Plastic Stay-In-Place Concrete Forming System

Abstract

A plastic stay-in-place concrete forming system used for one or more sides of a multi-sided form and is based upon a form panel comprised of a thin plastic sheet reinforced on its interior side and capable of bonding to the concrete cast inside the form to create a solid composite structure. In one configuration the form panels are connected to internal bracing that connects to a second form side. The internal bracing is comprised of plastic connecting frames, lateral supports or individual connectors that may further reinforce the form panels or may be used solely for connecting purposes. The second side form may be any type of form including the form panel or a stud supporting foam board. The form panel may also be shaped to form two or more sides of an internally braced, multi-sided form. It may also be externally braced on one or more sides of a form.

What I claim is: 
     
         1 . A stay-in-place, plastic concrete form comprising:
 a. a form panel on one or more sides of a multi-sided concrete form and said form panel comprised of a pliable plastic sheet with reinforcement means and connecting means arranged across the interior side of said plastic sheet and said form panel mechanically bonds to the concrete,   b. one or more internal bracing having a means for connecting to said form panel and extending inward with a means for connecting to at least a second side of said concrete form.   
     
     
         2 . A concrete form of  claim 1  further including a means for shaping a single said form panel to form at least two sides of said concrete form. 
     
     
         3 . A concrete form of  claim 1  wherein said form panel on at least one side of said concrete form further includes foam bonded to at least a portion of said interior side. 
     
     
         4 . A concrete form of  claim 1  wherein said second side comprises at least one foam board secured in a predetermined position by elongated rigid studs adjoining said foam board on two or more sides and said stud having one or more flange and means for connecting to said internal bracing. 
     
     
         5 . A concrete form of  claim 1  wherein said reinforcement comprises a multitude of ribs fabricated onto said interior side. 
     
     
         6 . A concrete form of  claim 1  wherein said internal bracing comprises a connecting frame with a means for connecting perpendicular to said form panel. 
     
     
         7 . A concrete form of  claim 1  wherein said internal bracing comprises individual connectors. 
     
     
         8 . A concrete form of  claim 1  wherein said internal bracing comprises rebar tie connectors. 
     
     
         9 . A concrete form of  claim 1  wherein said reinforcement means comprises protrusions. 
     
     
         10 . A concrete form of  claim 1  further including a means for reducing the hydrostatic pressure in said concrete form. 
     
     
         11 . A concrete form of  claim 1  wherein said internal bracing has a means for connecting to other internal bracing. 
     
     
         12 . A concrete form of  claim 1  wherein one or more said form panels includes a filler and/or backing material. 
     
     
         13 . A concrete form of  claim 1  wherein said second side comprises one or more foam boards supported by one or more studs. 
     
     
         14 . A concrete form of  claim 1  wherein said second side comprises said form panel. 
     
     
         15 . A concrete form of  claim 1  further including a means for finishing the exterior side of said form panel. 
     
     
         16 . A stay-in-place concrete form panel comprising a plastic sheet reinforced by protrusions arranged across the interior side of said plastic sheet and said protrusions mechanically bond to the concrete placed against said interior side and said form panel is externally braced. 
     
     
         17 . A concrete form of  claim 16  further including a means for reducing the hydrostatic pressure from said concrete placed. 
     
     
         18 . A concrete form of  claim 16  further including a means for finishing the exterior side of said form panel. 
     
     
         19 . A method of constructing a multi-sided concrete form with a stay-in-place form panel on one or more sides, said method comprising:
 a. fabricating said form panel by reinforcing a plastic sheet across its interior side with protrusions capable of bonding to concrete and connecting to internal bracing,   b. arranging said form panel to form one or more sides of said concrete form,   c. attaching internal bracing to said form panel,   d. connecting said internal bracing to at least a second side of said concrete form, whereby a multi-sided concrete form is constructed with a stay-in-place form panel on one or more sides.