Fabric column and pad concrete form

Abstract

A lightweight and flexible concrete forming tube for columns and pads is disclosed, wherein the tube has a very thin wall of high strength fabric and a longitudinal fabric tab running the length of the tube. The tab is sandwiched between two vertical support members made of lumber. The vertical support members and attached fabric tube are then accurately located and braced. As the interior of the tube is filled with concrete, the hydrostatic pressure causes the tube to form a cylindrical shape, thereby accurately aligning itself across from the vertical support members. The use of fabric prevents the problems associated with using cardboard forms, which weaken when exposed to moisture.

1 . A tube form for making a concrete column comprising: 
 a. a fabric sheet made of woven plastic cut to an indefinite length and a predetermined width;    b. a first longitudinal edge area and a second longitudinal edge area defined on the fabric sheet, the first longitudinal edge area and the second longitudinal edge area overlapping at a longitudinal overlap area, wherein the first longitudinal edge area and the second longitudinal edge area are heat laminated to each other at the longitudinal overlap area, wherein an outside surface of the first longitudinal edge area is heat laminated to an inside surface of the second longitudinal edge area; and    c. a protruding longitudinal tab protruding from the second longitudinal edge area, wherein the fabric sheet forms a tube having a predetermined diameter.    
   
   
       2 . The tube form of  claim 1 , further comprising two vertical support members sandwiching the protruding longitudinal tab to provide support.  
   
   
       3 . The tube form of  claim 2 , wherein the flexible sheet form element is made of a woven plastic fabric about 12 tapes per inch in the warp and weft direction.  
   
   
       4 . The tube form of  claim 1 , further comprising a zipper that joins at a fifth longitudinal edge area and a sixth longitudinal edge area, wherein a user can release the zipper to release the tube form from a cast concrete column, further comprising a fabric overlap that protects the zipper.  
   
   
       5 . The tube form of  claim 4 , wherein the flexible sheet form element is made of a woven plastic fabric about 12 tapes per inch in the warp and weft direction.  
   
   
       6 . The tube form of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible sheet form element is made of a woven polyethylene fabric.  
   
   
       7 . The tube form of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible sheet form element is made of a woven polypropylene fabric.  
   
   
       8 . The tube form of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible sheet form element is made of a woven plastic fabric about 12 tapes per inch in the warp and weft direction.  
   
   
       9 . A tube form for making a concrete column comprising: 
 a. a first fabric sheet made of woven plastic cut to an indefinite length and a predetermined width;    b. a second fabric sheet made of woven plastic cut to an indefinite length and a predetermined width;    c. a first longitudinal edge area and a second longitudinal edge area defined on the first fabric sheet;    d. a third longitudinal edge area and a fourth longitudinal edge area defined on the second fabric sheet, wherein the first longitudinal edge area and the third longitudinal edge area overlap at a first longitudinal overlap area, wherein the second longitudinal edge area and the fourth longitudinal edge area overlap at a second longitudinal overlap area, wherein the first longitudinal edge area and the third longitudinal edge area are heat laminated to each other at the first longitudinal overlap area, wherein the second longitudinal edge area and the fourth longitudinal edge area are heat laminated to each other at the second longitudinal overlap area, wherein an outside surface of the first longitudinal edge area is heat laminated to an inside surface of the third longitudinal edge area; and    e. a protruding longitudinal tab protruding from the third longitudinal edge area, wherein the first fabric sheet joined to the second fabric sheet forms a tube having a predetermined diameter.    
   
   
       10 . The tube form of  claim 9 , further comprising two vertical support members sandwiching the protruding longitudinal tab to provide support.  
   
   
       11 . The tube form of  claim 10 , wherein the flexible sheet form element is made of a woven plastic fabric about 12 tapes per inch in the warp and weft direction.  
   
   
       12 . The tube form of  claim 9 , further comprising a zipper that joins at a fifth longitudinal edge area and a sixth longitudinal edge area, wherein a user can release the zipper to release the tube form from a cast concrete column, further comprising a fabric overlap that protects the zipper.  
   
   
       13 . The tube form of  claim 12 , wherein the flexible sheet form element is made of a woven plastic fabric about 12 tapes per inch in the warp and weft direction.  
   
   
       14 . The tube form of  claim 9 , wherein the flexible sheet form element is made of a woven polyethylene fabric.  
   
   
       15 . The tube form of  claim 9 , wherein the flexible sheet form element is made of a woven polypropylene fabric.  
   
   
       16 . A prefabricated flexible forming tube for a concrete column or pad comprising: at least one flexible sheet element of specified length and width characterized in that the flexible sheet element is formed from woven fabric, and one longitudinal edge of the flexible sheet element is arranged in overlapping relationship with either: 
 i)an opposing longitudinal edge of the same flexible sheet element whereby an outside surface of the flexible sheet element adjacent one of the longitudinal edges is fixed to an inside surface of the flexible sheet element to form a joint and so create the flexible forming tube of the specified length and diameter and a longitudinal tab is formed from the flexible sheet element between another of the longitudinal edges and the joint; or    ii) a longitudinal edge of another the flexible sheet element whereby an outside surface adjacent to the longitudinal edge of one of the flexible sheet elements is fixed to an inside surface of the other of the flexible sheet elements to form a joint and a longitudinal tab is formed from the another flexible sheet element between the joint and a longitudinal edge of the other flexible sheet element, such that the joined flexible sheet elements create at least a portion of the flexible forming tube.    
   
   
       17 . A prefabricated flexible forming tube according to  claim 16  wherein the tube is formed from a multiplicity of the flexible sheet elements, adjacent flexible sheet elements of the multiplicity being fixed together as claimed in  claim 1  to form two or more the joints, each joint having an associated longitudinal tab.  
   
   
       18 . A prefabricated flexible forming tube according to  claim 16  wherein at least two of the flexible sheet elements are longitudinally joined by temporary joining means.  
   
   
       19 . A prefabricated flexible forming tube according to  claim 18  wherein the temporary joining means is a zipper.  
   
   
       20 . A prefabricated flexible forming tube according to  claim 16  wherein the woven fabric is of such a nature that it adheres to a concrete column or pad formed by supplying the forming tube with foundation material, and the woven fabric cannot be stripped from the concrete column or pad.  
   
   
       21 . A prefabricated flexible forming tube according to  claim 20  wherein said woven fabric contains high strength warp and/or weft elements to add structural strength to said concrete column or pad.  
   
   
       22 . A prefabricated flexible forming tube according to  claim 21  wherein said warp and/or weft elements are made of carbon fibre.