Self-measuring reusable and durable bridges or spacers for convection to the top concrete forms and related methods

Abstract

Self-measuring, reusable and durable struts, spacers and/or spreaders and related methods are disclosed for facilely being releasably but securely joined to and self-setting the distance between the tops of vertical walls comprising concrete forms to retain the forms during a concrete pour.

1 . A self-measuring reusable bridge for connection across the tops of spaced concrete form members comprising a structural strut of a non-wooden durable rigid material, the bridge comprising: 
 a predetermined length;    fastener-receiving apertures positioned at exact locations along the length corresponding to common distances between concrete form members;    and distance indicia adjacent to the apertures.    
   
   
       2 . A bridge according to  claim 1  wherein the structural bar is made of a rigid material select from the group consisting of metals, synthetic resinous materials and composite material.  
   
   
       3 . A bridge according to the  claim 1  wherein the structural strut comprises an elongated metal spacer comprising a standard structural shape.  
   
   
       4 . A bridge according to  claim 3  wherein the structural shape comprises a flat bar.  
   
   
       5 . A bridge according to  claim 3  wherein the structural shape comprises a channel-shaped member.  
   
   
       6 . A bridge for position-stabilizing and for being releasably joined to spaced concrete form members comprising a rigid shape-retaining structural member having an exact predetermined length and pre-formed apertures exactly spaced one aperture from the other apertures at locations along the length corresponding to common distances at which the concrete form members are spaced whereby placement of fasteners through two selected apertures into both of the spaced concrete form members connect and position-stabilize the respective concrete form members.  
   
   
       7 . A method of placing reusable spaced bridges between spaced concrete form members comprising the acts of: 
 preliminarily positioning and generally securing at least two spaced concrete form members, each concrete form member being formed of a material and disposed in adjacent locations;    placing a plurality of sequential reusable shape-retaining structurally rigid bridges so as to span between and across the adjacent concrete form members;    fastening each bridge to each concrete form member by advancing a fastener through an aperture in each bridge and into the material of both concrete form members to position stabilize the concrete form members for receipt of concrete.    
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 7  comprising the further acts of: 
 following a concrete pour into the concrete form members and after the concrete has set, removing the fasteners;    unfastening and separating the bridges from the concrete form members;    reusing the bridges at a later point in time by repeating the acts of  claim 7 .    
   
   
       9 . A bridge system for spacing and securing concrete forms, the system comprising: 
 two inverted U-shaped shoes, respectively placed contiguously over a top of spaced vertically-extending concrete forms, each U-shaped shoe comprising a top portion;    a rigid shape-retaining structural member superimposed contiguously over the top portion of both shoes so as to span between the top portions of the two shoes;    a connector joining the structural member to each shoe releasably locking the shoes and the structural member together to define the exact distance between the top portions of the spaced vertically-extending concrete forms.    
   
   
       10 . A bridge system according to  claim 9  wherein each connector comprises a pin.  
   
   
       11 . A bridge system according to  claim 10  wherein each pin is rigidly joined to the top portion of the associated shoe and passes through an aperture in the associated structural member.  
   
   
       12 . A method placing a self-measuring reusable bridge between space vertically-extending concrete forms each comprising a top portion and a lower portion, comprising the acts of: 
 locating and securing the bottom portions of each vertically-extending concrete forms in predetermined spaced relation;    placing a reusable inverted U-shaped shoe in alignment with each other over the top portion of each spaced concrete form, each U-shaped shoe comprising a top;    placing a self-measuring reusable bridge contiguously across the tops of the shoes releasably connecting the top of each shoe to the bridge to exactly set the distance between the top portions of the concrete forms.    
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 12  wherein the releasably connecting step comprises placing pins anchored to the top of each shoe through pre-formed apertures in the bridge.