3 The subject of the present invention is a form clamp to join panels,

T.

4 in particular, cement casting forms.

5 Clamps to join panels for cement casting forms are known,

6 and generally consist of a bar equipped with hooking means at the

7 respective extremities having opposed pegs on corresponding

8 crosspiece on the form panels, comprising clamping means which

9 tend to "pull" the respective hooking orthogonally with the 1 0 evident inconvenience of necessitating further means of 1 1 clamping to unite the respective form panels at the edges.

1 2

1 3 These types of clamps further present the following

1 4 disadvantages:

1 5 (1) imperfect adaption to the form panels because:

1 6 - either they are in complete contact and therefore internal

1 7 cocking occurs if the panels are not perfectly flat or are not of

1 8 regular thickness as the same ledge of the clamp determines an

1 9 external alignment instead of an internal one;

2 0 - or they are not in contact ,and therefore the clamping may take 2 1 place in an alignment position which is not desired.

2 2 (2) the impossibility of a valid solution for internal and external

2 3 corner jointings.

2 4

2 5 The scope of the present invention is to eliminate the above-

2 6 mentioned inconveniences.

2 7

2 8 The present invention, as per the characteristics given in

2 9 the attached claims, solves the problem with a clamp of the type

having a straight, curved or angled support bar, comprising two opposed pairs of fork-type hooking plates on respective opposed pegs of a crosspiece of each panel to be connected to make up a form, where: - the said pair of fork-type plates presents a hollow configuration so as to determine a slanted reaction, not orthogonal converging to an apex between the two pairs of forks, in order to also realize a respective opposed effect parallel to the panels to be clamped; - at least one fork can be moved by clamp against the opposed one; - said support bar is equipped with partial ledge contact means for at least one surface of the panels to be clamped, arranged near one of said fork-type hooking means.

The advantages obtained with this innovation consist essentially in that a perfect alignment of the respective internal surface (form surface) is possible, even though ledges for both the panels to be clamped are available.

According to the invention, the respective clamps conveniently present a straight, curved or an internal or external angle configuration (e.g. internal or external right angle), according to the alignment condition required. The advantage of being able to make any type of panel connection is thus obtained.

In accordance with the characteristics of the invention, said hooking means consist in: - a first pair of hooking plates which protrude transversally and are directly fastened to an extremity in a fixed position on the stout structure supporting the clamp;

1 -a second pair of hooking plates which protrude transversally,

2 freely balanced and pivoted at the opposite extremity of the stout

3 structure supporting the clamp, in such a manner that a part of

4 the hook protrudes from the same side as the first ones and a part

5 from the opposite side where they are pivoted on a screw head, the

6 threaded part of which passes through a drilled hole in a plate

7 fixed to the adjacent side of said stout supporting structure. 8

9 This solution has the advantage of realizing a highly

1 0 reliable clamping system which is effective, of simple and

1 1 dependable conception as well as being economical and easily

1 2 realized in the various straight, curved or internal or external

1 3 angle configurations, depending on the respective alignments

1 4 requi red . 1 5

1 6 In an alternative solution, the movement of at least one fork

1 7 is obtained by cuneiform means of shifting which substitutes said

1 8 screw means. 1 9

2 0 In another alternative form of realization, the movement of 2 1 at least one fork is obtained without hinge constraint through 2 2 fastening blocks for the respective shifting into position.

2 3

2 4 The invention is hereafter explained in more detail with

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2 5 assistance of the drawings showing the preferential solutions for x{ 2 6 realization, the execution details of which are not to be held as

2 7 limiting but only as examples.

2 8 Figure 1 gives a prospect view of the connection system for two

2 9 panels with a clamp for straight line connection.

Figure 2 gives a prospect view of the connection system for two panels with a clamp for right-angled, external connection. Figure 3 gives a prospect view of the connection system for two panels with a clamp for right-angled, internal connection.

As can be seen from the above-mentioned figures, the clamps are indicated by A and the panels to be joined by B,B'. Each clamp presents a stout, straight (Fig. 1), curved (not illustrated), or right-angled structure with bookings orientated inwards (Fig. 2), or with hookings orientated outwards (Fig. 3). The stout structures present at least one supporting block (1") on a respective panel to be joined (B,B') and,; the external end part of the pair to the hooking is pivoted on the head (4) of a "T"-shaped screw (5), which while a pair of hooking plates is fixed and welded (1) at a respective extremity of the clamp's stout structure for corresponding pegs (b) of the panel of the form (B,B'), an end plate with a drilled hole (! ') is welded at the other extremity. A pair of oscillating, balance-type hooking plates (2) is pivoted (3) near this end plate (T); the external end part of the pair to the hooking is pivoted on the head (4) of a "T"-shaped screw (5), which passes through said hole of said end plate (1') to be stretch -clamped by wing nut (6).