Reference is made in the specification to concrete and the laying of concrete and the reference to concrete also includes concrete like mixtures, bitumen mixtures and other mixtures where a slurry is poured and allowed to cure and harden.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The laying of concrete floors and slabs involves screeding and towelling the wet concrete to provide a finished surface. Often the wet concrete surface is finished with the addition of colour, forming of patterns and changing the surface texture of the slab or floor. Access to some areas of the wet concrete floor and slab is often difficult, preventing finishing or reducing the quality of the finished concrete surface. With inaccessible areas, finishing may be applied while the floor or slab is being laid. Altematively the floor or slab can be laid and the surface finished by the throwing of colour dyes from the side of the slab and using extendable tools. Often concreters place boards on the wet concrete enabling them to reach and finish otherwise inaccessible areas. Finishing these inaccessible areas is often time consuming and labour intensive. Further, the finished surface is often substandard despite additional time spent on finishing the surface of the inaccessible areas.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which allows concretes to access areas which would otherwise be inaccessible, to finish the wet concrete surface thereby overcoming one or more of the aforementioned problems.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION In one aspect the present invention broadly resides in a finishing stand for use with the laying of concrete to provide access to inaccessible areas and includes one or more leg portions locatable within the wet concrete; and a top portion integral with or mountable on said one or more leg portions, wherein each of said leg portions has a cone shaped section extending from the free end of the leg portion, in use said cone shaped section contacts the concrete thereby allowing said stand to be removed when no longer required.

There maybe one but preferably there are at least three leg portions. The one or more leg portions are preferably located on stable substrate.

The finishing stand is preferably only used where the depth of the concrete is the same or less than the length of the cone-shaped section extending from the foot of the leg portion. The length of the cone-shaped section may be extended with the connection of cone shaped leg extension members.

In another aspect the present invention broadly resides in a finishing stand for use with the laying of concrete to provide access to inaccessible areas and includes one or more base members locatable within wet concrete; one or more leg portions releaseably engageable with said one or more base members; and

a top portion integral with or mountable on said one or more leg portions, wherein each of said leg portions has a cone shaped section extending from the end that is engageable with a base portion, in use the base member and said cone shaped section contacts the concrete and the leg portion is detachable from the base member thereby allowing said leg and top portions to be removed when no longer required.

The one or more base members may in one form be a spike for fixing the position of the stand. In an alternative form, there may be a single base member which forms a stable footing for the leg portions. The single base member preferably has passages and voids which allows concrete to pass through and accumulate in the base member. The single base member preferably has support means for supporting each leg portion. In the embodiment where there are three leg portions, there are preferably corresponding sockets for the insertion of leg portions or leg extension members.

There maybe one leg portion. Preferably there are at least three leg portions.

The leg portions have a cone shaped section substantially extending from the end that is engageable with the sockets or leg extension members.

Leg extension members may be used to extend the height of the legs above the base member. Preferably the leg extension members are substantially cylindrical and locatable within one or more sockets in the base member. The leg extension members may be of different lengths and used according to the height required for the stand.

The leg extension members are preferably located within the socket and maintained in this position by locating means. Initially the leg extensions are preferably in a raised position to prevent concrete from entering the socket and

provide an available connection for the stand. The locating means preferably includes one or more annular protrusions within the socket and one or more complementary recesses on the outside surface of the leg extension member so that the protrusions can engage the complementary recesses. Before or when the stand is positioned, the leg extension member is preferably pushed lower into the socket until the leg extension abuts against the floor of the socket.

The leg portions may engage the leg extension members or sockets by means of male-female coupling. In one embodiment tie wire is used to maintain the engagement of the leg extension member and the leg portion. Alternatively the leg portions may engage the leg extension members or sockets by fastening means such as with an internal bolt and corresponding nut means. An internal bolt in each leg portion is preferably fastenable to corresponding threaded means in each of the leg extension members.

Where the leg portions are long and or leg extension members are used, a brace member bracing the leg portions or leg extension members may be used to support and stabilize the stand.

The top portion is preferably substantially flat to allow the placement of a plank or other scaffolding on the upper surface of the top portion. In the embodiment where there are three leg portions, the wall of the top portion is substantially triangular with one or more apertures for viewing the concrete below and providing a means for fastening tie wire or rope and removing the top and leg portions from the concrete slab.

Alternatively the top portion may form a holding means for retaining one or more planks and other scaffolding. The top portion may include one or more brackets for holding tools such as trowels and buckets and associated equipment.

In another aspect the invention broadly resides in a method of laying concrete and accessing otherwise inaccessible areas using the concrete finishing stand as described above including positioning the base member within the area to be concreted, said base member is detachably connected to the one or more leg portions and top portion; laying the concrete slurry ; positioning one or more planks on the top portion; and finishing the concrete slab or floor by enabling the concreter to move along the plank to achieve the desired finish to the surrounding area.

