Abstract:
An anchor system and method to provide support in concrete construction including a concrete-embeddable body having an aperture, one or more concrete anchor legs situated on a first plane, and one or more concrete anchor members situated on a second plane that is different from the first plane, and a strap having a matable head and an elongated strap body, wherein the matable head of the strap lockingly engages the aperture of the concrete-embeddable body.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority of the U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/829,615 filed on Oct. 16, 2006, in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present general inventive concept relates to an anchor system and method for use, for example, in concrete construction, and more particularly, to an anchor system and method which includes a body having a front plate, a top plate, and a back plate and a strap inserted in body such that the body may be fixed in or to concrete or other hard building material with the strap protruding so the strap may be fixed to construction material, for example the framework of a building, steel beam, or roadway. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    There are several known approaches for anchoring systems for use in the construction industry. Anchor systems are used, for example, to attach two or more concrete slabs together or to attach a concrete slab to another structure. Anchoring systems can be pre or post-installed. The anchor system is either encased in concrete when the pre-fabricated wall is poured or is attached, usually by bolting, to the concrete or other material. One common anchoring systems is for the anchor to be bolted to the building structure and then a steel beam or some framework is secured, through bolting system or soldering, to the anchor. 
         [0006]    As structures get larger and more complex, the anchoring systems need to be more versatile allowing for variety of positioning within the building structure. Also, increasing the safety and strength capacity of anchoring systems desired. The amount of load that can be attached to the anchor system is relevant. It is therefore advantageous to have an anchoring system that has increased strength potential. An anchoring system that can be used in a variety of situations for a variety of different loads is advantageous. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present general inventive concept relates to an adjustable anchor system and method for use in concrete construction. The present general inventive concept comprises a body with a front plate, a top plate, and a rear plate and a strap with a notch at the head for insertion in an elliptical bore in the top plate The front plate, top plate, and rear plate are all generally rectangular in shape. The front and rear plates each have at least one leg extending from the main body of the plate and at least one member extending generally perpendicular to the plate at approximately ninety degrees. The top plate has a raised lip that is reinforced and where the angled edge of the strap fits. The body can be encased in concrete, such as a wall for a building. A strap may be inserted in the elliptical bore of the body and is fixed, by welding, soldering, or bonding, to the building framework, either a steal beam or metal plate within another piece of concrete. In the bend of the at least one member, there is a punch out. The punch out serves as another means to secure the anchor system to the building material and increases the strength and the amount the anchor system can hold. The body can be made of low corrosion metal or is coated in a J-finish or other such non-corrosive finish. 
         [0008]    The modular design concept offers improved pullout capacity of the basic anchor system. Higher capacities are achieved by the addition of component parts, for example studs in the members of the body. The present general inventive concept may be prefabricated and manufactured using an automated process that offers consistent performance levels and reliability. Because the anchor system is prefabricated and the strap is adjustable, the cost of manufacturing the anchor system is greatly reduced. The anchor system can be adjusted to fit the needs of different building structures. The anchor system is an easy, safe, accurate and economical method to locate and connect pre-cast panels to framework while decreasing building costs. 
         [0009]    The foregoing and other objects are intended to be illustrative of the general inventive concept and are not meant in a limiting sense. Many possible embodiments of the general inventive concept may be made and will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and accompanying drawings comprising a part thereof. Various features and subcombinations of general inventive concept may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. Other objects and advantages of this general inventive concept will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of this general inventive concept and various features thereof. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0010]    A preferred embodiment of the general inventive concept, illustrative of the best mode in which the Applicant has contemplated applying the principles, is set forth in the following description and is illustrated in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a body of an anchor system for concrete construction of the present general inventive concept. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a top view illustrating the body of the anchor system for concrete construction of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a side view illustrating the body of the anchor system for concrete construction of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a front view illustrating the body of the anchor system for concrete construction of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a top view illustrating a strap insert for the anchor system for concrete construction of the present general inventive concept. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a side view illustrating the strap insert for the anchor system for concrete construction of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating the anchor system for concrete construction with the body engaged with the strap of the present general inventive concept. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating the anchor system for concrete construction with the body and the strap of the present general inventive concept. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view illustrating the anchor system for concrete construction in use with the strap extending from concrete. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0020]    As required, one or more detailed embodiments of the present general inventive concept are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the principles of the general inventive concept, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present general inventive concept in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. 
