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A concrete form unit includes opposing sidewalls which are preferably made of foamed plastic or other insulating material. Articulated spacers extend between and connect the sidewalls, and are capable of folding about themselves both at an elbow situated between the sidewalls, and also at their jun

A concrete form unit includes opposing sidewalls which are preferably made of foamed plastic or other insulating material. Articulated spacers extend between and connect the sidewalls, and are capable of folding about themselves both at an elbow situated between the sidewalls, and also at their junctures with the sidewalls. The folding ability of the spacers allow the sidewalls to convert between a collapsed state wherein the sidewalls are in close adjacent relationship and the spacer links are oriented at least substantially parallel to each other and at least substantially parallel to the sidewalls, and an expanded state wherein the sidewalls are in distant spaced relationship with the spacer links being oriented at least substantially parallel to each other and at least substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls. The collapsed form unit therefore assumes an overall box-like shape, and therefore the collapsed form units are easily stored and shipped with minimal lost storage volume.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A concrete form comprising: a. opposing sidewalls formed of cellular insulating material, and b. spacers extending between the sidewalls, each spacer including at least a pair of rigid spacer links, each spacer link including a wall end pivotally linked to a sidewall and an e

What is claimed is: 1. A concrete form comprising: a. opposing sidewalls formed of cellular insulating material, and b. spacers extending between the sidewalls, each spacer including at least a pair of rigid spacer links, each spacer link including a wall end pivotally linked to a sidewall and an elbow end pivotally linked to another of the spacer links within the spacer, wherein: i. the wall ends of the spacer links include corners which interfere with the sidewalls about which they pivot, and ii. the spacer links may pivot about their wall ends into orientations at least substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls, and then resist further pivoting out of such orientations, wherein the sidewalls may be: (1) expanded into spaced relationship wherein the spacer links are oriented at least substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls, or (2) collapsed into closely adjacent relationship wherein the spacer links are oriented at least substantially parallel to the sidewalls, and wherein the spacers, when pivoted into orientations at least substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls, do not fully obstruct the volume defined between the sidewalls, whereby concrete may flow past the spacers between the sidewalls. 2. The concrete form of claim 1 wherein the spacer links within each spacer may pivot no more than approximately 180 degrees about their elbow ends. 3. The concrete form of claim 1 wherein the elbow ends of the spacer links have stops thereon, the stops restricting the pivoting of the spacer links within each spacer to no more than approximately 180 degrees of rotation about their elbow ends. 4. The concrete form of claim 1 wherein at least one of the spacer links is restrained to pivot about its elbow end in a different direction than another one of the spacer links pivotally linked to the same sidewall. 5. The concrete form of claim 1 wherein: a. each sidewall includes webs embedded therein, the webs including protruding web portions extending out of the sidewall towards the other sidewall of the concrete form, and b. the wall end of each spacer link is pivotally linked to one of the protruding web portions. 6. The concrete form of claim 1 wherein: a. the elbow ends of each spacer link are yoked into at least two spaced bearings, and b. the bearings of the spacer links within each spacer are interleaved along a common axis so that each spacer link has at least one bearing received between a pair of bearings of the other spacer link within the spacer. 7. The concrete form of claim 1 wherein the spacer links have identical structure. 8. The concrete form of claim 1 wherein: a. the sidewalls of the concrete form include opposing top and bottom ends and opposing side ends situated therebetween, and b. the spacer links include top and bottom surfaces with pockets defined therein, whereby the pockets may receive concrete poured between the sidewalls. 9. Two or more of the concrete forms of claim 1, wherein: a. the sidewalls of each concrete form include opposing top and bottom ends and opposing side ends situated therebetween, and b. the top ends of each concrete form are configured to abut the bottom ends of the sidewalls of another of the concrete forms in interlocking relationship. 10. The concrete form of claim 1 wherein the sidewalls, when expanded into their spaced relationship, extend outwardly from at least two of the spacers in directions oriented at least substantially perpendicularly from a plane defined by these spacers. 