Stackable block for insulating concrete form system

Abstract

A concrete form system comprising a reversibly stackable insulating form blocks each block having a pair of panels separated by two or more ties. Each of the top, bottom and side edges of the panels includes either a tongue or groove so as to engage a corresponding tongue or groove of a panel of another block stacked vertically or horizontally adjacent thereto. The panels of each block are arranged in opposite orientation to each other so as to enable the block to be stackable in either an upside-down or right-side-up orientation.

1 . A reversibly stackable insulating concrete form block, for use in a concrete form system, comprising: 
 first and second foam panels, arranged opposed and parallel to each other and spaced apart by a predetermined distance;    two or more ties extending perpendicularly between said panels to maintain the panels in said spaced apart orientation; and    each of said panels having top and bottom edges and left and right ends and including: 
 a first interlocking means for engaging a respective panel of a block vertically adjacent thereto;  
 a second interlocking means for engaging a respective panel of a block located horizontally adjacent thereto; and  
 at least one tie aligning feature to vertically align ties of vertically adjacent blocks,  
 wherein said panels are arranged in opposite vertical and horizontal orientation with respect to each other whereby said block can be engaged with other vertically adjacent blocks in either a right-side up or upside-down orientation.  
   
   
   
       2 . The block of  claim 1  wherein said block includes a plane of symmetry extending from the top of said first panel to the bottom of said second panel.  
   
   
       3 . The block of  claim 2  wherein said block includes a plane of symmetry extending from the top left end of said first panel to the bottom right end of said second panel.  
   
   
       4 . The block of  claim 1  wherein said ties includes a plurality of rebar receiving clips.  
   
   
       5 . The block of  claim 4  wherein said ties include an axis of symmetry extending transversely across the mid-point of said tie.  
   
   
       6 . The block of  claim 1  wherein said ties include flanges embedded within each of said panels.  
   
   
       7 . The block of  claim 6  wherein said flanges extend substantially across the height of said panels.  
   
   
       8 . A reversibly stackable insulating concrete form block, for use in a concrete form system, comprising: 
 first and second foam panels, arranged opposed and parallel to each other and spaced apart by a predetermined distance; and    two or more ties extending perpendicularly between said panels to maintain the panels in said spaced apart orientation,    wherein    each panel of said panels includes a top edge, a bottom edge, and left and right ends; for said each panel: 
 one of said top and bottom edges includes a first tongue extending longitudinally along said edge;  
 the other of said top and bottom edges includes a first groove extending longitudinally along said other edge and being adapted to receive a tongue having the dimensions of said first tongue;  
 one of said left and right ends includes a second tongue extending longitudinally along said end;  
 the other of said left and right ends includes a second groove extending longitudinally along said other end and being adapted to receive a tongue having the dimensions of said second tongue;  
 two or more projections extending from the edge having said first tongue; and  
 two or more recesses provided on the edge having said first groove; and  
 said panels of said block are arranged in opposite orientation with respect to each other whereby the top of the first panel faces the bottom of the second panel and the right end of the first panel faces the left end of the second panel.  
   
   
   
       9 . The block of  claim 8  wherein said block includes a plane of symmetry extending from the top of said first panel to the bottom of said second panel.  
   
   
       10 . The block of  claim 9  wherein said block includes a plane of symmetry extending from the top left end of said first panel to the bottom right end of said second panel.  
   
   
       11 . The block of  claim 8  wherein said projections and recesses cooperate to cause vertical alignment of said ties.  
   
   
       12 . The block of  claim 11  wherein said ties include flanges embedded within each of said panels.  
   
   
       13 . The block of  claim 12  wherein said flanges extend substantially across the height of said panels.  
   
   
       14 . A reversibly stackable insulating concrete form block, for use in a concrete form system, comprising: 
 first and second panels, arranged opposed and parallel to each other and spaced apart by a predetermined distance;    two or more ties extending perpendicularly between said panels to maintain the panels in said spaced apart orientation;    on a top edge of said first panel, at least one positive feature for engaging a respective negative feature on a panel of a block vertically adjacent thereto;    on a bottom edge of said first panel, at least one negative feature for receiving a corresponding positive feature of said block vertically adjacent thereto;    on a bottom edge of said second panel, a compatible positive feature to each of said at least one positive feature of said first panel; and    on a top edge of said second panel, a compatible negative feature to each of said at least one negative feature of said first panel,    wherein said at least one positive feature, said at least one negative feature, said compatible positive feature and said compatible negative feature are located on their respective edges such that said block can be engaged with other vertically adjacent blocks in either a right-side up orientation with said at least one negative feature of said first panel engaging a corresponding positive feature on an adjacent panel of a block below said block or an upside-down orientation with said compatible negative feature of said second panel engaging said corresponding positive feature on said adjacent panel and wherein one of said at least one positive feature is a tongue extending longitudinally along said top edge.