Patent Publication Number: US-2006016140-A1

Title: Anchor bolt placement protection assembly and method for aligning structural elements in a form when pouring concrete

Description:
This application is a continuation in part of and claims priority to the filing date of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/335,656 entitled “Anchor Bolt Placement and Protection Device”, filed Dec. 31, 2002. The entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to concrete foundations and the foundation forms made of boards into which concrete is poured and more particularly relates to mud sill anchor bolts and structural hardware bolts imbedded in the concrete. The present invention also relates to an anchor bolt placement and protection device adapted to be detachably mounted to the threaded end of an anchor bolt to shield the threads and vertical shaft exposed after pouring, protecting the threads and shaft from being coated with concrete during the pour. This invention also relates to properly positioning the anchor bolt in relation to the form boards between which the concrete is poured.  
      2. Discussion of the Prior Art  
      In conventional construction of homes and other buildings, it is well known to pour concrete between form boards for foundations set into trenches accommodating the wooden forms which retain the concrete while it hardens or cures. Conventional industry practice has been to place a wooden spacer bar between the form boards at the bottom of the trench and to nail a cleat across the top of the form boards to retain the proper spacing of the form boards while concrete is being poured into the form. While it is expected that the bottom spacer bars will be of appropriate length to retain the bottom edges of the form boards at the appropriate spacing in the trench bottom where they can be held in place by the pressure of the dirt filled into the trench against the outside surfaces of the form, it has been discovered that the wooden cleats nailed across the top edges of the form board provided unsatisfactory results. Often, the top edges of the form boards spread apart as the form is filled with concrete, and the spacing of the form boards is ruined. This is caused by improper nailing of the top cleat. Often, one end portion of the cleat must be nailed to the top edges of the form board after which the workman needs to manipulate a measuring rule between the inner surfaces of the top edge portions of the form boards while placing a second nail through the cleat and into the remaining form board while attempting to retain the two form boards at the appropriate spacing. This procedure is expensive in terms of materials and time since it often takes the workman a significant amount of time to achieve proper spacing at the top edges of the form boards. Another disadvantage of this method of spacing and retaining the upper edges of the form boards is that frequently workmen are paid for the number of linear feed of forms they erect. Workmen paid in this manner are motivated to work quickly rather than carefully and so contribute to the improper spacing of the top edges of the form boards or improper nailing of the cleats. Another disadvantage is that during the concrete pour, as the form is filled, the cleats are an obstruction to the agitation of the concrete. Concrete is agitated at this time to remove bubbles from the concrete. And the cleats obstruct the trowels used to “float” or smooth the top of the concrete to provide a relatively smooth surface for the placement of the mud sill which must be anchored to the top of the foundation or concrete slab by the anchor bolts when set into the concrete.  
      When anchoring the mud sill using anchor bolts, various systems have been utilized to support or align anchor bolts supported in relation to the top edges of the form boards while concrete is being poured. Placement of these anchor bolts is critical but the position of the anchor bolt is often misjudged, thus increasing the difficulty of boring holes in the mud sill to receive the anchor bolts. In addition to misplacement or irregular spacing between successive anchor bolts, another problem in the prior art system of setting anchor bolts is that the depth to which the anchor bolts are set is very often not uniform. Sometimes the anchor bolts are set so deeply that the threaded end of the anchor bolt does not project through the thickness of the mud sill, thereby providing no way to fix the position of the mud sill. Another problem is that the threaded end of the anchor bolt may project too far above the mud sill, requiring numerous washers to provide a surface properly engaging the threaded portion of the anchor bolts so that a nut may be threaded on to the anchor bolt to retain the mud sill, after it is placed over the anchor bolt.  
      Another problem is that during the pour, concrete may adhere to the anchor bolt and accumulate at the base of that portion of the anchor bolt shaft outer surface where the anchor bolt projects upwardly from the horizontal surface of the concrete. Once the concrete is cured, it is very difficult to remove this now hardened unwanted cement material and if the mud sill is simply placed over an anchor bolt which includes that accumulated material, the mud sill will not make uniform contact with the surface of the foundation, thereby providing an uneven, non-level surface upon which carpenters must build the wall. Very often this misaligned mud sill will cause misalignments in the wall and in the structures which rest on the wall, and such misalignments can even be seen where walls meet roof members, and so problems associated with unwanted material adhering to the upwardly projected portion of the anchor bolt shaft can propagate through and create significant defects in all of the structure that rests upon the mud sill.  
