U.S. patent application number 10/944213 was filed with the patent office on 2005-07-07 for apparatus for supporting infrastructure in slabs.
This patent application is currently assigned to Construction Concepts Unlimited, Inc.. Invention is credited to Gorman, Christopher A..
Application Number | 20050144902 10/944213 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34713606 |
Filed Date | 2005-07-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050144902 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gorman, Christopher A. |
July 7, 2005 |
Apparatus for supporting infrastructure in slabs
Abstract
An apparatus and mounting arrangement supports infrastructure in
slabs. The apparatus includes a lower section (104) that provides
stability and is further able to communicate information about the
apparatus or mounting arrangement after the slab has been formed
around the apparatus. The apparatus further includes an upper
section (102), that when combined with the lower section (104), is
capable of holding a plurality of infrastructure items at a
predefined distance above a base level. The upper section (102) is
further provided with a portion (1002) that will extend above the
upper surface of the slab to communicate the presence of the
apparatus after the slab has been poured.
Inventors: |
Gorman, Christopher A.; (Ft.
Lauderdale, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FLEIT, KAIN, GIBBONS, GUTMAN, BONGINI
& BIANCO P.L.
ONE BOCA COMMERCE CENTER
551 NORTHWEST 77TH STREET, SUITE 111
BOCA RATON
FL
33487
US
|
Assignee: |
Construction Concepts Unlimited,
Inc.
Fort Lauderdale
FL
|
Family ID: |
34713606 |
Appl. No.: |
10/944213 |
Filed: |
September 17, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60503702 |
Sep 17, 2003 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/782.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04C 5/20 20130101; E04C
5/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/782.1 |
International
Class: |
E04C 002/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus for holding infrastructure in a slab, the apparatus
comprising: a body; and at least two receiving areas formed within
the body for securing infrastructure in a slab.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: at least
one set of legs mechanically coupled to the body for supporting the
body in a slab.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: at least
one foot attached to each of the at least one set of legs, the foot
having at least one of a raised character, a raised symbol, a
recessed character, and a recessed symbol on a surface of the
foot.
4. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: an
elongated portion mechanically coupled to the apparatus and
extending in a direction opposite the legs, for protruding through
an upper surface of a slab to identify a location of the
apparatus.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the at least
two receptacles comprises: a set of opposing arms mechanically
coupled to the body for providing the at least one receiving
area.
6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the set of opposing
arms comprises a flexible material that allows the infrastructure
to displace the arms when being inserted within the receiving area
defined by the arms and provides mechanical resistance to
infrastructure being removed from the receiving area defined by the
arms.
7. An infrastructure mounting arrangement for holding
infrastructure, the arrangement comprising: at least one upper
section; and a lower section removably attachable to the at least
one upper section, wherein the lower section and the at least one
upper section provide at least two receiving areas for securing
infrastructure in a slab.
8. The infrastructure mounting arrangement according to claim 7,
wherein each of the at least two receiving areas comprises: a set
of opposing arms mechanically coupled to the upper section for
providing the at least one receiving area.
9. The infrastructure mounting arrangement according to claim 8,
wherein the set of opposing arms comprises a flexible material that
allows the infrastructure to displace the arms when the
infrastructure is inserted within the receiving area defined by the
arms and provides resistance to the infrastructure when being
removed from the receiving area defined by the arms.
10. The infrastructure mounting arrangement according to claim 7,
wherein the lower section comprises: at least two feet.
11. The at least two feet according to claim 10, further
comprising: at least one of a recessed area and a raised area on a
surface of at least one of the at least two feet for visually
indicating information about the infrastructure mounting
arrangement.
12. The at least two feet according to claim 11, wherein the
recessed area and the raised area provides at least one of a
character and a symbol.
13. The infrastructure mounting arrangement according the claim 7,
further comprising: at least one protrusion extending from each
upper section; and at least one opening in the lower section that
accepts the at least one protrusion and holds the sections together
as one.
14. The infrastructure mounting arrangement according to claim 7,
wherein the infrastructure is a post-tension cable.
15. The infrastructure mounting arrangement according to claim 7,
wherein adjacent receiving areas lie on an opposite one of two
different parallel lines.
