AU763321B2 - An adjustable boxing assembly - Google Patents

Description

AN ADJUSTABLE BOXING ASSEMBLY This invention relates to an adjustable boxing assembly.

This invention has particular but not exclusive application to an adjustable boxing assembly for supporting wet concrete or cement, and for illustrative purposes reference will be made to such application. However, it is to be understood that this invention could be used in other applications,- such as a demountable curb or a demountable o barrier, ie. a wall or a fence.

When constructing structures such as foundations, 10 curbing or stairs using we- concrete or cement, the boundaries of the intended structure'are usually defined be upstanding walls, often referred to as boxing, which provide support for the wet concrete or cement. The boxing typically comprises timber forms, previously cut into suitable lengths, supported by a plurality of bracing members such as wooden pegs which are driven into the ground behind the timber forms.

It will be appreciated that the construction of the boxing, including the steps of measuring the length of each ,wall and cutting lengths of timber in accordance therewith, is very time consuming.

It will also be appreciated that timber which is warped may be unsuitable for use in the construction of boxing or that warped timber forms may require additional bracing in order to provide reasonably straight walls and edges.

Furthermore, timber forms have a tendency to warp as a consequence of moisture which is absorbed during use and that repeated use of timber forms is generally not possible-.

It will also be appreciated that in many circumstances the timber offcuts are too short to be used as timber forms and are generally discarded.

I It is also noted that timber pegs used as bracing members have a tendency to split as a consequence of repeated use.

0 In order to overcome 4t least some of the problems associated with the use of timber forms, metal forms have been used in the construction of boxing. The metal forms generally include male and female connections associated with the respective ends thereof for joining adjacent forms together and which often are difficult to separate should concrete or cement penetrate the join.

It will also be appreciated that the use of metal forms of the type described does not overcome the problems associated with the construction of walls which are shorter than the length of the standard metal form or which are longer than a plurality of standard metal forms arranged end to end.

The present invention aims to alleviate one or more of the above disadvantages and to provide an adjustable boxing 1 25 assembly which will be reliable and efficient in use.

With the foregoing in view, this invention in one aspect resides broadly in an adjustable boxing assembly including:a thin walled form member having an outer face which constitutes a form surface against which concrete may be placed; a further form member having an outer form surface against which concrete may be placed and being engageable behind said outer face, and clamping means for providing an urging force which urges said outer form surface against said inner face and being arranged so as to ensure a substantially continuous form surface.

The thin walled form member may be constructed from a variety of materials including wood, plastics, fibre glass or metal.

The thin walled form member may include leveling means such as a line scribed along the length of the form surface or indicia printed thereon. Alternatively the leveling means may include an upper edge or an upper surface of the thin walled form member ooooo which may be used to support a trowel or the like.

The thin walled form member may be a rigid, or a flexible, oO** elongate sheet of material such as a thin, elongate, rectangularly shaped sheet of stainless steel.

Alternatively, the thin walled form member may include a form surface wall and one or more walls or flanges extending outwardly therefrom and wherein the transverse cross-sectional a shape of the thin walled form member may be o, constant along its' length. For example, the thin walled form member may be a length of roll formed steel having an shaped transverse cross-section.

t Preferably the thin walled form member includes lateral 5 and vertical restraining walls extending from the form surface wall and which may be utilised as abutments for wedge means operable as sbid clamping means. It is also preferred that there be provided a significant clearance between the further form member and the thin walled form member which it 10 is believed facilitates the disengagement of the form members Eooo• from one another upon disengagement of the clamping means.

roll Accordingly, in one embodiment the thin walled form may be lipped channel shaped and may include a form surface wall, a lateral abutment or return flange extending upwardly from a lower-wall which extends outwardly from the form surface wall and an upper wall or flange which extends outwardly from the form surface wall in the direction of the lateral abutment.

The thin walled form member may also include foundation engaging means associated therewith for maintaining the position of the form member relative to the foundation.

In one embodiment, the foundation engaging means may comprise one or more projections extending below the form member which may be inserted into the foundation such as the ground.

