Concrete hanger bracket

Abstract

An adjustable concrete form hanger to temporarily couple a concrete form used in the pouring of concrete to a structural pier or column until the concrete has cured at which time the adjustable concrete form hanger and concrete form are separated from the structural pier or column, the adjustable concrete form hanger comprises a hanger bracket coupled to an anchor stud or other attachment element embedded or welded to the pier or column by a first coupler and coupled to the concrete form by a second coupler such that the anchor stud, first coupler, hanger bracket and second coupler are symmetrically aligned in a vertical plane whereby the weight of the concrete form and poured concrete exerts minimal torsion force on the adjustable concrete form hanger in the vertical plane.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

An adjustable concrete form hanger to temporarily couple a concrete form used in the pouring of concrete to a structural pier or beam until the concrete has cured at which time the hanger and concrete form are separated from the structural pier.

2. Description of Prior Art

Various structures and methods of temporarily supporting concrete forms have been developed. For example, hangers may be used to straddle to the top flange of beams and connected to forms by bolts or other connectors. One common method is referred to as the needlebeam and consists of a structural steel or timber beam hung from the bottom flange of the outside beam, extending out under the overhanging slab and under the adjacent interior beam for reaction.

The common method employs a structural steel bracket suspended by a bolt, usually at a 45 degree angle, from a hanger anchored to or installed to straddle the top flange of the exterior beam.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,660,800 shows a hanger and bracket for supporting form work for steel and concrete during the curing stage of a bridge deck overhang. A hanger attached to the beam of the bridge supports a connector carrying the bracket. The connector is maintained in a substantially vertical position. The bracket is adjustable in both horizontal angle and in grade because of pivotally attached horizontal members, an adjustable compression leg, and connector means. Once the cement is set the bracket is removed for reuse.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,472,475 describes a bridge overhang bracket, attachable to a flanged girder for supporting concrete forms and catwalks a horizontally aligned support beam the web of the flanged girder. Protruding upwardly from the top of the support beam near abutting end is a cylindrical boss which abuts against a flange of the flanged girder. An inclined dual bolt hanger extends from the clips welded on the girder flange to a stirrup on which the underside of the support beam rests.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,089 shows a concrete supporting bridge overhang bracket system which can be lifted and transferred in gang fashion from a first section of a bridge to a subsequent section. The system includes a series of longitudinally spaced apart laterally extending overhang brackets to which concrete forms are secured. A lift bracket assembly is attachable to a pair of overhang brackets and can be clamped to the deck to support the overhang brackets and the forms from the deck so that the brackets can be disconnected from the deck. Once disassembled, the lift bracket assembly can be supported by a crane and unclamped from the deck, the crane thereafter moving the lift bracket assembly, the overhang brackets and the forms to the subsequent section.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,806,074 relates to forms for molding concrete on horizontal I-beams. The forms are adjustable from a position above the beams. With respect to the interior space between two beams, clips and/or hangers suspend bolts adjacent the beams, the bolts being threadably engaged with brackets between which extends a joist located below and in overlapping relation with the upper flanges of the beams. The bolts are rotatable from a position atop the beams to adjust the brackets to control the locating of the joist. Sheeting supported on the joist support a mold for wet concrete.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,559 teaches a concrete form support assembly for forms used to pour concrete for bridge floors. Such forms include a plywood flooring supported at a desired uniform depth relative to the plane of the upper surface of the bridge beams. The plywood flooring is supported by ledgers which extend laterally between the bridge beams and stringers on the top thereof which extend longitudinally and parallel with the bridge beams. The ledgers are supported by vertical bolts hanging from hanger bars on each side of each bridge beam, with support plates at the lower end of the vertical bolts to support opposite ends of the ledgers, and threaded nuts below the support plates to adjust the plates and ledgers thereon up and down. After the plywood flooring has been put in place, workmen cannot thereafter reach the adjusting nuts from above to make final depth adjustments of the flooring. The support assembly in accordance with the present invention provides depth adjustable hanger bolts adjustable from above the plywood flooring after it has been put in place.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,854 shows a structural supporting system for the use as a temporary support in concrete overhang construction and for the use as a support in concrete slab truss construction. The structural supporting system includes a series of support beams and a plurality of support brackets positioned along the length of the support beam. A support bracket is provided at the opposite ends of the support beam for the suspended support of the support bracket to increase or reduce the span of the support beams. A series of cooperating brackets are positioned intermediate the support brackets to support of one support bracket in the concrete overhang falsework construction. A series of cooperating brackets are positioned intermediate to the support brackets for the support of two support brackets in the concrete slab falsework truss construction. The support bracket or brackets include adjustable upper and lower opposing gripping surfaces for engaging corresponding upper and lower surfaces of the support beam in adjustable mounting relationship thereto. The brackets include an integral attachment pin to secure the support beams to the support bracket for attachment of the support bracket to a fastener suspended from the concrete overhang form construction and the concrete slab falsework truss construction.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,273,393 shows a concrete form support bracket assembly used to pour concrete bridge decks or building floors. The brackets, which are used in pairs, have a base plate to bear the weight of form ledgers, a rear wall extending from the base plate, and a pair of spaced apart side walls extending from the rear wall and base plate. A fastener is provided for securing the ledger in the bracket and an opening is located in the base plate for providing a bolt to support and adjust the bracket. In the assembly form, the bracket may include a hanger bar, receiving channel and adjustable bolt as a support for the bracket.

