Abstract:
A connection between an anchor bolt and an anchor bolt holder that is economically efficient to produce and simple to use. This object is achieve by forming the anchor bolt holder from sheet metal and shaping the anchor bolt holder so that it can be formed on an automated die with a minimum of unused material.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    A concrete slab is a common structural element of modern buildings. Horizontal slabs of steel reinforced concrete, typically between 10 and 50 centimetres thick, are most often used to construct floors and ceilings, while thinner slabs are also used for exterior paving. 
         [0002]    In many domestic and industrial buildings a thick concrete slab, supported on foundations or directly on the sub soil, is used to construct the ground floor of a building. In high rises buildings and skyscrapers, thinner, pre-cast concrete slabs are slung between the steel frames to form the floors and ceilings on each level. 
         [0003]    A concrete slab may be prefabricated or cast in situ. Prefabricated concrete slabs are built in a factory and transported to the site, ready to be lowered into place between steel or concrete beams. They may be pre-stressed (in the factory), post-stressed (on site), or unstressed. It is vital that the supporting structure is built to the correct dimensions, or the slabs may not fit. 
         [0004]    In situ concrete slabs are built on the building site using formwork—a type of boxing into which the wet concrete is poured. If the slab is to be reinforced, the rebars are positioned within the formwork before the concrete is poured in. Plastic tipped metal, or plastic bar chairs are used to hold the rebar away from the bottom and sides of the formwork, so that when the concrete sets it completely envelops the reinforcement. For a ground slab, the formwork may consist only of sidewalls pushed into the ground. For a suspended slab, the formwork is shaped like a tray, often supported by a temporary scaffold until the concrete sets. 
         [0005]    The formwork is commonly built from wooden planks and boards, plastic, or steel. On commercial building sites today, plastic and steel are more common as they save labour. On low-budget sites, for instance when laying a concrete garden path, wooden planks are very common. After the concrete has set the wood may be removed, or left there permanently. 
         [0006]    In some cases formwork is not necessary—for instance, a ground slab surrounded by brick or block foundation walls, where the walls act as the sides of the tray and hardcore acts as the base. 
         [0007]    When shear bolts are embedded in a concrete slab, they must be supported during the concrete pour. When shear bolts are needed away from the edges of a concrete slab, they must be supported on the underlying surface. The present invention is a free-standing anchor bolt holder that holds an anchor bolt upright during the concrete pour. If necessary, the anchor bolt holder can be fastened to the material of the underlying surface. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    An object of the present invention is to provide a connection between an anchor bolt and an anchor bolt holder that is economically efficient to produce and simple to use. This object is achieve by forming the anchor bolt holder from sheet metal and shaping the anchor bolt holder so that it can be formed on an automated die with a minimum of unused material. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the anchor bolt holder of the present invention, having a plurality of rib bands that hold the anchor bolt. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of the anchor bolt holder of the present invention, having a plurality of rib bands that hold the anchor bolt. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a to plan view of the anchor bolt holder of the present invention, having a plurality of rib bands that hold the anchor bolt. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a right side elevation view of the anchor bolt holder of the present invention, having a plurality of rib bands that hold the anchor bolt. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the anchor bolt connection of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the anchor bolt holder of the present invention, having a plurality of arms that hold the anchor bolt. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a front elevation view of the anchor bolt holder of the present invention, having a plurality of arms that hold the anchor bolt. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , the present invention is an anchor bolt connection  101  comprising an anchor bolt  102  with a first end portion  103  and a sheet metal anchor bolt holder  1 . The sheet metal anchor bolt holder  1  has a first foot  2 , a first side member  5 , a second side member  11 , a second foot  17 , a first plurality of arms  36 , and a second plurality of arms  36 . 
         [0017]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the first foot  2  has an inner edge  3  and an outer edge  4 . The first side member  5  has a bottom edge  6 , an inner side edge  7 , an outer side edge  8 , and a top edge  9 . The first side member  5  is integrally joined to the first foot  2  along a first bend  10  that is at least partially coincident with the bottom edge  6  of the first side member  5  and the inner edge  3  of the first foot  2 . The second side member  11  has a bottom edge  12 , an inner side edge  13  facing the inner side edge  7  of the first side member  5 , an outer side edge  14  facing away from the outer side edge  8  of the first side member  5 , and a top edge  15 . The second side member  11  is integrally joined to the first side member  5 . The second foot  17  has an inner edge  18  and an outer edge  19 . The second foot  17  is integrally joined to the second side member  11  along a second bend  20  that is at least partially coincident with the bottom edge  12  of the second side member  11  and the inner edge  18  of the second foot  17 . 
