CORROSION-FREE DOWEL

Priority

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Australian Application No. 2018904420, filed November 19, 2018, and Australian Application No. 2019264622, filed

November 14, 2019 the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a formwork system and, more specifically, but not exclusively, to a formwork system for forming concrete panels of a pathway, footpath, sidewalk or the like.

Background to the Invention

It is known to use a plastic concrete shuttering system for forming concrete slabs or panels, such as in a pathway, footpath, side wall or the like. In particular, there is a concrete formwork system available under the trade mark "K-Form" which provides screed rails having a cross-sectional shape generally of an inverted T. However, the applicant has identified that existing formwork systems use metallic dowels which are prone to corrosion. The corrosion can lead to failure of the dowels resulting in adjacent panels no longer being kept level, or at least in deterioration of appearance where the corrosion becomes visible. Furthermore, the applicant has identified that it would be desirable for there to be provided a formwork system with improved cost-effectiveness.

Examples of the present invention seek to avoid or at least ameliorate one or more disadvantages of existing concrete formwork systems.

Summary of the Invention

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dowel for controlling relative level between adjacent panels, wherein the dowel is formed of corrosion-free material so as to avoid corrosion of the dowel.

Preferably, the adjacent panels are concrete panels.

Preferably, the dowel is formed of material which is non-metallic.

Preferably, the dowel is formed of a polymer material.

Preferably, wherein the dowel is formed of a plastic material.

In one form, the dowel is formed of a metal material portion covered in a polymer material portion. More preferably, the polymer material portion seals within itself the metal material portion in an air-tight seal.

Preferably, the dowel is formed from material to avoid corrosion from oxidation of the dowel.

Preferably, the dowel is substantially planar. More preferably, the dowel is in the form of a plate.

Preferably, opposed edges of the dowel are tapered inwardly toward a central axis of the dowel, the central axis lying within a plane of the dowel. More preferably, tapering of said opposed edges of the plate dowel is configured to allow, in situ, lateral movement between the adjacent concrete panels once the panels contract during drying of the concrete.

In a preferred form, the dowel has a cross-ribbed structure on an upper surface and on a lower surface to increase structural rigidity.

Preferably, the dowel has rounded comers. More preferably, the rounded comers are radius ed.

Preferably, the dowel has rounded edges. More preferably, the rounded edges are radiused.

Preferably, the dowel has a flange arranged to abut against a sideform through which the dowel is inserted. More preferably, the flange extends in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the plate dowel. Even more preferably, the flange is adapted to seal against the sideform so as to prevent ingress of concrete to a joint between adjacent concrete panels.

In a preferred form, the dowel is adapted for use in a non-industrial application.

It is preferred that the dowel is adapted for being cast into a concrete footpath so as to transfer load between adjacent concrete panels of the footpath.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a concrete footpath formwork system including a dowel for transferring load between adjacent concrete panels, wherein the dowel is a dowel as described above.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a concrete footpath formwork system including a sideform for forming adjacent concrete panels of a footpath and a dowel adapted to extend through the sideform for transferring load between the adjacent concrete panels, wherein the dowel is a dowel as described above.

Preferably, the sideform is formed as a unitary panel having one or more ribs between opposed faces to facilitate crushing of the sideform in response to expansion of the concrete panels. More preferably, the sideform panel is substantially planar and arranged to extend perpendicular to a surface of the footpath.

There is also disclosed a sleeve for a dowel, wherein the sleeve is adapted to clip on to formwork through which the dowel is inserted.

Preferably, the sleeve includes a flange for abutting against the formwork, a sleeve portion extending from the flange, an upper rib supporting the sleeve portion relative to the flange and a lower rib supporting the sleeve portion relative to the flange. More preferably, the flange includes an upper flange portion for engagement with an upper rail of the formwork and a lower flange portion having resilient clips for clipping behind a lower rail of the formwork.

Even more preferably, the sleeve includes surrounds around the resilient clips preventing dislodgement of the upper flange portion from the upper rail of the formwork.

Preferably, the sleeve includes crushable internal lateral movement voids located at opposed sides of a cavity for receiving the dowel.

