AU606308B1

AU606308B1 - Braces for reinforcing mesh structures

Info

Publication number: AU606308B1
Application number: AU55734/90A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Bela Bogar
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-05-22
Filing date: 1990-05-21
Publication date: 1991-01-31
Anticipated expiration: 2010-05-21
Also published as: GB9011359D0; GB2233992B; GB2233992A

Description

To: THE COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS (a member of the firmof e AVE&COLISION for and on behalf of the Applicant).

Davies Collison, Melbourne and Canberra.

II I I I li I I I II I I N FORM COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1952-1962 COMPLETE SPECIFICA&NO 6 3 0 (Original) FOR OFFICE USE: Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: 9..

9 Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: 04 Priority: 9 Related Art: .4.

.999 4 Name of Applicant: -Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): BELA BOGAR Ii 0 o t 12 Col lings Street

PEARCE

Australian Capital Territory 2607 BELA BOGAR Ct' 4 4' 0 4

C

Address for Service: DAVIES COLLISON, Patent Attorneys, 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne V 3000, Australia Complete Specification for the invention entitled: "BRACES FOR REINFORCING MESH STRUCTURES" The following statement is a full description of including the best method 6F performing it known to this invention, me 1 was 4. The basic application referred to in paragraph 3 of this Declar on wa r Tn were the first application.......... made in a Convention country in respect of the invention the su t Declared: Oat CAFJ Q thisM ay X q Insert place and dale of signature.

Signature of declarant(s) (no aftistation required) Note, Initial all alterations, DAVIlS COLLISON, MELBOURNE and CANBERRA.

.l 4 a* 0 *0 co 0 *oe0 rC C te t t C t C

C

C C C C Ce c oc 2 Technical field This invention concerns steel reinforcement used in concrete structures (including foundations, slabs, columns, beams and the like). More particularly, this invention concerns improved braces for use in assembling steel reinforcing mesh for concrete structures, an earlier form of which is described in the specification of my Australian patent No 556,546.

Background 10 The brace for reinforcing mesh which is described in the specification of my Australian patent No 556,546 is constructed as a pressing from a single sheet or strap of steel. It comprises an elongate member which is bifurcated at each end by a respective slot 15 extending in the elongate direction of the member, to form a pair of extension arms at each end of the elongate member. The end regions of each pair of extension arms are each bent into a curved form extending generally tranversely of the elongate 20 member, to form a pair of hook members. Each hook member has the same shape as its immediately adjacent hook member, so that, in effect, each end of the elongate member terminates in a pair of parallel extension arms, each forming a hook member.

25 When such a device is mounted in a reinforcing mesh assembly. a single rod of the reinforcing mesh is positioned within one of the slots at an end of the elongate member, and the associated pair of hook members resiliently engages a second rod of the mesh

I

II

3- 00~0 0 0 '00*0 o 5 4, *c S

S..

o 0 assembly, the second rod extending perpendicularly to the first rod. A similar engagement of reinforcing rods is then effected at the other end of the elongate member. Using a plurality of the elongate braces, a rigid reinforcing mesh assembly can be constructed for example, as shown in Figure 8 of the specification of my Australian patent No 556,546.

Although the brace of my Australian patent No 556,546 has been accepted and used in the concreting industry, its use has revealed some disadvantages.

Its main disadvantage is that the brace can be used with reinforcement rods of only one combination of diameters, which usually means reinforcing rods of a single diameter since in most cases (notwithstanding 15 the arrangements shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the specification of my Australian patent No 556,546) the reinforcing mesh assembly is constructed from reinforcing bars or rods of a single diameter. This means that a different brace configuration is 20 required for each rod or bar diameter, and for each combination of reinforcing rod diameters that may be adopted when constructing a reinforcing mesh assembly. Consequently, a concreting contractor requires an inventory of a range of braces with 25 differing end dimensions, and has to allocate the appropriate braces for each reinforcing mesh construction job that is undertaken.

