Key-locked and band-tightened rebar clamping assemblies

A method for clamping two substantially cylindrical rebar rods in a substantially perpendicular orientation, comprising:

• a. providing a clamp configured to hold an upper rod and a lower rod in a substantially perpendicular orientation, the upper rod contacting the lower rod at an intersection point, the clamp including:
• i. a medial curved section that includes a medial rod-contacting surface configured to receive the upper rod,
• ii. two substantially parallel lateral curved sections extending from the medial curved section, each lateral curved section including a lateral rod-contacting surface configured to receive the lower rod, and
• iii. a first band-engaging member and a second band-engaging member configured to be positioned on opposing sides of the upper rod, at least one of the band-engaging members being configured to interact with a tightening band, said tightening band configured to interact with the upper rod, said tightening band configured to constrain movement of the upper rod with respect to the lower rod;
• b. applying the clamp to the substantially perpendicular intersection of the upper rod and the lower rod so that the lower rod is received by the lateral rod-contacting surfaces and the upper rod is received by the medial rod-contacting surface at a first position on the upper rod;
• and
• c. moving the tightening band to interact with a band-engaging members so that the tightening band secures the upper rod in the clamp, said tightening band interacting with the upper rod at a second position on the upper rod, the first position and second position being on opposing sides of the intersection point, whereby the movement of the upper rod with respect to the lower rod is constrained.