Reinforcement bar positioning system

A reinforcement bar positioning device may comprise an elongated main member having a longitudinal axis, with the main member defining a pair of apertures spaced from each other along the longitudinal axis. The positioning device may also comprise at least one securing member mounted on the main member and configured to secure a reinforcement bar in one of the apertures of the main member.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to reinforcement bar support devices and more particularly pertains to a new reinforcement bar positioning system for securely positioning reinforcement bars with respect to each other.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Reinforcing or reinforcement bars (sometimes referred to as “rebar” or re-bar”) are used to reinforce concrete, and the concrete being reinforced is typically poured or placed about the bars so that the bars are incorporated in the concrete after it has set up. Reinforcement bars are typically positioned in a particular configuration in the concrete in a manner that provides a maximum degree of reinforcing strength to the concrete. This positioning is often a grid of the reinforcement bars that extends generally parallel to the main surfaces of the slab or wall. In concrete walls, a pair of substantially grids of reinforcement bars may be utilized.

The spacing of the bars of the grids, and well as the positioning of the grids in the finished wall is important in order to obtain the highest degree of reinforcement for the concrete. Therefore, the positioning of the bars of the grids in the form cavity before and during the placement of the concrete in the form is important. Due to the significant weight of the concrete and the typical pouring of the concrete from above the form into the cavity, the concrete exerts significant pressure on the reinforcement bars in the form cavity and can dislodge and move out of position any bar that is not sufficiently secured or supported.

SUMMARY

In view of the foregoing, the present disclosure describes a new reinforcement bar positioning system which may be utilized for securely positioning reinforcement bars with respect to each other.

In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a reinforcement bar positioning device which may comprise an elongated main member having a longitudinal axis, with the main member defining a pair of apertures spaced from each other along the longitudinal axis. The device may also comprise at least one securing member mounted on the main member and configured to secure a reinforcement bar in one of the apertures of the main member.

In another aspect, the present disclosure relates a reinforcement bar positioning device that may comprise an elongated main member having a longitudinal axis, with the main member defining a pair of apertures spaced from each other along the longitudinal axis. The device may also comprise a pair of securing members movably mounted on the main member, with each of the securing members being configured to secure a reinforcement bar in one of the apertures of the main member. Each of the securing members may be movable on the main member such that each of the securing members is movable between a receiving position and a securing position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular toFIGS. 1 through 4thereof, a new reinforcement bar positioning system embodying the principles and concepts of the disclosed subject matter will be described.

The disclosure relates to a reinforcement bar positioning device10that is highly suitable for positioning, and holding in position, reinforcing or reinforcement bars1,2(sometimes referred to as “rebar” or re-bar”) used to reinforce concrete. The device10is especially suitable for use with reinforcement bars in a form for a substantially vertical concrete wall in which two reinforcement bars are positioned in a lateral (and typically horizontally spaced) relationship, such as when two mats or grids of reinforcement bars are fabricated and positioned in layers in the thickness dimension of the wall to be formed.

In general, the bar positioning device10may comprise a main member12and at least one14, and preferably a pair14,15, of securing members are connected to the main member12for removable securing one or more reinforcement bars to the main member so as to secure the bar in the desired positioning.

The main member12may comprise an elongated member with a longitudinal axis16. The main member12defines at least one aperture18, and preferably defines a pair of spaced apertures18and19. Each aperture of the pair of apertures18,19open in a direction that is lateral to the longitudinal axis16, and the openings of the apertures may be located on a same lateral side of the longitudinal axis of the main member. In greater detail, the main member12may comprise a central spacing portion20and a pair of end portions22,23that are positioned on opposite ends of the central spacing portion. The length of the central spacing portion20along the longitudinal axis may be made longer or shorter to thereby increase or decrease the spacing or separation of the apertures18and19to correspond to the desired or required separation of the reinforcement bars1,2.

Each of the end portions22,23may thus define a respective one of the apertures18,19, and each of the end portions22,23may comprise an aperture-defining structure, which may include an outer extension24, and may also include an inner extension26. The outer extension24may extend generally in a direction that is lateral to the longitudinal axis16of the main member. The outer extension24may have an inward surface28along side of the aperture. The inner extension26may also extend generally in a direction that is lateral to the longitudinal axis16of the main member, and may extend in an orientation that is substantially parallel to the outer extension24. The inner extension26may have an inward surface29which may be spaced from the inward surface28of the inner extension such that the inward surface of the outer extension and the inward surface of the inner extension define the aperture. The inward surfaces28,29of the extensions may be oriented substantially parallel to each other.

