Sock anchor unit

A method of reinforcing or repairing a structure comprising the steps of:

• forming a cavity in the structure for repair;
• inserting a sock anchor unit into the cavity;
• creating a sock anchor system by inserting a further sock anchor unit into the cavity and joining the further sock anchor unit to the sock anchor unit already inserted in the cavity, wherein the sock anchor system includes two or more anchor units joined together end to end, wherein each sock anchor unit comprises an inner elongated hollow central spine comprising at least one substantially laterally extending opening from inside to outside of the inner hollow central spine;
• an outer fabric sleeve enveloping the outside surface of the inner hollow central spine thereby defining a gap between the inner hollow central spine and the outer fabric sleeve;
• a plurality of elongated reinforcing members, wherein each elongated reinforcing member extends longitudinally within the gap;
• and a fastening member on each end of the sock anchor unit, wherein both fastening members are compatible with each other and each fastening member is configured such that a first end of a first anchor unit is attachable to a second end of a second anchor unit thereby facilitating creating a sock anchor system of a desired, length comprising a plurality of sock anchor units;
• and
• pumping a fluid cementitious material into the inner hollow central spine such that the fluid cementitious material exits the hollow central spine via the at least one substantially laterally extending opening and enters the gap between the inner hollow central spine and the outer fabric sleeve such that the outer fabric sleeve expands and deforms laterally and circumferentially to take up the internal shape and firm of the cavity until the cavity, the gap and the hollow central spine are filled with cementitious material.

A sock anchor system comprising:

• two or more sock anchor units joined end to end, the sock anchor units including a first sock anchor unit and a final sock anchor unit, wherein each sock anchor unit includes an inner longitudinal hollow central spine comprising at least one substantially laterally extending opening from inside to outside of the inner hollow central spine, an outer fabric sleeve arranged to envelop the outside surface of the inner hollow central spine such that a gap is defined between the outside surface of the inner hollow central spine and an inner surface of the outer fabric sleeve, a plurality of elongated reinforcing members, wherein each elongated reinforcing member extends longitudinally within the gap between the inner hollow central spine and the outer fabric sleeve, and a fastening member on each end of the sock anchor unit, wherein both fastening members are hollow and, form a continuation of the inner hollow central spine and are compatible with each other such that a trailing end of a sock anchor unit is attachable to a leading end of a further sock anchor unit;
• wherein, in use, a trailing end of the final sock anchor unit facilitates filling the cavity and the sock anchor system with cementitious material, wherein cementitious material can be pumped through the trailing end fastener and each inner hollow central spine, such that the cementitious material can exit the laterally extending openings in the inner hollow central spines to allow the cementitious material to fill the gap, and deform the outer fabric sleeve of each sock anchor unit to conform to the cavity.