Method of constructing a concrete curb or similar structure using a wood form construction arrangement

Abstract

In construction, concrete curbs are constructed using a form construction arrangement, usually made of wood or metal or a combination of wood and metal components. The form arrangement sets the general boundaries of the curb, much like a mold. The pourable concrete, which can be in a semi-solid state or be a slurry, is poured into the form arrangement. Once the pourable concrete has reached a sufficiently solid state, the form arrangement is removed and the curb is finished. In general, wood form arrangements always require metal pins or stakes for reinforcement of the wood boards that hold and shape the concrete. The present application describes a method of constructing a concrete curb or similar structure using a wood form construction arrangement that includes a bracket device that obviates the need for metal pins, or at least reduces the number of metal pins required to a very minimal amount.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of constructing a concrete curb or other shaped concrete structure using a wood form construction arrangement, said method comprising the steps of:
 positioning a first wood board and a second wood board opposite and essentially parallel to one another, such that said first wood board and said second wood board are oriented with their length dimension and height or thickness dimension running essentially parallel to the ground and their width dimension running essentially perpendicular to the ground to define a front face and a back face of a trough or mold for receiving concrete;   spacing said first wood board a distance from said second wood board, wherein said distance corresponds to a width of a concrete curb or other shaped concrete structure;   positioning and securing a double-reinforced bracket device on both said first wood board and said second wood board, such that a central portion of said double-reinforced bracket device spans said distance between said first wood board and said second wood board, said steps of positioning and securing comprising:
 aligning a first right-angle bracket, attached to the underside of said central portion, with an upper portion of said first wood board, such that a top portion of said first right-angle bracket is in contact with a top edge surface of said first wood board, and a side portion of said first right-angle bracket is in contact with an outer side surface of said first wood board; 
 aligning a second right-angle bracket, attached to the underside of said central portion, with an upper portion of said second wood board, such that a top portion of said second right-angle bracket is in contact with a top edge surface of said second wood board, and a side portion of said second right-angle bracket is in contact with an outer side surface of said second wood board; 
 inserting screws through at least one of: holes in said top portion of said first right-angle bracket and into said first wood board through and essentially perpendicular to said top edge surface of said first wood board, and holes in said side portion of said first right-angle bracket and into said first wood board through and essentially perpendicular to said outer side surface of said first wood board; 
 inserting screws through at least one of: holes in said top portion of said second right-angle bracket and into said second wood board through and essentially perpendicular to said top edge surface of said second wood board, and holes in said side portion of said second right-angle bracket and into said second wood board through and essentially perpendicular to said outer side surface of said second wood board; 
 aligning a first reinforcing flange, attached to the end of a first angled portion extending toward said outer surface of said first wood board at an approximately forty to fifty degree angle from a first end of said central portion projecting beyond said outer side surface of said first wood board, such that said first reinforcing flange is in contact with and essentially parallel to a portion of said outer side surface of said first wood board at a substantial distance from said right angle bracket; 
 aligning a second reinforcing flange, attached to the end of a second angled portion extending toward said outer side surface of said second wood board at an approximately forty to fifty degree angle from a second end of said central portion projecting beyond said outer side surface of said second wood board, such that said second reinforcing flange is in contact with and essentially parallel to a portion of said outer side surface of said second wood board at a substantial distance from said right angle bracket; 
 inserting screws through holes in said first reinforcing flange and into said first wood board through and essentially perpendicular to said outer side surface of said first wood board; and 
 inserting screws through holes in said first reinforcing flange and into said first wood board through and essentially perpendicular to said outer side surface of said first wood board; 
   repeating said steps of positioning wood boards and positioning and securing double-reinforced bracket devices for additional wood boards until said trough or mold comprises a shape and dimensions corresponding to a concrete curb or other shaped concrete structure to be poured;   pouring pourable concrete into said trough or mold and permitting said double-reinforced bracket devices to secure and hold said wood boards in position and provide sufficient counter force against liquid pressure forces generated by the concrete on said wood boards, using either very few or no metal pins or stakes driven into the adjacent ground for reinforcement of said wood boards against lateral displacement.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  of constructing a concrete curb or other shaped concrete structure using a wood form construction arrangement, wherein said method further comprises:
 unscrewing said screws for each of said double-reinforced bracket devices, which step of unscrewing is performed either immediately or shortly after pouring concrete to a level at or near a top portion of the portion of said trough or mold adjacent the screws of the double-reinforced bracket device to be unscrewed, and wherein said double-reinforced bracket devices can be unscrewed sequentially while concrete is being poured along the length of said trough or mold; and 
 upon unscrewing of said screws, holding said first and second wood boards in position using an adjacent one of said double-reinforced bracket devices by permitting the liquid pressure forces generated by said concrete to press said first and second wood boards laterally against said first and second reinforcing flanges in a secure, clamping manner. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2  of constructing a concrete curb or other shaped concrete structure using a wood form construction arrangement, said method further comprises at least partially displacing at least one of said double-reinforced bracket devices upwardly a distance, which distance is sufficient to permit scraping and/or edging of concrete under said central portion yet still permits said first and second reinforcing flanges to be in contact with said first and second wood boards, such that said first and second wood boards are still held in position by said at least one of said double-reinforced bracket devices. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3  of constructing a concrete curb or other shaped concrete structure using a wood form construction arrangement, said method further comprises:
 removing all of said double-reinforced bracket devices upon said concrete being hardened or set sufficient to hold its shape without said double-reinforced bracket devices; or 
 removing a portion of said double-reinforced bracket devices upon a section of said concrete being hardened or set sufficient to hold its shape without said portion of said double-reinforced bracket devices. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4  of constructing a concrete curb or other shaped concrete structure using a wood form construction arrangement, wherein said wood boards are held in position using solely said double-reinforced bracket devices and no metal pins or stakes. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1  of constructing a concrete curb or other shaped concrete structure using a wood form construction arrangement, wherein said wood boards are held in position using solely said double-reinforced bracket devices and no metal pins or stakes. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1  of constructing a concrete curb or other shaped concrete structure using a wood form construction arrangement, wherein:
 said wood form construction arrangement comprises at least one single-reinforced bracket device, which comprises:
 a central portion configured to span said distance between said first wood board and said second wood board; 
 a first right-angle bracket and a second right-angle bracket attached to the underside of said central portion and at opposite ends; and 
 a reinforcing flange attached to an end of an angled portion extending toward said outer side surface of one of said first and second wood boards at an approximately forty to fifty degree angle from one end of said central portion projecting beyond said outer side surface of said first wood board; and 
 