11. A concrete form comprising: a. opposing sidewalls having lengths defined between opposing sidewall ends, and b. spacers extending between the sidewalls, each spacer including at least a pair of rigid spacer links, each spacer link including (1) a wall end pivotally linked to a sidewall at a location spaced from the sidewall end, and (2) an elbow end pivotally linked to another of the spacer links within the spacer, wherein the wall ends of the spacer links include corners which interfere with the sidewalls about which they pivot, whereby the spacer links may pivot about their wall ends into orientations at least substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls, and then resist further pivoting out of such orientations, wherein the sidewalls may be: (1) expanded into spaced relationship wherein the spacer links are oriented at least substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls, or (2) collapsed into closely adjacent relationship wherein the spacer links are oriented at least substantially parallel to the sidewalls. 12. The concrete form of claim 11 wherein the sidewalls are formed of cellular insulating material. 13. The concrete form of claim 11 wherein the spacer links within each spacer may pivot no more than approximately 180 degrees about their elbow ends. 14. The concrete form of claim 11 wherein the elbow ends of the spacer links have stops thereon, the stops restricting the pivoting of the spacer links within each spacer to no more than approximately 180 degrees of rotation about their elbow ends. 15. The concrete form of claim 11 wherein at least one of the spacer links is restrained to pivot about its elbow end in a different direction than another one of the spacer links pivotally linked to the same sidewall. 16. The concrete form of claim 11 wherein: a. each sidewall includes webs embedded therein, the webs including protruding web portions extending out of the sidewall towards the other sidewall of the concrete form, and b. the wall end of each spacer link is pivotally linked to one of the protruding web portions. 17. The concrete form of claim 11 wherein: a. the elbow ends of each spacer link are yoked into at least two spaced bearings, and b. the bearings of the spacer links within each spacer are interleaved along a common axis so that each spacer link has at least one bearing received between a pair of bearings of the other spacer link within the spacer. 18. The concrete form of claim 11 wherein the spacer links have identical structure. 19. The concrete form of claim 11 wherein: a. the sidewalls of the concrete form include opposing top and bottom ends and opposing side ends situated therebetween, and b. the spacer links include top and bottom surfaces with pockets defined therein, whereby the pockets may receive concrete poured between the sidewalls. 20. Two or more of the concrete forms of claim 11, wherein: a. the sidewalls of each concrete form include opposing top and bottom ends and opposing side ends situated therebetween, and b. the top ends of each concrete form are configured to abut the bottom ends of the sidewalls of another of the concrete forms in interlocking relationship. 21. A concrete form comprising: a. opposing sidewalls, and b. spacers extending between the sidewalls, each spacer including at least a pair of rigid spacer links, each spacer link including: i. a wall end pivotally linked to a sidewall, wherein the wall end includes corners which interfere with the sidewall about which the spacer link pivots, the corners being oriented such that the spacer link clicks into an orientation at least substantially perpendicular to the sidewall and resists further pivoting from such an orientation; and ii. an elbow end pivotally linked to another of the spacer links within the spacer, wherein: (a) the elbow end is yoked into at least two spaced bearings, and (b) the bearings of the spacer links within each spacer are interleaved along a common axis so that each spacer link has at least one bearing received between a pair of bearings of the other spacer link within the spacer; wherein the sidewalls may be: (1) expanded into spaced relationship wherein the spacer links are oriented at least substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls, or (2) collapsed into closely adjacent relationship wherein the spacer links are oriented at least substantially parallel to the sidewalls. 22. The concrete form of claim 21 wherein the elbow ends of the spacer links have stops thereon, the stops restricting the pivoting of the spacer links within each spacer to no more than approximately 180 degrees of rotation about their elbow ends. 23. The concrete form of claim 21 wherein the spacer links within each spacer may pivot no more than approximately 180 degrees about their elbow ends. 24. The concrete form of claim 23 wherein: a. the spacer links may pivot about their wall ends into orientations at least substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls, and b. the spacer links, once oriented at least substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls, resist further pivoting. 