Recess Forming and Anchor Positioning Apparatus

Abstract

A recess former and anchor positioning apparatus for creating recessed lift-points within concrete structures during casting, is comprised of a solid urethane semi-sphere, with two imbedded nuts on the flat side for bolting to a form wall, and a receiving slot passing through the center of the convex side for receipt of an anchor. The slot is sized dimensionally smaller than the received end of the anchor creating a secure compression-friction engagement. The apparatus is bolted to a form wall. The lifting end of an anchor is inserted into the receiving slot of the apparatus, which holds the anchor perpendicular to the form wall during casting and curing of the concrete structure. The anchor is automatically released from the apparatus upon stripping of the form, without need to remove the apparatus from the form. The lifting end of the anchor is exposed in the formed recess of the cast structure.

1 . A recess forming and anchor positioning apparatus for the creation of recessed lift-points within the exterior surface of a concrete structure during the casting thereof, comprising:
 a recess forming means, whereby a concave recess is formed within the exterior surface of a concrete structure during the casting thereof,   a form attachment means, whereby said recess forming means is securely attached to the interior surface of a form wall for the casting of concrete structures, and which remains attached to said form wall throughout use for multiple castings without need of removal; and   an anchor positioning means, whereby an anchor, having a lifting end and an embedding end, is securely held in place for embedment of said embedding end within a concrete structure during casting, and whereby said lifting end will extend out of said concrete structure and into and be contained within said formed concave recess, without protruding beyond said exterior surface of said concrete structure; and   wherein prior to casting, said lifting end of said anchor is inserted into and securely held within said anchor positioning means while said recess forming means remains attached to said interior surface of said form wall; and   wherein following casting and curing of said concrete structure, said lifting end of said anchor is automatically released from said anchor positioning means when said form with said recess forming means attached thereto is stripped from said concrete structure, and said lifting end of said anchor is then immediately exposed and accessible within said formed concave recess in said exterior surface of said concrete structure for attachment to a lifting means to lift said concrete structure.   
   
   
       2 . The recess forming and anchor positioning apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said recess forming means is comprised of a semi-flexible, polymeric, solid, having at least two sides, comprising a flat form mounting side and a convex recess forming side having a crowned vertex;
 said flat form mounting side comprising a flat face and a continuous outer edge for mounting against the interior surface of a form wall, said continuous outer edge being substantially curved in shape;   said convex recess forming side beginning at and extending in a primarily perpendicular manner away from said continuous outer edge of said flat form mounting side, then curving inward to said crowned vertex, being substantially a single continuous surface which protrudes from the interior surface of a form wall to which said apparatus is attached, into a concrete structure being cast and forming a recess therein.   
   
   
       3 . The recess forming and anchor positioning apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said form attachment means is comprised of at least two imbedded threaded fasteners, which will accept a complimentary mated threaded fastener for each, wherein said threaded fasteners are imbedded on said flat form mounting side of said apparatus, for mounting said apparatus onto the interior surface of a form wall provided with matching mounting holes, and wherein said complimentary mated threaded fasteners are tightened to said imbedded threaded fasteners through said mounting holes in said form wall by application a torque thereto;
 said threaded fasteners being imbedded primarily on opposing sides of the center of said flat form mounting side, spaced appropriately to provide a secure and stable attachment to said form wall;   
   
   
       4 . The recess forming and anchor positioning apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein said anchor positioning means is comprised of an anchor receiving hole passing substantially through the center of the apparatus along its axis of symmetry;
 wherein said anchor receiving hole is sized dimensionally smaller than the lifting end of an anchor, for receiving and frictionally engaging the lifting end of an anchor and thereby holding said anchor substantially perpendicular to the form wall to which said apparatus is attached, for positioning of the embedding end of said anchor within the concrete structure being cast, and positioning of the lifting end of said anchor within the recess formed by said apparatus, thereby allowing the lifting end of said anchor to be accessed for lifting the concrete structure without the anchor protruding above the planar surface of the concrete structure in which it is embedded.   
   
   
       5 . A recess forming and anchor positioning apparatus for the creation of recessed lift-points within the exterior surface of a concrete structure during the casting thereof, comprising:
 a solid semi-flexible, polymeric, semi-sphere, having at least two sides, comprising a flat form mounting side and a convex recess forming side having a crowned vertex, said flat form mounting side comprising a flat face and a continuous outer edge for mounting against the interior surface of a form wall, said continuous outer edge being substantially circular in shape, said convex recess forming side beginning at and extending in a primarily perpendicular manner away from said continuous outer edge of said flat form mounting side, then curving inward to said crowned vertex, being substantially a hemisphere shaped surface which protrudes from the interior surface of a form wall to which said apparatus is attached, into a concrete structure being cast and forming a recess therein;   at least two imbedded threaded fasteners, which will accept a mated bolt for each, wherein said threaded fasteners are imbedded on said flat form mounting side of said apparatus, for mounting onto the interior surface of a form wall provided with matching mounting holes, and wherein said mated bolts are tightened to said imbedded threaded fasteners through said mounting holes in said form wall by applying a torque thereto, and thereby securely bolting said apparatus to the interior surface of said form wall, said threaded fasteners being imbedded primarily on opposing sides of the center of said flat form mounting side of said apparatus, spaced appropriately to provide a secure and stable attachment to said form wall;   an anchor receiving slot passing substantially through the center of said apparatus along its axis of symmetry, whereby an anchor, having a lifting end and an embedding end, is securely held in place for embedment of said embedding end within a concrete structure during casting, wherein said anchor receiving slot is sized dimensionally smaller than the lifting end of an anchor, for receiving and frictionally engaging the lifting end of an anchor and thereby holding said anchor substantially perpendicular to the form wall to which said apparatus is attached, for positioning of the embedding end of said anchor within the concrete structure being cast, and positioning of the lifting end of said anchor within the recess formed by said apparatus, thereby allowing the lifting end of said anchor to be accessed for lifting the concrete structure without the anchor protruding above the planar surface of the concrete structure in which it is embedded;   wherein prior to casting, said lifting end of said anchor is inserted into and securely held within said apparatus while said apparatus remains attached to said interior surface of said form wall; and   wherein following casting and curing of said concrete structure, said lifting end of said anchor is automatically released from said anchor receiving slot in said apparatus when said form with said apparatus attached thereto is stripped from said concrete structure, and said lifting end of said anchor is then immediately exposed and accessible within said formed concave recess in said exterior surface of said concrete structure for attachment to a lifting means to lift said concrete structure.   
   
   
       6 . A recess forming and anchor positioning apparatus and method for the creation of recessed lift-points within the exterior surface of a concrete structure during the casting thereof, said method comprising:
 providing a form for the casting of concrete structures to which said recess forming and anchor positioning apparatus remains attached to the interior surface of a form wall thereof,   inserting the lifting end of a compatible anchor into the receiving hole in said recess forming and anchor positioning apparatus;   pouring concrete into the form;   waiting for the concrete to cure;   stripping the form from the concrete structure (the recess forming and anchor positioning apparatus automatically releases and pulls off of the lifting end of the anchor).   
   
   
       7 . The recess forming and anchor positioning apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein said polymeric material is urethane. 
   
   
       8 . The recess forming and anchor positioning apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein said polymeric material is rubber. 
   
   
       9 . The recess forming and anchor positioning apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein said polymeric material is a urethane rubber.