Concrete forming method using gripping ribs

Abstract

A concrete forming panel and its method of use is provided wherein the forming panel has a face plate including a frame, a front side and a back side, and one or a plurality of pairs of ribs which extend longitudinally along the back side. The pairs of ribs are provided sufficiently closely together to grip an element passing through the face plate or to grip a wedge which in turn engages the element. The element may be a nail, stake, or other fastener used to hold the forming panel in the ground, to connect the forming panel to other forming panels, or to indicate a desired level for concrete poured against the front side to be cured and hardened into a finished structure, such as a foundation for a building. The ribs may be provided with slots for receiving a reinforcing element of a relatively harder material, and the reinforcing element may be shiftably received in the slot so that its position may be changed as the reinforcing element wears during use.

1 . A method of forming a concrete structure from cementatious material comprising the steps of: 
 providing a form having a face plate and a first pair of ribs, the face plate including a front side, a back side, and a frame and defining a rear area bounded by the frame and back side, the first pair of ribs being coupled to said face plate within the rear area, the first pair of ribs including a first elongated metal rib and a second elongated metal rib presenting a gap therebetween;    passing an element through the face plate;    engaging said element by means associated with said first pair of ribs to hold the element in position; and    pouring a flowable cementatious mixture against said front side of said face plate and allowing said cementatious mixture to cure to a hardened state.    
   
   
       2 . A method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said element is a stake extending through the frame of the face plate and including the step of driving said stake into the ground.  
   
   
       3 . A method as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein said engaging step includes providing a wedge, positioning said wedge in said gap whereby said ribs grip said wedge, and engaging said stake with said wedge to hold the stake in position relative to the form.  
   
   
       4 . A method as set forth in  claim 3 , including the step of moving the wedge longitudinally along the gap into engagement with said stake.  
   
   
       5 . A method as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein said frame includes a top rail, a bottom rail parallel to said top rail, and a pair of end rails, said top rail and bottom rail each including at least a first set of holes and a second set of holes, the first set of said holes of said top rail being positioned substantially opposite the first set of holes of said bottom rail and the second set of holes of said top rail being positioned substantially opposite the second set of holes of said bottom rail, each of said sets of holes including a plurality of holes, and wherein said passing step includes passing the stake through one of the holes of said first set of holes of said top rail and one of the holes of said first set of holes of said bottom rail, whereby said stake penetrates the ground and is engaged by said wedge.  
   
   
       6 . A method as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the means associated with the first set of ribs is a wedge received between the ribs and said engaging step includes moving the wedge longitudinally along the ribs into engagement with the stake.  
   
   
       7 . A method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the engaging step includes passing the element between the ribs, the ribs thereby engaging and holding the element.  
   
   
       8 . A method as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the ribs including a longitudinally extending reinforcing element of a material of greater hardness than the material of the ribs received in a slot in the ribs, and whereby the engaging step includes engaging the element by the reinforcing element.  
   
   
       9 . A method as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the element is a plug element, the face plate having at least one hole proximate the first set of ribs sized for receiving said plug element therein, and wherein the engaging step includes positioning the plug element in a position to substantially block the passage of cementatious material through the hole.  
   
   
       10 . A method as set forth in  claim 1 , including the steps of providing at least one anchor and a cable having a first end connected to said anchor, and wherein said element is a fastener coupling said at least one anchor to said front side of said face plate.  
   
   
       11 . A method as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein said cable has a second end remote from said first end, and including the step of applying a tensioning force to said second end of said cable after said cementatious mixture has cured to a hardened state.