Preferably, the sleeve includes an expansion void.

Preferably, the sleeve portion includes internal ribs which provide interference on insertion of the dowel.

In a preferred form, the sleeve includes centering ribs which, when the sleeve is clipped on to the formwork, protrude into a dowel slot of the formwork to prevent lateral misalignment of the sleeve and the slot.

There is also disclosed a concrete footpath formwork system including a sideform for forming adjacent concrete panels of a footpath, a dowel adapted to extend through the sideform for transferring load between the adjacent concrete panels, and a sleeve for receiving the dowel, wherein the sleeve is adapted to clip on to the sideform.

There is also disclosed an articulating dowel system, including a dowel and a dowel sleeve, wherein the dowel includes a cam portion located within the sleeve to allow the dowel to pivot relative to the dowel sleeve.

Preferably, the cam portion has a forward rounded part to facilitate pivoting of the dowel relative to the dowel sleeve, and a rearward tapered part extending rearwardly and tapering inwardly from the rounded part to limit pivotal movement of the dowel relative to the dowel sleeve. More preferably, the rounded part and the tapered part define a pivot with upper and lower stops to allow limited upward and downward pivoting of the dowel relative to the dowel sleeve.

Preferably, the dowel is formed from corrosion-free material.

In a preferred form, the sleeve is adapted to clip on to a sideform for forming adjacent concrete panels.

There is also disclosed a concrete footpath formwork system including a sideform for forming adjacent concrete panels of a footpath, a dowel adapted to extend through the sideform for transferring load between the adjacent concrete panels, and a sleeve for receiving the dowel, wherein the dowel is arranged to pivot upwardly and/or downwardly relative to the sleeve.

Preferably, the concrete footpath formwork system includes a seal fitted to the sideform, wherein the seal has an aperture through which a tongue of the dowel in inserted such that the seal operates to seal between the dowel and the sideform against concrete ingress.

There is also disclosed a formwork panel for forming adjacent concrete bodies, wherein the formwork panel is adapted to be compressible on expansion of the concrete bodies.

Preferably, the formwork panel is substantially planar. More preferably, the formwork panel is substantially planar to be in a plane substantially perpendicular to a travel surface formed by upper surfaces of the concrete bodies.

In a preferred form, the formwork panel is extruded.

Preferably, the formwork panel has at least one internal void to facilitate sacrificial compression of the formwork panel on expansion of the concrete bodies.

Preferably, the formwork panel has a pair of opposed sideform walls connected by at least one sacrificial rib defining an internal void between the opposed sideform walls.

Preferably, the formwork panel has a pair of opposed rails along at least one side of the formwork panel, the opposed rails defining a channel for slideable mounting of an accessory to the formwork panel. More preferably, the channel enables the formwork panel to be connected to another like formwork panel by inserting one end of a joiner plate in the channel the formwork panel and an opposite end of the joiner plate in the channel of the like formwork panel.

Preferably, the formwork panel has a constant cross-sectional shape along its length and is able to be cut to length accordingly.

Preferably, the formwork panel has an upper capping, the capping having sidewalls and a top surface arranged to be level with upper surfaces of the concrete bodies.

There is also disclosed a formwork panel for forming adjacent concrete bodies, the formwork panel having a formwork panel body and a formwork panel capping arranged to be selectively moved from a coupled condition in which the formwork panel capping is coupled to the formwork panel body to form a surface level with upper surfaces of the concrete bodies and a decoupled condition in which at least part of the formwork panel capping is decoupled from the formwork panel body so as to form a well between the concrete bodies.

Preferably, the well has a predetermined depth.

Preferably, the formwork capping is formed with a frangible part which is tom to move the formwork panel capping from the coupled condition to the decoupled condition. More preferably, the frangible part is located between an upper portion of the capping and a lower portion of the capping such that tearing the frangible part separates the upper portion of the capping from the lower portion of the capping.

Preferably, the capping includes opposed arms extending laterally outwardly from opposite sides of the capping such that distal ends of the arms are embedded in the concrete bodies. More preferably, each of the distal ends has an enlarged portion to facilitate retainment in the concrete.

