Reinforcing assembly and reinforced structure using a reinforcing assembly

1. A reinforcing assembly for use in a reinforced concrete structure, the reinforcing assembly comprising:

multiple spaced-apart, longitudinally-extending support bars; and

multiple working members each independently connected to the support bars, the working members oriented diagonally with respect to a longitudinal axis extending along the support bars;

wherein the working members are arranged so that a lower portion of one working member is physically located directly between an upper portion of a neighboring working member and each support bar in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;

wherein the support bars and the working members comprise rebar, the working members welded to the support bars; and

wherein each working member comprises upwardly-extending sides and a connecting portion that couples the upwardly-extending sides.

2. The reinforcing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the connecting portion of each working member includes a hook portion at upper ends of the upwardly-extending sides.

3. The reinforcing assembly of claim 1 , wherein:

each working member includes separate hook portions at upper ends of the upwardly-extending sides; and

the connecting section of each working member connects the upwardly-extending sides at lower ends of the upwardly-extending sides.

4. The reinforcing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the connecting portion in each working member includes a loop connecting the upwardly-extending sides, the upwardly-extending sides and the loop being substantially planar.

5. The reinforcing assembly of claim 1 , wherein each upwardly-extending side has, at a lower end, a second connecting portion that connects the upwardly-extending side to one of the support bars.

6. The reinforcing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the support bars and the working members comprise #3 rebar.

7. The reinforcing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the working members are oriented at about 45° with respect to the longitudinal axis.

8. The reinforcing assembly of claim 1 , wherein each support bar comprises a section that is bent upward and that is configured to be anchored within a supporting structure.

9. The reinforcing assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the working members are spaced a variable distance apart.

10. The reinforcing assembly of claim 2 , wherein the hook portion of each working member comprises one of: an upwardly-extending hook portion and a downwardly-extending hook portion.

11. The reinforcing assembly of claim 1 , wherein:

the upwardly-extending sides of each working member are substantially straight; and

the upwardly-extending sides of all working members connected to the support bars are substantially parallel with each other when the reinforcing assembly is viewed from a side.

12. A reinforced structure comprising:

a concrete supported structure; and

a reinforcing assembly embedded within the concrete supported structure, wherein the reinforcing assembly comprises:

multiple spaced-apart, longitudinally-extending support bars; and

multiple working members each independently connected to the support bars, the working members oriented diagonally with respect to a longitudinal axis extending along the support bars;

wherein the working members are arranged so that a lower portion of one working member is physically located directly between an upper portion of a neighboring working member and each support bar in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;

wherein the support bars and the working members comprise rebar, the working members welded to the support bars; and

wherein each working member comprises upwardly-extending sides and a connecting portion that couples the upwardly-extending sides.

13. The reinforced structure of claim 12 , wherein the connecting portion of each working member includes a hook portion at upper ends of the upwardly-extending sides.

14. The reinforced structure of claim 13 , wherein the hook portion of each working member comprises one of: an upwardly-extending hook portion and a downwardly-extending hook portion.

15. The reinforced structure of claim 12 , wherein:

each working member includes separate hook portions at upper ends of the upwardly-extending sides; and

the connecting section of each working member connects the upwardly-extending sides at lower ends of the upwardly-extending sides.

16. The reinforced structure of claim 12 , wherein the connecting portion in each working member includes a loop connecting the upwardly-extending sides, the upwardly-extending sides and the loop being substantially planar.

17. The reinforced structure of claim 12 , wherein each upwardly-extending side has, at a lower end, a second connecting portion that connects the upwardly-extending side to one of the support bars.

18. The reinforced structure of claim 12 , wherein the supported structure comprises a concrete slab.

19. The reinforced structure of claim 18 , wherein the concrete slab is supported by at least one concrete column.

20. The reinforced structure of claim 12 , wherein each support bar comprises a section that is bent upward and that is configured to be anchored within a supporting structure.

21. A method comprising:

forming a concrete supported structure having a reinforcing assembly positioned within the supported structure, the reinforcing assembly comprising:

multiple spaced-apart, longitudinally-extending support bars; and

multiple working members each independently connected to the support bars, the working members oriented diagonally with respect to a longitudinal axis extending along the support bars;

wherein the working members are arranged so that a lower portion of one working member is physically located directly between an upper portion of a neighboring working member and each support bar in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;

wherein the support bars and the working members comprise rebar, the working members welded to the support bars; and

wherein each working member comprises upwardly-extending sides and a connecting portion that couples the upwardly-extending sides.