Insulated concrete form

Abstract

A reinforcing band is embedded in one of said pair of foam walls of an ICF. This band extends between at least two of the connectors of the ICF. The band acts to reinforce the ICF so that it may better resist forces applied during concrete pouring.

1 . An insulated concrete form (ICF), comprising: 
 a pair of opposed expanded foam walls;    a plurality of connectors extending between said opposed walls having end portions embedded in said opposed walls;    a reinforcing band embedded in one of said pair of foam walls, said band extending between at least two of said connectors.    
   
   
       2 . The ICF of  claim 1  wherein said end portions of said connectors have openings and wherein said band extends into end portion openings of said at least two of said connectors.  
   
   
       3 . The ICF of  claim 2  wherein each of said connectors comprises a central bridge terminating at either end in fingers which, in turn, terminate in a plate.  
   
   
       4 . The ICF of  claim 3  wherein said fingers define said openings.  
   
   
       5 . The ICF of  claim 3  wherein each of said openings is a slot extending between opposite side walls of said plate of each said connector.  
   
   
       6 . The ICF of  claim 2  wherein said band is a metal band.  
   
   
       7 . The ICF of  claim 6  wherein said metal band is perforated.  
   
   
       8 . The ICF of  claim 1  wherein said band is integrally formed with said at least two of said connectors.  
   
   
       9 . The ICF of  claim 8  wherein said band is a plastic band.  
   
   
       10 . The ICF of  claim 1  wherein said walls are horizontally elongated, said at least two of said connectors are horizontally spaced and wherein said band is horizontally directed.  
   
   
       11 . The ICF of  claim 1  wherein said band is a first band and further comprising a second band embedded in another of said pair of foam walls.  
   
   
       12 . The ICF of  claim 2  wherein said opposed expanded foam walls are L-shaped, such that said ICF defines a corner and wherein said band extends between connectors on either side of said corner.  
   
   
       13 . The ICF of  claim 11  wherein said one of said foam walls in which said band is embedded is an outside wall.  
   
   
       14 . A method of fabricating an insulated concrete form comprising: 
 placing connectors side-by-side;    placing a band between adjacent connectors so as to extend into end portions of said adjacent connectors;    expanding a pair of opposed foam walls around said end portions of said connectors and said band.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein each connector of said connectors comprises a central bridge terminating at either end in fingers which, in turn, terminate in a plate.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said placing comprises inserting each end of said band between fingers of one said connector.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising trimming ends of said band down prior to said placing.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14  wherein each of said connectors terminate in a plate with a slot through its side walls and wherein said placing comprises inserting each end of said band through one said slot of one said connector.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said band is perforated such that said expanding expands foam through said perforations.