      There is a need, therefore, for an improved anchor bolt placement and protection device and a method for installing anchor bolts and aligning form boards.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an anchor bolt protection and support assembly that cooperates with the threaded end of the anchor bolt to properly position the anchor bolt and protect the anchor bolt during the pour. Proper position provides a precise spacing in relation to the inner surface of a form board and also provides an appropriate depth for the length of the bolt and the thickness of the mud sill so that the mud sill (when placed over the anchor bolt) is properly oriented. It is another object of the present invention to protect the anchor bolt threads and the anchor bolt shaft from contamination by concrete during the pour, thereby avoiding an accumulation of cement material at the intersection of the anchor bolt where it projects above the surface of the pour concrete foundation.  
      Depending on the structure being constructed, foundation walls are frequently dimensioned to receive two by four (1.5 inch by 3.5 inch) or two by six (1.5 inch by 5.5 inch) mud sills. Usually, the mud sill is a red wood beam or other structural lumber member that must be drilled or bored at appropriate intervals to receive the threaded ends of the anchor bolts projecting vertically from the top surface of the foundation or concrete slab.  
      In accordance with the present invention, a protective placement device detachably envelopes and engages the exposed threaded end of the anchor bolt and includes at least one lateral projecting flange to index and accurately space the anchor bolt from a selected (e.g., inside) surface of the form board, so that all the anchor bolts are uniformly spaced from a reference form board surface. Proper spacing of the anchor bolts facilitates boring of the mud sill so that the holes in the mud sill are appropriately spaced to match the spacing between the anchor bolts and any structural hardware bolts.  
      In accordance with the present invention, a pre-manufactured or pre-molded device having a tubular extension projecting at a substantially perpendicular angle upward from an indexing flange is slipped over the threaded end of an anchor bolt to a predetermined depth and provides a surface upon which one can rest one or more optional tubular extension members dimensioned in selected lengths to provide a desired length of protected anchor bolt surface. Optionally, the device of the present invention can include a molded threaded nut member including an interior lumen having a side wall defined with thread receiving structural features so that the nut member, having an open or closed distal end can be threaded over the anchor bolt after the selected number of protective tubular segments are placed over the upwardly projecting anchor bolt&#39;s distal threaded end.  
      In the preferred embodiment, the laterally projecting flange members include printed indicia and through holes or bores adapted to receive nails at selected, marked intervals so that a workman can easily see where to place the flange member on the form board&#39;s selected reference surface and simply insert the nails in the through holes where they are conveniently held in a vertical orientation so that they can be hammered home, thereby at least temporarily fixing the position of the flange on the form.  
      Another embodiment includes an elongated flange having an upper surface with indicia used to measure form spread. The elongated flange is useful when installing forms and selecting the spread or transverse spacing or width between interior form board surfaces, since the distances are, in the preferred embodiment, included on the flange&#39;s upper surface.  
      The above and still further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof, particularly when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals in the various figures are utilized to designate like components. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective exploded view of an anchor bolt placement and protection assembly, in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of assembled elements of the anchor bolt placement and protection assembly of  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 3  is a plan view, in elevation, of the base plate of the anchor bolt placement and protection assembly of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 4  shows a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the anchor bolt placement and protection assembly base plate.  
       FIG. 5  shows a side view, in partial cross-section, of the base plate of  FIG. 4 .  
       FIG. 6  shows, in partial cross-section, the anchor bolt placement and protection assembly of the present invention including an anchor bolt placed in concrete, illustrating how the base plate can be nailed to form boards, in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 7  is another alternative embodiment of the base plate of the present invention.  
       FIG. 8  is a side view of the base plate of  FIG. 7 , in partial cross-section, in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 9  is an exploded view, in perspective, showing an alternative embodiment of the anchor bolt placement and protection assembly of the present invention.  
