Concrete form brace

Abstract

A brace for concrete forms employing first and second form elements includes at least one attachment member adapted and constructed to secure the brace to at least one of the form elements. A span member is connected to the at least one attachment member, and has a length sufficient to hold the first and second form elements apart. At least one article securing mechanism is movable between a first position in which the securing mechanism receives an article associated with the concrete form, and a second position in which the securing mechanism secures the article associated with the concrete form to the brace.

1 . A brace for concrete forms employing first and second form elements, the brace comprising the following: 
 at least one attachment member adapted and constructed to secure the brace to at least one of the form elements;    a span member connected to the at least one attachment member, the span member having a length sufficient to hold the first and second form elements apart; and    at least one article securing mechanism movable between a first position in which the securing mechanism receives an article associated with the concrete form, and a second position in which the securing mechanism secures the article associated with the concrete form to the brace.    
   
   
       2 . A brace in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the at least one article securing mechanism comprises a plurality of article securing mechanisms.  
   
   
       3 . A brace in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the at least one article securing mechanism is located in a generally horizontally oriented planar surface of the brace.  
   
   
       4 . A brace in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the at least one article securing mechanism is located in a generally vertically oriented planar surface of the brace.  
   
   
       5 . A brace in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein the brace is fabricated from a rigid material.  
   
   
       6 . A brace in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the brace is fabricated from a metallic material.  
   
   
       7 . A brace in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein the brace is fabricated from steel.  
   
   
       8 . A brace in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein the brace is fabricated from galvanized steel.  
   
   
       9 . A brace in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the at least one attachment member comprises a pair of attachment members on respective ends of the span member.  
   
   
       10 . A brace in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein each of the attachment members further comprises a fastener aperture.  
   
   
       11 . A brace in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising at least one structural reinforcing member securing the at least one attachment member to the span member.  
   
   
       12 . A method for bracing concrete forms employing first and second form elements, the method comprising the following steps: 
 providing at least one attachment member adapted and constructed to secure the brace to at least one of the form elements;    providing a span member connected to the at least one attachment member, the span member having a length sufficient to hold the first and second form elements apart;    providing at least one article securing mechanism movable between a first position in which the securing mechanism receives an article associated with the concrete form, and a second position in which the securing mechanism secures the article associated with the concrete form to the brace    securing the brace to at least one of the form elements;    placing an article in the at least one article securing mechanism; and    moving the at least one article securing mechanism to its second position to secure the article to the brace.    
   
   
       13 . A method in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the step providing of at least one article securing mechanism comprises providing a plurality of article securing mechanisms.  
   
   
       14 . A method in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the step of providing at least one article securing mechanism comprises providing at least one article securing mechanism located in a generally horizontally oriented planar surface of the brace.  
   
   
       15 . A method in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the step of providing at least one article securing mechanism comprises providing at least one article securing mechanism located in a generally vertically oriented planar surface of the brace.  
   
   
       16 . A method in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the step of providing at least one attachment member comprises providing a pair of attachment members on respective ends of the span member.  
   
   
       17 . A method in accordance with  claim 16 , further comprising the step of providing a fastener aperture in each of the attachment members.  
   
   
       18 . A method for forming a brace for concrete forms employing first and second form elements, the method comprising the following steps: 
 providing a generally flat, elongate blank of a malleable material;    forming from the blank at least one attachment member on the blank, the attachment member being adapted and constructed to secure the brace to at least one of the form elements;    forming from the blank a span member connected to the at least one attachment member, the span member having a length sufficient to hold the first and second form elements apart; and    forming from the blank at least one article securing mechanism movable between a first position in which the securing mechanism receives an article associated with the concrete form, and a second position in which the securing mechanism secures the article associated with the concrete form to the brace.    
   
   
       19 . A method in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein the steps of forming the at least one attachment member and span member comprise bending the blank.  
   
   
       20 . A method in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein the step of forming at least one article securing mechanism further comprises the following steps: 
 cutting the at least one article securing mechanism in a predetermined size from the span member; and    bending the at least one article securing mechanism into its first position.