Patent Application
20190292798
Building a form for containing concrete may be inefficient. This is particularly true for production work or fast-run work, where workers set string lines, using boards, nails, and string, to construct a concrete form. For example, when building a concrete form, workers may drive nails in boards (e.g., corners of boards), tie string to the nails, adjust the string, and adjust the boards relative to the string.
Building the concrete form by driving nails in boards, tying string to the nails, and adjusting the string can be time-consuming and wasteful. For example, driving nails in boards, tying string to the nails, and adjusting the string can be a three-step process, where each step of the three-step process consumes time. Moreover, the driving of the nails in the boards consumes materials. For example, after driving nails in the boards, the locations where the nails are driven into the boards eventually becomes compromised (e.g., damaged, ruined, broken, etc.), deteriorating the boards through repeated uses. Further, subsequent to constructing the form, workers may go back and remove the nails to be thrown away. For example, subsequent to constructing the form, workers may remove (e.g., pull) the nails driven into the boards before a tradesman (e.g., finisher, concrete finisher) cuts of excess wet concrete (e.g., screeds wet concrete) contained in the form. Moreover, if a nail driven into a board is missed and not removed, the tradesman may stop the cutting of the excess wet concrete to remove the nail, which consumes time and resources.
Accordingly there remains a need in the art for a string line system, allowing the user to build a concrete form more efficiently (e.g., in less time and with fewer resources).
This Brief Summary is provided to introduce simplified concepts relating to string line bracket systems for assessing linearity of a beam of a container (e.g., a mold, a form, a concrete form, etc.) for holding a material (e.g., cement, concrete, fill, sand, dirt, etc.) which are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended for use in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
This disclosure relates to string line bracket systems that are configured to removeably attach to beams for assessing linearity of the beams of the container for holding a material. Generally, the string line bracket systems include bodies (e.g., brackets) having string line posts. The bodies attach to portions of beams (e.g., portions of lumber) of the containers. When a string is attached between the string line posts, the string is positionable along a side (e.g., an inner side) of the beam of the container, and the beam of the container is positionable relative to the string to straighten and/or level the beam of the container. An advantage of such string line bracket systems is that the system allows a user to quickly and easily assess linearity of a beam for constructing containers for holding a material without performing multiple time consuming and wasteful steps involving driving nails in boards, tying string to the nails, adjusting the string, removing the string, and removing the nails from the boards.
In an embodiment, a string line bracket system includes a first body and a second body. A linkage may be attached to a side of an end of the first body and attached to a side of an end of the second body. In an embodiment, the first body may attach to a portion of a first beam of the container, and the second body may attach to a portion of a second beam of the container. In an embodiment, the first body and the second body may attach to a portion of the same beam of the container. The string line bracket system includes a string line member that extends above the end of the first body and above the end of the second body, and when a string is attached to the string line member, the string is positionable along a side of a beam of the container.
In an embodiment, a string line bracket system includes a body arranged to attach to a portion of a beam of a container. The string ling bracket system includes a string line member extending above the body, and when a string is attached to the string line member, the string is positionable along a side of the beam of the container, and the beam of the container is adjustable relative to the string for constructing the container.
In an embodiment, a string line bracket system includes at least one body that is a bracket having an opening. The opening of the bracket may have a c-channel cross-sectional profile. Moreover, the bracket may include a first member forming a first portion of the c-channel cross-sectional profile and a second member forming a second portion of the c-channel cross-sectional profile, and at least one of the first member or the second member may be displaceable to adjust a width of the opening of the bracket.
The detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The use of the same reference numbers in different figures indicates similar or identical items.
As noted above, building forms for containing concrete is often inefficient, which may be particularly true for production work or fast-run work, where workers set string lines, using boards, nails, and string, to construct the forms. This disclosure is directed to string line bracket systems for assessing linearity of a beam of a container. The string line bracket systems include a body for attaching to a portion of a beam of a container for holding a material, and at least one string line member extending above an end of the body such that when a string having a length is attached to the at least one string line member, the length of the string is positionable along a side of the beam of the container. For example, the string line bracket systems may include a bracket having an opening for attaching to a portion of lumber, and a string line member extending above the bracket for positioning a length of string along a side of the lumber for positioning the lumber along the length of string. When a string is attached to the string line member, the length of the string is positionable along a side (e.g., an inner side) of the lumber to straighten and/or level the lumber relative to the string. To use the system, for example, a user may perform the following steps: (1) attach (e.g., interference fit, press fit, friction fit, etc.) a first bracket proximate to a first corner of the container, and attach a string to a string line member extending above the first bracket, (2) attach a second bracket proximate to a second corner of the container, and attach the string to a string line member extending above the second bracket, (3) attach a third bracket proximate to a third corner of the container, and attach the string to a string line member extending above the third bracket, (4) attach a fourth bracket proximate to a forth corner of the container, and attach the string to a string line member extending above the fourth bracket, (5) attach the string to a string line member extending above the first bracket, and (5) straighten and/or level the beams of the container relative to the string lines.
