BACKGROUND
Construction utilizing insulating concrete forms (ICFs) (also known as insulated concrete forms) is well known in the art. Insulating block systems or interlocking modular units are dry-stacked, horizontal and vertical reinforcing rods (rebar) are installed as the forms are being placed, and then the forms are filled with concrete. Window and door openings in the concrete walls are framed prior to pouring the concrete. Window or door bucks are frames that provide the rough structure and opening into which the window or door will be installed. Bucks are also used to form bulkheads. Bucks have typically been constructed of materials such as wood, plastic, and steel. However, in concrete walls formed using insulated block systems, such bucks can be difficult to install and use because the bucks lack continuity of material with the insulating concrete forms. Insulating concrete form bucks have been developed; however, there remains room for improvement in terms of ease of installation and use.
To this end, a need exists for a buck panel that can be interconnected with other buck panels to form a buck assembly that is uniform in construction and that is readily and reliably installed in an insulating concrete form wall to frame an opening for a door or window or a bulkhead. It is to such a buck panel that the inventive concepts disclosed and claimed herein are directed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Like reference numerals in the figures represent and refer to the same or similar element or function. Implementations of the disclosure may be better understood when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed pictorial illustrations and drawings. The figures are not necessarily to scale and certain features and certain views of the figures may be shown exaggerated, to scale or in schematic in the interest of clarity and conciseness. In the drawings:
FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a buck panel constructed in accordance with the inventive concepts disclosed herein.
FIG. 1B is a perspective view of an exterior of the buck panel of FIG. 1A.
FIG. 2A is a perspective view of another embodiment of a buck panel constructed in accordance with the inventive concepts disclosed herein.
FIG. 2B is a perspective view of another embodiment of a buck panel constructed in accordance with the inventive concepts disclosed herein.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of the buck panel in FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the buck panel of FIG. 1 taken along line 4-4 shown in a mold.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a central support beam of the buck panel.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a lateral support beam of the buck panel.
FIG. 7 is front and rear perspective views of an exemplary mold assembly shown in combination with the components of the buck panel of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
Before explaining at least one embodiment of the inventive concept disclosed herein in detail, it is to be understood that the inventive concept is not limited in its application to the details of construction, and/or the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description, or illustrated in the drawings. The presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for purpose of description only and should not be regarded as limiting in any way.
In the following detailed description of embodiments of the inventive concept, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the inventive concept. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the inventive concept within the disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily complicating the instant disclosure.
Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary, “or” refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or. For example, a condition A or B is satisfied by anyone of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).
In addition, use of the “a” or “an” are employed to describe elements and components of the embodiments herein. This is done merely for convenience and to give a general sense of the inventive concept. This description should be read to include one or at least one and the singular also includes the plural unless it is obvious that it is meant otherwise.
Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1A-6, shown is a buck panel 10 constructed in accordance with the inventive concepts disclosed herein. The buck panel 10 is adapted to be interconnected with other panels to form a buck to frame an opening in a wall for receiving a window or a door or to form a bulkhead. The buck panel 10 has a foam portion 12, a central support beam 14, a first lateral support beam 16, and a second lateral support beam 18. The foam portion 12 has an internal surface 20, an exterior surface 22, a first end 24, a second end 26 opposite the first end 24, a first side 28, a second side 30 opposite the first side 28 and separated from the first side 28 by a center portion 32. A plurality of rebar holding members 34 extend outwardly from the internal surface 20 along the center portion 32. The second end 26 includes a recessed portion 36 that is matingly receivable of a protruding portion 38 of a first end of a like panel so that the buck panel 10 can be interconnected with the like panel in both a parallel and a right-angle end-to-end relationship. The central support beam 14 is positioned longitudinally and molded within the center portion 32 of the foam portion 12. The central support beam includes a plurality of wings 40 protruding from the internal surface 20 of the foam portion 12. The first lateral support beam 16 is positioned longitudinally and molded within the foam portion 12 near the first side 28 of the foam portion 12. Similarly, the second lateral support beam 18 is positioned longitudinally and molded within the foam portion 12 near the second side 30 of the foam portion 12.
The foam portion of the buck panel 10 may be formed of a fire retardant expanded polypropylene, polystyrene, polyethylene or other suitable polymers. In one embodiment, the foam portion 12 is formed of expanded polystyrene commonly referred to as “EPS.”
The internal surface 20 of the foam portion 12 is designed to face a cavity of an insulating concrete block form during construction of a wall with an opening such as for a door or window. As shown in FIG. 1A, the internal surface 20 can include advertising indicia, instructions, and guides. The internal surface 20 is shaped during molding to form the plurality of rebar holding members 34. Each of the rebar holding members 34 may include one or more seats for rebar positioning. More particularly, seats 37a and 37b are defined by restraining fingers 39a, 39b, and 39c. The seats 37a and 37b may be dimensioned to receive one or more pieces of rebar (not shown) in a stacked orientation. In one embodiment, the restraining fingers 39a, 39b, and 39c are spaced from one another such that the compressibility and resiliency of the foam portion 12 allows the restraining fingers 39a, 39b, and 39c to frictionally grip rebar positioned in the seats 37a and 37b.
As shown in FIG. 1B, the exterior surface 22 is substantially planar and uniform in configuration. The exterior surface 22 is intended to face the opening for the door or window and can include advertising indicia as well as instructions and guides. Areas that can accept screws or nails can be indicated by markings 41 on the exterior surface 22 to assist a builder in finishing the window or door within the buck formed by buck panels 10.
FIG. 2A illustrates another embodiment of a buck panel 10a. The buck panel 10a is similar in construction to the buck panel 10 except as described below. The buck panel 10a has a width that is greater than the width of the buck panel 10. To this end, the buck panel 10 has a restraining finger 39d having a width greater than the width of the restraining finger 39b.
