Reinforcing bar cage connectors and methods of constructing reinforcing bar cages

A reinforcing bar cage comprising:

• a reinforcing bar guide;
• a reinforcing bar rod;
• and
• a reinforcing bar cage connector comprising:
• a first clamp portion comprising:
• a first base comprising first two opposite ends, a first front surface facing a first direction and extending between the first two opposite ends, and a first rear surface opposite the first front surface and extending between the first two opposite ends;
• first sides extending in the first direction from the first two opposite ends of the first base, wherein the first sides comprise first inward facing side surfaces and first outward facing side surfaces;
• and
• a first opening formed by the first front surface of the first base and the first inward facing side surfaces of the first sides,
• wherein the first opening is configured to receive one of the reinforcing bar guide or the reinforcing bar rod;
• a second clamp portion comprising:
• a second base comprising second two opposite ends, a second front surface, and a second rear surface opposite the second front surface, wherein the second front surface of the second base faces a second direction opposite the first direction, and wherein the second rear surface of the second base contacts the first rear surface of the first base;
• second sides extending in the second direction from the second two opposite ends of the second base, wherein the second sides comprise second inward facing side surfaces and second outward facing side surfaces;
• and
• a second opening formed by the second front surface of the second base and the inward facing side surfaces of the first sides,
• wherein the second opening is configured to receive an other one of the reinforcing bar guide or the reinforcing bar rod, and wherein the first opening is perpendicular to the second opening;
• and
• a metal tie wire operable to be twisted to compress the first sides of the first clamp portion towards the first opening and the second sides of the second clamp portion towards the second opening.

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

• inserting a reinforcing bar guide in a first opening of a first clamp portion of a reinforcing bar cage connector, wherein the reinforcing bar cage connector comprises:
• the first clamp portion comprising:
• a first base comprising first two opposite ends, a first front surface facing a first direction and extending between the first two opposite ends, and
• a first rear surface opposite the first front surface and extending between the first two opposite ends;
• first sides extending in the first direction from the first two opposite ends of the first base, wherein the first sides comprise first inward facing side surfaces and first outward facing side surfaces;
• and
• the first opening formed by the first front surface of the first base and the first inward facing side surfaces of the first sides;
• a second clamp portion comprising:
• a second base comprising second two opposite ends, a second front surface, and a second rear surface opposite the second front surface, wherein the second front surface of the second base faces a second direction opposite the first direction, and wherein the second rear surface of the second base contacts the first rear surface of the first base;
• second sides extending in the second direction from the second two opposite ends of the second base, wherein the second sides comprise second inward facing side surfaces and second outward facing side surfaces, and wherein a distal end of each of the second sides are flared outward and comprise a tie wire guide slot configured to receive a metal tie wire;
• and
• a second opening formed by the second front surface of the second base and the inward facing side surfaces of the first sides, and
• the metal tie wire operable to be twisted to compress the first sides of the first clamp portion towards the first opening and the second sides of the second clamp portion towards the second opening;
• inserting a reinforcing bar rod in the second opening of the second clamp portion of the reinforcing bar cage connector, wherein the first opening is perpendicular to the second opening;
• manipulating the metal tie wire around the first outward facing side surfaces of the first clamp portion and through the tie wire guide slot in the distal end of each of the second sides of the second clamp portion;
• and
• twisting ends of the metal tie wire together to compress the first sides of the first clamp portion on the reinforcing bar guide and the second sides of the second clamp portion on the reinforcing bar rod.