JP7462485B2 - Reinforced concrete fastening fittings - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a rebar restraint fitting that fastens rebars arranged in parallel to each other.

Conventionally, a technique for fastening two parallel reinforcing bars together has been proposed for assembling reinforcing bars for cast-in-place concrete piles or concrete structures (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
This rebar fastening fitting is composed of a clip body formed in a U-shape, a wedge having a threaded portion and a wedge-shaped body, and a nut that screws onto the threaded portion of the wedge. Rebars arranged in parallel are inserted into the clip body, and then the wedge is inserted into a hole in the clip body and the threaded portion of the wedge is screwed into the nut (by tightening the nut), fastening the rebars together.

JP 2002-81171 A

However, in the conventional reinforcing bar fastening hardware described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, the reinforcing bars arranged in parallel are clamped by the clip body, the threaded portion of the wedge is inserted into the clip body, and the clip is tightened with a nut, so that the wedge body of the wedge enters the clip body and abuts against the reinforcing bars, fastening and restraining the reinforcing bars. However, if the wedge body abuts against a node (convex portion) rather than a valley (concave portion) of the reinforcing bar, there is a risk that the specified strength (restraining force) may not be obtained.

The present invention was developed in consideration of these problems, and aims to provide a rebar fastening fitting that can reliably obtain a specified restraining force (proof strength) when fastening rebars arranged in parallel.

In order to solve the above problems, the reinforcing bar fastening fitting of the present invention comprises a reinforcing bar restraint plate formed in an approximately U-shape by a pair of reinforcing bar clamping portions and reinforcing bar holding portions that clamp reinforcing bars arranged in parallel, a bolt whose shank is inserted into a bolt insertion hole provided in one of the pair of reinforcing bar clamping portions of the reinforcing bar restraint plate, and a wedge nut that is inserted into a wedge insertion hole provided in the other reinforcing bar clamping portion to exert a wedge effect, and is characterized in that the wedge nut has a bottom plate portion formed with a female threaded hole into which the shank of the bolt screws into, and a pair of wedge-shaped side plate portions that stand upright on both the left and right sides of the bottom plate portion and are inserted into the wedge insertion hole from the opposite side to the one reinforcing bar clamping portion, and are formed into a wedge shape so that they stop midway from the tapered portion at the front end to the wide portion at the rear end.
Furthermore, the reinforcing bar fastening fitting of the present invention is also characterized in that the reinforcing bar holding portion of the reinforcing bar restraint plate is provided with a node engaging portion that engages with a node of the reinforcing bar away from the wedge nut and bolt.
Furthermore, the reinforcing bar fastening fitting of the present invention is also characterized in that the wedge insertion hole is provided with a protruding side plate dividing portion which divides the insertion points of each of the pair of wedge-shaped side plate portions of the wedge nut.

In the rebar fastening fitting of the present invention, when the bolt screwed into the wedge nut is tightened so that the pair of wedge-shaped side plate portions of the wedge nut enter the wedge insertion hole of the rebar restraint plate and exert a wedge effect to fasten the parallel rebars together, the pair of wedge-shaped side plate portions move up and down and left and right independently and deform, etc.
Therefore, when tightening parallel reinforcing bars together, the probability (frequency) of the pair of wedge-shaped side plate portions of the wedge nut abutting the valley portions (recesses) of the reinforcing bars increases, thereby improving the restraining force of the parallel reinforcing bars.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a reinforcing bar fastening fitting according to an embodiment of the present invention is used. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a reinforcing bar fastening fitting according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1A to 1C are a plan view, a front view, and a bottom view, respectively, of a wedge nut constituting a reinforcing bar fastening fitting according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3A and 3B are a side view and a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 3B, respectively, of a wedge nut constituting a reinforcing bar fastening fitting according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1A and 1B are perspective views of a reinforcing bar restraining plate that constitutes a reinforcing bar fastening fitting according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1A to 1C are a plan view, a front view, and a bottom view, respectively, of a reinforcing bar restraining plate that constitutes a reinforcing bar fastening fitting according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1A and 1B are a right side view and a left side view, respectively, of a reinforcing bar restraining plate that constitutes a reinforcing bar fastening fitting according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1A and 1B are explanatory diagrams showing the state when two reinforcing bars are fastened together using a reinforcing bar fastening fitting according to an embodiment of the present invention. 5A and 5B are explanatory diagrams showing a wedge nut and the movement of the wedge nut when two reinforcing bars are fastened together using a reinforcing bar fastening fitting according to an embodiment of the present invention. 10A and 10B are front views showing other shapes of the wedge-shaped side plate portion of the wedge nut that constitutes the reinforcing bar fastening fitting of the embodiment of the present invention.

