Retainer clip for reinforcement of concrete walls

• US 5,509,636 A
• Filed: 02/28/1995
• Issued: 04/23/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joseph A. Cotugno
• Original Assignee: Joseph A. Cotugno
• Inventors: Cotugno, Joseph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mackey, James P.
• Application Number:
  US08/396,349
• Time in Patent Office: 420 Days
• Field of Search: 249/91, 249/93, 249/94, 249/207, 249/210, 249/213, 249/218, 249/219.1, 52/665, 52/677, 52/685, 52/686, 52/698, 52/699, 52/700, 52/712, 52/714, 52/719, 24/336, 24/339, 24/531, 403/385, 403/388, 403/395, 403/397, 403/400
• US Class Current: 249/91
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 5/167 Connection by means of clips or other resilient elements
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 5/168 Spacers connecting parts for reinforcements and spacing the reinforcements from the form
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/344 Resilient type clasp
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3444 Circular work engageable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4465 Integrally combined, independently operable, diverse clasps, clips, or support-clamps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7105 Connected by double clamp
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7164 One rod held between bight and other rod extending through aperture in leg of connector
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7176 Resilient clip

Abstract

A retainer clip for use with concrete form tie for retention of reinforcing rods has a one-piece body which includes a header, and first and second clips extending angularly therefrom, spaced apart in a first direction, and defining therebetween a generally u-shaped opening sized to slidably receive a reinforcing rod of generally circular cross section. Each of the clips include first and second prongs spaced apart in directions lateral to the first direction, and at least two prongs of the clips further define therebetween a narrow generally rectangular passage which intersects at least a portion of the u-shaped opening, and is sized to receive at least a notched form tie of generally narrow rectangular cross section. The retainer clip secures the reinforcing rod in position substantially against the form tie in a notch to inhibit both relative motion in the first direction and substantial separation therebetween.

Claims

1. A retainer clip assembly for retention of a reinforcing rod comprising a retainer clip and a notched form tie which has a generally rectangular cross section and a notch, said retainer clip comprising a one-piece body having:

a header; and

first and second clips extending angularly from the header to clip ends, said clips spaced apart in a first direction, and defining therebetween a generally u-shaped opening sized to slidably receive a reinforcing rod extending lengthwise in a second direction lateral to said first direction and having a generally circular cross section; and

wherein each of said clips further comprises first and second prongs spaced apart in said second direction, at least two prongs of said clips further defining therebetween a narrow generally rectangular passage extending generally through the clips in the first direction, said passage intersecting at least a portion of said u-shaped opening and sized to receive and confine said notched form tie extending lengthwise in said first direction; and

wherein in each of said clips;

at least one of said prongs has flexibility to deflect and facilitate receipt of said notched form tie in said narrow generally rectangular passage by slidably inserting the form tie towards said header between the ends of said clips; and

at least one of said prongs has a catch positioned such that said clips confine said narrow generally rectangular notched form tie received in the narrow generally rectangular passage; and

wherein, without clamping, said reinforcing rod and said form tie are restrained against substantial separation from each other, and, without clamping, said form tie is restrained against relative motion in the first direction when said reinforcing rod is received in said u-shaped opening between said notch in said form tie and said header.

2. The retainer clip assembly of claim 1 wherein said header has a curved generally semi-circular shape defining the closed end of said u-shaped opening.

3. The retainer clip assembly of claim 1 wherein said u-shaped opening extends further into said header than does said narrow generally rectangular passage.

4. The retainer clip assembly of claim 1 wherein said first and second clips extend in generally parallel relationship.

5. The retainer clip of claim 1 wherein two prongs define the narrow generally rectangular passage, and said two prongs include one prong from each of said clips wherein:

said two prongs are positioned to define opposite sides of said narrow generally rectangular passage; and

said two prongs each include said catch spaced from said header and positioned to define together one narrow side of said narrow generally rectangular passage.

6. The retainer clip assembly of claim 5 wherein said header defines one narrow side of said narrow generally rectangular passage.

7. The retainer clip assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of said clips includes first and second prongs of different lengths.

8. The retainer clip assembly of claim 1 wherein each of said clips includes first and second prongs of substantially equal length.

