US3719341A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Inflatable form for concrete building shell
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-07-26
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Granted: 1973-03-06
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Expires: 1991-07-26
Abstract
Abstract An inflatable form for a concrete building shell comprising a frame including a plurality of support members defining the periphery of a concrete shell segment, a retainer affixed to one support member and affording a continuous channel facing outwardly of the support member, and a wood rail wrapped in one edge of an outer fabric layer for the inflatable form. The rail is dimensioned to fit easily into the channel in flat relation thereto, but is large enough to lock firmly into the channel upon inflation of the form. In a preferred embodiment, there is an auxiliary rail positioned within the channel, below the main rail and outside the fabric, held in place by a plurality of small wedges.
Inventors
- 👤 H Harrington
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 10:18
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04B; E04B1/00; E04B1/16; E04B1/167; E04B1/168; E04B1/169; E04G; E04G11/00; E04G11/04; E04G11/045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
233 words
A form assembly for constructing a concrete shell for a building comprising a wall structure defining the perimeter of a building space and a concrete shell covering that space, said form assembly comprising: a rigid structural frame, conforming to the configuration required for one segment of said concrete shell and having a plurality of form-supporting members extending around the perimeter of said frame; an inflatable form, mounted On said frame and affording a substantially air-tight chamber spanning the space between said form-supporting members, said inflatable form including an outer layer formed of a strong, relatively inelastic fabric; a retainer member, affixed to one of said support members and affording a substantially continuous channel of given height and width facing outwardly of the space spanned by the fabric outer layer of said inflatable form; and a rail member, wrapped in the edge portion of said fabric outer layer corresponding to said one support member, said rail member having a height smaller than the height of said channel but having an effective diagonal thickness substantially greater than the effective internal height of said channel, permitting ready insertion of said rail member and the edge portion of said fabric outer layer into said channel when the form is deflated for releasable mounting of said outer fabric layer on said frame, said rail member rotating within said channel into locking engagement therewith upon inflation of said form.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
233 words
A form assembly for constructing a concrete shell for a building comprising a wall structure defining the perimeter of a building space and a concrete shell covering that space, said form assembly comprising: a rigid structural frame, conforming to the configuration required for one segment of said concrete shell and having a plurality of form-supporting members extending around the perimeter of said frame; an inflatable form, mounted On said frame and affording a substantially air-tight chamber spanning the space between said form-supporting members, said inflatable form including an outer layer formed of a strong, relatively inelastic fabric; a retainer member, affixed to one of said support members and affording a substantially continuous channel of given height and width facing outwardly of the space spanned by the fabric outer layer of said inflatable form; and a rail member, wrapped in the edge portion of said fabric outer layer corresponding to said one support member, said rail member having a height smaller than the height of said channel but having an effective diagonal thickness substantially greater than the effective internal height of said channel, permitting ready insertion of said rail member and the edge portion of said fabric outer layer into said channel when the form is deflated for releasable mounting of said outer fabric layer on said frame, said rail member rotating within said channel into locking engagement therewith upon inflation of said form.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
233 words
A form assembly for constructing a concrete shell for a building comprising a wall structure defining the perimeter of a building space and a concrete shell covering that space, said form assembly comprising: a rigid structural frame, conforming to the configuration required for one segment of said concrete shell and having a plurality of form-supporting members extending around the perimeter of said frame; an inflatable form, mounted On said frame and affording a substantially air-tight chamber spanning the space between said form-supporting members, said inflatable form including an outer layer formed of a strong, relatively inelastic fabric; a retainer member, affixed to one of said support members and affording a substantially continuous channel of given height and width facing outwardly of the space spanned by the fabric outer layer of said inflatable form; and a rail member, wrapped in the edge portion of said fabric outer layer corresponding to said one support member, said rail member having a height smaller than the height of said channel but having an effective diagonal thickness substantially greater than the effective internal height of said channel, permitting ready insertion of said rail member and the edge portion of said fabric outer layer into said channel when the form is deflated for releasable mounting of said outer fabric layer on said frame, said rail member rotating within said channel into locking engagement therewith upon inflation of said form.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
233 words
A form assembly for constructing a concrete shell for a building comprising a wall structure defining the perimeter of a building space and a concrete shell covering that space, said form assembly comprising: a rigid structural frame, conforming to the configuration required for one segment of said concrete shell and having a plurality of form-supporting members extending around the perimeter of said frame; an inflatable form, mounted On said frame and affording a substantially air-tight chamber spanning the space between said form-supporting members, said inflatable form including an outer layer formed of a strong, relatively inelastic fabric; a retainer member, affixed to one of said support members and affording a substantially continuous channel of given height and width facing outwardly of the space spanned by the fabric outer layer of said inflatable form; and a rail member, wrapped in the edge portion of said fabric outer layer corresponding to said one support member, said rail member having a height smaller than the height of said channel but having an effective diagonal thickness substantially greater than the effective internal height of said channel, permitting ready insertion of said rail member and the edge portion of said fabric outer layer into said channel when the form is deflated for releasable mounting of said outer fabric layer on said frame, said rail member rotating within said channel into locking engagement therewith upon inflation of said form.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
An inflatable form according to claim 1, in which said support member and said retainer member are both formed of metal and are joined together to form a continuous channel integral with the support member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
An inflatable form according to claim 2 in which said retainer member is a steel angle edge-welded to a steel support member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
An inflatable form according to claim 3 and further comprising a plurality of brace members mounted on said support member and each engaging the back of said angle retainer member to brace said retainer member against the forces applied thereto upon inflation of said form.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
An inflatable form according to claim 1 in which said rail member is a single wood rail of rectangular cross-sectional configuration.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
An inflatable form according to claim 1 in which said rail member is a wood rail and further comprising an auxiliary wood rail member inserted into said channel below the principal rail member and externally of said fabric.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
An inflatable form according to claim 6 in which both said rail members are of rectangular cross-sectional configuration.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
An inflatable form according to claim 7 and further comprising a plurality of wedges inserted into the bottom open end of said channel, beneath said auxiliary rail member, to clamp the edge of said outer fabric layer into said channel prior to inflation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
An inflatable form according to claim 1 in which said inflatable form further comprises a second fabric layer, located below said outer layer and mounted on said frame by means of a second retainer member and a second rail member corresponding in construction to the retainer member and rail member for said outer fabric layer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-05 | 1976-09-04 | 1977-03-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-05 | 1980-09-04 | 1981-03-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-05 | 1984-09-04 | 1985-03-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |