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.
Claims31
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 major walls on a first end of the cavity subunit;
- a second side wall between the first and second 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 connected directly to form a supporting portion, and being connected through a connecting portion, to close the subunit at the top and leave the subunit open at the bottom;
- a connecting web connecting the multiple cavity subunits, closing the gaps between the multiple cavity subunits, and maintaining the opening at the bottom 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 and
- the cavity subunits are initially sufficiently strong enough to support the placement of fresh concrete, lose strength upon the absorption of moisture, is open at the bottom forming a cavity, the cavity, along with the gaps between subunits, providing space for soil expansion when the void form structure is placed on the ground and covered with a spanning substrate material.
A void form panel, comprising:
- multiple cavity subunits, each cavity subunit forming a downward-facing 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;
- a web connecting the multiple, repeating cavity subunits at the bottoms of the downward-facing cavities and sealing between the multiple, repeating cavity subunits;
- and
- in which the multiple, repeating cavity subunits and the web connecting them are formed as a monolithic structure of molded pulp and the void form panel is configured to collapse under compression by folding of the supporting portions of each cavity subunit in a direction normal to the first direction.
A void form panel for forming a void space below a concrete structure, the void form panel comprising multiple, repeating cavity subunits and having sufficient strength to support the working load of placing fresh concrete, including a substrate covering, reinforcing steel, crew members, and equipment, onto the 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 void form panel comprising an array of multiple, repeating cavity subunits, 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.