Patent ID: 8322109

Claim:
A spacer device for spacing and positioning a pair of rebar or spaced mesh fabric shapes for use in reinforcing concrete structures comprising: (a) a pair of spaced locking portions, including first and second locking portions, each having a trough for receiving a fabric element and a trapping and retaining component for capturing and retaining said fabric element; (b) a generally straight central portion connecting said pair of spaced locking portions said locking portions being located toward the ends thereof, wherein said central portion includes a reinforcing rib shape; (c) wherein said first locking portion has an entrance directed toward and accessible generally in a direction extending back along said central portion toward said second locking portion and said second locking portion has an entrance directed toward and accessible generally at an angle directed away from both said central portion and the entrance of said first locking portion; and (d) wherein said device is configured to include a relative angle between said first and said second locking portions that enables a user to install said device by inserting said spacer through an opening in the mesh of a first fabric, hooking said first locking portion over an element of a second fabric beyond said first fabric and retract said spacer to lock said first locking portion onto said element of said second fabric spaced from said first fabric and thereafter simply pivoting said spacer to engage and lock said second locking portion onto a corresponding element of said first fabric.