Adjustably Interconnectable Formwork

Abstract

An adjustable connector system for stay-in place formwork has a male adjustable connector end that can be inserted into a corresponding female adjustable connector end at variable positions. Using adjustable connector ends in assembling a formwork system increases accuracy by facilitating on-site adjustability of the length and/or diameter measurements of the system. The stay-in-place formwork can be used to create building surfaces, including ceiling panels, siding and walls, and can be used for forming concrete structures, such as walls and sumps.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a first component having a first female adjustable connection end; and   a second component having a first male adjustable connection end, said male adjustable connection end lockably insertable into said female adjustable connection in a plurality of positions to vary a length of a coupled combination of said first and second components.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus as in  claim 1 , further comprising
 a plurality of wall forming panels coupled to said first and second components to form a wall having an inside wall surface and an outside wall surface, and   reinforcing panels coupled to said inside wall surface and said outside wall surface.   
     
     
         3 . An apparatus as in  claim 2 , further comprising bracing panels coupled between said reinforcing panels and said inside or outside wall surface at 45 degree angles. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus as in  claim 3 , wherein said first and second panels comprise plastic. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus as in  claim 4 , said first female adjustable connection having 3-8 ribs on each side, each of said ribs separated by a corresponding gap. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus as in  claim 5 , wherein said wall comprises a straight portion of wall. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus as in  claim 5 , wherein said wall is a cylindrical wall. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus as in  claim 6 , said wall comprising a concrete wall, said first and second components being concrete forming elements, said wall forming panels being concrete forming panels. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus as in  claim 7 , said wall comprising a concrete wall, said first and second components being concrete forming elements, said wall forming panels being concrete forming panels. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus as in  claim 8 , wherein each concrete forming panel is coupled via adjustable connection. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus as in  claim 9 , wherein each concrete forming panel is coupled via adjustable connection. 
     
     
         12 . A method of building a structure comprising:
 inserting a first male adjustable connection end of a first building component into a first female adjustable connection end of a second building component wherein said first male and female adjustable connection ends are adjustable with respect to each other to lockably adjust a distance that said first male adjustable connection end is inserted into said first female adjustable connection end to effectively adjust a length of a coupled combination of said first and second building components.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising coupling said first and second building components to a plurality of wall forming panels to form a wall having an inside wall surface and an outside wall surface;
 coupling reinforcing panels to said inside wall surface and to said outside wall surface. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising coupling a bracing panel between said recinforcing panels and said inside wall surface at a 45 degree angle. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein forming said wall comprises forming a straight portion of wall. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein forming said wall comprises forming a cylindrical wall. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising inserting re-bar into cavities between said inside wall surface and said outside wall surface, and inserting re-bar through apertures in said reinforcing panels. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising pouring concrete into cavities between said inside wall surface and said outside wall surface, and through apertures in said reinforcing panels. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising smoothing said outside wall surface by attaching a seam filling segment to fill in an indentation gap from ribs of said first male adjustable connection end sticking out of said female adjustable connection end. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus for forming a concrete wall comprising:
 a first concrete forming element having a first female adjustable connection end; and   a second concrete forming element having a first male adjustable connection end, said male adjustable connection end lockably insertable into said female adjustable connection in a plurality of positions to vary a length of a coupled combination of said first and second concrete forming elements;   a plurality of concrete forming panels coupled to said first and second concrete forming elements via adjustable connection to form a wall structure having an inside wall surface and an outside wall surface;   reinforcing panels coupled to said inside wall surface and said outside wall surface;   bracing panels coupled between said reinforcing panels and said inside or outside wall surface at 45 degree angles;   said first and second concrete forming elements comprising plastic;   said first female adjustable connection having 3-8 ribs on each side, each of said ribs separated by a corresponding gap; and   said wall structure comprising a straight portion of wall.