Multi-cage spacer
View Patent ↗A spacer for positioning and locking spaced reinforcing cages into a combined integral unit for reinforcing large concrete structures is disclosed that is readily snapped into place even with narrow lattice cages.
1. A spacer device for spacing and positioning a pair of rebar or 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 said locking portions being located toward the ends thereof, wherein said central portion includes a reinforcing rib shape;
(c) wherein said first locking portion has an entrance directed toward and accessible generally in a direction extending back along said central portion toward said second locking portion and said second locking portion has an entrance directed toward and accessible generally at an angle directed away from both said central portion and the entrance of said first locking portion; and
(d) wherein said device is configured to include a relative angle between said first and said second locking portions that enables a user to install said device by inserting said spacer through an opening in the mesh of a first fabric, hooking said first locking portion over an element of a second fabric beyond said first fabric and retract said spacer to lock said first locking portion onto said element of said second fabric spaced from said first fabric and thereafter simply pivoting said spacer to engage and lock said second locking portion onto a corresponding element of said first fabric.
2. A spacer as in claim 1 further comprising one or more mold spacer portions extending beyond one or both of said locking portions to space one or both sides of a double-fabric assembly from a mold wall.
3. A spacer as in claim 2 comprising a pair of mold spacers extending both ends of said spacer.
4. A spacer as in claim 1 wherein said central portion comprises reinforcing metal.
5. A spacer as in claim 1 wherein each of said first and second locking portions includes at least one integral inward directed capture member extending generally at an angle from the entrance thereof that is deflected resiliently by an object entering said locking portion such that said object is captured and locked in place once beyond said at least one inward-directed member.
6. A spacer as in claim 5 wherein at least one of said locking portions includes a pair of opposed inward-directed capture members for capturing and locking an object.
7. A spacer as in claim 6 wherein both of said locking portions include a pair of opposed inward-directed capture members for capturing and locking an object.
8. A spacer as in claim 5 wherein at least one of said locking portions comprises spaced integral inward-directed capture members.
9. A spacer as in claim 5 wherein at least one of said locking portions comprises spaced pairs of opposed inward-directed capture members.
10. A spacer as in claim 1 including an integral finger-grip aspect for ease of handing and installation.
11. A spacer as in claim 1 wherein said spacer comprises a plastic material.
12. A spacer as in claim 11 wherein said spacer comprises a molded plastic material.
13. A spacer as in claim 1 further comprises a metal reinforcing member along the length thereof.
14. A spacer as in claim 1 wherein said reinforcing rib extends through said locking portions.
15. A spacer as in claim 14 wherein said rib is metal.
16. A spacer as in claim 1 wherein said mesh fabric shapes comprise a material selected from steel wire, steel rebar and fiberglass.
17. A spacer as in claim 1 wherein said second locking portion is generally at a right angle with said first locking portion.
18. A spacer as in claim 1 wherein said spaced locking portions are adapted to receive cylindrical objects.
19. A spacer device for spacing and positioning a pair of rebar or 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 said locking portions being located toward the ends thereof;
(c) wherein said first locking portion has an entrance at one end of said central portion facing away from and having an entrance generally parallel to said central portion and said second locking portion has an entrance directed toward and accessible generally at an angle directed away from both said central portion and the entrance of said first locking portion; and
(d) wherein said device is configured to include a relative angle between said first and said second locking portions that enables a user to install the device by inserting said device through an opening in the mesh of a first fabric, and locking said first locking portion on to an element of a second fabric beyond said first fabric by simply pushing said spacer forward parallel to said central portion, and completing installation by simply snapping said second locking portion directly onto a corresponding element of said first fabric by pivoting the device about said element of said second fabric.
20. A spacer as in claim 19 wherein said second locking portion has an entrance generally at a right angle with said central portion.
21. A spacer as in claim 19 wherein said mesh fabric shapes comprise a material selected from steel wire, steel rebar and fiberglass.
22. A spacer as in claim 19 further comprising one or more mold spacer portions extending beyond one or both of said locking portions to space one or both sides of a double-fabric assembly from a mold wall.
23. A spacer as in claim 22 comprising a pair of mold spacers extending both ends of said spacer.
24. A spacer as in claim 19 wherein said central portion includes a reinforcing rib.
25. A spacer as in claim 24 wherein said reinforcing rib extends through said clip components.
26. A spacer as in claim 25 wherein said rib is metal.
27. A spacer as in claim 19 wherein said central portion comprises reinforcing metal.
28. A spacer as in claim 19 wherein each of said first and second locking portions includes at least one integral inward directed capture member extending generally at an angle from the entrance thereof that is deflected resiliently by an object entering said locking portion such that said object is captured and locked in place once beyond said at least one inward-directed member.
29. A spacer as in claim 28 wherein at least one of said locking portions comprises spaced integral inward-directed capture members.
30. A spacer as in claim 28 wherein at least one of said locking portions comprises spaced pairs of opposed inward-directed capture members.
31. A spacer as in claim 19 wherein at least one of said locking portions includes a pair of opposed inward-directed capture members for capturing and locking an object.
32. A spacer as in claim 19 wherein both of said locking portions include a pair of opposed inward-directed members for capturing and locking an object.
33. A spacer as in claim 19 including an integral finger-grip aspect for ease of handing and installation.
34. A spacer as in claim 33 wherein said spacer comprises a molded plastic material.
35. A spacer as in claim 19 wherein said spacer comprises a plastic material.
36. A spacer as in claim 19 further comprises a metal reinforcing member along the length thereof.
37. A spacer as in claim 19 wherein said spaced locking portions are adapted to receive cylindrical objects.
38. 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 spacer is configured such that said first locking portion has an entrance directed generally in a direction parallel to and extending beyond said central portion 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 pushing action parallel to said central portion to lock said first locking portion onto said element of said second fabric and wherein said second locking portion has an entrance configured such that an angle between said first and said second locking portions enables said spacer simply to be pivoted to engage said second locking portion onto a corresponding element of said first fabric.
39. A concrete reinforcement structure as in claim 38 wherein said spacers further comprise one or more mold spacer portions extending beyond one or both of said locking portions to space one or both sides of a double-fabric assembly from a mold wall.
40. A concrete reinforcement structure as in claim 39 wherein said reinforcement structure is a double-cage structure and wherein said spacers include a mold spacer portion extending beyond one of said locking portions.
41. A concrete reinforcement structure as in claim 38 wherein said structure is a box pyramid and wherein said spacers comprise mold spacer portions extending beyond both of said locking portions.
42. A concrete reinforcement structure as in claim 38 wherein each of said first and second locking portions of said spacers includes at least one integral inward-directing capture member extending generally at an angle from the entrance thereof that is deflected resiliently by a cylindrical object entering said clip component such that said cylindrical object is captured and locked in place one beyond said at least one inward-directed member.
43. A concrete reinforcement structure as in claim 42 wherein both of said locking portions include a pair of opposed inward-directed members for capturing and locking an object.
44. A concrete reinforcement structure as in claim 38 wherein said spacer members comprise a plastic material.
45. A concrete reinforcement structure as in claim 44 wherein said spacers further comprise a reinforcing rib.
46. A concrete reinforcement structure as in claim 45 wherein said rib is metal.
47. A concrete reinforcement structure as in claim 38 wherein the shape thereof is selected from round, flat and rectangular shapes.