 said first and second wood boards are held in position by a combination of said at least one single-reinforced bracket device and said double-reinforced bracket devices. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1  of constructing a concrete curb or other shaped concrete structure using a wood form construction arrangement, wherein:
 said wood form construction arrangement comprises at least one unreinforced bracket device, which comprises:
 a central portion configured to span said distance between said first wood board and said second wood board; and 
 a first right-angle bracket and a second right-angle bracket attached to the underside of said central portion and at opposite ends; and 
 
 said first and second wood boards are held in position by a combination of said at least one unreinforced bracket device and said double-reinforced bracket devices. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1  of constructing a concrete curb or other shaped concrete structure using a wood form construction arrangement, wherein:
 said wood form construction arrangement comprises at least one single-reinforced bracket device, which comprises:
 a central portion configured to span said distance between said first wood board and said second wood board; 
 a first right-angle bracket and a second right-angle bracket attached to the underside of said central portion and at opposite ends; and 
 a reinforcing flange attached to an end of an angled portion extending toward said outer side surface of one of said first and second wood boards at an approximately forty to fifty degree angle from one end of said central portion projecting beyond said outer side surface of said first wood board; 
 
 said wood form construction arrangement comprises at least one unreinforced bracket device, which comprises:
 a central portion configured to span said distance between said first wood board and said second wood board; and 
 a first right-angle bracket and a second right-angle bracket attached to the underside of said central portion and at opposite ends; and 
 
 said first and second wood boards are held in position by a combination of said at least one unreinforced bracket device, said at least one single-reinforced bracket device, and said double-reinforced bracket devices. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1  of constructing a concrete curb or other shaped concrete structure using a wood form construction arrangement, wherein said method further comprises inserting screws into all holes in said first and second right-angle brackets. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1  of constructing a concrete curb or other shaped concrete structure using a wood form construction arrangement, wherein:
 at least one of said double-reinforced bracket devices comprises an adjustable double-reinforced bracket device configured to be adjustable in width; and 
 said method further comprises adjusting the width of said at least one adjustable double-reinforced bracket device according to a desired width of said trough or mold. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11  of constructing a concrete curb or other shaped concrete structure using a wood form construction arrangement, wherein:
 said central portion of said at least one adjustable double-reinforced bracket device comprises a rod portion, a first tubular portion, and a second tubular portion, wherein said rod portion is configured and disposed to be inserted into said first and second tubular portions such that said first and second tubular portions can slide along said rod portion in a telescoping manner; 
 said first right-angle bracket, said first reinforcing flange, and said first angled portion are attached to said first tubular portion, and said second right-angle bracket, said second reinforcing flange, and said second angled portion are attached to said second tubular portion, to permit adjustment of the distance between said first and second right-angle brackets and said first and second reinforcing flanges; 
 said first and second tubular portions each comprise at least one locking screw being configured and disposed to be screwed in to lock said first and second tubular portions in a desired position on said rod portion, and to be unscrewed to release said first and second tubular portions to permit sliding adjustment thereof; and 
 said step of adjusting the width of said at least one adjustable double-reinforced bracket device according to a desired width of said trough or mold comprises:
 sliding said first and second tubular portions along said rod portion to a desired position on said rod portion; and 
 