In an alternative embodiment, the foundation engaging means may include one or more foundation engaging members, such as a stake, each of which may be driven into the foundation, and wherein the foundation engaging members may each extend through, engage or abut the form member.

The foundation engaging means may be supported by bracing means such as a bracing member and wherein one end of the bracing member may be adapted for engagement with the Ssurrounding foundation. For example a stake, which extends through a lower end of the bracing member, may be used to secure the bracing member to the foundation.

The further form member iay also be constructed from a variety of materials including wood, plastics, fibre glass or metal.

The further form member may be of any suitable configuration which permits the operative engagement of the 15 two form members such that the form surfaces of the two form members form a substantially continuous form surface. For example, the further form member may comprise an elongate piece of timber or sheet metal. In yet another embodiment, the further form member may comprise an extruded or roll formed section.

Where the thin walled form member includes lateral and vertical restraining walls, it is preferred that the further form member be located and/or slidably received within the thin walled form member. Furthermore, it is preferred that a significant clearance is provided between the two engaged form members.

6 The further form member may include leveling means such as a line scribed along the length of the form face or indicia printed thereon. Alternatively the leveling means may include an upper edge or upper surface of the further form member which may be used to support a trowel or the like.

The further form member may also include foundation engaging means associated therewith for maintaining the position of the form member relative to the foundation.

In one embodiment, the foundation engaging means may comprise one or more projections extending below the further i form member which may be inserted into the foundation such as the ground.

In an alternative embodiment, the foundation means may S 15 include one or more foundation engaging members, such as a stake, each of which may be driven into the foundation and wherein the foundation engaging members may each extend through, engage or abut the further form member.

The foundation means may be supported by bracing means such as a bracing member and wherein one end of the bracing member may be adapted for engagement with a surrounding foundation. Preferably a stake, which extends through a lower end of the bracing member, may be used to secure the bracing member to the foundation.

In one embodiment, the clamping means may include a plurality of releasable fasteners which may co-operate with a plurality of apertures formed in the walls of the thin walled form member and/or the further form member. For example a plurality of nuts and bolts may be used to releasably clamp the two form members together. Alternatively, the thin walled form member may be provided with a plurality of threaded studs which extend outwardly from a laterally orientated upper wall or a, vertically orientated side wall and wherein the studs each extend through a slot formed in an abutting wall of the further form member.

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1 0 In yet another embodiment a plurality of clamps may be used to clamp the two form members together.

In yet another embodiment wedge means such as a wedge or Sa plurality of wedges, each of which may provide restraint in a vertical direction, a horizontal direction or in both directions, may be used to operatively clamp the two form members together.

For example, the wedge meaps may include a lower wedge and an upper wedge and wherein the lower wedge may be used to apply both vertical and lateral restraint to the further form member such that the upper face of the further form member is wedged against an upper wall of the thin wall form member whereby their upper surfaces are substantially co-extensive.

The upper wedge may be used to apply additional lateral restraint to the further form member and whereby disengagement of the two form members may be effected by the disengagement of the respective wedges and the form members.

The wedges may be made from any suitable material including metal, wood or plastics materials. Preferably the wedges are manufactured from a high density polyethylene material.

In yet another embodiment the clamping means may comprise a lever which may be positioned between the two form members and subsequently used to urge them together.

For example, the lever may comprise a bar of spring steel having an inclined end portion which may be positioned between the lower wall of the thin walled form member and the lower wall of the further form member such that a portion of .:foe* the bar intermediate it's ends abuts against the lateral "00 abutment of the thin walled form member and wherein the lateral abutment may serve as a fulcrum for the lever. The lever-is preferably maintained in an operative position by locking means which may also be adapted to provide some lateral restraint against any undue movement of the further form member relative to the thin walled form member. For example, the locking means may comprise a bracing member, one end of which is adapted to engage the foundation, and wherein the opposing end may be adapted to engage a portion of the thin walled form member or the further form member. The bracing member may further include an intermediate portion which is adapted to releasably engage the lever such as a plurality of notches formed along an edge thereof.

