Concrete form stake system with self-sealing plug

• US 20050126108A1
• Filed: 12/11/2003
• Published: 06/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vista Investments and Properties, LLC
• Original Assignee: Vista Investments and Properties, LLC
• Inventors: Wilson, Robert J., Foster, Gregory Sean
• Granted Patent: US 7,174,681 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/698
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 27/02 Flat foundations without substantial excavation E02D27/04, E02D27/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 13/00 Falsework, forms, or shutterings for particular parts of buildings, e.g. stairs, steps, cornices, balconies foundations, sills E04G11/365 takes precedence; flat foundations, e.g. with lost forms E02D27/01; removable forms or shutterings for road-building purposes E01C19/50
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 17/14 Bracing or strutting arrangements for formwalls; Devices for aligning forms E04G25/00 takes precedence; connecting and aligning E04G17/04

Abstract

Method and apparatus for securing a building foundation form disposed on a moisture barrier membrane. The method includes the steps of positioning one end of a concrete form stake in a mating structure of a plug, penetrating the moisture barrier membrane with a tip end the plug, and forming a seal between a flange extending around a periphery of the plug and the moisture barrier membrane.

Claims

1. A method for securing a foundation form disposed on a moisture barrier membrane comprising:

positioning one end of a concrete form stake in a mating structure of a plug;

penetrating said moisture barrier membrane with a tip end said plug; and

forming a seal between a flange extending around a periphery of said plug and said moisture barrier membrane.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of forming said seal by driving said stake through said moisture barrier membrane until said flange is disposed adjacent to said moisture barrier membrane.

3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step selecting said flange to include a flexible portion that forms said seal with said moisture barrier membrane.

4. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step selecting said mating structure of said plug to include an bore that is shaped for receiving a portion of said stake.

5. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of forming said seal between said flange and said moisture barrier membrane using a sealing material.

6. The method according to claim 5 further comprising the step of selecting said flange to include a sealing material pre-disposed on a surface thereof.

7. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of selecting said mating structure so that said stake is removable from said plug after said seal has been formed.

8. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of securing said stake to said foundation form.

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein said securing step is further comprised of the step of driving at least one of a nail and a screw through a bore formed in said stake and into said foundation form.

10. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of removing said stake from said mating structure.

11. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of removing said stake from said mating structure after concrete has been poured over said moisture barrier membrane.

12. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of selecting said flange to include a ridge disposed on an outer rim thereof.

13. The method according to claim 12 further comprising the step of disposing a pesticide in a channel at least partially defined by said ridge.

14. A method for securing a foundation form disposed on a moisture barrier membrane comprising:

penetrating said moisture barrier membrane with a plug disposed on one end of a stake;

sealing a breach in said moisture barrier membrane caused by said penetrating step by forming a seal around a periphery of said plug; and

removing at least a portion of said stake extending above said moisture barrier membrane.

15. The method according to claim 14 further comprising the step of positioning said stake in a mating structure of said plug that is shaped for receiving an end of said stake.

16. The method according to claim 14 further comprising the step of forming said seal by abutting a peripheral flange of said plug adjacent to said moisture barrier membrane.

17. The method according to claim 16 further comprising the step selecting said flange to includes at least one of a flexible and a resilient portion that forms a seal with said moisture barrier membrane.

18. The method according to claim 16 further comprising the step of forming said seal between said flange and said moisture barrier membrane using a sealing material.

19. The method according to claim 16 further comprising the step of selecting said flange to include an adhesive pre-disposed on a surface thereof.

20. The method according to claim 14 further comprising the step of selecting said stake to include at least one bore extending through said stake in a direction transverse to an axis defined along a length of said stake.

21. The method according to claim 14 further comprising the step of securing said stake to said foundation form.

22. The method according to claim 21 wherein said securing step is further comprised of driving at least one of a nail and a screw through a bore, formed in said stake transverse to an axis defined along a length of said stake, and into said foundation form.

23. The method according to claim 15 wherein said removing step includes removing said stake from said mating structure after concrete has been poured over said moisture barrier membrane.

24. Apparatus for securing a foundation form disposed on a moisture barrier membrane comprising:

an elongated stake; and

a plug disposed on an end of said stake, said plug having a peripheral flange configured for forming a seal with a moisture barrier membrane surounding an elongated body portion of said plug.

25. The apparatus according to claim 24 further comprising a sealing material pre-disposed on a surface of said flange.

26. The apparatus according to claim 24 wherein said plug is slidably removable from said stake.

27. The apparatus according to claim 24 wherein said plug includes at least one of a flexible portion and a resilient portion.

28. The apparatus according to claim 24 wherein said plug includes a mating structure for removably attaching said plug to said stake.

29. The apparatus according to claim 28 wherein said mating structure comprises a bore disposed within said stake that is profiled for removably receiving said stake therein.

30. The apparatus according to claim 29 wherein said flange includes a ridge disposed on an outer rim thereof spaced apart from said bore.

31. The apparatus according to claim 29 further comprising a channel formed on said flange configured for receiving a fluid insecticide.