Additional examples of the prior art are found in: U.S. Pat. No. 2,380,183; U.S. Pat. No. 3,755,983; U.S. Pat. No. 3,782,674; U.S. Pat. No. 3,806,074; U.S. Pat. No. 3,825,217; U.S. Pat. No. 3,948,503; U.S. Pat. No. 3,981,469; U.S. Pat. No. 4,208,969; U.S. Pat. No. 4,385,745; U.S. Pat. No. 4,457,035; U.S. Pat. No. 4,691,399; U.S. Pat. No. 4,474,736; U.S. Pat. No. 5,755,981; U.S. Pat. No. 6,032,993; U.S. Pat. No. 6,301,736; U.S. Pat. No. 6,454,232; U.S. Pat. No. 6,681,431; U.S. Pat. No. 6,715,176; U.S. Pat. No. 6,828,987; U.S. Pat. No. 6,817,444; U.S. Pat. No. 7,146,672; JP 2007231658 and Meadow Burke road and bridge products, standard bridge hangars.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an adjustable concrete form hanger comprising a hanger bracket having a first coupler and a second coupler to temporarily couple a concrete form to a structural pier or column.

The hanger bracket comprises a pair of side members disposed in spaced relationship relative to each other to receive at least a portion of a proximal end portion of an elongated member at least a portion of which is externally threaded to operatively engage a portion of the first coupler and a hanger bracket channel to operatively receive a portion of the second coupler therein.

The first coupler comprises a first coupler member including an opening to receive a rebar or other rigid member therethrough extending outwardly from the structural pier or column and a second coupler member including an internally threaded aperture or channel to receive and operatively engage at least a portion of the externally threaded portion of the elongated member of the hanger bracket to adjustably secure the hanger bracket to the structural pier or column when the opening of the first coupler is placed over the rebar.

The second coupler comprises an elongated first coupler member at least a portion of which is esternally threaded configured to operatively extend through the hanger bracket channel and a second coupler member engaging each side member of the hanger bracket including an internally threaded aperture or channel aligned with the hanger bracket channel to receive and operatively engage at least a portion of the externally threaded portion of the elongated first coupler member to adjustably secure the second coupler to the hanger bracket.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature and object of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the adjustable concrete form hanger of the present invention in combination with a pier or column and concrete form.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of the adjustable concrete form hanger of the present invention in combination with a pier or column and concrete form.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional side view the adjustable concrete form hanger of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial top view the adjustable concrete form hanger of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial side view of an alternate embodiment of the adjustable concrete form hanger of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial top view of the alternate embodiment of the adjustable concrete form hanger of the present invention.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention relates to an adjustable concrete form hanger generally indicated as 10 to temporarily couple a concrete form generally indicated as 12 to a structural pier or column generally indicated as 14.

