COUPLER FOR CONNECTING A REBAR TO A THREADED ROD OR ANOTHER REBAR

1 . A coupler, comprising:

a) a cylindrical body having a first end and a second end;

b) the cylindrical body including an axial hole extending from the first end to the second end with a side wall, the axial hole including a first portion for receiving an end portion of a first rod and a threaded second portion for receiving an end portion of a second rod; and

c) the cylindrical body including a first longitudinal cutout extending into the side wall to create a first opening into the first portion of the axial hole to expose the end portion of the first rod to be welded to the cylindrical body.

2 . The coupler as in claim 1 , wherein:

a) the first cutout includes a first side wall surface and a second side wall surface; and

b) the first side wall includes a guide for a thickness of a welding bead to be deposited on the cylindrical body.

3 . The coupler as in claim 2 , wherein the guide includes a shoulder on the first side wall surface.

4 . The coupler as in claim 2 , wherein the guide includes a plurality of recesses in the first side wall surface.

5 . The coupler as in claim 4 , wherein the recesses are disposed radially in the first side wall surface.

6 . The coupler as in claim 1 , wherein:

a) the first cutout includes a first side wall surface and a second side wall surface; and

b) the first side wall surface is perpendicular to the second wall surface.

7 . The coupler as in claim 1 , wherein:

a) the first cutout extends into the first end; and

b) the first opening is U-shaped.

8 . The coupler as in claim 1 , wherein the first cutout is V-shaped in cross-section.

9 . The coupler as in claim 1 , wherein a sight hole is disposed at a junction of the first portion and the second portion of the axial hole.

10 . The coupler as in claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the axial hole includes multiple diameters.

11 . The coupler as in claim 1 , wherein:

a) the first opening includes an upper end and a lower end; and

b) the first portion of the axial hole extends beyond the upper end and the lower end.

12 . The coupler as in claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical body includes a second longitudinal cutout extending into the side wall to create a second opening into the first portion of the axial hole to expose the end portion of the first rod to be welded to the cylindrical body.

13 . The coupler as in claim 11 , wherein the first cutout is opposite the second cutout.

14 . A coupler, comprising:

a) a cylindrical body having a first end portion and a second end portion;

b) the cylindrical body including an axial blind hole with a side wall, the axial blind hole extending from the first end portion for receiving an end portion of a first rod;

c) the cylindrical body including a first threaded opening in the second end portion for receiving an end portion of a second rod; and

d) the cylindrical body including a first longitudinal cutout extending into the side wall to create a first opening into the axial hole to expose the end portion of the first rod to be welded to the cylindrical body.

15 . The coupler as in claim 14 , wherein:

a) a second threaded opening is disposed in the second end portion; and

b) the first threaded opening and the second threaded opening are off-center from the axial hole.

16 . The coupler as in claim 14 , wherein the first threaded opening extends into the first cutout.

17 . The coupler as in claim 14 , wherein a sight hole is disposed at a bottom of the first threaded opening.

18 . A coupler, comprising:

a) a cylindrical body having a first end portion and a second end portion;

b) the cylindrical body including an axial blind hole with a side wall, the axial blind hole extending from the first end portion for receiving an end portion of a first rod;

c) a threaded projection extending from the second end portion for attachment to a second rod; and

d) the cylindrical body including a first longitudinal cutout extending into the side wall to create a first opening into the axial hole to expose the end portion of the first rod to be welded to the cylindrical body.

19 . The coupler as in claim 18 , wherein the threaded projection includes multiple diameters.

20 . The coupler as in claim 18 , wherein the threaded projection has a diameter larger than a diameter of the axial hole.

21 . The coupler as in claim 18 , wherein the threaded projection has a diameter smaller than a diameter of the axial hole.

22 . A coupler, comprising:

a) a cylindrical body having a first end and a second end;

b) the cylindrical body including an axial hole extending from the first end to the second end with a side wall, the axial hole for receiving an end portion of a first rod;

c) the cylindrical body including a first threaded opening in the second end portion for receiving an end portion of a second rod; and

d) the cylindrical body including a first longitudinal cutout extending into the side wall to create a first opening into the first portion of the axial hole to expose the end portion of the first rod to be welded to the cylindrical body.

23 . The coupler as in claim 22 , wherein the first opening is U-shaped.

24 . The coupler as in claim 22 , wherein the first threaded opening is axially disposed into the side wall.

25 . The coupler as in claim 22 , wherein a second threaded opening is disposed in the second end portion of the cylindrical body.

26 . A coupler, comprising:

a) a cylindrical body having a first end and a second end;

b) the cylindrical body including an axial hole extending from the first end to the second end with a side wall, the axial hole including a first portion for receiving an end portion of a first rod and a second portion for receiving an end portion of a second rod;

c) the cylindrical body including a first longitudinal cutout extending into the side wall to create a first opening into the axial opening;

d) the first opening including a first portion for exposing the end portion of the first rod to be welded to the cylindrical body; and

e) the first opening including a second portion for exposing the end portion of the second rod to be welded to the cylindrical body.

27 . The coupler as in claim 26 , wherein a sight hole is disposed in an intermediate portion of the cylindrical body, the sight hole communicates with the axial hole.

28 . A coupler, comprising:

a) a cylindrical body having a first end and a second end;

b) the cylindrical body including a first axial hole extending from the first end an intermediate portion of the cylindrical body with a first side wall, the first axial hole for receiving an end portion of a first rod;

c) the cylindrical body including a second axial hole extending from the second end to the intermediate portion of the cylindrical body with a second side wall, the second axial hole for receiving an end portion of a second rod;

d) the cylindrical body including a first longitudinal cutout extending into the first side wall to create a first opening into the first axial hole for exposing the end portion of the first rod to be welded to the cylindrical body; and

e) the cylindrical body including a second longitudinal cutout extending into the second side wall to create a second opening into the second axial hole for exposing the end portion of the second rod to be welded to the cylindrical body.

29 . The coupler as in claim 28 , wherein the first cutout is offset from the second cutout.

30 . The coupler as in claim 28 , wherein the second axial hole has a larger diameter than the first axial hole.

31 . The coupler as in claim 28 , wherein:

a) a first sight hole is disposed at a bottom of the first axial hole; and

b) a second sight hole is disposed at a bottom of the second axial hole.