Collapsible form

Abstract

A collapsible concrete form includes a pair of inner panels hingedly coupled to one another and a pair of outer flanges configured to abut a pair of adjacent form sections. A first one of the pair of outer flanges is hingedly coupled to a first one of the pair of inner panels and a second one of the pair of outer flanges is hingedly coupled to a second one of the pair inner panels. The collapsible concrete form further includes a handle protruding from one of the pair of inner panels or a hinge coupling the pair of inner panels. The handle is operable to move the pair of inner panels and the pair of outer flanges between a deployed arrangement in which the pair of inner panels are collinear and a collapsed arrangement in which the pair of inner panels are askew.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A collapsible concrete form comprising:
 a pair of inner panels hingedly coupled to one another;   a pair of outer flanges configured to abut a pair of adjacent form sections, such that the pair of outer flanges and the pair of inner panels are disposed between the pair of adjacent form sections, a first one of the pair of outer flanges hingedly coupled to a first one of the pair of inner panels and a second one of the pair of outer flanges hingedly coupled to a second one of the pair inner panels; and   a handle protruding from one of the pair of inner panels or a hinge coupling the pair of inner panels, the handle operable to move the pair of inner panels and the pair of outer flanges between a deployed arrangement in which the pair of inner panels are collinear and a collapsed arrangement in which the pair of inner panels are askew.   
     
     
         2 . The collapsible concrete form of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a locking brace protruding from one of the pair of inner panels.   
     
     
         3 . The collapsible concrete form of  claim 2 , wherein the locking brace includes:
 a pair of projections extending from one of the pair of inner panels; and   a bearing panel extending between the pair of projections and disposed parallel to one or the pair of inner panels.   
     
     
         4 . The collapsible concrete form of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a pair of waler bracket mounting holes configured to receive a waler bracket, a first one of the pair of waler bracket mounting holes extending through the first one of the pair of outer flanges and a second one of the pair of waler bracket mounting holes extending through the second one of the pair of outer flanges,   wherein the pair of waler bracket mounting holes are configured to receive a pair of waler brackets and in the deployed arrangement, the pair of waler brackets are configured to support a rigid member disposed between the pair of waler brackets and the locking brace and the pair of waler brackets and the locking brace are configured to abut the rigid member, preventing the pair of inner panels and the pair of outer flanges from moving from the deployed arrangement.   
     
     
         5 . The collapsible concrete form of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pair of side hinges; and   wherein a first one of the pair of outer flanges and a first one of the pair of inner panels collectively form a first one of the pair of side hinges,   wherein a second one of the pair of outer flanges and a second one of the pair of inner panels collectively form a second one of the pair of side hinges, and   wherein the pair of inner panels collectively form the hinge coupling the pair of inner panels.   
     
     
         6 . The collapsible concrete form of  claim 1 , wherein in the deployed arrangement, the pair of inner panels are configured to define a planar boundary of confined space in which concrete is poured. 
     
     
         7 . The collapsible concrete form of  claim 1 , further comprising a form coupling hole extending through one of the pair of outer flanges, the form coupling hole configured to receive a fastener for coupling a respective outer flange of the pair of outer flanges to an adjacent form section of the pair of adjacent form sections. 
     
     
         8 . A concrete forming system comprising:
 a collapsible form including:
 a pair of inner panels hingedly coupled to one another; 
 a pair of outer flanges configured to abut an adjacent form section, a first one of the pair of outer flanges hingedly coupled to a first one of the pair of inner panels and a second one of the pair of outer flanges hingedly coupled to a second one of the pair inner panels; and 
 a pair of waler bracket mounting holes configured to receive a waler bracket, a first one of the pair of waler bracket mounting holes extending through the first one of the pair of outer flanges and a second one of the pair of waler bracket mounting holes extending through the second one of the pair of outer flanges; and 
   a pair of waler brackets configured to be inserted into the pair of waler bracket mounting holes,   wherein the pair of inner panels and the pair of outer flanges are configured to move between a deployed arrangement in which the pair of inner panels are collinear and a collapsed arrangement in which the pair of inner panels are askew.   
     
