NZ286593A

NZ286593A - Recess former to produce a gap around shear reinforcing steel surrounding an anchor element embedded in concrete slab

Info

Publication number: NZ286593A
Application number: NZ286593A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Rodney Mackay Sim; Barry James Metham
Original assignee: Reid Alan H Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1993-04-08
Filing date: 1994-04-08
Publication date: 1996-12-20

Description

<div class="application article clearfix" id="description"> eeVt52V»»< (^Priority Dato(s): Compete Specification Filed: ...§..\&::S3.ifc... ciass: Publication Dat«:....2..§..QEC..1936 P.O. Journal No: Ifki.l .<1 t u , - /* C- '' / *•15 MAY 1996 ■ A <-i ^ <* No: Divided out of Application 263493 of 8 April 1994 Date: f MEW ZEMiMP Patents Act 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION A RECESS FORMER WE, ALAN H. REID PTY LTD an Australian company of Unit 1, 208 Walters Road, Arndell Park, New South Wales 2148, Australia do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement -1- (followed by la) 286593 - I a- EDGE LIFTING RECESS FORMER AND REINFORCEMENT SYSTEM The present invention relates to reinforcing precast or cast-in-place concrete elements and Is particularly concerned with arrangements to facilitate the use of lifting anchors which are 5 partially embedded in the concrete and have a projecting portion to which a lifting device is able to be engaged. BACKGROUND ART A particularly important area of application 1s where the lifting anchor 1s placed In the edge of an end or side of a thin concrete panel 10 and where the panel is to be lifted 1n a direction normal to the axis of the anchor with a shear load applied to the anchor. A common application of this type exists in the construction of tnt-up buildings. In this type of construction thin wall panels are cast horizontally at ground level and raised Into the vertical position by tilting the horizontal 15 panel about one (lower) edge by lifting with anchors set 1n the opposite (upper) edge until 1t 1s in the vertical position. Then it is lifted Into Its final position to form a wall element. The invention 1s not, however, limited to t1lt-up operations and can be used In any application where an anchor Is set either 1n an edge, 20 or close to an edge, and where a force 1s to be applied In a direction towards the edge. Here there is a risk of failure of the concrete 1n the region of the edge as a result of the shear forces generated by the application of the force to the anchor. In such applications there Is only a small distance between the anchor axis and the surface of the 25 concrete panel 1n the direction of the applied force. Therefore there Is often an insufficient volume of concrete to resist the applied load without failure. Lifting anchors now In widespread use comprise a bar which at one end has a hole through which 1s threaded a reinforcement member. 30 Alternatively, the one end of the bar has an enlarged foot. The reinforcement member or foot provides an anchorage to the concrete Inside the panel. The other end of the bar provides a connection to the lifting device. Such anchors are commonly forged from steel. The means of connection can either be an enlarged head or a hole. Such lifting 35 anchors and the systems by which they are lifted are described 1n US Patents Nos. 3,499,676 (1970), 3,883,170 <1975) and 4,173,367 (1979) amongst others. It is desirable to ensure that the head of the anchor to which the lifting device 1s attached does not project from the concrete surface 28 6593 and a recess In the concrete is formed around the anchor for that purpose. The recess is commonly formed using a recess former which •t typically comprises a solid hemisphere which has a hole 1n the pole of the hemisphere Into which the anchor head is placed and retained with a 5 rubber grommet. The base of the hemisphere is attached to the interior of the mould wall. Such attachment is typically achieved by a number of holes passing through the hemisphere and back through which are passed bolts or nails. These enable the recess former to be directly nailed or bolted onto the face of the mould. In some applications the recess 10 former 1s bolted onto the form or, 1n the case of steel moulds, a steel former can be directly welded to the form. Another type of recess former In common use comprises two quarter-spherical parts inter-connected by a hinge (as disclosed in US Patent No. 4,296,909) or otherwise fastened together. These types of 15 recess formers are moulded from steel, rubber or plastics