This invention relates to a form assembly for pouring a concrete beam, for example, a lintel or another horizontal support element made of concrete, which form assembly at least comprises a basic element with a bottom and at least two side walls standing thereupon and extending in the longitudinal direction thereof.

Beams casted on site consisting of reinforced concrete show the advantage that they always can be made in the required strength, calculated from case to case, such that they can be better adapted to the specific case.

However, they show the disadvantage that the form assembly, including the reinforcement, also has to be manufactured specifically for each single case.

The form assembly, in fact, has to take into account the span and close joining to the walls. Moreover, in certain cases it can be open at both extremities and consist exclusively of a trough-shaped basic element, because the walls close off the extremities, whereas in other cases, one or both extremities must be closed off by an end wall.

Each form assembly, thus, practically has to be made to size and form, such that a series fabrication of form assemblies is not possible.

Furthermore, the side walls mostly must be supported on site or must be kept together by means of clamps or such in order to resist the pressure of the concrete.

The manufacture and installation. of the known form

assembly thus is time-consuming and difficult, especially for a person not skilled in the art.

The present invention aims at a form assembly for pouring a concrete beam which remedies the aforementioned disadvantages and can be applied in a fast and easy manner.

To this aim, at least the upper walls of the side walls of the basic element are mutually connected by means of connecting means.

As the upper edges are connected to each other, supporting the side walls or keeping them together by means of clamps is no longer necessary. The basic element can be brought on the market as such and, if necessary, rapidly adapted on site.

In a first preferred form of embodiment, the connecting means comprise an upper wall which is fixed to the two side walls and mutually connects the upper edges thereof and which is provided with a number of openings.

Then, also the bottom and the side walls of the basic element can be formed of one piece.

In a second preferred form of embodiment, the bottom and the side walls of the basic element are connected to each other in a detachable manner, and the connecting means comprise a number of bows which cooperate with collars at the upper edge,'lower edge, respectively, of the side walls.

In this form of embodiment, the form assembly possibly can be brought on the market in unassembled condition, however, due to the enclosed bows it can be assembled

very fast.

At the exterior side of the side walls, coupling means can be provided for coupling auxiliary means such as end pieces, bows or connecting pieces to the basic element.

End pieces and such are manufactured separately and,'if they are required for the specific case, can be coupled to the basic element in a fast and simple manner by means of coupling means.

These coupling means can be guides for coupling in a sliding manner.

These guides may form a collar, whereby thus each side wall comprises at least one collar which preferably extends over the entire length.

In some cases, the form assembly comprises at least one end piece which can be slid over one extremity of the basic element, and means for connecting it to a basic element, whereby these means preferably also comprise locking means for locking the end piece and preventing the displacement thereof.

The aforementioned means for connecting the end piece to the basic element partially may consist of the aforementioned coupling means on side walls and complementary coupling means cooperating therewith on the end piece.

These end pieces may be provided with grooves or collars which can be slid over the collars, grooves, respectively, on the side walls, such that they are rapidly connected to the remainder of the form assembly.

With the intention of better showing the characteristics of the invention, hereafter, as an example without any limitative character, several preferred forms of embodi- ment of a form assembly according to the invention are described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: figure 1 in perspective view represents a form assembly according to the invention, consisting of a basic element and an end piece; figure 2 in perspective view represents a cross- section according to line II-II in figure 1, the reinforcement being omitted; figure 3 represents a cross-section according to line III-III in figure 1, also without the reinforcement; figure 4 represents a perspective view of an end piece from the form assembly of figure 1, with a partial cut-out; figure 5 represents a view similar to that of figure 1, but for an embodiment variant; figure 6 in perspective represents a cross-section according to line VI-VI in figure 5, but without the reinforcement ; figure 7 represents a perspective view of another form of embodiment of the form assembly according to the invention; figure 8 in perspective view represents a cross- section according to line VIII-VIII in figure 7, without the reinforcement.

The form assembly according to the invention, represented in figures 1 and 2, substantially consists of a straight channel-shaped basic element 1 and a single end piece 2.

Both elements preferably are manufactured of synthetic material, but may also be manufactured of another suitable material.

The basic element 1 substantially consists of an oblong bottom 3, two side walls 4 and 5 standing thereupon which are formed in one piece with the bottom 3 and, at the lower edge, protrude somewhat over the bottom 3, and connecting means which in this embodiment consist of an upper wall 6 which mutually connects the upper edges of the two side walls 4 and 5 and which is provided with a number of large openings 7 for pouring concrete.

