PANEL-FORMING COMPONENT AND SYSTEM FOR USE IN TILT-UP CONSTRUCTION
The present invention relates to a novel configuration for a panel-forming component for use in tilt-up construction. The present invention further relates to a panel-forming device comprising the panel-forming component of the present invention. A panel-forming component of the present invention is configured as a comer guard that protects a comer of cured casting material from damage during the tilt-up construction process. The panel-forming component of the present invention generally is configured such that it is free of void-enabling obstructions that may hinder a flow of casting material within a panel form. The absence of void-enabling obstructions ensures that the casting material flows about the panel-forming component and cures substantially free of voids.
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This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/692,334 (FUU 0054 MA), filed Jun. 20, 2005.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a novel configuration for a panel-forming component for use in tilt-up construction. The present invention further relates to a panel-forming device comprising the panel-forming component of the present invention.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to the present invention, a panel-forming component is configured as a comer guard that protects a corner of cured casting material from damage during the tilt-up construction process.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a panel-forming component is provided comprising a slab engaging face, a form engaging face, and an anchoring portion. The panel-forming component defines a cross sectional profile defining the slab engaging face, the form engaging face, and the anchoring portion. This panel-forming component is configured such that, where the slab engaging face is oriented horizontally and the form engaging face is oriented vertically in a panel form, the cross sectional profile comprises a casting material engaging surface. The casting material engaging surface is configured such that a flow of a casting material within the panel form is directed along substantially the entire casting material engaging surface as a level of the casting material rises within the panel form.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the panel-forming component is configured such that it is substantially free of void-enabling obstructions to a flow of casting material within a panel form where the slab engaging face is oriented horizontally and said form engaging face is oriented vertically in the panel form.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the cross sectional profile of the panel-forming component comprises a casting material engaging surface that is defined at least in part by the anchoring portion of the component. This anchoring portion that defines the casting material engaging surface is configured such that the anchoring portion is substantially free of void-enabling obstructions to a flow of casting material within the panel form.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to present a panel-forming component for use in tilt-up construction. Other objects of the present invention will be apparent in light of the description of the invention embodied herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGSThe following detailed description of specific embodiments of the present invention can be best understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where like structure is indicated with like reference numerals and in which:
Referring generally to the figures, the present invention relates to a device 1 comprising a panel-forming component 10 configured to eliminate or substantially preclude the creation of one or more voids 70 within casting material 40 as it is introduced into, and cures within, a panel form 50. Thus, those practicing the present invention can ensure strong adhesion of the panel forming component 10 to the cured panel by substantially reducing the number of voids created during the casting process. As a result, the panel forming component 10 is less likely to become dislodged during the tilt-up construction process.
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The panel-forming component 10 is configured such that the cross-sectional profile comprises a casting material engaging surface when the slab engaging face 12 runs horizontally and the form engaging face 14 runs vertically in a panel form 50. This casting material engaging surface is configured such that a flow of a casting material 40 within the panel form 50 is directed along substantially all of the casting material engaging surface as the level of the casting material 40 rises within the panel form 50.
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The panel-forming component 10 of the present invention generally is configured such that it is free of void-enabling obstructions that may hinder the flow of casting material 40 within the panel form 50. The absence of void-enabling obstructions ensures that the casting material 40 flows about the panel-forming component 10 and cures substantially free of voids 70.
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For the purposes of defining and describing the present invention, it is noted that a void-enabling obstruction to the flow of casting material 40 within the panel form 50 would be any aspect of the panel-forming component 10 that would encourage the formation of casting material voids 70 about portions of the component 10, preventing substantially complete encasement of the component 10 by the casting material 40. For example, referring to the panel-forming device illustrated in
The present invention addresses the potential issues introduced by the void-enabling obstructions potentially created by other panel forming devices by ensuring that the panel-forming component 10 of the present invention is substantially free of void-enabling obstructions, thus eliminating or at least substantially precluding void 70 creation. In addition, the presence of at least one casting material flow-through opening 26 and the curved cross-sectional profile of the anchoring protrusion 18 of the panel-forming component 10 further encourage the flow of casting material 40 about the panel-forming component 10 such that the casting material cures substantially free of voids 70. Thus, the absence of voids 70 between the casting material 40 and the component allows for a strong adhesion of the casting material 40 to the component 10 such that the component 10 is not displaced from the panel 60 of cured casting material during the tilt-up construction process.
For the purposes of defining and describing the present invention it is noted that a component that defines an extrudable cross sectional profile defines a substantially uniform cross section that extends along substantially the entire length of the component. It is contemplated that bodies defining an extruded cross sectional profile may, to a limited extent, embody variations in the uniformity of the cross section due to fabrication process errors or post fabrication process steps. For example, holes may be drilled in an extruded member in specific locations after the member is extruded. Similarly, cuts or cutouts may be formed in the extruded member or the extruded member may be bent or deformed after it is extruded. It is also contemplated that components defining an extruded cross sectional profile may be manufactured through non-extrusion processes such as, but not limited to, injection molding, machining, etc.
It is noted that terms like “preferably,” “commonly,” and “typically” are not utilized herein to limit the scope of the claimed invention or to imply that certain features are critical, essential, or even important to the structure or function of the claimed invention. Rather, these terms are merely intended to highlight alternative or additional features that may or may not be utilized in a particular embodiment of the present invention.
For the purposes of describing and defining the present invention it is noted that the term “device” is utilized herein to represent a combination of components and individual components, regardless of whether the components are combined with other components.
