Concrete forming structure frame locking device

Abstract

A locking device for use with a concrete framing structure having a plurality of frame panels which form opposed first and second sides. The locking device includes first and second locking halves, each having a mounting member for rigidly holding one of the frame panels of the first and second sides, respectively, of the concrete forming structure. Each locking half also has a horizontal, U-shaped extension member mounted to the mounting member, with the extension member of the first locking half disposed within the second extension member channel. A clamp assembly includes a U-shaped clamp member having first and second arm segments extending downwardly from a saddle segment. Each of the arm segments has an opening for receiving the extension members. A bolt having a shaft threadably engaged in a threaded orifice in the clamp member saddle segment is torqued to lock the first mounting member at a predetermined distance from the second mounting member.

1 . A locking device for use with a concrete framing structure having a plurality of frame panels forming opposed first and second sides, each of the frame panels having a side and a top, the locking device comprising: 
 a first locking half including 
 a first mounting member adapted for rigidly holding one of the frame panels of the first side of the concrete forming structure, and  
 a horizontal, U-shaped first extension member mounted to the first mounting member, the first extension member having a base segment connecting oppositely disposed leg segments;  
   a second locking half including 
 a second mounting member adapted for rigidly holding one of the frame panels of the second side of the concrete forming structure, and  
 a horizontal, U-shaped second extension member mounted to the second mounting member, the second extension member having a base segment connecting oppositely disposed leg segments, the base segment and leg segments defining a channel, the first extension member being receivable within the second extension member channel; and  
   a clamp assembly including 
 a U-shaped clamp member having first and second arm segments extending downwardly from a saddle segment, each of the arm segments defining an opening for receiving the first and second extension members, the saddle segment defining a substantially circular, threaded orifice, and  
 a bolt having a threaded shaft extending to a bolt tip, the threaded shaft being threadably engaged in the clamp member threaded orifice, the bolt tip engaging an upper surface of the second extension member base segment;  
   wherein the first mounting member is locked at a predetermined distance from the second mounting member by torquing the clamp assembly bolt, whereby a bottom surface of each clamp member leg segment opening engages a bottom edge of each leg segment of the first extension member to clamp the first extension member to the second extension member.    
   
   
       2 . The locking device of  claim 1  wherein when the clamp assembly bolt is torqued and the bottom surface of each clamp member leg segment opening engages the bottom edge of each leg segment of the first extension member, further torquing of the bolt draws an upper surface of the first extension member base segment into frictional engagement with a lower surface of the second extension member base segment.  
   
   
       3 . The locking device of  claim 1  wherein the openings of the clamp member arm segments each have a substantially rectangular shape.  
   
   
       4 . The locking device of  claim 3  wherein the opening of the clamp member first arm segment is substantially aligned with the opening of the clamp member second arm segment.  
   
   
       5 . The locking device of  claim 1  wherein the leg segments of each of the extension members each have an outside surface and an inside surface, the outside surfaces of the leg segments of the first extension member defining a distance that is less than a distance between the inside surfaces of the leg segments of the second extension member, whereby the first extension member is slidably movable within the second extension member channel.  
   
   
       6 . The locking device of  claim 5  the leg segments of each of the extension members each have a height, the height of the leg segments of the first extension member being substantially equal to the height of the leg segments of the second extension member, whereby the leg segments of the first extension member extend below the leg segments of the second extension member when the first extension member is disposed within the second extension member channel.  
   
   
       7 . The locking device of  claim 1  further comprising a support bracket mountable on one of the extension members, the support bracket being adapted for suspending an object between the frame panels of the concrete framing structure.  
   
   
       8 . The locking device of  claim 7  wherein the support bracket includes: 
 a bracket member defining a channel having an opening, the extension member being insertable through the opening into the channel;    a clamp member; and    a bolt removably mounting the clamp member to the bracket member, whereby the clamp member closes at least a portion of the opening to retain the extension member in the channel.    
   
   
       9 . The locking device of  claim 8  wherein the bracket member includes: 
 a U-shaped engagement section forming the channel for receiving the extension member; and    a mounting segment extending substantially horizontally from the engagement section, the mounting segment defining at least one opening adapted for receiving a wire or a string mounted to an end of the object.    
   
   
       10 . The locking device of  claim 9  wherein the engagement section of the bracket member includes: 
 first and second side portions, each of the side portions having an inner surface, the mounting segment extending substantially perpendicularly from the first side portion, the second side portion defining an opening;    a top portion connecting the first and second side portions, the side portions and the top portion forming the channel for receiving the extension member; and    a threaded nut mounted to the inner surface of the second side portion coaxial with the opening, the nut being threadably engageable with a threaded shaft of the bolt.    
   
   
       11 . The locking device of  claim 10  wherein the clamp member is C-shaped including: 
 a top portion;    a bottom portion; and    a side portion connecting the top and bottom portions, the side portion defining an opening;    wherein the top and bottom portions and the side portion define a channel for receiving the second side portion of the bracket member engagement section.    
   
   
       12 . The locking device of  claim 11  wherein the clamp member top and bottom portions each have a width, the width of the bottom portion being greater than the width of the top portion, whereby the bottom portion at least partially closes the opening of the channel of the bracket member engagement section when the clamp member is mounted to the bracket member.  
   
   
       13 . A locking device for use with a concrete framing structure having a plurality of frame panels forming opposed first and second sides, each of the frame panels having a side and a top, the locking device comprising: 
 a first locking half including a first mounting member and a first extension member mounted to the first mounting member, the first mounting member being adapted for rigidly holding one of the frame panels of the first side of the concrete forming structure;    a second locking half including a second mounting member and a second extension member mounted to the second mounting member, the second mounting member being adapted for rigidly holding one of the frame panels of the second side of the concrete forming structure;    a support bracket mountable on one of the extension members, the support bracket being adapted for suspending an object between the frame panels of the concrete framing structure; and    a clamp assembly including 
 a clamp member defining at least one opening for receiving the first and second extension members, and  
 a bolt having a threaded shaft threadably engaged with the clamp member;  
   wherein the first mounting member is locked at a predetermined distance from the second mounting member by torquing the clamp assembly bolt, whereby the first extension member is clamped to the second extension member.    
   
   
       14 . A locking device for use with a concrete framing structure having a plurality of frame panels forming opposed first and second sides, each of the frame panels having a side and a top, the locking device comprising: 
 a first locking half including a first mounting member and a first extension member mounted to the first mounting member, the first mounting member being adapted for rigidly holding one of the frame panels of the first side of the concrete forming structure;    a second locking half including a second mounting member and a second extension member mounted to the second mounting member, the second mounting member being adapted for rigidly holding one of the frame panels of the second side of the concrete forming structure;    a support bracket adapted for suspending an object between the frame panels of the concrete framing structure, the support bracket including 
 a bracket member defining a channel having an opening, the extension member being insertable through the opening into the channel;  
 a clamp member removably mountable to the bracket member, the clamp member closing at least a portion of the opening to retain the extension member in the channel; and  
   a clamp assembly including 
 a clamp member receiving the first and second extension members, and  
 a bolt having a threaded shaft threadably engaged with the clamp member;  
   wherein the first mounting member is locked at a predetermined distance from the second mounting member by torquing the clamp assembly bolt, whereby the first extension member is clamped to the second extension member.