Support for elongate members in a poured layer

• US 4,996,816 A
• Filed: 10/06/1989
• Issued: 03/05/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wiebe, Jacob R.
• Original Assignee: Wiebe, Jacob R.
• Inventors: Wiebe, Jacob R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scherbel, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAI, LANNA
• Application Number:
  US07/418,233
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 52/741, 52/684-687, 52/742, 404/70, 404/72, 404/134
• US Class Current: 52/677
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 5/18 Spacers of metal or substantially of metal E04C5/168 takes precedence

Abstract

A support device for supporting longitudinal rigid members in a poured layer for example rebar within concrete comprises two V-shaped wire elements which are inverted and have parallel rails welded across the elements. Two lower rails are spaced at the end of the legs of the elements to allow the ends of the legs to be inserted into the ground. The elongate members then rest across the upper rails between two apex portions of the elements which extend upwardly above the upper rails. The rails extend out beyond the elements to provide portions which can be inserted into the ground when the device is rotated through 90° to support the elongate members at a different height from the base layer. The use of a wire structure enables the concrete to be poured around the device without the formation of voids. The use of four legs inserted into a sand or similar base provides great stability.

Claims

1. A method of supporting elongate members during embedding of the members in a poured layer comprising providing a particulate base on which the layer is to be poured, mounting on the particulate base a support device comprising a first and a second element, each element defining a pair of legs depending from a central apex portion between the legs, and at least three separate parallel coupling wires extending from the first element to the second element substantially at right angles to each of the elements and arranged to hold the elements in spaced aligned position, each of two of the wires being connected to each of the elements at a position thereon adjacent to but spaced from a lower end of a respective one of the legs thus defining a lower portion of the leg between the wire and the end of the leg, and a third of the wires being connected to one of the legs of each element at a position adjacent to but spaced downwardly from said apex portion, pressing into the particulate base said lower portion of said legs so that the lower portions up to said two wire elements are fully embedded into the base thus maintaining the support device in stable position on the base, laying one of the elongate members across said third of the wires between and below said apex portions, confining said elongate member against side to side movement between said apex portion, and pouring the layer onto the base.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein each of the elements is formed by bending from a single wire.

3. The invention according to claim 1 wherein each of the elements is of inverted V-shape.

4. The invention according to claim 1 wherein there is provided a fourth wire connected to the other of the legs at a position adjacent to but spaced downwardly from said apex portion.

5. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said two of the wires lie in a first plane which is horizontal and wherein the third and fourth wires lie in a second plane which is horizontal and spaced upwardly from the first plane.

6. The invention according to claim 1 wherein the wires are co-extensive.

7. The invention according to claim 1 wherein the elements are maintained in mutually parallel position.

8. A method of supporting elongate members during embedding of the members in a poured layer comprising providing a particulate base on which the layer is to be poured, mounting on the particulate base a support device comprising a first and a second element, each element defining a pair of legs depending from a central apex portion between the legs, and at least three separate parallel coupling wires extending from the first element to the second element substantially at right angles to each of the elements and arranged to hold the elements in spaced aligned position, each of two of the wires being connected to each of the elements at a position thereon adjacent to but spaced from a lower end of a respective one of the legs thus defining a lower portion of the leg between the wire and the end of the leg, and a third of the wires being connected to one of the legs of each element at a position adjacent to but spaced downwardly from said apex portion, each of the wires extending beyond the elements to define end portions such that the length of the end portions of the wires extending beyond the elements is substantially equal to the length of the lower portion of the legs, defining a spacing between the elements which is different from the spacing of one of said two wires from the third wire, selecting an orientation of the support device depending upon a required spacing of the elongate members from the particulate base, depending upon the orientation selected pressing into the particulate base so as to be embedded therein one of those end portions of the wires beyond one of the elements and the lower portions of the legs beyond said first and second wires to cause said device to engage the base thus maintaining the support device in stable position on the base, laying one of the elongate members across said support device, confining said elongate member against side to side movement between upwardly projecting portions of said device, and pouring the layer onto the base.

9. The invention according to claim 8 wherein each of the elements is formed by bending from a single wire.

10. The invention according to claim 9 wherein each of the elements is of inverted V-shape.

11. The invention according to claim 8 wherein there is provided a fourth wire connected to the other of the legs at a position adjacent to but spaced downwardly from said apex portion.

12. The invention according to claim 11 wherein said two of the wires lie in a first plane which is horizontal and wherein the third and fourth wires lie in a second plane which is horizontal and spaced upwardly from the first plane.

13. The invention according to claim 8 wherein the wires are co-extensive.

14. The invention according to claim 8 wherein the elements are maintained in mutually parallel position.