Formwork element

Abstract

A composite structure formed of a concrete slab and an integrated formwork element, wherein: the formwork element includes a side wall, against which concrete is poured to define a side of the slab, and a lateral flange that covers a top or bottom peripheral edge of the slab, wherein: the lateral flange has a grip that extends into a main body of the slab in a vertical direction, to form a space between the grip and the side wall, which is substantially filled with concrete such that the concrete locks into the space and structurally integrates the element with the concrete slab: and wherein: the lateral flange has a groove formed in an external face of the flange, opposite the slab, to serve as an anchor site for a load transfer member attached externally of the composite structure by being fitted to the formwork element.

1 . A composite structure formed of a concrete slab and an integrated formwork element, wherein:
 the formwork element includes a side wall, against which concrete is poured to define a side of the slab, and a lateral flange that covers a top or bottom peripheral edge of the slab, wherein:   the lateral flange has a grip that extends into a main body of the slab in a vertical direction, to form a space between the grip and the side wall, which is substantially filled with concrete such that the concrete locks into the space and structurally integrates the element with the concrete slab: and wherein:   the lateral flange has a groove formed in an external face of the flange, opposite the slab, to serve as an anchor site for a load transfer member attached externally of the composite structure by being fitted to the formwork element.   
     
     
         2 . The composite structure of  claim 1 , wherein the grip is formed as an indent projecting inwardly from the associated top or bottom peripheral edge of the slab. 
     
     
         3 . The composite structure of  claim 2 , wherein the groove is formed at a reverse side of the indent. 
     
     
         4 . The composite structure of  claim 3 , wherein the indent includes an angled first section that extends into the body of the slab and a return section that acts as a barrier to restrict concrete being poured over the indent and into the groove. 
     
     
         5 . The composite structure of  claim 1 , wherein the side wall includes an integrated channel, that has is accessible from one side of the side wall, through a reduced dimension entrance defined between opposed shoulders of the channel, the channel having an enlarged cavity extending into the main body of the slab on an opposite side of the wall, lengthwise of the formwork element. 
     
     
         6 . The composite structure of  claim 2 , wherein the lateral flange projects from a bottom of the side all and the grip extends upwardly into the body of the slab. 
     
     
         7 . The composite structure of  claim 6 , wherein the formwork element includes a second lateral flange that projects from a top of the side wall, the second lateral flange having a grip that extends downwardly into the main body of the slab. 
     
     
         8 . The composite structure of  claim 7 , wherein the second lateral flange has a groove formed in an external face of the flange, opposite the slab, to provide a second anchor site for a load transfer member attached externally of the composite structure. 
     
     
         9 . The composite structure of any one of  claim 1 , wherein the formwork element is formed as a single piece, with radiused corners between the side wall, lateral flange and grip, to reduce stress concentration. 
     
     
         10 . A construction assembly including the composite structure of  claim 1  and a load transfer member attached to the formwork element. 
     
     
         11 . The construction assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the member is an external load transfer member that includes a attachment adapted to attach the member to the formwork element by clamping on to the anchor site. 
     
     
         12 . The construction assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the groove extends lengthwise of the formwork element to allow adjustment of the lengthwise positioning of the attachment relative to the formwork element. 
     
     
         13 . The construction assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the lateral flange projects from a bottom of the side wall and the grip extends upwardly into the body of the slab, the formwork element includes a second lateral flange that projects from a top of the side wall, the second lateral flange having a grip that extends downwardly into the main body of the slab to provide a second anchor point, and wherein the attachment is adapted to clamp on to one or both of first and second anchor sites. 
     
     
         14 . The construction assembly of any one of  claims 10  to  13 , wherein the side wall includes an integrated channel, that is accessible from one side of the side wall, through a reduced dimension entrance defined between opposed shoulders of the channel, the channel having an enlarged cavity extending into the main body of the slab on an opposite side of the wall, lengthwise of the formwork element, and wherein the member is cantilevered into the cavity. 
     
     
         15 . The construction assembly of  claim 14 , further including an internal load transfer member with an attachment that connects into the space between the associated grip, side wall and the integrated channel. 
     
     
         16 . A formwork element for use in the composite structure of  claim 1 , including a side wall, against which concrete is poured to define a side of a concrete slab, and a lateral flange that covers a top or bottom peripheral edge of the slab, wherein:
 the lateral flange has a grip adapted to extend into a main body of the slab in a vertical direction, to form a space between the grip and the side wall, which is substantially filled with concrete such that the concrete locks into the space in order to structurally integrates the element with the concrete slab: and wherein   the lateral flange has a groove formed in an external face of the flange, to serve as an anchor site for a load transfer member fitted to the formwork element.   
     
     
         17 . The formwork element of  claim 16 , wherein the grip is formed as an indent arranged to project inwardly from the associated top or bottom peripheral edge of the slab. 
     
     
         18 . The formwork element of  claim 17 , wherein the groove is formed at a reverse side of the indent. 
     
     
         19 . The formwork element of  claim 18 , wherein the indent includes an angled first section that arranged to extend into the body of the slab and a return section that acts as a barrier to restrict concrete being poured over the indent and into the groove, during pouring of the slab. 
     
     
         20 . The formwork element of  claim 16 , wherein the side wall includes an integrated channel, that has is accessible from one side of the side wall, through a reduced dimension entrance defined between opposed shoulders of the channel, the side all projecting from an opposite side so as to define an enlarged internal cavity, lengthwise of the formwork element. 
     
     
         21 . The formwork element of  claim 16 , wherein the lateral flange projects from a bottom of the side wall and the grip extends upwardly. 
     
     
         22 . The formwork element of  claim 21 , wherein the formwork element includes a second lateral flange that projects from a top of the side wall, the second lateral flange having a downwardly extending grip. 
     
     
         23 . The formwork element of  claim 22 , wherein the second lateral flange has a groove formed in an external face of the flange to provide a second anchor site for the load transfer member. 
     
     
         24 . The formwork element of  claim 16 , formed as a single piece, with radiused corners between the side wall, lateral flange and grip, to reduce stress concentration. 
     
     
         25 . The formwork element of  claim 24 , formed by a process of bending a single sheet of material.