Each of the side walls 4 and 5 is planar at the inside, but at its exterior side has coupling means in the shape of guides. Thus, each side wall 4 and 5 has three collars over its entire, length, to wit an upper collar 8 with a downwardly directed edge 9 along its upper edge, a lower collar 10 with an upwardly directed edge 11 along its lower edge, and a central collar 12 with a downwardly directed edge 13 in between the collars 8 and 10.

Between the lower collar 10 and the central collar 12 and at the height of the bottom 3, each side wall 4 and 5 has an outwardly directed thickening 14 in which a row of local thinnings, situated at regular distances in respect to each other, are provided in the shape of deep cavities 15. In the represented example, these cavities 15 have a lozenge-shaped cross-section, but they can also have a round cross-section or a cross-section of another shape.

The cavities 15 are so deep that the side wall 4 or 5 at that location easily can be perforated by means of a metal pin 16. In the represented example, one such pin 16 has been passed transversely through the opposed cavities 15, whereby between the two side walls 4 and 5, the pin 16 is surrounded by a sleeve 17, for example, made of synthetic material such as PVC, or another material.

Between the upper collar 8 and the central collar 12, almost over the entire length of each side wall 4 and 5, a relief-like strip, to wit a series of ribs or recesses, has been provided, in the represented example a row of vertical grooves 18 with a rectangular cross-section, which are destined for cooperating with an end piece 2, as will be explained in the following.

At its underside, the aforementioned bottom 3 is provided with transverse breaking lines 19, situated at regular mutual interspaces, in the shape of indentations.

The end piece 2 substantially consists of two side walls 20 and 21, an end wall 22 mutually connecting these side walls 20 and 21 at one extremity, and an upper wall 23 mutually connecting the upper edges of the side walls 20 and 21. At the bottom, said end piece 2 is open.

The side walls 20 and 21 are less high than the side walls 4 and 5.

The upper wall 23 is provided with a large opening 24 and protrudes at both sides beyond the side walls 20 and 21, with a part which, together with an outwardly protruding portion of the corresponding side wall 20 or 21, forms a channel 25 which in cross-section is complementary to the upper collar 8 of a side wall 4 or 5.

This channel 25 extends from the extremity directed away from the end wall 22 up to a distance of said end wall 22 which is approximately equal to the usual thickness of a masoned wall.

This channel 25, which can be shifted over a matching collar 8, comprises an upwardly directed edge 25A which engages behind the edge 9 of said collar 8.

Below its channel 25, each side wall 20 and 21 is provided with a second channel 26 which fits through an outwardly protruding portion of the corresponding side wall 20 or 21 and around a central collar 12.

At the interior side, this channel, too, has an edge 26A which, when the end piece 2 is slid with its channel 26 over a collar 12, engages behind the edge 13.

Between the channel 25 and the channel 26, in each side wall 20 and 21, by means of recesses 27, a springy tongue 28 directed away from the end wall 22 is formed, which tongue, at its free extremity, is provided with a thickening 29 at its interior side, the front end of which thickening is chamfered, and which thickening forms a barb fitting into a groove 18.

These tongues 28, together with the grooves 18, form locking means at opposite sides of the form assembly in order to lock the end piece 2 in respect to the basic element 1. Due to the channels 25 and 26 engaging over the collars 8 and 12, said end piece 2 already is positioned in vertical direction in respect to the basic element 1.

Of. course, the basic element 1 can be provided with other locking means, for example, screws which are screwed through the side wall 20 and 21 of the end piece 2 and press against the side wall 4,5, respectively.

The portion of the side walls 20 and 21 which is situated between the extremities of the channels 25 and 26 and the end wall 22, is thicker towards the inside than the remainder of the side walls 20 and 21, such that the interior side of this portion is situated in the prolongation of the interior side of the side walls 4 and

5 of the basic element 1, when the end piece 2 has been slid thereupon.

In the form assembly, a pre-fabricated reinforcement 30 has been provided. This reinforcement 30 can be positioned in the form assembly by means of spacers. The end wall 22 of the end piece 2 can be provided with openings through which the rods of this reinforcement 30 can protrude in order to pour concrete adjoining thereto after having formed the concrete beam.

