Leave-in-place concrete form

Abstract

A concrete form is disclosed and can include an elongated body having a length and a width. A cross-section of the elongated body perpendicular to the length can include a closed, box-shaped main body having an upper wall, a lower wall opposite the upper wall, a first sidewall extending between and connecting the upper wall and the lower wall, and a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall and extending between and connecting the upper wall and the lower wall. A lower extension can extend from the main body portion in a first direction beyond the lower wall and an upper extension can extend from the main body portion in a second direction opposite the first direction beyond the upper wall.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A concrete form, comprising:
 an elongated body having a length and a width, wherein a cross-section of the elongated body perpendicular to the length comprises:   a closed, box-shaped main body portion comprising:
 an upper wall; 
 a lower wall opposite the upper wall; 
 a first sidewall extending between and connecting the upper wall and the lower wall; 
 a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall, the second sidewall extending between and connecting the upper wall and the lower wall; 
   a lower extension extending from the main body portion in a first direction beyond the lower wall; and   an upper extension extending from the main body portion in a second direction opposite the first direction beyond the upper wall.   
     
     
         2 . The concrete form of  claim 1 , further comprising a stiffening lip extending from the upper extension, wherein the stiffening lip extends along the entire length of the elongated body. 
     
     
         3 . The concrete form of  claim 2 , wherein the stiffening lip is perpendicular to the upper extension. 
     
     
         4 . The concrete form of  claim 1 , wherein the lower extension extends in a downward direction and the upper extension extends in an upward direction when the concrete form is installed. 
     
     
         5 . The concrete form of  claim 1 , wherein the upper wall and the lower wall are substantially perpendicular to the first sidewall and the second sidewall. 
     
     
         6 . The concrete form of  claim 1 , wherein the lower extension, the upper extension and the second sidewall lie along the same plane. 
     
     
         7 . The concrete form of  claim 2 , wherein the stiffening lip is parallel to the upper wall and the lower wall. 
     
     
         8 . The concrete form of  claim 2 , wherein the elongated body comprises an overall height, H, and wherein the stiffening lip extends from the upper extension at a distance, D, and a ratio of D/H is in a range of from about 5% to about 50%. 
     
     
         9 . The concrete form of  claim 2 , wherein the stiffening lip extends from the upper extension such that the upper extension does not extend above the stiffening lip. 
     
     
         10 . The concrete form of  claim 2 , wherein the body includes a length along a longitudinal axis and the body includes a substantially uniform cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis along the entire length of the body. 
     
     
         11 . The concrete form of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated body is molded or extruded. 
     
     
         12 . The concrete form of  claim 1 , wherein the concrete form is left in place once the form is used in the construction process. 
     
     
         13 . A concrete form, comprising:
 a closed, box-shaped main body portion comprising:
 an upper wall; 
 a lower wall opposite the upper wall; 
 a first sidewall extending between and connecting the upper wall and the lower wall; 
 a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall, the second sidewall extending between and connecting the upper wall and the lower wall; 
   a lower extension extending from the main body portion in a first direction beyond the lower wall; and   an upper extension extending from the main body portion in a second direction opposite the first direction beyond the upper wall;   wherein a cross-section of the concrete form perpendicular to a length of the concrete form and passing through the main body, the lower extension, and the upper extensions is substantially uniform along the length of the concrete form.   
     
     
         14 . The concrete form of  claim 13 , wherein the concrete form is produced via a molding process or an extrusion process. 
     
     
         15 . The concrete form of  claim 13 , wherein the concrete form is free of discontinuous structural features extending along an axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the concrete form. 
     
     
         16 . A concrete forming system, comprising:
 a first concrete form configured to provide water drainage; and   a second concrete form distanced from the first concrete form to define a channel between the first concrete form and the second concrete form, wherein the second concrete form comprises:
 an elongated body having a length and a width, wherein a cross-section of the elongated body perpendicular to the length comprises:
 a closed, box-shaped main body portion comprising:
 an upper wall; 
 a lower wall opposite the upper wall; 
 a first sidewall extending between and connecting the upper wall and the lower wall; 
 a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall, the second sidewall extending between and connecting the upper wall and the lower wall; 
 
 a lower extension extending from the main body portion in a first direction beyond the lower wall; and 
 an upper extension extending from the main body portion in a second direction opposite the first direction beyond the upper wall. 
 
   
     
     
         17 . The concrete form of  claim 16 , wherein the concrete form is produced via a molding process or an extrusion process. 
     
     
         18 . A concrete forming system, comprising:
 a first concrete form configured to provide water drainage;   a second concrete form distanced from the first concrete form to define a channel between the first concrete form and the second concrete form; and   a plurality of stakes placed along each concrete form at a regular stake interval, I S , wherein the second concrete form provides an installed deflection, D I , between adjacent stakes and D I ≦0.75% I S .   
     
     
         19 . The concrete forming system of  claim 18 , wherein D I  is measured along an axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the second concrete form.