Concrete Form Lock

Abstract

An apparatus for connecting a pair of wall concrete form sections disposed at a relative distance from each other defining a space therebetween to receive concrete to be poured, the apparatus preventing the sections from separating, the apparatus comprising an elongated locking pin, a form connector to be rotatably, and releasably affixed to a form, and a pin retainer affixed to the arm defining a channel therein sized to be engaged within the engagement slot whereby the pin is placed through corresponding holes in adjacent forms and the pin engages a first form, extends through the relative distance between the forms, exits through an aligned hole in the second form, and the channel of the pin retainer attached to the second form engages the engagement slot on the pin thus providing a fixed distance between the forms and preventing the form separation when concrete is poured.

Having thus described the invention, I claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for connecting at least one pair of wall concrete form sections disposed at a relative distance from each other defining a space therebetween to receive concrete to be poured, the apparatus preventing the sections from separating beyond a desired relative distance, the apparatus comprising:
 a. at least one elongated locking pin having a first end defining therein at least one first end engagement slot, a second end defining therein at least one second engagement slot, the pin defining between the selected first end engagement slot and the selected second end engagement slot the relative distance desired between the two forms;   b. at least one form connector rotatably and releasably affixed to a form having—
 i. an arm defining a slot therein, 
 ii. an elongated rod having a diameter sized to be received within the arm slot and defining threads thereon for at least a portion of its length with a first torque means for applying twisting force at a first end and a cam at a second end sized both to be received within a slot defined in a form and to pass through the arm slot, the cam having shoulders sized to engage corresponding shoulders of the form slot when the cam is rotated 90 degrees from an angle of insertion through the form slot, 
 iii. an engagement member having a central body with a width greater than that of the arm slot and defining threads therein engaging the threads of the elongated rod, the engagement member also having a second torque application means for applying torque to spin the engagement member moving it along the rod threads; 
   c. a pin retainer affixed to the arm defining a channel therein sized to be engaged within the engagement slot;   
       whereby the pin is placed through corresponding holes in adjacent forms and the pin engages a first form, extends through the relative distance between the forms, exits through an aligned hole in the second form, and the channel of the pin retainer attached to the second form engages the engagement slot on the pin thus providing a fixed distance between the forms and preventing the forms from separating when concrete is poured. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , where the torque means is a handle. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , where the second handle is removable. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , where the torque means is a torque application surface and a removable torque tool to engage the surface and prevent movement. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , where the pin has multiple slots for different relative distances between the forms. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , where the pins are alternated entering from the different sides of the concrete forms to prevent blowouts of the form due to the concrete pressure. 
     
     
         7 . A concrete wall form having a pair of wall sections disposed at a relative distance to each other, a concrete form clamp for connecting and preventing the sections from separating comprising:
 a. a pin removably positioned to engage a concrete form—
 i. an tapered cylindrical elongated member, and 
 ii. a plurality of engagement slots; 
   b. a form connector to releasably affix the pin retainer to a section of the concrete form
 i. at least one handle fixedly attached to the elongated member, 
 ii. an threaded elongated member, 
 iii. an rotatable engagement member, and 
 iv. a threaded clamp; 
   c. a pin retainer slidably and pivotably affixed to the form connector—
 i. a pin engagement slot to releasably engage the pin, 
 ii. a form connector position adjustment slot, and 
 iii. a clamping area; 
   
       whereby the pin is placed through a slot in the concrete wall forms and the pin engages one wall section, extends through the space between the wall sections, exits through an aligned slot on the opposing wall section, where the pin retainer is attached to the opposing wall section engages the slot on the pin and is clamped in the desired position using a threaded clamp thus providing a fixed distance between the wall sections and preventing the wall section from separating when concrete is poured into the form. 
     
     
         8 . A concrete wall form having a pair of wall sections disposed at a relative distance to each other, a concrete form clamp for connecting and preventing the sections from separating comprising:
 a. a pin removably positioned to engage a concrete form—
 i. an tapered cylindrical elongated member, and 
 ii. a plurality of engagement slots; 
   b. a form connector to releasably affix the pin retainer to a section of the concrete form
 i. at least one handle with cammed exterior surface fixedly attached to the elongated member, 
 ii. an elongated member, and 
 iii. an rotatable engagement member; 
   c. a pin retainer slidably and pivotably affixed to the form connector—
 i. a pin engagement slot to releasably engage the pin, 
 ii. a form connector position adjustment slot, and 
 iii. a clamping area; 
   
       whereby the pin is placed through a slot in the concrete wall forms and the pin engages one wall section, extends through the space between the wall sections, exits through an aligned slot on the opposing wall section, where the pin retainer is attached to the opposing wall section engages the slot on the pin and is clamped in the desired position using the cammed handle thus providing a fixed distance between the wall sections and preventing the wall section from separating when concrete is poured into the form.