Next, we will explain the reinforcing bar fastening fitting 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Note that the embodiment described below is merely one example of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described below. It can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention.

The reinforcing bar fastening fitting 1 of this embodiment is a fitting that fastens reinforcing bars 2, 2 arranged in parallel as shown in FIG. 1 when assembling a reinforcing bar cage (pile cage) or the like, and is configured with bolts 11, wedge nuts 12, reinforcing bar restraint plates 13, etc. as shown in FIG. 2. The reinforcing bars 2 to be fastened are well-known deformed reinforcing bars with nodes 2a, valleys 2b, and ribs 2c.

(Bolt 11)
The bolt 11 is a well-known flange bolt having a shaft portion 11a with a male thread formed on the outer periphery, a head portion 11b, and a flange portion 11c as shown in Fig. 2 etc., and is used by inserting the shaft portion 11a into a bolt insertion hole 13a1 provided in one of the pair of rebar clamping portions 13a, 13b of the rebar restraint plate 13 (the upper one in Fig. 2). Of course, the bolt 11 may be a normal bolt without a flange in which the shaft portion 11a is inserted into the bolt insertion hole 13a1 via the flange portion 11c.

(Wedge nut 12)
The wedge nut 12 is formed by cutting a steel plate into a specified shape and then bending it. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the wedge nut 12 has a rectangular bottom plate portion 12a and a pair of wedge-shaped side plate portions 12b, 12b extending from both the left and right sides of the long side of the bottom plate portion 12a.

The bottom plate portion 12a is provided with a female screw hole 12a1 into which the shaft portion 11a of the bolt 11 screws. In this embodiment, the female screw hole 12a1 is formed by burring or the like, so that the portion where the female screw hole 12a1 is formed protrudes from the bottom surface of the bottom plate portion 12a as shown in FIG. 3(b). However, it is of course not necessary for the female screw hole 12a1 to protrude from the bottom surface of the bottom plate portion 12a. Furthermore, it is of course also possible to form a bolt hole in the bottom plate portion 12a and weld a nut or the like to provide the female screw hole 12a1.

The pair of wedge-shaped side plate portions 12b, 12b are each formed in a trapezoidal shape so that, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the tapered portions 12b1, 12b1 are inserted into the wedge insertion hole 13b1 of the rebar restraint plate 13, and on the way to the wide portions 12b2, 12b2 at the rear end, the oblique sides 12b3, 12b3 come into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the wedge insertion hole 13b1, exerting a wedge effect.

As shown in FIG. 3(b), the width of the tapered portions 12b1, 12b1 of the pair of wedge-shaped side plate portions 12b, 12b is L1, the width of the wide portions 12b2, 12b2 is L2, and the longitudinal length of the side plate insertion portions 13b2, 13b2 of the wedge insertion hole 13b1, which will be described later, is L3 (see FIG. 6(c)). In order to prevent the wedge nut 12 from coming loose while the pair of wedge-shaped side plate portions 12b, 12b of the wedge nut 12 are inserted into the side plate insertion portions 13b2, 13b2 of the wedge insertion hole 13b1, while exerting a wedge effect, it is necessary to have a relationship of L1<L3<L2.

As shown in FIG. 4(a), if the distance between the pair of wedge-shaped side plate portions 12b, 12b is L4, in order to prevent the pair of wedge-shaped side plate portions 12b, 12b from contacting the same node portion 2a at the same time, it is preferable that the distance is greater than the width L5 (see FIG. 9(a)) of the node portion 2a of the reinforcing bar 2, i.e., L4 > L5, and in this embodiment, L4 > L5.