and have Internal structures designed to tightly retain the head of the anchor when the recess is closed about the shaft of the anchor. This provides positive support for the assembly fixed to the mould wall. This type of recess 1s commonly bolted to the mould wall using a centrally locating 20 bolt passing Into the flat portion of the recess former. Another type of recess former comprises a stsel hemisphere which 1s bored with a central tapered hole thereby formlno a tapered ring element Into which are fitted two or more identical, externally tapered, collets with an internal form designed to accept the head of the lifting 25 anchor. Provision 1s made to draw the collets together and fix these to the mould wall once the assembly has been put together. Yet another type of recess former 1s moulded from two Identical quarter spheres of thin plastics material each of which has projections and slots moulded into the internal cavity to tightly retain the head of 30 the anchor once the two halves are closed together around the anchor shaft. This type of recess former 1s commonly provided with a means of clipping the two halves together using pegs and holes or other fastening means moulded Into the plastics. This type of recess former once fastened around the anchor 1s substantially secure and does not normally 35 require fixing to a mould surface. Projections and clips can be moulded Into the external face to retain a frame (e.g. of wire or a steel plate) by which the assembly can be supported during the moulding of the concrete. 286593 -3- In some embodiments of this type of recess former, the two halves of the recess former are firmly held together with an encircling wire frame which is tightly fitted around the recess former at a position designed to provide reinforcement against the shear forces generated 5 when the anchor is placed in the edge of a panel. Supporting legs of wire are commonly fitted to the frame. They project Into the concrete and serve as support legs for positioning the anchor when placed in the top of a horizontally cast panel or additional reinforcement and anchorage when the anchor is placed in the edge of a panel. Such 10 assemblies are commonly placed Into the edges of concrete panels by nailing onto timber formwork through the plastics or by tying the steel wire frame into the panel reinforcement. One such recess with special closure clips has been disclosed In Australian Patent No. AU-B-12822/88. Each of these various types of recess formers can be provided with 15 an exterior shape which is substantially hemispherical. .In some cases the recess former 1s substantially a truncated hemisphere which produces a recess in the concrete which 1s slot-Uke when the recess former is removed to expose the anchor after the concrete has cured and hardened. Lifting anchors can be effectively embedded 1n the face of precast 20 concrete elements such as panels or beams and the longitudinal forces applied during lifting have not presented significant problems. However, when a shear load Is applied I.e. force is applied at an angle to the axis of the lifting anchor, particularly where the anchor Is near the edge of a precast panel, cracking of the concrete adjacent to the anchor 25 has occurred. While this may not represent a problem structurally, the cracking 1s unsightly and unacceptable architecturally. Consequently costly patching and repair operations have been required. The most common method which has been used to reduce the failures resulting from these shear forces has been to attempt to distribute 30 these forces Into the concrete by conducting the forces to an area away from the critical zone using reinforcement bars (shear bars). Attempts to provide an effective means of using anchors for receiving shear forces have Included the disclosure of US Patent No. 4,087,947. Here extra reinforcing bars curve over the lifting anchor. The shear bar 35 described 1n>that patent 1s not effective for preventing damage to the concrete as a result of shear forces being transmitted by the lifting device to the Inside surface of the recess in the concrete. 