Abstract:
A connector used to attach a reinforcing element to a headed stud includes a body uniquely configured to be placed onto the stud&#39;s head. The body also includes a pair of opposed apertures such that a reinforcing element such as, for example, a length of rebar, maybe inserted through the apertures such that the connector, already disposed on the stud head, effectively “locks” the reinforcing element to the stud.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention is a connector used to attach a reinforcing element to a headed stud such that a subsequent pour of concrete will effectively “lock” the reinforcing element to the stud, thereby enhancing the strength characteristics of articles poured around the headed studs and reinforcing elements attached thereto, it being understood that the headed studs are typically cast into a structural element extending for the joining of a second poured element thereto.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    It is, of course, well known in the construction industry that preformed and pre-stressed concrete structural elements typically include reinforcing elements such as, for example, wire mesh and rebar, embedded within the concrete structural element. The industry has long recognized the necessity of placing the reinforcing elements properly and maintaining those elements in position as the pour is made. In recognition of this necessity, the prior art teaches numerous devices for supporting reinforcing elements and for tying those elements together and to framing and connecting members also embedded into the structural concrete member.  
           [0005]    For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,086,732 discloses a metal tie in the form a clip which has a slot to receive a section of rebar and includes bendable arms to hold one or more additional sections of rebar in a transverse relation to the rebar placed within the slot. Obviously, with such a device, some mechanical force must be applied to bend the tabs into place.  
           [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,772,560 discloses a pick-up device that is embedded into pre-cast concrete slabs wherein wires are used to “hook” sections of rebar onto fasteners which are embedded into the slab, exposing eyes above the slab whereby it can be lifted.  
           [0007]    Another example of a bendable metal connector is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 3,512,329. The device of this patent is particularly suited for mechanically connecting lengths of rebar disposed at right angles to each other, with the connector of this patent being placed at the intersection.  
           [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,981,601 discloses structure for an expansion joint between two concrete structures whereby an embedded connector includes a hook portion that may serve as a cradle for holding rebar as the joint structure is cast in place.  
           [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,196,558 teaches a fire-resistant concrete and steel structural element wherein headed studs are provided on a metal I-beam, and concrete is poured around the beam. According to the teaching of this patent, reinforcing elements may be placed across the shaft of adjacent headed studs before the pour is made. However, this patent does not disclose means for ensuring that the reinforcing elements do not move or shift as the pour is made.  
           [0010]    Another reinforced concrete structural element is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,655,349 wherein a principal reinforcing member is a headed stud, one end of which is retained and an elongate support element that is also contained within the pour. This patent shows the use of reinforcing elements in addition to the plurality of headed studs placed within the elongate track, but no means are disclosed for connecting the reinforcing elements to the stud.  
           [0011]    A somewhat similar structure is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,992,123 in that headed studs placed within an elongate track are embedded in a concrete structural element. According to the disclosure of this patent, reinforcing elements such as lengths of rebar in addition to the stud assembly are used, but the reinforcing elements are not mechanically attached to the stud.  
           [0012]    It is also known to attach reinforcing elements such as, for example, wire mesh and lengths of rebar, to connector plates and other such elements embedded within a concrete pour by the use of wires twisted around the reinforcing element and the connector, and even by welding the reinforcing element to the connector. Obviously, both of these procedures, as well as the teachings contained in the prior art discussed above, are labor-intensive and the quality of the connection made is extremely dependent upon the skill and care of the installer.  
           [0013]    It is therefore clear that while numerous means for connecting reinforcing elements to a variety of connectors typically embedded in pre-cast and pre-stressed concrete structural elements are known, there remains a great need for a connector that is easy to assemble, that minimizes the likelihood of improper installation, and that requires no external fastener such as wires, clips, bolts, or welding.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0014]    The present invention relates to a connector used to attach a reinforcing element such as, for example, wire mesh or rebar, to a headed stud, it being understood that both the reinforcing elements and the headed studs are embedded within pre-cast or pre-stressed concrete structural elements. The connector of this invention comprises a body of substantially rectangular configuration and including a slot formed through the body extending from a bottom toward the top. A relieved portion is provided on the face of the body, and the relieved portion also extends from the bottom of the body toward the top of the body, with the relieved portion intersecting the slot. By virtue of this structure, the head of a stud may be received into the slot from the bottom of the body, and the shaft or neck of the stud will pass through the relieved portion formed in the front of the body.  
           [0015]    The connector further comprises a pair of opposed enlarged portions extending from first and second sides outwardly from the front, with each enlarged portion being spaced outwardly of the relieved portion on the front of the connector body. Corresponding apertures are formed through each of the enlarged portions, and these apertures are dimensioned and configured such that a reinforcing element such as, for example, a length of rebar, may be inserted therethrough. The reinforcing element would be inserted through the apertures after the connector body had been placed on the stud such that the reinforcing element is below the headed stud and effectively “locks” the connector onto the stud and serves to attach the reinforcing element thereto without the necessity of employing any other fastening means.  