         [0018]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a first plurality of arms  36  project from the inner side edge  7  of the first side member  5 . The arms  36  each have an inner side  25  and an outer side  26 . A second plurality of arms  36  projects from the inner side edge  13  of the second side member  11 . The arms  36  each have an inner side  25  and an outer side  26 . The inner sides  25  of the first and second pluralities of arms  36  embrace the first end portion  103  of the anchor bolt  102  and thereby define an anchor-receiving space  27 . 
         [0019]    Preferably, as shown in  FIG. 2 , one of the first plurality of arms  36  is integrally joined to one of the second plurality of arms  36  to form a continuous rib band  16 . More preferably, another of the first plurality of arms  36  and another of the second plurality of arms  36  is integrally joined to form another continuous rib band  16 . The rib bands  16  each have a first end  21  and a second end  22 , the first end  21  being integrally joined to the inner side edge  7  of the first side member  5  and the second end  22  being integrally joined to the inner side edge  13  of the second side member  11 . The inner sides  25  of the rib bands  16  define the anchor-receiving space  27 . 
         [0020]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the rib bands  16  preferably are arched. Preferably, the arched rib bands  16  each have an upper edge  23  and a lower edge  24 , the upper edge  23  and second lower edge  24  both extending from the first end  21  to the second end  22 . The inner side  25  is generally concave and the outer side  26  is generally convex. The arched rib bands  16  alternately arch in opposite directions to define the anchor-receiving space  27  encompassed by the generally concave inner sides  25 . 
         [0021]    Preferably, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the first side member  5  is stiffened with an embossment  28  that extends more than half the distance between the bottom edge  6  and the top edge  9  of the first side member  5 . Preferably, the second side member  11  is also stiffened with an embossment  28  that extends more than half the distance between the bottom edge  12  and the top edge  15  of the second side member  11 . 
         [0022]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the first bend  10  preferably is reinforced with a gusset dart  29  that extends between the first foot  2  and the first side member  5 . Preferably, the second bend  20  is also reinforced with a gusset dart  29  that extends between the second side member  11  and the second foot  17 . 
         [0023]    Preferably, the majority of the first foot  2  is substantially planar, and the majority of the second foot  17  is substantially planar. The outer edge  4  of the first foot  2  preferably has first, second and third substantially linear side portions  30 , and the outer edge  19  of the second foot  17  has first, second and third substantially linear side portions  30 . Preferably, the first foot  2  has a fastener opening  31 ; the second foot  17  has a fastener opening  31 . 
         [0024]    The first foot  2  and the second foot  17  preferably are substantially horizontally-oriented. Preferably, the first side member  5  and the second side member  11  are substantially vertically-oriented. 
         [0025]    Preferably, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the first foot  2  and the second foot  17  each have an inner face  32  and an outer face  33  opposite the inner face  32 . The first side member  5  and the second side member  11  preferably each have a first face  34  and a second face  35  opposite the first face  34 , the first faces  34  facing the same direction and the second faces  35  facing the same direction. Preferably, the inner face  32  of the first foot  2  and the first face  34  of the first side member  5  define a 90-degree angle adjacent the first bend  10 . The inner face  32  of the second foot  17  and the second face  35  of the second side member  11  preferably define and 90-degree angle adjacent the second bend  20 . 
         [0026]    The anchor bolt connection  101  preferably comprises a sheet metal anchor bolt holder  1  and an anchor bolt  102 . The sheet metal anchor bolt holder  1  preferably has a first foot  2 , a first side member  5 , a second side member  11 , a second foot  17 , and a plurality of arched rib bands  16  that connect the first side member  5  and the second side member  11 . 