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the anchor bolt placement and protection assembly of  FIG. 9 .  
       FIG. 11  is a top view of the base plate for the anchor bolt placement and protection assembly of  FIGS. 9 and 10 .  
       FIG. 12  is a top or plan view of an alternative embodiment of the base plate.  
       FIG. 13  is a side view, in partial section, of the base plate of  FIG. 12 .  
       FIG. 14  is another alternative embodiment of the base plate, as seen from the top.  
       FIG. 15  is a side view, in partial section, of the base plate of  FIG. 14 .  
       FIG. 16  is a side elevation view, in partial section, showing the anchor bolt placement and protection assembly installed upon an anchor bolt and nailed to a form board in a concrete foundation, in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 17  is an exploded view of an alternative embodiment of the anchor bolt placement and protection assembly of the present invention.  
       FIG. 18  is a plan view of the base plate of the anchor bolt placement and protection assembly of  FIG. 17 .  
       FIG. 19  is a perspective view of the assembled anchor bolt placement and protection assembly of  FIG. 17 .  
       FIG. 20  is a side view, in partial section, of the anchor bolt placement and protection assembly of  FIGS. 17-19  installed in a concrete or cement structure bounded by form boards, in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 21  is perspective view of a form spreading base, in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 22  is a plan or top view of the form spreading base of  FIG. 21 .  
       FIG. 23  is a side view, in elevation, showing in partial cross-section the form spreading base of  FIGS. 21 and 22  used in connection with alternate placements of form boards for pouring a concrete foundation or the like, in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      A first embodiment of the anchor bolt placement and protection assembly  10  of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5 . Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , anchor bolt placement and protection assembly  10  includes a substantially planar base plate or flange  12  having an upper surface  14  opposite a lower surface  16 . In the illustrated embodiment, a base plate bolt aperture  18  is provided in the shape of a circle. Base plate  12  also includes a plurality of nail-receiving apertures  20  each including a raised collar portion dimensioned to receive and hold a nail placed within the collar in preparation for having that nail driven into a foundation form board or the like. The nail apertures  20  are preferably spaced at even increments selected to appropriately position base plate  12  in relation to form boards during a pour (e.g., as seen in  FIG. 6 ).  
      Base plate  12  also includes, on upper surface  14 , a plurality of substantially parallel spaced, transverse alignment indicia ribs  22  which can be used as layout guides for foundation walls or the like. Base plate  12  is a substantially rectangular member having radiussed corners, a length of approximately twelve inches, a width of approximately one and three quarters inches and a thickness of approximately three sixteenths of an inch, when made from fiber reinforced resin or polymer. The six transversely extending form board position indicating integral ribs  22  are provided on the top surface  14  of each of two integral elongated base plate portions and are spaced along the long axis of base plate  12  at about one inch apart. The fourteen nail-receiving apertures  20  are formed in transversely aligned pairs in the plate portions and are also spaced along the long axis of base plate  12  at about one inch apart, center to center.  
      As best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , base plate  12  carries a substantially perpendicular upwardly projecting fixed tubular member  30  having an open distal end defining a sealing surface with a substantially flat or planar edge adapted to seal against, a butt or receive a similar flange sealing surface on either an optional movable tubular member  64  or a threaded nut  68 . Fixed tubular member  30  has an elongate central access  26  and defines an interior lumen  36  terminating proximally in base plate and coaxially with circular base plate aperture  18 . Tubular member proximal end  34  is rigidly fixed to or is an integral part of base plate  12  and is supported by a plurality of ribs or web segments,  44 ,  46  which reinforce and support fixed tubular member  30 . Tubular member lumen  36  has a selected inside diameter  37  adapted too closely encircle, protect and support a selected anchor bolt size (e.g., sized to fit one half inch O.D. bolts or five eighth inch O.D. bolts). Tubular member interior wall  38  defines, preferably, a circular lumen  37  and the tubular member exterior wall  40  is adapted to deflect debris, poured cement and other materials, protecting an anchor bolt when the anchor bolt placement and protection assembly  10  is in use.  