           [0016]    The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessing the features, properties, and the relation of elements which will be exemplified in the article hereinafter described, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]    For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the connector of this invention.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the connector.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3 is a back elevation of the connector.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the connector.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the connector.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 6 is a rear view showing attachment of the connector to a headed stud with a reinforcing element in place.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 7 is a front view of the assembly as shown in FIG. 6.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 8 is a detailed, enlarged view of the connector from a front, bottom perspective.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 9 is a view of the connector shown in FIG. 8 from a front, top perspective. 
     
    
       [0027]    Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0028]    A preferred embodiment of the connector of this invention is illustrated in the drawing figures and comprises a connector body generally indicated as  10 . Referring first to the views of FIGS. 8 and 9, body  10  defines a top  12 , a bottom  14 , a back  16 , a front  18 , a first side  20 , and a second side  22 . Inasmuch as the connector of this invention is used as a mechanical connection in pre-cast and pre-stressed concrete structures, body  10  must be formed from a relatively strong and durable material. Preferably, connector body  10  is cast metal, but the scope of this invention is intended to include other materials such as, for example, plastics, carbon fiber, or other similar materials.  
         [0029]    Still referring to the views of FIGS. 8 and 9, connector body  10  further comprises a slot  24  formed through bottom  14  and extending through body  10  toward top  12 . This extension of slot  24  from bottom  14  toward top  12  is, of course, shown in broken lines. One can also see that first side  20  includes a first enlarged portion  26  adjacent bottom  14  and extending outwardly from front  18 . A corresponding second enlarged portion  28  is provided on second side  22 . A first aperture  30  is formed through first enlarged portion  26 , and a corresponding second aperture  32  is formed through second enlarged portion  28 . It is also to be noted that while in this embodiment first enlarged portion  26  and second enlarged portion  28  are both illustrated as being rounded as they extend outwardly from front  18 , this particular configuration is not limiting to the scope of this invention. Virtually any shape or configuration for enlarged portions  26  and  28  could be utilized so long as they define sufficient material for their respective first and second apertures  30  and  32 .  
         [0030]    Finally, one can see that a relieved portion  34  is formed in front  18  between first side  20  and second side  22 . Relieved portion  34  extends from bottom  14  toward top  12  and intersects slot  24  along the length defined between bottom  14  and terminus  36  of relieved portion  34 .  
         [0031]    Turning to the views of FIGS.  1 - 5 , inclusive, this preferred construction for connector body  10  is shown in the various elevational and plan views of those figures. Referring more particularly to the view of FIG. 2, one can see that slot  24  defines a length between bottom  14  and terminus  38  of slot  24 , and that this length is greater than the corresponding length of relieved portion  34 . One can also see that the width of slot  24 , as measured between first side  20  and second side  22 , is greater than the corresponding width of relieved portion  34 . Turning now the views of FIGS. 6 and 7, illustrations are provided showing the use of the connector of this invention for attaching a reinforcing element  40  to a headed stud generally indicated as  42 . The views of FIGS. 6 and 7 depict an attachment plate  44  from which the headed studs  42  extend, and a receiver plate  46  onto which attachment plate  44  may be mounted. Though not shown in these figures, it is to be understood that, according to known construction principles and techniques, receiver plate  46  would typically be embedded along one edge of a cementitious structural element, and attachment plate  44 , with a plurality of reinforcing elements  40  in place, would be cast into another cementitious structural element to be joined to that element including receiver plate  46 . It is also to be understood that while only a single connector body  10  and reinforcing element  40  are illustrated in the views of FIGS. 6 and 7, a typical installation would comprise a plurality of these devices. Furthermore, and as previously stated, while the illustrated reinforcing element  40  is shown as an elongate, rounded bar, this certainly is not to be interpreted as a limitation to the scope of the present invention.  
         [0032]    In use, one first attaches connector body  10  to headed stud  42  by inserting stud head  48  into slot  24  with stud shaft  50  therefore extending through relieved portion  34 . Then, one inserts reinforcing element  40  through the first and second apertures  30  and  32 , respectively. Because relieved portion  34  defines a width that is narrower than the corresponding width of slot  24 , stud head  48  is retained within slot  24  of connector body  10 . In like fashion, once reinforcing element  40  is inserted through first and second apertures  30  and  32 , connector  10  effectively “locks” reinforcing element  40  in position with respect to attachment plate  44 .  
         [0033]    It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained, and since certain changes may be made in the above article without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.  
         [0034]    It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall there between.  
         [0035]    Now that the invention has been described,