In yet another embodiment the clamping means may 9 comprise a clamping member which is adapted to engage both form members such that the form surfaces provide a substantially continuous form surface.

The clamping member may include a mounting portion adapted to engage either one or both form members to be supported thereby. For example, the mounting portion may include a plurality of slotted recesses each adapted to o. o• receive a respective portion of one or the other form member.

In another embodiment, the mounting portion may include one S 10 or more projections which are dach adapted to engage a corresponding aperture or recess formed in one or the other of the two form members.

The clamping member may further include connection means for connecting the clamping member to a ground engaging 15 member such as a stake, which may have a round or rectangular transverse cross-section. For example, the connection means mOO• may comprise a connecting member which is connectable to the i clamping member and which includes a hook like end portion adapted to engage an intermediate portion of a stake having a lower end embedded in the foundation.

In one embodiment, the connecting member may be threaded and may be adapted to engage a threaded aperture formed in the clamping member. Alternatively, the connecting member may extend through a slotted aperture formed in the clamping member and may be maintained in place by a suitable fastener such as nut or a pin.

The clamping member may also include engagement means adapted to resist rotation of the clamping member relative to the ground engaging member. For example, the clamping member may include one or more edges which are adapted to frictionally engage, or bight into, the ground engaging member upon application of the connection means.

The clamping member may also include engagement means o adapted to resist rotation of the form member relative to the clamping member. For example, the clamping member may 1' 0 include one or more flanges which abut against a surface of the form member and thereby resist rotation of the form member relative to the clamping member.

In another aspect this invention relates to support means for operatively supporting a form member, said support means -including: foundation engaging means; *oo support means which includes mounting means for mounting a form member thereto, and connection means associated with said support means for connecting said support means to said foundation engaging means. Preferably the connection provided by the connection means is adjustable whereby the position of the formwork relative to a position on the foundation such as the ground may be adjusted in a vertical direction and/or a horizontal direction.

The support means may include a support member which may 11 be any suitable shape. For example, the support member may be'.of plate like construction and may be formed from a piece of sheet metal.

The mounting means may include a portion of the support member such as one or more faces of the support member and wherein a form member may be attached to the face or faces using a variety of mechanical fasteners such as nails or screws. For example, the mounting means may comprise a mounting flange having at least one aperture formed therein .:j1 0 through which the threaded stem of a bolt or the like may extend.

Alternatively, the mounting means may be adapted to engage the form member to be supported thereby. For example, the mounting means may include one or more recesses or apertures each adapted to receive a portion of the form member. In another embodiment, the mounting means may include one or more projections which are each adapted to engage a corresponding aperture or recess pertaining to the form member.

The foundation engaging means may comprise a foundation engaging member such as a stake, which may have a round or rectangular transverse cross-section, and wherein the connection means may include a sleeve through which the foundation engaging member may extend. Alternatively, the connection means may be adapted to engage a portion of the stake. For example, the connection means may comprise a 12 connecting member which is connectable to the support member and which includes a hook like end portion adapted to engage an intermediate portion of the stake.

In one embodiment, the connecting member may be threaded and may be adapted to engage a threaded aperture formed in the support member. Alternatively, the connecting member may extend through a slotted aperture formed in the support member and may be maintained in place by a suitable fastener such as nut or a pin.

10 The support means may also include engagement means adapted to resist rotation of the support member relative to the ground engaging member. For example, the support member may include one or more edges which are adapted to frictionally engage, or bight into, the ground engaging member upon application of the connection means.

The support means may also include engagement means adapted to resist rotation of the form member relative to the support member. For example, the support member may include one or more flanges which abut against a surface of the form member and thereby resist rotation of the form member relative to the support member.

In yet another aspect this invention relates to a method of erecting formwork including: providing a thin walled form member having an outer face which constitutes a form surface against which concrete may be placed; positioning a second form member, being a form member having an outer form surface against which concrete may be placed, behind said outer face of said thin walled form member, and clamping said form members together in an operatively engaged attitude. Preferably a clamping member is used to clamp said form members together and wherein said clamping member provides an urging force sufficient to urge said outer S form surface against said inner face so as to provide a substantially contiguous form surface.