25. The concrete form of claim 23 wherein at least one of the spacer links is restrained to pivot about its elbow end in a different direction than another one of the spacer links pivotally linked to the same sidewall. 26. The concrete form of claim 21 wherein the spacer links have identical structure. 27. The concrete form of claim 21 wherein: a. the sidewalls of the concrete form include opposing top and bottom ends and opposing side ends situated therebetween, and b. the spacer links include top and bottom surfaces with pockets defined therein, whereby the pockets may receive concrete poured between the sidewalls. 28. Two or more of the concrete forms of claim 21, wherein: a. the sidewalls of each concrete form include opposing top and bottom ends and opposing side ends situated therebetween, and b. the top ends of each concrete form are configured to abut the bottom ends of the sidewalls of another of the concrete forms in interlocking relationship. 29. A concrete form comprising: a. opposing sidewalls, and b. spacers extending between the sidewalls, each spacer including at least a pair of rigid spacer links having identical structure, each spacer link including: i. a wall end pivotally linked to a sidewall, wherein the wall end includes corners which interfere with the sidewall about which the spacer link pivots, the corners being oriented such that the spacer link clicks into an orientation at least substantially perpendicular to the sidewall and resists further pivoting from such an orientation; and ii. an elbow end pivotally linked to another of the spacer links within the spacer, wherein the sidewalls may be: (1) expanded into spaced relationship wherein the spacer links are oriented at least substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls, or (2) collapsed into closely adjacent relationship wherein the spacer links are oriented at least substantially parallel to the sidewalls, and wherein the spacers, when pivoted into orientations at least substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls, do not frilly obstruct the volume defined between the sidewalls, whereby concrete may flow past the spacers between the sidewalls. 30. The concrete form of claim 29 wherein the elbow ends of the spacer links have stops thereon, the stops restricting the pivoting of the spacer links within each spacer to no more than approximately 180 degrees of rotation about their elbow ends. 31. The concrete form of claim 29 wherein the spacer links within each spacer may pivot no more than approximately 180 degrees about their elbow ends. 32. The concrete form of claim 31 wherein: a. the spacer links may pivot about their wall ends into orientations at least substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls, and b. the spacer links, once oriented at least substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls, resist further pivoting. 33. The concrete form of claim 31 wherein at least one of the spacer links is restrained to pivot about its elbow end in a different direction than another one of the spacer links pivotally linked to the same sidewall. 34. The concrete form of claim 29 wherein: a. each sidewall includes webs embedded therein, the webs including protruding web portions extending out of the sidewall towards the other sidewall of the concrete form, and b. the wall end of each spacer link is pivotally linked to one of the protruding web portions. 35. The concrete form of claim 29 wherein: a. the elbow ends of each spacer link are yoked into at least two spaced bearings, and b. the bearings of the spacer links within each spacer are interleaved along a common axis so that each spacer link has at least one bearing received between a pair of bearings of the other spacer link within the spacer. 36. The concrete form of claim 29 wherein: a. the sidewalls of the concrete form include opposing top and bottom ends and opposing side ends situated therebetween, and b. the spacer links include top and bottom surfaces with pockets defined therein, whereby the pockets may receive concrete poured between the sidewalls. 37. Two or more of the concrete forms of claim 29, wherein: a. the sidewalls of each concrete form include opposing top and bottom ends and opposing side ends situated therebetween, and b. the top ends of each concrete form are configured to abut the bottom ends of the sidewalls of another of the concrete forms in interlocking relationship. 38. A concrete form comprising: a. opposing sidewalls, the sidewalls including opposing top and bottom ends and opposing side ends situated therebetween; and b. spacers extending between the sidewalls, each spacer including at least a pair of rigid spacer links, each spacer link including: i. top and bottom surfaces with pockets defined therein, whereby the pockets may receive concrete poured between the sidewalls; ii. a wall end pivotally linked to a sidewall, wherein the wall end includes corners which interfere with the sidewall about which the spacer link pivots, the corners being oriented such that the spacer link clicks into an orientation at least substantially perpendicular to the sidewall and resists further pivoting from such an orientation; and iii. an elbow end pivotally linked to another of the spacer links within the spacer, wherein the sidewalls may be: (1) expanded into spaced relationship wherein the spacer links are oriented at least substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls, or (2) collapsed into closely adjacent relationship wherein the spacer links are oriented at least substantially parallel to the sidewalls. 