For the purposes of describing and defining the present invention it is noted that the term “substantially” is utilized herein to represent the inherent degree of uncertainty that may be attributed to any quantitative comparison, value, measurement, or other representation. The term “substantially” is also utilized herein to represent the degree by which a quantitative representation may vary from a stated reference without resulting in a change in the basic function of the subject matter at issue. The term “substantially” is further utilized herein to represent a minimum degree to which a quantitative representation must vary from a stated reference to yield the recited functionality of the subject matter at issue.
Having described the invention in detail and by reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims. More specifically, although some aspects of the present invention are identified herein as preferred or particularly advantageous, it is contemplated that the present invention is not necessarily limited to these preferred aspects of the invention.
Claims
1. A device comprising a panel-forming component comprising a slab engaging face, a form engaging face, and an anchoring portion, wherein:
- said panel-forming component defines a cross sectional profile defining said slab engaging face, said form engaging face, and said anchoring portion;
- said panel-forming component is configured such that, where said slab engaging face is oriented horizontally and said form engaging face is oriented vertically in a panel form, said cross sectional profile comprises a casting material engaging surface; and
- said casting material engaging surface is configured such that a flow of a casting material within said panel form is directed along substantially all of said casting material engaging surface as a level of said casting material rises within said panel form.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein:
- said casting material engaging surface comprises an inboard portion and an outboard portion; and
- said inboard portion of said casting material engaging surface defines a substantially continuous, upwardly directed face.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein:
- said anchoring portion is configured to define a transition from an inboard side of said panel-forming component to an outboard side of said panel-forming component; and
- said anchoring portion comprises at least one casting material flow-through opening extending through said inboard side of said anchoring portion to said outboard side of said anchoring portion.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said casting material engaging surface defines a curved cross-sectional profile.
5. The device of claim 4, wherein said curved cross-sectional profile of said casting material engaging surface is configured to encourage the flow of said casting material within said panel form while substantially precluding void creation.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein said anchoring portion comprises an anchoring extension and an anchoring protrusion.
7. The device of claim 6, wherein at least a portion of said anchoring protrusion defines a curved cross-sectional profile.
8. The device of claim 6, wherein said anchoring protrusion is configured to encourage the flow of said casting material about said anchoring portion while substantially precluding void creation.
9. The device of claim 6, wherein said anchoring protrusion is configured such that a cross-sectional width of said anchoring protrusion is substantially larger than a cross-sectional width of said anchoring extension.
10. The device of claim 9, wherein said cross-sectional width of said anchoring protrusion is about fifty percent larger than said cross-sectional width of said anchoring extension.
11. The device of claim 9, wherein said cross-sectional width of said anchoring protrusion is about two times as large as said cross-sectional width of said anchoring extension.
12. The device of claim 1, wherein:
- said panel-forming component further comprises at least one sealing edge; and
- said sealing edge defines a cross section that is tapered relative to a remainder of said cross-sectional profile of said panel-forming component.
13. The device of claim 12, wherein said tapered sealing edge defines a slope of less than 45 degrees relative to said slab engaging face.
14. The device of claim 12, wherein said tapered sealing edge defines a slope of less than 45 degrees relative to said form engaging face.
15. The device of claim 12, wherein:
- said sealing edge is configured of PVC; and
- said PVC is comprised of a material softer than that comprising said panel-forming component.
16. The device of claim 1, wherein said panel-forming component is configured such that it is substantially free of void-enabling obstructions to the flow of said casting material within said panel form.
17. The device of claim 1, wherein:
- said device further comprises a plurality of panel-forming bulkheads in addition to said panel-forming component; and
- said panel-forming bulkheads and said panel-forming component are configured in said panel form to define dimensions of a panel-shaped cavity such that a sufficient amount of said casting material is contained within said panel-shaped cavity to define a panel having peripheral dimensions matching the dimensions of said panel-shaped cavity.
18. The device of claim 1, wherein:
- said device further comprises a panel of cured casting material in addition to said panel-forming component; and
- said anchoring portion of said panel-forming component is configured such that said anchoring portion is embedded within said panel of cured casting material.
19. A panel-forming component comprising a slab engaging face, a form engaging face, and an anchoring portion, wherein:
- said panel-forming component defines an extrudable cross-sectional profile defining said slab engaging face, said form engaging face, and said anchoring portion; and
- said panel-forming component is configured such that it is substantially free of void-enabling obstructions to a flow of casting material within a panel form where said slab engaging face is oriented horizontally and said form engaging face is oriented vertically in said panel form.
20. A device comprising a panel-forming component comprising a slab engaging face, a form engaging face, and an anchoring portion, wherein:
- said panel-forming component defines a cross-sectional profile defining said slab engaging face, said form engaging face, and said anchoring portion;
- said panel-forming component is configured such that, where said slab engaging face is oriented horizontally and said form engaging face is oriented vertically in a panel form, said cross sectional profile comprises a casting material engaging surface defined at least in part by said anchoring portion; and
- said anchoring portion that defines said casting material engaging surface is configured such that said anchoring portion is substantially free of void-enabling obstructions to a flow of casting material within said panel form.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 6, 2006
Publication Date: Dec 21, 2006
Applicant: Fukuvi USA, Inc. (Huber Heights, OH)
Inventors: Kyozaburo Takagi (Centerville, OH), Yoshitaka Uno (Fukui)
Application Number: 11/422,407
International Classification: E04B 1/18 (20060101);