      As noted above, longitudinal reinforcing web or rib  44  extends along at least part of the central axis of base plate  12  and is arrayed at, preferably, a 90° angle to transverse reinforcing webs  46  which are aligned transversely to the central axis of base plate  12 , thereby providing optimal reinforcement or support to upwardly projecting fixed tubular member  30 .  
      In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the anchor bolt placement and protection assembly  12  preferably is packaged as a kit including one and possibly more extension sleeves  50 ,  64  defined in selected lengths to permit the installer or user to pre-select the amount of anchor bolt shaft to extend above the concrete foundations upper surface. An extension sleeve (e.g.,  50  or  64 ) can also be used alone or in combination to determine the anchor bolt depth projecting into the concrete material.  
      Extension sleeve  50  preferably includes a substantially tubular or cylindrical side wall segment having a distal end  52  defining a sealing surface opposite a proximal end  54  carrying a sealing flange dimensioned to closely fit upon and sealably engage the sealing surface (e.g., of tubular member  32  or of another extension sleeve). Extension sleeve  50  defines an interior lumen  56  which is preferably symmetrical around a central axis and constrained by extension sleeve interior wall  58 . Extension sleeve exterior wall  60  includes, preferably, radially arrayed reinforcing ribs  62  providing mechanical support and stiffing to the protective extension sleeve. In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , second extension sleeve  64  is shown in a second, longer axial length (e.g., three and one half inches) than first extension sleeve  50  (at, e.g., one and three quarter inches) and can be used alone or combination with other extension sleeves (e.g.,  50 ) to provide an anchor bolt placement and protection assembly  10  having a number of different possible configurations.  
      The components of assembly  10  which come into contact with the anchor bolt, as best seen in  FIGS. 6, 16  and  20 , each have a proximal flange with a transverse sealing surface bounded by a peripheral barrier wall segment that effectively deflects any material falling from above away from the sealing surface. Each tube-like component also has a distal sealing surface adapted to engage and abut the proximal sealing surface of the mating component, and the distal sealing surface and distal end are sized to fit within and be protected by the mating component&#39;s proximal end peripheral barrier wall. Accordingly, as shown in  FIG. 6 , tubular member distal end has a sealing surface  32  that fits within and is protected by the proximal end and sealing flange  72  of threaded nut  68 .  
      In the preferred embodiment, a threaded nut  68  includes an open or closed distal end  70  and proximal end with sealing flange  72  is adapted to rest upon and sealably engage a distal end sealing surface of the mating component (e.g., the extension sleeve distal surface  52  or fixed tubular member distal surface  32 ). Threaded nut  74  includes and interior lumen  74  within an interior wall having thread engaging structural elements, such as threads. Threaded nut  68  also includes a substantially cylindrical exterior wall preferably including a plurality of radially arrayed reinforcing ribs aligned along the axis of threaded nut  68 . Threaded nut  68  also preferably includes raised projections  80  adapted to receive and engage tool surfaces such as wrench jaws, pliers of the like for use when installing or removing threaded nut  68  on the anchor bolt distal end.  
      Referring now to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , a concrete foundation form  100  includes a first elongate form board  110  aligned, preferably, in parallel with a second elongate form board  112 . The form boards are spaced apart to define an interior volume adapted to receive concrete, mud or cement  114  which is poured in and which, once cured, provides, preferably, a relatively level and uniform concrete upper surface  116 . Advantageously, the anchor bolt placement and protection assembly of the present invention protects the entire extent of the anchor bolt projecting up from the foundation, and so no splashed cement or other material is accumulated on the anchor bolt shaft above the upper surface of the concrete, and so no time consuming cleaning is required. This will ensure that when the pre-drilled mud sill plate is placed over the anchor bolts upon the foundations, the mud sill plate will lie flat upon and flush with the foundation&#39;s upper surface, providing a more level surface to build upon.  
      In use, the builder or user selects the appropriate indicia to align the base plate and selected nail holes over the form boards. Then a plurality of nails  118  are driven through the base plate nail apertures (e.g.,  20 ) and into the form board, thereby fixing the position of the anchor bolt placement and protection assembly and the anchor bolt  120  secured therein. Anchor bolt  120  has its distal, threaded end  122  securely held within and protected by threaded nut  68  and fixed tubular member  30  so that the mud or concrete material cannot splash upon or adhere to the exterior surface of anchor bolt shaft  126 . Use of anchor bolt placement and protection assembly  10  permits the user or form maker to carefully control the depth of the anchor bolts proximal end  124  within the concrete foundation  114 .  