(Reinforced bar restraint plate 13)
The reinforcing bar restraint plate 13 is made by cutting a thin steel plate thinner than the wedge nut 12 into a specified shape and then bending it into a U-shape to provide a pair of reinforcing bar clamping portions 13a, 13b and a reinforcing bar holding portion 13c.As shown in FIG. 1, the reinforcing bars 2, 2 arranged in parallel are held or clamped and restrained by the bolt 11, the wedge nut 12, the pair of reinforcing bar clamping portions 13a, 13b and the reinforcing bar holding portion 13c, with as little gaps as possible.

Of the pair of rebar clamping parts 13a, 13b, one (upper part in Figs. 2 and 5) of the rebar clamping parts 13a has a bolt insertion hole 13a1 into which the shaft part 11a of the bolt 11 is inserted, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, etc.

The other rebar clamping portion 13b (upper and lower side in Figs. 2 and 5) has a wedge insertion hole 13b1 into which a pair of wedge-shaped side plate portions 12b, 12b erected on both the left and right sides of the bottom plate portion 12a of the wedge nut 12 are inserted from the tapered portions 12b1, 12b1 to exert a wedge effect.

The wedge insertion hole 13b1 is formed in an H-shape with side plate dividing sections 13b3, 13b3 that divide the side plate insertion sections 13b2, 13b2 into which the pair of wedge-shaped side plate sections 12b, 12b are inserted, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, etc., because it is desirable for the pair of wedge-shaped side plate sections 12b, 12b of the wedge nut 12 to be inserted through predetermined locations.

In addition, on both the left and right sides of the rebar holding portion 13c, there are provided node engaging portions 13c1, 13c2 that engage with the node (rib) 21 of the rebar 2 that is separated from the wedge nut 12 and bolt 11, as shown in Figures 5 to 7, etc.

As shown in Figs. 6(a)-(c) and 7(a) and (b), the joint engagement parts 13c1 and 13c2 are provided on the left side in a right side view on the rebar clamping part 13a side where the bolt insertion hole 13a1 is provided, which is the upper side in Fig. 5, while they are provided on the right side in a right side view on the rebar clamping part 13b side where the wedge insertion hole 13b1 is provided, which is the upper and lower sides in Fig. 5.

<Function of reinforcing bar restraining fixture 1 of the embodiment>
The function of the reinforcing bar restraining bracket 1 of the embodiment configured as above will now be described with reference to the drawings.

When fastening two reinforcing bars 2, 2 arranged in parallel, a worker first inserts the reinforcing bar restraint plate 13 from the side, with the opening side facing the two reinforcing bars 2, 2 arranged in parallel, to clamp the two reinforcing bars 2, 2 arranged in parallel with the reinforcing bar restraint plate 13 as shown in Figure 8 (a), and inserts a pair of wedge-shaped side plate portions 12b, 12b of the wedge nut 12 through the wedge insertion holes 13b1 of the opposing reinforcing bar clamping portions 13b of the reinforcing bar restraint plate 13.

The shaft portion 11a of the bolt 11 is screwed into the female threaded hole 12a1 of the bottom plate portion 12a of the wedge nut 12, which is inserted from the bolt insertion hole 13a1 of the rebar clamping portion 13a of the rebar restraining plate 13 to the wedge insertion hole 13b1, and the rebar restraining bracket 1 of the embodiment is assembled so as to clamp two pieces of iron 2, 2 arranged in parallel.

Next, as shown in FIG. 8(a), the worker rotates the head 11b of the bolt 11 using an impact wrench, tool, etc. (not shown). Then, because the shaft 11a of the bolt 11 is screwed into the female screw hole 12a1 of the bottom plate portion 12 of the wedge nut 12, the wedge nut 12 gradually approaches and is pulled toward the head 11b of the bolt 11.

In this case, in the embodiment of the rebar restraint bracket 1, since the bolt 11 side is turned, a long socket is not required, and it is possible to tighten it from the beginning with a tool such as an impact wrench without having to temporarily tighten it by hand like a nut, thereby improving work efficiency.