28 6593 In order to reduce the damage It 1s known to use additional shear bars wrapped tightly around the recess former at a position 1n .close approximation to the area of contact of the lifting.device. Some recess formers of the types previously described and which have provision for 5 fitting a circumscribing steel shear bar or wire have been used with some success On this connection see Australian Patent No. AU-B-12822/88). The shear bar 1s designed to accept the shear load which would otherwise be applied directly to the concrete and to transfer this load 10 away from the concrete above the anchor to a position below the anchor. Such shear bars extend to a position below the level of the recess and have lateral extension pieces which provide anchorage. When the lifting device 1s forced against the shear bar by the applied shear load, the vertical section of the bar transmits the load to the anchored extension 15 pieces in tension. Another type of shear reinforcement uses a steel plate which has a centrally formed hole designed to accept the external form of the recess former (commonly used with truncated hemispherical formers which have two flat sides). This plate is turned Inwardly towards the Interior of 20 the concrete at each end to provide a means of anchorage to the concrete. The plate Is fitted around a recess which has provision for that purpose moulded Into its external surface to ensure that it 1s positioned spatially at the optimum position to accept the shear load Imparted by the lifting device. 25 The use of shear bars and plates and other similar variants of this type have been extensively tested In practical applications and in the laboratory and have been found to provide only a partial solution to the problem. A different approach is that disclosed 1n US Patent No. 4,173,856. 30 This patent describes a specially shaped anchor which prevents the lifting device making contact with the concrete element and which has special longitudinal extensions on the sides of the anchor which transmit the total applied shear force to the anchor. The anchor Incorporates apertures for engagement of reinforcement rods through 35 which the shear force is transmitted to the panel below the axis of the ,. anchor. This solution has been found to be effective 1n most cases as failure has mainly occurred in very thin panels. 28 6593 -5- A disadvantage of the existing methods of transferring the shear loads Into the concrete by using steel reinforcement bars has been that the bars have been directly embedded Into the concrete and no account has been taken of the different physical properties of concrete and 5 steel. The elastic modulus of cured concrete 1s very much greater than that of the steel used to provide the shear reinforcement. When the force 1s applied to the steel 1t cannot be transferred by the steel until the steel extends elastlcally. The steel 1s restrained by the surrounding concrete. Extension of the steel Is only possible 1f 10 the surrounding concrete has an elastic modulus less than the steel. If the concrete 1s uncured Its modulus can be less than that of the steel and It can permit the movement of the steel and the forces will be transferred by the steel. In most cases however the concrete has already cured and no transfer of the forces can take place until the concrete 15 cracks and allows the steel to extend until the elastic force of the steel 1s equal to the applied force. This 1s the principle on which the theory of steel reinforcement of concrete 1s based. A further disadvantage of existing methods using shear bars 1s that failure of the concrete panel can occur by bursting from the edge 20 where the anchorage extension of the shear bar extends 1n the same plane as the edge of the panel (normal to the anchor axis). The applied force Imparts a rotational force to the anchorage. Cracks opened by this force can Initiate a failure crack which propagates 1n the direction of 11ft. Such cracking can occur at applied loads which are less than the loads 25 required to cause the panel to fall In the direction of 11ft. There 1s therefore a need for a device which ensures that the shear forces can be transferred by the reinforcement without prior concrete cracking. In many handling operations there are load reversals especially when manipulating a concrete member by rotation through 180 30 degrees. The device 1s therefore preferably capable of reinforcement 1n both directions. