Insulated concrete form panel reinforcement

Abstract

An insulated concrete form (ICF) panel reinforcement is disclosed. The ICF comprises a main panel, a reinforcement on the main panel for stiffening the main panel, a spacer retention element integrated in the reinforcement for securing a spacer to the panel, and a first opposing panel opposite the main panel and having a first opposing spacer retention element integrated therein for securing the spacer to the first opposing panel. The ICF panel reinforcement is particularly useful at high stress locations in ICF systems, such as at T-wall intersections.

1 . An insulated concrete form comprising:
 a main panel,   a first opposing panel opposite the main panel,   a spacer having first and second ends for maintaining a fixed spacing between the main panel and the first opposing panel,   a reinforcement secured to the main panel for stiffening the main panel,   a spacer retention element integrated within the reinforcement for securing the first end of the spacer to the main panel, and   a first opposing spacer retention element in the first opposing panel for securing the second end of the spacer to the first opposing panel.   
   
   
       2 . The insulated concrete form of  claim 1  wherein the reinforcement comprises a plurality of the spacer retention elements integrated therein. 
   
   
       3 . The insulated concrete form of  claim 2  further comprising a second opposing panel opposite the main panel and first opposing panel, and having a second opposing spacer retention element integrated therein for securing a second spacer to a second spacer retention element in the reinforcement on the main panel, wherein the second spacer maintains a fixed distance between the second opposing panel and the main panel. 
   
   
       4 . The insulated concrete form of  claim 3  wherein an end of the first opposing panel is attached to an end of a first intersecting panel, and an end of the second opposing panel is attached to an end of a second intersecting panel, such that the first and second intersecting panels are connected to each other by a spacer attached to intersecting spacer retention elements in the intersecting panels. 
   
   
       5 . The insulated concrete form of  claim 4  wherein the main panel, the opposing panels and the intersecting panels are connected to produce a T-wall insulated concrete form. 
   
   
       6 . The insulated concrete form of  claim 1  wherein the reinforcement is secured to the main panel by integrating the reinforcement in the main panel. 
   
   
       7 . The insulated concrete form of  claim 1  wherein the reinforcement is a reinforced material. 
   
   
       8 . The insulated concrete form of  claim 7  wherein the reinforced material is a composite material, a polymer or a polymer-based compound. 
   
   
       9 . The insulated concrete form of  claim 8  wherein the polymer is polystyrene or polyurethane foam. 
   
   
       10 . The insulated concrete form of  claim 9  wherein the reinforcement further comprises filament tape, fiberglass or steel mesh. 
   
   
       11 . The insulated concrete form of  claim 1  wherein the main panel, the opposing panels and the intersecting panels are flipable, reversible and/or bi-directional. 
   
   
       12 . An insulated concrete form panel comprising:
 a reinforcement secured to the panel for stiffening the panel, and
 a spacer retention element integrated within the reinforcement for securing a spacer thereto for connecting the panel to an opposing panel in the insulated concrete form. 
   
   
   
       13 . The insulated concrete form panel of  claim 12  wherein the reinforcement is secured to the panel by integrating the reinforcement in the panel. 
   
   
       14 . A reinforcement for stiffening an insulated concrete form panel comprising: a spacer retention element integrated within the reinforcement for securing a spacer thereto for connecting the panel to an opposing panel in the insulated concrete form, and means for connecting and securing the reinforcement to the panel. 
   
   
       15 . The reinforcement of  claim 14  wherein the means for connecting and securing the reinforcement to the panel comprises one or more interlocking elements which connect with complementary interlocking elements on the panel. 
   
   
       16 . An insulated concrete form kit comprising:
 a panel,   a reinforcement for connecting to and securing to the panel, and for stiffening the panel,   a spacer retention element integrated within the reinforcement, and   a spacer having first and second ends, the first end for securing to the spacer retention element, and the second end for securing to an opposing panel in the insulated concrete form.   
   
   
       17 . The kit of  claim 16  wherein the panel is flipable, reversible and/or bi-directional. 
   
   
       18 . A method of reinforcing a panel in an insulated concrete form comprising:
 connecting and securing to the panel a reinforcement having a first spacer retention element integrated within the reinforcement; and   securing a spacer to the first spacer retention element and to a second spacer retention element integrated in an opposing panel in the insulated concrete form,   such that the insulated concrete form panel is reinforced.   
   
   
       19 . An insulated concrete column form comprising:
 one or more panels, each having a surface facing an interior of the column and a spacer retention element integrated within each surface, and   a plurality of spacers each having first and second ends, the first end of the spacer for securing to the spacer retention element on the one or more panels, and the second end for connecting with the second end of an adjacent spacer in the interior of the column.   
   
   
       20 . The insulated concrete column form of  claim 19  wherein the one or more panels are flipable, reversible and/or bi-directional. 
   
   
       21 . (canceled) 
   
   
       22 . (canceled)