US 11,866,939 B2
Support module for a structure
Nicholas Bruce Mullaney, Marulan (AU); and James Richard Howell, Clarence Town (AU)
Assigned to InQuik IP Holdings Pty Ltd, Penrith (AU)
Appl. No. 16/469,698
Filed by InQuik IP Holdings Pty Ltd, Penrith (AU)
PCT Filed Dec. 14, 2017, PCT No. PCT/AU2017/051387
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 14, 2019,
PCT Pub. No. WO2017/107230, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 21, 2018.
Claims priority of application No. 2016905163 (AU), filed on Dec. 14, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2020/0080311 A1, Mar. 12, 2020
Int. Cl. E04C 5/16 (2006.01); E04C 5/20 (2006.01); E04G 11/12 (2006.01); E04G 17/14 (2006.01); E04G 5/06 (2006.01); E04C 5/06 (2006.01)
CPC E04C 5/0604 (2013.01) [E04G 17/14 (2013.01); E04C 5/166 (2013.01); E04C 5/168 (2013.01); E04C 5/20 (2013.01); E04G 11/12 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A structure comprising a plurality of modules layered atop one another to provide a height to the structure, with each module comprising:
a plurality of formwork members, the formwork members of the plurality of modules together forming a pair of side walls that define a space therebetween containing a settable material, each of the plurality of formwork members configured as C-sections having a pair of boundary flanges and a central web extending therebetween; and
a three-dimensional reinforcement cage disposed within and substantially conforming to the space and engaged with the pair of side walls, the reinforcement cage comprising:
(i) a plurality of braces that extend perpendicular to the pair of side walls locking the pair of side walls together in a spaced relationship and simultaneously interlocking adjacent formwork members to consolidate the formwork members of each of the plurality of modules;
(ii) a plurality of first members that extend between successive modules of the structure to thereby interlink the respective reinforcement cages thereof; and
(iii) a plurality of second members that extend along a length of the structure parallel to the side walls, with the first members being coupled to the second members and the braces being coupled to at least one of the of the first members and the second members,
wherein each of the plurality of braces comprise a pair of elongate protrusions and the boundary flanges of each formwork member include a series of apertures spaced along the boundary flanges for receiving the protrusions of the braces therein,
wherein the respective reinforcement cages of each module provide support to locate and hold the side walls in the spaced relationship prior to the introduction of settable material into the space and during the setting thereof, and
wherein the reinforcement cages of the respective modules are configured to, on the setting of the settable material, integrate with the pair of side walls thereby consolidating and providing internal support to the structure.