When the wedge nut 12 is gradually drawn toward the head 11b of the bolt 11, as shown in FIG. 8(b), the pair of wedge-shaped side plate portions 12b, 12b of the wedge nut 12 are inserted into the wedge insertion hole 13b1 from their tapered portions 12b1, 12b1, and the wedge effect causes the oblique sides 12b3, 12b3 of the wedge-shaped side plate portions 12b, 12b to come into contact with the inner edge of the wedge insertion hole 13b1, exerting a wedge effect, bringing the rebar clamping portion 13a on the bolt insertion hole 13a1 side and the rebar clamping portion 13b on the wedge insertion hole 13b1 side closer together, and the pair of rebar clamping portions 13a, 13b and rebar holding portion 13c of the rebar restraint plate 13 can tighten the two parallel rebars 2, 2.

The wedge nut 12 has a pair of wedge-shaped side plate portions 12b, 12b erected on both sides of the bottom plate portion 12. As the bolt 11 rotates and gradually approaches the head 11b of the bolt 11, the trapezoidal shape of the wedge-shaped side plate portions 12b, 12b exerts a wedge effect, and the oblique sides 12b3, 12b3 of the wedge-shaped side plate portions 12b, 12b gradually and strongly press against the outer circumferential surface of the reinforcing bar 2 on the bolt 11 side, as shown in FIG. 8(b).

As a result, the wedge-shaped side plate portions 12b, 12b of the wedge nut 12 can move independently back and forth (up and down) and left and right, as shown in Figure 9(b) (the solid lines show examples of movement when stationary, and the dotted lines show examples of movement when moved back and forth (up and down) and left and right), so there is a higher probability that one of the wedge-shaped side plate portions 12b, 12b will bend left and right and come into contact with the valley portion 2b of the reinforcing bar 2 than in the conventional case where the wedge body is a monolithic block.

As a result, the wedge-shaped side plate portions 12b, 12b of the wedge nut 12 are more likely to enter and abut the valley portion 2b of the reinforcing bar 2 than in the conventional case, so that a specified restraining force (proof strength) can be reliably obtained when fastening the reinforcing bars 2, 2 arranged in parallel to each other.

In addition, the distance L4 between the pair of wedge-shaped side plate portions 12b, 12b (see FIG. 4(a)) is larger than the distance L5 between the nodes 2a, 2a of the reinforcing bar 2 (see FIG. 9(a)), so that at least one of the wedge-shaped side plate portions 12b, 12b can easily come into contact with the valley portion 2b of the reinforcing bar 2, and in this respect, it is possible to reliably obtain a predetermined restraining force (proof strength) when fastening the reinforcing bars 2, 2 arranged in parallel.

In addition, the rebar holding portion 13c of the rebar restraint plate 13 has inwardly bent node engagement portions 13c1, 13c2, so that when the rebar fastening bracket 1 restrains the parallel rebars 2, 2, when the rebar holding portion 13c of the rebar restraint plate 13 comes into contact with the rebar 2 on the side away from the wedge nut 12 and bolt 11, the node engagement portions 13c1, 13c2 of the rebar holding portion 13c engage with the node 2a of the rebar 2 or enter the valley portion 2b.

As a result, the degree of engagement of the rebar holding portion 13c with the rebar 2 is improved compared to when the node engaging portions 13c1 and 13c2 are not provided on the rebar holding portion 13c. If the rebar 2 restrained by the node engaging portion 13c1 attempts to shift, the node engaging portions 13c1 and 13c2 will enter the valley portion 2b of the rebar 2 and engage with the node portion 2a, providing resistance and acting as a stopper, making it possible to more reliably restrain the rebars 2, 2 in a parallel state.

When the two parallel reinforcing bars 2, 2 to be restrained have different diameters, the reinforcing bar 2 with the smaller diameter (thinner) is placed on the bolt 11 and wedge nut 12 side. When the reinforcing bar 2 with the smaller diameter (thinner) is placed on the bolt 11 and wedge nut 12 side in this way and the bolt 11 is tightened, the wedge-shaped side plate portions 12b, 12b of the wedge nut 12 can be securely inserted into the valley portion 2b of the reinforcing bar 2 with the smaller diameter (thinner) due to the pulling of the bolt 11 and the rotational movement around the head 11b of the bolt 11, thereby ensuring a secure fixation.