 screwing in said locking screws and thereby locking said first and second tubular portions in said desired position on said rod portion. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 9  of constructing a concrete curb or other shaped concrete structure using a wood form construction arrangement, wherein:
 at least one of said at least one single-reinforced bracket device comprises an adjustable single-reinforced bracket device configured to be adjustable in width; and 
 said method further comprises adjusting the width of said at least one adjustable single-reinforced bracket device according to a desired width of said trough or mold. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13  of constructing a concrete curb or other shaped concrete structure using a wood form construction arrangement, wherein:
 said central portion of said at least one adjustable single-reinforced bracket device comprises a rod portion and a tubular portion, wherein said rod portion is configured and disposed to be inserted into said tubular portion such that said tubular portion can slide along said rod portion in a telescoping manner; 
 said first right-angle bracket, said first reinforcing flange, and said angled portion are attached to said tubular portion to permit adjustment of the distance between said first and second right-angle brackets; 
 said tubular portion comprises at least one locking screw being configured and disposed to be screwed in to lock said tubular portion in a desired position on said rod portion, and to be unscrewed to release said tubular portion to permit sliding adjustment thereof; and 
 said step of adjusting the width of said at least one adjustable single-reinforced bracket device according to a desired width of said trough or mold comprises:
 sliding said tubular portion along said rod portion to a desired position on said rod portion; and 
 screwing in said at least one locking screw and thereby locking said tubular portions in said desired position on said rod portion. 
 
 
     
     
         15 . The wood form construction arrangement according to  claim 1  for performing the method of constructing a concrete curb or other shaped concrete structure using a wood form construction arrangement, said wood form construction arrangement comprising said wood boards, said double-reinforced bracket devices, and said screws. 
     
     
         16 . The wood form construction arrangement according to  claim 7  for performing the method of constructing a concrete curb or other shaped concrete structure using a wood form construction arrangement, said wood form construction arrangement comprising said wood boards, said at least one single-reinforced bracket device, said double-reinforced bracket devices, and said screws. 
     
     
         17 . The wood form construction arrangement according to  claim 8  for performing the method of constructing a concrete curb or other shaped concrete structure using a wood form construction arrangement, said wood form construction arrangement comprising said wood boards, said at least one unreinforced bracket device, said double-reinforced bracket devices, and said screws. 
     
     
         18 . The wood form construction arrangement according to  claim 9  for performing the method of constructing a concrete curb or other shaped concrete structure using a wood form construction arrangement, said wood form construction arrangement comprising said wood boards, said at least one unreinforced bracket device, said at least one single-reinforced bracket device, said double-reinforced bracket devices, and said screws. 
     
     
         19 . The wood form construction arrangement according to  claim 13  for performing the method of constructing a concrete curb or other shaped concrete structure using a wood form construction arrangement, wherein at least one of said double-reinforced bracket devices comprises an adjustable double-reinforced bracket device configured to be adjustable in width. 
     
     
         20 . The wood form construction arrangement according to  claim 19  for performing the method of constructing a concrete curb or other shaped concrete structure using a wood form construction arrangement, wherein:
 said central portion of said at least one adjustable double-reinforced bracket device comprises a rod portion, a first tubular portion, and a second tubular portion, wherein said rod portion is configured and disposed to be inserted into said first and second tubular portions such that said first and second tubular portions can slide along said rod portion in a telescoping manner; 
 said first right-angle bracket, said first reinforcing flange, and said first angled portion are attached to said first tubular portion, and said second right-angle bracket, said second reinforcing flange, and said second angled portion are attached to said second tubular portion, to permit adjustment of the distance between said first and second right-angle brackets and said first and second reinforcing flanges; and 
 said first and second tubular portions each comprise at least one locking screw being configured and disposed to be screwed in to lock said first and second tubular portions in a desired position on said rod portion, and to be unscrewed to release said first and second tubular portions to permit sliding adjustment thereof.