Reinforcing bar cage connectors and methods of constructing reinforcing bar cages

A reinforcing bar cage connector comprising:

• a front side;
• a rear side;
• a base portion having a top end and a bottom end;
• an upper tab extending at a first angle from the top end and towards the front side, the upper tab comprising an upper tab opening extending through the upper tab and through the top end of the base portion;
• a lower tab extending at a second angle from the bottom end and towards the front side, the lower tab comprising a lower tab opening extending through the lower tab and through the bottom end of the base portion;
• and
• a hook portion extending from a first end at the base portion at the rear side and curling up towards the upper tab at a second end.

A method of constructing a reinforcing bar cage, the method comprising:

• simultaneously receiving a compressive force at an upper tab and a lower tab of a reinforcing bar cage connector, wherein:
• the upper tab extends at a first angle from a top end of a base portion of the reinforcing bar cage connector and towards a front side of the reinforcing bar cage connector;
• the upper tab comprises an upper tab opening extending through the upper tab and through the top end of the base portion;
• the lower tab extends at a second angle from a bottom end of the base portion and towards the front side of the reinforcing bar cage connector;
• and
• the lower tab comprises a lower tab opening extending through the lower tab and through the bottom end of the base portion;
• inserting a reinforcing bar rod through the upper tab opening and the lower tab opening of the reinforcing bar cage connector;
• manipulating the reinforcing bar cage connector to a desired position on the reinforcing bar rod;
• releasing the compressive force from the upper tab and the lower tab of the reinforcing bar cage connector;
• and
• inserting a reinforcing bar guide into a hook portion of the reinforcing bar cage connector, wherein the hook portion extends from a first end at the base portion at a rear side of the reinforcing bar cage connector and curls up towards the upper tab at a second end.