Wedge-type tie end latches and track assemblies for use therewith

Claim 1

IN A CONCRETE WALL-FORMING SYSTEM OF THE TYPE HAVING A PAIR OF FORM WALLS INTERCONNECTED BY A PLURALITY OF TIES PROJECTING THERETHROUGH AND ADAPTED TO MAINTAIN A FIXED SPACED RELATION THEREBETWEEN, THE IMPROVED MEANS FOR REINFORCING SAID FORM WALLS WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY RELEASABLY SECURING SAME TO THE TIE ENDS WHICH COMPRISES: AN ELONGATE COMBINATION FORM WALL BRACE AND TIE END LATCH TRACK HAVING CENTRAL LONGITUDINAL SLOT SIZED TO RECEIVE THE PROJECTING FORM TIE ENDS, AN INNER PAIR OF COPLANAR FLANGES ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE EXTERIOR FACE OF THE ADJACENT FORM WALL ON BOTH SIDES OF THE TIE ROW, AND AN OUTER PAIR OF COPLANAR FLANGES PARALLEL TO THE INNER PAIR THEREOF AND SPACED OUTWARDLY THEREFROM DEFINING RAILS; AND, AT LEAST ONE LATCH ELEMENT MOUNTED ON EACH TRACK ELEMENT FOR SLIDABLE MOVEMENT FROM END-TO-END THEREOF; SAID LATCH ELEMENT INCLUDING SLOTTED PROJECTIONS POSITIONED AND ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE RAIL-FORMING FLANGES OF THE TRACK, AT LEAST ONE WEDGE-FORMING PORTION FORMED ON SAID LATCH ELEMENT EXTENDING IN THE DIRECTION OF THE SLOT IN THE TRACK AND ADAPTED UPON RELATIVE SLIDABLE MOVEMENT TO ENGAGE ONE OF THE FORM TIE ENDS LOCATED THEREIN, SAID WEDGE-FORMING PORTION INCLUDING AN INCLINED SURFACE OPERATIVE UPON ENGAGEMENT WITH THE TIE END TO DRAW THE TRACK UP TIGHT AGAINST THE FORM WALL, AND A TOOL-ENGAGING PORTION FORMED ON SAID LATCH ELEMENT PROJECTING BEYOND THE TRACK IN POSITION TO BE STRUCK WITH A TOOL IN THE DIRECTIONS TO ENGAGE OR DISENGAGE A TIE END WHEREIN THE WEDGE-FORMING PORTION OF THE LATCH ELEMENT COMPRISES A TAPERED FINGER LOCATED WITHIN THE SLOT IN THE TRACK AND EXTENDING IN THE DIRECTION OF THE LENGTH THEREOF, SAID FINGER BEING ADAPTED TO ENTER THE LOOP IN A LOOP-ENDED FORM TIE EXTENDING INTO THE SLOT IN THE TRACK, THE INCLINED SURFACE OF SAID WEDGE-FORMING FINGER BEING OPERATIVE UPON MOVEMENT ALONG THE TRACK TO DRAW THE TIE OUTWARDLY.