Abstract:
An architecture is presented that provides a tool designed for aligning and positioning snap-ties used in assembling the structural concrete shaping forms. The tool comprises a shaft member fixedly attached to a slotted engaging member for engaging the snap-ties. The slotted engaging member typically has a tapered slot so that the user may easily encompass the snap-tie and position it in a single step without the need to temporarily lock the snap-tie to the tool during positioning. The tool also allows the user to position snap-ties remotely without the need for the user&#39;s body to enter a concrete form apparatus, thereby decreasing the chance of injury.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/479,126 filed Apr. 26, 2011. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention pertains generally to a construction tool and more particularly to a tool for aligning and positioning snap-ties for use in assembling the forms used for shaping structural concrete. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Concrete structures commonly require a supporting form typically constructed of plywood panels to keep the concrete in a desired shape until sufficiently cured. The plywood panels are usually held together with a tie rod system such snap-ties. The snap-ties help keep the plywood panels in alignment and maintain the proper spacing for the concrete. Once the plywood panels are in place along with other structural components such as a rebar framework, a user positions the snap-ties and secures them to the plywood. Assembly can be both labor-intensive and dangerous. Manipulating and securing a snap-tie into position requires significant effort and often puts the individual in danger as the individual must reach into the framework to secure the snap-tie. As the framework comprises metal bars and plywood panels, the user&#39;s body is at risk to be cut, smashed, punctured, or otherwise injured. Additionally, as the process is time consuming, productivity is diminished. 
         [0004]    Consequently, there exists a need for a more efficient and safer tool designed to guide a snap-tie into position in a concrete form without the need for an individual to physically enter the form. The present invention discloses a tool for positioning and manipulating snap-ties within a concrete form for use by carpenters, bridge builders, and the like, or by anyone working with structural concrete. The tool allows workers to save time and energy while safely reaching a form panel connection. The tool is able to position, manipulate, and secure snap-ties within a concrete form remotely without the need for an individual to reach into the form. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed invention. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. 
         [0006]    The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one aspect thereof, comprises a positioning tool for use in positioning, manipulating, and securing a snap-tie within a concrete form without the need to reach into the form. The positioning tool comprises a shaft member with a first end and a second end. The first end is typically curved for use as a hand hold and for hanging the tool when not in use. A slotted engaging member is secured to the second end for use in manipulating the snap-tie. 
         [0007]    Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the slotted engaging member is a washer with a tapered slot cut out that is welded or otherwise permanently affixed to the second end of the positioning tool. The tapered slot is dimensioned so that the washer may fit around and engage the snap-tie for positioning. The shaft member is typically long enough so that a user does not need to place any part of his body into a concrete form apparatus. Once the snap-tie is placed and secured, the positioning tool may be hung by the first end when no longer needed. 
         [0008]    To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be practiced and all aspects and equivalents thereof are intended to be within the scope of the claimed subject matter. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a snap-tie positioning tool in accordance with the disclosed architecture. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1A  illustrates a close-up cut away perspective view of a second end of the snap-tie positioning tool in accordance with the disclosed architecture. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of the snap-tie positioning tool engaging and positioning a snap-tie in a concrete form apparatus in accordance with the disclosed architecture. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of a snap-tie positioning tool in a non-use position in accordance with the disclosed architecture. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    Reference is now made to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the novel embodiments can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. The intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter. 
         [0014]    The present invention discloses a tool for use in easily and safely positioning a snap-tie in a concrete form apparatus. The tool comprises a shaft member with a slotted engaging member. The tool allows a user to push and/or pull the snap-tie into position without the need for any part of the user&#39;s body to enter the concrete form apparatus, thereby significantly increasing the safety of the operation. The tool is designed for use by carpenters, construction workers, and the like, where uncured concrete requires a form to maintain its shape during pouring and prior to curing. 
         [0015]    Referring initially to the drawings,  FIGS. 1-3  illustrate a tool  100  designed for efficiently and safely positioning a snap-tie  20  used in maintaining the shape of a concrete form apparatus  10  during the pouring and curing of structural concrete without the need for a user to enter the concrete form apparatus  10 . The tool  100  comprises a shaft member  102  having a first end  104  and a second end  106 . The shaft member  102  is generally constructed of a high tensile steel of approximately grade 60 (yield strength of approximately 60,000 pounds per square inch), however any other suitable highly durable material such as high tensile steel with a grade of approximately between 40 to 80, cold rolled steel, stainless steel, galvanized steel, high strength composite materials, and the like, as is known in the art may be used without affecting the overall concept of the invention. The high tensile steel is preferable as it has yield strength that prevents the tool  100  from significantly bending or deforming during use. For example, a minimum yield strength of approximately 60 kips per square inch, or the equivalent, will typically be adequate to resist any deformation forces associated with positioning the snap-tie  20  within the concrete form apparatus  10 . 