When the concrete slab or floor is partially cured or fully cured the one or more leg portions (and top portion) are removed and the subsequent holes filled with concrete or preformed concrete plugs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the present invention be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the use of the concrete finishing stand to provide access to inaccessible areas; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of the first preferred embodiment of the top member having integral legs ; Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of the second preferred embodiment of the base member; Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of the second preferred embodiment showing the engagement of the leg extension member within the base member;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the base member of the second preferred embodiment; Figure 6 is a partial sectional view (Section A-A) of the base member of the second preferred embodiment shown in Figure 5; Figure 7 is another partial sectional view (Section B-B) of the base member of the second preferred embodiment shown in Figure 5; Figure 8 and 9 is a diagrammatic view of the second preferred embodiment showing the attachment of the top member, leg extension and base; Figure 10 is a diagrammatic view of an alternate attachment between a leg and a leg extension member of the first preferred embodiment; Figure 11 is a base member of the third preferred embodiment; Figure 12 is a plan view of a template for use in positioning the base member shown in Figure 11; Figure 13 is a brace for bracing legs and extension members.

Figure 14 is a plan view of the base member of the first preferred embodiment Figure 15 is a diagrammatic view of the first preferred embodiment of the base member; and Figure 16 is a diagrammatic view of the first preferred embodiment showing an attachment between a leg of the top member and the base member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to Figure 1, there is shown a first preferred embodiment of the finishing stand 10 positioned within a wet concrete slab 11. The finishing stand 10 is positioned in a comer bordered by side walls 16. The area 15 adjacent these side waDls is normally inaccessible for the concreter unless they walk on the wet concrete.

The finishing stand 10 provides access to the area 15. Planks 13 are positioned on boxes 14 and the finishing stand 10. Alternatively finishing stands 10 may be used instead of boxes 14. By walking along the planks 13, a concreter has access to the area 15 beneath and surrounding the planks 13. Preferably the plank does not touch the concrete and provides room for a concreter to finish. There is preferably a gap of 0 to 400mm and more preferably 250 mm between the surface of the concrete and the lower surface of the plank.

A first preferred embodiment is described with reference to Figures 2,14, 15 and 16. With reference to figure 2 there is shown a top member 20 having a substantially triangular top wall 21. The top wall 21 has three apertures 22 which enable a person to view the concrete surface below and a central aperture 23 for fastening a length of tie wire to enable the top member 20 to be removed. The top member 20 has three legs 24. Each leg 24 has a cone-shaped section 25 which extends from the free end 26 towards the top wall 21. Each leg 24 has a shoulder section 27 integral with the top wall 21. There is also shown recessed areas 28 where internal bolts for fastening to leg extensions can be accessed for fastening purposes.

With reference to Figures 14 and 15, there is shown a base member 80 having a diameter greater than or equal to the diameter of the top member. The base member 80 has three sockets 81. Each socket 81 has a recess 82 substantially centrally located in the top surface of the socket. Within the recess 82 there is a threaded recess 83 wherein a bolt from the leg 24 may engage and fasten.

The base member 80 also has a lattice-like structure 84 with openings 85 to allow the accumulation and passage of the wet concrete slurry within the base member 80.

Figure 16 shows how the leg 24 is located within recess 82 and secured in the

located position by the fastening of bolt 29 from leg 24 in threaded recess 83. The arrangement of the bolt 29 within leg 24 is similar to the arrangement shown in Figure 10. An alternative coupling means such as a nipple protruding from the leg engageable within a corresponding recess in the base member may be used instead of a bolt and complementary threaded recess. In the first preferred embodiment concrete is preferably laid with the top member fastened to the base member providing there is enough space for the concreter to finish the surface.

In a further embodiment, a locating recess in the base member has a protruding nipple that can be snap-fitted within a complementary hole in the leg of the top member to fix the members to each other. To remove the leg (and top member) it is twisted to snap off the nipple from the base member.

Figures 3,4, 5,6, 7,8, 9 and 10 show different aspects of the second preferred embodiment of the finishing stand. Figure 3 shows the base member 30 having a diameter greater than or equal to the diameter of the top member. The base member 30 has three sockets 31 in which leg extensions 36 (shown in Figure 4) engage to form a stable stand 10. The base member 30 has a lattice-like structure 32 with openings 33 to allow the accumulation and passage of the wet concrete slurry within the base member 30.

With reference to Figure 4, there is shown the base member 30 with the socket 31 having annular protrusions 34 for engaging inserted leg extensions 36.

With reference to Figure 5,6 and 7, there is shown sockets 31, openings 33 and lattice-like structure 32. Each of the sockets 31 have internal annular protrusions 34 for fixing the position of an insertable leg extension (not shown). The height of the base which receives the leg extensions 36, ranges from 60mm or more to a practical height within the boundary of the concrete and to meet engineering specifications.

