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US 12,163,345 B2Granted
Modular void form structure
AssigneeVoidForm Products, LLC
InventorsJohn Woodson Gates, Todd Andrew Diehl
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A void form is composed of molded pulp and includes bottom-facing openings. Fresh concrete placed on top of a substrate material covering the void form structure is formed with a void space underneath that allows soil to expand.
Claims25
A void form panel, comprising:
- multiple cavity subunits, each cavity subunit including:
- a first inclined major wall;
- a second inclined major wall;
- a first side wall between the first and second inclined major walls on a first end of the cavity subunit;
- and
- a second side wall between the first and second inclined major walls on a second end of the cavity subunit, the first and second side walls being shorter than the first and second inclined major walls, the first and second side walls connected directly to the first and second inclined major walls, the first and second inclined major walls connected through a connecting portion, to close the cavity subunit at a top location and leave the cavity subunit open at a bottom location;
- and
- a connecting web connecting the multiple cavity subunits and configured to close gaps between the multiple cavity subunits, and maintain an opening at the bottom location of each of the multiple cavity subunits;
- wherein the multiple cavity subunits and the connecting web are formed as a monolithic structure of molded pulp containing approximately 2% to 5% of a water-resistant additive, and
- wherein the multiple cavity subunits are initially sufficiently strong enough to support a placement of fresh concrete, lose strength upon absorption of moisture, and are open at the bottom location to form a cavity, the cavity, along with the gaps between the multiple cavity subunits, providing space for soil expansion when the void form panel is placed on a ground surface and covered with a spanning substrate material.
7 more elements
A void form panel, comprising:
- multiple cavity subunits, each cavity subunit forming a cavity and each cavity subunit having a length along a first direction and a width along a second direction, the length being longer than the width;
- and
- a web connecting the multiple cavity subunits at bottom locations of the cavities and configured to close gaps between the multiple cavity subunits;
- wherein the multiple cavity subunits and the web are formed as a monolithic structure of molded pulp containing approximately 2% to 5% of a water-resistant additive, and
- wherein the void form panel is configured to collapse under compression by folding of supporting portions of each cavity subunit in a direction normal to the first direction.
2 more elements
A void form panel comprising:
- multiple cavity subunits arranged in a repeating pattern, the multiple cavity subunits having sufficient strength to support a working load of placing fresh concrete onto a substrate material covering the void form panel until the concrete sets, the void form panel composed of a monolithic structure of a material configured to absorb moisture and weaken after the concrete has set, the material containing approximately 2% to 5% of a water-resistant additive, the void form panel configured to lose at least 40% of its mechanical strength after being compressed by approximately 20%.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.