Casting from for a cast-in-place columnar structural element and fencing system including cast-in-place columnar structural elements

Abstract

A casting form suspendable from a form support and reinforcement member erected on a substrate for forming a cast-in-place columnar member. The form includes a pliable tubular segment open at each of its two ends, an aperture formed annularly through the pliable tubular segment. The pliable tubular segment is positionable about the form support and reinforcement member. A form suspension assembly is attachable to the form support and reinforcement member and the pliable tubular segment and the structural support member for suspending the pliable tubular segment is attachable to the form suspension assembly.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A casting form suspendable from a form support and reinforcement member erected on a substrate for a casting of a cast-in-place columnar structural element, the form comprising: 
 a pliable tubular segment including a first end, a second end, a form wall and an aperture formed through the pliable tubular segment, the aperture including a longitudinal axis extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the pliable tubular segment, the aperture open at a first end and a second end of the pliable tubular segment, the pliable tubular segment positionable about the form support and reinforcement member, the first end of the pliable tubular segment attachable to the form support and reinforcement member for suspending the pliable tubular segment; and    a form suspension assembly attachable to the pliable tubular segment and the form support and reinforcement member for suspending the pliable tubular segment above the substrate.    
     
     
         2 . The form of  claim 1  further comprising a form positioning and dampening assembly attachable to the form support and reinforcement member for stabilizing the form support and reinforcement member.  
     
     
         3 . The form of  claim 1  wherein the pliable tubular segment further comprises a cylindrical sleeve formed of a polymer.  
     
     
         4 . The form of  claim 1  wherein the pliable tubular segment further comprises a cylindrical sleeve formed of a polyethylene material having a wall thickness in the range of 4 mils to 40 mils.  
     
     
         5 . The form of  claim 1  wherein the form suspension assembly further comprises a strap connected near the first end of the pliable tubular segment spanning the aperture of the pliable tubular segment, the strap attachable to the form support and reinforcement member for suspending the pliable tubular segment above the substrate.  
     
     
         6 . The form of  claim 1  wherein the form suspension assembly further comprises: 
 a suspension assembly connector attachable to the form support and reinforcement member;  
 a support arm connected to and extending from a suspension assembly connector; and  
 a support ring supported by the support arm, the pliable tubular segment attachable to the support ring.  
 
     
     
         7 . The form of  claim 1  further comprising a connecting member support assembly attached to the pliable tubular segment for connecting a first end of a connecting member to the casting form during the casting of the cast-in-place columnar structural element.  
     
     
         8 . The form of  claim 6  wherein the connecting member support assembly further comprises a pocket including an aperture, a peripheral edge of the pocket aperture aligned with and connected to a peripheral edge of a side wall aperture, the pocket configured to receive and support the first end of the connecting member during the casting of the cast-in-place columnar structural element.  
     
     
         9 . A columnar structural element forming system for forming a cast-in-place columnar structural element on a substrate, the columnar structural element forming system comprising: 
 a form support and reinforcement member erectable on the substrate;    a pliable tubular segment including a form sidewall, an aperture formed through the pliable tubular segment, the aperture including a longitudinal axis extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the pliable tubular segment, the aperture open at a first end and a second end, the pliable tubular segment positionable about the form support and reinforcement member; and    a form suspension assembly attachable to form a support and reinforcement member, the first end of the pliable tubular segment attachable to the form suspension assembly for suspending the pliable tubular segment above the substrate.    
     
     
         10 . The forming system of  claim 9  further comprising a form positioning and dampening assembly attachable to the form support and reinforcement member for stabilizing the form support and reinforcement member.  
     
     
         11 . The form of  claim 9  wherein the pliable tubular segment further comprises a cylindrical sleeve formed of a sheet polymer material having a wall thickness in the range of 4 mils to 40 mils.  
     
     
         12 . The form of  claim 9  wherein the form suspension assembly further comprises a strap connected near the first end of the pliable tubular segment spanning the aperture of the pliable tubular segment, the strap attachable to the form support and reinforcement member for suspending the pliable tubular segment above the substrate.  
     
     
         13 . The form of  claim 9  wherein the form suspension assembly further comprises: 
 a suspension assembly connector attachable to the form support and reinforcement member;  
 a support arm connected to and extending from suspension assembly connector; and  
 a support ring supported by the support arm, the pliable tubular segment attachable to the support ring.  
 
     
     
         14 . The form of  claim 9  further comprising a connecting member support assembly attached to the pliable tubular segment for connecting and supporting a first end of a connecting member during the casting of the cast-in-place columnar structural element.  
     
     
         15 . The form of  claim 14  wherein the connecting member support assembly further comprises a soft pocket including an aperture, a peripheral edge of the pocket aperture aligned with a peripheral edge of a side wall aperture, the peripheral edge of the pocket connected to the peripheral edge of the side wall aperture, the soft pocket configured to receive and support the first end of the connecting member during the casting of the cast-in-place columnar structural element.  
     
     
         16 . The form of  claim 14  wherein the connecting member support assembly further comprises a hard pocket defining an interior portion, the interior portion having a configuration approximating a configuration of a first end of a connecting member, the hard pocket configured to receive and support the first end of the connecting member during the casting of the cast-in-place columnar structural element.  
     
     
         17 . The form of  claim 14  wherein the connecting member support assembly further comprises a pocket attached to the form support and reinforcement member.  
     
     
         18 . A fencing system comprising: 
 a first form support and reinforcement member erected on a substrate;    a second form support and reinforcement member erected on the substrate;    a first pliable tubular segment placed about the form support and reinforcement member and attached to the form support and reinforcement member;    a first connecting member attachment assembly positioned within the first pliable tubular segment;    a second pliable tubular segment placed about the second form support and reinforcement member and attached to the form support and reinforcement member;    a second connecting member attachment assembly positioned within the second pliable tubular segment;    a connecting member including a first end attached to the first connecting member attachment assembly and a second end attached to the second connecting member attachment assembly; and    a curable casting mixture cast-in-place within the first pliable tubular segment and the second first pliable tubular segment embedding the form support and reinforcement member in the casting mixture.    
     
     
         19 . The columnar structural element forming system of  claim 18  further comprising the first form support and reinforcement member erected in a first post hole and the second form support and reinforcement member erected in a second post hole.  
     
     
         20 . The form of  claim 18  further comprising: 
 a first form positioning and dampening assembly attachable to the first form support and reinforcement member for stabilizing the first form support and reinforcement member; and  
 a second form positioning and dampening assembly attachable to the second form support and reinforcement member for stabilizing the second form support and reinforcement member.