16. The infrastructure mounting arrangement according to claim 7,
further comprising: an auxiliary upper section removably attachable
to a side of the lower section, providing additional receiving
areas for securing the infrastructure.
17. The infrastructure mounting arrangement according to claim 7,
further comprising: an elongated portion extending from the upper
section in a direction opposite the lower section when the upper
section and lower section are removably attached, for protruding
through a slab to identify a location of the apparatus.
18. An apparatus for holding infrastructure in a slab, the
apparatus comprising: at least one upper section; a lower section
mechanically coupled to the at least one upper section; and at
least two receiving areas in each upper section for holding
infrastructure in a slab.
19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein each of the at
least two receiving areas comprises: a set of opposing arms
mechanically coupled to the apparatus for providing the at least
one receiving area.
20. The apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising: at
least one foot having at least one of a recessed area and a raised
area on a surface for visually indicating information about the
apparatus.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority from provisional
application No. 60/503,702, filed Sep. 17, 2003, the entire
disclosure being incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention lies in the field of construction. More
particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for
holding cables, wires, pipes, rebar, or other infrastructure at a
selected height from deck level during construction of concrete
slabs.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] In the area of construction, various techniques exist for
placing concrete slabs, floors, beams, and the like, under a
tension to thereby strengthen the structure. The placement of a
tension assembly in concrete is well known in connection with
concrete slabs, such as are used for highways, bridges, houses,
office buildings, apartment buildings, parking structures,
slabs-on-ground, rock and soil anchors, and water tanks.
[0006] A popular tensioning technique, commonly called
"post-tensioning", as shown in FIG. 1, is to support or otherwise
suspend cable assemblies 102 along the length of a concrete slab
106, when poured. The cable assemblies 102 (hereafter "cables")
usually consist of extruded plastic tubes or sheathes with greased
tendons therein. As the cables 102 run along the length of the
concrete slab 106, or floor, the cables 102 are attached to, or
pass through, one or more building support structures 112 within
the floor area, such as a concrete or steel column. The live or
stressing end of the cables 104 are not anchored at this time and
are cut at such a length so as to extend beyond the sidewall 114 of
the slab 106 when poured. The concrete 106 is then poured around
the cables 102. After the concrete 114 has been allowed a
sufficient time to cure, the cables 102 are stretched to thereby
place the concrete slab 114 in compression. After each cable is
stretched, the tension-end 104 of the cable 102 is secured in the
stretched position, thereby leaving the cable 102 in a tensioned
state. The end of the cable 104 that extends beyond the sidewall
114 of the concrete floor 106 is then cut by a torch, a saw blade,
shears, or other means.
[0007] For maximum strength, it is desirable that the cables exit
the sidewall 114 of the slab 106 equidistant from the top surface
108 and the bottom surface 110. To accomplish this, prior to
pouring the concrete 106 each cable 102 is placed on one or more
support structures 100 of varying height so that it is held off of
the deck surface 116 that the concrete 106 is to be poured. This
allows the cables 102 to be encapsulated within the concrete 106
once poured because concrete can easily flow under the cables 102
while supported on the structures 100. Optimally, as the cables 102
span the length of the floor 116, the point where the cables 102
attach to, or pass through the above mentioned building support
members 112 will be at a greater height, with respect to the deck
level, from where the cables are positioned to run the remaining
length of the floor. The configuration is similar to that of a
suspension bridge. Therefore, looking at FIG. 1 it can be seen that
after the concrete has been poured, as the cables 102 approach a
support column 112 within the interior of the floor area, the
vertical distance between the cable 102 and the upper surface 108
of the concrete floor 106 will decrease. It is therefore desirable
to support the cables 102 at various heights along the floor 116
where the concrete is to be poured so that the suspension formation
can be achieved.
[0008] For maximum strength, multiple cables 102 are used in a
single concrete slab 106. The number of cables 102 used may be
dictated by building codes in a particular jurisdiction. When
multiple cables 102 are placed along the floor 106 in close
proximity to each other, each cable must be supported. Several
prior art methods exist for supporting multiple cables, each
requiring the use of multiple standoffs. One such method is to use
a separate standoff under each cable. As previously mentioned, the
cables must be supported at a multitude of heights. This method has
the disadvantage of requiring an inordinate amount of standoffs to
be used in a single floor area.
