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A building component having first and second high density foam panels and improved bridging members for connecting the panels that extend between and may be molded into the panels. The bridging members include a pair of elongated end plates oriented in a top to bottom direction of the panels, a pair

A building component having first and second high density foam panels and improved bridging members for connecting the panels that extend between and may be molded into the panels. The bridging members include a pair of elongated end plates oriented in a top to bottom direction of the panels, a pair of substantially identical web members joining the end plates and being substantially symmetrically disposed above and below a central horizontal axis of the bridging member, and a pair of strip members oriented in the top to bottom direction of the panels intersecting the web members. The web members have a unique configuration that maximizes load bearing capacity with a minimum amount of material. The strip members may abut against and be substantially flush with respective inner surfaces of the foam panels to assist in positioning and forming the panels during molding. Seating areas for positioning horizontally and/or vertically disposed rebar in predetermined positions are also provided.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A building component defined by opposing panels of an insulated concrete form, and a connecting apparatus extending between and positioning the panels relative to each other, said connecting apparatus comprising: a pair of elongated end plates; a pair of substantially identic

What is claimed is: 1. A building component defined by opposing panels of an insulated concrete form, and a connecting apparatus extending between and positioning the panels relative to each other, said connecting apparatus comprising: a pair of elongated end plates; a pair of substantially identical structural members joining said end plates and being substantially symmetrically disposed above and below a central horizontal axis of the connecting apparatus, each of said structural members having a double Y-shape defined by first and second V-shaped portions, and a separate common stem portion extending between said V-shaped portions, each V-shaped portion including a pair of diverging legs, and said separate common stem portion having a first end connected to one V-shaped portion and a second end connected to the other V-shaped portion; and at least one retaining member intersecting one of said structural members to assist in positioning the connecting apparatus relative to the panels. 2. The building component of claim 1, wherein said connecting apparatus extends between and through and is molded into said panels. 3. The building component of claim 1, wherein said end plates abut outer surfaces of the panels. 4. The building component of claim 1, wherein said end plates are each molded within a respective one of the panels to fall between inner and outer surfaces of the respective panel. 5. The building component of claim 1, wherein said pair of structural members are spaced apart from one another in a direction generally perpendicular to the central horizontal axis. 6. The building component of claim 5, wherein at least one of said structural members is substantially symmetrically disposed about a vertical y-axis generally orthogonal to the central horizontal axis. 7. The building component of claim 1, wherein said pairs of diverging legs each include upper and lower diverging legs, each diverging leg having a longitudinal axis, and wherein said longitudinal axis of one of said upper legs is not collinear with said longitudinal axis of one of said lower legs. 8. The building component of claim 1, wherein said separate common stem portion extends longitudinally between said V-shaped portions. 9. A bridging member for use in a building component having first and second foam panels each having inner and outer surfaces, top and bottom, and first and second ends, the panels being arranged in spaced relationship with their inner surfaces facing each other, said bridging member comprising: a pair of elongated end plates oriented in the top to bottom direction of the panels; and a pair of substantially identical web members joining said end plates and being substantially symmetrically disposed and spaced a distance above and below a central horizontal axis of the bridging member, each of said web members having a double Y-shape defined by first and second V-shaped portions, each V-shaped portion including a pair of diverging legs, and each of said web members having a separate common stem portion extending between said V-shaped portions and having a first end connected to said first V-shaped portion and a second end connected to said second V-shaped portion. 10. The bridging member according to claim 9, further including: at least one retaining member oriented in the top to bottom direction of the panels. 11. The bridging member according to claim 9, wherein opposing portions of said web members are molded into the foam panels, and said at least one retaining member assists in positioning the bridging member during molding. 12. The bridging member according to claim 9, wherein said at least one retaining member is configured to resist forces imposed on the form. 13. The bridging member of claim 9 wherein said web members are configured with finite element analysis to minimize the amount of the desired material used to form the web members and maximize the load bearing capacity of the bridging member. 14. An apparatus for connecting opposing panels of an insulated concrete form having opposed foam panels, comprising: a pair of elongated end portions operatively connected to the foam panels; at least one structural member joining said end portions; and projections defining a recess containing a substantially horizontally disposed rebar, said recess being substantially open and unobstructed and having a first edge that is substantially vertical and parallel to said end portions and a second edge inclined relative to said first edge to position the rebar against said first edge wherein the outer surface of rebar received within the recess is spaced a constant distance from the end portions regardless of the size of the rebar. 15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said recess has a substantially V-shaped cross sectional shape. 16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said projections are substantially V-shaped. 17. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said end portions comprise elongated end plates. 18. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said recess is formed in the structural member. 19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said second edge has a radius. 20. An apparatus for connecting opposing panels of an insulated concrete form comprising: a pair of elongated end plates; a pair of structural members joining said end plates and being substantially symmetrically disposed above and below a central horizontal axis of the connecting apparatus; and at least one retaining member intersecting at least one of said structural members to assist in positioning the connecting apparatus relative to the panels and resisting external forces applied to said endplates, wherein said at least one retaining member comprises a strip member substantially surrounding said at least one structural member where they intersect each other. 21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said at least one retaining member is wider than at least one of said structural members in a direction substantially parallel to said end plates. 22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said at least one retaining member is substantially parallel with a y-axis that bisects said structural members symmetrically. 23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said structural members are spaced apart from one another at the y-axis. 24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said strip member comprises at least one end section diverging away from said strip member. 25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said at least one end section includes a radius. 26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said at least one end section diverges outwardly at an angle from said strip member. 27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said at least one end section diverges and joins with said at least one structural members. 28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said strip member comprises two ends sections diverging outwardly toward one of said end plates. 29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein each of said two end sections diverges and joins with said at least one structural member. 30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein each of said two end sections diverges by curving outwardly from said strip member. 31. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein each of said two end sections includes a radius. 32. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein each of said two end sections diverges outwardly at an angle from said strip member. 33. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said structural members are configured to maximize load bearing capacity with a minimum amount of material. 34. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said at least one retaining member intersects and extends past each of said structural members. 35. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said strip member intersects both of said structural members. 36. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein each of said structural members includes two legs, and said strip member intersects at least one leg of each of said structural members. 37. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said strip member intersects two legs of each of said structural members. 38. An apparatus for connecting opposing panels of an insulated concrete form having opposed foam panels, comprising: a pair of elongated end portions operatively connected to the foam panels; at least one structural member joining said end portions; and projections defining a recess having a substantially V-shaped cross sectional shape containing a substantially horizontally disposed rebar, said recess being substantially open and unobstructed and having an edge that is substantially vertical and parallel to said end portions whereby the outer surface of rebar received within the recess and contacting said substantially vertical edge is spaced a constant distance from the end portions regardless of the size of the rebar. 39. The apparatus according to claim 38, wherein said projections are integral with in the structural member.