The form assembly may comprise no, one or two end pieces 2, depending on whether the concrete beam has to adjoin with its upright extremities against masonry or not.

As represented in figure 1, the form assembly rests, on one hand, with one extremity 2 on the uppermost layer of bricks of a transverse-directed, half-brick masoned wall 31 and, on the other hand, with an open extremity of the basic element 1, by the intermediary of the pin 16, with a sleeve 17 resting upon a platform formed by a layer of bricks 32A of a wall 32, whereas a layer of bricks 32B situated thereabove closes off the extremity.

The application of such form assembly is very simple and as follows: From different dimensions of basic elements 1 which are on the market, a basic element 1 is chosen, the bottom 3 of which is somewhat larger than the distance between the walls 31 and 32 and is acquired together with one end piece 2 and a reinforcement 30.

The end piece 2 is slid on one extremity of the basic element 1 until the collars 8 and 12 are situated on the extremity of the channels 25 and 26, whereby the springy

tongue 28 is shifted over the grooves 18 in a pawl-like fashion, however, can not move back.

The length of the end piece 2 is chosen in function of the size of the support surface on which this end piece 2 has to rest, in the example therefore in function of the thickness of the wall 31.

Thus, as a consequence of its application, the end piece 2 becomes fixed in vertical as well as in longitudinal direction in respect to the basic element 1.

At the other end of the basic element 1, on site pieces are broken off the bottom 3, by means of pincers or such, at breaking lines 19, until said bottom 3 fits between te walls 31 and 32.

At the open extremity, the pin 16 with the sleeve 17 is provided.

If necessary, the reinforcement 30 is sawed to fit and provided in the form assembly.

The form assembly with the reinforcement 30 therein is placed with the end piece 2 on the wall 31 and with its other extremity, by means of the pin 16', surrounded by the sleeve 17, placed upon the layer of bricks 32A of the wall 32. The underside of the sleeve 17 is situated at the same height as the underside of the side walls 20 and 21 of the end piece 2.

At this extremity, the side walls 5 and 6 are situated at opposite sides, over a distance which depends on the length of the chosen basic element 1, against the wall 32, and the layer of bricks 32B closes off the extremity.

The bottom 3 rests against the layer of bricks 32A.

At the side of the end piece 2, the side walls 4 and 5, as well as the bottom 3, rest against the wall 31.

Now, concrete is poured through openings 7 and 24, and after hardening, the tongues 28 of the end piece 2 are forced or broken away by means of a screwdriver or the like, such that the end piece 2 can be removed, after which the upper wall 6 is removed by breaking, sawing or otherwise. The pin 16 also is removed. The sleeve 17 remains in the hardened concrete.

During pouring, the side walls 4 and 5 are solidly held together in respect to each other by means of the upper wall, without the necessity of supports or such. When an extremity of the basic element 1 has to be closed off, as represented, this can be realized fast and simple by means of a pre-fabricated standard end piece 2.

Not only is the use of the form assembly very simple, but also the manufacture thereof can be very simple.

On account of the fact that the collars 8,10 and 12 extend over the entire length of the basic element 1, a possible manufacturing method consists in producing this basic element 1 by extrusion and cutting or sawing it to size. Before the extruded element hardens only the cavities 15 and the recesses 18 have to be provided by means of indenting.

If the locking means do not have any tongues 28 but clamping screws screwed into the end piece, then, by unscrewing it, this end piece can be slid from the basic element and possibly used again.

In figures 5 and 6, an embodiment variant of a form assembly according to the invention is represented which

substantially differs from the form of embodiment described in the aforegoing in that the bottom 3 of the basic element 1 can be detached from the side walls 4 and 5 and that the connecting means comprise bows 33 which attach the side walls 4 and 5 in respect to each other not only at the top, but also at the bottom.

As represented in detail in figure 6, the bottom 3 is a loose plate which is slid with its edges into grooves 34 in the interior side of the side walls 4 and 5.

The bows 33 comprise extremities folded over in hook- shape which engage over the collars 8 at the upper edges of the side walls 4 and 5, the collars 10 at the lower edges of these side walls 4 and 5, respectively. The collars 10 and 8 on one and the same side wall 4 or 5 are each other's mirror images, such that one and the same bow 33 can be used at the top as well as at the bottom of the basic element 1.