39. The concrete form of claim 38 wherein the elbow ends of the spacer links have stops thereon, the stops restricting the pivoting of the spacer links within each spacer to no more than approximately 180 degrees of rotation about their elbow ends. 40. The concrete form of claim 38 wherein the spacer links within each spacer may pivot no more than approximately 180 degrees about their elbow ends. 41. The concrete form of claim 40 wherein: a. the spacer links may pivot about their wall ends into orientations at least substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls, and b. the spacer links, once oriented at least substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls, resist further pivoting. 42. The concrete form of claim 40 wherein at least one of the spacer links is restrained to pivot about its elbow end in a different direction than another one of the spacer links pivotally linked to the same sidewall. 43. The concrete form of claim 38 wherein: a. each sidewall includes webs embedded therein, the webs including protruding web portions extending out of the sidewall towards the other sidewall of the concrete form, and b. the wall end of each spacer link is pivotally linked to one of the protruding web portions. 44. The concrete form of claim 38 wherein: a. the elbow ends of each spacer link are yoked into at least two spaced bearings, and b. the bearings of the spacer links within each spacer are interleaved along a common axis so that each spacer link has at least one bearing received between a pair of bearings of the other spacer link within the spacer. 45. The concrete form of claim 38 wherein the spacer links have identical structure. 46. Two or more of the concrete forms of claim 38, wherein: a. the sidewalls of each concrete form include opposing top and bottom ends and opposing side ends situated therebetween, and b. the top ends of each concrete form are configured to abut the bottom ends of the sidewalls of another of the concrete forms in interlocking relationship. 47. A concrete form comprising at least two concrete form units, each concrete form unit comprising: a. opposing sidewalls, each sidewall including opposing top and bottom ends and opposing side ends situated therebetween, and b. spacers extending between the sidewalls, each spacer including at least a pair of rigid spacer links, each spacer link including: i. a wall end pivotally linked to a sidewall, wherein the wall end includes corners which interfere with the sidewall about which the spacer link pivots, the corners being oriented such that the spacer link clicks into an orientation at least substantially perpendicular to the sidewall and resists further pivoting from such an orientation; and ii. an elbow end pivotally linked to another of the spacer links within the spacer, wherein the sidewalls of each concrete form unit may be: (1) expanded into spaced relationship wherein the spacer links are oriented at least substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls, or (2) collapsed into closely adjacent relationship wherein the spacer links are oriented at least substantially parallel to the sidewalls; and further wherein the top ends of the sidewalls of each concrete form unit are configured to abut the bottom ends of the sidewalls of another of the concrete form units in interlocking relationship. 48. The concrete form of claim 47 wherein the elbow ends of the spacer links have stops thereon, the stops restricting the pivoting of the spacer links within each spacer to no more than approximately 180 degrees of rotation about their elbow ends. 49. The concrete form of claim 47 wherein the spacer links within each spacer may pivot no more than approximately 180 degrees about their elbow ends. 50. The concrete form of claim 49 wherein: a. the spacer links may pivot about their wall ends into orientations at least substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls, and b. the spacer links, once oriented at least substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls, resist further pivoting. 51. The concrete form of claim 49 wherein at least one of the spacer links is restrained to pivot about its elbow end in a different direction than another one of the spacer links pivotally linked to the same sidewall. 52. The concrete form of claim 47 wherein: a. each sidewall includes webs embedded therein, the webs including protruding web portions extending out of the sidewall towards the other sidewall of the concrete form, and b. the wall end of each spacer link is pivotally linked to one of the protruding web portions. 53. The concrete form of claim 47 wherein: a. the elbow ends of each spacer link are yoked into at least two spaced bearings, and b. the bearings of the spacer links within each spacer are interleaved along a common axis so that each spacer link has at least one bearing received between a pair of bearings of the other spacer link within the spacer. 