[0009] Another common practice in the construction industry, shown
in FIG. 2, is to support a bar of solid material 202, such as rebar
for instance, between two prior art standoffs 100. One such
standoff is Sorkin (U.S. Pat. No. 5,791,095). Sorkin is a standoff
that consists of a receiving area having a horizontal section, a
generally parabolic section extending transverse to the horizontal
section, and a plurality of separate legs extending downwardly from
the receiving area. Each of the legs has a foot extending
horizontally outwardly therefrom. A foot of one of the plurality of
legs is separated from the foot of an adjacent leg. The receiving
area and the plurality of legs are integrally formed together of a
polymeric material. Although the receiving area is parabolic, and
more than one cable can be held in the receiving area, Sorkin
provides no method to secure the cables. As a result, the cables
easily fall out of the parabolic receiving area and away from the
standoff. To avoid this problem, two standoffs are commonly used to
support a bar of rebar between them. The length of rebar 202 is
secured to the standoffs 100 by tying the rebar with a wire wrap
204.
[0010] As can be seen in FIG. 2, the rebar suspended by the
standoffs 100 is then placed under and perpendicular to the
lengthwise direction of cables 102. The cables 102 then attached to
the rebar through the use of a wire wrap 206. This method has the
disadvantage of necessitating not only the supply of the solid
material and wire, but also the labor intensive practice of
securing the solid material to the two or more standoffs and the
further step of securing the cables to the solid material.
Additionally, this method has the disadvantage of requiring at
least two standoffs at every support location, which adds cost and
time.
[0011] A second standoff of this type is manufactured by Aztec
Concrete Accessories, Inc. of Fontana, Calif. This standoff has a
central receiving area and a plurality of legs that extend
downwardly from the receiving area. The central receiving area has
a generally concaved configuration that can receive only a single
rebar. In use, these standoffs have had a tendency to be unstable
and tip over. The use of an annular ring extending around the legs
of the standoff requires that a wire must be threaded through the
interior of the standoff in order to tie the rebar within the
receiving area. Importantly, this method of using rebar and wire
has the further disadvantage of using metallic materials that will
ultimately be encapsulated in the concrete. Over time, moisture
trapped inside the concrete slab will cause the metal to rust
inside the slab. As a result, the structural integrity of the slab
will be compromised. Accordingly, these standoffs have been
generally ineffective for meeting the needs of the construction
industry.
[0012] When constructing a building with multiple levels, slabs
must be placed at each floor level. At all times there must be a
supporting surface upon which to pour the concrete slab. While the
first floor of a building may be supported by the earth below,
subsequent floors must be supported by other means until the cement
has cured. A typical method, shown in FIG. 3, is to use a metal
framework 302 to support a wooden "deck" 116 at a specified height.
The wooden deck 116 has wooden sides 304. The wooden deck 116 is
the surface upon which the concrete 116 is poured. The sides 304
will allow an amount of concrete 106 to be contained until the
concrete 106 is dry. After sufficient drying has occurred, the
wooden deck 116, sides 304, and framework 302 are removed.
[0013] Once each floor is formed, it is often necessary to
penetrate the concrete slab 106. For instance, installation of
doors and windows require that screws or bolts be inserted into the
slab 106 both from the top surface 108 and from the surface below
110. If a drill or screw being driven into the concrete penetrates
a post-tension cable 102, the cable 102 can snap. The breaking of a
cable 102 under such a large amount of tension can cause severe
damage to the structure and possible physical injury to the worker.
At a minimum, the cable must be replaced. This process is extremely
difficult and expensive. It is therefore desirable to have a method
of identifying the location of the post-tension cables 102 after
the concrete 106 has been poured.
[0014] Using the current method of installing post-tension cables
described above, there is no simple way of determining the physical
location of the cables once they are encapsulated in the concrete.
Often times an x-ray machine must be used, which suffers from the
disadvantage of being costly, time consuming, and dangerous to
human health. Metal detectors, which are cheaper and safer than
x-ray machines, can be used. However, metal detectors are not
without their shortcomings. Due to the large amount of rebar and
other metallic materials embedded in the slab, distinguishing
post-tension cables from other metal items, if possible at all, is
difficult and time consuming.
