Multi-cage spacer

A spacer for spacing and positioning a pair of spaced mesh fabric shapes for use in reinforcing concrete structures comprising:

• (a) a pair of spaced locking portions, including first and second locking portions, each having a trough for receiving a fabric element and a trapping and retaining component for capturing and retaining said fabric element;
• (b) a generally straight central portion connecting said pair of spaced locking portions;
• and
• (c) wherein said first locking portion has an entrance directed generally such that said spacer can be inserted through an opening in the mesh of a first fabric, and snapped on to an element of a second fabric beyond said first fabric by a generally linear action selected from advancing and retracting to lock said first locking portion onto said element of said second fabric and said second locking portion thereafter snapped directly onto a corresponding element of said first fabric.

A concrete reinforcement structure having first and second reinforcing mesh fabric shapes spaced and secured in relative position by a plurality of spacers, said spacers further comprising:

• (a) a pair of spaced locking portions, including first and second locking portions, each having a trough for receiving a cylindrical object and a trapping and retaining component for capturing said cylindrical object;
• (b) a generally straight central portion connecting said pair of spaced locking portions;
• and
• (c) wherein said first locking portion has an entrance directed generally such that said spacer can be inserted through an opening in the mesh of a first fabric, and snapped on to an element of a second fabric beyond said first fabric by a generally linear action selected from advancing and retracting to lock said first locking portion onto said element of said second fabric and said second locking portion thereafter snapped directly onto a corresponding element of said first fabric.

A method for assembling a concrete reinforcement structure having spaced first and second reinforcing mesh fabric shapes, said method comprising:

• (a) providing a plurality of spacers further comprising:
• 1) a pair of spaced locking portions, including first and second locking portions, each having a trough for receiving a mesh fabric element and a trapping and retaining component for capturing said element;
• (2) a generally straight central portion connecting said pair of spaced locking portions;
• and
• (3) wherein said spaced locking portions have entrances directed toward said second locking portion and said second locking portion has an entrance directed generally at a right angle with said central portion, such that said spacer can be inserted through an opening in the wire mesh of a first fabric and snapped onto an element of a second fabric beyond said first fabric by a generally linear action to lock said first locking portion onto an element of a second fabric and said second locking portion snapped onto a corresponding element of said first fabric;
• (b) installing a plurality of said spacers by inserting said spacers through an opening in the mesh of a first fabric shape and selectively advancing said spacer to lock said first locking portion onto an element of said second reinforcing mesh fabric or hooking said first locking portion on an element of said second reinforcing mesh fabric and retracting said spacer to lock said first locking portion onto said element shape, and snapping said second locking portion onto a corresponding element of said first reinforcing mesh fabric shape to secure said spacers on said elements and stabilize said structure.