         [0016]    The shaft member  102  is generally a pencil rod type shape of rounded steel metal approximately between 3/16 to 7/16 inches in diameter, and approximately between 36 and 64 inches long. While the shaft member  102  is typically cylindrical in shape, this is not meant as a limitation as any suitable shape or size as is known in the art may be used without affecting the overall concept of the invention. 
         [0017]    The first end  104  is designed to be grasped by the user to push and/or pull the snap-tie  20  into position. Preferably, the first end  104  is curved into a hook shape having a radius of approximately two inches. As seen in  FIG. 3 , as the tool  100  is portable, the hook shape is convenient for hanging or storing the tool  100  when not in use on a rebar framework in the concrete form apparatus  10  commonly found in concrete construction. The hook shape is also easy to grasp by the user when employing the tool  100 . While the radius of the hook shape is preferably approximately two inches, this is not meant as a limitation as any suitable shape and/or radius as is known in the art may be used without affecting the overall scope of the invention. For example, the first end  104  could be rectangular in shape with an ergonomic hand grip (not shown) of a suitable material to increase the comfort of the user. Additionally, the first end  104  and/or the second end  106  may be colored or painted, for example yellow, so as to improve visibility when the tool  100  is in use. 
         [0018]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 1A , the second end  106  of the shaft member  102  comprises an attachment point  108  located at a distal position on the second end  106 . The tool  100  further comprises a slotted engaging member  110 . The slotted engaging member  110  is fixedly attached or otherwise secured along the distal position of the second end  106  at the attachment point  108 . While a weld is preferred to fixedly attach the slotted engaging member  110 , any method of permanently securing and holding the slotted engaging member  110  in place at the attachment point  108  as is known in the art may be used without affecting the overall scope of the invention. 
         [0019]    The slotted engaging member  110  is typically a 3/8 th  inch galvanized washer as it is economical and easy to secure, however, the size of the washer may range approximately between 1/4 th  and 1 inch and still be within the scope of the invention. Typically, the slotted engaging member  110  is welded to the attachment point  108  on the second end  106  so that the slotted engaging member  110  is aligned with the shaft member  102  in a substantially parallel orientation. In other words, the washer is welded along a circumference of the washer so that the washer protrudes off of the shaft member  102  at approximately 90 degrees substantially in line with the shaft member  102 . 
         [0020]    The slotted engaging member  110  preferably comprises a tapered slot. The tapered slot is typically orientated to face substantially opposite of the attachment point  108 . In other words, the tapered slot faces away from the shaft element  102 . The tapered slot preferably comprises a section cut out from the slotted engaging member  110  with an inner arc  112  of approximately 5/16 th  of an inch in length and an outer arc  114  of approximately 3/8 th  of an inch in length. However, this is not meant as a limitation as the tapered slot may be configured in shapes comprising a wedge, a triangle, an angled slot, a curved taper, and the like, and of any dimension that permits the slotted engaging member  110  to engage the snap-tie  20 . For example, in an embodiment with a square shaped washer as the slotted engaging member  110 , the tapered slot could be cut with approximately parallel cuts so that the inner arc  112  and the outer arc  114  are approximately the same length if desired. 
         [0021]    The function of the slotted engaging member  110  is to receive the snap-tie  20  through the tapered slot so that the tool  100  may be used to position the snap-tie  20  within the concrete form apparatus  10 . As seen in  FIG. 2 , once the snap-tie  20  is engaged, the user simply pulls the snap-tie  20  toward the user into a hole or other securing position in a plywood form member. Alternatively, the user may push the snap-tie  20  away from the user toward the hole or other securing position in the concrete form apparatus  10 . Typically, once guided into place, the snap-tie  20  extends through the hole and is externally secured to the plywood form member, thereby holding the concrete form apparatus  10  in place while concrete is poured and cured. The tool  100  surrounds the snap-tie  20  without the need to temporarily lock the snap-tie  20  in place saving installation time. The tool  100  utilizes a single working end to accomplish the entire positioning of the snap-tie  20  remotely so that no part of the users body need enter the concrete form apparatus  10  risking injury. 
         [0022]    Other variations are within the spirit of the present invention. Thus, while the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, a certain illustrated embodiment thereof is shown in the drawings and has been described above in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form or forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims. 
         [0023]    The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. The term “connected” is to be construed as partly or wholly contained within, attached to, or joined together, even if there is something intervening. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate embodiments of the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention. 
         [0024]    Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventor expects skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventor intends for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.