# US 10,246,878 B2 · Stackable wall spacer for supporting reinforcement in concrete constructions > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,246,878 B2 - Document ID: US10246878B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/736,100 - Filed: 2016-07-06 - Published: 2018-06-14 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2015-07-08 - Assignees: Innovativ Plast i Vaest AB - Applicants: Innovativ Plast i Vaest AB - Inventors: Stefan Andersson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246878B2 ## CPC - E04C 5/168: {Spacers connecting parts for reinforcements and spacing the reinforcements from the form} - E04C 5/18: {Spacers} of metal or substantially of metal {(E04C5/168 takes precedence)} - E04C 5/20: of material other than metal or with only additional metal parts, e.g. concrete or plastics spacers with metal binding wires {(E04C5/168 takes precedence)} - E04C 5/203: {Circular and spherical spacers} - 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) ## Abstract Stackable wall spacer adapted for automated distribution using a feeder device and adapted to support a reinforcement grid, where the wall spacer comprises a plurality of leg sections each having a lower foot adapted to be placed on a mold surface for the concrete, where a plurality of wall spacers can be stacked in each other with the feet of one wall spacer extending into corresponding voids of a subsequent wall spacer, where the side wall of a leg section is parallel with the side wall of a leg section of a subsequent wall spacer. The advantage of the invention is that the wall spacers can be stacked in a space saving manner in each other, which allows a cost-efficient storage and transportation of wall spacers. The invention further allows for wall spacers that can be distributed by using a hand-held or automatic feeder device. Further, a reinforcement grid can be supported by a wall spacer regardless of the position of the spacer. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A stackable wall spacer (1) adapted to be distributed randomly on a mould surface for support of a reinforcement grid (20), the wall spacer (1) comprising: a central opening (8) having a rim (9) configured to interact with a release mechanism operating outwards from the body of a feeder device to be used for distribution of the wall spacer; and a circumferential body section (2) having: an upper support surface (3) which is flat and is situated in one plane and is adapted to support the reinforcement grid, at least one side wall (12, 11) spaced from the rim (9) and extending between the upper support surface (3) and a base of the body section (2), the base lying in another plane parallel to and spaced apart from the plane of the upper support surface (3), and a plurality of leg sections (4) each having side walls (19) spaced from the rim (9) and a foot (5) adapted to be placed on a mould surface for the concrete, wherein: an outer shape of the circumferential body section (2) is larger than a mesh (21) in the reinforcement grid (20) that is to be supported; each of the side walls (19) of each leg section (4) defines a continuous surface that extends from the upper support surface (3) to the foot (5), the continuous surface being inclined with respect to a vertical direction; and each leg section (4) is provided with a void (6) adapted to house a leg section (4) of another wall spacer (1), such that a plurality of wall spacers (1) can be stacked in each other with the leg sections (4) of one wall spacer (1) extending into the corresponding voids (6) of a subsequent wall spacer (1), such that each of the side walls (19) of each leg section (4) is parallel with the side wall (19) of each leg section (4) of the subsequent wall spacer (1). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A stackable wall spacer according to claim 1, wherein a leg section (4) extends into the void (6) of a subsequent wall spacer (1) with at least 30% of the height of the wall spacer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A stackable wall spacer according to claim 1, wherein the side walls of each of the plurality of leg sections (4) is inclined with an angle between 3 and 25 degrees in relation to the vertical direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A stackable wall spacer according to claim 1, wherein the at least one side wall of the body section (2) comprises an outer wall (12) extending along the outer circumference (10) of the wall spacer (1). ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A stackable wall spacer according to claim 4, wherein the at least one side wall of the body section (2) comprises an inner wall (11) arranged between the outer wall (12) and the central opening (8). ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A stackable wall spacer according to claim 5, wherein the inner wall (11) and the outer wall (12) are interconnected by reinforcement walls (14). ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A stackable wall spacer according to claim 1, wherein the outer shape of the wall spacer is quadratic. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A stackable wall spacer according to claim 1, wherein the outer shape of the wall spacer is circular. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A stackable wall spacer according to claim 1, wherein the outer shape of the wall spacer comprises three parts having a dividing angle of 120 degrees. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A stackable wall spacer according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of leg sections (4) is circular and conical. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A stackable wall spacer according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of leg sections (4) comprises at least two straight walls. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A stackable wall spacer according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of leg sections (4) comprises a plurality of feet (5). ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A stackable wall spacer according to claim 1, wherein the rim (9) is interconnected with the body section (2) through connection walls (13). ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A stackable wall spacer according to claim 1, wherein: the wall spacer comprises a plurality of ridges (16) arranged at the upper portion (7) of the leg sections; and a ridge (16) is adapted to bear on the upper support surface (3) of another wall spacer when several wall spacers are stacked in each other. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A stackable wall spacer according to claim 1, wherein the wall spacer comprises a plurality of upward protruding pins (17) arranged at the upper support surface (3). ### Claim 16 A stackable wall spacer (1) adapted to be distributed randomly on a mould surface for support of a reinforcement grid (20), the wall spacer (1) comprising: a central opening (8) having a rim (9) configured to interact with a release mechanism operating outwards from the body of a feeder device to be used for distribution of the wall spacer; and a circumferential body section (2) having: an upper support surface (3) which is flat and is situated in one plane and is adapted to support the reinforcement grid, a base lying in another plane parallel to and spaced apart from the plane of the upper support surface (3), and a plurality of leg sections (4) each having side walls (19) spaced from the rim (9) and a foot (5) adapted to be placed on a mould surface for the concrete, wherein: the outer shape of the circumferential body section (2) is larger than a mesh (21) in the reinforcement grid (20) that is to be supported; the foot (5) of each of the plurality of leg sections (4) lies in a plane parallel to and spaced apart from the planes of the upper support surface (3) and the base, such that the plane of the base is intermediate the planes of the upper support surface (3) and the foot (5); each of the side walls (19) of each leg section (4) defines a continuous surface that extends from the upper support surface (3) to the foot (5), the continuous surface being inclined with respect to a vertical direction; and each leg section (4) is provided with a void (6) adapted to house a leg section (4) of another wall spacer (1), such that a plurality of wall spacers (1) can be stacked in each other with the leg sections (4) of one wall spacer (1) extending into the corresponding voids (6) of a subsequent wall spacer (1), such that each of the side walls (19) of each leg section (4) is parallel with the side wall (19) of each leg section (4) of the subsequent wall spacer (1).