Patent Publication Number: US-2021189728-A1

Title: Concrete form brace with multi-depth rebar positioning

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a Continuing application, which claims priority from U.S. Non-provisional application Ser. No. 16/748,215 filed on Jan. 21, 2020 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/795,382 filed on Jan. 22, 2019, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention disclosed herein generally relates to concrete construction, particularly concrete form bracing. This invention provides accurate spacing between concrete form members and a convenient means to position rebar at multiple depths within the poured concrete and at optimal vertical spacing for “L” vertical rebar tie in. 
     In modern construction, reinforced concrete is often specified for the construction of building foundation footings. Footings are typically constructed by forming the specified footing below the frostline with forming elements. Form elements are usually comprised of dimensional lumber units, or dedicated steel concrete forms, which are connected in a means to form the inside and outside perimeter of the specified footing. The form elements are usually secured together by various means to maintain a consistent distance between the form elements. There are many concrete form bracing and/or spacing options that exist in the art. 
     Rebar, or other reinforcing material is generally placed within the form prior to the concrete being poured. Rebar functions to add strength to concrete due to its high tensile strength. Rebar installation parameters and coverage specifications generally call for accurate rebar placement to maximize the effectiveness of the rebar. Improperly placed rebar, or rebar outside of coverage tolerances can detrimentally impact the strength of the concrete structure. Therefore, it is critical to accurately place rebar within the concrete structure to maximize the rebar&#39;s effectiveness. Rebar can be specified for both horizontal and vertical placement; therefore, it would be advantageous to have a convenient means of bracing concrete forms, which also incorporate rebar placement and securement means. 
     Various concrete form braces in the art have rebar attachment means. However, the prior art lacks concrete form bracing options, which also provide a convenient means to secure rebar at multiple depths within poured concrete. Furthermore, the prior art lacks concrete form bracing options, which provide a means to secure horizontal rebar at optimal vertical depths for accurate “L” shaped vertical rebar securement. 
     Applicant&#39;s invention provides a means to secure rebar at multiple depths by utilizing a system of struts within the brace coupled with integrated “U” shaped saddle rebar securing mechanisms. The use of struts increases the rigidity of the overall concrete brace, while providing the means for multi-depth horizontal rebar securement and accurate “L” shaped vertical rebar securement. 
     All patents, patent applications, provisional patent applications and publications referred to or cited herein, are incorporated by reference in their entirety to the extent they are not inconsistent with the teachings of the specification. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The described concrete form brace with multi-depth rebar positioning is comprised of opposing attachment members, which secure the brace to the concrete form elements. The attachment members have a first top end, and a second bottom end. The corresponding bottom ends of the attachment members are connected by a spanning element, which spans the width of the concrete form. The attachment members and spanning element are further connected by a plurality of reinforcing struts. Rebar attachment means at multiple vertical depths within the concrete form are integrated or connected to the reinforcing struts to provide rebar securement means at multiple depths within the poured concrete. 
     The preferred embodiment also features vertical spacing between horizontally placed rebar to accommodate “L” hook vertical rebar placement for applications where vertical rebar is specified. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an elevated perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the Concrete Form Brace with Multi-Depth Rebar Positioners. 
         FIG. 2  is an elevated perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the Concrete Form Brace with Multi-Depth Rebar Positioners installed within concrete forms with rebar horizontally positioned. 
         FIG. 3  is an elevated perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the Concrete Form Brace with Multi-Depth Rebar Positioners installed within concrete forms and rebar positioned and concrete poured. 
