Patent ID: 12203269

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description includes references to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the detailed description. The drawings show illustrations in accordance with example embodiments. These example embodiments, which may be herein also referred to as “examples” are described in enough detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the present subject matter. However, it may be apparent to one with ordinary skill in the art, that the present invention may be practised without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments. The embodiments can be combined, other embodiments can be utilized, or structural, logical, and design changes can be made without departing from the scope of the claims. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

In this document, the terms “a” or “an” are used, as is common in patent documents, to include one or more than one. In this document, the term “or” is used to refer to a nonexclusive “or,” such that “A or B” includes “A but not B,” “B but not A,” and “A and B,” unless otherwise indicated.

Overview

A system is disclosed for providing reinforcements to structures. The system comprises a prefabricated rebar assembly comprising multiple rods connected to each other. This prefabricated rebar assembly is held between a first end plate and a second end plate to form a block. A series of pass-through members are arranged along the peripheral edges and within the body of the first end plate and the second end plate to accommodate inner and outer reinforcing continuity bars. A U-shaped protrusion is defined on surface of the first end plate and the second end plate that acts as an indicator as to where the multiple rods of the rebar assembly are to be placed. Multiple blocks of rebar assembly are connected to each other using connecting members. The end plates define a set of connector holes to receive the connecting continuity members as well as structural bolts. Concrete flows between two blocks of rebar assembly, that are connected to each other, via flow holes defined on the end plates.

System for Providing Reinforcement to Structures

Referring toFIG.1, a system100is disclosed for providing reinforcement to structures, in accordance with an embodiment. The system100comprises a prefabricated rebar assembly102, a first end plate104and a second end plate106. The prefabricated rebar assembly102comprises multiple rods108(steel rods108or reinforcement rods108) connected to each other. The rods108may be connected to each other using rods108or other connecting rods. The rebar assembly102may be in the shape of the structure to which the rebar assembly provides reinforcement. As an example, if the structure is a circular column, the rebar assembly102may be circular in shape. Alternatively, if the structure is a rectangular column, the rebar assembly102may be rectangular in shape.

In an embodiment, the rebar assembly102may comprise solid columns110to provide strength to the structure. The rebar assembly102may be held between the end plates104,106to form a block or cage112.

In an embodiment, the first end plate104may be larger than the second end plate106or conversely, the second end plate106may be larger than the first end plate104. The end plates104,106may assume the shape of the structure to which it is being reinforced. As an example, the end plates104,106may be circular or rectangular in shape.

FIGS.2A and2Brepresent isometric views of the first end plate104and the second end plate106, in accordance with an embodiment. Peripheral edges202of the end plates104,106comprise a series of pass-through members204, wherein each pass-through member204defines a passage hole206. These pass-through members204are arranged such that they extend laterally beyond the peripheral edges202of the end plates104,106. In an embodiment, longitudinal axis208of the pass-through member204may be perpendicular to surface210of the end plates104,106.

In an embodiment, the end plates104,106may define grooves212to indicate placement of the solid columns110. The solid columns110may be universal columns110and the corresponding grooves212may be in the shape of an “I”.

FIG.3discloses the end plates104,106along with outer reinforcing bars302, in accordance with an embodiment. The outer reinforcing bars302are passed through the passage holes206of the end plates104,106. A single outer reinforcing bar302may be passed through the pass-through member204of the first end plate104and the corresponding pass-through member204of the second end plate106. The outer reinforcing bars302may be used to protect concrete from spalling off the edges of the block of rebar assembly112.

In an embodiment, two or more reinforcing bars302may be coupled to form a single continuing bar, and passed through the passage holes206, as explained earlier. As an example, if the distance between the first end plate104and the second end plate106within the block of rebar assembly112is greater than the length of a single reinforcing bar302, then two or more reinforcing bars302may be tied together.

FIG.4illustrates an isometric view of coupling or engaging the reinforcement rods108to the end plates104,106using arrangements402, in accordance with an embodiment. Inner surface404of the end plates104,106within the block of rebar assembly110may comprise arrangements402(may be termed as first arrangement402for the first end plate104and second arrangement402for the second end plate106). The arrangements402may indicate locations at which the reinforcement rods108may extend between the first end plate104and the second end plate106.