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It Is an object of the present Invention to provide an Improved anchor device for edge lifting of a concrete slab. 35 DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the present Invention there 1s disclosed an anchor device for the edge lifting of a concrete slab, said 28 6593 anchor device comprising an anchor element able to be partially embedded In said concrete slab, one end of said anchor element having a lifting head shaped to be within a recess formed 1n the edge of said slab located a small distance Inwardly of the lifting head, and a shear 5 reinforcement means able to be partially embedded In said slab to extend away from said lifting head and partially positioned within said recess, wherein that portion of said shear reinforcement means closest to said lifting head is closely spaced to said lifting head and, 1n use, able to be free of said concrete of said slab in the direction of lifting of 10 said slab. Preferably, an air gap is provided between said shear reinforcement means and said concrete of said slab in the direction of lifting of said slab. According to another aspect of the present invention there 1s 15 disclosed an anchor device for the edge lifting of a concrete slab, said anchor device comprising an anchor element able to be partially embedded 1n said concrete slab, one end of said anchor element having a lifting head shaped to be positioned within a recess formed 1n the edge of said slab located a small distance Inwardly of the lifting head, and a shear 20 reinforcement means extending away from said lifting head and able to be partially embedded in said slab and partially positioned within said recess, wherein said reinforcement means 1s Isolated from contact with said concrete slab In the direction of lifting of said slab thereby allowing the shear reinforcement means to deflect without compressing 25 the concrete and to substantially transfer the load through the shear reinforcement means to the concrete slab away from a critical zone of failure so that concrete failure does not occur. According to a further aspect of the present Invention there is disclosed a recess former for forming a recess around the head of an 30 anchor element which Is embedded 1n an edge of a concrete slab during casting thereof, said recess former having a curved surface for abutment with said concrete slab and a flat surface substantially co-planar with said edge of said concrete slab, wherein said recess former has a web with a channel for the positioning of a shear reinforcement means, said 35 web providing an air gap between said concrete slab and said shear .reinforcement after said recess former 1s removed from said recess. 28 6593 Preferably, said web and said channel are Integral with said recess former, while in another preferential embodiment, said web and said channel are adapted to be attached to an existing recess former. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 5 Some embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which: Fig. 1 1s a partial front view of.the top edge of a concrete slab with an anchor device of a first embodiment Illustrated with its shear reinforcement embedded in the slab, 10 Fig. 1A is a partial front view of the top edge of a concrete slab with an anchor device which is a modification of the device of Fig. 1, F1g. IB is a partial front view of the top edge of a concrete slab with an anchor device which is a second modification of the device of F1g. 1, 15 Fig. 2 1s a transverse cross-sectional view In the direction of arrows II—II of Fig. 1, F1g. 2A 1s a transverse cross-sectional view along the lines IIA—IIA of F1g. 1A, Fig. 2B 1s a transverse cross-sectional view along the lines 20 IIB-IIB of Fig. IB, Fig. 3 is a front view of the top edge of a concrete slab with an anchor device of a second embodiment Illustrated with Its shear reinforcement embedded In the slab, Fig. 4 Is a transverse cross-sectional view In the direction of 25 arrows IV-IV of Fig. 3, Fig. 5 Is a front view of the top edge of a concrete slab with an anchor device of a third embodiment illustrated with Its shear reinforcement embedded in the slab. Fig. 6 1s a transverse cross-sectional view 1n the direction of 30 arrows VI-VI of F1g. 5, Fig. 7 1s a front view of the top edge of a concrete slab with an anchor device of a fourth embodiment illustrated with its shear reinforcement embedded in the slab, Fig. 8 1s a transverse cross-sectional view in the direction of 35 arrows VIII-VIII of Fig. 7, F1g. 9 is a front view of the top edge of a concrete slab with an anchor device of a fifth embodiment Illustrated with Its shear reinforcement embedded in the slab, 286593 Fig. 9A is a front view of the top edge of a concrete slab with an anchor device of Fig. 9 illustrated with modified shear reinforcement embedded in the slab, F1g. 10 is a transverse cross-sectional view i'n the direction of 5 arrows X-X of Fig. 9, F1g. 10A 1s a transverse cross-sectional view 1n the direction of arrows XA-XA of Fig. 9A, F1g. 10B 1s a transverse cross-sectional view along the lines XB-XB of Fig. 10A, 10 Fig. IOC 1s