US3722555A

US3722555A - Breaker for plastic form ties

Info

Publication number: US3722555A
Application number: US00215793A
Authority: US
Inventors: D Voelsch
Original assignee: SCHULL CONSTRUCTION CO
Current assignee: SCHULL CONSTRUCTION CO
Priority date: 1972-01-06
Filing date: 1972-01-06
Publication date: 1973-03-27
Anticipated expiration: 1990-03-27

Abstract

An elongated lever defining an endwise outwardly opening tie rod head receiving recess at one end and having an extension projecting endwise outwardly from one side of that one lever end terminating outwardly in a laterally inwardly directed end portion spaced outwardly of the recess and terminating radially outwardly of the center axis of said recess.

Description

United States Patent Voelsch Filed: 1'

BREAKER FOR PLASTIC FORM TIES Delwin F. Voelsch, Watertown, S.

Dak.

Schull ConstructioflCii.,Watertovvnf S. Dak.

, 1511 .6, I972 Appl. No.: 215,793

Inventor:

Assignee:

US. Cl ..l40/123, 225/103 Int. Cl. ..B2lf 9/00, F16g 11/00 Field of Search .....140/123, 149; 225/965, 103,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS McLaughlin 140/149 Reyes ..225/96.5

1 51 Mar. 27, 1973 2,777,479 l/l957 Beanum ..140/149 1,363,890 12/1920 Longest et a1. ..72/479 3,546,919 12/1970 Fial ..72/458 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 643,410 6/1962 Canada ..254/131 Primary ExaniinerLowell A. Larson Attorney-Harvey B. Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT BREAKER FOR PLASTIC FORM TIES The form tie breaker of the instant invention has been specifically designed for use in conjunction with plastic form ties or form ties constructed of other similar materials that may be more readily broken than form ties constructed of steel.

A fairly recent development in construction practice involves the use of plastic brackets and ties to hold concrete forms during the pouring and setting process. After the concrete has set the forms are removed. In order to remove the ties workmen had heretofore used a hammer to break off the head on the end of the tie that holds the brackets to the form. When the tie has been broken off the tie bracket is removed and thereafter the form can also be removed from the concrete. However, when breaking a plastic tie with a hammer a problem often arises wherein the tie does not break off cleanly at the face of the plywood of which the form is constructed, but rather tends to splinter and shatter so that some time is involved in removing the tie bracket from the broken end of the tie before the plywood forms can be removed. It is accordingly the main object of this invention to provide a tool whereby the head ends of plastic form ties may be cleanly broken ofi at the face of the plywood form so as to enable ready removal of the form brackets and subsequent removal of the plywood forms.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tool for removing plastic form ties which will be operative to break the head ends of plastic form ties of conventional design used in conjunction with the specifically shaped coacting form brackets.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a tie breaker in accordance with the preceding objects that may be quickly engaged with and actuated to cleanly sever or break off the ends of plastic form ties.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a plastic form tie breaker in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble-free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing through a concrete form whose opposite sides are held together by means of plastic form ties and associated form brackets and with the tie breaker of the instant invention in position in readiness for engagement with one end of the plastic I16;

I FIG. 2 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view of the assemblage illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view of a concrete form with the tie breaker of the instant invention illustrated in phantom lines as initially engaged with the head of the plastic tie and an alternate tie breaking position of the tool illustrated in phantom lines; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of the tie-engaging end of the tie breaker.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates a concrete fomi including opposite

side plywood walls

12 and 14 held in position by means of a plastic form tie l6 and a pair of coacting

plastic form brackets

18 and 20. The form 10 is illustrated with a body 22 of cured concrete therein.

From FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawings it may be seen that the brackets 18 include conventional wedge surfaces 23 whereby the wedges 23 may be hammered downwardly into position on the tie 16 so as to clamp the

opposite sides

12 and 14 of the form 10 together. Each tie 16 extends through the form 10 and has its opposite end heads 24 engaged against the remote-surfaces 26 of the brackets 18. In this manner, the ties 16 may be placed under tension in order to retain the

opposite sides

12 and 14 of the form 10 against spreading.