In yet another aspect, this invention relates to a method of constructing a concrete element using wet concrete, said method including: constructing a boundary against which the wet concrete may be placed using a boxing assembly comprising; r pouring wet concrete against said boxing assembly, and removing said boxing assembly once no longer required to support the concrete. Preferably the boxing assembly is adjustable and is of the type described above.

In order that this invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a typical embodiment of the invention and wherein:- FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of an adjustable boxing assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention; 14 FIG. 2 is another rear perspective view of the adjustable boxing assembly illustrated in figure 1; FIG. 3 is a detailed perspective view of a hinged connection connecting two adjacent form members which is constructed in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of corner connection Sof the adjustable boxing assembly; FIG. 5' is a rear perspective view of another corner S..connection of the adjustable boxing assembly.

10 FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an adjustable boxing assembly which is similar to the assembly illustrated in figure 1 but which employs a different method of clamping the two form members together; FIG. 7 is another rear perspective view of the boxing 15 assembly illustrated in figure 6; FIG. 8 is yet another rear perspective view of the boxing assembly illustrated in figure 6; FIG. 9 is a side view of a lever; FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a boxing assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention comprising a pair of form members which may be operatively clamped together by a clamping member of the type illustrated; FIG. 11 is a front view of the clamping member illustrated in figure FIG. 12 is an end view of the clamping member illustrated in figure FIG. 13 is a plan view of the clamping member illustrated in figure FIGS. 14 and 15 are plan views of the boxing assembly 5 illustrated in figure 10, and FIG 16 is a perspective view of the clamping member illustrated in figure Figures 1 and 2 illustrate an adjustable boxing assembly which may be used to construct a continuous supporting side wall contained substantially in the one plane, comprising a thin walled form member 11 and a further form member 12 slidably received therein.

o The thin walled form member 11 comprises a length of roll formed lipped channel section of stainless steel and includes a vertically orientated web 13 separating an upper, horizontally orientated, wall 14 and a lower, horizontally orientated, wall 15. The web 13 includes an outer face 16 which constitutes a form surface against which concrete may be placed and an inner face 17.

The upper and lower walls 14 and 15 each extend outwardly from the inner face 17 and each include a respective return flange or lip 18 and 19.

In order to secure the thin walled form member 11 to a foundation, such as the ground on which the member stands, the form member 11 is provided with a plurality of tubular members 20 which are each affixed to the lips 18 and 19 of the form member in a substantially vertical attitude and wherein each tubular member is adapted to receive a respective peg 21 which when driven into the ground also extends therethrough.

In addition to the support provided by the pegs 21, each thin walled form member 11 may also be supported by bracing Smeans comprising an inclined bracing member 22 having an upper step or flange 23 and a lower step or flange 24. The upper step 23 is provided with an open ended slot 25 which is 1 0 adapted to engage the body 26 6f a respective tubular member .20. The lower step 24 is adapted to abut or engage the ground and includes a mounting aperture 27 formed therein through which a peg 28 may extend.

The further form member 12 also comprises a length of 15 roll formed lipped channel section of stainless steel and includes a vertically orientated web 29 separating an upper, horizontally orientated, wall 30 and a lower, horizontally orientated, wall 31. The web 29 includes an outer face 32 which constitutes a form surface against which concrete may be placed and an inner face 33.

The upper and lower walls 30 and 31 each extend outwardly from the inner face 33 and each include a respective return flange or lip 34 and It will be noted that the further form member 12 is dimensionally smaller than the thin wall walled form member 11 and that there exists significant clearance between the two form members in both the lateral and vertical directions when the two form members are operatively clamped together, as illustrated in figures 1 and 2.

K In this regard, clamping means comprising an upper wedge 36 and a lower wedge 37 may be used to operatively clamp the two form members together such that they present a substantially continuous side wall comprising form surfaces -16 and 32 as illustrated in figures 1 to 3.