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, the adjustable concrete form hanger 10 comprises a hanger bracket generally indicated as 16 having a first coupler generally indicated as 18 and a second coupler generally indicated as 20 attached thereto to releasably couple the adjustable concrete form hanger 10 on the upper surface 22 of the upper portion 24 of the structural pier or column 14 and the concrete form 12 respectively.

As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the hanger bracket 16 comprises a pair of substantially parallel side members each indicated as 26 disposed in spaced relationship relative to each other to receive at least a portion of a proximal end portion of an elongated member 28 at least a portion of which is externally threaded 30 to operatively engage a portion of the first coupler 18 and a hanger bracket channel 32 to operatively receive a portion of the second coupler 20 therein.

As best shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, the bottom 34 of each side member 24 comprises a flat surface to engage and rest on the upper surface 22 of the upper portion 24 of the structural pier or column 14.

As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first coupler 18 comprises a first coupler member generally indicated as 36 including an opening or aperture 38 to receive a rebar 39 or other rigid member therethrough extending outwardly from the upper portion 24 of the structural pier or column 14 (FIGS. 1 and 2) and a second coupler member 40 including an internally threaded aperture or channel 42 to receive and operatively engage at least a portion of the externally threaded portion 30 of the elongated member 28 of the hanger bracket 16 to adjustably secure the hanger bracket 16 to the upper surface 22 of the upper portion 24 of the structural pier or column 14 when the opening or aperture 38 of the first coupler 18 is placed over the rebar 39. As best shown in FIG. 4, the first coupler member 36 comprises a substantially U-shaped element having a pair of substantially parallel legs each indicated as 44 to receive the second coupler member 40 therebetween to cooperatively form the opening or aperture 38.

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, the second coupler 20 comprises an elongated first coupler member 46 at least a portion of which is externally threaded 48 configured to operatively extend through the hanger bracket channel 32 and a second coupler member 50 engaging the upper inclined surface 52 of each substantially parallel side member 16 of the hanger bracket 10 including an internally threaded aperture or channel 54 aligned with the hanger bracket channel 32 to receive and operatively engage at least a portion of the externally threaded portion 48 of the elongated first coupler member 46 to adjustably secure the second coupler 20 to the hanger bracket 16.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show an alternate embodiment of the first coupler 18 in combination with the substantially same hanger bracket 16 and second coupler 20 shown in FIGS. 1 through 4. Specifically, the hanger bracket 16 comprises a pair of substantially parallel side members each indicated as 26 disposed in spaced relationship relative to each other to receive at least a portion of a proximal end portion of an elongated member 28 at least a portion of which is externally threaded 30 to operatively engage a portion of the first coupler 18 and a hanger bracket channel 32 to operatively receive a portion of the second coupler 20 therein. The bottom 34 of each side member 24 comprises a flat surface to engage and rest on the upper surface 22 of the upper portion 24 of the structural pier or column 14.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the first coupler 18 of the alternate embodiment comprises a first coupler member generally indicated as 56 including an opening or aperture 58 to receive a rebar 39 or other rigid member therethrough extending outwardly from the upper portion 24 of the structural pier or column 14 (FIGS. 1 and 2) and a second coupler member 60 including an internally threaded aperture or channel 62 to receive and operatively engage at least a portion of the externally threaded portion 30 of the elongated member 28 of the hanger bracket 16 to adjustably secure the hanger bracket 16 to the upper surface 22 of the upper portion 24 of the structural pier or column 14 when the opening or aperture 58 of the first coupler 18 is placed over the rebar 39. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the first coupler member 56 comprises a substantially flat plate 64 to receive or support the second coupler member 50 thereon.

As in the preferred embodiment, the second coupler 20 comprises an elongated first coupler member 46 at least a portion of which is externally threaded 48 configured to operatively extend through the hanger bracket channel 32 and a second coupler member 50 engaging the upper inclined surface 52 of each substantially parallel side member 16 of the hanger bracket 10 including an internally threaded aperture or channel 54 aligned with hanger bracket channel 32 to receive and operatively engage at least a portion of the externally threaded portion 48 of the elongated first coupler member 46 to adjustably secure the second coupler 20 to the hanger bracket 16.