In one form, the opposed arms extend outwardly from the lower portion of the capping.

Preferably, the arms are able to be stretched to accommodate relative outward movement/retraction of the concrete bodies.

There is also disclosed a concrete footpath formwork system, including a formwork panel for forming adjacent concrete panels of a footpath, and a support bracket for supporting the system relative to a ground surface, wherein the formwork panel has a pair of vertically opposed longitudinal rails, and the support bracket has an engagement formation which has an unlocked orientation for inserting the formation between the opposed rails to abut against the formwork panel and a rotated, locked orientation wherein the formation is locked by the rails against lateral withdrawal from the formwork panel.

Preferably, the formation is unlocked from the opposed rails by rotation of the formation about a lateral axis of the system from the locked orientation to the unlocked orientation.

Preferably, the bracket is supported relative to the ground surface by a stake, and the bracket has an aperture for receiving a stake.

Preferably, the stake is threaded. More preferably, the threaded stake has opposed faces and the bracket is formed with rotationally spaced engagement portions such that the stake is able to be freely slid through the bracket and locked by rotating the stake about its longitudinal axis relative to the bracket.

Preferably, the bracket terminates above a lower edge of the formwork panel.

Preferably, the formwork panel is formed as a unitary part. Preferably, the formwork panel has a pair of opposed sidewalls formed integrally with at least one rib, the opposed sidewalls defining a void therebetween.

In a preferred form, the bracket is formed as a unitary part.

Preferably, the bracket has a central rib extending along the length of the bracket.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a top view of a dowel;

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the dowel;

Figure 3 shows an opposite side perspective view of the dowel;

Figures 3a to 3c show top and perspective views of alternative dowels having a different shape;

Figure 4 shows bottom detail of a corrosion-free plate dowel;

Figure 5 shows a cross rib structure of the dowel in plan view;

Figure 6 shows a sealing flange of the dowel when used to seal against a sideform; Figure 7 shows a side view of a clip-on cantilevered plate dowel sleeve;

Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the sleeve;

Figure 9 shows a side cutaway view of an articulating dowel system;

Figure 10 shows a perspective view of the articulating dowel system;

Figure 11 shows a side cross-sectional view of an articulating dowel system with 50mm vertical lift;

Figure 12 shows a cam component of the articulating dowel system;

Figure 13 shows a perspective view of a multi-functional formwork panel;

Figure 14 shows a cross-sectional view of the multi-functional formwork panel; Figure 15 shows two multi-functional formwork panels connected together;

Figure 16 shows a multi-functional formwork panel having a capping installed thereon;

Figure 17 shows joining of two multi-functional formwork panels;

Figure 18 shows a Rip-A-Strip sealant well capping in place;

Figure 19 shows the capping removed to form a well;

Figure 20 shows the well filled with material;

Figure 21 shows stretching of an arm of the capping;

Figure 22 is a perspective view of a twist and lock stake bracket and stake;

Figure 23 shows the bracket in an unlocked condition; Figure 24 shows the bracket in a locked condition;

Figure 25 shows the bracket and stake in place on the multi-functional formwork panel;

Figure 26 shows two joined formwork panels, each having a stake and bracket fitted thereto;

Figure 27 shows detail of the multi-functional formwork panel having opposed rails down one side;

Figure 28 shows detail of the bracket and its attachment to the opposed rails; and

Figures 29a to 29d show a clip-on foot for supporting the formwork panel.

Detailed Description

With reference to Figures 1 to 6, there is shown a dowel 10 for controlling relative level between adjacent concrete panels, such that one concrete panel of a footpath or the like will stay level with a neighbouring concrete panel so as to maintain a level walking path and to avoid a tripping hazard. The dowel 10 is formed of corrosion-free material so as to avoid corrosion of the dowel 10.

The adjacent panels being kept level by the dowel 10 are formed of concrete, however it is possible that the dowel 10 and associated formwork system may be used for maintaining a level between panels cast from a different material. As shown in Figures 1 to 6, the dowel 10 is formed from material which is non-metallic and is preferably formed of a polymer material or other plastic material which is not prone to corrosion as are typical metal dowels. In one particular form, the dowel 10 may be formed of a metal material portion covered in a polymer material portion. In that case, the polymer material portion seals within itself the metal material portion in an air-tight seal so as to protect the metal material portion from corrosion from oxidation.