The lower wedge 37 is adapted to be slidably received within the channel defined by the web 13 and the opposing lip 19 and wherein the wedge 37 includes an inclined wall 38 adapted to abut against the lower wall 31 of the further form member such that the upper edge of the web 29 and the upper i wall 30 are forced to abut the upper wall 14.

15 The wedge 37 also includes a lateral abutment 50 having two opposing side walls. One side wall is adapted to abut the lip 35 and wherein the opposing side wall is adapted to abut the lip 19 such that the engagement of lateral abutment with lips 19 and 35 forces the webs 13 and 29 to abut.

The upper tapered wedge 36 is substantially triangular in shape and includes an inclined edge 39 and two orthogonal edges 40 and 41. The wedge 36 may be inserted in a slotted aperture 38 formed in the upper wall 14 such that the orthogonal edge 40 bears against the lip 34 of the form member 12 forcing the surface 32 thereof to abut the web 13 of the thin walled frame member.

18 In order to support the wet concrete the further form member 11, when clamped to a thin walled form member, may be secured to the foundation, such as the ground on which the thin walled form member stands, using a plurality of pegs 42

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which may be driven into the ground and which may each extend through a respective open tubular housing 43 extending i; between opposing upper and lower walls 30 and 31.

In addition to the support provided by the pegs 42, each further form member 12 may also be supported by bracing means 10 comprising an inclined bracing'member which is similar to the i: bracing member 22 and which includes an upper step or flange and a lower step or flange. The upper step is provided with an open ended slot which is adapted to engage the body of a respective tubular housing 43. The lower step is adapted to abut or engage the ground and includes a mounting aperture I- formed therein through which a peg may extend.

:Where a first form surface is required to meet or 0 intersect a second form surface as may be the case at a corner of the boxing, a thin walled connecting member 60, as illustrated in figures 4 and 5, may be used to join two adjacent form members 12 together. The connecting member is similar in construction and configuration to the thin walled connecting member 11 and includes two orthogonal channel shaped portions 61. However it will be appreciated that in other embodiments, the included angle may vary. For example, in other embodiments the included angle may be 450° As an alternative to the use of rigid corner members an alternative corner member 65, as illustrated in figure 3, may be used and wherein the corner member 65 comprises two adjacent thin walled form members which are hingedly connected together using a pin 66 which is threaded through eyes 67 mounted on the ends of the form members. It will be j appreciated that the hinge connection permits a user to selectively vary the included angle.

Figures 6 to 8 illustrate an alternative method of 0 operatively clamping together a thin walled form member ii and a further form member 12 sildably received therein comprising a lever 75, manufactured from a bar of spring steel, having a substantially straight handle 76 and an inclined end portion 77.

15 Typically the inclined end portion 77 may be positioned E between the lower wall 15, separating the lateral abutment or lip 19 from the web 13, and the lower wall 31, of the further form member 12, such that an intermediate portion of the lever rests upon and pivots about a fulcrum 78 comprising the upper edge 79 of the lip 19, as illustrated in figures 6 to 8, whereby the application of a downwardly directed force to the handle 76 will urge the upper wall 30, of the further form member 12, against the upper wall 14, of the thin walled form member.

To assist in the location of the lever 75 on the edge 79, the lever 75 may further include locating means such as a notch formed therein or a piece of angle iron welded thereto which is adapted to receive the edge 79.

The lever 75 is preferably maintained in its operative position by locking means such as a bracing member comprising upper and lower horizontally disposed flanges 81 and 82 respectively, separated by an inclined web 83 having a plurality of notches 84 formed in a side edge thereof which S: are adapted to receive or engage the handle 76 of the lever.

The upper flange 81 is provided with a semi-circular 10 notch 85 formed in a side edge thereof and may be positioned adjacent the form members such that it's upper surface abuts the underside of the wall 30 whilst its leading edge abuts against the rear surface of the wall 29 and may also be employed to maintain the form surfaces in operative 15 engagement, as illustrated in figures- 6 and 7.

