# US 10,119,276 B2 · Reinforcing assemblies having downwardly-extending working members on structurally reinforcing bars for concrete slabs or other structures > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,119,276 B2 - Document ID: US10119276B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/646,331 - Filed: 2017-07-11 - Published: 2018-01-18 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-15 - Applicants: Richard P. Martter - Inventors: Richard P. Martter - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10119276B2 ## CPC - E04C 5/0645: {Shear reinforcements, e.g. shearheads for floor slabs} - E04B 5/32: Floor structures wholly cast in situ with or without form units or reinforcements - E04B 5/43: Floor structures of extraordinary design; Features relating to the elastic stability; Floor structures specially designed for resting on columns only, e.g. mushroom floors ({anchoring devices for balconies with means for preventing cold bridging E04B1/0038}; extraordinary constructions in general E04B1/34) - E04C: STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS; BUILDING MATERIALS (for bridges E01D; specially designed for insulation or other protection E04B; elements used as building aids E04G; for mining E21; for tunnels E21D; structural elements with broader range of application than for building engineering F16, particularly F16S) - E04B: GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS (border constructions of opening in walls, floors or ceilings E06B1/00; {electromagnetic shielding H05K9/0001}) ## Abstract In one aspect, a reinforcing assembly includes multiple longitudinally-extending support bars that are connected together and multiple working members each independently connected to one or more of the support bars. The working members are oriented diagonally with respect to a longitudinal axis extending along the support bars. Each working member includes a downwardly-extending side and a hooked or bent portion at an end of the downwardly-extending side. In another aspect, a reinforcing assembly includes one or more longitudinally-extending bars each configured to provide structural reinforcement within a structure. The reinforcing assembly also includes multiple working members each independently connected to at least one of the one or more bars. The working members are oriented diagonally with respect to a longitudinal axis extending along the one or more bars. Each working member includes a downwardly-extending side and a hooked or bent portion at an end of the downwardly-extending side. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A reinforcing assembly comprising: multiple longitudinally-extending support bars that contact one another and that are welded together at multiple locations along their lengths, the bars collectively having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a midpoint between the first and second ends; and multiple working members each independently connected to one or more of the support bars, the working members oriented diagonally with respect to a longitudinal axis extending along the support bars; wherein each working member comprises a downwardly-extending side and a hooked or bent portion at an end of the downwardly-extending side; wherein the working members connected to the bars between the first end and the midpoint are slanted and extend from the bars away from the midpoint; wherein the working members connected to the bars between the second end and the midpoint are slanted and extend from the bars away from the midpoint; and wherein the working members connected to the bars between the first end and the midpoint are angled in a different direction than the working members connected to the bars between the second end and the midpoint. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The reinforcing assembly of claim 1, wherein the hooked or bent portions of at least some adjacent working members are hooked or bent in opposite directions with respect to one another. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The reinforcing assembly of claim 1, wherein: the downwardly-extending sides of the working members connected to the bars between the first end and the midpoint are substantially parallel with each other when the reinforcing assembly is viewed from a side; and the downwardly-extending sides of the working members connected to the bars between the second end and the midpoint are substantially parallel with each other when the reinforcing assembly is viewed from the side. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The reinforcing assembly of claim 1, wherein each support bar comprises a section that is bent and that is configured to be anchored within a supporting structure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The reinforcing assembly of claim 1, wherein each support bar is coupled to a structure that is configured to be anchored within a supporting structure. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The reinforcing assembly of claim 1, wherein spacings between at least some of the working members are variable. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The reinforcing assembly of claim 1, wherein the hooked or bent portion of each working member comprises a first portion of the downwardly-extending side that is bent by at least 45° with respect to a second portion of the downwardly-extending side. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The reinforcing assembly of claim 1, wherein the support bars are welded to each other only at locations where the working members are connected to the support bars. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The reinforcing assembly of claim 1, wherein the working members are spaced apart such that the working members overlap in a side view of the reinforcing assembly, the side view denoting a view in which the support bars extend left to right and the working members extend downward from the support bars. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The reinforcing assembly of claim 1, wherein: the support bars are configured to engage bending moment tensile stresses in a supported structure; and the working members are configured to extend down into a central portion of the supported structure to engage diagonal tension stresses. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The reinforcing assembly of claim 1, wherein the support bars are welded directly together without any intervening components coupling the support bars. ### Claim 12 A reinforcing assembly comprising: a longitudinally-extending bar configured to provide structural reinforcement within a structure, the bar having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a midpoint between the first and second ends; and multiple working members each independently connected to the bar, the working members oriented diagonally with respect to a longitudinal axis extending along the bar; wherein each working member comprises a downwardly-extending side and a hooked or bent portion at an end of the downwardly-extending side; wherein all of the working members connected to the bar between the first end and the midpoint are slanted and extend from the bar away from the midpoint of the bar; wherein all of the working members connected to the bar between the second end and the midpoint are slanted and extend from the bar away from the midpoint of the bar; and wherein the working members connected to the bar between the first end and the midpoint are angled in a different direction than the working members connected to the bar between the second end and the midpoint. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The reinforcing assembly of claim 12, wherein the bar comprises multiple longitudinally-extending segments connected together. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The reinforcing assembly of claim 12, wherein the bar comprises one of multiple longitudinally-extending bars that are connected to each other only at locations where the working members are connected to the bar. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The reinforcing assembly of claim 12, wherein a first half of the reinforcing assembly is a mirror image of a second half of the reinforcing assembly. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The reinforcing assembly of claim 12, wherein the hooked or bent portions of at least some adjacent working members are hooked or bent in opposite directions with respect to one another. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The reinforcing assembly of claim 12, wherein spacings between at least some of the working members are variable. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The reinforcing assembly of claim 12, wherein the hooked or bent portion of each working member comprises a first portion of the downwardly-extending side that is bent by at least 45° with respect to a second portion of the downwardly-extending side. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The reinforcing assembly of claim 12, wherein the working members overlap one another in a side view of the reinforcing assembly, the side view denoting a view in which the bar extends left to right and the working members extend downward from the bar. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The reinforcing assembly of claim 12, wherein the bar comprises a negative moment reinforcing bar. ### Claim 21 (depends on 12) The reinforcing assembly of claim 12, wherein: the bar is configured to engage bending moment tensile stresses in a supported structure; and the working members are configured to extend down into a central portion of the supported structure to engage diagonal tension stresses. ### Claim 22 (depends on 12) The reinforcing assembly of claim 12, wherein: the bar is configured to provide tensile reinforcement within the structure; the working members are configured to transmit horizontal and vertical forces within the structure up to the bar; and the bar is configured to serve as an anchorage to top ends of the working members. ### Claim 23 (depends on 12) The reinforcing assembly of claim 12, wherein the longitudinal axis extending along the bar is substantially straight.