In some embodiments of the device10, the main member12may include at least one positioning portion30that is utilized to abut against the inner surface of one of the form walls3,4to maintain the device in a desirable position with respect to the inner surfaces of the form wall, and to thereby maintain the desired spacing of the reinforcement bars engaged by the device10away from the inner surfaces of the form walls. The positioning portion30may extend from one of the end portions22,23, and extends in a substantially longitudinal direction from the end portion. The positioning portion30has a base end32and a free end33that is located opposite of the base end. The base end32may be connected to the end portion22,23, and may preferably be formed of the same piece of material. The free end33may be located in a longitudinal direction from the base end32, and may be adapted for contacting or abutting the inner surface of the one of the form walls. The device10may include a pair of positioning portions30,31for contacting opposite inner surfaces of the form walls so that the device is suitably oriented with respect to the form walls. Each of the positioning portions30,31may extend in substantially opposite and substantially longitudinal directions from the respective end portions22,23. The length of each of the positioning portions as measured between the base and free ends may be made longer or shorter to increase or decrease the distance between the reinforcement bar in the adjacent aperture and the inner surface of the form wall. Optionally, a cap50may be placed in the free end of the positioning portion

The securing member or members14,15may removably secure one or more reinforcement bars1,2to the main member12. The securing members may be mounted on the main member12, and may be movably mounted on the main member. The securing members may be movable between a receiving position (seeFIG. 2) and a securing position (seeFIG. 1). The receiving position of each securing members may be characterized by the securing member being positioned so as to permit a reinforcing bar4to move into the aperture18of the main member. The securing position of each securing member may be characterized by the securing member being positioned to block removal of a reinforcing bar from the aperture of the main member, at least not without moving the securing member toward the receiving position. The securing member may be pivotally mounted on the main member, such as by a pivot35, so that the movement of the securing member with respect to the main member is a pivotal movement. The securing member may be biased toward the securing position by the weight of the securing member when the device10is held with the longitudinal axis in a substantially horizontal orientation with the apertures opening downwardly. The biasing of the securing member may be accomplished by the configuration of the mass of the member with respect to the pivot connection of the securing member to the main member. Optionally, other means may be employed to bias the securing member, such as a spring acting on the securing member, but the configuration of the weight is highly preferable due to its simplicity.

Each of the securing members14,15may comprise a latching portion34and optionally may include a deflection portion36. The latching portion34may form a closed perimeter with the outer extension24of the end portion when the securing member14is in the securing position. The latching portion34may close the opening of the aperture18of the main member when the latching portion is in the securing portion. The latching portion34may be moved away from the opening of the aperture when the latching portion is moved from the securing position of the securing member toward the receiving position.

The latching portion34of the securing member may define a notch38which may be alignable with the aperture18of the main member12when the latching portion is the securing portion. The notch38may open in a longitudinally-outward direction when the securing member is in the securing position. The latching portion34may include a notch-defining edge40which may be arcuate in shape although this shape is not critical.

The deflection portion36may be configured to deflect the securing member14from the securing position toward the receiving position when the deflection portion is contacted by a reinforcing bar1. The deflection portion36may have a deflection edge42that is positioned to contact a reinforcing bar when the reinforcement bar is moved toward the end portion of the main member, or when the device10is moved toward the reinforcement bar so that the deflection edge42contacts the bar. The deflection edge42may be substantially arcuate in shape, although this shape is not critical. The deflection edge42may intersect with the notch-defining edge40at a juncture.

In some embodiments, the notch-defining edge40may have a section adjacent to the juncture of the notch-defining edge40and the deflection edge42that extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis16of the main member when the securing member is in the securing position, and this section may help to resist the movement of a bar1out of the aperture by movement of the securing member toward the receiving position when the bar applies force to the section of the notch-defining edge. In other embodiments, the notch-defining edge may be curved toward the juncture with the deflection edge42create more of a hook to hold the bar in the aperture in the aperture once the bar has moved past the deflection edge and the securing member has moved from the receiving position toward the securing position.

Each of the securing members14,15may be associated with one of the end portions22,23of the main member12, and the securing members may be oriented on the main member in a substantially mirror image relationship, so that one of the securing members mirrors the positioning and orientation of the other one of the securing members. The securing members14,15may move toward each other when the securing members move from the securing position to the receiving position, and may move away from each other when the securing members move from the receiving position toward the securing position.

In use, the device10with a suitable spacing or separation between the apertures18,19for the desired spacing of the reinforcement bars may be selected for employment on the reinforcement bars positioned in the form \cavity. The device10may be aligned in a substantially perpendicular relationship to the orientation of the bars and then moved toward the bars with the bars roughly aligned with the apertures of the device. As the bars move toward the apertures, the bars engages the deflection edge42of the deflection portion of the securing member, and cause the deflection portion, as well as the latching portion, of the securing member to move from the securing position to the receiving position with the securing member moved generally away from the opening of the aperture. Once the bar moves into the aperture, and the juncture of the deflection edge and the notch-defining edge passes by the rod, the securing member is able to move back toward the securing position under the influence of gravity. The configuration of the notch-defining edge40may be such that a portion of the edge40does not tend to allow the securing member to move out of the securing position to the receiving portion when force is applied by a bar in the aperture and notch to the securing member. Additional positioning devices10may be utilized at various separation distances along the reinforcement bars to maintain the spacing and positioning of the bars with respect to each other and the form walls. The concrete may then be placed in the form cavity about the bars and the device10, and the device remains in place in the concrete as it sets up.