[0015] Therefore a need exists to overcome the problems with the
prior art as discussed above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0016] According to an embodiment of the invention, an apparatus
for supporting infrastructure while pouring concrete slabs is
provided which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the
prior art apparatus of this general type.
[0017] In one embodiment, the invention provides a standoff
apparatus that enables one to secure and support, among other
things, cables, wires, conduit, rebar, and in particular,
post-tension cables, at predetermined distances from a deck level
while a concrete slab is poured onto the deck and around the
cables.
[0018] The apparatus and method can be used for easily locating,
among other things, cables, wires, conduit, rebar, and in
particular, post-tension cables, after a concrete slab has been
poured around the cables. While an embodiment of the invention is
to secure any type of infrastructure, such as cables, wires, or
rebar, the remainder of the specification will refer only to
post-tension cables commonly known and used by those of ordinary
skill in the art of construction.
[0019] There is provided, in accordance with embodiments of the
invention, a standoff apparatus having a lower section for
providing support and an upper section for placement of
post-tension cables. The lower section and upper section can vary
in dimension so as to provide varying standoff distances with
respect to the deck that they will be placed upon. The upper
section is provided with one or more receptacle areas capable of
holding a cable once placed in that area. The lower section can
have two or more legs to provide stability to the apparatus.
[0020] In accordance with an additional feature of the invention,
the standoff apparatus includes an upper section having a plurality
of grasping arm-type structures capable of holding a post-tension
cable, inserted between each set of grasping arms. In an
embodiment, the grasping arms are provided in pairs of two
opposable arms, which have centers that are curved outward from
each other, and have a bottom portion and top portion that are
arranged in a configuration similar to a set of parenthesis. Only
the bottom of each opposable arm is attached to the apparatus. The
upper portions of the arms are disposed so that the gap between
them is slightly smaller than the diameter of the cable that they
are designed to hold. Preferably, the arms will be made of a
material that allows them to bend slightly and, therefore, allows
the cable to slip securely between the arms.
[0021] In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, the
bottom of the lower section, which makes contact with the deck, is
provided with raised characters. This feature will be useful in
that at the time the concrete is poured, the raised letters located
on the bottom of the lower section of the apparatus will ensure
that no concrete will flow between the letters and the wooden deck.
Once the slab is poured and hardened, the wooden deck will be
removed from below the slab. One looking at the bottom surface of
the slab from below will easily see the characters on the feet of
the apparatus. The specific characters can be chosen to communicate
the presence of a material other than concrete in that area. For
instance, the letters "PTC" may be used to indicate the presence of
post-tension cables. This area can therefore be avoided when
drilling into the slab, so as not to damage the cables. In one
embodiment of the invention, the cable being supported will be held
in the center of the apparatus, and the apparatus will have feet,
which are located on both sides of the cable. If the letters PTC
appear on each foot, with the additional feature of having raised
arrows on the bottom of each foot pointing in the direction of the
opposing foot, it will be clear that cables are located between the
two feet.
[0022] In accordance with another feature of the invention, the
bottom of the lower section, which makes contact with the deck, is
provided with recessed characters. The specific characters can be
chosen to communicate the presence of a material other than
concrete in that area. For instance, the letters "PTC" may be used
to indicate the presence of post-tension cables. This area can
therefore be avoided when drilling into the slab, so as not to
damage the cables.
[0023] In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, the
apparatus can be manufactured so that a portion of the apparatus
will extend beyond an upper surface of the concrete slab once
poured. This extension will enable one to locate the cable
placement from the surface above, even after the slab has been
poured. In one embodiment, this extension will be bristle-like
extensions that can be seen and easily broken off to be flush with
the upper surface of the slab once identification is no longer
necessary. Other types of extensions can also be used.
[0024] In accordance with another feature of the invention, the
lower section of the inventive standoff can have one or more
continuous flanges, or "feet" of sufficient dimension in the
horizontal direction to provide stability to the standoff apparatus
in the vertical direction, with reference to the deck, or floor
surface, in which the standoff will be placed.
[0025] In accordance with another feature of the invention, the
lower section and the upper section can be separable pieces. The
pieces can be made in various heights and combined with one another
to achieve any of a variety of specific desired heights.