In Figures 8 and 9, there is shown the fixing of the leg 24 with the leg extension 36 and the leg extension 36 within the socket 31 to attain the desired height for the finishing stand. With the leg extension 36 located in the socket 31 and capped or plugged to prevent concrete from entering the socket 31, the concrete is poured and laid. The plugs or caps are then removed from the top of the leg extension 36. The legs 24 of the top member 20 are then located within recess 41 in each of the leg extensions 36. The leg extensions 36 are then pushed down so that it abuts the floor of the socket 31. With 100mm slabs, the leg extensions 36 in the raised position resides approximately 40-60 mm higher in the socket 31, but when pushed down the top of the leg extension 36 sits approximately 40 mm below the finished concrete level. Alternatively the legs 24 can be attached to the leg extensions 36 prior to the laying of the concrete.

In figures 8 and 9, there is shown a first method of attachment where a nipple on the end of the leg 24 engages in a complementary recess in the leg extension 36.

In the attached position the leg extension 36 is connected by a tie wire 38 that extends through an aperture 39 in the leg extension 36, around ear 40 and tied to prevent movement of the leg 24 relative to the leg extension 36. The tie wire can then be removed and the top member detached from the leg 24 after the concrete has at least partially cured.

In figure 10, there is shown a second alternative method of attachment where leg 24 has an intemal bolt 42 which has a thread that can be screwed by means of handle 44 into the leg extension 43. Handle 44 preferably stays within the intemal recess of leg 24 to prevent concrete from entering the recess occupied by the handle 44. The handle 44 is accessed through recess 48 in the upper surface 45. The handle 44 is preferably level with or below (counter sunk) the upper surface 45 of the

top member 20. When the top member 20 is to be removed, the handle 44 unscrews bolt 42, thereby releasing the leg 24 from the leg extension 43.

The base member is approximately 60 to 70 mm high with the leg extension between 40 to 60 mm in length and the top member 20 approximately 270 mm in height (with nipple 290 mm) for a 100 mm slab. The top member 20 has a cone- shaped section 25 which is approximately 80 mm or longer in length, a shoulder section 27 which is approximately 150 mm in length and an upper wall being approximately 40 mm in height. The height of the concrete finishing stand is approximately 270 mm. When located on leg extensions, the concrete finishing stand may be as high as 2 metres or more from the base member to the top wall 21.

The diameter of the top wall 21 may vary between 200 mm to 4 metres. The diameter of the free end of the leg ranges between 5 mm and 300 mm. The concrete finishing stand is preferably designed to withstand loads between 1 and 5000 kg.

Where the legs 24 are long or long leg extensions 36 are used, a brace 50 shown in Figure 13 may be used to stabilize the stand 10. The brace 50 is able to connect with each of the legs 24 or leg extensions 36 by receiving a leg 24/leg extensions 24 in recess 51 provided at the end of each arm 52.

In a third embodiment of the base member 60 is shown in figure 11. The base member 60 has a spike 61 integral with leg extension portion 62. The base member 60 has grooves 63 and apertures 64 through which a tie wire may be inserted. Part of the same moulds that produced the leg extensions may also be used to produce base member 60.

The template 70 shown in Figure 12 serves to position each of the spiked base members 60 for engagement with the legs of the top member. The template is

subsequently removed after the spiked base member is positioned in each of the apertures 71 of template 70. Either method of fastening with a nipple or threaded bolt may be used.

The method of using the concrete finishing stand involves placing the base member on a stable substrate, optionally tying the base member to the wire reinforcement and connecting the leg extension. For slabs larger than 100mm, leg extensions can be used and in which case they are pushed to the floor of the internal socket in the base member after the concrete slurry is poured. The length of the leg extensions is such that the concrete level is within the length of the cone-shaped leg.

A plank or other scaffolding is placed on the concrete finishing stand to enable a person to move along the plank or scaffolding so that they can finish the concrete slab without walking on the wet concrete or using extendable tools. The concrete slab is then allowed to cure and harden. When the concrete slab has hardened sufficiently the top member may be removed by removing the tie wire or unscrewing the threaded bolt and lifting the top member from the leg extension member and brace. Preformed plugs are then inserted in cavities and set in position by concrete.

Because the section of the legs in contact with the concrete is cone-shaped, the removal of the top member is relatively easy.

For a handy man who pours a 100 mm slab, they preferably use a stand with a top member fastenable by a bolt into a base member as shown in figures 2,14, 15 and 16.

ADVANTAGES An advantage of the present invention includes providing the ability to access an area which would otherwise be inaccessible for purposes of finishing a concrete

slab or floor. Another advantage of the present invention is the providing of access through an area of wet concrete which would otherwise be prevented until the concreted area cured and hardened. A further advantage of the present invention is that the stand can be removed at any suitable stage and the remaining holes suitably plugged to provide a finished surface.

VARIATIONS It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.

Throughout the description and claims this specification the word"comprise" and variations of that word such as"comprises"and"comprising", are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.