The arrangement402may be a protrusion402that may be arranged on the inner surface404of the end plates104,106. The protrusion402may be a U-shaped member402coupled to the inner surface404of the end plates104,106. One end of the reinforcement rod108may be coupled to the U-shaped member402in the first end plate104and other end of the reinforcement rod108may be coupled to the corresponding U-shaped member402in the second end plate106.

In another embodiment, a first reinforcement rod108may be coupled to the U-shaped member402of the first end plate104and a second reinforcement rod108may be coupled to the U-shaped member402of the second end plate106. The two reinforcement rods108may be tied together to form a single reinforcement rod108.

FIG.5illustrates an alternate embodiment of the arrangement402. The arrangement402may be a series of grooves402that may be defined on the inner surface404of the end plates104,106. One end of the reinforcement rod108may be placed in the groove402defined by the first end plate104and other end of the reinforcement rod108may be placed in the corresponding groove402defined by the second end plate106.

FIG.6illustrates an alternate embodiment of the arrangement402. Outer surface602of one or more of the end plates104,106may comprise arrangements402(may be termed as third arrangement402for the first end plate104and fourth arrangement402for the second end plate106). The arrangements402may indicate locations at which the reinforcement rods108may extend, outside of the rebar assembly block112, from the first end plate104and the second end plate106.

Referring toFIGS.2A,2B and7, the first end plate104and the second end plate106may define the connector holes702, wherein the connector holes702may be configured to receive a connecting member704. The connecting member704may be used to connect first block of rebar assembly706to a second block of rebar assembly708. The second end plate106of the first block of rebar assembly706and the first end plate104of the second block of rebar assembly708are connected to each other using the connecting member704.

In an embodiment, the connector hole702may be internally threaded and the connecting member704may be a screw to connect the two end plates104,106.

In another embodiment, the connecting member704may be a nut and bolt mechanism or any other connecting mechanism that may exist in the art.

Referring toFIGS.2A and2B, the first end plate104and the second end plate106may define flow holes802. The flow holes802may be of different shapes and sizes. The flow holes802may allow passage of concrete between the first block of rebar assembly706and the second block of rebar assembly708.

Referring toFIG.8, an alternate embodiment of the flow holes802is shown.

FIG.9is a flowchart for providing reinforcement to structures, in accordance with an embodiment. At step902, the prefabricated rebar assembly102created as herein described. The prefabricated rebar assembly102comprises multiple rods108(steel rods108or reinforcement rods108) connected to each other.

At step904, the prefabricated rebar assembly102may be placed between the first end plate104and the second end plate106to form the block of rebar assembly112. The inner surface404of the end plates104,106within the block of rebar assembly110may comprise arrangements402to indicate locations at which the reinforcement rods108may be placed.

In an embodiment, the arrangement402may be a protrusion402that may be arranged on the inner surface404of the end plates104,106. The protrusion402may be a U-shaped member402coupled to the inner surface404of the end plates104,106. One end of the reinforcement rod108may be coupled to the U-shaped member402in the first end plate104and other end of the reinforcement rod108may be coupled to the corresponding U-shaped member402in the second end plate106.

At step906, the outer reinforcing bars302may be passed through the pass-through members204of the first end plate104and the corresponding pass-through members204of the second end plate106. The pass-through members204may be arranged along the peripheral edges202of the end plates104,106such that pass-through members204extend laterally beyond the peripheral edges202of the end plates104,106. Each pass-through member204defines a passage hole206through which the outer reinforcing bars302may pass through.

The outer reinforcing bars302may be used to protect concrete from spalling off the edges of the block of rebar assembly112.

At step908, multiple blocks of rebar assembly706,708may be connected to each other using connecting members704. The end plates104,106may define the connector holes702, wherein the connector holes702may be configured to receive the connecting member704.

At step910, concrete may be poured into the block of rebar assembly112using flow holes802defined by the end plates104,106.

It shall be noted that the processes described above are described as sequence of steps; this was done solely for the sake of illustration. Accordingly, it is contemplated that some steps may be added, some steps may be omitted, the order of the steps may be re-arranged, or some steps may be performed simultaneously.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to specific example embodiments, it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the system and method described herein. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

Many alterations and modifications of the present invention will no doubt become apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art after having read the foregoing description. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. It is to be understood that the description above contains many specifications; these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the personally preferred embodiments of this invention. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents rather than by the examples given.