In this way, the string line bracket systems quickly and easily removeably attach to beams to provide for a user to assess linearity of one or more beams to construct a container. While this application describes various embodiments of string line bracket systems used in the field of constructing a form for containing a material, this is by way of example and not limitation. For example, the string line bracket systems may be used in other fields such as framing applications, surveying applications, industrial applications, heavy equipment operation applications, machinery operation applications, etc.
The string line bracket systems may include a body and at least one string line member extending above an end of the body. The body may be configured to attach to at least a portion of a beam of a container, and the at least one string line member may extend above the end of the body such that when a string is attached to the at least one string line member, the length of the string is positionable along a side (e.g., an inner side) of the beam of the container for assessing linearity of the beam of the container.
The string line bracket systems may include a first body, a second body, and a linkage attached between the first body and the second body. In one example, the first body may be attached to a first beam of a container and the second body may be attached to a second beam of the container. For example, the first beam and the second beam may form a corner having an angle (e.g., an acute angle, a right angle, an obtuse angle, etc.) of the container, and the first body and the second body may be attached to the corner of the container. In another example, the first body and the second body may be attached to one or more beams forming a rectilinear wall of the container. For example, the first body and the second body may be attached between two ends of a rectilinear beam of the container. In another example, a first beam may be arranged in-line with a second beam, an end of the first beam may abut an end of the second beam, and the first body may be attached to the end of the first beam in-line with the second body attached to the end of the second beam. The string line bracket system may include at least one string line member extending above the first body and the second body. For example, the string line member may extend above an end of the first body and above an end of the second body. When a string is attached to the at least one string line member, a length of the string is positionable along a side (e.g., an inner side) of a beam of a container for assessing linearity of the beam of the container.
The string line bracket system may include an opening arranged in an end of a first body and/or an opening arranged in an end of a second body for alignment of the first body and the second body with a mark marked on a beam of the container. For example, when the first body and the second body are attached to a beam forming a rectilinear wall of a container, the opening provides for a user to see the mark marked on the beam to align the opening with the mark, thereby aligning the first body and the second body.
The string line bracket system may include at least one body that is a bracket having an opening having a c-channel cross-sectional profile. A first member may form a first portion of the c-channel cross-sectional profile, and a second member may form a second portion of the c-channel cross-sectional profile. At least one of the first member or the second member may be displaceable to adjust a width of the opening of the bracket. For example, the first member of the bracket may be displaced a distance away from the second member of the bracket to make the width of the opening of the bracket larger to provide for attaching the bracket to a larger beam.
Further, while attempting to assess linearity of the beam 104(1) of the container 106, a string 110 extending in a direction 112 may be attached (e.g., secured, tied, knotted, wrapped, etc.) onto a string line member 114(1) extending above an end 116 of the body 108 of the string line bracket system 102(1), such that when the string 110 is attached to the string line member 114(1), the length of the string 110 is positionable along a side 118 of the beam 104(1) of the container 106. For example, a user may attach a portion of the string 110 to the string line member 114(1) extending above the end 116 of the body 108 of the string line bracket system 102(1), such that when the string 110 is attached to the string line member 114(1), the length of the string 110 is positionable along an inner side of the beam 104(1) of the container 106. One or more of the beams 104(1)-104(n) of the container 106 may be formed of wood, plywood, plastic, metal, etc. For example, one or more of the beams 104(1)-104(n) of the container 106 may be formed of lumber or timber. The container 106 may be for forming a foundation, a footing, a wall (e.g., a tilt-up), etc.
