Method and Apparatus for Using Foam Panels as Forms for Making Concrete Walls

Abstract

A foam panel concrete form is provided for using connectors which extend on each side of a joint in the foam panel concrete form and into complementary shaped openings in ties which hold two adjacent panels in a spaced and parallel relationship. The connector can pass into the openings in adjacent ties with little resistance in a first rotary position of the connector. After the connector is inserted a predetermined distance into the openings, then the connector is rotated to a second rotational position within the openings so that flanges of the connector are disposed on each side of respective ties and thereby hold adjacent ties and the adjacent foam panels in a substantially fixed relationship with respect to each other during a time when concrete is poured between the foam panels.

1 . Apparatus comprising:
 a connector having a longitudinal axis and having a cross sectional shape transverse to the longitudinal axis, which cross sectional shape includes at least one cross sectional dimension thereof on one portion thereof which is larger than another cross sectional dimension thereof on another portion thereof, said another cross sectional shape on the another portion thereof being spaced from the first cross sectional shape of the first portion thereof along the longitudinal axis thereof,   a first foam panel having at least one side disposed substantially in a first plane;   a second foam panel having at least one side disposed substantially in a second plane which is substantially parallel to the first plane;   a first tie having one portion thereof disposed in the first foam panel and a second portion thereof disposed in the second foam panel;   a first opening disposed in the first tie, said first opening being approximately the same cross sectional shape as the cross sectional shape of the connector whereby the connector can pass into the first opening with little resistance in a first rotary position of the connector;   a third foam panel having at least one side disposed substantially in the first plane;   a fourth foam panel having at least one side disposed substantially in the second plane;   a second tie having one portion thereof disposed in the third foam panel and a second portion thereof disposed in the fourth foam panel;   a second opening disposed in the second tie, said second opening being approximately the same cross sectional shape as the cross sectional shape of the connector whereby the connector can pass into the second opening with little resistance in the first rotary position of the connector; and   the connector having a second rotational position along the longitudinal axis within the first and second openings wherein the connector is in the first and second openings of the first and second ties and wherein at least a portion of the connector is disposed radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis more than for holding the first and second ties and the first, second, third and fourth panels in a fixed relationship with respect to each other during a time when concrete is poured between the first and second and the third and fourth foam panels.   
   
   
       2 . A method of constructing a concrete form comprising:
 placing a first tie having one portion thereof disposed in a first foam panel and a second portion thereof disposed in a second foam panel;   placing the first foam panel having at least one side disposed substantially in a first plane;   placing the second foam panel having at least one side disposed substantially in a second plane which is substantially parallel to the first plane;   providing a connector having a longitudinal axis and having a cross sectional shape transverse to the longitudinal axis, which cross sectional shape includes at least one cross sectional dimension thereof on one portion thereof which is larger than another cross sectional dimension thereof on another portion thereof, said another cross sectional shape on the another portion thereof being spaced from the first cross sectional shape of the first portion thereof along the longitudinal axis thereof;   placing a first opening disposed in the first tie, said first opening being large enough whereby the connector can pass into the first opening with little resistance in a first rotary position of the connector;   providing a second tie having one portion thereof disposed in a third foam panel and a second portion thereof disposed in a fourth foam panel;   placing the third foam panel having at least one side disposed substantially in the first plane;   placing the fourth foam panel having at least one side disposed substantially in the second plane;   arranging to have a second opening disposed in the second tie, said second opening being approximately the same cross sectional shape as the first opening whereby the connector can pass into the second opening with little resistance in the first rotary position of the connector;   placing the connector into the first and second openings of the first and second ties respectively in the first rotary position thereof; and   rotating the connector to a second rotational position within the first and second openings wherein the connector is in the first and second openings of the first and second ties for holding the first and second ties and the first, second, third and fourth panels to be held in a fixed relationship with respect to each other during a time when concrete is poured between the first and second and the third and fourth foam panels and thereby serving to re-enforce the concrete after the concrete has cured.   
   
   
       3 . Apparatus comprising:
 a connector having a longitudinal axis and having a cross sectional shape transverse to the longitudinal axis, which cross sectional shape includes at least one cross sectional dimension thereof on one portion thereof which is larger than another cross sectional dimension thereof on another portion thereof, said another cross sectional shape on the another portion thereof being spaced from the first cross sectional shape of the first portion thereof along the longitudinal axis thereof;   a first foam panel having at least one side disposed substantially in a first plane;   a second foam panel having at least one side disposed substantially in a second plane which is substantially parallel to the first plane;   a first tie having one portion thereof disposed in the first foam panel and a second portion thereof disposed in the second foam panel;   a first opening disposed in the first tie, said first opening being approximately the same cross sectional shape as the cross sectional shape of the connector whereby the connector can pass into the first opening with little resistance in a first rotary position of the connector;   a third foam panel having at least one side disposed substantially in the first plane;   a fourth foam panel having at least one side disposed substantially in the second plane;   a second tie having one portion thereof disposed in the third foam panel and a second portion thereof disposed in the fourth foam panel;   a second opening disposed in the second tie, said second opening being approximately the same cross sectional shape as the cross sectional shape of the connector whereby the connector can pass into the second opening with little resistance in the first rotary position of the connector; and   the connector having a second rotational position along the longitudinal axis within the first and second openings wherein the connector is in the first and second openings of the first and second ties and wherein at least a portion of the connector is disposed radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis more than for holding the first and second ties and the first, second, third and fourth panels in a fixed relationship with respect to each other during a time when concrete is poured between the first and second and the third and fourth foam panels.