C

a

A

~i 6 ii i ii ii 0*SS asi

S

sea 6*5* So iia 5 0* S L 4 i A second, although less important, disadvantage is that when the brace of my Australian patent No 556,546 is used to construct a reinforcing mesh assembly for concrete that is to be poured into a trench or into a formed structure for concrete in contact with the ground, spacing members have to be used to support the lowermost reinforcing bars or mesh clear of the ground. Plastic bridge-like stands are available for this purpose, but their positioning underneath the mesh structure requires time and careful attention. Alternatively, a concretor may use pieces of brick, stone, timber or any other convenient material to hold the reinforcing mesh structure clear of the ground. This alternative s 15 practice has major disadvantages which are well known to construction engineers.

Disclosure of the present invention It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved brace for reinforcing mesh structures pee, .20 which avoids the first and main disadvantage of the closest prior art discussed above. A preferred e embodiment ,f the present invention also avoids the need for separate mesh support members or stands to space the mesh structure from the ground on to which 25 the concrete is to be poured.

p Ji.

The objective noted above is achieved by constructing

I

Sa brace as a pair of steel wires or rods, the ends of which are shaped to form hook legs. The steel wires or rods are held apart from each other by at least eq..

S

04q@ 0* S S 0 Sq

S

*09 o eq eq. S C C SS. S t C C C~ CC C

C

C C C CCC C

C

I C CC C I C C C' CC two spacing members which are welded to the steel wires and rods near to their shaped ends. The spacing members short lengths or bars of steel serve not only to hold the steel wires or rods parallel to each other, but also provide locating stops for bars or rods used in a mesh reinforcing structure.

Thus, according to the present invention, a brace for use with a reinforcing mesh structure comprises 10 a pair of parallel rod members, the end regions of each rod member being shaped to form a hook leg, the spacing between the hook legs of each pair being at least equal to the diameter of the thickest rod of said reinforcing mesh; each 15 hook leg having a first portion extending substantially parallel to the elongate direction of said rod members, and a second portion extending generally transverse the elongate direction of said rod member, said second 20 portion being arcuately curved to define a rod retention region for a rod of said reinforcing mesh structure; and at least two spacing bars welded to said rod members, one of the spacing bars being located 25 towards one end of the pair of rod members immedi~ately adjacent to the first portions of the hook legs at that one end, the other or another 'of the spacing bars, being located towards the other end of the rod members immediately adjacent to the first portions of

A

r 0

A

I

6 the hook legs at that other end, said spacing bars providing said spacing between the hook legs.

In a preferred form of the present invention, the hook legs of the brace constitute an upper pair of hook legs and a lower pair of hook legs, and the lower pair of hook legs extend into a pair of support legs or are extended and formed into a pair of support legs.

10 Each such support leg will normally have the sari; .Oo shape and dimensions as the other support leg of t o" pair (although this is not essential) and wili include a horizontal (in use) section of the leg which rests on the ground when the reinforcing mesh structure has been created.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying 0€ drawings.

Brief description of the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective sketch of a brace constructed in accordance with the present invention.

J Figure 2 is a perspective sketch of a long brace constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 3 is a perspective sketch of one end of the braces illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. 1 ~ylilruumuii--i-izl j ~uiLl~n~-iirwu~cm ii\ll? i I~ iCII tl(lI-_: -EIC*liii- il ~YYI_- i ~~ill~L~ *Dq4 p4 opg p *t O *l e 7 Figures 4 and 5 are side and front views, respectively, of the long brace illustrated in Figure 2.

Figure 6 shows how a brace constructed in accordance with the present invention is positioned within a reinforcing mesh structure to separate planes of mesh from each other.

Figure 7 is a perspective sketch of a region of a reinforcing mesh structure, in which four of the 10 braces shown in Figure 2 have been incorporated.

Figure 8 is a modified form of the brace of the present invention.

Figure 9 is a perspective sketch of a brace, constructed in accordance with the present invention, which is provided with support legs.

Figure 10 is a side view of the brace of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a front view of the brace of Figures 9 and Figure 12 is a perspective sketch of a second 20 embodiment of the present invention which is provided with support legs.

Figure 13 is a side view of the brace illustrated in Figure 12.

I t it V t C C Citr cosi IC C Sci -8 Figure 14 is a front view of the brace illustrated in Figures 12 and 13.

Figure 15 shows how the brace of Figures 12, 13 and 14 may be used in a reinforcing mesh structure.

