Reusable tie assembly for concrete forms

Claim 2

A retractable reusable tie assembly for concrete forms capable of being disassembled after use comprising: a spreader means adapted to be coupled with concrete forms to maintain the forms a predetermined distance apart and providing a passage therethrough; an elongatable, elastomeric sleeve cooperating in defining the passage; a tie rod removably mounted in the passage of the spreader means; interengageable surfaces defined by the spreader means and the rod and arranged and constructed for releasably coupling said spreader means to said tie rod so that the tie rod and spreader means are disengageable from each other while the forms are still in place and the tie assembly can be disassembled after use and removed from the concrete without damage to the concrete and tie assembly.

Claim 3

A retractable reusable tie assembly for concrete forms capable of being disassembled after use comprising: an internal spreader means adapted to be positioned between concrete forms to maintain the forms a predetermined distance apart and providing a passage therethrough; a tie rod removably mounted in the passage provided by the spreader means; said internal spreader means including an elongatable, elastomeric sleeve having a frustro conical cone mounted at one end thereof, said cone having an annular metal ring embedded therein and providing surfaces formed therein adapted to engage and disengage the rod from said spreader means; said annular metal ring defining surfaces engageable with thE rod and spreader means so that the tie rod and spreader means are disengageable from each other while the forms are still in place whereby the tie assembly can be disassembled after use and removed from the concrete without damage to the concrete and tie assembly.

Claim 4

A retractable reusable tie assembly for concrete forms capable of being disassembled after use comprising: an internal spreader means adapted to be positioned between concrete forms to maintain the forms a predetermined distance apart and providing a passage therethrough; a tie rod removably mounted in the passage provided by the spreader means; said internal spreader means including an elongatable, elastomeric sleeve having a frustro conical cone mounted at one end thereof, said cone having an annular metal ring embedded therein and providing surfaces formed therein adapted to engage and disengage the rod from said spreader means; said annular metal ring defining surfaces engageable with thE rod and spreader means so that the tie rod and spreader means are disengageable from each other while the forms are still in place whereby the tie assembly can be disassembled after use and removed from the concrete without damage to the concrete and tie assembly.

Claim 5

The retractable reusable tie assembly of claim 2 wherein the cone is formed having a plurality of spaced projections formed radially about the lateral surface thereof so as to provide stop means to prevent rotation thereof when retracting or removing the tie rod.

Claim 6

The retractable reusable tie assembly of claim 2 wherein the annular metal ring is formed having diametrically opposed slots and stop depending from the base of the slot and normal to the annular ring.

Claim 7

The retractable reusable tie assembly of claim 2 wherein the surfaces formed on the annular metal ring are threaded.

Claim 8

The retractable reusable tie assembly of claim 2 wherein the elongated elastomeric sleeve includes a frustro conical cone removably mounted at said other end, said cone having an annular metal ring embedded therein.

Claim 9

The retractable reusable tie assembly of claim 6 wherein the cone is formed having a plurality of spaced projections formed radially about the lateral surface thereof so as to provide stop means to prevent rotation thereof when retracting or removing the tie rod.

Claim 10

The retractable reusable tie assembly of claim 1 wherein the tie rod includes projections formed on the surface thereof and spaced a predetermined distance apart and adapted to engage surfaces of the spreader means.

Claim 11

The retractable reusable tie assembly of claim 1 wherein a pair of parallel slots are formed adjacent each end of said tie rod; said slot having an arcuately formed wall adjacent the end of the tie rod and capable of coupling to mounting means positioned on concrete forms for releasably mounting the tie rod in fixed position.

Claim 12

The retractable reusable tie assembly of claim 1 wherein the tie rod includes an elongated tubular member slidably mounted thereon and having means at one end thereof for releasably coupling to the spreader means, said tie rod having stop means formed at one end thereof to prevent said tubular member from shifting beyond the end of the tie rod and said elongated tubular member being provided with a pair of parallel slots formed at one end thereof and adjacent the tie rod stop means.

