Protective cover with locking collar and installation tool
AssigneeMinnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
InventorsChristopher J. Burkard, Norman G. Manley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Protective, sealing cover made of flexible material for easy application over an exposed end of a cut reinforcing bar. The cover contains a water impermeable sealant which surrounds the end of the cut bar during the process of applying the cover. A dual function tool facilitates the process of cover application by first positioning the cover then setting a locking means to secure the cover to the bar.
Claims17
An article for covering an end of a metal bar comprising,
- a hollow tube having an inner surface, an outer surface and opposite ends, the first of said opposite ends being an open end, the second of said opposite ends is a closed end having internal and external faces wherein said internal face of said closed end and said inner surface of said hollow tube
- define the internal volume of an open-ended tubular enclosure,
- said hollow tube having at least one longitudinal slit adjacent said open end, in a wall of said hollow tube,
- a quantity of sealant inside said open-ended hollow tube, and
- locking means for securing said hollow tube over a said end of a metal bar inserted in said tubular enclosure toward said internal face of said closed end.
A tool to facilitate application of a hollow tube, having associated locking means, around the end of a metal bar and thereafter activating the locking means to firmly attach the tube to the bar comprising,
- a tubular housing having proximate and distal ends, said proximate end being sized to receive a said hollow tube in said housing in contact with a piston, in said housing, located adjacent said distal end, said proximate end being capable of interacting with said locking means,
- a first orientation of said housing in relationship to said piston whereby force, applied to said housing, acts through said piston against said hollow tube to urge said hollow tube over said end of said metal bar,
- a second orientation of said housing in relationship to said piston whereby force applied to said housing operates on said locking means moving said locking means relative to said tube, until said tube establishes a firm gripping relationship with said metal bar and
- means for selective engagement between said first orientation and said second orientation.
A method for protecting the end of a metal bar comprising the steps of,
- a) inserting a hollow tube into a tool having a tubular housing,
- b) positioning said end of a said metal bar to be received in said hollow tube,
- c) applying axial pressure to said housing to urge said hollow tube on to said metal bar,
- d) adjusting said housing to facilitate engagement with a locking means and
- e) applying force to said housing to set said locking means relative to said hollow tube which thereby exerts a firm gripping action on said metal bar.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.