a transverse cross-sectional view along the lines XC-XC of Fig. 10A, Fig. 11 is a front view of one half of a snap-on recess adaptor to be used with a recess former to hold the shear reinforcement for the anchor device of Figs. 3 or 5, 15 Fig. 12 is a side elevatlonal view of the adaptor of Fig. 11, F1g. 13 is a bottom view of the adaptor of F1g. 11, F1g. 14 is a partial cutaway view of a recess former of a preferred embodiment, F1g. 15 1s a transverse cross-section view along the lines XV-XV 20 of Fig. 14, and Fig. 16 Is a longitudinal cross-sectional view along the lines XVI-XVI of Fig. 14. BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An anchor device 10 of a first embodiment for the edge lifting of 25 a concrete slab 11 1s Illustrated 1n Figs. 1 and 2. The device 10 includes an anchor element 12 which is embedded 1n the concrete slab 11. The anchor element 12 has a foot portion 13, a shank 14 and a head 15. The head 15 Is shaped to co-operate with conventional slab lifting apparatus (not Illustrated). The head 15 1s positioned a small distance 30 Inwardly of the edge 16 of the concrete slab 11 and Is positioned within a recess 17 which 1s formed at the edge 16 of the slab 11 when the concrete 1s being poured. The recess 17 Is formed using known techniques and the shank 14 and foot portion 13 are embedded in the slab 11 during the concrete pour. 35 Shear .reinforcement 18, which Is a separate Item from the anchor .element 12, 1s also partially embedded In the concrete slab 11 during the pour. The shear reinforcement 18 includes a ring portion 19 from 28 659 3 -9- whlch four reinforcing bars 20 extend into the concrete slab 11. The shear reinforcement 18 is positioned prior to the concrete pour and is embedded Into the slab 11 during the pour with the bars 20 substantially embedded with the ring portion 19 being positioned within the recess 5 17. An air gap 21 1s formed between the ring portion 19 and the concrete forming the recess 17. When the concrete slab 11 is to be. lifted, the lifting apparatus is engaged with the anchor element 12 1n the edge 16 of the slab 11. As the lifting apparatus comes into contact with the ring portion 19, the 10 shear forces are transmitted via the bars 20 of the shear reinforcement 18 which are below the axis of the anchor element 12. The air gap 21 between the ring portion 19 and the concrete slab 11 ensures that the shear force which is transmitted to the ring portion 19 abc-ve the axis of the anchor element 12 1s not transmitted to the concrete at any 15 position above the axis of the anchor element 12 in the direction of the lift. This prevents the concrete from falling at the junction of the reinforcement 18 and the recess 17. The shape of the ring portion 19 allows the anchor device 10 of the first embodiment to be used in either of the two directions of lifting as the ring portion 19 and air gap 21 20 totally surrounds the anchor element 12 within the recess 17. In a first modification to the anchor device 10, as illustrated in F1gs. 1A and 2A, an air gap 21a Is cast into the concrete slab 11 when the recess 17 1s formed and the shear reinforcement 18 is cast into the slab 11. The air gap 21a Is provided over the reinforcement 18 in the 25 region where the reinforcement 18 is expected to deflect during lifting before the load is shed to the reinforcing bars 20 which extend Into the slab 11 below the anchor element 12. The air gap 21a Is provided on both the top and bottom bars 20 so that the slab 11 can be lifted In either direction. The outside edges of the bars 20 are not In contact 30 with the concrete 1n the slab 11 1n the region of deflection whilst the inside edges are 1n close contact with the concrete as they provide an anchorage face for transferring the load into the concrete. In a second modification to the anchor device 10, as Illustrated in F1gs. IB and 2B, an air gap 21b similar to air gap 21a 1s provided. 35 In this modification, the recess 17 formed 1n the slab 11 Is a truncated hemisphere with part of the ring portion 19 being embedded In the concrete slab 11. 