Key-Locked and Band-Tightened Rebar Clamping Assemblies

• US 20180355614A1
• Filed: 02/14/2018
• Published: 12/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GEM Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: GEM Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Evans, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 10,519,660 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 5/167 Connection by means of clips or other resilient elements
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 5/201 Spacer blocks with embedded separate holding wire or clips
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/08 using bands
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 7/0493 forming a crossed-over connection

Abstract

A key-locked rebar clamping assembly includes a clamp that may be forced onto the perpendicular intersection of the upper and lower rods of crossed rebar and then held from below with a key. The assembly is readily installed by forcing the clamp over the intersection of the upper and lower rods and forcing the key through a keyway in opposing sides of the clamp. The assembly holds the rods together with the clamp at the top and the key at the bottom regardless of force, vibration, and the like applied to either rod. As the key constrains downward movement of the lower rod away from the clamp and the upper rod, the lower rod will not separate from the upper rod if walked on. The assembly reduces the need to alternate longitudinal adjacent rods between upper and lower positions, thus saving labor costs through the elimination of wire tying and complicated positioning.

Claims

1. An assembly for clamping two substantially cylindrical rebar rods in a substantially perpendicular orientation, comprising:

a clamp configured to be forced onto a substantially perpendicular intersection of an upper rod and a lower rod, the clamp including a top surface, a first pair of substantially parallel opposite sides, and a second pair of substantially parallel opposite sides, and the clamp defining keyway configured to receive a key,

the first pair of substantially parallel opposite sides defining a first open area configured to receive and allow passage of the upper rod,

the second pair of substantially parallel opposite sides defining a second open area configured to receive and allow passage of the lower rod and defining on each opposite side a second bar-receiving area configured to receive the lower rod; and

a key configured for insertion into the keyway of the clamp and to rest in the keyway of the clamp, the key configured to constrain downward movement by the lower rod away from the upper rod when the key is resting in the keyway of the clamp.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said clamp includes deformable plastic or deformable plastic composite and wherein said clamp is configured to deform for fitment of the upper rod and the lower rod.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the first open area and the second open area are semi-circular.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the keyway is located on the second pair of substantially parallel opposite sides below the second open area and contacting the second pair of substantially parallel opposite sides.

5. A method of clamping two substantially cylindrical rebar rods in a substantially perpendicular orientation, comprising:

a. providing a clamp configured to be forced onto a substantially perpendicular intersection of an upper rod and a lower rod, the clamp including a top surface, a first pair of substantially parallel opposite sides, and a second pair of substantially parallel opposite sides, and the clamp defining keyway configured to receive a key,

i. the first pair of substantially parallel opposite sides defining on each opposite side a first open area configured to allow passage of the upper rod and defining on each opposite side a first bar-receiving area configured to receive the upper rod,

ii. the second pair of substantially parallel opposite sides defining on each opposite side a second open area configured to allow passage of the lower rod and defining on each opposite side a second bar-receiving area configured to receive the lower rod;

b. providing a key configured to be inserted into the keyway of the clamp and to rest in the keyway of the clamp;

c. forcing the clamp onto the substantially perpendicular intersection of the upper rod and the lower rod so that the upper rod passes through the first open area and is fitted into the first bar-receiving area and the lower rod passes through the second open area and is fitted into the second bar-receiving area; and

d. inserting the key into the keyway of the clamp until the key is resting in the keyway, the key configured to constrain downward movement by the lower rod away from the upper rod when the key is resting in the keyway of the clamp.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said clamp includes deformable plastic or deformable plastic composite and wherein said clamp is configured to deform for fitment of the upper rod and the lower rod.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the first open area and the second open area are semi-circular.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the keyway is located on the second pair of substantially parallel opposite sides below the second open area and contacting the second pair of substantially parallel opposite sides.

9. A band-tightened rebar clamping assembly for clamping two substantially cylindrical rebar rods in a substantially perpendicular orientation, comprising:

a clamp configured to hold an upper rod and a lower rod in a substantially perpendicular orientation, the clamp including;

a medial curved section that includes a medial rod-contacting surface configured to receive the upper rod,

two substantially parallel lateral curved sections extending from the medial curved section, each lateral curved section including a lateral rod-contacting surface configured to receive the lower rod, and

a first band-engaging member and a second band-engaging member configured to be positioned on opposing sides of the upper rod, the band-engaging members configured to interact with a tightening band, said tightening band configured to constrain movement of the upper rod with respect to the lower rod.

