Apparatus for connecting formwork

Abstract

A primary pin apparatus having an adjustable one-step connection and disconnection mechanism, a supplemental pin apparatus for supplementing the primary pin apparatus and engaging ties, and an improved tie having a non-circular engagement hole. The primary and supplemental pin apparatuses each include an engagement pin including one or more locking fingers which selectively protrude angularly outward from a longitudinal axis of the engagement pin, wherein the locking fingers are selectively extendable and retractable in order to, respectively, connect and disconnect adjacent forming panels of a formwork. The tie includes a body which is elongated along a longitudinal axis and has an end presenting an engagement hole for receiving a pin, wherein the engagement hole having a greater dimension along the longitudinal axis and a lesser dimension along an axis which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

1 . An apparatus for connecting adjacent panels, the apparatus comprising an engagement pin including one or more locking fingers which selectively protrude angularly outward from a longitudinal axis of the engagement pin such that a first force applied to the pin assembly sets the locking fingers in a state of relatively greater protrusion which locks the adjacent panels together, and a second force applied to the pin assembly releases the locking fingers to a state of relatively lesser protrusion which unlocks the adjacent panels. 
   
   
       2 . An apparatus for connecting adjacent panels, the apparatus comprising an engagement pin including one or more locking fingers which selectively protrude angularly outward from a longitudinal axis of the engagement pin such that a first force applied to a rearward end of the pin assembly sets the locking fingers in a state of relatively greater protrusion which locks the adjacent panels together, and a second force applied to a forward end of the pin assembly releases the locking fingers to a state of relatively lesser protrusion which unlocks the adjacent panels. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein a head end of the engagement pin is tapered to facilitate disconnecting and separating the adjacent panels. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the head end is approximately between less than 1.625 inches and 0.5 inches long. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , further including a set/release pin which is slidably received within the engagement pin, wherein—
 the engagement pin is placed in a locked position by the first force applied to a rearward end of the set/release pin which both drives the engagement pin through aligned openings in the adjacent panels and sets the locking fingers in the state of relatively greater protrusion to prevent withdrawal of the engagement pin from the openings; and   the engagement pin is placed in an unlocked position by the second force applied to a forward end of the set/release pin which releases the locking fingers to the state of relatively lesser protrusion, and   wherein the engagement pin is placed in a retracted position by a third force applied to the forward end of the engagement pin.   
   
   
       6 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 5 , further including a lock button operable to selectively lock the engagement pin in the retracted position. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the engagement pin includes one or more relief features which are engaged by the lock button, and wherein at least one of the relief features corresponds to the retracted position. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , further including—
 a housing;   a guide sleeve slidably received within the housing, wherein the engagement pin is received within the guide sleeve; and   a biasing spring operable to exert a biasing force on the guide sleeve in the forward direction.   
   
   
       9 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein—
 the engagement pin includes an externally threaded region; and   the guide sleeve includes an internally threaded region operable to engage and cooperate with the externally threaded region of the engagement pin such that rotating the guide sleeve relative to the engagement pin causes the engagement pin to correspondingly move in the forward or rearward directions relative to the guide sleeve.   
   
   
       10 . An apparatus for connecting adjacent panels, the apparatus comprising:
 an engagement pin including one or more locking fingers which selectively protrude angularly outwardly from a longitudinal axis of the engagement pin; and   a set/release slidably received within the engagement pin and which, when placed into a locked position, sets the locking fingers in a state of relatively greater protrusion which locks the adjacent panels together, and, when placed in an unlocked position, releases the locking fingers to a state of relatively lesser protrusion which unlocks the adjacent panels.   
   
   
       11 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein a head end of the engagement pin is tapered to facilitate disconnecting and separating the adjacent panels. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the head end is approximately between less than 1.625 inches and 0.5 inches long. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein—
 the engagement pin is placed in the locked position by the first force applied to a rearward end of the set/release pin which both drives the engagement pin through aligned openings in the adjacent panels and sets the locking fingers in the state of relatively greater protrusion to prevent withdrawal of the engagement pin from the openings; and   the engagement pin is placed in the unlocked position by the second force applied to a forward end of the set/release pin which releases the locking fingers to the state of relatively lesser protrusion, and   wherein the engagement pin is placed in a retracted position by a third force applied to the forward end of the engagement pin.   
   
