Abstract:
A device for holding a plurality of elongate members, including a base; and structure extending from the base and defining a plurality of seats for holding intersecting elongate members.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The invention relates to an apparatus for holding elongated rod-like material such as rebar, particularly for holding rebar which must be positioned in intersecting configurations.  
           [0002]    Rebar and other materials must frequently be positioned in grids and the like, for example-in manufacture of concrete members reinforced with such rebar. When such rebar rods are to be positioned in intersecting configurations, difficulties are encountered in holding the rebar in the proper position.  
           [0003]    It is the primary object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for addressing this difficulty.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    In accordance with the present invention, the foregoing object is readily attained.  
           [0005]    According to the invention, a support member is provided which defines channels or seats for intersecting rebar members, and which preferably includes dowel members and receptacle structures, or the like, to allow the supports to be stacked, for example when multiple supports are desired.  
           [0006]    A cover member is also provided, which can advantageously be configured to clamp to and hold or support other routinely encountered structures such as wire mesh, for example.  
           [0007]    In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, a support is provided wherein rebar can be held at 45° and/or 90° angles, and further wherein the seat for the rebar includes an engaging member whereby the support can be rotated so as to clampingly engage the rebar members to be held. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    A detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention follows, wherein:  
         [0009]    FIGS.  1 - 3  collectively illustrate one preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the invention with simplified structure;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate still further embodiments of the present invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a further embodiment of the apparatus in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0013]    FIGS.  10 - 12  illustrate a further embodiment of a cover for a rebar support member in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a further embodiment of the seat portion for holding a rebar member;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate a further embodiment of the present invention for holding rebar members at 45° angles; and  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 16 illustrates a further embodiment of the present invention for supporting a holder on loose surfaces. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0017]    The invention relates to a support member for holding and supporting intersecting rod-like members such as rebar. FIGS.  1 - 3  collectively show an embodiment in accordance with the present invention, wherein FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the holder  10 , and FIG. 1 illustrates a cover  12  for same.  
         [0018]    In accordance with the present invention, holder  10  has arm members  14 , in this case four arm members extending from a central portion and spaced at  900  angles from each other. Arm members  14  advantageously define seats  16  for receiving elongated members such as rebar and the like. In the embodiment shown in FIGS.  1 - 3 , each seat  16  is defined as an upwardly open substantially U-shaped seat, into which rebar can be positioned, and each seat  16  is defined by portions of two arm members  14 . Of course, other shapes of seats  16  can be provided.  
         [0019]    Arm members  14  further include interlockable structures to allow holders  10  to be stacked. In this embodiment, dowels  18  are provided, each of which advantageously has a receptacle  20  and a protruding member  22 , with protruding member  22  sized to be engaged with a receptacle  20  of another holder  10  such that holders  10  can be stacked as desired.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIGS. 2 and 3 show arm members  14  having a minimal thickness portion  24  with a ridge extending along upper edges  26  and, preferably, along seats  16 , as well, for structural strength. This advantageously provides a structure having sufficient strength, while nevertheless saving in material, weight and the like.  
         [0021]    Cutouts  28  can also be positioned, if desired, along dowels  18  so as to further save in materials and weight of the device, while nevertheless providing the desirable structural strength.  
         [0022]    Still referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, seats  16  are preferably defined by walls having tapered surfaces  30 , which may advantageously be tapered to a point  32 , such that surfaces  30  can provide for snug engagement with intersecting rebar rods, for example positioned at 90° angles with respect to each other. Thus, each arm  14  preferably has two surfaces  30 , each positioned substantially parallel to a surface  30  of an adjacent arm  14  as shown.  
         [0023]    Referring to FIG. 3, it may be desirable to provide a retaining member  34 , which may for example be a portion of the arm member  14  defining seats  16 , and which extends inwardly, toward an opposed wall of seat  16 , so as to define a reduced-width access portion at the top of seat  16 , beyond which a rebar rod must be forced to position properly as desired. Retaining member  34  advantageously helps to hold rebar member in place within holder  10  as desired. This function can also be provided by forming walls or other structure that defines seats  16  to taper inwardly as well, so as to provide a press fit of rebar into seat  16 .  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 1, as described above, illustrates a cover member  12  for holder  10 , and advantageously includes a substantially flat body portion or member  36 , preferably a cross-shaped member as shown, and preferably having receptacles  38  and protruding members  40  adapted to engage receptacles  20 , and be engaged by protruding members  22 , of holder  10 . In this manner, cover member  12  can be used to completely secure rebar members held within seats  16 , and further can be used as a spacer for assembly of holders  10  and covers  12  to provide for a desired configuration.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate an alternative embodiment of holder  10  in accordance with the present invention, wherein the interlocking structure is provided as dowel members  18  having a substantially round shape with protruding members  22  and receptacles  20  defined thereon, and wherein seats  16  are defined with a greater thickness to provide for additional structural strength. In addition, arm members  14  between the portion defining seats  16  and dowels  18  is entirely, in this embodiment, of the minimal thickness dimension.  
         [0026]    Turning to FIGS. 6 and 7, a further embodiment of holder  10  in accordance with the present invention is shown, wherein arm members  14  have substantially the same structure defining seats  16  as is shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5. In this embodiment, however, dowels  18  are provided having several cutouts which can be provided, on receptacles  20  if desired so as to engage with protruding members  22  with a force fit, thereby providing a secure and reliable engagement therewith.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate still another embodiment of the present invention wherein arm members  14  are provided having additional receptacles  42 , and wherein some or all receptacles  20  are provided having still a different configuration to allow for desirable force fit engagement with protruding members  22  of other holders  10 . This holder is, in all other respects, identical to those of previous embodiments. Additional receptacles  42  can advantageously be used to receive vertical rods that can be used for spacing vertically adjacent holders  10  as desired.  
