Apparatus for releasable connection to an embedded member

In a pickup unit for releasable connection to an anchor insert embedded in a concrete body adjacent to a cavity which provides access to the insert and communicates with an opening in an external surface of the body, said insert including a pair of oppositely disposed anchor rods each having a lug-engagement surface facing in a direction away from said external surfaces, the improvement comprising:

• a housing having an inner end portion and an outer end portion and extending longitudinally therebetween, said housing being adapted for insertion of its inner end portion through said opening and into said cavity,
• means defining a longitudinal bore in said housing,
• means defining a pair of lug-mounting sockets oppositely disposed in said inner end portion, each of said sockets communicating with said bore laterally inwardly of the socket and having a laterally outer mouth disposed to face an adjacent one of said lug-engagement surfaces when said inner end portion is in said cavity,
• a lug mounted in each of said sockets for reciprocal rotational movement therein between a first disposition wherein a portion of the lug protrudes laterally through the mouth of the socket into engagement with the adjacent lug-engagement surface to connect the unit to said insert, and a second disposition wherein said lug portion is withdrawn from engagement to release the unit from the insert,
• actuating means longitudinally movably mounted in said bore for reciprocation between first and second positions to engage said lugs and rotate them correspondingly between their first and second dispositions, said actuating means having first reaction surfaces disposed when in said first position between said lugs in engagement therewith and thereby providing resistance acting to prevent the lugs from being rotated out of their first dispositions by load forces exerted on the lug by said insert, and
• seating means for each lug included in said socket-defining means and providing a second reaction surface facing in a direction toward said external surface of the body and engaging the lug for transferring to said housing load forces exerted on the lug by said insert.

In a combination of an anchor insert adapted to be embedded in a concrete body adjacent to a cavity which provides access to the insert and communicates with an opening in an external surface of the body, said insert having a plurality of lug-engagement surfaces disposed in angularly spaced relation about said cavity and each facing in a direction away from said external surface, and a pickup unit releasably connectable to said insert and which includes a support member adapted to be mounted on said external surface adjacent to said opening, and lifting means connected to said support member, the improvement comprising:

• a housing included in said pickup unit and having an inner end portion and an outer end portion and extending longitudinally therebetween, said housing being adapted for insertion of its inner end portion through said opening and into said cavity,
• means longitudinally adjustably mounting said housing on said support member,
• means defining a longitudinal bore in said housing,
• means defining a plurality of lug-mounting sockets in said inner end portion, each of said sockets communicating with said bore laterally inwardly of the socket and having a laterally outer mouth disposed to face an adjacent one of said lug-engagement surfaces when said inner end portion is in said cavity, a lug mounted in each of said sockets for reciprocal rotational movement therein between a first disposition wherein a portion of the lug protrudes laterally through the mouth of the socket into engagement with the adjacent lug-engagement surface to connect the unit to the insert, and a second disposition wherein said lug portion is withdrawn from said engagement to release the unit from the insert,
• actuating means longitudinally movably mounted in said bore for reciprocation between first and second positions to engage said lugs and rotate them correspondingly between their first and second dispositions, said actuating means having first reaction surfaces disposed when in said first position between said lugs in engagement therewith and thereby providing resistance acting to prevent the lugs from being rotated out of their dispositions by load forces exerted on the lug by said insert, and
• seating means for each lug included in said socket-defining means and providing a second reaction surface facing in a direction toward said external surface of the body and engaging the lug for transferring to said housing load forces exerted on the lug by said insert.

In a combination of an anchor insert which includes a concrete-excluding hollow cage having an open end and a closed end, and a pair of spaced apart anchor rods mounted on said cage and each having a lug-engagement surface spaced from and facing in the direction of said closed end and engageable from the interior of the cage, said insert being adapted for embedment in a concrete body with said open end facing an external surface of the body and communicating with an opening therein, and a pickup unit releasably connectable to said insert and which includes a support member adapted to be mounted on said external surface adjacent to said opening, and lifting means connected to said support member, the improvement comprising:

• a housing included in said pickup unit and having an inner end portion and an outer end portion and extending longitudinally therebetween, said housing being adapted for insertion of its inner end portion through said opening and into said cage,
• means longitudinally adjustably mounting said housing on said support member,
• means defining a longitudinal bore in said housing,
• means defining a pair of lug-mounting sockets in said inner end portion, each of said sockets communicating with said bore laterally inwardly of the socket and having a laterally outer mouth disposed to face an adjacent one of said lug-engagement surfaces when said inner end portion is in said cage,
• a lug mounted in each of said sockets for reciprocal rotational movement therein between a first disposition wherein a portion of the lug protrudes laterally through the mouth of the socket into engagement with the adjacent lug-engagement surface to connect the unit to the insert, and a second disposition wherein said lug portion is withdrawn from said engagement to release the unit from the insert,
• actuating means longitudinally movably mounted in said bore for reciprocation between first and second positions to engage said lugs and rotate them correspondingly between their first and second dispositions, said actuating means having first reaction surfaces disposed when in said first position between said lugs in engagement therewith and thereby providing resistance acting to prevent the lugs from being rotated out of their first dispositions by load forces exerted on the lug by said insert, and
• seating means for each lug included in said socket-defining means and providing a second reaction surface facing in a direction toward said external surface of the body and engaging the lug for transferring to said housing load forces exerted on the lug by said insert.