   
       14 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 10 , further including—
 a housing;   a guide sleeve slidably received within the housing, wherein the engagement pin is received within the guide sleeve; and   a biasing spring operable to exert a biasing force on the guide sleeve in the forward direction.   
   
   
       15 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein—
 the engagement pin includes an externally threaded region; and   the guide sleeve includes an internally threaded region operable to engage and cooperate with the externally threaded region of the engagement pin such that rotating the guide sleeve relative to the engagement pin causes the engagement pin to correspondingly move in the forward or rearward directions relative to the guide sleeve.   
   
   
       16 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 10 , further including a lock button operative to selectively lock the engagement pin in the unlocked position. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein the engagement pin includes one or more relief features which are engaged by the lock button, and wherein at least one of the relief features corresponds to the unlocked position. 
   
   
       18 . An apparatus for connecting adjacent forming panels which are part of a formwork, the apparatus comprising:
 an engagement pin having a tapered head end, which is approximately between less than 1.625 inches and 0.5 inches long, and including one or more locking fingers which selectively protrude angularly outwardly from a longitudinal axis of the engagement pin; and   a set/release pin slidably received within the engagement pin and which, when placed into a locked position, sets the locking fingers in a state of relatively greater protrusion which locks the adjacent forming panels together, and, when place in an unlocked position, releases the locking fingers to a state of relatively lesser protrusion which unlocks the adjacent forming panels,   wherein the engagement pin and the set/release pin cooperative as follows—
 the engagement pin is placed in the locked position by the first force applied to a rearward end of the set/release pin which both drives the engagement pin through aligned openings in the adjacent panels and sets the locking fingers in the state of relatively greater protrusion to prevent withdrawal of the engagement pin from the openings; and 
 the engagement pin is placed in the unlocked position by the second force applied to a forward end of the set/release pin which releases the locking fingers to the state of relatively lesser protrusion. 
   
   
   
       19 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 18 , further including—
 a housing; and   a guide sleeve slidably received within the housing, wherein the engagement pin is received within the guide sleeve,   wherein—
 the engagement pin includes an externally threaded region; and 
 the guide sleeve includes an internally threaded region operable to engage and cooperate with the externally threaded region of the engagement pin such that rotating the guide sleeve relative to the engagement pin causes the engagement pin to correspondingly move in the forward or rearward directions relative to the guide sleeve. 
   
   
   
       20 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 19 , further including a lock button operable to selectively lock the engagement pin in the unlocked position. 
   
   
       21 . The apparatus as set forth in  claim 20 , wherein the engagement pin includes one or more relief features which are engaged by the lock button, and wherein at least one of the relief features corresponds to the unlocked position. 
   
   
       22 . A system comprising:
 first and second adjacent forming panels which are part of a formwork;   at least one apparatus associated with at least the first adjacent forming panel, the apparatus including—
 an engagement pin having a tapered head end and including one or more locking fingers which selectively protrude angularly outwardly from a longitudinal axis of the engagement pin; and 
 a set/release pin slidably received within the engagement pin and which, when placed into a locked position, sets the locking fingers in a state of relatively greater protrusion which locks the first and second adjacent forming panels together, and, when placed in an unlocked position, releases the locking fingers to a state of relatively lesser protrusion which unlocks the first and second adjacent forming panels, 
 wherein the engagement pin and the set/release pin cooperate as follows
 the engagement pin is placed in the locked position by the first force applied to a rearward end of the set/release pin which both drives the engagement pin through aligned openings in the adjacent panels and sets the locking fingers in the state of relatively greater protrusion to prevent withdrawal of the engagement pin from the openings, and 
 the engagement pin is placed in the unlocked position by the second force applied to a forward end of the set/release pin which releases the locking fingers to the state of relatively lesser protrusion 
 
   
   
   
       23 . The system as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein the at least one apparatus further includes—
 a housing;   a guide sleeve slidably received within the housing, wherein the engagement pin is received within the guide sleeve,   wherein—
 the engagement pin includes an externally threaded region, and 
 the guide sleeve includes an internally threaded region operable to engage and cooperate with the externally threaded region of the engagement pin such that rotating the guide sleeve relative to the engagement pin causes the engagement pin to correspondingly move in the forward or rearward directions relative to the guide sleeve; 
   a lock button operable to selectively lock the engagement pin in the unlocked position, wherein the engagement pin includes one or more relief features which are engaged by the lock button, and wherein at least one of the relief features corresponds to the retracted position.