28 659 3 -10- An anchor device 30 of a second embodiment 1s Illustrated 1n F1gs. 3 and 4. The device 30 which Is used to edge lift a concrete s.lab 31, Includes an anchor element 32 which Is embedded Intp the concrete slab 31. The anchor element 32 1s Identical to the anchor element 12 and has 5 a foot portion 33, a shank 34 and a head 35. The head 35 is positioned inwardly from the edge 36 of the concrete slab 31 and 1s positioned within a recess 37. The recess 37 1n this embodiment 1s not heml-spherical but 1s truncated at both sides. Shear reinforcement 38 Includes a single bar 40 which protrudes 10 Into the concrete slab 31 perpendicularly to the anchor element 32. The bar 40 spreads the shear load during lifting into the concrete slab 31 and passes through the recess 37 substantially at Its lower portion as Illustrated In Fig. 3. The shear reinforcement 38 also Includes a brace portion 39 which is curved and extends upwardly above the bar 40. The 15 brace portion 39~passes from the concrete slab 31 through the recess 37 with the centre of Its curved portion being substantially at the top of the recess 37. The positioning of the brace portion 39 ensures that there is an air gap 41 located between the shear reinforcement 38 and the edge of the concrete at the recess 37. 20 This means that when the concrete slab 31 Is to be lifted with the anchor element 32 being raised upwardly as seen 1n F1gs. 3 and 4 so that the head 35 moves the brace portion 39. The bar 40 of the shear reinforcement 38 which 1s below the axis of the anchor element 32 transmits the shear forces generated during lifting by the lifting 25 apparatus coming Into contact with the brace portion 39. The air gap 41 between the brace portion 39 and the concrete slab 31 ensures that the shear force is transmitted to the brace portion 39 above the axis of the anchor element 32 and 1s not transmitted to the concrete at any position above the axis of the anchor element 32 1n this direction. Once again, 30 the concrete is prevented from falling at the junction of the reinforcement 38 and the recess 37. An anchor device 50 of a third embodiment 1s illustrated in F1gs. 5 and 6. The anchor device 50 1s used for the edge lifting of a concrete slab 51 and includes an anchor element 52 embedded therein. 35 The anchor element 52 has a foot 53 with a hole 53A passing •therethrough. The anchor element 52 also Includes a shank 54 and a head 55. The head 55 Is once again shaped to co-operate with existing slab 28659 -11- 1 Ifting apparatus and Is positioned a small distance Inwardly from the edge 56 of the concrete slab 51 and 1s positioned within a recess 57 which 1s similar to recess 37. Shear reinforcement 58 which 1s embedded in the slab 51 Includes two curved bars 60. The bars 60 include legs 62 5 which extend Into the concrete slab 51 and act as an anchor and act to disperse the shear forces. The bars 60 each Include a curved portion 59 which Is located within the recess 57 in a similar manner to the previously described embodiments. The curved portion 59 ensures that there 1s an air gap 61 between the shear reinforcement 58 and the edge 10 of the concrete within the recess ,57. The positioning of the two separate curved bars 60 ensures that the concrete slab 51 can be lifted In either direction without causing cracking within the slab 51. An anchor device 70 of a fourth embodiment is Illustrated 1n Figs. 7 and 8. In this embodiment, the anchor device 70 Includes an anchor 15 element 72 embedded in a concrete slab 71. The anchor element 72 is a threaded insert*and includes an internally threaded portion 74 and an enlarged foot 73 which has a hole 73A passing therethrough. The Internally threaded portion 74 has its free end 75 flush with the edge 76 of the slab 71. A recess 77 1s provided In the slab 71 In the edge 20 76 adjacent the top of the free end 75 of the Internally threaded portion 74. The recess 77 1s a partial annular ring and 1s clearly Illustrated 1n Fig. 7. A shear reinforcement 78 has a curved brace portion 79 and two legs 80 and 1s embedded 1n the slab 71. The shear reinforcement 78 25 abuts against the Internally threaded portion 74 at Its brace portion 79 and the legs 80 extend Into the slab 71. The recess 77 acts as an air gap 81 in a manner similar to the other air gaps previously described and prevents the concrete slab 71 from cracking when lifted 1n that direction. 