[0026] In accordance with another feature of the invention, the
upper section can be separable from the lower section and two or
more upper sections can be combined and attached to a single lower
section to provide additional cable attachment locations.
[0027] In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, the
upper section can be separable from the lower section and can be
removably attached to a side of the lower section to provide
holding support for infrastructure, such as cables.
[0028] In accordance with another feature of the invention, the
apparatus is manufactured from a synthetic material that will avoid
rusting or decomposing.
[0029] Although the invention is illustrated and described herein
as embodied in an apparatus for supporting infrastructure while
pouring concrete slabs, it is nevertheless not intended to be
limited to the details shown, since various modifications and
structural changes may be made therein without departing from the
spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of
equivalents of the claims. It is important to note that the present
invention is not limited to slabs made from concrete and can be
used in slabs made of many different materials. Additionally, the
slabs described herein include slabs used in building construction,
bridges, roads, and many other similar purposes.
[0030] The construction of the invention, however, together with
additional features and advantages thereof will be best understood
from the following description of the specific embodiment when read
in connection with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals
refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the
separate views and which together with the detailed description
below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve
to further illustrate various embodiments and to explain various
principles and advantages all in accordance with the present
invention, in which:
[0032] FIG. 1 is a side view of a concrete slab and support column
with a post-tension cable, supported by standoffs;
[0033] FIG. 2 is diagram of prior-art post-tension cable
supports;
[0034] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a framework supporting a
wooden deck;
[0035] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating one embodiment of the
inventive apparatus;
[0036] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an upper view of a lower
section of the inventive apparatus shown in FIG. 4;
[0037] FIG. 6 is a side view of a lower section of the inventive
apparatus shown in FIG. 4;
[0038] FIG. 7 is a bottom view of a lower section of the inventive
apparatus shown in FIG. 4 having raised characters on the bottom
surface of the feet;
[0039] FIG. 8 is a top view of an upper section of the inventive
apparatus shown in FIG. 4;
[0040] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating one embodiment of the
inventive apparatus;
[0041] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of the
inventive apparatus; and
[0042] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of the
inventive apparatus.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0043] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention
are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the
disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which
can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural
and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted
as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a
representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to
variously employ the present invention in virtually any
appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases
used herein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, to provide
an understandable description of the invention.
[0044] The terms "a" or "an", as used herein, are defined as one or
more than one. The term plurality, as used herein, is defined as
two or more than two. The term another, as used herein, is defined
as at least a second or more. The terms including and/or having, as
used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language).
[0045] Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail, and
in particular to FIG. 4, there is illustrated a side view of the
inventive infrastructure support apparatus, or "standoff" 400 in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The
standoff 400 includes a separable upper section 402 and a lower
section 404 that are removably attached by inserting protrusions
430 into openings 432 of the lower section 404. In one embodiment,
the protrusions 430 are finger-like clips, as shown in FIG. 4. It
should be noted that the method of attaching upper section 402 to
lower section 404 is merely representative of one of many methods
that may be used.
[0046] Standoff 400 has two sets of opposing legs 406 & 408
that extend downwardly from the main body 425 of the lower section
404. Quantities of legs other than four can also be used without
departing from the true scope and spirit of the present
invention.
[0047] Each of the legs 406 has a foot 410 that extends outwardly
horizontally therefrom. Each of the legs 408 has a foot 412 that
extends outwardly horizontally therefrom. As can be seen in FIG. 4,
each foot 410 has a generally planar bottom surface 416 and a
generally horizontally planar upper surface 414. Each foot 412 has
a generally horizontally planar bottom surface 424 and a generally
horizontally planar upper surface 418.
[0048] Referring now to FIG. 3, a metal framework 302 supporting a
wooden "deck" 116 is shown. The wooden deck 116 provides a surface
upon which a plurality of standoffs 400 (not shown) and
infrastructure 102 (not shown) supported by the standoff 400 is
placed. Concrete is poured on the deck, encasing the standoffs 400
and infrastructure 102. Wooden sides 34 contain the concrete until
the concrete has dried. After sufficient drying has occurred, the
wooden deck 116, sides 304, and framework 302 are removed, leaving
only the concrete slab encasing the standoffs 400 and
infrastructure 1.