FIG. 2B illustrates another embodiment of a buck panel 10b. The buck panel 10b is similar in construction to the buck panel 10b except the buck panel 10b is formed without any restraining fingers.
As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, markings 43 may be provided along the first side 28 and the second side 30 of the foam portion 12 to indicate length. Such markings may serve as guidelines for assisting the installer to cut the buck panel 10 to a desired size. The markings 43 may be spaced at one inch intervals; however, it will be appreciated that other intervals may be used. In addition, some or all of the markings 43 may be identified with numerals, similar to a measuring tape. This allows an installer to cut the buck panels 10 without the need of marking the cut point on the panel, or may eliminate the need to measure the form during the installation or cutting process of installation.
The first side 28 and the second side 30 may further be marked (as indicated with dashed markings 45) to indicate the upper and lower boundaries of the first lateral support beam 16 and the second lateral support beam 18, respectively. The first lateral support beam 16 and the second lateral support beam 18 provide attachment points along the length of the first side 28 and the second side 30 of the buck panel 10 in a manner to be described below.
As shown in FIG. 3, the central support beam 14 is positioned longitudinally within the center portion 32 of the foam portion 12. In one embodiment, the central support beam 14 is molded in multiple sections. For example, the central support beam 14 can be molded in two 2-foot long sections 14a for insertion into a four foot long buck panel 10. FIG. 5 illustrates one of the central support beam sections 14a. Each of the central support beam sections 14a may include a first edge 42, a second edge 44, and plates 46 connecting the first edge 42 and second edge 44. The plates 46 extend in a perpendicular relationship relative to the first edge 42 and the second edge 44. The central support beam sections 14a have a plurality of wings 40 extending from the first edge 42 and the second edge 44. The wings 40 are configured to protrude a predetermined distance from the internal surface 20 of the foam portion 12 in a way that the wings 40 will be received in the concrete to provide anchor points when the concrete is poured. In one embodiment, the wings 40 are substantially I-shaped. As such, the wings 40 have a pair of opposing protrusions 47 for anchoring to the concrete. It will be appreciated, however, that the wings 40 may be configured in a variety of shapes. In one embodiment, the wings 40 extend from the internal surface 20 of the foam portion 12 in a laterally offset relationship relative to the seats 37a and 37b.
The central support beam sections 14a can be made of any suitable material providing a physical strength and rigidity necessary for the buck panel 10 and for securing attachment devices such as nails and screws for final construction and support of the window or door.
In one embodiment, the wings 40 may each include a hole 48 (FIG. 5). The holes 48 can be used during construction to tie the buck panel 10 to an adjacent block to prevent the buck panel 10 from floating or moving when the concrete is poured. For example, a wire can be threaded through the holes 48 in wing 40 and tied to a web of an adjacent block. Additionally, the holes 48 can be used to secure rebar positioned in rebar holding members 34 in place by stringing a wire through the holes 48 and securing the wire to the rebar.
In those cases when the central support beam 14 is formed in multiple sections (i.e., 14a and 14b as shown in FIG. 7), each central support beam section 14a may have first ends 50 insertable or otherwise connectable with corresponding second ends 52 of a like central support beam section 14b. The use and molding of two shorter connectable central support beam sections can be more economical than molding a single longer central support beam.
At least two of the central support beam 14 plates 46 include one or more pin holes 54. As shown in FIG. 4, when molding the buck panel 10, pins 56 extend a predetermined distance from a mold insert side 58 and through the pin holes 54 to hold the central support beam 14 in place during the molding process.
First and second lateral support beams 16 and 18, respectively, can be identical and can be made of any suitable material providing a physical strength and rigidity necessary for the buck panel 10 and for securing attachment devices such as nails and screws, for final construction and support of the window or door. As with the central support beam 14, the first and second lateral support beams 16 and 18 can be molded in multiple sections. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the first lateral support beam 16 can be molded in two 2-foot long sections 16a for use in a 4-foot long buck panel 10. In such cases, each lateral support beam section 16a includes first ends 66 that can be inserted into or otherwise connected to corresponding second ends 68 of a like lateral support beam section. The first lateral support beam 16 may have a first edge 60 and a second edge 62 connected by a plurality of plates 64.
The markings 41 on the exterior surface 22 of the foam portion 12 for indicating attachment points, more particularly correspond to the position of the plates 46 of the central support beam 14 and the plates 64 of the first and second lateral support beams 16 and 18. Likewise, the markings 45 on the first side 28 and the second side 30 indicate the upper and lower boundaries of the first edge 60 and the second edge 62 of the first and second lateral support beams 16 and 18, respectively.
At least two of the lateral support beam plates 64 include a pin hole 54 to hold the first lateral support beam 16 in place during the molding process. As described above for the central support beam 14 and as shown in FIG. 4, pins 56 extend through the mold insert side 58 of the mold and through the pin holes 54 to hold the first lateral support beam 16 in place during the molding process. The pins 56 can be tapered to help in positioning within the pin holes 54. An exemplary mold assembly for forming the buck panel 10 is shown in FIG. 7.
In one embodiment, the foam portion 12 further comprises a first alignment lip 70 and a second alignment lip 72 proportioned and positioned to fit within a cavity of an insulating concrete block form (not shown) to align and support the buck panel 10 relative to an adjacent concrete form block during the construction process.
From the above description it is clear that the present inventive concept(s) is well adapted to carry out the objects and to attain the advantages mentioned herein as well as those inherent in the inventive concept disclosed herein. While exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept disclosed herein have been described for purposes of this disclosure, it will be understood that numerous changes may be made which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are accomplished without departing from the scope of the inventive concept disclosed herein and defined by the appended claims.
Patent Application
20170058591