Figure 16 illustrates a non-preferred variation of the present invention.

Figures 17 and 18 depict another non-preferred variation of the present invention.

9 00 a Detailed description of the illustrated embodiments 10 The braces featured in Figures 1 to 5 of the O. accompanying drawings comprise a pair of steel rods 50 separated by two spacing bars 59 which are j supported towards the respective ends of the rods The bars 59 are welded to the rods 50. The long brace illustrated in Figures 2, 4 and 5 has at least one further spacing bar 60 welded to its rods 50, t intermediate of the bars 59, to maintain or increase S the rigidity of the brace. The spacing bars 59 and may be welded on either side of the rods Outwardly of the end spacing bars 59, the rods define the hook legs 51 and 52 of the brace, having 0. (see particularly Figure 3) a first portion 53 and a second portion 54. Each first portion 53 is an i extension of the rod 50 (although, if desired, the rod 50, may be stepped at the point where a spacing bar 59 is welded to it, so that the first portion 53 J I :r ~i I bi Goa 0 IS a 4 4 a a so &v S 55r -9extends parallel to the main part of the rod Each second portion 54 extends substantially at right angles to the elongate direction of the rods 50 and is arcuately shaped to define a rod retention region 56.

The way in which the brace of Figures 1 to 5 is inserted into a reinforcing mesh structure is illustrated in Figure 6. First, as shown in Figure one end of the brace is inserted into the mesh structure so that one rod 81 of the structure is positioned between the hook legs and bears against the associated spacing bar 59, with a transverse rod 82 of the mesh structure firmly held within the associated rod retaining regions 56. The brace is 15 then moved pivotally around the rod 82 in the direction of the arrow A of Figure 6(a) until the upper hook legs come into contact with rod 84 of the mesh structure. The upper hook legs are then sprung over the rod 84 to hold it within their rod retaining regions 56, while the transverse rod 83 of the mesh bears against the upper spacing bar 59 of the brace.

The brace is then positioned as shown in Figure 6(b), clamped to the rods 81 and 82 of the reinforcing mesh structure and also to the rods 83 and 84 of the adjacent plane of mesh in the mesh structure.

Figure 7 illustrates a mesh struc iure constructed using braces of the type shown in Figures 2, 4 and iI: 10 h 9 *P i o va id a,.a ta' a a; t It should be readily apparent that the steps shown in Figure 6 can be taken with rods 81, 82, 83 and 84 of any normal diameter used in reinforcing mesh structures, provided the spacing bars 59 and 60 are not too short. It should also be apparent that although the additional spacing bar or bars 60 have been stated to be included in long braces, such additional spacing bars may be included in relatively short braces especially if a reinforcing mesh structure is to be made using reinforcing mesh or bars of large diameter.

The upper structure of the braces illustrated in Figures 9 to 14 of the accompanying drawings is the same as that of the braces illustrated Figures 1 to and described above.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 9, 10 and 11 of the accompanying drawings, the second portion 54 of each lower hook leg has been extended, to form an extension region 61. The extension region 61 20 projects into a cylindrical hole in one generally upwardly projecting arm 62 of a support unit or support leg 65. The extension region 61 is a tight fit into the cylindrical hole.

The support unit 65 has a second upwardly projecting arm 63. The arms 62 and 63 are separated by a horizontal section 64. The dimensions of the arms 62 and 63 and of the horizontal section 64 are preferably such that the upper end of the arm 63 is i Ii immediately below, and may abut against, the hook portion of a lower hook leg of the brace (as shown in the drawings). In this way, the load on the brace may be transmitted to .,th arms 62 and 63 of the support units 65 attached to the brace when the brace is used to support a reinforcing mesh structure.

The support unit or support leg 65 will usually be made of a strong plastics material.

0:90 A Since most reinforcing mesh for concrete is made from rods having a diameter of either 8 mm or 11 mm, the spacing bars 59 are preferably deformed or crimped (as shown at 59A and 59B) to provide locating means o" for rods of 8 mm radius and 11 mm radius in the reinforcing structure. The crimping may be effected conveniently in a jig after the brace has been otherwise assembled. If the crimping or deformation 000 shortens the spacing bars 59, any intervening spacing bar 60 that may be included in a long brace will have 9 to be correspondingly shortened, by deformation, at 20 the same time. It will be readily apparent that the spacing bars 59 and 60 of the braces illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 may be similarly deformed or crimped.