[0049] Once each slab 106 is formed, it is often necessary to
penetrate the concrete slab 106. For instance, installation of
doors and windows require that screws or bolts be inserted into the
slab 106 both from the top surface 108 and from the surface below
110. If a drill or screw being driven into the concrete 106
penetrates a post-tension cable 102, the cable 102 can snap. The
breaking of a cable 102 under such a large amount of tension can
cause severe damage to the structure and possible physical injury
to the worker.
[0050] Referring once again to FIG. 4, an embodiment of the present
invention 400 is shown where each bottom surface 424 of foot 412
has raised projections 420, which are raised areas that extend
downwardly from the bottom surface 424. Similarly, each bottom
surface 416 of foot 410 has projections 422, which extend
downwardly from the bottom surface 416. As shown in FIG. 7, the
projections 422 & 420 can include characters or symbols used to
indicate the presence of the standoff 400 and/or the cables being
supported by the standoff 400. In the embodiment of the inventive
standoff 400 shown in FIG. 7, the characters 422 & 420 are the
letters "PTC" to indicate "Post-Tension Cables". The characters
further include arrow symbols which point toward the center of the
standoff 400. The combination of letters and arrows provide notice
that post-tension cables are located somewhere between the opposing
set of feet or at least in the immediate area.
[0051] The inventive feature of providing characters and symbols on
the bottom surfaces of the feet is useful in that at the time the
concrete is poured, the raised areas contact the wooden deck
surface 116 and prevent concrete from flowing between the letters
and the wooden deck 116. Once the slab 106 is poured and hardened,
the wooden deck 116 will be removed from below the slab 106. One
looking at the bottom surface of the slab 106 from below will
easily see the characters 422 on the feet 410, 412 of the standoff
400. Thus, it will be clear that cables 102 or other infrastructure
are located between the feet and that the area is to be avoided
when drilling into the slab, so as not to damage the cables.
[0052] In another embodiment, the characters or symbols 422 on the
feet 410, 412 of the standoff 400 are recessed areas. The recessed
areas accomplish the same goal as does the raised characters
described in the previous paragraph, which is to communicate the
presence of infrastructure within the area of the standoff 400.
[0053] Referring to FIG. 4, it can be seen that the set of legs 406
extend outwardly at a slight angle from vertical. Legs 408 also
extend outwardly at a slight angle from vertical. The angling of
legs 406 and 408 provides improved structural support for the
standoff 400 and further facilitates the speed and ease of
manufacture by a commonly used molding process know to those of
skill in the art of manufacturing.
[0054] Referring now to FIG. 4 in conjunction with FIGS. 5a-c, it
can be seen that both the upper section 402 and the lower section
404 have a significantly rectangular shape, with the larger
dimension being in the direction between leg pair 406. It should be
noted that the object of the invention can also be achieved with a
standoff of a non-rectangular shape.
[0055] As can be seen in FIGS. 4, 5a, and 5c, the body 425 of the
lower section 404 is provided with voids 432, which are openings
along an upper surface 426 of body 425. The voids 432 are provided
as a way to removably attach the upper section 402 to the lower
section 404. In one embodiment, each void is non-uniform in
dimension, so that the dimension of the portion of the void 432
closest to the upper surface 426 of the body 425, measured in the
direction running directly between legs 406, is less than the
dimension of the portion of the void 432, measured in the direction
running directly between legs 406, at points immediately below, or
in a downward direction from, upper surface 426.
[0056] Upper section 402 is shown in FIG. 4. It can be seen that
upper section 402 has a generally planar bottom surface 428. Two
sets of projections 430 extend downward from the bottom surface
428. The projections 430 are provided so that an end portion of the
projections 430 has a lip 429. Lip 429 has a larger dimension than
does any other portion of the projections 430. The projections 430
are also provided with a gap in the center so that when the
projections 430 are inserted into the voids 432 of the lower
section 404 of the standoff 400, the projections 430 will compress
while entering the voids 432. Once the projections 430 pass the
upper surface 426 of the lower section 404, the diameter of the
void 432 increases and the projections 430 will expand. Once
expanded, lip 429 will provide a resistance to removal from the
void 432 and provide a secure connection between upper section 402
and lower section 404 of standoff 400. To separate the two sections
402 and 404, the adjacent projections 430 are simply pressed in a
direction towards one another, so that the lips 429 of the
projections 430 are moved together and are no longer prevented from
being removed from the voids 432. Several other methods are
contemplated for removably coupling upper section 402 and lower
section 404, such as barbed extensions, interlocking fingers or
grooves, Velcro, tape, glue, magnets, and male/female
extensions.