30 An anchor device 90 of a fifth embodiment is illustrated 1n F1gs. 9 and 10. The anchor device 90 embedded in a concrete slab 91, Includes an anchor element 92 having a forked foot 93, a shank 94 and a head 95 having a hole passing through. The head 95 of the anchor element 92 1s positioned within a recess 97 and 1s able to be attached to a lifting 35 device (not -11lustrated). Shear reinforcement 98 Is provided. The -reinforcement Includes two bars which each have a brace portion 99 and a 286593 -12- palr of legs 100. The brace portion 99 ensures that there is an air gap 101 between the concrete\e£ the recess 97 and the anchor element 92. The anchor device 90 acts in the same manner as previously described. In a first modification to the anchor device 90, as illustrated in 5 Figs. 9A, 10A, 10B and IOC, an air gap 101a 1s cast Into the concrete slab 91 when the recess 97 1s formed. The reinforcement 98 and anchor element 92 are separated from the concrete 1n the region of expected deflection of the anchor element 92. In this modification the shear reinforcement 98 1s embedded In the concrete slab both above and below 10 the recess 97. One half of a snap on recess adaptor 110 1s illustrated in Figs. 11-13. The adaptor 110 is able to be clipped onto an existing recess former (not Illustrated) to support the shear reinforcement (not Illustrated) to make the air gap between the shear reinforcement and the 15 concrete within a concrete slab. The adaptor 110 Includes a curved portion 111 having a channel 112 Into which the shear reinforcement is able to be placed. The two halves of the adaptor 110 are snapped together via a male prong 113 which snaps into a female socket 114. The prong 113 and socket 114 are both located on different ones of 20 connecting portions 115 of the adaptor 110. The shape of the adaptor 110 1s used on a recess former which 1s used to make a truncated hemispherical recess as Illustrated in F1gs. 3 and 5. In Figs. 14-16, a recess former 130 is Illustrated. The recess former 130 1s a two-part moulded plastics former which Is able to be 25 snapped together to form a truncated hemispherical body. The recess former 130 includes a hole at the rear to allow an anchor 131 to extend out of the recess former 130. A pair of anchor head supports 132 are used to support the head 133 of the anchor 131. The recess former 130 Includes pegs 134 and holes 135 which mate to keep the two-parts snapped 30 together. A sealing Hp 136 surround the recess former 130 and,seals the two-parts when they are snapped together. The truncated hemispherical recess former 130 includes a web 137 located at its outer curved surfaces. The web 137 Includes a channel 138 1n which a curved portion of shear reinforcement bars (not 35 Illustrated) are locatable. The web 137 1s used to form a void or air 'gap between the shear reinforcement and the concrete once the recess former has been used In the casting of the concrete. -13 286593 The channel 138 includes a plurality of retaining clips 139 which are used to ensure that the shear reinforcement remains in position in the channel 138. The foregoing describes only some embodiments of the present 5 invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled 1n the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the air gap which is.provided between the •reinforcement and the concrete in the recess can have a soft compressible material (such as a sponge material 177 in Fig. 8) located 10 therein. The soft compressible material (or air gap) is used to isolate the shear reinforcement from the concrete so that the reinforcement will not bear against the concrete In the direction of lift before the load is transferred and shed to the required area. For example a device can be simply placed over the shear 15 reinforcement to prevent it contacting the concrete. One such device can be a piece of material which Is removable or easily compressible and attached to the reinforcement. Such a device can be incorporated into a recess former for the anchor device. Such a recess former would normally be designed to support the shear reinforcement to maintain it 20 in the optimum position. </div>

Claims

<div class="application article clearfix printTableText" id="claims"> 14 28659 WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A recess former for forming a recess around a head of an anchor element of an anchor device which is embedded in an edge of a concrete slab during casting thereof, said recess former comprising: a curved surface for abutment with said concrete slab, a flat surface substantially coplanar with said edge of said concrete slab, and a web with a channel for positioning of a shear reinforcement means, such that a web provides a gap between a surface of said recess and said shear reinforcement means.

2. The recess former of claim 1 wherein said web and said channel are integral with said recess former.

3. The recess former of claim 1 wherein said web and said channel are adapted to be attached to an existing type recess former.

4. A recess former substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. ALAN H. REID PTY LTD By its Attorney DON HOPKINS & ASSOCIATES . . \ fc *'* i' ' c. * IV- 'sK/iVi99(j \ </div>