Alternatively, the semi-circular notch 85 may releasably engage a tubular member 20 or 43 and may thus be used to either "push" or "pull" against the form members, as generally illustrated in figure 8.

The lower flange 82 is provided with a mounting aperture 86 formed therein through which a ground engaging peg 28 may extend.

It will be appreciated that the boxing assembly described above may be used to quickly erect boxing or a plurality of form surfaces prior to pouring concrete.

In particular, a wall for supporting concrete may be constructed by arranging a plurality of alternating form members 11 and 12 end to end and wherein the length of the wall may be selectively varied by slidably altering the position of one or more form members 12 relative to one or more form members 11.

Having arranged the form members such that they form a wall, a plurality of pegs 21, each located in a respective tubular member 20 may be driven into the ground and/or o.obracing members 22 or 80 may be used to support each form 10 member. The bracing members may be secured to the ground by driving a peg 28 through the mounting aperture.

*To operatively clamp each of the form members 12 to a supporting form member 11, a respective wedge 37 may be placed in the channel bounded by the web 13 and the lip 19 of *o o 15 each form member 11 such that the inclined surface of the wedge faces the adjacent end of the form member 12. The wedge 37 may then be driven in the general direction of the form member 12, as indicated by arrow 70, such that the inclined surface engages wall 31, whereby the upper edge of the web 29 and the upper wall 30 are forced to abut the upper wall 14, and the lateral abutment is forced between the lips 19 and 35 so as to urge the webs 13 and 29 together.

To further maintain the lateral engagement of the two form members a tapered wedge 36 may be inserted in the slotted aperture 38 such that the orthogonal edge 40 bears against the lip 34 of the form member 12 forcing the surface 22 32 thereof to abut the web 13 of the thin walled frame member.

Alternatively, a plurality of levers 75 may be used to operatively clamp abutting form members 11 and 12 together.

For example, the end portion of the lever 75 may be placed below the wall 31 such that a portion of the lever intermediate its ends rests upon the edge 79 and whereupon a downwardly directed force may be applied to the handle so as to force the upper wall 30 against the upper wall 14.

0 In order to maintain the force applied by the lever to the further form member 12, the handle of the lever 75 may be located within one of the notches 84 of a bracing member previously used to prop the further form member 12 in an operative position against the thin walled form member 11 as 15 illustrated in figure 6, or which is used to lateral support for a thin walled form member as illustrated in figure 8.

In order to provide support for the form members 12, a plurality of pegs 42, each located in a respective tubular member 43 may also be driven into the ground and whereby additional bracing members 22 or 80 may be used to support each form member if required.

Where there exists a corner, a connecting member 60 may be used to connected two adjacent inclined form members 12 as per the method of engagement described above.

In order to disassemble the boxing, such as may be required once the concrete has set, the pegs 21, 28 and 42 may be withdrawn and the wedges 36 and 37, or levers removed.

It will be appreciated that the form members may be j, coated with a lubricant in order to inhibit concrete adhering v 5 to the form surfaces.

It will also be appreciated that the upper edge of each web 13 and 33 and/or the upper walls 14 and 30 each provide levelling means which may be used to support a trowel.

Furthermore, arcuate or flexible form members generally J. 10 of the type described herein may be used to construct an arcuate continuous wall for supporting wet concrete or the like.

SFigures 10 to 16 illustrate yet another method of operatively clamping together a thin walled form member 11 15 and a further form member 12 slidably. received therein comprising a clamping member 100, manufactured from a piece Sof sheet metal. The clamping member 100 is substantially (i rectangular in shape and includes an upper edge 101 and a lower edge 102.

The edges 101 and 102 each include engagement means adapted to engage portions of the form members 11 and 12 including respective pairs of vertically orientated slots 103 and 104, and 105 and 106. The slots 103, 104, 105 and 106 are adapted to receive therein the respective lipped edges 34, 18, 35 and 19 of the form members 11 and 12 and wherein the slots 103 and 104, and the slots 105 and 106, are spaced apart a distance equivalent to that separating lipped edges 34 and 18, and lipped edges 35 and 19, respectively when operatively assembled.

