Curb forming system

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a curb forming system used to construct a curb made out of concrete or similar material that has a consistent finished shape and width. The curb forming system can be used to make decorative curbs for landscaping or other building projects. The curb forming system includes a first elongated form and a second elongated form for setting a width of a curb. The curb forming system also includes a shaped trowel that has a handle, a shaping surface, a hook guide to position the trowel on the first elongated form, and a level guide structured to position the trowel on the second elongated form. The hook guide and level guides may be structured to slide along the first and second elongated forms, respectively, so that the shaping surface is used to form the building material into a consistent shape.

1 . A concrete curb forming system comprising:
 a first elongated form, the first form substantially composed of a polyethylene material so as to be at least partially flexible;   a second elongated form, the first form substantially composed of a polyethylene material so as to be at least partially flexible;   a plurality of first stake brackets structured to be attached to the first form;   a plurality of second stake brackets structured to be attached to the second form;   a plurality of stakes structured to be inserted into the first and second stake brackets to fix the first and second forms to a work surface;   at least one spacer structured to fit over a portion of the first form and a portion of the second form to maintain a predefined distance between the first form and the second form; and   a shaping trowel including a handle, a shaping surface, a hook guide, and a level guide, where the hook guide is structured to slide along a top surface of the first form and maintain the shaping surface at a substantially consistent distance from the first form, and where the level guide is structured to maintain a vertical position of the trowel relative to a top surface of the second form.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first form includes a first end having a splicing attachment device; and   the second form includes a first end having a splicing attachment device.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the splicing attachment device at the first end of the first form is structured to attach the first end of the first form to the second end of the first form; and   the splicing attachment device at the first end of the second for in is structured to attach the first end of the second form to the second end of the second form.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the splicing attachment device at the first end of the first form is structured to attach the first end of the first form to a third elongated form; and   the splicing attachment device at the first end of the second form is structured to attach the first end of the second form to a fourth elongated form.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein splicing attachment devices for the first end of the first form and the first end of the second form respectively include elongated stiffening devices structured to be bolted to the respective first ends of the first and second forms. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second stake brackets are removable from the first and second forms, respectively. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the shaping surface of the shaping trowel is substantially composed of a plastic. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the shaping surface of the shaping trowel is substantially composed of metal. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the handle of the shaping trowel is removable. 
     
     
         10 . A method of constructing a curb on a work surface, the method comprising:
 setting a first elongated form on the work surface;   setting a second elongated form on the work surface; the second form set at a predefined distance from the first form where the predefined distance corresponds to a desired width of the curb;   disposing a curb material between the first and second forms on the work surface;   aligning a hook guide of a shaping trowel with a top surface of the first form;   positioning a level guide of the shaping trowel on a top surface of the second form; and   sliding the shaping trowel along the top surfaces of the first and second forms to shape a top surface of the curb.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising preparing the work surface to support the curb prior to setting the first and second forms. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising laying out a desired position for the curb, where the first and second forms are set to correspond with the desired position layout. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein setting a first elongated form on the work surface includes fixing the first form to the work surface using stakes positioned in stake brackets attached to the first form, and wherein setting a second elongated form on the work surface includes fixing the second form to the work surface using stakes positioned in stake brackets attached to the second form. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein setting a second elongated form on the work surface further includes setting spacers on the first and second forms to set the second form at the predefined distance from the first form. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising preparing the material disposed between the first and second forms. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein preparing the material includes mixing concrete. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising removing the first and second forms from the work surface. 
     
     
         18 . A system for forming a substantially uniform curb, the system comprising:
 a first elongated form;   a second elongated form;   a shaping trowel including:
 a shaping surface corresponding to a desired shape of the curb, 
 a handle attached to the shaping surface, 
 a hook guide structured to fit over and slide along a top surface of the first form, and 
 a level guide structured to slide along a top surface of the second form. 
   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the hook guide maintains the shaping surface at a substantially consistent distance from the first form when the shaping trowel is moved from a first position on the first and second forms to a second position on the first and second forms. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising anchoring devices structured to fix the first form and the second form to a work surface.