# US 2016/0258170 A1 · Strongback waler bracket and methods of using the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0258170 A1 - Document ID: US20160258170A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/932,772 - Filed: 2015-11-04 - Published: 2016-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-03-04 - Assignees: P & W Construction Materials and Consulting Ltd - Applicants: P & W Construction Materials and Consulting Ltd. - Inventors: Patrick CYMBALA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160258170A1 ## CPC - E04G 17/14: Bracing or strutting arrangements for formwalls; Devices for aligning forms (E04G25/00 takes precedence; {connecting and aligning E04G17/04}) - E04G 5/067: {specially adapted for attachment to posts (E04G5/061 takes precedence)} - E04G 11/12: of elements and beams {which are mounted during erection of the shuttering to brace or couple the elements}(E04G11/18 takes precedence) - E04G 17/002: {Workplatforms, railings; Arrangements for pouring concrete, attached to the form} - E04G 17/02: Connecting or fastening means for non-metallic forming or stiffening elements {(E04G17/001 takes precedence)} - E04G: SCAFFOLDING; FORMS; SHUTTERING; BUILDING IMPLEMENTS OR AIDS, OR THEIR USE; HANDLING BUILDING MATERIALS ON THE SITE; REPAIRING, BREAKING-UP OR OTHER WORK ON EXISTING BUILDINGS ## Abstract Brackets for securing vertical strongbacks to horizontal walers secured to a face of a concrete wall form. Each bracket has a flange adapted to be mounted to an upper surface of the waler, a standoff connected to the flange and extending perpendicular to and beyond the waler to a distal end for defining a strongback-receiving pocket between the waler and the distal end for receiving the strongback. A wedge is operatively coupled to the distal end for pinching the strongback between the wedge and the waler for securing the strongback to the waler. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A bracket for securing a vertical strongback to a horizontal waler secured to an insulated concrete (ICF) wall form, the bracket comprising: a flange adapted to be mounted to an upper surface of the horizontal waler and having a proximal edge for abutting the wall form; a standoff connected to the flange and extending perpendicular to and beyond the waler to a distal end, a strongback-receiving pocket being defined between the waler and the distal end for receiving the strongback in a perpendicular relationship with respect to the waler; and a wedge operatively coupled to the distal end of the standoff and moveable between a locked position and a released positon, wherein in the released position, an installation gap exists between the wedge and the waler, and in the locked position, the strongback is pinched between the wedge and the waler for securing the strongback to the waler. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The bracket of claim 1, wherein the flange further comprises a vertical portion extending upwardly from the proximal edge for abutting the wall form. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The bracket of claim 2, wherein the flange and the vertical portion are provided with mounting holes for securing the flange and the vertical portion to the waler and ICF ties, respectively. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The bracket of claim 1, wherein the wedge has a ramp portion of varying thickness, the distal end of the standoff extending through a slot formed in the wedge, the slot forming the ramp portion and the wedge moveable therealong to the locked position to force a base portion of the wedge against the strongback. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The bracket of claim 4, wherein the base portion further comprises mounting holes for securing the wedge to the strongback in the locked position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The bracket of claim 1 further comprising a side-to-side alignment notch formed between a pair of lips extending from a distal edge of the flange and adapted for maintaining side-to-side alignment of the strongback located within the receiving pocket. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The bracket of claim 1, wherein the lips extend downwardly over the waler. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The bracket of claim 1, wherein the standoff's distal end further comprises a short shaft projecting perpendicularly away therefrom. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The bracket of claim 8, wherein the short shaft extends through the slot formed in the ramp portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The bracket of claim 9, where opposite ends of the short shaft are provided with washers for sandwiching the wedge therebetween and preventing decoupling of the wedge from the short shaft. ### Claim 11 A method of securing a vertical strongback to one or more vertically spaced, horizontal walers secured against an insulated concrete wall form; the method comprising: mounting a bracket to each waler with a proximal edge of a flange of the bracket abutting the wall form and a standoff of the bracket extending perpendicular to and beyond the waler to a distal end for forming a strongback-receiving pocket between the waler and the distal end; arranging the strongback in a perpendicular relationship with respect to the one or more walers by locating the strongback in the strongback-receiving pocket; and securing the strongback to each waler by moving a wedge operatively coupled to the standoff's distal end against the strongback for pinching the strongback between the waler and the wedge. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 further comprising securing each of the brackets to the wall form at ties molded to an inner face of the wall form. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein prior to moving the wedge against the strong back, the wedge is in a released position to form an installation gap between the standoff's distal end and the waler. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 further comprising locating the strongback in a side-to-side alignment notch formed on the flange. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 further comprising spacing the strongback laterally from the standoff by locating the strongback in a side-to-side alignment notch formed between a pair of lips extending from a distal edge of the flange. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 further comprising positioning a scaffold-supporting bracket within the bracket by arranging a linearly extending arm of the scaffold-supporting bracket perpendicular to the strongback and placing a U-shaped hook of the scaffold-supporting bracket about the strongback. ### Claim 17 A system for horizontally and vertically supporting an insulated concrete wall form for receiving concrete, the system including at least one waler secured horizontally on an outside surface of the wall form and at least one vertical strongback, the system comprising: at least one strongback bracket for securing the at least one strongback to the at least one waler, wherein the at least one strongback bracket comprises: a flange adapted to be mounted to an upper surface of the horizontal waler, a standoff connected to the flange and extending perpendicular to and beyond the waler to a distal end, a strongback-receiving pocket being defined between the waler and the distal end for receiving the strongback in a perpendicular relationship with respect to the waler and a wedge operatively coupled to the distal end of the standoff which in a locked position pinches the strongback between the wedge and the waler for securing the strongback to the waler; and at least one scaffold-supporting bracket, supported by the strongback bracket, having a linearly extending arm having a U-shaped hook at a proximal end thereof and wherein the hook extends about the strongback for supporting scaffold-supporting bracket on the strongback bracket. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one strongback bracket further comprises a side-side alignment notch formed on the flange for laterally spacing the at least one strongback from the standoff to accept the hook.