Two-piece form insert for concrete structures and a mounting tool for installing the insert in a concrete form

Abstract

A molded plastic insert is intended for use in a concrete form for making a socket in a concrete structure adapted for engagement with a tool. The insert has an interior bore with an open end, a closed end and two opposed channels extending longitudinally from the open end toward the closed end to receive flanges of a tool. Each longitudinal channel terminates near the closed end in a generally annular channel adapted to receive one of the tool flanges such that the tool can be prevented from extraction from the insert by a quarter turn rotation of the tool flanges in the annular channels in the manner of a bayonet lock. The insert has on an exterior surface one or more generally annular ribs and opposite longitudinal projections corresponding to the interior longitudinal channels. The insert is constructed from two essentially identical molded half pieces.

1 . A molded plastic insert intended for use in a concrete form to make a socket in a concrete structure that is adapted for engagement with a tool, the insert having an interior bore with an open end, a closed end and two opposed channels extending longitudinally from the open end toward the closed end adapted to receive flanges of a tool, each longitudinal channel terminating near the closed end in a generally annular channel that is adapted to receive one of the tool flanges such that the tool can be prevented from extraction from the insert by a quarter turn rotation of the tool flanges in the annular channels in the manner of a bayonet lock, the insert having on an exterior surface one or more generally annular ribs and opposite longitudinal projections corresponding to the interior longitudinal channels, characterized in that: 
 the insert is constructed from two essentially identical molded half pieces.    
   
   
       2 . The insert according to  claim 1 , wherein the insert half pieces are connected to each other along mating edges that run transversely along respective centerlines of the longitudinal projections.  
   
   
       3 . The insert according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the insert half pieces includes an inner surface defining half of the interior bore, half of each of the opposed longitudinal channels, and one of the annular channels.  
   
   
       4 . The insert according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the opposed longitudinal channels is intersected by a second generally annular channel adjacent the open end of the bore, the second annular channels being adapted for engagement by flanges of a mounting tool to hold the insert in place on a concrete form wall.  
   
   
       5 . The insert according to  claim 4 , wherein at least a portion of the second generally annular channels extends in substantially helical fashion with respect to the interior bore to provide for a thread-like engagement between the mounting tool and the insert such that the insert and mounting tool are drawn towards each other when the flanges of the mounting tool engages the second channels and the tool is rotated.  
   
   
       6 . The insert according to  claim 2 , wherein each of the insert half pieces includes a longitudinally-extending flange on the exterior surface defining one of the mating edges of half piece, the longitudinally-extending flange including at least one opening, and wherein each of the insert half pieces also includes a tab projection for each of the flange openings extending from the other one of the mating edges, the tabs and flange openings being axially aligned with each other such that the tabs of each insert half piece are received by the flange openings of the other insert half piece.  
   
   
       7 . The insert according to  claim 6 , wherein each of the insert half pieces includes an end wall at the closed end of the insert, the end wall of each insert half piece including a recess for sliding receipt of a portion of the end wall of the other insert half piece to provide a nested engagement between the insert half pieces.  
   
   
       8 . The insert according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the insert half pieces is entirely identical.  
   
   
       9 . An insert intended for use in a concrete form to make a socket in a concrete structure that is adapted for engagement with a tool, the insert comprising: 
 an elongated body having an inner surface defining an interior bore extending longitudinally with respect to the body, the body including a proximal end and an opposite distal end and having an opening at the distal end communicating with the interior bore,    the body also including at least one channel on the inner surface located adjacent the distal end of the body for engagement with a lifting tool for lifting a concrete member in which the insert has been installed,    the body further including at least one channel spaced longitudinally toward the proximal end from the lifting tool channel for engagement with a mounting tool for supporting the insert during formation of a concrete member in which the insert is installed.    
   
   
       10 . The insert according to  claim 9 , wherein the body comprises identical halves connected to each other along a parting line, and the body including two lifting tool channels adjacent the distal end and two channels for engagement with a mounting tool.  
   
   
       11 . The insert according to  claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of each mounting tool channel extends substantially helically with respect to a central axis of the body for thread-like engagement between the mounting tool channel and a mounting tool by which the insert and mounting tool are drawn towards each other to provide a sealing barrier to concrete therebetween.  
   
   
       12 . A system for holding a concrete insert in a wall on a concrete form during formation of a concrete structure, the system comprising: 
 an insert having an interior bore, an open end communicating with the interior bore and an opposite closed end, the insert including two opposed channels extending longitudinally from the open end towards the closed end adapted to receive a tool, each longitudinal channel terminating near the closed end in a generally annular channel that is adapted to receive flanges of a tool such that the tool can be prevented from extraction from the insert by a quarter turn rotation of the tool, and the insert having an additional locking channel on its inner surface intersecting one of the longitudinal channels and axially spaced from the lifting tool channels; and    a mounting tool including a fixed portion adapted to be connected to a form wall and a rotatable portion including a locking member adapted to be received by the additional locking channel of the insert, the locking member and the additional locking channel being adapted to draw the insert toward the mounting when the locking member is received in the channel and the rotating portion is rotated.    
   
   
       13 . An insert holding system according to  claim 12 , wherein the locking member is a plate including a peripheral flange, and wherein the insert includes a generally annular channel on the inner surface receiving the peripheral flange of the locking member, at least a portion of the generally annular channel extending substantially helically with respect to a central axis of the insert.  
   
   
       14 . An insert holding system according to  claim 13 , wherein the fixed portion of the mounting tool includes a positioning plate located adjacent the locking plate, the positioning plate including a peripheral flange adapted to be received by one of the longitudinal channels to inhibit the insert from rotating with the locking plate.  
   
   
       15 . An insert holding system according to  claim 12 , wherein the mounting tool includes a sealing member made from a resilient material.  
   
   
       16 . An insert holding system according to  claim 12 , wherein the insert includes a generally annular rib located at the proximal end of the insert to engage against the sealing member.  
   
   
       17 . An insert holding system according to  claim 14 , wherein the rotatable portion of the mounting tool includes a locking lever to which the locking plate is secured for concomitant rotation therewith, and wherein the positioning plate of the fixed portion is rotatably received on the locking lever.  
   
   
       18 . An insert holding system according to  claim 12 , wherein the fixed portion of the mounting tool includes a body and mounting flanges extending outwardly from an outer surface of the body, the flanges adapted to support the mounting tool on a wall of the concrete form during formation of the concrete structure in which the insert is installed.