Break-away concrete form stake with self-sealing feature

• US 7,814,726 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2008
• Issued: 10/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vista Investments and Properties, LLC
• Original Assignee: Vista Investments and Properties, LLC
• Inventors: Wilson, Robert J., Foster, Gregory Sean
• Primary Examiner(s): KATCHEVES, BASIL S
• Application Number:
  US12/334,247
• Publication Number:
  US 20090084068A1
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 527/452.1, 522/231.3, 52/4, 521/56, 527/421.4, 52/99, 135/118, 403/296, 249/1, 249/3, 249/187.1
• US Class Current: 52/745.21
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 27/01 Flat foundations
• 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 for securing a foundation form disposed on a moisture barrier membrane. The method can include penetrating the moisture barrier membrane with one end of a stake, sealing a breach in the moisture barrier membrane around a periphery of the stake caused by the penetrating step, and removing a portion of the stake extending above the moisture barrier membrane. A sealing member can be disposed on the stake at a location along an axial length of the stake.

Claims

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

placing a resilient sealing member on a stake at a location disposed along a length thereof to form a seal around a perimeter of said stake;

penetrating said moisture barrier membrane with one end of said stake;

securing said stake to said foundation form;

sliding said sealing member along said stake to form said seal against a point where said stake penetrates said moisture barrier membrane; and

embedding said stake and said sealing member in concrete by pouring uncured concrete into the confines of said foundation form and around said perimeter of said stake above said seal.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of selecting said sealing member to include a flexible portion located on a portion thereof that forms said seal around said perimeter of said stake.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of selecting said sealing member to include an elastic portion located on a portion thereof that forms said seal around said perimeter of said stake.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of forming said seal between said sealing member and said moisture barrier membrane using an adhesive sealant.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of selecting said sealing member to include an adhesive sealant disposed on a surface thereof.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of selecting said stake to include at least one bore extending through said stake in a direction transverse to said length thereof.

7. The method according to claim 1, 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.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of breaking off a portion of said stake.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of breaking off a portion of said stake that remains exposed after concrete has been poured over said moisture barrier.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of selecting said sealing member to include a ridge disposed on an outer rim thereof.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of forming a channel between said perimeter and an outer rim of said sealing member when said sealing member is placed on said stake.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of disposing a pesticide in said channel.

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

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

securing said stake to said foundation form;

sliding a sealing member along said stake for sealing a breach in said moisture barrier membrane around a periphery of said stake caused by said penetrating step;

embedding said stake and said sealing member in concrete by pouring uncured concrete into the confines of said foundation form and around a perimeter of said stake above said seal;

allowing said concrete to cure;

removing said foundation form with said stake remaining disposed within said cured concrete; and

removing a portion of said stake extending above an exposed surface of said cured concrete.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of placing said sealing member on said stake at a location disposed along a length thereof and extending radially away from an axis defined along said length of said stake.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said sealing member is slid along said length of said stake to a location disposed adjacent to said moisture barrier membrane.

16. The method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of selecting said sealing member to include a flexible portion that seals around said perimeter of said stake.

17. The method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of selecting said sealing member to include at least one of an elastic or resilient portion that seals around said perimeter of said stake.

18. The method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of forming said seal between said sealing member and said moisture barrier membrane using an adhesive sealant.

19. The method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of selecting said sealing member to include an adhesive disposed on a surface thereof.

20. The method according to claim 13, 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 13, 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.

22. The method according to claim 13, wherein said step of removing said portion of said stake includes breaking off said portion of said stake that remains exposed after concrete has been poured over said moisture barrier.

23. The method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of selecting said sealing member to include a ridge disposed on an outer rim thereof.

24. The method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of forming a channel between said stake and an outer rim of said sealing member.

25. The method according to claim 24, further comprising the step of disposing a pesticide in said channel.