Figures 3a to 3c show top and perspective views of alternative dowels 10 having a different shape. Whereas the dowel 10 shown in Figures 1 to 3 is in the form of a six-sided shape (being rectangular at one side of the flange 18 and having a tapered portion at the other side of the flange), the dowels 10 shown in Figures 3a to 3c are four-sided. More specifically, the four-sided dowels 10 of Figures 3a to 3c have front and rear sides which are mutually parallel, as well as left and right sides which taper at the same angle on both sides of the flange 18.

As can be seen in Figures 4 and 5, the dowel 10 is substantially planar and is generally in the form of a plate. Opposed edges 12 of the dowel 10 are tapered inwardly toward a central axis of the dowel 10, the central axis lying within a plane of the dowel 10, the central axis lying along the central vertical rib shown in the orientation of Figure 5. Tapering of the opposed edges 12 of the plate dowel 10 is configured to allow, in situ, lateral movement between the adjacent concrete panels when the panels contract during drying of the concrete. The dowel 10 may have a cross-ribbed structure on an upper surface and on a lower surface to increase structural rigidity.

As shown in Figure 5, the dowel 10 may have rounded comers 14 which may be radiused. The dowel 10 may also have rounded edges 16 (see Figure 4) which may be radiused.

The dowel 10 may have a flange 18 arranged to abut against a sideform 20 (see Figure 6) through which the dowel 10 is inserted. The flange 18 extends in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the plate dowel 10. The flange 18 is adapted to seal against the sideform 20 so as to prevent ingress of concrete to a joint between adjacent concrete panels.

The dowel may be adapted for use in a non-industrial application and may be adapted for being cast into a concrete footpath so as to transfer load between adjacent concrete panels of the footpath.

Accordingly, there is disclosed a corrosion-free tapered plate dowel load transfer system. The tapered plate dowel provides lateral movement once the joint contracts. The double-sided cross-ribbed structure provides increased structural rigidity (providing increased bending strength) by breaking up un-reinforced horizontal surfaces. Comers and edges are radiused to prevent point loads giving even distributed forces at the dowel perimeter. The flange 18 on the dowel acts as a seal preventing concrete ingress into the joint. The flange 18 may optionally incorporate a rubber seal to facilitate the sealing effect.

With reference to Figure 6, there is shown a concrete footpath formwork system 22 including a sideform 20 for forming adjacent concrete panels of a footpath and a dowel 10 adapted to extend through the sideform 20 for transferring load between the adjacent concrete panels, wherein the dowel is formed of corrosion-free material. The sideform 20 is formed as a unitary panel having one or more ribs 24 between opposed faces 26 to facilitate cmshing of the sideform 20 in response to expansion of the concrete panels.

With reference to Figures 7 and 8, there is shown a sleeve 28 for a dowel 10, wherein the sleeve 28 is adapted to clip on to formwork through which the dowel 10 is inserted. With reference to Figure 7, the sleeve 28 includes a flange 30 for abutting against the formwork 20, a sleeve portion 32 extending from the flange 30, an upper rib 34 supporting the sleeve portion 32 relative to the flange 30 and a lower rib 36 supporting the sleeve portion 32 relative to the flange 30. The flange 30 includes an upper flange portion 38 for engagement with an upper rail 40 of the formwork and a lower flange portion 42 having resilient clips 44 for clipping behind a lower rail 46 of the formwork.

The sleeve 28 may include surrounds around the resilient clips 44 preventing dislodgement of the upper flange portion 38 from the upper rail 40 of the formwork. The sleeve 28 may include crushable internal lateral movement voids 48 located at opposed sides of a cavity 50 for receiving the dowel 10. The sleeve 28 may include an expansion void and the sleeve portion 32 may include internal ribs 52 which provide interference on insertion of the dowel 10. The sleeve 28 includes centering ribs 54 which, when the sleeve 28 is clipped on to the formwork, protrude into a dowel slot of the formwork to prevent lateral misalignment of the sleeve 28 and the slot.

