Rebar chair

• US 8,028,490 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2008
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meadow Burke, LLC (CRH PLC)
• Original Assignee: MMI Products Incorporated (Fencing Supply Group)
• Inventors: Miller, Richard L., Miller, Stephen L., Kelly, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilbert; William
• Application Number:
  US12/290,190
• Publication Number:
  US 20090100783A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 526/77, 526/87, 526/89, 526/82, 526/83, 526/33, 526/37, 526/46, 526/498, 526/493.1, 526/98, 526/97, 248/676, 248/346.03, 248/346.3, 248/370, 248/440.1, 248/346.04, 248/163.1, D83/54, D83/80, D83/49, D83/84, D25/199, 404/136
• US Class Current: 52/687
• 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 polymeric chair having a rebar cradle and legs of a T-shaped or U-shaped cross-section diverging downwardly from the cradle. The outer surface portions of the legs define segments of a cone. Inwardly extending web portions reinforce the legs. Feet at the distal ends of the legs are disposed to the inside of the outer surface portions. A flat sand plate for the chair has radially extending slots formed therethrough which are proportioned for snug engagement with side surfaces of the feet. The slots are elongate to accommodate different sized chairs having feet spaced at varying radial dimensions. The web portions taper to optimize their reinforcing function and conserve material. In one embodiment, a ring is formed integrally with the legs intermediate the table and the distal ends of the legs. The chair is of a unitary construction and may have an integrally formed strap for extension over the cradle to secure a rebar in place.

Claims

1. A rebar support chair comprising:

a) a table having diametrically opposed ears extending upwardly therefrom, said ears being adapted to engage a rebar therebetween;

b) elongate legs having proximal ends fixed to the table, said legs extending downwardly from the table at generally equally annularly spaced locations therearound, each said leg;

i) being of a unitary generally U-shaped cross-section with a single thickness outer bight portion and at least two spaced inwardly disposed reinforcing web portions integrally joined to and extending over substantially the entire length of the bight portion to provide plural spaced ribs extending longitudinally of each leg in generally normal relationship to bight portion, the bight portion and the web portions having substantially the same length;

ii) diverging outwardly from the table so that the bight portion defines a segment of a cone;

iii) having a free distal end portion separate from the other legs to provide free access between the legs;

iv) terminating in a foot disposed to the inside of and extending from the bight portion.

2. A support chair according to claim 1 wherein:

a) the table is generally circular; and

,

b) the ears are located so as to be between the annularly spaced locations from which the legs extend.

3. A support chair according to claim 1 wherein the bight portion of each leg converges adjacent the distal end portion of the leg to provide space proximal to the foot into which fluid concrete formed around the leg may flow.

4. A support chair according to claim 1 wherein:

a) the chair is of a unitary construction and formed of a polymeric material; and

,

b) the web portions are tapered to reduce in depth toward the distal end portion of the leg.

5. A support chair according to claim 1 wherein:

a) the chair is of a unitary construction and formed of a polymeric material; and

,

b) the web portions of the respective legs are joined with each other to define a bridge integrally formed with and extending across and beneath the table.

6. A support chair according to claim 1 wherein:

a) the chair is of a unitary construction and formed of a polymeric material;

b) the legs are disposed in pairs on diametrically opposite sides of the table; and

,

c) the web portions of the paired diametrically opposed legs extend inwardly and are joined to provide a bridge beneath and integrally formed with the table.

7. A support chair according to claim 1 wherein:

a) the table has a generally horizontal top surface; and

,

b) the legs diverge outwardly from the table at an angle of from ninety four to one hundred and eleven degrees from the top surface.

8. A support chair according to claim 1 wherein the outer bight portion is of an outwardly bowed arcuate cross-section.

9. A rebar support chair comprising:

a) a table having diametrically opposed ears extending upwardly therefrom, said ears being adapted to engage a rebar therebetween;

b) elongate legs fixed to and extending downwardly from the table at generally equally annularly spaced locations therearound, each said leg;

i) being of a unitary generally U-shpaed cross-section with a single thickness outer bight portion and at least two inwardly disposed reinforcing web portions extending over substantially the entire length of the bight portion to provide plural spaced ribs extending longitudinally of each leg in generally normal relationship to bight portion, the bight portion and the web portions having substantially the same length;

ii) diverging outwardly from the table so that the bight portion defines a segment of a cone;

iii) terminating at a distal end joined to and extending inwardly from the bight portion;

c) a foot formed on the distal end of each leg, wherein the foot includes traction means in the form of an irregular surface formed thereon.

10. A support chair according to claim 9 wherein the irregular surface is defined by serrations extending transversely of the foot.

11. A rebar support chair comprising:

a) a cradle for supporting engagement with a rebar;

b) elongate legs having proximal ends fixed relative to the cradle, said legs extending downwardly from the cradle at annularly spaced locations, each said leg;

i) being of a unitary generally U-shaped cross-section with a single thickness outer bight portion and at least two spaced inwardly disposed reinforcing web portions integrally joined to and extending over substantially the entire length of the bight portion to provide plural spaced ribs extending longitudinally of each leg in generally normal relationship to bight portion, the bight portion and the web portions having substantially the same length;

ii) diverging outwardly from the cradle so that the bight portion defines a segment of a cone;

iii) having a free distal end portion separate from the other legs to provide free access between the legs; and

,

iv) terminating in a foot disposed to the inside of and extending from the bight portion.

12. A support chair according to claim 11 wherein the bight portion of each leg converges adjacent the distal end portion of the leg to provide space proximal to the foot into which fluid concrete formed around the leg may flow.

13. A support chair according to claim 11 wherein:

a) the chair is of a unitary construction and formed of a polymeric material; and

,

b) the web portions are tapered to reduce in depth toward the distal end portion of the leg.

14. A support chair according to claim 11 wherein:

a) the cradle has a generally horizontal top surface for supporting engagement with a rebar; and

,

b) the legs diverge outwardly from the cradle at an angle of from ninety four to one hundred and eleven degrees from the top surface.

15. A support chair according to claim 11 wherein the outer bight portion is of an outwardly bowed arcuate cross-section.