Device for dismountably connecting two intersecting formwork beams

{
  "publication_number": "US10385577B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Device for dismountably connecting two intersecting formwork beams",
  "abstract": "The invention relates to a device for dismountably connecting two intersecting formwork beams, which comprises a single-component elastic structure with two intermediate arms joining together respective areas for pressing the two beams together in support areas, and which can longitudinally slide over one of the beams until it reaches the other beam, the device being elastically deformed by means of pressure or impact thereon, so as to clamp or hold both beams and press them together.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A connecting system for dismountably connecting two intersecting formwork beams comprising a resilient single-component structure having two intermediate arms joining together respective regions for pressing the two intersecting formwork beams together at support regions, wherein the resilient single-component structure is configured to slide longitudinally over one of the two intersecting formwork beams until reaches the other one of the two intersecting formwork beams and, by means of pressure or impact on the resilient single-component structure, elastic deformation of the resilient single-component structure is produced so as to clamp or hold the two intersecting formwork beams and press them together, wherein the single-component structure is composed of a rod made of resilient material that has two intermediate arms that extend at their upper ends into respective extensions for pressing on support regions of one of the two intersecting formwork beams to be connected, while at the other end they extend into a U- or V-shaped bridge for pressing on the support region of the other one of the two intersecting formwork beams, wherein each of two assemblies formed by each of the intermediate arms and its corresponding extension ends at the side opposite the U- or V-shaped bridge in an end portion, said end portions being mutually coaxial to allow the device to tilt about the axis of coaxiality of the end portions, and wherein each of the intermediate arms comprise a buffer intended to come into contact with the one of the two intersecting formwork beams and located at the end portion of respective vertical sections, which is extended from each of the intermediate arms through double elbows.",
    "2. The connecting system according to claim 1, wherein the two intermediate arms both have the double elbows in their upper portion, being joined to respective, substantially straight extensions.",
    "3. The connecting system according to claim 2, wherein the double elbows extend into the respective vertical sections ending in said respective straight extensions that are substantially perpendicular to said vertical sections.",
    "4. The connecting system according to claim 1, wherein the two intermediate arms form between them a slight angle of divergence that opens upwards.",
    "5. The connecting system according to claim 1, wherein the bridge is a planar U-shaped bridge.",
    "6. The connecting system according to claim 1, wherein the bridge is a V-shaped bridge and has arms that are not planar, but have respective elbows, the vertices of which exert pressure on one of the two intersecting formwork beams in the joint.",
    "7. The connecting system according to claim 2, wherein upper extensions for pressing on flanges of the one of the two intersecting formwork beams and a lower bridge for pressing on a flange of the other one of the two intersecting formwork beams of the joint are positioned so as to converge slightly.",
    "8. The connecting system according to claim 1, wherein the buffer is an elbow.",
    "9. The connecting system according to claim 1, wherein the vertical sections that constitute an extension of the main section of said intermediate arms converge.",
    "10. The connecting system according to claim 1, wherein the points of contact defined by the buffers are located on the plane formed by the axis of coaxiality of the end portions and the region of the device supporting the other one of the two intersecting formwork beams at the bridge.",
    "11. The connecting system according to claim 1, wherein a distance between the buffers is less than a distance between the intermediate arms.",
    "12. The connecting system according to claim 1, wherein the two intersecting formwork beams are I-beams and support regions are formed by an upper or lower flanges of the I-beams.",
    "13. The connecting system according to claim 1, wherein the material of the resilient single-component structure is steel.",
    "14. The device connecting system according to claim 13, wherein the material of the resilient single-component structure is a steel that has highly resilient properties.",
    "15. The connecting system according to claim 1, wherein the material of the resilient single-component structure is a synthetic material, a plastic material or a composite.",
    "16. The connecting system according to claim 1, wherein the force for simultaneously clamping the two intersecting formwork beams to be joined is independent of the positioning in terms of angle or depth of the device relative to the two intersecting formwork beams to be joined.",
    "17. The connecting system according to claim 1, wherein the force for simultaneously clamping the two intersecting formwork beams to be joined is independent of the force for positioning said resilient single-component structure once positioned on the two intersecting formwork beams to be joined.",
    "18. The connecting system according to claim 1, wherein the end portions are capable of sliding along lateral slots in the one of two intersecting formwork beams.",
    "19. The connecting system according to claim 18, wherein one of the two intersecting formwork beams is a combined steel/wooden beam and the lateral slots are made in a wooden flank thereof.",
    "20. The connecting system according to claim 18, wherein the lateral slots are formed in the lower, steel portion of the combined steel/wooden beam."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present patent for an invention relates to a device for dismountably connecting two intersecting formwork beams, conferring appreciable features of novelty and inventive step.\n\nThe formwork beams will be wooden, metal or combined I-beams, i.e., in the case of combined, they will be formed by a metal portion and a wooden portion.\n\nWooden I-beams are widely used in the construction industry in most industrially advanced countries and are intended particularly for supporting formwork, preferably for roofs.\n\nI-beams, whether wooden, metal or combined, are traditionally installed on two levels, a lower level of beams supported directly by props and an upper level of beams arranged perpendicularly to the former and supported on the first ones.\n\nWooden I-beams are normally joined together by nailing. This is a laborious, though effective system which, apart from its simplicity and adaptability, has many drawbacks, such as a shortening of the service life of the beams through the deterioration that is caused by the action of the nails, by disassembly and removal of the nails, which require considerable manpower, and by the fact that it is difficult to quantify the strength of the joint, since this depends on many variable factors, such as the diameter of the nail, the angle and depth of nailing, the state of the wood etc.\n\nIn addition to the procedure for connecting wooden I-beams by nailing, other connection systems are also known, such as making clamps of various kinds by using threaded bolts and clamping nuts, as well as wedge systems.",
  "cpc": [
    "E04G 11/50",
    "E04B 1/2403",
    "E04B 2001/2424",
    "E04G 17/02",
    "E04G 17/04",
    "F16B 2/22",
    "F16B 2/24",
    "F16B 2/245",
    "F16B 2/248",
    "F16B 7/04",
    "F16B 7/0493"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "E04B 1/24",
    "E04G 11/50",
    "E04G 17/02",
    "E04G 17/04",
    "F16B 2/24",
    "F16B 7/04"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Sistemas Tecnicos de Encofrados SA"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Jose Luis Ubiñana Felix"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2016-05-26",
  "publication_date": "2019-08-20",
  "grant_date": "2019-08-20",
  "priority_date": "2015-05-27",
  "application_number": "US-201615576603-A",
  "family_id": "57391586",
  "cited_by_count": 3,
  "citations": [
    "US1929302A",
    "CH294607A",
    "GB894043A",
    "US3102614A",
    "FR2159775A5",
    "FR2251229A5",
    "FR2303979A1",
    "US4429436A",
    "US4569172A",
    "US4559751A",
    "US4735030A",
    "US5577699A",
    "EP2309077A2",
    "US8720155B1",
    "DE202010004268U1",
    "FR2965317A1"
  ]
}