Patent Application
20110083382
This invention relates to a buck member for insulating areas surrounding an opening in an insulated concrete form structure.
Insulated concrete form building structures, homes and other residential and commercial buildings, have benefits over conventionally built homes. The Lego™-like, building block nature of insulated concrete forms makes it easier to construct such buildings.
Insulated concrete form structures have superior thermal insulation properties, or R-values, relative to conventional wood houses. As a result of such superior insulating properties, these structures stay cooler in the summer months and warmer in the winter months. Insulated concrete form structures typically reduce heating, ventilation, and air conditioning costs by as much as 30 to 70%.
Additionally, the acoustic insulation properties of insulated concrete form building structures are superior to that of conventional wood housing. Also, these structures are generally more fire resistant and therefore safer and cost less to insure than conventional housing. In general, the structural integrity of insulated concrete form building structures results in higher resale values, higher insect resistance than wood construction, and greater resistance to wetness causing rot, which is commonly associated with wood structures.
Most insulated concrete structures are made from foam insulation building block forms comprising expanded polystyrene or extruded polystyrene material. Such structures are typically comprised of hollow blocks that are locked or fastened together. During construction of insulated concrete form structures, interlocking form units are stacked and connected to each other, thereby forming the desired structure's walls and shape. Concrete is pumped into the cavities of the hollow forms. Reinforced steel or rebar may be added before concrete pour to provide extra strength to the hardened concrete in the walls.
As insulated concrete forms are placed in position to create the overall structure, portions of these forms must be cut out for window and door frames in the desired locations of windows and doors and other openings. The insulated concrete form structures are then framed with conventional 2×4 and 2×6 lumber (buck members) such that liquid concrete will not flow out during the pour process, and for ease of attachment of the wood frames to a flange of a flanged window frame, with the result that wood, with its relatively low R-value, comprises a portion of the insulated concrete form structure. Thus, while the majority of the structure is constructed of insulated concrete forms, areas surrounding windows remain poorly insulated. Therefore, heating and cooling in the area near windows remains similar to conventional housing, while the remainder of the house benefits from the insulated concrete forms. Consequently, there exists a need to improve the technology associated with window frames in insulated concrete form structures.
One object of the present invention is to provide a means of providing additional insulation in the area around an opening in an insulated concrete form structure.
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a buck member for attaching a flanged frame to an opening in a structure comprising insulated concrete form blocks, the buck member including a plate having a first end, a second end, a length, a width, a first surface facing the insulated concrete form blocks of the structure and a second surface opposite therefrom. The plate also having a first flange portion disposed perpendicular to the first end of the plate and adapted for attachment to the flange of the flanged frame, and a second flange portion disposed perpendicular to the second end of the plate in the opposite direction to the first flange portion and adapted for attachment to the insulated concrete form blocks.
Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following, the same reference characters refer to the same or similar elements in all figures.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the first flange portion and the second flange portion are integrally formed with the plate. In another embodiment of the present invention the first and second portions are attached to the plate.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the plate has an at least one indent formed thereon. The at least one indent protrudes to and in the direction of the second flange portion and the at least one indent has a first surface and a second surface corresponding to the first and second surface of the plate.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the at least one indent further comprises an at least one extended portion.
Additionally, the invention as contemplated herein can accommodate flanged frames of any polygonal or partial polygonal shape. It is also clearly contemplated within the scope of this invention that buck members may be made in all types of geometries including, but not limited to arches, circles, semicircles, triangles, etc. Furthermore, it is contemplated to be within the scope of the invention that the flanged frame, which attaches to one or more buck members is adapted to receive a variety of different windows.
The present buck member may be made of galvanized steel. However, other materials may be used depending on the particular use intended, including, but not limited to aluminum, other steels, plastics, and the like.
Also contemplated in the present invention is a method for insulating an area around an opening in an structure comprised of insulated concrete form blocks, said method comprising: A) generating an opening in the insulated concrete form structure; B) setting a buck in the opening, said buck member comprising: a plate having a first end, a second end, a length, a width, a first surface facing the insulated concrete form blocks, and a second surface opposing the first surface; having a first flange portion disposed perpendicular to the first end of said plate and adapted for attachment to the flange of a flanged frame member; and having a second flange portion disposed perpendicular to the second end of said plate in the opposite direction of the first flange portion, the second flange portion being adapted for attachment to the insulated concrete form blocks; C) attaching the frame flange to the first flange portion; and D) attaching an insulation sheet to the second surface of the plate. The present method further comprises pouring concrete into the concrete form blocks of the structure.
It is believed that the apparatus of the present invention, and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.