<Summary of the embodiment of the reinforcing bar restraint bracket 1>
As described above, in the embodiment of the reinforcing bar fastening fitting 1 according to the present invention, the reinforcing bars 2, 2 arranged in parallel are fastened together by the wedge effect of the pair of wedge-shaped side plate portions 12b, 12b of the wedge nut 12 inserted into the wedge insertion hole 13b1 of the reinforcing bar restraint plate 13, so that when the bolt 11 screwed into the wedge nut 12 is tightened and the pair of wedge-shaped side plate portions 12b, 12b enter the wedge insertion hole 13b1 of the reinforcing bar restraint plate 13 and come into contact with the nodes 2a and valley portions 2b of the reinforcing bars 2, 2 while exerting the wedge effect, the pair of wedge-shaped side plate portions 12b, 12b are prone to moving up and down and left and right or deforming independently on both sides of the bottom plate portion 12a.

Therefore, according to the embodiment of the reinforcing bar fastening fitting 1 of the present invention, when fastening parallel reinforcing bars 2, 2 together, the frequency with which the pair of wedge-shaped side plate portions 12b, 12b of the wedge nut 12 abut against the valley portion 2b (recess) 2b of the reinforcing bar 2 increases, thereby improving the restraining force of the reinforcing bars 2, 2 arranged in parallel.

In particular, in the reinforcing bar fastening fitting 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the pair of wedge-shaped side plate portions 12b, 12b of the wedge nut 12 have a trapezoidal shape when viewed from the front, which ensures a greater contact range with the reinforcing bar 2 and allows the reinforcing bars 2, 2 to be moved toward the reinforcing bar holding portion 13c of the reinforcing bar restraint plate 13, thereby enabling a firm fastening.

In addition, when the diameters of the two reinforcing bars 2, 2 to be restrained are different, the thin reinforcing bar 2 is placed on the bolt 11 and wedge nut 12 side, so that when the bolt 11 is tightened, the pair of wedge-shaped side plate portions 12b, 12b enter the valley portion 2b of the thin reinforcing bar 2 due to the pulling of the bolt 11 and the rotational movement around the head 11b of the bolt 11, thereby enabling a secure fixation.

In addition, in the reinforcing bar fastening fixture 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the reinforcing bar holding portion 13c of the reinforcing bar restraint plate 13 is provided with inwardly bent node engagement portions 13c1 and 13c2.

Therefore, in the reinforcing bar fastening fitting 1 of the embodiment of the present invention, when the reinforcing bar holding portion 13c of the reinforcing bar restraint plate 13 contacts the reinforcing bar 2 on the side away from the wedge nut 12 and bolt 11, the node engaging portions 13c1 and 13c2 of the reinforcing bar holding portion 13c engage with the node portion 2a of the reinforcing bar 2 or enter the valley portion 2b.

As a result, the degree of engagement of the rebar holding portion 13c with the rebar 2 is improved compared to when the node engaging portions 13c1 and 13c2 are not provided on the rebar holding portion 13c, and when the rebar 2 restrained by the node engaging portion 13c1 tries to shift, the node engaging portions 13c1 and 13c2 enter the valley portion 2b of the rebar 2, engaging with the node portion 2a and acting as a stopper to resist, making it possible to more reliably restrain the parallel rebars 2, 2.

In particular, in the reinforcing bar fastening fitting 1 of the embodiment of the present invention, the node engaging parts 13c1, 13c2 are not provided on the entire edge of both sides of the reinforcing bar holding part 13c, but are provided on part of the edge of both sides of the reinforcing bar holding part 13c, specifically, on the right side as shown in FIG. 7(b) if it is the upper side of the reinforcing bar holding part 13c, and on the left side as shown in FIG. 7(b) if it is the lower side of the reinforcing bar holding part 13c. Therefore, when attaching the reinforcing bar restraining plate 13 to the reinforcing bars 2, 2, the node engaging parts 13c1, 13c2 do not get in the way, improving the work efficiency of the restraining work of the reinforcing bars 2, 2, and the node engaging parts 13c1, 13c2 are less likely to come into contact with the rib 2c extending in the longitudinal direction (axial direction) of the reinforcing bar 2, and are more likely to engage with the node 2a extending in the transverse direction (circumferential direction) of the reinforcing bar 2. This also makes it possible to more reliably restrain the reinforcing bars 2, 2 in a parallel state.

