Brace bracket for form wall

Abstract

A brace bracket may include a first planar portion, a second planar portion coupled to the first planar portion, and third planar portion coupled to the first planar portion on a front edge of the first planar portion. The brace bracket may include a first and a second facing sidewall, each facing sidewall having a facing surface disposed perpendicular to the first planar portion, the facing surfaces of the first and second facing sidewalls face each other, wherein the first and second facing surfaces and a strip area of the first planar portion located between the facing surfaces define a channel extending from the first inner edge and the second inner edge towards the back edge of the first planar portion, and wherein the channel is configured to accept a plank having a thickness. Methods of use are disclosed for securing a form wall to a casting platform.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A brace bracket for securing a form wall to a casting platform comprising:
 a first planar portion comprising:
 a lower surface configured to engage a casting platform; and 
 a front edge and a back edge opposite the front edge, wherein the front edge is linear; 
   a second planar portion coupled to the first planar portion for a first distance D 1  on the front edge of the first planar portion, the second planar portion being disposed perpendicular to the first planar portion and having a height distance Z 1 , the second planar portion comprising a front surface configured to engage the form wall, and a first inner edge;   a third planar portion coupled to the first planar portion for a second distance D 2  on the front edge of the first planar portion, the third planar portion being disposed perpendicular to the first planar portion and having the height distance Z 1 , the third planar portion having a front surface configured to engage the form wall, and the third planar portion having a second inner edge spaced a third distance D 3  from the first inner edge of the second planar portion; and   a first and a second facing sidewall, each facing sidewall having a facing surface disposed perpendicular to the first planar portion, the facing surfaces of the first and second facing sidewalls face each other and are spaced apart by the third distance D 3 , a front edge of the first facing sidewall disposed on the first inner edge of the second planar portion, and a front edge of the second facing sidewall disposed on the second inner edge of the third planar portion,   wherein the first and second facing surfaces and a strip area of the first planar portion located between the facing surfaces define a channel extending from the first inner edge and the second inner edge towards the back edge of the first planar portion, and   wherein the channel is configured to accept a plank having a thickness Xp that is less than the third distance D 3 .   
     
     
         2 . The brace bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the first planar portion comprises at least one aperture for receiving a fastener configured for holding the brace bracket to the casting platform. 
     
     
         3 . The brace bracket of  claim 1 , wherein one of the first facing sidewall or the second facing sidewall comprise at least one through hole for receiving a fastener for holding the brace bracket to the plank. 
     
     
         4 . The brace bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the first planar portion further comprises a curved or angled edge along a side edge or a back edge of the first planar portion. 
     
     
         5 . The brace bracket of  claim 1 , wherein a combination of the brace bracket and the plank are configured to support a form wall at an angle of between about 5 and 175 degrees from horizontal. 
     
     
         6 . The brace bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second facing walls are each vertically higher proximate to the second planar portion and the third planar portions than distally from the second planar portion and the third planar portion. 
     
     
         7 . The brace bracket of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first facing sidewall and the second facing sidewall comprise an edge segment. 
     
     
         8 . A brace bracket for securing a form wall to a casting platform, the brace bracket comprising:
 a first planar portion comprising:   a lower surface configured to engage a casting platform;   a front edge and a back edge opposite the front edge, wherein the front edge is linear; and   an extended portion;   a second planar portion coupled to the first planar portion for a first distance D 1  on the front edge of the first planar portion, the second planar portion being disposed perpendicular to the first planar portion and having a vertical height Z 1 ; and   a first facing sidewall disposed perpendicular to the first planar portion and the second planar portion,   wherein the extended portion extends a distance D 3  from the first facing sidewall and is configured to accept a plank,   wherein the first facing sidewall includes at least one through hole for receiving a fastener configured for holding the plank stationary.   
     
     
         9 . The brace bracket of  claim 8 , wherein the first planar portion comprises at least one aperture for receiving a fastener configured for holding the brace bracket to the casting platform. 
     
     
         10 . The brace bracket of  claim 8 , wherein the first facing sidewall comprises at least one through hole for receiving a fastener for holding the brace bracket to the plank. 
     
     
         11 . The brace bracket of  claim 8 , wherein the first planar portion further comprises a raised outer edge, wherein the raised outer edge is angled or curved upward from the lower surface. 
     
     
         12 . The brace bracket of  claim 8 , wherein a combination of the brace bracket and the plank are configured to support a concrete form wall at an angle of between about 5 and 175 degrees from horizontal. 
     
     
         13 . The brace bracket of  claim 8 , wherein the first facing wall is vertically higher proximate to the second planar portion than distally from the second planar portion. 
     
     
         14 . The brace bracket of  claim 8 , wherein the first facing sidewall comprise an edge segment opposite the second planar portion. 
     
     
         15 . A method for securing a form wall to a casting platform comprising the steps of:
 providing a brace bracket comprising:
 a first planar portion comprising:
 a lower surface configured to engage a casting platform; and 
 a front edge and a back edge opposite the front edge, wherein the front edge is linear; 
 
 a second planar portion coupled to the first planar portion for a first distance D 1  on the front edge of the first planar portion, the second planar portion being disposed perpendicular to the first planar portion and having a height distance Z 1 , the second planar portion comprising a front surface configured to engage the form wall, and a first inner edge; 
 a third planar portion coupled to the first planar portion for a second distance D 2  on the front edge of the first planar portion, the third planar portion being disposed perpendicular to the first planar portion and having the height distance Z 1 , the third planar portion having a front surface configured to engage the form wall, and the third planar portion having a second inner edge spaced a third distance D 3  from the first inner edge of the second planar portion; and 
 a first and a second facing sidewall, each facing sidewall having a facing surface disposed perpendicular to the first planar portion, the facing surfaces of the first and second facing sidewalls face each other and are spaced apart by the third distance D 3 , a front edge of the first facing sidewall disposed on the first inner edge of the second planar portion, and a front edge of the second facing sidewall disposed on the second inner edge of the third planar portion, 
   connecting the brace bracket to the casting platform;   securing a plank to one of the first facing sidewall and the second facing sidewall; and   connecting the plank to the form wall,   wherein the brace bracket is connected between the form wall and the casting platform via the plank.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprises the step of applying an adhesive between the lower surface and the casting platform. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprises the step of holding the brace bracket to the casting platform via insertion of a mechanical fastener through an aperture of the first planar portion. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprises the step of holding the plank to one of the first facing sidewall and the second facing sidewall via insertion of a fastener through a through hole within one of the first facing sidewall and the second facing sidewall. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the form wall is secured to the plank at an angle of between 5 and 175 degrees from a top surface of the casting platform. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the form wall is secured to the plank at an angle of about 45 degrees and abuts an edge segment of the brace bracket.