Apparatus and method for reinforcing concrete using rebar isolators
OwnerBryan D. Tooneinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
According to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, an apparatus and method for suspending rebar is disclosed. The rebar isolator of the present invention comprises a pointed metal spike or stake with one or more hollow-bodied rebar supports. Each of the hollow-bodied rebar supports has a support arm which supports the horizontally-positioned rebar. In addition, the spike or stake portion of the rebar isolator has a number of crimped zones which prevent the support arms from shifting downward or rotating in place when the concrete is poured over the horizontally-positioned rebar. The number of crimped zones corresponds to the number of hollow-bodied cylindrical rebar isolator supports and one crimped zone is located immediately below each of the support arms.
Claims20
A reinforced concrete slab comprising at least one rebar isolator embedded within said reinforced concrete slab, said at least one rebar isolator comprising:
- a spike portion, said spike portion comprising a body, a first end, a second end, and at least one crimped zone, said at least one crimped zone being formed in said body between said first end and said second end;
- and
- at least one hollow-bodied rebar support, said hollow-bodied rebar support having a support arm, said support arm being adapted to receive a piece of rebar, wherein said at least one hollow-bodied rebar support is positioned on said body between said cap portion and said at least one crimped zone.
A method comprising the steps of:
- providing at least one rebar isolator, said at least one rebar isolator comprising;
- a stake portion, said stake portion comprising a body portion, said body portion comprising at least one crimped zone, a first end and a second end,
- said first end comprising a pointed end and said second end comprising a cap portion,
- at least one hollow-bodied rebar support, said hollow-bodied rebar support comprising a rebar support portion, said at least one hollow-bodied rebar support being positioned on said body portion between said cap portion and said at least one crimped zone, said rebar support portion being adapted to support at least one piece of rebar,
- driving said pointed end of said stake portion into a desired location by applying a force to said cap portion;
- inserting said at least one piece of rebar into said at least one hollow-bodied rebar support;
- and
- pouring concrete over and around said at least one rebar isolator and said at least one piece of rebar, thereby substantially covering said at least one rebar isolator and said at least one piece of rebar.
A rebar isolator comprising:
- a spike portion, said spike portion comprising:
- a body, a first end, a second end, a first crimped zone and a second crimped zone,
- said first and second crimped zones being formed in said body between said first end and said second end,
- said first end comprising a pointed end and said second end comprising a cap portion;
- a first hollow-bodied rebar support and a second hollow-bodied rebar support, each of said first and second hollow-bodied rebar supports comprising an L-shaped rebar support portion,
- each of said L-shaped rebar support portions being adapted to support a piece of rebar, said piece of rebar defining a diameter,
- each of said L-shaped rebar support portions comprising a raised portion and each of said raised portions defining a distance less than said diameter of said piece of rebar;
- wherein said first hollow-bodied rebar support is positioned on said body portion of said spike between said cap portion and said first crimped zone and said second hollow-bodied rebar support is positioned on said body portion of said spike between said first crimped zone and said second crimped zone.
A method of supporting a first and second piece of rebar in a trench comprising the steps of:
- providing from a plurality of rebar isolators at least a first rebar isolator and a second rebar isolator, wherein each of said plurality of rebar isolators comprises;
- a stake portion, said stake portion comprising a body portion, said body portion comprising a first crimped zone, a second crimped zone, a first end and a second end, said first crimped zone and said second crimped zone being formed in said body portion between said first end and said second end,
- said first end comprising a pointed end and said second end comprising a cap portion,
- a first hollow-bodied rebar support and a second hollow-bodied rebar support, said first and second hollow-bodied rebar supports each comprising a rebar support portion, each of said rebar support portions being adapted to support either of said first and second pieces of rebar, said first hollow-bodied rebar support being positioned on said body portion between said cap portion and said first crimped zone, said second hollow-bodied rebar support being positioned on said body portion between said first crimped zone and said second crimped zone,
- driving said pointed end of said first rebar isolator into a first desired location within said trench by striking said cap portion of said first rebar isolator with a hammer;
- driving said pointed end of said second rebar isolator into a second desired location within said trench by striking said cap portion of said second rebar isolator with said hammer;
- inserting a first piece of rebar into said first rebar isolator;
- inserting a second piece of rebar into said second rebar isolator;
- pouring concrete over and around said first and second rebar isolators and said first and second pieces of rebar, thereby substantially covering said first and second rebar isolators and said first and second pieces of rebar.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.