Patent ID: 7322158

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: a base; a support structure extending upwardly from said base, said support structure having a channel formed in an upper surface thereof; a first clamping structure affixed to said support structure on one side of said channel; a second clamping structure affixed to said support structure on an opposite side of said channel and arranged in generally spaced parallel relationship to said first clamping structure, each of said first and second clamping structures having a generally C-shaped configuration; a first rebar extending in a direction and received in said channel of said support structure; and a second rebar retained by said first and second clamping structures in a position transverse to said first rebar and above said first rebar, said first and second clamping structures having an upper surface directly overlying a top of said second rebar, said base and said support structure and said first clamping structure and said second clamping structure being integrally formed together of a polymeric material, said support structure comprising: a first leg extending upwardly from one side of said base; a second leg extending upwardly from an opposite side of said base; and a third leg extending upwardly from said base between said first and second legs, said first and second legs extending at an acute angle upwardly from said base, said third leg extending upwardly vertically from said base so as to be positioned generally equidistant between said first and second legs, each of said first and second clamping structures comprising: a generally C-shaped member extending flexibly upwardly from said support structure; and an arm extending upwardly from a bottom of said generally C-shaped member, said arm having an upper portion in spaced relationship to a top of said generally C-shaped member, said arm having a lip at said upper portion, said lip extending in an direction away from said top of said C-shaped member, said upper portion of said arm being spaced from said top of said C-shaped member by a distance less than a diameter of the second rebar, said arm being flexibly connected to said bottom of said C-shaped member.