Reinforcement support spacer

• US 4,598,523 A
• Filed: 01/17/1984
• Issued: 07/08/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Superior Steel Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Wilbur E. Tolliver
• Inventors: Tolliver, Wilbur E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Raduazo, Henry E.
• Application Number:
  US06/571,567
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• Field of Search: 52/679, 52/684, 52/685, 52/687, 52/688, 52/665, 256/47, 256/48, 256/32
• US Class Current: 52/685
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 5/168 Spacers connecting parts for reinforcements and spacing the reinforcements from the form
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 5/20 of material other than metal or with only additional metal parts, e.g. concrete or plastics spacers with metal binding wires E04C5/168 takes precedence

Abstract

A reinforcement support spacer for spacedly positioning one or more concrete reinforcement members from a surface on which concrete is poured. The spacer comprises a support which has at least one recess therein for receiving a reinforcement member. Barbs or tines formed integrally with the support project into the recesses. The barbs or tines on each recess are oriented so as to permit a reinforcement member to be forced past the barbs or tines into the recess but substantially to prevent a reinforcement member from being forced past the barbs or tines out of the recess once a reinforcement member has been inserted into the recess. The support spacers of the present invention permit reinforcement members to be preassembled in spaced relationship to each other and installed as an assembly. The preassembled reinforcement assembly can be lifted onto the surface on which concrete is to be poured, saving on-site labor costs involved in assembling at the point of use.

Claims

1. A reinforcement support spacer for use in spacing reinforcement members for concrete structures, said spacer comprising:

a support comprising at least two vertical webs joined together along one vertical edge of each web;

at least two recesses positioned in one of said webs for receiving reinforcement members therein;

each of said recesses having opposed barbs therein for positively locking the reinforcement members into said recesses; and

wherein

a second of said webs is oriented transversely of the plane of said one web;

said one web is approximately the height of said support spacer and includes one of said recesses at the top thereof;

said second web is shorter than said support spacer and has a top surface defining a shoulder, whereby a first reinforcement rod or bar can be oriented in said one recess, and a second reinforcement rod or bar oriented transversely to and secured to said first reinforcement rod can be placed adjacent said support spacer, resting on or above said shoulder.

2. A reinforcement support spacer as recited in claim 1 wherein said locking means comprises a plurality of barbs projecting from said support into said recess and oriented in said recess to permit a reinforcement member to be forced past said barbs into said recess but substantially to prevent a reinforcement member from being forced past said barbs out of said recess once a reinforcement member has been inserted into said recess.

3. The reinforcement support spacer of claim 2 wherein said barbs slope generally downwardly into said recess.

4. A reinforcement support spacer as recited in claim 3 wherein said recess has a bottom portion in which a reinforcement member can be lockably received.

5. The reinforcement support spacer of claim 4 in which each said recess opens upwardly whereby reinforcement is inserted therein with a downward motion.

6. A reinforcement support spacer as recited in claim 5 which further includes a base plate on the bottom of said spacer.

7. A reinforcement support spacer of claim 6 wherein said base plate is removably secured to said support spacer.

8. The reinforcement support spacer of claim 7 wherein said base plate is eccentrically mounted on said support spacer.

9. The reinforcement support spacer of claim 8 wherein said base plate has at least one thickening rib extending underneath at lease one of said webs.

10. The reinforcement support spacer of claim 1 in which each said recess opens upwardly whereby reinforcement is inserted therein with a downward motion.

11. The reinforcement spacer of claim 1 wherein a third of said webs is oriented transversely of the plane of said second web and extends away from said one web, said third web having longitudinally oriented reinforcement means thereon.

12. The reinforcement spacer of claim 11 wherein said reinforcement means comprises at least one of a bead or a reinforcing rib extending longitudinally of and integrally formed with said third rib.

13. The reinforcement support spacer of claim 1 wherein said barbs slope generally downwardly into said recess.

14. A reinforcement support spacer for use in spacing reinforcement members for concrete structures, said spacer comprising:

four vertical webs joined together along one vertical edge of each web;

at least two recesses positioned in one of said webs for receiving reinforcement member therein;

each of said recesses having two pairs of opposed barbs therein projecting from said one web;

a second of said webs oriented transversely of the plane of said one web; and

wherein;

said one web is approximately the height of said support spacer and includes one of said recesses at the top thereof;

said second web is shorter than said support spacer and has a top surface defining a shoulder, whereby a first reinforcement rod or bar can be oriented in said one recess and a second reinforcement rod or bar oriented transversely to and secured to said first can be placed adjacent said support spacer, resting on or about said shoulder.

15. The reinforcement support spacer of claim 14 in which each of said recesses opens upwardly, whereby reinforcement is inserted therein with a downward motion.

16. A reinforcement support spacer for use in spacing reinforcement members for concrete structures, said spacer comprising:

a support having at least one vertical web, and means for supporting said support in an upright generally vertical orientation;

said web having an uppermost edge, and a side edge;

first and second recesses positioned in said web and shaped for receiving reinforcement members therein;

said first recess being positioned adjacent to the uppermost edge of said web;

said second recess being positioned in a medial portion of said web, and being oriented in a normally generally vertical direction;

a cutaway extending through the side edge of said web adjacent said medial web portion and communicating with said second recess whereby reinforcement is inserted therein with a downward motion.

17. The reinforcement support spacer of claim 16, wherein:

said first recess is positioned in the uppermost edge of said web, and opens upwardly, whereby reinforcement is inserted therein with a downward motion.