0 The brace shown in Figures 12, 13 and 14 is similar to the brace of Figures 9, 10 and 11, but the support unit is formed integrally with the basic brace. Thus I, the lower pair of hook legs of the brace are each extended and shaped to form the generally upwardly projecting arms 62 and 63 and the horizontal section I -i -I u I r -L i i i 12 of Figures 12, 13 and 14, each upwardly extending arm 63 has its termination at 63A, immediately adjacent to (and optionally abutting against) the lowest point of the associated lower hook leg of the brace. Note also that the spacing bars have been crimped or deformed in the same manner as the spacing bars of the embodiment featured in Figures 9, 10 and 11.

a Figure 15 shows how the brace illustrated in Figures :%eg 10 12, 13 and 14 is used with a reinforcing mesh structure, to keep the lowest plane of metal rods or mesh in the structure clear of the ground. The same way. The manner in which the braces are included in the mesh structure is as illustrated in Figure 6 and described above.

ooo Typically, in the braces shown in Figures 9 to 14, the rods 50 will be spaced apart about 50 mm and the horizontal section 64 will be about 30 mm long. The 20 rods 50 of the braces shown in Figures 1 to 5 will also be typically spaced apart a distance of about mm.

a 0 Those familiar with reinforcing mesh structures and 00 braces therefor will appreciate that although specific shapes of the braces of this nvention have been illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 and Figures 9 to a 14 of the accompanying drawings and have been described above, it is possible to modify or vary the ~N 4$ 0~0 *0 0 *0 *0 0 0 0 0 0* 0 96* 00 o 0 0 000 0 90 00 0 000 0 13illustrated embodiments without departing from the inventive concept. In particular, the shape of the support units or legs for the braces may vary from that shown in Figures 9 to 14 of the accompanying drawings.

The brace illustrated in Figure 8 comprises a pair of steel rods 40 with their ends bent to provide respective spacing portions 49 (which are the equ~ivalent of the spacing bars 59 in the braces of lu Figures I to 14), and hook legs 41 and 42 having respective first portions 43 and second portions 44.

The rods 40 are welded together at locations 45, and optionally at additional points or regions between the locations 45. Alternatively, the rods 40 may be held together using cross-bars 47 (akin to the spacing bars 60 of the braces shown in Figures 1 to and 9 to 14) which are welded to the rods 40 and which a~le shown in dashed outline in Figure 8.

In t",he embodiment which is illustrated in Figure 16, a single rod mem'ber 90, of steel, has a pair of hook legs 91 and 92 at each end of it. The hook legs 91 and 92' are formed from stiff steel wire or steel rod 99, and each consist of a first portion 93, which is substantially adjacent to the rod member 90 (being separated from it by part only of a spacing pirtion 97), and a second portion 94. The second portion 94 exten'ds substantially at right angles to the elongate direction of the rod member 90 and is arcuately t I U I

'I'

o Q *o a r r a.

.49f a r L 14 shaped to form a rod retention region 96 between the first and second portions for a rod of the reinforcing mesh structure.

Any rod of the reinforcing mesh that will be held within the two rod retention regions 96 will extend at right angles to both the elongate direction of the rod member 90 and the general direction in which the second portions 94 of the hook legs extend.

The spacing between the two hook legs 91 and 92 is provided by a spacing portion 97 of the rod or wire 99. The spacing portion 97 is rigidly secured to the rod member 90 by a weld In the embodiments of Figures 17 and 18, the stiff wire or rod 99 of the brace shown in Figure 16 has been replaced by a shaped member 71 or 75 which is provided with means for mounting it on the end of a single rod The shaped member 71 illustrated in Figure 17 is typical of the shaped members that can be formed by 20 pressing metal. The shaped member 75 of Figure 18 can be moulded from plastic materials. Each shaped member has a pair of hook legs 72, with respective first portions 73 and second portions 74. The spacing between the hook legs 72 is provided by a slot 79. The second portions 74 extend substantially at right angles to the elongate direction of the rod when the shaped members are mounted on an end of t S t t I I t 9 i:i i A I The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me 1- 15 the rod 70. The second portions 74 are arcuately shaped to provide rod retention regions 76 for rods of the reinforcing mesh in which the brace is to be mounted.