In addition, in the reinforcing bar fastening fitting 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the wedge insertion hole 13b1 of the reinforcing bar restraint plate 13 is provided with side plate dividing portions 13b3, 13b3 that protrude to guide the pair of wedge-shaped side plate portions 12b, 12b of the wedge nut 12 and to divide the insertion point.

Therefore, when the bolt 11 is rotated and the pair of wedge-shaped side plate portions 12b, 12b of the wedge nut 12 advances through the wedge insertion hole 13b1 of the rebar restraining plate 13 to be tightened, the wedge-shaped side plate portions 12b, 12b advance while being guided by the side plate dividing portions 13b3, 13b3, so that the rotation of the wedge nut 12 can be suppressed and the wedge-shaped side plate portions 12b, 12b of the wedge nut 12 can be securely abutted against the surface of the rebar 2 to be fastened tightly. Also, for example, when restraining a rebar with a small diameter, the side plate dividing portions 13b3, 13b3 abut against the bottom plate portion 12a of the wedge nut 12 to prevent the wedge nut 12 from slipping out.

In the above embodiment, the pair of wedge-shaped side plate portions 12b, 12b of the wedge nut 12 are described as having a trapezoidal shape when viewed from the front. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any shape that can produce a wedge effect is sufficient. For example, as in the wedge nut 12' shown in FIG. 10(a), the shape of the wedge-shaped side plate portion 12b when viewed from the front may be a trapezoid with two layers of trapezoids and two oblique sides 12b31', 12b32' with different inclination angles may be provided. Furthermore, as in the wedge nut 12" shown in FIG. 10(b), the shape of the wedge-shaped side plate portion 12b when viewed from the front may be a semicircular shape with a tapered portion 12a" and a curved portion 12b3" instead of the oblique side portion 12b3.

1...reinforcing bar fastening fitting, 11...bolt, 11a...shaft portion, 11a1...male thread portion, 11b...head portion, 11c...flange portion, 12, 12', 12"...wedge nut, 12a...bottom plate portion, 12a1...female thread hole, 12b, 12b', 12b"...wedge-shaped side plate portion, 12b1, 12b1', 12b1"...tapered portion, 12b2, 12b2', 12b2"... Wide portion, 12b3, 12b3', 12b3"...hypothetic side portion, 13...reinforcing bar restraint plate, 13a, 13b...reinforcing bar clamping portion, 13a1...bolt insertion hole, 13b1...wedge insertion hole, 13b2...side plate insertion portion, 13b3...side plate division portion, 13c...reinforcing bar holding portion, 13c1, 13c2...node engagement portion, 2...reinforcing bar, 2a...node portion, 2b...valley portion, 2c...rib.

Claims (3)

A rebar restraint plate formed into a substantially U-shape by a pair of rebar clamping portions and a rebar holding portion that clamp the rebars arranged in parallel;
A bolt having a shaft portion inserted into a bolt insertion hole provided in one of the pair of rebar clamping portions of the rebar restraint plate;
A wedge nut is inserted into a wedge insertion hole provided in the other rebar clamping portion to exert a wedge effect,
The wedge nut is
A bottom plate portion having a female screw hole into which the shank of the bolt is screwed;
a pair of wedge-shaped side plate portions which are erected on both the left and right sides of the bottom plate portion and which are inserted into the wedge insertion hole from the opposite side to the one of the rebar clamping portions, and which are formed into a wedge shape so that they stop midway from the tapered portion at the front end to the wide portion at the rear end. The reinforcing bar restraint fixture according to claim 1,
The wedge insertion hole has
A reinforcing bar restraint fitting characterized in that a protruding side plate dividing portion is provided to divide the insertion points of each of the pair of wedge-shaped side plate portions of the wedge nut. In the reinforcing bar restraint fixture according to claim 1 or 2,
A reinforcing bar restraint fitting characterized in that the reinforcing bar holding portion of the reinforcing bar restraint plate is provided with a node engaging portion that engages with a node of the reinforcing bar away from the wedge nut and bolt.

Images