The brackets 18 include slots 28 in which the corresponding ends of the ties 16 are received and by which the brackets 18 are engaged with the ties 16. As hereinbefore set forth, the ties 16 and brackets 18 are constructed of plastic and the foregoing description of the fonn 10, ties 16 and brackets 18 may be considered as conventional.

The tie breaker of the instant invention is referred to in general by the reference numeral and comprises an elongated tubular lever 42 externally threaded as at 44 on one end. An internally threaded reinforcing sleeve 46 is threaded on the externally threaded end of the tubular lever 42 and an elongated rod 48 is secured along one side of the lever 42 and the corresponding side of the sleeve 46 by welding 50. The rod 48 includes an extended end portion 52 thereof which projects endwise outwardly of the externally threaded end of the lever 42 and terminates in a smoothly inwardly curving laterally directed terminal end portion 54. The end face 56 of the terminal end portion 54 generally parallels the longitudinal centerline of the adjacent end of the bore 58 formed through the tubular lever 42 and which defines an endwise outwardly opening recess at the end of the lever 42 which carries the rod 48. The recess or bore end is of a diameter to loosely but snugly receive the head 24 of the tie 16 therein in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings with the end face 56 of the terminal end portion 54 of the rod 48 abutted against the shank portion of the tie 16 at the outer face 60 of the side 14 of the form 10. With the tie breaker 40 engaged with the head 24 and shank of the tie 16 the free end of the lever 42 remote from the sleeve 46 may be urged downwardly toward the phantom line position of the lever 42 illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings in order to break the head 24 and adjacent shank end from the tie 16 as at 62 in FIG. 3 of the drawings. Thus it may be seen that the head 24 and adjacent shank portion of the tie 16 may be cleanly broken from the remainder of the tie 16 at the outer face 60 of the side 14 of the form 10 so as to enable free removal of the associated bracket 18 and subsequent removal of the side 14 of the form 10.

Of course, inasmuch as the head 24 is loosely but snugly received within the recess 58, the tie breaker 40 may be readily engaged with the head 24 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings and the head 24 and adjacent shank portion of the tie 16 will readily fall free of the tie breaker 40 as soon as the sleeve end of the lever 42 is inclined downwardly after breaking the head 42 on the adjacent end of the shank of the tie 16 from the remainder of the tie 16.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1 A form tie rod breaker for breaking off the headed ends of form ties, said breaker including an elongated lever, means at one end of said lever defining an endwise outwardly opening recess adapted to receive the headed end of a tie rod therein, said one end of said lever further including a rigid endwise outwardly projecting extension supported at one side thereof and including an outward end terminating in an inwardly directed lateral end portion whose end face opposes and is spaced at least slightly outwardly of the center axis of said recess.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said lever comprises an elongated cylindrical member having a longitudinal bore formed therethrough, the end of said bore at said one end of said lever defining said recess.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said one end of said lever has a reinforcing sleeve secured thereover.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said extension is rigidly secured to said cylindrical member and said reinforcing sleeve.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said outward end curves smoothly inwardly toward and merges into said lateral end portion. I

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said lever comprises an elongated cylindrical member having a longitudinal bore formed therethrough, the end of said bore at said one end of said lever defining said recess.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said one end of said lever has a reinforcing sleeve secured thereover.

Claims

1. A form tie rod breaker for breaking off the headed ends of form ties, said breaker including an elongated lever, means at one end of said lever defining an endwise outwardly opening recess adapted to receive the headed end of a tie rod therein, said one end of said lever further including a rigid endwise outwardly projecting extension supported at one side thereof and including an outward end terminating in an inwardly directed lateral end portion whose end face opposes and is spaced at least slightly outwardly of the center axis of said recess.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said outward end curves smoothly inwardly toward and merges into said lateral end portion.