         [0027]    Preferably, the first foot  2  has an inner edge  3  and an outer edge  4 . Preferably, the first side member  5  has a bottom edge  6 , an inner side edge  7 , an outer side edge  8 , and a top edge  9 . The first side member  5  preferably is integrally joined to the first foot  2  along a first bend  10  at least partially coincident with the bottom edge  6  of the first side member  5  and the inner edge  3  of the first foot  2 . 
         [0028]    Preferably, the second side member  11  has a bottom edge  12 , an inner side edge  13  facing the inner side edge  7  of the first side member  5 , an outer side edge  14  facing away from the outer side edge  8  of the first side member  5 , and a top edge  15 . The second side member  11  preferably is integrally joined to the first side member  5  by a plurality of arched rib bands  16 . Preferably, the second foot  17  has an inner edge  18  and an outer edge  19 . The second foot  17  preferably is integrally joined to the second side member  11  along a second bend  20  at least partially coincident with the bottom edge  12  of the second side member  11  and the inner edge  18  of the second foot  17 . 
         [0029]    The arched rib bands  16  preferably each have a first end  21  and a second end  22 , an upper edge  23  and a lower edge  24 , a generally concave inner side  25  and a generally convex outer side  26 . Preferably, the upper edge  23  and second lower edge  24  both extend from the first end  21  to the second end  22 . The first end  21  preferably is integrally joined to the inner side edge  7  of the first side member  5  and the second end  22  being integrally joined to the inner side edge  13  of the second side member  11 . Preferably, the arched rib bands  16  alternately arch in opposite directions to define an anchor-receiving space  27  encompassed by the generally concave inner sides  25 . The anchor bolt  102  preferably has a first end portion  103  inserted in the anchor-receiving space  27  so that the anchor bolt  102  interfaces with the generally concave inner sides  25  of the arched rib bands  16 . 
         [0030]    Preferably, the first end portion  103  of the anchor bolt  102  is threaded. A first nut  104  preferably is threaded onto the first end portion  103  so that it contacts the sheet metal anchor bolt holder  1 . The nut  104  increases the pullout resistance of the anchor bolt  102 . 
         [0031]    The outer faces  33  of the first foot  5  and the second foot  17  preferably interface with a structural support surface  105 . 
         [0032]    Preferably, the anchor bolt holder  1 , the anchor bolt  102  and the nut  104  are embedded in a concrete structural member  106 . 
         [0033]    Preferably, the maximum width between the outer edge  4  of the first foot  2  and the outer edge  19  of the second foot  17  is 3 3/32 inches. The maximum height between the upward-facing inner faces  32  of the first and second feet  2  and  17  to the top edges  9  and  15  of the first and second side members  5  and  11  is preferably 3¼ inches. Preferably, the distance between the inner face  32  of the second foot  17  and the lower edge  24  of the nearest rib band  16  is 1¼ inches. The distance between the upper edge  23  and the lower edge  24  of each rib band preferably is ½ inch. Preferably, the anchor-receiving space  27  is generally cylindrical, with a diameter of approximately 1.125 inches. The distance between the outer side edges  8  and  14  of the first and second side member  5  and  11  to the middle of the nearest gusset  29  preferably is 11/16 inches. Preferably, the maximum distance from the inner edge  3  to the outer edge  4  of the first foot  2  is 1½ inches. Preferably, the maximum distance from the inner edge  18  to the outer edge  19  of the second foot  17  is also 1½ inches. The distance from the outer side edge  8  of the first side member  5  to the outer side edge  14  of the second side member  11  preferably is 3⅛ inches. Preferably, the distance from the outer side edges  8  and  14  of the first and second side members  5  and  11  to the middle of the adjacent stiffening embossments  28  is 5/16 inches. The distance from the outer side edges  8  and  14  of the first and second side members  5  and  11  to the inner side edges  7  and  13  where the rib bands  16  attach preferably is 27/32 inches. The inner side edges  7  and  13  are preferably parallel and relatively distantly spaced where the rib bands  16  attach, then colinear, than relatively closely spaced as they approach the bottom edges  6  and  12  of the first and second side members  5  and  11 . The embossments  28  preferably begin at the top edges  9  and  15  of the first and second side members  5  and  11 , and extend straight down 3.031 inches.