         [0021]    One embodiment of the present general inventive concept comprises a body  12 , illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 , and a strap  50 , illustrated in  FIGS. 5-6 , that coordinate as an anchor system  10 , illustrated in  FIGS. 7-9 .  FIGS. 1-4  illustrate one embodiment of the present general inventive concept comprising body  12  with a front plate  20 , a top plate  40 , and a rear plate  30 . In one preferred embodiment the plates are generally square or rectangular in shape. Front plate  20  and rear plate  30  are parallel to each other and perpendicular to top plate  40 . Front plate  20  has at least one leg  21   a  extending from the main body of front plate  20  in a direction away from top plate  40 . Leg  21   a  has a bore  22   a  in the approximate center of leg  21   a.  Front plate  20  has at least one member  23   a  extending perpendicular to front plate  20  at approximately ninety degrees and being parallel to top plate  40 . Member  23   a  has a bore  24   a  in the approximate center of member  23   a . A reinforced punch  25   a  is located in a bend  26   a  of the angle where member  23   a  extends. Rear plate  30  has at least one leg  31   a  extending from the main body of rear plate  30  in a direction away from top plate  40 . Leg  31   a  has a bore  32   a  in the approximate center of leg  31   a.  Rear plate  30  has at least one member  33   a  extending perpendicular to front plate  30  at approximately ninety degrees and being parallel to top plate  40 . Member  33   a  has a bore  34   a  in the approximate center of member  33   a . A reinforced punch  35   a  is located in a bend  36   a  of the angle where member  33   a  extends.  FIG. 2  illustrates the manner in which the members ( 23   a ,  23   b ,  33   a , and  33   b ) extend away from the main part of the body  12 . Top plate  40  has a large elliptical bore  41 . In one preferred embodiment elliptical bore  41  is almost as large as top plate  40 . A raised lip  42  surrounds the opening of elliptical bore  41 , and is raised and extends away from the body  12 . 
         [0022]    In a preferred embodiment, body  12  will have 3 legs and 2 members on both the front plate  20  and the rear plate  30  for a total of 6 legs ( 21   a,    21   b,    21   c,    32   a ,  32   b , and  32   c ) and 4 members ( 23   a ,  23   b ,  33   a , and  33   b ).  FIG. 2  illustrates a top view of a preferred embodiment with members  23   a ,  23   b ,  33   a , and  33   b  extending away from the main part of body  12 . 
         [0023]      FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate strap  50 . Strap  50  comprises a head  54  and a strap body  53  and an end  53  where head  54  is smaller than strap body  53 . Head  54  has a notch  51 . Strap  50  has an angled edge  55  between notch  51  and strap body  53 . Strap  50  engages with body  12  by insertion in elliptical bore  41 . Angled part  55  is sized and shaped to correspond to matingly engage with raised lip  42 .  FIG. 7  illustrates one embodiment of the anchor system for concrete construction fully assembled. Strap body  53  is welded to a plate (not illustrated) embedded into a concrete slab or a steel beam of a building. 
         [0024]    The anchor system is used in the construction industry to strengthen the framework of a building and is used as a connector of various construction pieces in a commercial building that is built with concrete and steel beams. In one preferred embodiment, the anchor system is encased in concrete when the concrete is poured for the building. Often building walls are first poured and then lifted into place for the building. When the concrete is poured, it is common to have other support materials within the walls.  FIG. 9  illustrates the use of the anchor system in concrete where the body is encased in concrete and the elliptical bore can be seen with the strap sticking out of the concrete structure. The strap may then be attached, for example, by soldering to the framework of a building or structure, to a steel beam, and/or a metal plate within another piece of concrete. In one embodiment, the strap used is a flat strap as illustrated in  FIGS. 5-7 . In another embodiment, illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the strap used is threaded on one end and that end is coupled to the body of the anchor system  10 .  FIG. 8  illustrates an embodiment where studs  61  are coupled to the bores (e.g.,  34   a ) in the members (e.g.,  33   a ) of the body  12  for added reinforcement when embedded in concrete. 
         [0025]    In some structures it is advantages to run metal lines within the concrete as well and the anchor system  10  such that metal lines may be run through one or more of the bores (e.g.,  22   a ) in the legs (e.g.,  21   a ) and/or one or more of the bores (e.g.,  34   a ) in the members (e.g.,  33   a ) of the body. 
         [0026]    In one embodiment, the anchor system  10 , including the body  12  and the strap  53 , is coated in a less corrosive finish, for example a J-finish. 
         [0027]    In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding; but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. Moreover, the description and illustration of the general inventive concept are by way of example, and the scope of the general inventive concept is not limited to the exact details illustrated or described. 
         [0028]    Although the foregoing detailed description of the present general inventive concept has been described by reference to an exemplary embodiment, and the best mode contemplated for carrying out the present general inventive concept has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that certain changes, modification or variations may be made in embodying the above general inventive concept, and in the construction thereof, other than those specifically set forth herein, may be achieved by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the general inventive concept, and that such changes, modification or variations are to be considered as being within the overall scope of the present general inventive concept. Therefore, it is contemplated to cover the present general inventive concept and any and all changes, modifications, variations, or equivalents that fall within the true spirit and scope of the underlying principles disclosed and claimed herein. Consequently, the scope of the present general inventive concept is intended to be limited only by the attached claims, all matter contained in the above description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
         [0029]    Having now described the features, discoveries and principles of the general inventive concept, the manner in which the general inventive concept is constructed and used, the characteristics of the construction, and advantageous, new and useful results obtained; the new and useful structures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts and combinations, are set forth in the appended claims. 
         [0030]    It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the general inventive concept herein described, and all statements of the scope of the general inventive concept which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.