      Optionally, one or more extension sleeves (e.g.  50 ,  64 ) could be used to raise the level of anchor bolt  120  so that a greater length of anchor bolt shaft  126  is supported above the upper surface  116  of the concrete.  
      Referring now to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , a second embodiment of the anchor bolt placement and protection assembly  140  includes a substantially planar elongated base plate  142  from which projects a perpendicular tubular member  144 . Base plate  142  is preferably configured as a rectangular member having a plurality of transverse thru-bores or apertures including a plurality of nail receiving apertures aligned with a plurality of alignment indicia or centering guide indicators. A longitudinal reinforcing web or rib  146  preferably supports fixed tubular member  144  which is also supported by a plurality of reinforcing ribs  148  that extend vertically along the length of tubular member  144 . Tubular member  144  preferably has a selected diameter  150  which is slightly larger than and closely fits with a selected size of anchor bolt shaft.  
      Base plate  142  is a substantially rectangular member having radiussed corners, a length of approximately twelve inches, a width of approximately one and three sixteenth inches and a thickness of approximately three sixteenths of an inch, when made from fiber reinforced resin or polymer. The six transversely extending form board position indicating integral ribs are provided on the top surface of each of two integral elongated base plate portions and are spaced along the long axis of base plate  142  at, preferably, one inch apart. The twelve nail-receiving apertures are formed in transversely aligned pairs in the plate portions and are also spaced along the long axis of base plate  142  at about one inch apart, center to center.  
       FIGS. 9-11  illustrate a third embodiment of the anchor bolt placement and protection assembly  160  including a substantially planar base plate  162  from which projects a substantially perpendicular cylindrical tubular member adapted to receive and sealably engage with one or more extension sleeves (e.g.  166 ,  170 ) or, optionally, a threaded nut  168  all of which have a selected inside diameter adapted to receive and protect an anchor bolt shaft of selected size. When configured as shown in  FIG. 10 , extension sleeve  166  has a proximal or lower flange area which sealably engages the distal sealing surface  164  of tubular member  164  to seal out debris, cement and other material which may otherwise contaminate the outer surface of the anchor bolt shaft. Similarly, threaded nut  168  includes a proximal flange adapted to bear against and sealably engage the distal end of extension sleeve  166 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , the tubular member inside diameter  172  is dimensioned to accommodate a selected size (e.g., ½″) anchor bolt shaft.  
      Base plate  162  is a substantially rectangular member having radiussed corners, a length of approximately four and one half inches, a width of approximately one and three quarters inches and a thickness of approximately three sixteenths of an inch, when made from fiber reinforced resin or polymer. The two transversely extending form board position indicating integral ribs are provided on the top surface of the elongated base plate portion and are spaced along the long axis of base plate  162  at one inch apart. The four nail-receiving apertures are formed in transversely aligned pairs in the plate portions and are also spaced along the long axis of base plate  162  at one inch apart, center to center.  
      As noted above, anchor bolts of different sizes can be accommodated, and each assembly is preferably color coded by anchor bolt size. In an exemplary embodiment, ½ inch bolts are accommodated using assembly components molded from bright orange polymer or fiber reinforced molded resin material, ⅝ inch bolts are accommodated using assembly components molded from bright blue polymer or fiber reinforced molded resin material, and ⅞ inch bolts are accommodated using assembly components molded from bright green polymer or fiber reinforced molded resin material.  
       FIGS. 12-23  show additional optional elements included as part of the kit for use with the anchor bolt placement and protection assembly of the present invention. Specifically,  FIGS. 12 and 13  show a fourth embodiment of the base plate  176  including an upwardly projecting tubular member having an interior lumen with a selected inside diameter (e.g. ½ inch) adapted for receiving a selected anchor bolt. This tubular member includes a distal sealing surface adapted for engaging the sealing proximal end of an extension tube or threaded nut, as above.  