With reference to figures 10 to 16 there is also provided connection means for connecting the clamping member 100 to a peg 28, the connection means being adjustable in both the lateral and vertical directions. The connection "means includes a connecting member 110 having a hook like end portion 111 which is adapted to engage an intermediate 10 -portion of the peg 28 anywhere along it's length. The connecting member 110 also includes a threaded stem 112 which 0* extends slidably through a slotted aperture 113 formed in the clamping member 100 and is secured thereto by a threaded nut o* 114.

To prevent or resist rotation of- the clamping member 100 relative to the peg 28 in the direction generally indicated by arrows 115, the clamping member is provided with flanges V 116, the edges of which frictionally engage or bight into the peg due to the application of the nut 114.

The clamping member 100 is also provided with flanges 117 which abut against the internal surface 33 of the form member 12 and thereby resist rotational movement of the form member relative to the clamping member 100 as indicated by arrows 118.

The clamping member 100 is also provided with a rear flange 119 which a user may strike with a hammer or the like in order to adjust the position of the form member relative to the peg 28.

In use, the form members 11 and 12 may be laid out on i the foundation such that the form members 12 are each slidably received within a respective form member 11 and wherein the arrangement of form members generally defines the i boundaries of the proposed concrete element.

Having completed the layout of form members, a plurality ooo::of inclined clamping members 100 may each be positioned relative to the form members 11 and 12, as illustrated in.

figure 10 such that the lipped edges 35 and 19 are located within slotted recesses 105 and 106 respectively. The form members 11 and 12 may then be operatively clamped together by rotating the inclined clamping member 100 until it is substantially vertical whereupon the lipped edges 34 and 18 :will be located within the slotted recesses 103 and 104 respectively and the form surfaces will be maintained in an abutting relationship supported by abutting flanges 117.

The clamping members may each be connected to an adjacent upstanding peg using the connection means described and wherein the lateral position of each clamping member relative to an associated peg 28 may be adjusted by sliding the stem 112 laterally along the slot 113. Similarly the height of each clamping member above the ground may be adjusted by sliding the hook like end portion 111 along the length of the associated peg 28 in a vertical direction.

To disengage the form members for stripping purposes, the clamping members are disconnected from the supporting pegs and are each rotated towards an inclined or substantially horizontal attitude.

It will be appreciated that the clamping members 100 described herein could also be used to support timber form members and wherein the timber form members may be attached to the flanges 117 using fasteners such as bolts.

It will of course be realised that while the above has 10 been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, I all such and other modifications and variations thereto as i* would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as o* defined in the appended claims.

Claims (8)

1. An adjustable boxing assembly including:- a thin walled form member having an outer face which constitutes a form surface against which concrete may be placed and an inner face; a further form member having an outer form surface against which concrete may be placed and being engageable against said inner face, and clamping means for providing an urging force which urges said outer form surface against said inner face and being arranged so as to ensure a substantially continuous form surface.

2. An adjustable boxing assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said thin walled form member includes lateral and vertical restraining means and wherein there is provided significant clearance in both lateral and vertical directions between said engaged form members. 0

3. An adjustable boxing assembly as claimed in Claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said clamping means includes a clamping 0 member that is adapted to engage both form members such *999 0 0000 0.00that said form surfaces provide a substantially continuous form surface. a 0.* 28

4. An adjustable boxing assembly as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said clamping member is a generally rectangularly shaped, plate like, member having upper and lower engagement portions each consisting of a pair of substantially vertically orientated slots.

An adjustable boxing assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said boxing assembly includes foundation engaging means.

6. An adjustable boxing assembly as claimed in Claim wherein the position of said form surfaces relative to said foundation engaging means is laterally adjustable.

7. An adjustable boxing assembly as claimed in Claim 5 or .Claim 6, wherein the position of said form surfaces relative to said foundation engaging means is vertically adjustable.

8. An adjustable boxing assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying *drawings. DATED THIS TWENTY-SEVENTH DAY OF MAY, 2003 DAVID JAMES PRATT .2 BY •AHEARN FOX