Adjustable form holder system and method

Abstract

An adjustable form holder, comprising a first bracket and a second bracket pivotally attached to each other by a hinge, so as to allow relative pivoting about a substantially vertical axis. The first and second brackets provide substantially vertical slots configured to receive an end of an elongate concrete form member. The hinge allows the concrete form members to be held in place on-edge at a selected horizontal angle relative to each other. The hinge may include a central aperture for receiving a form stake. Multiple form holders may be stacked for forming walls.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An adjustable form holder for concrete form members, comprising: 
 a) a first bracket, configured to receive an end of a first elongate concrete form member;    b) a second bracket, configured to receive an end of a second elongate concrete form member; and    c) a hinge member, attached to the first and second brackets, configured to allow the first and second brackets to pivot relative to each other about a substantially vertical axis, so as to allow variation of a horizontal angle between the first and second brackets, and thus between the elongate form members.    
     
     
         2 . A form holder in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a vertical aperture, extending through the hinge member, configured to receive a form stake therethrough.  
     
     
         3 . A form holder in accordance with  claim 2 , further comprising a form stake disposed through the vertical aperture.  
     
     
         4 . A form holder in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the first and second brackets each comprise, respectively, a substantially vertical slot defined by opposing vertical side panels and a vertical end panel, the end panel being attached to the hinge member, and the vertical slot being configured to receive the end of the respective elongate concrete form member on-edge.  
     
     
         5 . A form holder in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein the form brackets further comprise a bottom panel configured to support the end of the elongate form member.  
     
     
         6 . A form holder in accordance with  claim 4 , further comprising a securing mechanism associated with each bracket, the securing mechanism configured for securing the elongate form member to the bracket.  
     
     
         7 . A form holder in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising elongate form members having ends disposed in the first and second brackets.  
     
     
         8 . A form holder in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the elongate form members comprise dimension lumber, and the brackets have a height and width specifically selected to receive dimension lumber of a selected size.  
     
     
         9 . A form holder in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the angle between the first and second brackets is adjustable between about 90° and about 270°.  
     
     
         10 . A form holder in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the first and second brackets include a substantially vertical back edge disposed adjacent the hinge member, and the respective back edges of the first and second brackets are configured to draw together when the angle between the first and second brackets is about 90°.  
     
     
         11 . A form holder in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising an interconnecting mechanism configured to allow vertical connection of the hinge members of adjacent form holders, so as to allow stacking of a plurality of individual form holders to accommodate the formation corners for walls that are taller than any one form holder alone.  
     
     
         12 . A form holder in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the interconnecting mechanism comprises (1) an annular projection disposed on a first end of the hinge member of each of the plurality of form holders, and (2) a corresponding annular slot disposed on a second end of each of the plurality of form holders, the annular projection having a size suitable for mating with the annular slot.  
     
     
         13 . A form holder in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the first and second brackets have a width, and the hinge member has a diameter, the width of the brackets being substantially less than the diameter of the hinge member.  
     
     
         14 . A form holder in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the first and second brackets are removably attached to the hinge member.  
     
     
         15 . A method of placing concrete forms, comprising the steps of: 
 a) placing an adjustable form holder at a selected location on a support surface;    b) adjusting first and second pivotally connected brackets of the adjustable form holder to a selected horizontal angle therebetween; and    c) placing an end of a first elongate concrete form member in the first bracket, and placing an end of a second elongate concrete form member in the second bracket, such that a horizontal angle between the first and second elongate form members is the same as the selected horizontal angle between the first and second brackets.    
     
     
         16 . A method in accordance with  claim 15 , further comprising the step of disposing a form stake through an aperture in the adjustable form holder so as to affix the form holder to the support surface.  
     
     
         17 . A method in accordance with  claim 15 , further comprising the steps of: 
 a) placing at least one additional adjustable form holder at a selected location on the support surface;    b) adjusting first and second pivotally connected brackets of the at least one additional adjustable form holder to a selected horizontal angle therebetween;    c) placing ends of third and fourth elongate concrete form members in the first and second brackets, respectively, of the at least one additional adjustable form holder; and    d) interconnecting the first and second elongate form members to the third and fourth elongate form members so as to create an enclosure for receiving concrete.    
     
     
         18 . A method in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein the step of interconnecting the first and second elongate form members to the third and fourth elongate form members comprises connecting the respective elongate form members to additional adjustable form holders.  
     
     
         19 . A concrete form system, comprising: 
 a) a plurality of adjustable form holders, each form holder including (1) a first bracket, configured to receive an end of a first elongate concrete form member, and (2) a second bracket, configured to receive an end of a second elongate concrete form member, the second bracket being pivotally attached to the first bracket, such that a horizontal angle between the first and second brackets is pivotally adjustable; and    b) a plurality of elongate form members having ends, the ends of at least some of the plurality of elongate form members being disposed in the brackets of the plurality of adjustable form holders so as to form an enclosure for receiving concrete.    
     
     
         20 . A concrete form system in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein the pivotal attachment of the first and second brackets comprises a hinge having a substantially vertical aperture, and further comprising a form stake disposed through the vertical aperture of at least one form holder to affix the form holder to a supporting surface.