54. The concrete form of claim 47 wherein the spacer links have identical structure. 55. The concrete form of claim 47 wherein: a. the sidewalls of each concrete form unit include opposing top and bottom ends and opposing side ends situated therebetween, and b. the spacer links include top and bottom surfaces with pockets defined therein, whereby the pockets may receive concrete poured between the sidewalls. 56. A concrete form comprising: a. opposing sidewalls, and b. spacers extending between the sidewalls, each spacer including at least a pair of rigid spacer links, each spacer link including: i. a wall end pivotally linked to a sidewall, and ii. an elbow end pivotally linked to another of the spacer links within the spacer, the elbow end being yoked into at least two spaced bearings, wherein the bearings of the spacer links within each spacer are interleaved along a common axis so that each spacer link has at least one bearing received between a pair of bearings of the other spacer link within the spacer, wherein the spacer links may pivot about their wall ends into orientations at least substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls, and then resist further pivoting out of such orientations, wherein the sidewalls may be: (1) expanded into spaced relationship wherein the spacer links are oriented at least substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls, or (2) collapsed into closely adjacent relationship wherein the spacer links are oriented at least substantially parallel to the sidewalls. 57. The concrete form of claim 56 wherein the wall ends of the spacer links include corners which interfere with the sidewalls about which they pivot. 58. The concrete form of claim 56 wherein the spacer links within each spacer may pivot no more than approximately 180 degrees about their elbow ends. 59. The concrete form of claim 56 wherein the elbow ends of the spacer links have stops thereon, the stops restricting the pivoting of the spacer links within each spacer to no more than approximately 180 degrees of rotation about their elbow ends. 60. The concrete form of claim 56 wherein at least one of the spacer links is restrained to pivot about its elbow end in a different direction than another one of the spacer links pivotally linked to the same sidewall. 61. The concrete form of claim 56 wherein: a. each sidewall includes webs embedded therein, the webs including protruding web portions extending out of the sidewall towards the other sidewall of the concrete form, and b. the wall end of each spacer link is pivotally linked to one of the protruding web portions. 62. The concrete form of claim 61 wherein the spacer links have identical structure. 63. A concrete form comprising: a. opposing sidewalls, and b. spacers extending between the sidewalls, each spacer including at least a pair of rigid spacer links having identical structure, each spacer link including a wall end pivotally linked to a sidewall and an elbow end pivotally linked to another of the spacer links within the spacer, wherein: (1) the elbow ends of each spacer link are yoked into at least two spaced bearings, (2) the bearings of the spacer links within each spacer are interleaved along a common axis so that each spacer link has at least one bearing received between a pair of bearings of the other spacer link within the spacer, and (3) the spacer links may pivot about their wall ends into orientations at least substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls, and then resist further pivoting out of such orientations, wherein the sidewalls may be: (1) expanded into spaced relationship wherein the spacer links are oriented at least substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls, or (2) collapsed into closely adjacent relationship wherein the spacer links are oriented at least substantially parallel to the sidewalls, and wherein the spacers, when pivoted into orientations at least substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls, do not fully obstruct the volume defined between the sidewalls, whereby concrete may flow past the spacers between the sidewalls. 64. The concrete form of claim 63 wherein the wall ends of the spacer links include corners which interfere with the sidewalls about which they pivot. 65. The concrete form of claim 63 wherein the spacer links within each spacer may pivot no more than approximately 180 degrees about their elbow ends. 66. The concrete form of claim 63 wherein the elbow ends of the spacer links have stops thereon, the stops restricting the pivoting of the spacer links within each spacer to no more than approximately 180 degrees of rotation about their elbow ends. 67. The concrete form of claim 63 wherein at least one of the spacer links is restrained to pivot about its elbow end in a different direction than another one of the spacer links pivotally linked to the same sidewall. 68. The concrete form of claim 63 wherein: a. each sidewall includes webs embedded therein, the webs including protruding web portions extending out of the sidewall towards the other sidewall of the concrete form, and b. the wall end of each spacer link is pivotally linked to one of the protruding web portions.