The connection between the pressed or moulded members 71 or 75 and their respective rod members 70 is effected by inserting the end of the rod 70 into a rod-receiving structure 78 of the shaped member. In the embodiment of Figure 17, the rod-receiving structure 78 is formed by pressing regions 77A and 77B of the shaped member 71 in opposite directions to define a channel into which the end of the rod 70 can be inserted. In the embodiment of Figure 18, the rod-receiving structure 78 is a channel moulded into the plastic member to 0 o1 0 o.

C C C 4 t V t C

Claims

1. A br~ace f or use with a reinforcing, mesh structure comprising: a pair of parallel rod members, the end regions of each rod member being shaped to f orm a hook leg, the spacing between the hook legs of each pair being at least equal to the diameter of the thickest rod of said reinforcing meshl each hook leg having a first portion extending substantially parallel to the elongate direction of said rod members, and a second portion extending generally transverse the elongate direction of said rod member, said second portion being arcuately curved to define a rod retention region for a rod o I said reinforcing mesh structure and at least two spacing bars welded to said rod members, one of the spacing bars being located towards one end of the pair of rod members immediately adjacent to the first portions of the hook legs at that one end, the other or another of the spacing bars being located towards the other end of the rod members immediately adjacent to the first portions of the hook legs at that other end, said, spacing bars providing said spacing between the hook legs. 000 6 Oft' 444' 4 44 I, 4 4 44 e 444 4 4 608444 84 4 14 4 :1 4, I 17

2. A brace as defined in claim i, in which there are at least three spacing bars and the spacing bar or bars additional to said one spacing bar and said another spacing bar are located between said one spacing bar and said another spacing bar.

3. A brace as defined in claim 1 or claim 2, in which each spacing bar is crimped or deformed to provide at least one indentation therein, said I, or each indentation being adapted to locate a rod of a respective predetermined diameter.

4. A brace as defined in any preceding claim, in o t. 1which one of said pair of hook legs is designated an upper pair of hook legs, the other pair of hook legs is designated a lower pair of r c hook legs, and each hook leg of said lower pair of hook legs has an extended portion which I extends beyond the end of said second portion, said extended portion being connected to a generally upwardly extending arm of a respective suppoat leg, said support leg being adapted to stand on a horizontal surface with said rod members substantially vertical. A brace as defined in any one of claims 1, 2 and 3, in which one of said pair of hook legs is designated at upper pair of hook legs, the other pair of hook legs is designated a lower pair of hook legs, and each hook leg of said lower pair 18 of hook legs has an extended portion which extends beyond the end of said second portion, said extended portion being shaped to form a support leg having a generally upwardly extending arm, said support leg being adapted to be positioned on a horizontal surface with said rod members substantially vertical.

6. A brace as defined in claim 4 or claim 5, in which each said support leg has a second upwardly extending arm which terminates adjacent to the lowermost part of the rod retention S.4 region of the second portion of its associated lower hook leg. S 0i4

7. A brace as defined in claim 6, in which the uppermost end of each second upwardly extending arm abuts against the lowermost part of the rod B *retention region of its associated lower hook G it l-leg. E

8. A brace as defined in claim 6 or claim 7, in which a horizontal member extends between said first-mentioned upwardly extending arm and said 6" second upwardly extending arm.

9. A brace substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 5, or with I reference to Figures 9, 10 and 11, or with reference to Figures 12, 13 and 14, of the accompanying drawings. i .L'jALCO 7'- A 1~.

19- A reinforcing mesh structure for concrete, fabricated using braces as defined in any one of the preceding claims. 11. A brace substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 8, or with reference to Figure 16, or with reference to Figures 17 and 18, of the accompanying drawings. 0090 0 ~0 8~ 0~ 0 0 S '.0 0 000 0 00 S 0 00 0 AeS 4 DATED this twenty-first day of May 1990 BELA BOGAR by his Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON GOOD 00 0 ia G .4 I i