Insert for insulated concrete forms

Abstract

An insert is provided for an ICF which increases the insulation provided by the ICF. This adapts the ICF for use in buildings subject to harsher environments. The insert may have a protuberanced face which abuts an inner face of one of the ICF panels. The protuberances may be configured so that water penetrating the wall of ICFs is channeled down and out of the wall.

1 . An insert for an insulated concrete form, comprising:
 an expanded foam panel having a plurality of parallel slots extending from a bottom wall of said panel toward a top wall of said panel, each slot extending to a front face of said panel and to a back face of said panel, each slot extending a majority of a distance between said bottom wall and said top wall of said panel, said slots spaced and sized to receive ties between opposed panels of an insulated concrete form such that said panel may be inserted between said opposed panels,   wherein said front face of said panel has protuberances.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The insert of  claim 1  wherein each protuberance extends from said top wall to said bottom wall. 
     
     
         4 . The insert of  claim 3  wherein each slot extends along one said protuberance. 
     
     
         5 . The insert of  claim 3  wherein each protuberance, proximate said top wall, is radiused. 
     
     
         6 . The insert of  claim 5  wherein each protuberance comprises a substantially circular portion extending from said top wall. 
     
     
         7 . The insert of  claim 6  wherein said substantially circular portion is a first substantially circular portion and each protuberance further comprises a second substantially circular portion extending from said bottom wall. 
     
     
         8 . The insert of  claim 7  wherein each protuberance further includes a narrow neck joining said first substantially circular portion to said second substantially circular portion. 
     
     
         9 . The insert of  claim 8  wherein each slot extends along one said protuberance. 
     
     
         10 . The insert of  claim 3  wherein each protuberance has a rectangular shape with long sides of said rectangular shape extending from said top wall to said bottom wall of said panel. 
     
     
         11 . The insert of  claim 10  wherein each slot extends along one said protuberance. 
     
     
         12 . The insert of  claim 2  wherein said back face of said panel is free of protuberances. 
     
     
         13 . The insert of  claim 6  wherein said back face of said panel is free of protuberances. 
     
     
         14 . The insert of  claim 2  wherein said back face of said panel is, apart from said slots, featureless. 
     
     
         15 . An insulated concrete form comprising:
 an expanded foam first panel;   an expanded foam second panel opposite said first panel;   a plurality of ties extending between said first panel and said second panel, each tie having a first head embedded in said first panel and a second head embedded in said second panel;   an expanded foam insert panel having a plurality of parallel slots extending from a bottom wall of said insert panel toward a top wall of said insert panel, each slot extending to a front face of said insert panel and to a back face of said insert panel, each slot extending a majority of a distance between said bottom wall and said top wall of said insert panel, said front face of said insert panel having protuberances, said insert panel inserted between said first panel and said second panel with each slot of said insert panel receiving one of said ties and a front face of said insert panel lying adjacent an inside face of said first panel, said protuberances arranged so as to provide spaces between said inside face of said first panel and portions of said insert panel between protuberances for channeling water entering said insulated concrete form from said insulated concrete form.   
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The insulated concrete form of  claim 15  wherein each protuberance extends from said top wall to said bottom wall of said insert panel. 
     
     
         18 . The insulated concrete form of  claim 17  wherein each slot of said insert panel extends along one said protuberance. 
     
     
         19 . The insulated concrete form of  claim 18  wherein each protuberance comprises a first substantially circular portion extending from said top wall of said insert panel, a second substantially circular portion extending from said bottom wall of said insert panel, and a narrow neck joining said first substantially circular portion to said second substantially circular portion. 
     
     
         20 . The insulated concrete form of  claim 18  wherein each protuberance has a rectangular shape with long sides of said rectangular shape extending from said top wall to said bottom wall of said insert panel. 
     
     
         21 . The insulated concrete form of  claim 18  wherein said back face of said insert panel is free of protuberances.