For example, a user may attach the string line bracket system 102(1) proximate to a first corner of the container 106, attach the string 110 to the string line member 114(1) extending above the string line bracket system 102(1), attach the string line bracket system 102(3) proximate to a second corner of the container 106, attach the string 110 to a string line member extending above the string line bracket system 102(3), attach the string line bracket system 102(7) proximate to a third corner of the container 106, attach the string 110 to a string line member extending above string line bracket system 102(7), attach the string line bracket system 102(9) to a forth corner of the container 106, attach the string to a string line member extending above the string line bracket system 102(9), and attach the string 110 to another string line member 114(n) extending above the string line bracket system 102(1). The user may then assess the linearity of each of the beams 104(1)-104(n) of the container 106 and straighten and/or level one or more of the beams 104(1)-104(n) of the container relative to the string 110 depending on the assessed linearity of each of the beams 104(1)-104(n).
In addition,
While
As illustrated, and in some instances, the string line bracket system 304 may be a bracket having the opening 204 having a c-channel cross-sectional profile. The bracket including a first member 306(1) forming a first portion of the c-channel cross-sectional profile and a second member 306(2) forming a second portion of the c-channel cross-sectional profile.
A user may adjust the width 310 of the opening 204 of the bracket to attach the string line bracket system 304 to different sized beams of the container 106. For example, a user may adjust the width 310 of the opening 204 of the bracket to attach the string line bracket system 304 to a piece of lumber having a thickness ranging from about 1½ inches thick to about 3 inches thick. In one example, a user may adjust the width 310 of the opening 204 of the bracket to attach the string line bracket system 304 to a “2×4” board of a container (e.g., container 106). In another example, a user may adjust the width 310 of the opening 204 of the bracket to attach the string line bracket system 304 to two “2×4” boards arranged back to back. In another example a user may adjust the width 310 of the opening 204 of the bracket to attach the string line bracket system 304 to a “4×4” board having an actual width of about 3 inches. While
As illustrated, and in some instances, the string line bracket system 402 may include a first body 404(1) and a second body 404(2). The first and second bodies 404(1) and 404(2) may be the same as the body 108 discussed above.
In one example, a user may pivot the first body 404(1) and the second body 404(2) to have about a right angle between the first body 404(1) and the second body 404(2) to provide for attaching the string line bracket system 402 to a corner of the container 106. For example, a user may pivot the first body 404(1) and the second body 404(2) to have about a right angle between the first body 404(1) and the second body 404(2) to provide for attaching the first body 404(1) to the beam 104(n) and attaching the second body 404(2) to the beam 104(1). In another example, a user may pivot the first body 404(1) and the second body 404(2) to have about a straight angle between the first body 404(1) and the second body 404(2) to provide for attaching the string line bracket system 402 to a portion of a beam between two corners of the container 106. For example, a user may pivot the first body 404(1) and the second body 404(2) to have about a straight angle between the first body 404(1) and the second body 404(2) to provide for attaching the first body 404(1) and the second body 404(2) to the beam 104(n). In another example, a user may pivot the first body 404(1) and the second body 404(2) to have an acute angle between the first body 404(1) and the second body 404(2) to provide for attaching the string line bracket system 402 to a corner of a container having an acute angle. In another example, a user may pivot the first body 404(1) and the second body 404(2) to have an obtuse angle between the first body 404(1) and the second body 404(2) to provide for attaching the string line bracket system 402 to a corner of a container having an obtuse angle.
Similar to the plurality of the string line bracket systems 102(1)-102(n) and 304 discussed above, a user may attach the string line bracket system 402 to a first corner of the container 106, attach the string 110 to the string line member 412, attach a second string line bracket system 402 to a second corner of the container 106, attach the string 110 to the string line member 412 of the second string line bracket system 402, attach a third string line bracket system 402 to a third corner of the container 106, attach the string 110 to the string line member 412 of the third string line bracket system 402, attach a fourth string line bracket system 402 to a fourth corner of the container 106, attach the string 110 to string line member 412 of the fourth string line bracket system 402, and attach the string 110 to the string line member 412 of the string line bracket system 402 attached to the first corner of the container 106. The user may then assess the linearity of each of the beams 104(1)-104(n) of the container 106 and straighten and/or level one or more of the beams 104(1)-104(n) of the container 106 relative to the string 110 depending on the assessed linearity of each of the beams 104(1)-104(n).
