U.S. patent application number 10/895634 was filed with the patent office on 2005-03-10 for connector for steel reinforcement.
This patent application is currently assigned to Adjustabolt Pty Ltd. Invention is credited to Comerford, Ernest.
Application Number | 20050050832 10/895634 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 3833658 |
Filed Date | 2005-03-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050050832 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Comerford, Ernest |
March 10, 2005 |
Connector for steel reinforcement
Abstract
A connector for steel reinforcement having a head for locating
over and relative to reinforcement projecting from a wall of a
building, the head having a receiving channel which gives the head
a hooked shaped appearance, the channel may be hooked over
reinforcement projecting from a concrete wall.
Inventors: |
Comerford, Ernest;
(Stanthorpe, AU) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PITTS AND BRITTIAN P C
P O BOX 51295
KNOXVILLE
TN
37950-1295
US
|
Assignee: |
Adjustabolt Pty Ltd
Stanthorpe
AU
|
Family ID: |
3833658 |
Appl. No.: |
10/895634 |
Filed: |
July 21, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/698 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04B 1/4128
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/698 |
International
Class: |
E04C 005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 21, 2002 |
AU |
PS0049 |
Claims
1. A connector for steel reinforcement, the connector having a body
for securely receiving an end of a length of steel reinforcement
and a head for locating over and relative to reinforcement
projecting from a wall of a building
2. The connector of claim 1 wherein the head is configured as a
hook which locates over the reinforcement projecting from the
wall.
3. The connector of claim 1 or 2 wherein the body has a cavity for
Receiving the end of the length of the reinforcement.
4. The connector of claim 3 wherein the cavity is provided with a
threaded portion adapted for threaded engagement with the end of a
length of reinforcement.
5. The connector of claim 3 wherein the body is formed of a
plurality of parts securable to each other to collectively form the
cavity.
6. The connector of claim 3 wherein an interior face of the cavity
has formations for receiving formations on the length of
reinforcement.
7. The connector of claim 5 wherein the body is formed of two parts
securable to one another to capture the end of the reinforcement
between them.
8. The connector of claim 3 wherein an inner end of the cavity is
enlarged relative to the remainder of the cavity.
9. The connector of claim 7 wherein the parts are held together by
one or more connecting members.
10. The connector of claim 9 wherein the connecting member is a
collar adapted to extend over the parts of the body to thereby
secure the parts to one another.
11. The connector of claim 10 wherein the collar has a tapered
bore.
12. The connector of claim 9 wherein the connecting members are
studs projecting from one of the parts and the other of the parts
has apertures for receiving the studs and the studs may be deformed
to lock the parts to one another.
13. The connector of claim 6 wherein the interior of the cavity is
provided with a screw threaded portion for receiving the length of
reinforcement in screw threaded engagement.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Priority is claimed from Australian Provisional Patent
Application No. PS0048 filed Jan. 21, 2002 and PCT Application No.
PCT/AU03/00052 filed Jan. 20, 2003.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to a connector for steel
reinforcement
[0003] The invention will be described by way of example with
reference to the construction of concrete floors or ceilings in
multi-level concrete buildings. It should be appreciated that this
is by way of example only and that the connector of the invention
may also be used for other purposes.
BACKGROUND ART
[0004] In the construction of concrete multi-level buildings, the
walls are first cast. Formwork is employed and steel reinforcement
is positioned within the formwork and at the locations along the
height of a wall where a floor or ceiling is to be constructed
channels known by the trade name "REBOX" are positioned and
imbedded in the resultant concrete wall. Each REBOX consists of a
channel which may be sealed at both ends and has a cap which seals
the REBOX against the formwork. In this way concrete is prohibited
from entering the REBOX when the wall is formed.
[0005] Each REBOX has a plurality of lengths of steel reinforcement
which project into the space where the wall is to be formed and is
tied or anchored to the wall reinforcement. The lengths of
reinforcement also project into the interior of the REBOX and are
aligned within and extend along the channel formed by the REBOX
[0006] After a wall has been cast and formwork is removed from the
wall, floors/ceilings then need to be cast. Formwork is positioned
adjacent the cavities formed by the channel shaped REBOXES and a
workman must then manually deform the lengths of steel
reinforcement within the REBOXES from their locations within the
cavities or channels so that they project outwardly therefrom and
may be tied or anchored to steel reinforcement of the floor/ceiling
prior to the pouring of the slab which will form the
floor/ceiling.
[0007] The deforming of the reinforcement is tedious and difficult
since the work must be carried out quickly and the location of the
reinforcement closely adjacent the formwork of the floor/ceiling
does not allow for easy access to the reinforcement. The bending of
the reinforcement in this way results in metal fatigue which may
compromise the strength of the resultant building.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is an object of the invention to provide a connector for
steel reinforcement which at least minimises the disadvantages
referred to above.
[0009] According to one aspect the invention provides a connector
for steel reinforcement, the connector having a body for securely
receiving an end of a length of steel reinforcement and a head for
locating over and relative to reinforcement projecting from a wall
of a building.
[0010] The head portion is preferably configured as a hook which
may locate over reinforcement located within a REBOX. Preferably, a
retainer is carried by the hook which assists in retaining the hook
on the reinforcement within the REBOX.
[0011] The body may include a cavity for receiving an end of a
length of reinforcement. Preferably the body is formed from a
plurality of parts which may be secured to or held relative to one
another and which collectively form the cavity mentioned above.
[0012] Reinforcement often has ribs or formations on its outer
surface and it is preferred that the interior face of the cavity
provided by the body have complementary formations for receiving
the formations on the length of reinforcement.
[0013] This assists in attaching the length of reinforcement
relative to the body.