Accordingly, there is shown a concrete footpath formwork system 22 including a sideform 20 for forming adjacent concrete panels of a footpath, a dowel 10 adapted to extend through the sideform 20 for transferring load between the adjacent concrete panels, and a sleeve 28 for receiving the dowel 10, wherein the sleeve 28 is adapted to clip on to the sideform 20.

Features:

• Fastener-less pivoting clip on function to extruded formwork.

• Resists sleeve pull down by bracing itself above sleeve body with locked in cantilevered ribs.

• Ribs below the sleeve brace sleeve in compression.

• Surrounds around the clips prevent sleeve dislodgement from top pivoting point.

• Incorporates 5mm crushable internal lateral movement voids and a 10mm expansion void.

• Comers and edges are radiused to prevent point loads giving even distributed forces at the sleeve perimeter.

• Internal ribs provide interference to the plate dowel upon insertion to prevent accidental pull-out during concrete pouring.

• Centring ribs protrude into the slot on formwork preventing lateral misalignment of the sleeve with the slot.

With reference to Figures 9 to 12, there is also disclosed an articulating dowel system 56, including a dowel 58 and a dowel sleeve 60, wherein the dowel 58 includes a cam portion 62 located within the sleeve 60 to allow the dowel 58 to pivot relative to the dowel sleeve 60.

The cam portion 62 has a forward rounded part 64 (see Figure 12) to facilitate pivoting of the dowel 58 relative to the dowel sleeve 60, and a rearward tapered part 66 extending rearwardly and tapering inwardly from the rounded part 64 to limit pivotal movement of the dowel 58 relative to the dowel sleeve 60. The rounded part 64 and the tapered part 66 define a pivot with upper and lower stops to allow limited upward and downward pivoting of the dowel 58 relative to the dowel sleeve 60. The dowel 58 may be formed from corrosion-free material such as, for example, polymer material. The sleeve 60 may be adapted to clip on to a sideform 20 for forming adjacent concrete panels 68. Accordingly, there is shown a concrete footpath formwork system including a sideform 20 for forming adjacent concrete panels 68 of a footpath, a dowel 58 adapted to extend through the sideform 20 for transferring load between the adjacent concrete panels 68, and a sleeve 60 for receiving the dowel 58, wherein the dowel 58 is arranged to pivot upwardly and/or downwardly relative to the sleeve 60. With reference to Figure 10, the concrete footpath formwork system may include a seal 70 fitted to the sideform 20, the seal 70 having an aperture 72 through which a tongue 74 of the dowel 58 is inserted such that the seal 70 operates to seal between the dowel 58 and the sideform 20 against concrete ingress.

Features:

• Corrosion-free articulating dowel system which allows for deflection control on light duty concrete pavements when joint articulates due to tree roots or reactive soil.

• Allows up to 50mm of simultaneous vertical lift on slabs while maintaining deflection control, load transfer, lateral dowel movement and expansion capabilities.

• CAM component of dowel allows dowel rotation while carrying load horizontally across joint.

• Fastener-less pivoting clip on function of system to extruded formwork.

• Resists sleeve pull down by bracing itself above sleeve body with locked in cantilevered ribs.

• Ribs below the sleeve brace sleeve in compression.

• Surrounds around the clips prevent sleeve dislodgement from top pivoting point.

• Incorporates 5mm crushable internal lateral movement voids and a 10mm expansion void.

• Centring ribs protrude into the slot on formwork preventing lateral misalignment of the sleeve with the slot.

• Dowel is kept horizontal during concrete pour by crushable positioning ribs located internally in the sleeve.

• System is sealed off from concrete ingress with an additional seal.

With reference to Figures 13 to 17, there is shown a formwork panel 76 for forming adjacent concrete bodies, wherein the formwork panel 76 is adapted to be compressible on expansion of the concrete bodies. The concrete bodies may be in the form of adjacent concrete panels of a footpath or the like.

