Patent Application
20220341195
This application does not claim priority to any prior patent application.
The inventor has not disclosed this invention more than twelve months prior to the filing of a provisional application to which priority is claimed.
(1) Field of the Invention. This device is a plate or bracket formed of a hard material that allows a user to couple two boards of lumber, such as two 2×4s, at their lengths. This device allows a user to combine a large number of boards at their lengths to create concrete forms. The user utilizes the device to create, for example, a concrete form for the foundation of a home. Liquid concrete is poured into the form and the concrete is allowed to set until hard. Next, the user removes the boards from the 2×4 Coupling Plate. The 2×4 Coupling Plate can then be used to create additional concrete forms. 2×6's, 2×10s or any size lumber can be joined using the 2×4 Coupling Plate.
(2) Disclosure of the Prior Art. A number of devices are disclosed in the prior art for joining lumber, including 2×4s. Ikerd (US 2008/0283702 A1) discloses various forged angle L-shaped brackets and various steel joining plates for bolting lumber together at horizontal and vertical intersections.
Fox (U.S. Pat. No. 10,100,508 B1) discloses a bracket that allows a user to couple a vertical post to a rafter that is running horizontally on an angle. This device could not be used to create concrete forms. McCoy et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 8,807,498 B1) discloses a sawhorse bracket that allows user to quickly assemble a sawhorse from lumber pieces. Although the device provides a horizontal member to couple a 2×4, or other piece of lumber, the device also includes angled extensions for coupling 2×4s to the horizontal member. This device could not be used to make concrete forms because the angled extensions would prevent assembly and disassembly of the concrete form.
Concrete forms require a large number of lumber pieces to be assembled horizontally at their lengths. Upon disassembly, the lumber used to make the concrete form is typically not reused because of damage sustained by said lumber in making and disassembling the concrete form. The lumber is typically discarded. The costs of lumber has risen greatly in recent years. Additionally, the environment will be aided if lumber from concrete forms can be reused multiple times. A device is needed that will allow quick and efficient assembly and disassembly of concrete forms that will allow the lumber to be reused.
The invention is described in detail below with reference to the appended drawings.
A bottom view of the device in a vertical position is shown in
An end view of the 2×4 Coupling Plate is shown in
While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail, several embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure should be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments so illustrated. Further, to the extent that any numerical values or other specifics of materials, etc., are provided herein, they are to be construed as exemplifications of the inventions herein, and the inventions are not to be considered as limited thereto.
The following description and drawings are illustrative and are not to be construed as limiting. Numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosure. However, in certain instances, well-known or conventional details are not described in order to avoid obscuring the description. References to one, or an embodiment in the present disclosure, can be, but not necessarily, references to the same embodiment; and, such references mean at least one of the embodiments.
Reference in this specification to “one embodiment’ or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the disclosure. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Moreover, various features are described which may be exhibited by some embodiments and not by others. Similarly, various requirements are described which may be requirements for some embodiments, but not other embodiments.
The terms used in this specification generally have their ordinary meanings in the art, within the context of the disclosure, and in the specific context where each term is used. Certain terms that are used to describe the disclosure are discussed below, or elsewhere in the specification, to provide additional guidance to the practitioner regarding the description of the disclosure. For convenience, certain terms may be highlighted, for example using italics and/or quotation marks. The use of highlighting has no influence on the scope and meaning of a term; the scope and meaning of a term is the same, in the same context, whether or not it is highlighted. It will be appreciated that the same term can be said in more than one way.
Consequently, alternative language and synonyms may be used for any one or more of the terms discussed herein, or is any special significance to be placed upon whether or not a term is elaborated or discussed herein. Synonyms for certain terms are provided. A recital of one or more synonyms does not exclude the use of other synonyms. The use of examples anywhere in this specification, including examples of any terms discussed herein, is illustrative only, and in no way limits the scope and meaning of the disclosure or of any exemplified term. Likewise, the disclosure is not limited to various embodiments given in this specification.
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. In the case of conflict, the present document, including definitions will control.
The 2×4 Coupling Plate is a device that allows two boards to be reversibly coupled to each other at their lengths. The 2×4 Coupling Plate may be used in making concrete forms for houses wherein two boards are positioned within a single 2×4 Coupling Plate, and multiples boards are connected via multiple 2×4 Coupling Plates. The device allows the user to create a concrete foundation form that is square, level, straight, and braced quickly and efficiently. The wood used in creating the form may be reused and the 2×4 Coupling Plates may be reused at the next job, reducing waste and costs.
