PREFABRICATED PANEL FORMWORK, SUITABLE FOR BEING USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS AND GARDENS

Abstract

Prefabricated panel formwork, suitable for being used in the construction of buildings and gardens. Pre-fabricated panel formwork provided with a pair of vertical metal sections to which a back metal wall and a front metal wall are fixed, being suitable to define an intermediate cavity that is open on top and on the bottom; wherein at least said front metal wall is provided with a plurality of horizontal slots, each of them being positioned at the top of an underneath pocket that protrudes frontally from the same wall.

Claims

1. Prefabricated formwork comprising: a pair of uprights, a front vertical wall and a back vertical wall with lateral edges fixed to the uprights in such manner to define a cavity that is open on top and on the bottom; wherein said front vertical wall comprises a metal plate comprising with a plurality of projections that protrude frontally from the metal plate in such manner to define pockets, wherein each projection has a horizontal slot disposed above the projection to access the pocket defined by the projection.

2. The formwork of claim 1, wherein said back vertical wall comprises a metal plate comprising a plurality of projections that protrude on the back from the metal plate in such manner to define pockets, wherein each projection has a horizontal slot disposed above the projection in order to access the pocket defined by the projection.

3. The formwork of claim 1, wherein said front vertical wall is made of expanded metal plate and said uprights are metal sections.

4. The formwork of claim 2, wherein said back vertical wall is made of expanded metal plate and said uprights are metal sections.

5. The formwork of claim 1, wherein said cavity of the formwork contains concrete.

6. The formwork of claim 1, wherein said cavity contains soil so that said pockets can act as pots for growing plants.

7. The formwork of claim 1, wherein said pockets formed by the projections are in communication with said cavity formed between the two vertical walls of the formwork,

8. The formwork of claim 1, wherein each projection is shaped as an outward-protruding wedge.

9. The formwork of claim 1, wherein said front vertical wall comprises a plurality of horizontal rows of projections disposed in staggered position so that said horizontal slots of the pockets can be accessed by the user.

10. The formwork of claim 2, wherein said back vertical wall comprises a plurality of horizontal rows of projections disposed in staggered position so that said horizontal slots of the pockets can be accessed by the user.

Description

[0025] For purposes of clarity the description of the formwork according to the present invention continues with reference to the attached drawings, which are intended for purposes of illustration only, and not in a limiting sense, wherein:

[0026] FIG. 1 is an axonometric view of the formwork according to the invention;

[0027] FIGS. 2 and 3 are partial enlarged views of the formwork of FIG. 1, diagrammatically showing two alternative uses of the formwork.

[0028] With reference to FIG. 1, the prefabricated formwork (1) has a panel-like structure. The formwork (1) comprises a pair of uprights (10), a front vertical wall (11) and a back vertical wall (12).

[0029] The uprights (10) are preferably metal sections, which can indifferently have a C, H, double-T or square section. The front and the back vertical walls (11, 12) have lateral borders fixed to the uprights (10) in such manner to define a cavity (13).

[0030] The front vertical wall (11) comprises a metal plate (steel or aluminum) comprising a plurality of projections (B) that protrude frontally from the metal plate in such manner to define pockets (15). Each projection (B) has a horizontal slot (14) disposed above the projection to access the pocket (15) defined by the projection. The pockets (15) are in communication with the cavity (13).

[0031] Preferably said front vertical wall (11) is obtained with a metal plate that undergoes an expansion process to obtain the projections (B) and the pockets (15).

[0032] Advantageously, each projection (B) is shaped as an outwards-protruding wedge, i.e. each projection (B) is shaped has an equilateral triangle or a trapezium in horizontal section.

[0033] Advantageously, the projections (B) are disposed along horizontal rows disposed in staggered position, in such manner that the horizontal slots (14) of all pockets (15) can be accessed by a user. Each row of projections (B) is shaped as a triangular or square wave in horizontal section and the adjacent rows are staggered by a half-cycle.

[0034] When the formwork (1) is used as a partition between two spaces that are accessible to people, both vertical walls (11, 12) of the formwork are intended to remain visible. In such a case, also the back vertical wall (12) advantageously comprises a metal plate provided with a plurality of projections (B) that protrude from the metal plate in such manner to define pockets (15) that are accessible from horizontal slots (14).

[0035] Alternatively, the back vertical wall (12) can comprise a flat metal plate, in case it is not intended to remain visible.

[0036] With reference to FIG. 2, the formwork (1) can be used as a container to contain a concrete casting in fluid state, in order to let the concrete set for the construction of masonry works. In this case, the cavity (13) of the formwork (1) is filled with concrete (C) in such manner that the concrete (C) also fills the pockets (15) in communication with the cavity (13). In this case, the concrete (C) contained in the pockets (15) can be seen from the horizontal slots (14) of the pockets (15). To avoid the unpleasant aesthetical impact of concrete, the upper portion of the pockets (15) can be filled with colored inert material that is poured in the pockets (15) through the horizontal slots (14) and is disposed on the concrete.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 3, the formwork (1) can be also used to contain soil (T) to make vertical gardens. In this case, the cavity (13) of the formwork (1) is filled with soil (T), in such manner that the soil (T) also fills the pockets (15) in communication with the cavity (13). In this way, the pockets (15) acts as pots used to grow plants that are intended to flourish out of the pockets (15) until the external surface of the vertical wall (11, 12) of the formwork (1) is either completely or partially covered.

[0038] It must be considered that the formwork (1) is of disposable type. In fact, in both uses of the formwork (1), all parts (uprights (10) and vertical walls (11, 12)) are intended to be permanently embedded in the structure formed by the formwork without the possibility of separating or removing said parts, as in the case of traditional modular (reusable) formworks after the filling and setting of the concrete.

[0039] The formworks (1) of the invention can be disposed in vertical rows, stacked one on top of the other, or in horizontal rows, positioned one next to the other. In order to keep together the formworks (1) disposed in horizontal or vertical rows, plate-shaped tie-rods such as the ones used to assemble the modular formworks of the prior art.

[0040] Preferably, each plate tie-rod is interposed between the adjacent edges of two formworks (1), in such manner to be embedded in the concrete casting or in the soil.

[0041] Advantageously, in the case of horizontal or vertical rows of formworks, reinforcing irons are disposed in the cavities (13) of the formworks (1). In this way the reinforcing irons are embedded in the concrete cast or in the soil disposed in the cavity of the formwork in such manner to improve the connection between adjacent formworks.