The formwork panel 76 may be substantially planar to be in a plane substantially perpendicular to a travel surface formed by upper surfaces of the concrete bodies. For example, as shown in Figure 14, the concrete bodies 68 have upper surfaces 78 and the formwork panel 76 is substantially perpendicular to a travel surface (e.g. footpath) formed by the upper surfaces 78. The planar nature of the formwork panel 76 is in contrast to existing formwork which has a cross-sectional shape in the form of an inverted T.

The formwork panel 76 may be extruded with a constant cross-sectional shape along its length such that the formwork panel 76 is able to be cut to length so as to suit a particular application. The formwork panel 76 has at least one internal void 80 to facilitate sacrificial compression of the formwork panel 76 on expansion of the concrete bodies 68. The formwork panel 76 has a pair of opposed sideform walls 82 connected by at least one sacrificial rib 84 defining an internal void 80 between the opposed sideform walls 82. The formwork panel 76 has a pair of opposed rails 86 along at least one side of the formwork panel 76, the opposed rails 86 defining a channel for slideable mounting of an accessory to the formwork panel 76. The channel enables the formwork panel 76 to be connected to another like formwork panel 76 (see Figure 17) by inserting one end of a joiner plate 88 in the channel of the formwork panel 76 and an opposite end of the joiner plate in the channel of the like formwork panel 76.

Features:

• Compressible extruded sacrificial formwork panel and capping.

• Crushable up to 10mm to allow for thermal expansion at j oint.

• Multi-functional utility channel which allows for components to be attached continuously along the length. • Retains function as an expansion joint and functionally of components when cut.

• Panels can be joined with joiner plate at any point when cut.

The formwork panel 76 may also have an upper capping 90, the capping 90 having side walls 92 and a top surface 94 arranged to be level with the upper surfaces 78 of the concrete bodies 68, as shown in Figure 18. The capping 90 may be adhered to a top of the formwork panel 76 as shown in Figures 18 to 21, or may be resiliently clipped or slid on to a top portion of the formwork panel 76 as shown in Figures 16 and 17.

With reference to Figures 18 to 21 there is shown a formwork panel 76 for forming adjacent concrete bodies 68, the formwork panel having a formwork panel body 96 and a formwork panel capping 90 arranged to be selectively moved from a coupled condition (see Figure 18) in which the formwork panel capping 90 is coupled to the formwork panel body 96 to form a surface level with upper surfaces 78 of the concrete bodies 68 and a decoupled condition (see Figure 19) in which at least part of the formwork panel capping 90 is decoupled from the formwork panel body 96 so as to form a well 98 between the concrete bodies 68. The well 98 may have a predetermined depth being the height of the capping 90, less a thickness of a floor of the capping 90.

The formwork capping 90 may be formed with a frangible part 100 which is tom to move the formwork panel capping 90 from the coupled condition to the decoupled condition. The frangible part 100 may be located between an upper portion of the capping 90 and a lower portion of the capping 90 such that tearing the frangible part 100 separates the upper portion of the capping 90 from the lower portion of the capping 90. Figure 18 shows the upper portion and lower portion of the capping 90 connected whereas Figure 19 shows the upper portion removed from the lower portion. The capping 90 may include opposed arms 102 extending laterally outwardly from opposite sides of the capping 90 such that distal ends of the arms 102 are embedded in the concrete bodies 68. Each of the distal arms 102 may have an enlarged portion 104 to facilitate retainment in the concrete.

The opposed arms 102 may extend outwardly from the lower portion of the capping 90, and the arms 102 may be able to be stretched to accommodate relative outward movement/retraction of the concrete bodies (see Figure 21). Advantageously, by virtue of the opposed arms 102 being able to stretch in this way, they stretch with joint opening covering the gap preventing epoxies from running down the joint gap and acting as a debris and weed deterrent.

Features: • Flexible permanent/removable capping.

• Option 1 to remain permanently with joint.

• Option 2 to be ripped off joint (once poured) at tear points to allow scrabbling of joint and to create a welled rebate for use of joint sealants.

• Wings on side anchor into concrete (either side).

• Ribs stretch with joint opening covering the gap preventing epoxies from running down joint gap and act as a debris and weed deterrent.

