as set forth in  claim 6 , said reinforcing member including a plurality of openings and a plurality of said bracing elements passing through respective ones of said openings, wherein at least some of said bracing elements are elongated bars.  
     
     
         10 . A lightweight concrete forming panel as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein said bars extend substantially perpendicular to said reinforcing member.  
     
     
         11 . A lightweight concrete forming panel as set forth in  claim 9 , said frame including third and fourth spaced apart rails substantially parallel to one another and substantially perpendicular to said first and second rails, wherein said bars are pivotally engaged by said reinforcing member and wherein said bars have spaced-apart ends held by respective ones of said first and second rails.  
     
     
         12 . A lightweight concrete forming panel as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein at least some of said bracing elements are loops.  
     
     
         13 . A lightweight concrete forming panel as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein said loops include spaced-apart loop arms passing through separate openings in said reinforcing member.  
     
     
         14 . A lightweight concrete forming panel as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said reinforcing member is a L-shaped member.  
     
     
         15 . A lightweight concrete forming panel as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said reinforcing member is a T-shaped member.