     
         9 . The concrete forming system of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a locking brace protruding from one of the pair of inner panels; and   a rigid member, wherein in the deployed arrangement the pair of waler brackets are configured to support the rigid member disposed between the pair of waler brackets and the locking brace,   wherein when the rigid member is disposed between the pair of waler brackets and the locking brace, the pair of waler brackets and the locking brace abut the rigid member, preventing the pair of inner walls and the pair of outer flanges from moving from the deployed arrangement.   
     
     
         10 . The concrete forming system of  claim 9 , wherein the locking brace includes:
 a pair of projections extending from one of the pair of inner panels; and   a bearing panel extending between the pair of projections, the bearing panel disposed parallel to one of the pair of inner panels and configured to abut a rigid member disposed between the pair of waler brackets and the locking brace.   
     
     
         11 . The concrete forming system of  claim 9 , wherein when the rigid member is disposed between the pair of waler brackets and the locking brace, the pair of outer flanges are configured to abut the rigid member. 
     
     
         12 . The concrete forming system of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a handle protruding from one of the pair of inner panels or a hinge coupling the pair of inner panes, the handle operable to move the pair of inner panels and the pair of outer flanges between the deployed arrangement and the collapsed arrangement.   
     
     
         13 . The concrete forming system of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a form coupling hole extending through one of the pair of outer flanges;   a form section including:
 a form section panel; 
 a frame coupled to the form section panel and disposed along a perimeter of the form section panel; and 
 a form section coupling hole extending through the frame; and 
   a fastener configured to be inserted through the form coupling hole and the form section coupling hole, coupling the collapsible form and the form section.   
     
     
         14 . The concrete forming system of  claim 13 , wherein when the collapsible form and the form section are coupled, the pair of inner walls and the form section panel are collinear and collectively define planar boundary of a confined space in which concrete is poured. 
     
     
         15 . The concrete forming system of  claim 13 , wherein the form section coupling hole comprises a pair of form section coupling holes,
 wherein the fastener is configured to be inserted through the form coupling hole and one of the pair of form section coupling holes, coupling the collapsible form and the form section, and   wherein one of the pair of waler brackets is configured to be inserted through one of the pair of waler bracket mounting holes and an other of the pair of form section coupling holes.   
     
     
         16 . A collapsible concrete form comprising:
 an inner portion including a pair of inner panels pivotably coupled to one another, the inner portion configured to move between a linear arrangement in which the pair of inner panels are collinear and a collapsed arrangement in which the pair of inner walls are askew; and   a pair of outer flanges configured to abut a pair of adjacent form sections, such that the pair of outer flanges and the inner portion are disposed between the pair of adjacent form sections, a first one of the pair of outer flanges pivotably coupled to a first one of the pair of inner panels and a second one of the pair of outer flanges pivotably coupled to a second one of the pair inner panels.   
     
     
         17 . The collapsible concrete form of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a locking brace protruding from one of the pair of inner panels; and   a pair of waler bracket mounting holes configured to receive a pair of waler brackets, a first one of the pair of waler bracket mounting holes extending through the first one of the pair of outer flanges and a second one of the pair of waler bracket mounting holes extending through the second one of the pair of outer flanges,   wherein in the linear arrangement, the pair of waler brackets are configured to support a rigid member disposed between the pair of waler brackets and the locking brace and the pair of waler brackets and the locking brace are configured to abut the rigid member, preventing the pair of inner panels from moving from the linear arrangement.   
     
     
         18 . The collapsible concrete form of  claim 17 , wherein the locking brace includes:
 a pair of projections extending from one of the pair of inner panels; and   a bearing panel extending between the pair of projections and disposed parallel to one or the pair of inner panels, the bearing panel configured to abut a rigid member disposed between the pair of waler brackets and the locking brace.   
     
     
         19 . The collapsible concrete form of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a handle protruding from one of the pair of inner panels or a hinge coupling the pair of inner panes, the handle operable to move the pair of inner panels between the linear arrangement and the collapsed arrangement when the rigid member is not disposed between the pair of waler brackets and the locking brace.   
     
     
         20 . The collapsible concrete form of  claim 17 , wherein when the inner portion is in the linear arrangement, the pair of inner walls define a planar boundary of confined space in which concrete is poured.