Wall tie clamp

Abstract

A wall tie clamp for use with a threaded and nutted wall tie system, where the wall tie clamp is constructed to straddle and grip in a releasable locking manner the threaded end portion of the wall tie adjacent a positioning nut carried thereby. The wall tie clamp includes a locking plate assembly which is adapted to engage and hold the positioning nut of the wall tie at a fixed location on the wall tie, such that it may be effectively disassembled and removed from any particular wall form assembly without altering the set predetermined location of the positioning nut on the wall tie.

1 . A wall tie clamping apparatus, comprising:
 (a) a wall tie member for use in maintaining a spaced relation between a pair wall forms, said wall tie member having opposite ends, where a portion of said wall tie member adjacent one of said ends is externally threaded;   (b) a wall form positioning member being threaded onto said threaded portion of said wall tie member to a predetermined location; and   (c) a releasable clamping member secured to said wall tie member adjacent said positioning member, said releasable clamping member having stop portions which prevent movement of said positioning member away from said predetermined location on said wall tie member until said clamping member is released.   
     
     
         2 . The wall tie clamping apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said clamping member is comprised of a pair of clamp sections disposed on opposite sides of said wall tie member, said clamp sections being releasably tightenable against an outer surface of said wall tie member to secure said clamping member thereto. 
     
     
         3 . The wall tie clamping apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said clamp sections include notched portions which are adapted to receive and contour around said wall tie member. 
     
     
         4 . The wall tie clamping apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said clamp sections, upon being tightened, are constructed to assert pressure against said outer surface of said wall tie member. 
     
     
         5 . The wall tie clamping apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said stop portions of said clamping member is comprised of at least one plate having protruding leg sections which engage said positioning member when said clamping member is secured to said wall tie member. 
     
     
         6 . The wall tie clamping apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said positioning member includes a protruding wing, and said stop portions of said clamping member include a recessed portion within which said protruding wing is received. 
     
     
         7 . The wall tie clamping apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said positioning member is in the form of a hexagonally shaped threaded nut, and said stop portions of said clamping member include a pair of opposing plates which engage opposite surfaces of said threaded nut when said clamping member is secured to said wall tie member. 
     
     
         8 . The wall tie clamping apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said clamping member is comprised of a pair of clamp sections which are releasably tightenable against an outer surface of said wall tie member, and said stop portions comprise a removable plate attached to said clamping member which engages and prevents movement of said positioning member when said clamping member is tightened against said wall tie member. 
     
     
         9 . The wall tie clamping apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said wall tie member is in the form of an elongated rod, with portions thereof adjacent both of said opposite ends being externally threaded, and an intermediate portion between said threaded portions being generally smooth and diametrically tapered from one said threaded portion to the other said threaded portion. 
     
     
         10 . The wall tie clamping apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the diameter of said intermediate portion of said wall tie member is greater near said threaded portion upon which said clamping member is secured. 
     
     
         11 . A wall tie clamping apparatus, comprising:
 (a) a wall tie member for use in maintaining a spaced relation between a pair of wall forms, said wall tie member being comprised of an elongated rod with opposite ends;   (b) a wall form positioning member movably connected to a portion of said rod adjacent one of said ends thereof, said wall form positioning member being positionally adjustable along at least a portion of the length of said rod;   (c) a clamping member mounted on said rod adjacent said positioning member, said clamping member being releasably tightenable against said rod in a non-permanent locking relation thereto; and   (d) said clamping member having a stop member which engages and prevents movement of said positioning member on said rod when said clamping member is tightened thereagainst.   
     
     
         12 . The wall tie clamping apparatus of  claim 11 , including a wall form adjustment member movably mounted upon said rod adjacent said end which is opposite said portion upon which said positioning member is connected, said wall form adjustment member being adjustable to set the desired spacing between said pair of wall forms. 
     
     
         13 . The wall tie clamping apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said positioning member is locked at a pre-determined location upon said wall tie member until said clamping member is released from said wall tie member, said wall tie member being removable from said wall forms for reuse without disengagement of said clamping member. 
     
     
         14 . The wall tie clamping apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said positioning member is threadably connected to said elongated rod for axial adjustment relative thereto, and said stop member is constructed to prevent said positioning member from rotating about said rod. 
     
     
         15 . The wall tie clamping apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said stop member includes a notched portion within which a portion of said positioning member is received. 
     
     
         16 . The wall tie clamping apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said stop member is comprised of a pair of plates which engage opposing faces of said positioning member to prevent rotation thereof on said rod. 
     
     
         17 . The wall tie clamping apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said clamping member is comprised of a pair of clamp sections disposed on opposite sides of said rod, said clamp sections being tightenable relative to one another so to provide compression against an outer surface of said rod to secure said clamping member thereto. 
     
     
         18 . A wall tie clamping apparatus, comprising:
 (a) a reusable wall tie for maintaining a desired spacing between a pair of wall forms, said wall tie having opposite threaded end portions and a diametrically tapered intermediate section extending therebetween;   (b) a wall form positioning member threaded upon said threaded end portion of said wall tie which is adjacent a diametrically greater end of said tapered intermediate section;   (c) a clamping member mounted on said wall tie adjacent said positioning member, said clamping member being releasably tightenable against said wall tie in a non-permanent locking relation thereto; and   (d) said clamping member having a stop member which engages and prevents movement of said positioning member on said wall tie when said clamping member is tightened thereagainst.   
     
     
         19 . The wall forming system of  claim 18 , wherein said clamping member is comprised of a pair of clamp sections disposed on opposite sides of said wall tie, said clamp sections being releasably tightenable toward one another to cause said clamping member to press against an outer surface of said wall tie and lock said clamping member thereto. 
     
     
         20 . The wall forming system of  claim 19 , wherein said clamping member when tightened compressively locks said stop member in an immovable position relative to said positioning member and said wall tie.