         [0028]    FIGS.  10 - 12  illustrate an alternative embodiment of a cover  12  in accordance with the present invention, wherein arm members  14  further include a raised portion  44  defining a surface  46  which is spaced above the upper edge of receptacles  38 , and further which defines an additional engaging structure  48  which can clamp to or secure other members such as wire mesh and the like.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 12 further illustrates another embodiment of the present invention wherein a post  49  is positioned extending downwardly from cover  12 , preferably at a central location thereof, so as to engage and hold rebar positioned under same, in a holder  10  to which cover  12  is fixed.  
         [0030]    The raised portion  44  of arms  14  in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 12 further serves to leave a gap between the substantial portion of bottom surfaces of arms  14  and rebar members positioned thereunder such that concrete can reach and maximize surface contact with rebar members as desired.  
         [0031]    Turning now to FIG. 13, a further alternative embodiment of an invention is shown, in a perspective view, and engaged with a rebar member  50  as desired. In this embodiment, seats  16  are defined in walls  52  of a substantially round holder  54 , and seats  16  further include a laterally protruding member  56  behind which rebar member  50  can be pivoted to more securely engage with holder  54  as desired.  
         [0032]    In this embodiment, as well, rebar members  50  can advantageously be engaged and held in intersecting configurations as desired. In this embodiment, the rebar members would advantageously be positioned as desired, and then round holder  54  can advantageously be positioned over rebar members  50  and then pivoted as shown by the arrow in FIG. 13 to engage rebar members behind laterally protruding members  56  as desired.  
         [0033]    Turning now to FIGS. 14 and 15, a further embodiment of a holder  58  in accordance with the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, as in the embodiment of FIG. 13, seats  16  are defined in walls  60  of substantially round holder  58 . Further, eight seats  16  are defined in this embodiment, rather than four, so as to allow for intersecting rebar members at  450  angles as well.  
         [0034]    In use, the various embodiments of the present invention are used to secure rebar members in intersecting configurations as desired, for example to assist in positioning of such rebar members within formed concrete fabrications and the like, such that the rebar reinforces the concrete as desired, and is reliably held in place, particularly while concrete is being poured.  
         [0035]    The holder in accordance with the present invention can advantageously be formed from any material suitable to the desired end use. One particularly preferred material from which holders can advantageously be formed is glass-filled polypro material, which is a material having sufficient rigidity for the desired use. Of course, other materials could be used as well.  
         [0036]    Referring back to the Figures in general, protruding members  22  of holders  10  in accordance with the invention are shown having pointed ends  62 , and these pointed ends  62  are advantageous for several reasons. First, they help guide protruding members  22  into an associated receptacle  20 . In addition, holder  10  is frequently used to support rebar spaced from an outer surface of the concrete article to be fabricated, and holder  10  can therefore frequently be positioned resting directly upon a wall of the mold for pouring the concrete.  
         [0037]    Pointed ends  62  minimize the amount of the support that can be seen after the article is removed from the mold. This is particularly advantageous as compared to larger surface-area “feet” or other support members which may otherwise be positioned thereon, and which would readily be visible from the outside surface of the fabricated concrete article.  
         [0038]    In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, and as illustrated in dashed lines in FIG. 5, protruding members  22 , or some other structure from which protruding members  22  extend, can be provided having additional length, beyond that which is sufficient to engage receptacles  20 , such that holder  10  can be itself used as a spacer as well. In this regard, this feature, combined with receptacles  20  having a depth substantially the entire length of dowels  18 , can allow for variable spacing using the same holders in accordance with the present invention, by forcing protruding members  22  into receptacles  20  only to the extent desired so as to provide a suitable spacing between holders.  
         [0039]    Returning to FIG. 6, wall faces  30  may advantageously be provided with a series of vertical ridges  64  which can advantageously be used to further enhance grip of rebar positioned in seats  16  defined by same. Ridges  64  can advantageously be positioned so as to extend inwardly and provide for a press fit with the rebar positioned therebetween, which greatly enhances the hold on rebar as desired.  
         [0040]    Turning now to FIG. 16, a further embodiment of the present invention is provided, which is a plate  66  that can advantageously be used to support a holder  10  when is to be positioned on a loose surface, rather than on the solid wall of a mold into which concrete is to be poured. Plate  66  advantageously is a substantially planar member having a bottom surface  68  adapted to rest on such loose material, and an upper surface  70  from which extend receptacles  72 , or on which are defined other suitable receiving structures, for receiving protruding members  22  of a holder  10  such as that described above. This advantageously allows for the reliable positioning of a holder  10  in accordance with the present invention, even on loose sand or other surfaces.  
         [0041]    It should also be noted that although the description of the preferred embodiment is provided in terms of holding rebar for fabricating concrete structures, holder  10 ,  54   58  in accordance with the various embodiments of the present invention could advantageously be used for securing other elongated members in other applications as well.  
         [0042]    It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the illustrations described and shown herein, which are deemed to be merely illustrative of the best modes of carrying out the invention, and which are susceptible of modification of form, size, arrangement of parts and details of operation. The invention rather is intended to encompass all such modifications which are within its spirit and scope as defined by the claims.