10. The band-tightened rebar clamping assembly of claim 9 wherein said tightening band includes a tape section and a head section, the tape section including teeth adapted to engage with a pawl within the head section in a ratcheting manner, and wherein the band-engaging members include apertures configured to allow the tape section of the tightening band to be threaded through both band-engaging members when the tightening band secures the upper rod in the clamp, said tape section being substantially wrapped around the upper rod.

11. The band-tightened rebar clamping assembly of claim 9 wherein said tightening band includes a tape section, said tightening band is integrally formed with the first band-engaging member, and the second band-engaging member is configured to engage with the tape section.

12. The band-tightened rebar clamping assembly of claim 11 wherein the second band-engaging member includes an aperture configured to allow the tape section of the tightening band to be threaded through the second band-engaging member.

13. The band-tightened rebar clamping assembly of claim 9 wherein one of the band-engaging members includes at least one interlocking component configured to interact with at least one complimentary interlocking component on the tightening band.

14. The band-tightened rebar clamping assembly of claim 13 wherein said at least one interlocking component is a stud or clasp.

15. The band-tightened rebar clamping assembly of claim 9 wherein said tightening band includes a tape section and a loop member configured to receive the tape section after said tightening band has secured the upper rod in the clamp.

16. The band-tightened rebar clamping assembly of claim 9 wherein said clamp includes deformable plastic or deformable plastic composite.

17. A band-tightened rebar clamping assembly for clamping two substantially cylindrical rebar rods in a substantially perpendicular orientation, comprising:

a clamp configured to hold an upper rod and a lower rod in a substantially perpendicular orientation, said clamp including deformable plastic or deformable plastic composite, the clamp including;

a medial curved section that includes a medial rod-contacting surface configured to receive the upper rod,

two substantially parallel lateral curved sections extending from the medial curved section, each lateral curved section including a lateral rod-contacting surface configured to receive the lower rod, and

a first band-engaging member and a second band-engaging member configured to be positioned on opposing sides of the upper rod, the band-engaging members configured to interact with a tightening band, said tightening band configured to constrain movement of the upper rod with respect to the lower rod, said tightening band including a tape section and a head section, the tape section including teeth adapted to engage with a pawl within the head section in a ratcheting manner, and the band-engaging members include apertures configured to allow the tape section of the tightening band to be threaded through both band-engaging members when the tightening band secures the upper rod in the clamp, said tape section being substantially wrapped around the upper rod.

18. A method for clamping two substantially cylindrical rebar rods in a substantially perpendicular orientation, comprising:

a. providing a clamp configured to hold an upper rod and a lower rod in a substantially perpendicular orientation, the clamp including;

i. a medial curved section that includes a medial rod-contacting surface configured to receive the upper rod,

ii. two substantially parallel lateral curved sections extending from the medial curved section, each lateral curved section including a lateral rod-contacting surface configured to receive the lower rod, and

iii. a first band-engaging member and a second band-engaging member configured to be positioned on opposing sides of the upper rod, the band-engaging members configured interact with a tightening band, said tightening band configured to interact with a tightening band, said tightening band configured to constrain movement of the upper rod with respect to the lower rod;

b. applying the clamp to the substantially perpendicular intersection of the upper rod and the lower rod so that the lower rod is received by the lateral rod-contacting surfaces and the upper rod is received by the medial rod-contacting surface; and

c. moving the tightening band to interact with the band-engaging members so that the tightening band secures the upper rod in the clamp, whereby the movement of the upper rod with respect to the lower rod is constrained.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said tightening band includes a tape section and a head section, the tape section including teeth adapted to engage with a pawl within the head section in a ratcheting manner, and wherein the band-engaging members include apertures configured to allow the tape section of the tightening band to be threaded through both band-engaging members when the tightening band secures the upper rod in the clamp, said tape section being substantially wrapped around the upper rod.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein said tightening band includes a tape section, said tightening band is integrally formed with the first band-engaging member, and the second band-engaging member is configured to engage with the tape section.