In addition, and similar to the plurality of the string line bracket systems 102(1)-102(n), a user may attach one or more of the string line bracket system 402 to one or more of the beams 104(1)-104(n) between the corners of the container 106. In one example, a user may attach the string line bracket system 402 to the beam 104(1) between the two corners of the container 106 to assess a linearity of a beam (not shown) of another container (not shown) arranged adjacent to container 106. In another example, a user may attach the string line bracket system 402 to the beam between the two corners of the container 106 to assess a linearity of a beam (not shown) arranged inside the container 106. In another example, a user may attach the string line bracket system 402 to the beam between the two corners of the container 106 to locate a position inside the container 106 for placing another container (not shown) inside the container 106. In another example, a user may attach the string line bracket system 402 to the beam between the two corners of the container 106 to assess linearity of another beam (not shown) of a container (not shown) arranged inside the container 106.
While
In one example, detail view 502(1) illustrates a portion 516 of the outside surface 506 of the string line member 412 and the inside surface 508 of the side 510 of the first body 404(1) may be arranged substantially in a same plane 518. This is because the outside surface 506 of the string line member 412 is tangent to the inside surface 508 of the first body 404(1). Thus, any portion of the outside surface 506 of the string line member 412 and the inside surface 508 of the side 510 of the first body 404(1) will be substantially in a same plane as the first body 404(1) pivots about the linkage 406.
In another example, detail view 502(2) illustrates a portion 520 of the outside surface 506 of the string line member 412 and the inside surface 512 of the side 514 of the second body 404(2) may be arranged substantially in a same plane 522. This is because the outside surface 506 of the string line member 412 is tangent to the inside surface 512 of the second body 404(2). Thus, any portion of the outside surface 506 of the string line member 412 and the inside surface 512 of the side 514 of the second body 404(2) will be substantially in a same plane as the second body 404(2) pivots about the linkage 406.
Process 600 includes operation 602, which represents attaching a string line bracket system to at least a portion of the beam of the container. For example, a user may attach a body (e.g., body 108, 404(1), or 404(2)) of the string line bracket system to the beam to assess the straightness of the beam. For example, a user may interference fit, press fit, friction fit, etc. the body of the string line bracket system to a least a portion of the beam of the container. Operation 602 may include displacing a first member (e.g., first member 306(1)) with respect to a second member (e.g., second member 306(2)) or displacing the second member with respect to the first member, and adjusting a width (e.g., width 310) of an opening (e.g., opening 204) of the body.
Process 600 continues with operation 604, which represents attaching a portion of a string (e.g., string 110) having a length to at least one string line member (e.g., string line member 114(1), 114(n), or 412) extending above the body. For example, a user may attach the portion of the string to at least one string line member at a first indentation (e.g., first indentation 212(1)) or at a second indentation (e.g., second indentation 212(2)).
Process 600 continues with operation 606, which represents positioning the length of the string along a side (e.g., side 118) of the beam of the container. For example, a user may attach a portion of the string to the string line member extending above the body of the string line bracket system, such that when the string is attached to the string line member, the length of the string is positionable along an inner side of the beam of the container.
In one example, process 600 may continue with operation 608, which represents attaching a second string line bracket system to at least a second portion of the beam of the container, or attaching the second string line bracket system to at least a portion of a second beam of the container. Operation 608 may include attaching a second portion of the string to a second string line member extending above the second string line bracket system.
In another example, process 600 may continue with operation 610, which represents attaching a second string line bracket system to at least a portion of a second beam of the container, the second string line bracket system hingeably coupled to the string line bracket system.
In another example, process 600 may continue with operation 612, which represents attaching a second string line bracket system to at least a second portion the beam of the container, the second bracket hingeably coupled to a third string line bracket system attached to the beam. Operation 612 may include aligning the second bracket and the third bracket with a mark marked on the beam via an opening (e.g., opening 414) arranged in an end (e.g., end 410(1)) of the second bracket or an opening (e.g., opening 414) arranged in an end (e.g., end 410(2) of the third bracket.
In another example, process 600 may continue with operation 614, which represents attaching a second string line bracket system to at least a portion a second beam of the container, the second string line bracket system hingeably coupled to a third bracket attached to the second beam. Operation 614 may include aligning the second bracket and the third bracket with a mark marked on the second beam via an opening (e.g., opening 414) arranged in an end (e.g., end 410(1)) of the second bracket or an opening (e.g., opening 414) arranged in an end (e.g., end 410(2) of the third bracket.
Process 600 may be completed with operation 616, which represents adjusting (e.g., straightening and/or leveling) the beam relative to the string depending on an assessed linearity of the beam.
Although the invention has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as illustrative forms of implementing the invention. For example, while embodiments are described having certain shapes, sizes, and configurations, these shapes, sizes, and configurations are merely illustrative.