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 and 5, the hanger bracket channel 32 is inclined at an angle of substantially 45 degrees from the horizontal and 90 degrees from the upper inclined surfaces of the substantially parallel side members 16.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description are efficiently attained and since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Now that the invention has been described,

Claims

1. A concrete form hanger to temporarily couple a concrete form used in the pouring of concrete to a structural pier or column until the concrete has cured at which time said concrete form hanger and concrete form are separated from the structural pier or column, said concrete from hanger comprises a hanger bracket coupled to an anchor stud or other attachment element embedded or welded to the pier or column by a first coupler and coupled to the concrete form by a second coupler such that the anchor stud, said first coupler, said hanger bracket and said second coupler are aligned in a vertical plane whereby the weight of the concrete form and poured concrete exerts minimal torsion force or moment on said concrete form hanger in the vertical plane.

2. The concrete form hanger of claim 1 wherein the hanger bracket comprises a pair of substantially parallel side members each including an upper surface disposed in spaced relationship relative to each other to receive at least a portion of a proximal end portion of an elongated member at least a portion of which is externally threaded to operatively engage a portion of said first coupler and a hanger bracket channel to operatively receive a portion of said second coupler therein.

3. The concrete form hanger of claim 2 wherein the bottom of each said side member comprises a flat surface to engage and rest on the structural pier or column.

4. The concrete form hanger of claim 2 wherein said first coupler comprises a first coupler member including an opening to receive a rebar or other rigid member therethrough extending outwardly from the structural pier or column and a second coupler member including an internally threaded aperture or channel to receive and operatively engage at least a portion of said externally threaded portion of said elongated member of said hanger bracket to adjustably secure the hanger bracket to the structural pier or column when the opening of said first coupler is placed over the rebar.

5. The concrete form hanger of claim 4 wherein said first coupler member comprises a substantially U-shaped element having a pair of substantially parallel legs to receive said second coupler member therebetween to cooperatively form said opening.

6. The concrete form hanger of claim 4 wherein said second coupler comprises an elongated first coupler member at least a portion of which is externally threaded configured to operatively extend through said hanger bracket channel and a second coupler member engaging said upper surface of each said substantially parallel side member of said hanger bracket including an internally threaded aperture aligned with said hanger bracket channel to receive and operatively engage at least a portion of said externally threaded portion of said elongated first coupler member to adjustably secure said second coupler to said hanger bracket.

7. The concrete form hanger of claim 2 wherein the second coupler comprises an elongated first coupler member at least a portion of which is externally threaded configured to operatively extend through said hanger bracket channel and a second coupler member engaging said upper surface of each said substantially parallel side member of said hanger bracket including an internally threaded aperture aligned with said hanger bracket channel to receive and operatively engage at least a portion of said externally threaded portion of said elongated first coupler member to adjustably secure said second coupler to said hanger bracket.

8. The concrete form hanger of claim 7 wherein said first coupler comprises a first coupler member including an opening to receive a rebar or other rigid member therethrough extending outwardly from the structural pier or column and a second coupler member including an internally threaded aperture to receive and operatively engage at least a portion of said externally threaded portion of said elongated member of said hanger bracket to adjustably secure said hanger bracket to the structural pier or column when said opening of said first coupler is placed over the rebar.

9. The concrete form hanger of claim 8 wherein the first coupler member comprises a substantially flat plate to receive or support said second coupler member thereon.

10. The concrete form hanger of claim 2 wherein said hanger bracket channel is inclined at an angle of substantially 45 degrees from the horizontal.

11. The concrete form hanger of claim 10 wherein said upper surfaces of said substantially parallel side members are inclined relative to the horizontal.

12. The concrete form hanger of claim 11 wherein said hanger bracket channel is inclined at an angle of 90 degrees relative to said upper inclined surfaces of said substantially parallel side members.