9. The retainer clip assembly of claim 1 wherein said flexibility and said catch are combined together in at least one prong of at least one of said clips.

10. The retainer clip assembly of claim 1 wherein said prongs having a catch include said catch positioned thereon near the ends of said clips.

11. The retainer clip assembly of claim 10 wherein said clips releasably confine said narrow generally rectangular notched form tie with a portion of said catches.

12. The retainer clip assembly of claim 1 wherein a portion of an end of at least one of said clips is beveled.

13. The retainer clip assembly of claim 1 wherein each said catch comprises a wedge shape extending at an outward angle from said end of said clip to a flat portion generally facing said header having sufficient size to define a portion of said passage and confine said narrow generally rectangular form tie.

14. The retainer clip assembly of claim 1 wherein the ratio between the width of said generally u-shaped opening defined by the first and second clips, and the width of said narrow generally rectangular passage defined by the at least two prongs is greater than or equal to 2:

1.

15. The retainer clip assembly of claim 1 wherein the one-piece body is comprised of plastic.

16. The retainer clip assembly of claim 15 wherein the plastic includes acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene.

17. A retainer clip assembly for retention of a reinforcing rod comprising a retainer clip and a notched form tie which has a generally rectangular cross section and a notch said retainer clip comprising a one-piece body having:

a header; and

first and second clips extending angularly from the header, spaced apart in a first direction, and defining therebetween a generally u-shaped opening sized to slidably receive a reinforcing rod of generally circular cross section; and

wherein each of said clips further comprises first and second prongs of different lengths spaced apart in directions lateral to said first direction, at least two prongs of said clips further defining therebetween a narrow generally rectangular passage extending generally through the clips in the first direction, said passage intersecting at least a portion of said u-shaped opening and sized to receive at least said notched form tie;

wherein said u-shaped opening extends further into said header than does said narrow generally rectangular passage; and

wherein at least one of said first and second prongs of each said clip is flexible; and

wherein at least one of said first and second prongs of each said clip has a catch positioned in spaced relationship from said header to releasably confine said form tie received in the narrow generally rectangular passage when said reinforcing rod is positioned in said notch of the form tie and received in said u-shaped opening between the form tie and said header;

wherein, without clamping, the retainer clip assembly secures said reinforcing rod in position substantially against the form tie to inhibit both relative motion of the form tie in the first direction and substantial separation between the reinforcing rod and retainer clip assembly.

18. A retainer clip assembly for retention of a reinforcing rod comprising a retainer clip and a notched form tie which has a generally rectangular cross section and a notch said retainer clip comprising a one-piece body having:

a header;

first and second clips extending angularly from the header to clip ends, said clips in generally parallel relationship, spaced apart in a first direction, and defining therebetween a generally u-shaped opening sized to slidably receive a reinforcing rod of generally circular cross section, said header having a semicircular portion defining the closed end of said u-shaped opening; and

wherein each of said clips further comprises first and second prongs spaced apart in directions lateral to said first direction, at least two prongs of said clips further defining therebetween a narrow generally rectangular passage extending generally through the clips in the first direction, said passage intersecting at least a portion of said u-shaped opening and sized to receive said notched form tie;

wherein the ratio between the width of said generally u-shaped opening defined by the first and second clips, and the width of said narrow generally rectangular passage defined by the at least two prongs is greater than or equal to 2;

1;

wherein the end of at least one of said clips opposite the header is beveled; and

wherein in each of said clips;

at least one of said prongs has flexibility to deflect and facilitate receipt of said notched form tie in said narrow generally rectangular passage by slidably inserting the form tie towards said header between said ends of said clips; and

at least one of said clips has a catch positioned near the end thereof opposite said header such that said clips releasably confine said generally rectangular notched form tie received in the narrow generally rectangular passage when said reinforcing rod is positioned in a notch of the form tie and received in said u-shaped opening between the form tie and said header;

wherein, without clamping, in said retainer clip assembly the retainer clip secures said reinforcing rod in position substantially against the form tie to inhibit both relative motion in the first direction and substantial separation between said reinforcing rod and said form tie.