Also in this form of embodiment, the form assembly is composed and used in a similar manner, with the difference that the basic element 1 can be acquired in unmounted condition and the loose parts, to wit the bottom 3 and the side walls 4 and 5, have to be attached to each other on site. The bottom 3 is provided in the grooves 34 of the side walls 4 and 5, and bows 33 are slid over the collars 8, collars 10, respectively.

As the bottom 3 is separate, it can be brought to length before attachment, such that it need not have breaking lines 19 but, for example, can be sawed to size.

In this form of embodiment, the removal of the form assembly after the hardening of the concrete is somewhat simpler. It suffices to remove the end piece 2, to slide

the bows 33 off the basic element 1 at the top and to remove the pin 16 in order to be able to slide the remainder of the form assembly downward from the concrete, after which the bottom 3 and the side walls 4 and 5 can be drawn apart in order to be ready for use for a following assembly.

A combination of the forms of embodiment described in the aforegoing is possible, in that sense that side walls 4 and 5 of the basic element 1 are connected to each other by a fixed upper wall 6, but the bottom 3 still can be detached from the side walls 4 and 5 and the connecting means thus not only comprise the upper wall 6, but also a number of bows 33 at the bottom.

On the other hand, the bottom 3 might be able to form a whole with the side walls 4 and 5, whereas the upper edges of the side walls are connected by bows 33.

In figures 1 to 6, the basic element 1 is oblong and straight. It is clear that this is not necessary and that the form assembly also may comprise constructively similar form elements, however, with another shape, and thus, for example, with an L-shape, T-shape or cross- shape.

Form elements with such shapes mostly are not used as a single unit, but in fact in combination with two or more straight-lined basic elements 1, as a result of which composed form assemblies are created.

Such composed form assembly is represented, for example, in figures 7 and 8, whereby this form assembly consists of a single cross-shaped form element 35 and four straight-lined basic elements l connected to the arms thereof.

In the example represented in said figures 7 and 8, the straight-lined basic elements 1 are of the type according to figures 1 and 2, whereas the cross-shaped form element '35 is of the combined type with a fixed upper wall 6 but a separate bottom 3 and therefore with bows 33 at the bottom.

Such type substantially is used for all not straight- lined form elements, in consideration of the fact that these can not be formed by extrusion and the mould can be made in a simpler manner if the bottom 3 is manufactured separately.

It is clear that in a composed form assembly consisting of at least one basic element 1 and at least one not- straight form element 35, there must be a connection between the basic elements 1, and the form assembly then. also comprises one or more connecting pieces 36, in the example, one connecting piece 36 between each arm of the cross-shaped form element 36 and one straight-lined basic element 1.

In the bottom 3 of the cross-shaped form element 35, at the height of the intersection, a square opening is left open which is as large as the upper side of a support pillar 37 situated beneath.

The connecting piece 36 consists of an upper wall 38, which is provided with an opening 39, and two side walls 40 and 41. In cross-section, this connecting piece 36 has the same shape as the foremost open extremity of an end piece 2.

The side walls 40 and 41 thus each comprise two channels 25 and 26 extending over their entire length.

There are locking means for locking said connecting piece 36 to the basic element 1 as well as to another form element 35 or another basic element 1, which means that in the represented example, each side wall 40 or 41 is provided with two tongues 28 which are directed towards the one or the other extremity of the side wall 40 or 41, respectively.

The basic element 1 and the other form element 35 or a second basic element 1 can be slid in the connecting piece 36 up to against each other, however, if an opening has to remain at the underside, for example, above a wall, then these elements may remain positioned at a distance to each other.

To ensure that in this last case the side wall of the concrete beam is not thicker than at the place where no element has been present, side wall pieces, which are connected to each other at the top, with a shape similar to that of the side walls 4 and 5, can be placed between said elements.

All or certain elements of a form assembly can be brought on the market together as well as separately. On the market, different lengths of basic elements can be offered for sale, as well as different lengths of end pieces for different wall thicknesses. The longer a basic element 1, the wider the bottom 3 thereof possibly may be. End pieces 2 or other form assembly elements, such as an element 35, or possible connecting pieces 36, then also can be offered on the market in different widths.

Also, bows 33 of different sizes can be offered.

The reinforcement 30 can be offered on the market separately or in a basic element or a complete form assembly.

It is evident that the invention is in no way limited to the forms of embodiment described by way of example and represented in the figures, on the contrary may such form assembly be realized in various shapes and dimensions while still remaining within the scope of the invention.