Patent ID: 11927013
Assignee: T. J. HARRIS COMPANY
Field: Civil engineering (Other fields)
Classification: CPC E | IPC E

Claim 10:
11. An apparatus for supporting reinforcement bars in a concrete structure, the apparatus comprising:
a base member having a lower surface, an opposing upper surface, and a central opening;
a pair of opposing first leg members extending upward from the upper surface of the base member, the first leg members disposed on opposing sides of the central opening;
a pair of opposing second leg members extending upward from the upper surface of the base member, the second leg members disposed on opposing sides of the central opening and alternatingly disposed between the first leg members, the second leg members shorter than the first leg members;
an upper cradle attached to the first leg members for receiving an upper reinforcement bar, the upper cradle comprising:
a first upper bar-support member having a pair of opposing and parallel first upper sidewalls separated by an upper channel, each first upper sidewall having a top edge,
a second upper bar-support member having a pair of opposing and parallel second upper sidewalls separated by the upper channel, each second upper sidewall having a top edge,
wherein each of the first upper sidewalls is substantially coplanar with one of the second upper sidewalls, and
upper retaining members protruding inwardly from the top edges of the opposing first and second upper sidewalls, the upper retaining members having an upper surface slanting downward at an angle with respect to the first and second upper sidewalls to guide and retain the upper reinforcement bar within the upper cradle;

a lower cradle attached to the second leg members for receiving a lower reinforcement bar, the lower cradle comprising:
a first lower bar-support member having a pair of opposing and parallel first lower sidewalls separated by a lower channel, one of the first lower sidewalls attached to an adjacent one of the first upper sidewalls, and another of the first lower sidewalls attached to an adjacent one of the second upper sidewalls, each first lower sidewall having a top edge,
a second lower bar-support member having a pair of opposing and parallel second lower sidewalls separated by the lower channel, one of the second lower sidewalls attached to an adjacent one of the first upper sidewalls, and another of the second lower sidewalls attached to an adjacent one of the second upper sidewalls, each second lower sidewall having a top edge,
wherein each of the first lower sidewalls is substantially coplanar with one of the second lower sidewalls, and
lower retaining members protruding inwardly from the top edges of the opposing first and second lower sidewalls, the lower retaining members having an upper surface slanting downward at an angle with respect to the first and second lower sidewalls to guide and retain the lower reinforcement bar within the lower cradle; and

a ridge extending upward from the upper surface of the base member and disposed between an adjacent first leg member and an adjacent second leg member, the ridge comprising a top edge having:
a central portion;
a first portion sloping downward from the central portion at an angle relative to the upper surface of the base member and extending toward the adjacent first leg member; and
a second portion sloping downward at an angle relative to the upper surface of the base member and extending toward the adjacent second leg member, the second portion disposed at an angle to the first portion.