[0014] Preferably the body is formed from two parts or halves which
may be secured to one another to capture an end of the
reinforcement between them.
[0015] Preferably an inner end of the cavity is enlarged relative
to the remainder of the cavity in the body. This ensures that the
cavity may readily be able to receive an end of a length of
reinforcement even if the free end of the length is deformed.
Deformation often occurs when a desired length of reinforcement is
cut from a longer length of such material.
[0016] Where the body is formed of two parts they may be held to
each other by one or more connecting members. The connecting member
may be a collar. The connecting members may consist of studs
projecting from one of the parts of the body and the other part of
the body may have corresponding apertures for receiving the studs.
Free ends of the studs may be deformed to lock the body parts to
one another and may function like rivets. If desired that body part
with the apertures may be provided with recesses for receiving the
deformed ends of the studs.
[0017] Alternatively, the studs may be relatively short and serve
to locate one part relative to the other part and a retainer such
as a collar may hold the parts relative to each other.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0018] A particular preferred embodiment of the invention will now
be described by way of example with reference to the drawings in
which:
[0019] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a connector
according to the embodiment of the invention;
[0020] FIG. 2 is an assembled perspective view of the connector of
FIG. 1;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the connector of FIGS. 1 and
2 shown in situ coupled to wall reinforcement;
[0022] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a connector
according to another embodiment of the invention;
[0023] FIG. 5 is an assembled perspective view of the connector of
FIG. 4;
[0024] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the connection of FIGS. 4
and 5 shown in situ coupled to wall reinforcement;
[0025] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a connector according to
another embodiment of the invention; and
[0026] FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the connector of
FIG. 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0027] FIG. 1 shows a connector 10 according to an embodiment of
the invention. The connector 10 has a body 12, 13 with a head.
[0028] The body is formed from parts 13 and 12 which together
provide a cavity 14 for receiving an end of a length of steel
reinforcement
[0029] The head 11 has a receiving channel 18 which gives the head
a hook shaped appearance and the channel may be hooked over
reinforcement projecting from a concrete wall.
[0030] Part 12 of the body has connecting members 16 extending from
it. Part 13 of the body has apertures 17 for receiving members 16
and the members 16 may be deformed such that the parts 12 and 13
may be secured to one another. The inner surface of the cavity may
have complementary formations to formations the end of the length
of reinforcement such that once the end is received within the
cavity and the parts 12 and 13 are secured to one another, the end
cannot be withdrawn from the cavity. An inner end of the cavity may
be of an enlarged size.
[0031] FIG. 2 of the drawings shows the connector 10 in its
assembled state prior to deformation of the members 16.
[0032] FIG. 3 shows the connector 10 located within a channel
shaped REBOX 22. The REBOX has side flanges 23, 24 and is recessed
into a wall 25. Reinforcement 21 projects into the recess formed by
the REBOX 22 and projects rearwardly into the wall 25 where it is
tied or connected to reinforcement in the wall 25 prior to the
casting of the wall. The reinforcement 21 is received within the
channel 18.
[0033] The connector 10 has a length of reinforcement 20 captured
by parts 12, 13 of the body once the parts are secured to each
other when the members 16 are deformed. The formations and the
reinforcement 20 have not been illustrated.
[0034] The reinforcement 20 may be tied or connected to
reinforcement which will form part of a floor or ceiling and the
floor/ceiling extends into the recess provided by the REBOX 22. In
this way a floor/ceiling may be produced without the need for first
bending reinforcement out from the REBOX as was the case
previously.
[0035] The connector 40 of FIG. 4 has a body 41 made of two parts
42 and 43. Part 42 has locating holes 44 and part 43 has projecting
pins (not visible) receivable by the holes 44 to allow the parts to
be located relative to one another. The parts 42, 43, when the
connector is assembled form a cavity 45 for receiving an end of a
length of reinforcement. The inner surface of the cavity 45 may be
configured to match or mate with the outer profile of the
reinforcement End 46 of the cavity is enlarged to accommodate any
deformity on the end of the reinforcement
[0036] The body 41 has a head 50 provided with a channel 51.
[0037] A collar 52 with a tapered bore 53 therethrough is adapted
to extend over the parts 42, 43 to hold them together.
[0038] FIG. 5 shows the connector in its assembled condition.
[0039] FIGS. 6 shows a concrete wall 60 into which has been
embedded a REBOX having a connecting wall 61 and opposed side
flanges 62, 63. Reinforcement 64 projects into the space within the
REBOX and extends into the wall 60. Those parts of the
reinforcement that extend into the wall are tied or connected to
reinforcement in the wall prior to pouring the concrete for the
wall.
[0040] It is preferable that the receiving channel 18 (51 or 73) in
the head be configured so that one of its inner faces is curved to
match the curvature of an inner edge of the reinforcement 64. In
addition the head extends completely across the opening or eye
defined by the reinforcement 64.
[0041] In FIG. 7 the connector 70 has a body 71 and a head 72. The
head 72 has a receiving channel 73 which gives the head a hook
shaped appearance. A cavity 74 extends into the body 71 and is
adapted to receive an end of a length of steel reinforcement.
[0042] As shown in FIG. 8, the wall of the cavity is provided with
a screw threaded formation. An end of the length of steel
reinforcement may be formed with a corresponding thread formation
and screwed into the cavity for engagement with the connector.
[0043] Connector 40 securely receives and retains a length of
reinforcement 65 and the channel 51 receives reinforcement 64.
Reinforcement 65 may be tied or otherwise connected to
reinforcement of a floor or ceiling and the connector with the
reinforcement 65 are embedded into the floor/ceiling when the
concrete for the floor/ceiling is poured and has set In this way
the floor/ceiling is securely attached to the wall without having
to bend reinforcement as was the case in the prior art.
* * * * *