Forming apparatus and method for constructing concrete columns

Abstract

The current invention discloses moisture resistant column forms constructed from corrugated plastic. The forms disclosed herein are lightweight and can be easily assembled at a construction site or remote location. The forms can be positioned over pre-placed sections of reinforcing bars, or sections of reinforcing bars can be placed into a form once it is in position. The forms disclosed in the current invention can be easily removed, but they do not attract insects and therefore do not have to be removed from columns after the concrete has dried. The forms disclosed herein have generally square perimeters when they are assembled and put in place, but after concrete is poured into the form, the side walls will undergo uniform deformation/displacement due to the hydrostatic pressure of the concrete and the resulting column will have a generally circular perimeter. A method of using the forms is also disclosed.

1 . A form for constructing a concrete column comprising: 
 four substantially planar side walls made from corrugated plastic having spaced, integral interconnecting ribs between two facing sheets of plastic;    each side wall having a long axis, a short axis, a first side, a second side, an interior surface an exterior surface, a top edge, and a bottom edge; and    the first side of each side wall being immediately adjacent to the second side of another of the side walls such that a corner is formed at each side of the side walls, thereby defining a form interior for the placement of concrete and an exterior.    
   
   
       2 . The form of  claim 1  further comprising means for securing the form in a desired location at a construction site.  
   
   
       3 . A form for constructing a concrete column comprising: 
 four substantially planar side walls made from corrugated plastic having spaced, integral interconnecting ribs between two facing sheets of plastic;    each side wall having a long axis, a short axis, a first side, a second side, an interior surface an exterior surface, a top edge, and a bottom edge; and    the first side of each side wall being immediately adjacent to the second side of another of the side walls such that a corner is formed at each side of the side walls, thereby defining a form interior for the placement of concrete and an exterior.    
   
   
       4 . The form of  claim 3  wherein the form comprises one piece of corrugated plastic having spaced, integral interconnecting ribs between two facing sheets of plastic; 
 the piece of corrugated plastic having a long axis, a short axis, and two connecting edges;    the piece of corrugated plastic further having three seams at right angles to the long axis whereby the seams define the four side walls of the form; and    the connecting edges of the piece of corrugated plastic are connected to each other.    
   
   
       5 . The form of  claim 4  wherein the edges of the piece of corrugated plastic are connected to each other by an adhesive substance.  
   
   
       6 . The form of  claim 3  wherein the form comprises a plurality of pieces of corrugated plastic having spaced, integral interconnecting ribs between two facing sheets of plastic; 
 each piece of corrugated plastic having a long axis, a short axis, a first edge and a second edge; and    the first edge of each piece of corrugated plastic is connected to the second edge of another pieces of corrugated plastic.    
   
   
       7 . The form of  claim 3  further comprising flanges located at the bottom edge of the side walls and the flanges are configured such that the form can be secured in a desired location.  
   
   
       8 . The form of  claim 7  wherein the flanges are integral to the side walls and are defined by a seam running parallel to the long axis of the side walls along the bottom edge of the side walls.  
   
   
       9 . The form of  claim 7  wherein the flanges are constructed from a separate piece of corrugated plastic than the side walls and the flanges are connected to the side walls along the bottom edge of the side walls.  
   
   
       10 . The form of  claim 3  wherein the exterior of the form includes a plurality of dashed lines at a right angle to the long axis of the side walls and the dashed lines are evenly spaced along the long axis of the side walls to provide a measuring guide for cutting the form to a desired length.  
   
   
       11 . The form of  claim 3  wherein the four side walls define a generally square perimeter when viewed from above and when concrete is poured into the form, the hydrostatic pressure exerted on the side walls by the concrete causes uniform displacement of the side walls such that the generally square perimeter assumes a generally circular shape, and the resulting column is generally cylindrical.  
   
   
       12 . The form of  claim 3  further including means for securing the form in a desired location.  
   
   
       13 . A method for constructing a concrete column comprising the steps of: 
 (a) selecting a location for constructing the column;    (b) preparing the location for construction of the column;    (c) selecting a form for construction of the column that comprises four substantially planar side walls made from corrugated plastic having spaced, integral interconnecting ribs between two facing sheets of plastic;    each side wall having a long axis, a short axis, a first side, a second side, an interior surface an exterior surface, a top edge, and a bottom edge; the first side of each side wall being immediately adjacent to the second side of another of the side walls such that a corner is formed at each side of the side walls, thereby defining a form interior for the placement of concrete and an exterior;    (d) positioning the form in the selected location;    (e) pouring concrete into the form; and    (f) allowing the concrete to harden.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the form that is positioned in the selected location further comprises means for securing the form in a selected location at a construction site.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the method has the additional step of securing the form in its selected location before the step of pouring concrete into the form.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the form is positioned over sections of reinforcing bar that are pre-placed at the desired location.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein after the form is positioned in the desired location, sections of reinforcing bar are placed in the interior of the form before concrete is poured into the interior of the form.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the four side walls of the form that is positioned in the selected location define a generally square perimeter when viewed from above and when concrete is poured into the form, the hydrostatic pressure exerted on the side walls by the concrete causes uniform displacement of the side walls such that the generally square perimeter assumes a generally circular shape, and the resulting column is generally cylindrical.