Formwork apparatus for forming a building support

Abstract

A formwork apparatus defining a formwork space for forming a slab is disclosed. The apparatus comprises at least one lower formwork member and at least one upper formwork member and a plurality of formwork brackets. Each formwork bracket has a connection arrangement for operatively connecting the bracket to the lower and upper formwork members. The formwork brackets are configured to space the upper and lower formwork members a certain distance apart from each other along their length such that the formwork members extend parallel to each other. An apparatus for positioning an anchor for a construction member such as a reinforcing rod in a slab when it is cast is also disclosed.

1 . A formwork apparatus defining a formwork space for forming a slab, the apparatus comprising:
 at least one lower formwork member and at least one upper formwork member; and   a plurality of formwork brackets, each formwork bracket having a connection arrangement for operatively connecting the bracket to the lower and upper formwork members,   wherein the formwork brackets are configured to space the upper and lower formwork members a certain distance apart from each other along their length such that the formwork members extend parallel to each other along their length.   
     
     
         2 . A formwork apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the connection arrangement includes a lower bracket clamp for clamping the formwork bracket to the lower formwork member, and an upper bracket clamp for clamping the formwork bracket to the upper formwork member. 
     
     
         3 . A formwork apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the bracket includes a lower formwork portion having a lower formwork positioning surface for bearing up against the lower formwork member, and an upper formwork portion having an upper formwork positioning surface for bearing up against the upper formwork member, and the upper and lower formwork positioning surfaces extend parallel to each other. 
     
     
         4 . A formwork apparatus according to  claim 1 , further including a bridge portion connecting the lower and upper formwork portions and the bridge portion has a lower positioning surface that extends orthogonally to the positioning surfaces of the upper and lower formwork portions. 
     
     
         5 . A formwork apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the formwork apparatus includes a ground anchor for anchoring the apparatus to the ground, and wherein the ground anchor includes an arm extending from the formwork bracket spaced above the arm, and a ground penetrating formation towards a distal end of the arm. 
     
     
         6 . A formwork apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the formwork bracket includes a foot extending orthogonal to the upper and lower formwork members for resting on a surface, and the foot includes a ground engaging surface extending orthogonally to the formwork positioning surfaces of the lower and upper formwork portions. 
     
     
         7 . A formwork apparatus according to  claim 1 , further including an anchor positioner for positioning an anchor for a construction member in the formwork space. 
     
     
         8 . A formwork apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the anchor positioner comprises a positioner body that interacts with the formwork bracket to locate the anchor positioner in the formwork space and also support the anchor positioner. 
     
     
         9 . A formwork apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the anchor positioner includes at least one anchor locator for locating and positioning an anchor for a construction member. 
     
     
         10 . A formwork apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the lower formwork member includes a first lower formwork channel having a lip defined in the lower formwork member, and a second lower formwork channel having a lip defined in the lower formwork member, and the first and second lower formwork channels extend parallel to a longitudinal edge of the lower formwork member, for mounting the formwork bracket to the lower formwork member. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for positioning an anchor for a construction member in a slab, the apparatus including:
 an anchor positioner that is mounted on a support proximate to a formwork apparatus defining a formwork space for casting a slab, the anchor positioner extending into the formwork space; and   an anchor locator mounted on the anchor positioner for locating a construction anchor in a position in the slab when it is formed.   
     
     
         12 . An apparatus for positioning an anchor according to  claim 11 , including a mounting arrangement for mounting the anchor positioner on the formwork apparatus. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for positioning an anchor according to  claim 12 , including at least one formwork member extending at least part of the way around the formwork space and having a channel on its outer surface, and wherein the mounting arrangement mounts the anchor positioner on the formwork member. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus for positioning an anchor according to  claim 13 , including a clamp for clamping the anchor positioner onto the channel of the formwork member at two vertically spaced positions. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for positioning an anchor according to  claim 11 , wherein the anchor locator is formed by an aperture in the anchor positioner. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus for positioning an anchor according to  claim 15 , including a construction member anchor that is mounted on the anchor locator. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for positioning an anchor according to  claim 16 , wherein the construction member anchor comprises an anchor body having a connecting formation for connecting a construction member thereto, and a rod extending away from the anchor body. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus for positioning an anchor according to  claim 17 , wherein the connecting formation of the anchor body comprises an internal passage having an internal screw thread formation for engaging an external screw thread on a construction member. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus for positioning an anchor according to  claim 18 , wherein the construction member anchor is mounted to the anchor locator by means of a fastening element that passes through the opening of the anchor locator and is screwed into the internal passage of the connecting formation. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus for positioning an anchor according to  claim 19 , wherein the construction member anchor comprises two components that are connected to each other on either side of the anchor locator whereby to mount the anchor on the anchor locator.