Slotted insert with captured nut anchor

Abstract

A slotted insert based upon a non-metallic void former including a neck portion defining a longitudinally elongated slot, the neck portion having a first transverse width, and a channel portion defining a longitudinally elongated channel, the channel having a second transverse width substantially greater than the first transverse width. The insert includes a metal nut, captured within the channel, having an aperture and a third transverse width substantially greater than the first transverse width. The longitudinally elongated slot and longitudinally elongated channel are interconnected with the aperture of the captured metal nut accessible through the slot to provide an adjustable anchoring or connection point to other structural components. Various attachment features allow the insert to be positioned within formworks with or without direct attachment to the forming surface of a concrete form member.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A slotted insert for concrete construction, the slotted insert comprising:
 a non-metallic void former including:
 a neck portion defining a longitudinally elongated slot, the neck portion having a first transverse width; and 
 a channel portion defining a longitudinally elongated channel, the channel having a second transverse width substantially greater than the first transverse width; and 
   a metal nut, captured within the channel, having an aperture and a third transverse width substantially greater than the first transverse width;   wherein the longitudinally elongated slot and longitudinally elongated channel are interconnected and mutually aligned such that the longitudinal axis of the slot and the longitudinal axis of the channel are parallel to each other, with the aperture of the captured metal nut accessible through the slot.   
     
     
         2 . The slotted insert of  claim 1 , wherein the third transverse width is equal to the second transverse width. 
     
     
         3 . The slotted insert of  claim 1 , wherein the neck portion and channel portion are separate portions of the insert, releaseably interlocking with each other. 
     
     
         4 . The slotted insert of  claim 3 , wherein a channel-facing end of the neck portion includes an outwardly-projecting peripheral flange, and a neck-facing end of the channel portion includes an inwardly-open circumferential track engaging the peripheral flange to interlock the neck and channel portions together. 
     
     
         5 . The slotted insert of  claim 4 , wherein the channel portion comprises separable halves, each half including a latch arm and a locking ramp, with the latch arm of one of the halves opposing and mutually engagable with the locking ramp of the other of the halves, and the locking ramp of the one of the halves opposing and mutually engagable with the latch arm of the other of the halves. 
     
     
         6 . The slotted insert of  claim 1 , further comprising a removable cap portion configured to seal the longitudinally elongated slot opposite the longitudinally elongated channel. 
     
     
         7 . The slotted insert of  claim 6 , wherein the removable cap portion is a frangible part of the neck portion defined by a thinned web proximate the periphery of the elongated longitudinal slot opposite the longitudinally elongated channel. 
     
     
         8 . The slotted insert of  claim 1 , wherein the neck portion includes an outwardly-projecting peripheral flange opposite a channel-facing end of the neck portion. 
     
     
         9 . The slotted insert of  claim 8 , wherein the peripheral flange comprises a plurality of outwardly-projecting tabs projecting longitudinally from the neck portion opposite the channel-facing end. 
     
     
         10 . The slotted insert of  claim 1 , wherein the channel portion includes a plurality of outwardly-projecting clips configured to affix the insert to metal reinforcing bars bracketing the channel portion. 
     
     
         11 . The slotted insert of  claim 1 , wherein the metal nut is a rectangular nut. 
     
     
         12 . The slotted insert of  claim 11 , wherein the channel portion includes a pair of longitudinally-running, laterally-projecting bearing surfaces on opposite lateral sides of the channel portion, and the metal nut includes a pair of longitudinally-running, laterally-projecting wings on opposite lateral sides of the nut, the wings of the nut generally conforming to the bearing surfaces of the channel portion. 
     
     
         13 . The slotted insert of  claim 12 , wherein the channel portion includes a plurality of outwardly-projecting clips configured to affix the insert to metal reinforcing bars bracketing the channel portion, and the clips project across the longitudinally-running, laterally-projecting bearing surfaces of the channel portion. 
     
     
         14 . The slotted insert of  claim 11 , wherein a channel-facing end of the neck portion includes a plurality of elastic fingers, the elastic fingers being configured to project within the longitudinally elongated channel to interfere with movement of the metal nut. 
     
     
         15 . A formwork construction comprising:
 an insert including:
 a non-metallic neck portion defining a longitudinally elongated slot, the neck portion having a first transverse width; 
 a non-metallic channel portion defining a longitudinally elongated channel, the channel having a second transverse width substantially greater than the first transverse width; 
 a metal nut captured within the channel, the metal nut having an aperture and a third transverse width substantially greater than the first transverse width; and 
 a removable cap portion configured to seal the longitudinally elongated slot opposite the longitudinally elongated channel; 
   wherein the longitudinally elongated slot and longitudinally elongated channel are interconnected and mutually aligned such that the longitudinal axis of the slot and the longitudinal axis of the channel are parallel to each other, with the aperture of the captured metal nut accessible through the slot upon removal of the removable cap portion; and   a pair of metal reinforcing bars bracketing the void former proximate the longitudinally elongated channel and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the channel, wherein the insert is affixed to the pair of metal reinforcing bars.   
     
     
         16 . The formwork construction of  claim 15 , wherein the insert is affixed to the pair of metal reinforcing bars via a plurality of clips projecting outwardly from the channel portion. 
     
     
         17 . The formwork construction of  claim 16 , wherein the channel portion includes a pair of longitudinally-running, laterally-projecting bearing surfaces on opposite lateral sides of the channel portion, and the metal nut includes a pair of longitudinally-running, laterally-projecting wings on opposite lateral sides of the nut, the wings of the nut generally conforming to the bearing surfaces of the channel portion. 
     
     
         18 . The formwork construction of  claim 17 , wherein the each of the plurality of outwardly-projecting clips projects across a respective one of the longitudinally-running, laterally-projecting bearing surfaces of the channel portion. 
     
     
         19 . A formwork construction comprising:
 a void former including:
 a non-metallic neck portion defining a longitudinally elongated slot, the neck portion having a first transverse width; 
 a non-metallic channel portion defining a longitudinally elongated channel, the channel having a second transverse width substantially greater than the first transverse width; and 
 a metal nut, captured within the channel, having an aperture and a third transverse width substantially greater than the first transverse width; 
   wherein the longitudinally elongated slot and longitudinally elongated channel are interconnected and mutually aligned such that the longitudinal axis of the slot and the longitudinal axis of the slot are parallel to each other, with the aperture of the captured metal nut accessible through the slot; and
 a support member, wherein the neck portion is affixed to the forming member via a plurality of fasteners, inserted through an outwardly-projecting peripheral flange disposed opposite a channel-facing end of the neck portion and into the forming member. 
   
     
     
         20 . The formwork of  claim 19 , wherein the outwardly-projecting peripheral flange comprises a plurality of outwardly-projecting tabs projecting longitudinally from the neck portion opposite the channel-facing end.