       FIGS. 14 and 15  illustrate a fourth embodiment of the base plate  184  including an upwardly projecting reinforced tubular member  186  having a larger lumen with an inside diameter of, for example, ⅞ of an inch, and so is adapted for receiving an anchor bolt of that size. Base plate  184  also includes a distal sealing surface at the upper edge of tubular member  186  adapted to receive and engage a proximal sealing surface and flange for a similarly sized extension or threaded nut.  
       FIG. 16  shows, in partial cross-section, an anchor bolt placement and protection assembly  160  installed upon and threadably engaged with an anchor bolt  120  of, for example, ⅝ inch diameter. Base plate  162  is first positioned in an appropriate orientation on form board  112  to properly locate anchor bolt  120  within the confines of the form, before concrete is poured. The distal end of the anchor bolt  124  is set at the preselected depth by inclusion of, optionally, one or more extension sleeves (e.g.,  50 , not shown). In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 16 , no extension sleeves are used. The installer or builder can then proceed to fill the form with cement until the upper surface of the cement  116  rises to the level indicated by the bottom surface of base plate  160 , whereupon the cement is allowed to cure, all without staining or splashing upon the anchor bolt shaft  126  or contaminating the anchor bolt threads.  
       FIGS. 17-20  illustrate a fifth embodiment of the anchor bolt placement and protection assembly of the present invention where a substantially planar L-shaped base plate  210  includes an upper surface carrying raised guide lines or alignment indicia  211 . An upwardly projecting tubular member  212  has an open distal end  214  with a sealing distal surface, as above. Optionally, one or more extension sleeves  216 ,  220  may be used to customize the length of the anchor bolt shaft to be protected and set the depth of the distal end of the anchor bolt in the foundation. Once installed on the anchor bolt, a threaded nut  218  is threadably engaged on the distal end of the anchor bolt. The lumen within tubular member  212  has a selected inside diameter  222  which, in the illustrated embodiment, is one-half inch.  
      As best seen in  FIG. 20 , the anchor bolt placement and protection assembly  200  is well suited for use when concrete is poured into a form and then anchor bolts are placed in the yet uncured concrete. The base plate  210  rests upon the upper surface of the concrete  116  thereby setting the depth of the anchor bolt in the concrete. This anchor bolt placement and protection assembly  200  can therefore be used to place anchor bolts anywhere in the foundation, after the concrete has been poured within form  100 .  
      Preferably, the kit including the above-identified components includes one or more optional form spreading bases  230  including a substantially planar base formed as an elongated rectangular body having an upper surface  232  opposite a lower surface and a number of nail receiving apertures or through bores  234  are defined in selected location, preferably next to base alignment indicia  236  which provide transverse raised segments that are easily perceived by the carpenter in the field.  
      Preferably, base spacing indicia  238  (e.g. six inches or eight inches) are also provided to permit the user to select an appropriate spacing for form boards. Form spreading base  230  is preferably reinforced with a longitudinal reinforcing rib  240  and is fabricated from fiber reinforced resin or a polymer material, optionally provided in selected colors (e.g. orange).  
      In use, builders and concrete contractors can employ the foundation bolt installation system  10  in a manner which permits savings of labor, time and money. Advantageously, the components shown in the figures can be provided in kits having a variety of spreaders, guides and nailers to permit a quick and easy selection of the appropriate component in a variety of construction situations. For example, a kit including the a plurality of the components shown in  FIGS. 17, 18  and  19 , referred to as a Bolt-Rite Stabber™ kit, permits quick and accurate insertion of anchor bolts into wet concrete. The integral or built-in centering guide indicia permit quick setting of anchor bolts to a correct depth and position for either 2×4 or 2×6 sill plates. The protective threaded cover cap  218  completely covers and protects bolt threads from damage and concrete splash. The entire assembly is easily removed when concrete is cured by unthreading the cover cap  218 , removing it from the distal end of the anchor bolt  122  and sliding the protective assembly up and off of the bolt. In a preferred embodiment, the guide of  FIGS. 17, 18  and  19  are configured for use with ½″ O.D. bolts, but other size bolts can easily be accommodated. The optional use of sleeves of selected length permit the installer to select the desired components from the assembly kit and install the guide, removable sleeve and threaded nut to control both the amount of the anchor bolt to be said into the wet concrete, and the amount of the side-wall or shaft of the bolt to project above the concrete&#39;s upper surface, once the concrete is cured.  