Claim 13

The retractable reusable tie assembly of claim 10 wherein the walls defining each parallel slot, the wall adjacent the end of the rod is formed arcuately.

Claim 14

The retractable reusable tie assembly of claim 10 wherein the coupling means formed at one end of the tubular member is provided with threads.

Claim 15

A retractable reusable tie assembly for concrete forms capable of being disassembled after use comprising: a spreader means adapted to be coupled with concrete forms to maintain the forms a predetermined distance apart and providing a passage therethrough; a tie rod removably mounted in the passage of the spreader means; said tie rod and spreader means having interengageable surfaces for releasably coupling the tie rod and spreader means so that these parts are readily disassembled to remove the assembly from the concrete without damage to the concrete and tie assembly; the tie rod having coupling means disposed adjacent each end thereof for releasably mounting the tie rod in fixed position on the cement forms, and a wedge mounted on said form and having tie rod coupling means for receiving the ends of the tie rod; the wedge comprising a generally rectangular body portion and a central portion thereof being raised to form an incline plane; the incline plane having a slot extending longitudinally thereof; and tie rod coupling means slidably disposed in said slot for rigidly and releasably coupling the tie rod in fixed position whereby the tie assembly can be disassembled after use and removed from the concrete without damage to the concrete or tie assembly.

Claim 16

A retractable reusable tie assembly for concrete forms capable of being disassembled after use comprising: a spreader means adapted to be coupled with concrete forms to maintain the forms a predetermined distance apart and providing a passage therethrough; a tie rod removably mounted in the passage of the spreader means; said tie rod and spreader means having interengageable surfaces for releasably coupling the tie rod and spreader means so that these parts are readily disassembled to remove the assembly from the concrete without damage to the concrete and tie assembly; the tie rod having coupling means disposed adjacent each end thereof for releasably mounting the tie rod in fixed position on the cement forms, and a wedge mounted on said form and having tie rod coupling means for receiving the ends of the tie rod; the wedge comprising a generally rectangular body portion and a central portion thereof being raised to form an incline plane; the incline plane having a slot extending longitudinally thereof; and tie rod coupling means slidably disposed in said slot for rigidly and releasably coupling the tie rod in fixed position whereby the tie assembly can be disassembled after use and removed from the concrete without damage to the concrete or tie assembly.

Claim 17

A retractable, reusable tie assembly for concrete forms capable of being disassembled after use comprising: a spreader means adapted to be mounted on concrete forms to maintain the forms a predetermined distance apart and providing a passage therethrough; said spreader means including an elongatable elastomeric sleeve of essentially uniform diameter throughout so as to facilitate assembly and disassembly of the tie rod from the spreader means when mounted on the concrete forms; a tie rod removably mounted in the passage of the spreader means; said tie rod and spreader means having interengageable surfaces for releasably coupling the tie rod and spreader means so that these parts are readily disassembled to remove the assembly from the concrete without damage to the concrete and tie assembly.

Claim 18

A retractable, reusable tie assembly for concrete forms capable of being disassembled after use comprising: a spreader means adapted to be mounted on concrete forms to maintain the forms a predetermined distance apart and providing a passage therethrough; said spreader means including an elongatable elastomeric sleeve of essentially uniform diameter throughout so as to facilitate assembly and disassembly of the tie rod from the spreader means when mounted on the concrete forms; a tie rod removably mounted in the passage of the spreader means; said tie rod and spreader means having interengageable surfaces for releasably coupling the tie rod and spreader means so that these parts are readily disassembled to remove the assembly from the concrete without damage to the concrete and tie assembly.

Claim 19

The retractable, reusable tie assembly of claim 14 wherein said interengageable surfaces include a projection formed on the tie rod and a complementary recess which when oriented in a first position, said tie rod and said spreader means remain coupled and when oriented in a second position said tie rod and said spreader means are uncoupled.

Claim 20

The retractable, reusable tie assembly of claim 15 wherein said projection and recess forms a key and keyway.