         FIG. 4  is an elevated perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the Concrete Form Brace with Multi-Depth Rebar Positioners installed within concrete forms, rebar horizontally positioned, and “L” shaped vertical rebar positioned. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 1-4  illustrate the Concrete Form Brace  10 . The Concrete Form Brace includes two opposing attachment members  11 , which attach the Concrete Form Brace  10  to concrete form elements  12 . The attachment members  11  are comprised of a first top end  13 , and a second bottom end  14 . Said first top end  13  is further comprised of an approximate 90-degree connected horizontal portion  15 , which engages the upper horizontal thickness  16  of the concrete form elements  12 . Said horizontal portion  15  is generally sized the same as the measured horizontal thickness  16  of the concrete form elements  12  to provide a secure fit of the Concrete Form Brace  10  on the concrete form elements  12 . The approximately 90-degree connection  20  between the first top end  13  and horizontal portion  15  can be scored to allow for easily breaking off the horizontal portion  15  once poured concrete  17  has cured. The horizontal portion  15  is further comprised of an approximate 90-degree connection  18  to a downward extending clasping member  19 . Said clasping member  19  engages the outside diameter  21  of the concrete form elements  12 . The clasping member  19  can include a break off clip  22 , which is angled outward from the vertical plane of the outside diameter  21  of the concrete form elements  12 . The break off clip  22 , provides a convenient purchase for the claw end of a hammer, or any other tool with a claw or hook end to capture the break off clip  22 , and break off the horizontal portion  15  at the scored approximately 90-degree connection  20  with a slight upward force applied to the break off clip  22  once the poured concrete  17  has cured. The break off clip can also be struck, which will also break off the horizontal portion  15  at the scored approximately 90-degree connection  20 . 
     The length of the attachment members  11  engage the inside  23  of the concrete form elements  12 . The second bottom end  14  of the attachment members  11  include a spanning element  24 , which connects the opposing bottom ends  14  of the attachment members  11 . The attachment members  11  and spanning element are further connected by a plurality of reinforcing struts  25 , which serve to structurally reinforce said Concrete Form Brace  10  and provide attachment points for a plurality of rebar securing mechanisms  26 . While the preferred embodiment is demonstrated in  FIGS. 1-4 , one skilled in the art would appreciate that said plurality of reinforcing struts  25  could be configured in many ways to achieve structural reinforcement and provide multiple attachment points for rebar securing mechanisms  26 . 
     Said rebar securing mechanisms  26  can be incorporated into said reinforcing struts  25  as shown in  FIG. 1  at predetermined locations. Or, the rebar securing mechanisms  26  could also be attached to said plurality of reinforcing struts  25  to achieve custom localization by any known attachment means such as glue, clips, ties, etc. In the preferred embodiment, said rebar securing mechanisms  26  are comprised of a concave “U” shaped saddle  27  sized to accept an outside diameter  28  of rebar  29 . In the preferred embodiment, the “U” shaped saddle  27  can be sized to accept any standard rebar size. The rebar securing mechanisms  26  are further comprised of opposing rebar securing clasps  30 . The rebar securing clasps  30  bend outwardly to allow installed rebar  29  to seat fully within the “U” shaped saddle  27 , but then return to their original position once the rebar  29  is fully seated. When the rebar securing clasps  30  are in their original position, the fully seated rebar  29  is secured  30   a  within the rebar securing mechanism  26 . 
     One feature of the preferred embodiment is the ability to quickly and accurately install vertical “L” rebar  31  as demonstrated in  FIG. 4 . In the preferred embodiment, the vertical spacing between the center rebar securing mechanism  26   a  and lateral rebar securing mechanism  26   b  is equivalent to the outside diameter  31   a  of a vertical “L” shaped rebar  31 . In the preferred embodiment, the center rebar securing mechanism  26   a  is elevated compared to the lateral rebar securing mechanism  26   b . This allows for the foot portion  32  of the vertical “L” rebar  31  to hook under a center horizontal span of rebar  33 , which has been secured in the center rebar securing mechanism  26   a . The distal end  34  of the foot portion  32  of the vertical “L” rebar  31  then rests on a lateral horizontal span of rebar  35 . The vertical spacing between the center rebar securing mechanism  26   a  and lateral rebar securing mechanism  26   b  allows for the foot portion  32  of a vertical “L” rebar  31  to be secured perfectly level as shown in  FIG. 4 . The vertical “L” rebar  31  can be secured to the horizontal spans of rebar by any means including, wire ties, clips, etc. Once secured, the vertically extending portion  36  of the vertical “L” rebar  31  will be maintained in a plumb vertical position while the poured concrete  17  cures. 
     It is understood that the foregoing examples are merely illustrative of the present invention. Certain modifications of the articles and/or methods may be made and still achieve the objectives of the invention. Such modifications are contemplated as within the scope of the claimed invention.