Turning to Figures 22 to 28, there is shown a concrete footpath formwork system 22, including a formwork panel 76 for forming adjacent concrete panels of a footpath, and a support bracket 106 for supporting the system 22 relative to a ground surface. The formwork panel 76 has a pair of vertically opposed longitudinal rails 86, and the support bracket 106 has an engagement formation 108 which has an unlocked orientation (see Figure 23) for inserting the formation 108 between the opposed rails to abut against the formwork panel 76 and a rotated, locked orientation (see Figure 24) wherein the formation 108 is locked by the rails 86 against lateral withdrawal from the formwork panel 76.

The formation 108 is unlocked from the opposed rails 86 by rotation of the formation 108 about a lateral axis of the system from the locked orientation to the unlocked orientation.

The bracket 106 is supported relative to the ground surface by a stake 110 and the bracket 106 has an aperture 112 (see Figure 28) for receiving the stake. The stake is threaded (see Figure 22) and has opposed faces 114, the bracket 106 being formed with rotationally spaced engagement portions such that the stake 110 is able to be freely slid along its longitudinal axis through the bracket 106 and locked by rotating the stake 110 about its longitudinal axis relative to the bracket 106.

As can be seen in Figure 28, the bracket 106 terminates at a lower end thereof above a lower edge of the formwork panel 76. The formwork panel 76 is formed as a unitary part and has a pair of opposed side walls 82 formed integrally with at least one rib 84, the opposed side walls 82 defining a void 80 therebetween. In the example shown in Figure 27, the formwork panel 76 has six such ribs 84, comprising two external ribs and four internal ribs. The bracket 106 may itself be formed as a unitary part and may have a central rib 116 extending along the length of the bracket 106.

Figures 29a to 29d show a clip-on foot 120 for supporting the formwork panel 76. In particular, there is provided a clip-on foot 120 having a portion 122a and 122b for clipping on to a bottom tapered rail of the formwork panel 76. The portion for clipping on to the bottom tapered rail is formed of long upright support 122a and a short upright support 122b. The long upright support 122a has a strengthening brace 124 extending from the long upright support 122a downwardly and outwardly to be supported along a horizontal foot portion of the clip-on foot 120. The horizontal foot portion also has a pair of opposed notches 126 for soil nailing of the formwork profile using pins. Advantageously, the clip-on foot 120 enables the formwork profile to be freestanding, with multiple (for example three or four) clip-on feet to be fitted along a span of the formwork. The clip-on foot 120 enables the formwork to be moved to a final position, with the notches 126 being used for pinning the formwork panel 76 in position directly in the soil.

Features:

• Formwork bracing and height adjustment system.

• Attached to any point of the formwork panel utility channel with a twist and lock CAM base.

• Inserted and turned 45 degrees to lock.

• Fastener-less attachment process is quick and intuitive.

• Central rib-based shape provides additional anchorage of the joint in one slab (pour through).

• Removable and reusable before second pour (stop pour).

• Twist and lock stake lock off.

System Features Overview:

• Application: Concrete Pavements (Footpaths, Bikeways) for pedestrian and light vehicular traffic in urban residential areas, parklands, commercial (retail) public spaces and civil infrastructure.

• The system has been designed to satisfy the requirements of Australian Standard: AS 3727.1:2016 Residential Pavements

• A modular solution, with the capability to cast a range of slab thicknesses 75mm, 100mm, 125mm & 150mm. Modular sections are joinable to cast pavements up to (and greater than) 4m in width.

• A self-supporting design, that is economical to freight, and is easily assembled on site.

• The solution must be non-corrosive for use in bayside applications or decorative pavement streetscapes. • Must provide for thermal expansion and contraction to a maximum joint gap thickness of 10mm.

• A joint system which minimises the impact of pavement slab heaving caused by (1) Tree Roots or (2) Reactive Soil.

· A joint system that controls deflection under the conditions slab heaving caused by: (1) Tree Roots or (2) Reactive Soil

While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not by way of limitation. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention should not be limited by any of the above described exemplary embodiments.

The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.