      The kit can also include one or more Bolt-Rite Nailer™ assemblies using base plate  176  as shown in  FIGS. 12-16 . This allows layout of all anchor bolts, nailed securely in the correct position before pouring concrete. This is especially helpful in that it allows anchor bolts to be in place before or after pouring in fast-curing climates. Use of the assembly shown in  FIGS. 12-16  eliminates the need for concrete drilling or epoxy-ing to fix forgotten or mispositioned anchor bolts. Built-in guides or indicia on the upper portion of the flanged base plate allow users or installers to quickly set anchor bolts to the correct depth and then position those bolts in relation to either of the 2×4 or 2×6 sill plates.  
      The protective assembly of  FIG. 16  is easily removed when concrete is cured by unthreading the cover cap or threaded nut  168  from the distal end of the anchor bolt  122 , and then removing the nails  118  attaching the flange or base plate  162  to the form board (e.g.,  112 ), whereupon the entire assembly  160  can be slideably removed from the distal end of the bolt  122 .  
      As shown in  FIGS. 1-8 , the Bolt-Rite w/Spreader™ assembly permits installers to set the anchor bolts and spread forms in one cost effective operation. As above, the protective threaded cap is easily removed after concrete is cured and each of the components is easily removed from the bolt. This also provides protection from concrete splash omitting the need to clean the sidewall or shaft of the bolt after the concrete is cured.  
      In the preferred embodiment, a spreader  230  as shown in  FIGS. 21 and 22  is included as part of a kit with the protective assemblies discussed above. This includes ready to use pre-positioned nail holes  234  and provides a rigid form spreading layout guide for, in the preferred embodiment, 6″ or  8 ″ wide foundations. When the spreader of  FIGS. 21 and 22  is used in conjunction with the other elements in a kit, users can avoid wasting time measuring and cutting expensive stakes to make form spreaders. With predrilled nail holes  234  and layout marks or guide indicia  236 , the form spreading or form construction operation is completed more quickly. The narrow profile of the spreader member of  FIGS. 21 and 22  eases the trowelling process when finishing the poured foundation&#39;s surface. In the preferred embodiment, all of the assembly and kit components discussed above are molded from polymer, possibly reinforced with fibrous material and are finished or molded-in high visibility colors such as orange, blue or green to help installers quickly identify overlooked areas in the form construction process.  
      The anchor bolt protection and placement assembly and kit elements of the present invention permit users to set perfect anchor bolts  120  in foundations, keeping the anchor bolt surfaces clean, straight and correctly positioned in a repeatable and easily learned method. The apparatus of the present invention permits easy compliance with code (UBC) requirements specifying that all embedments are to be in place prior to pouring the concrete for a foundation. This prevents last-minute hurried efforts to pound bolts into hardening concrete and permits builders to easily recover the invention&#39;s purchase cost in relatively few applications, since hours otherwise spent cleaning bolt threads are conserved. The anchor bolt placement and protection assembly components are molded with integral reinforcing ribs, so the components will remain rigid and provide a rugged service to prevent deflection of the bolts when concrete is poured, thereby keeping anchor bolts straight. Each component of each assembly is also reusable, thereby providing more economical use and ease of amortization.  
      Variations on the foregoing dimensions can be used to conform to standards and practices in other regions. For example, the transversely extending form board position indicating integral ribs  22  provided on the top surface  14  of each of two integral elongated base plate portions can be spaced along the long axis of base plate  12  at another desired spacing, e.g., a selected number of centimeters. The nail-receiving apertures  20  formed in the plate portions can also be spaced at another desired spacing, e.g., two centimeters, center to center.  
      Having described preferred embodiments of a new and improved method, it is believed that other modifications, variations and changes will be suggested to those skilled in the art in view of the teachings set forth herein. It is therefore to be understood that all such variations, modifications and changes are believed to fall within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.