[0057] It can be seen that a plurality of arm-like structures 434,
436, 438, 440, and others, extend from the upper surface 444 of the
upper section 402. The arm-like structures 434, 436, 438, and 440
are provided for holding cables, rebar, wires, conduit or any other
similar infrastructure, which would need to be encapsulated in a
concrete slab. The arm-like structures 434, 436, 438, and 440 are
provided in pairs of two opposable arms that form receiving areas
for holding the infrastructure 102. As shown in FIG. 4, arm 434
opposes arm 436. Similarly, arm 438 opposes arm 440. Each arm set,
436 and 434, and 438 and 440, have inside surfaces 442 with centers
that are curved outward from each other, and have a bottom portion
and top portion that are arranged in a configuration similar to a
set of parenthesis. This configuration will allow the arms to fit
securely around, and make uniform contact with, a round outer
surface of a cable. Only the bottom of each opposable arm is
attached to the upper section 402. The upper portions of the arms
434, 436, 438, and 440 are disposed so that the gap between them is
slightly smaller than the diameter of the cable that they designed
to hold. Optimally, the arms 436, 434, 438, and 440 will be made of
a flexible material that will allow them to bend slightly and,
therefore, allow the cable to slip securely between the arms.
[0058] Referring now to FIG. 8, it can be seen that arms sets 434
and 436 are offset from arm sets 438 and 440 and in-line with a
third set of arms 446 and 448, so that each adjacent set is
disposed in an opposite one of two parallel lines 802 & 804 of
arm sets. When the upper portion of arm 436 is bent in a direction
opposite arm 434, the upper portion of arm 436 will not make
contact with arm 438 because of the offset. This feature allows
each set of arms to expand to allow a cable to be inserted between
them without being restricted by a set of immediately adjacent
arms.
[0059] The present invention can also be achieved with the
embodiment shown in FIG. 9. One or more grooves are placed in the
upper section of the standoff. The grooves form receiving areas in
which cables or other infrastructure can be placed. The weight of
the cables hold them in place. In an embodiment, the upper section
402 and the lower section 404 can be constructed of a single,
non-separable piece of material.
[0060] FIG. 10 shows an additional feature of the invention. Upper
section 402 of the standoff 400 can be provided with a
communicative extension 1002, which will extend beyond the upper
surface of the slab once poured. In one embodiment, the extensions
1002 can be thin bristle-like solid pieces. The bristle-like design
has the advantage of being easily broken off, flush with the upper
surface 2a once the floor 2 has cured. If the bristles 1002 are
made of a bright color, they will easily be seen, even after having
been broken off. Although bristles have been described, many other
extensions will accomplish the same goal.
[0061] Referring now to FIG. 11, two upper sections 402a and 402b
are removably attached to a single lower section 404. In this
configuration, the inventive apparatus can accommodate twice as
many pieces of infrastructure using only a single lower section
404. Also shown in FIG. 11 is an extra void 432 on a side of lower
section 404. The extra void 432 is provided for accepting an
additional upper section (not shown) in a vertical configuration as
compared to the horizontal configuration of the two upper sections
402a and 402b shown. The third upper section can be used to hold
additional infrastructure running parallel to that held by upper
sections 402a and 402b.
[0062] The present invention, as just described, by providing lower
sections 404 and upper sections 402 of varying heights that
removably attach to one another, provides a multitude of standoff
heights for supporting infrastructure on a surface so that concrete
or other materials and substances can be poured around the standoff
400 and infrastructure. The present invention is able to securely
hold several infrastructure items without the use of wires or other
materials. The present invention is also able to communicate the
location of the invention itself, as well as the location of
infrastructure.
[0063] Although specific embodiments of the invention have been
disclosed, those having ordinary skill in the art will understand
that changes can be made to the specific embodiments without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of
the invention is not to be restricted, therefore, to the specific
embodiments, and it is intended that the appended claims cover any
and all such applications, modifications, and embodiments within
the scope of the present invention.
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