US20070186492A1

US20070186492A1 - Lifting fixture for concrete structures

Info

Publication number: US20070186492A1
Application number: US11/276,124
Authority: US
Inventors: Clifford Bennett; Kenneth Lee
Original assignee: Dayton Superior Corp
Current assignee: Dayton Superior Corp
Priority date: 2006-02-15
Filing date: 2006-02-15
Publication date: 2007-08-16
Also published as: WO2007095422A3; WO2007095422A2

Abstract

A lifting fixture for a concrete structure having reinforcing wires embedded therein and an outer surface with a recess. The lifting fixture generally comprises an anchor having a first end adapted to be operatively coupled to the lifting hardware of a hoist and a second end configured to be securely embedded within the concrete structure. At least one clip member is coupled to the second end of the anchor for securing the lifting fixture to the reinforcing wires and positioning the first end of the anchor within the recess during the formation of the concrete structure.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a lifting fixture for concrete structures, and more particularly to an anchor secured to reinforcing wires embedded within a concrete structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Concrete structures are used extensively in the construction industry. For example, concrete pipes are commonly installed underground and used to transport liquid and waste materials. Because of their durability and strength, concrete pipes typically require minimal upkeep and retain their serviceability for many years. Such pipes are also very versatile in the sense that they can be easily and economically formed with the necessary shape, size, and strength to suit a particular application.
Two of the most common processes for forming concrete pipes are dry casting and wet casting. Dry casting typically involves supplying a dry cast concrete mix, or “no-slump” mix, to a mold having an annular cavity between an inner form and outer form. The mix is densely compacted within the mold using specialized consolidation techniques, such as spinning, vibration, packing and/or “slinging” the concrete mix into the mold. After the pipe has been produced, the mold may be immediately removed and used to create another structure. Wet casting typically involves supplying a relatively wet concrete mix to the annular cavity of a mold. The concrete mix is cured within the cavity before the mold is removed. In order to increase the strength of both wet-cast and dry-cast pipe, reinforcing wires or bars are typically placed in the annular cavity of the mold prior to supplying the concrete mix so that the wires ultimately become embedded within the final concrete structure.
Although these manufacturing processes produce long-lasting, serviceable concrete pipes, one of the challenges associated with such pipes is the ability to transport them between various locations at a particular job site. The pipes are typically too heavy to be lifted by hand and must instead be moved with the assistance of a hoisting device. To facilitate lifting with a hoisting device, a hole may be cast in the concrete for receiving a conventional lifting hook. Alternatively, holes may be formed through the concrete after casting. While the holes may facilitate lifting, they must be patched once the pipes are installed in order to meet hydrostatic testing requirements. If a hole is not patched correctly, the patch may fail and may even fall out after the pipe has been installed. This is particularly problematic for pipes installed underground where soil and other materials may enter the pipe through a failed patch. This displacement of soil often creates a sinkhole at the grade level, which can become especially undesirable if the pipe is installed beneath a roadway or the like.
For all these reasons, several attempts have been made to provide concrete structures with a suitable anchor for engaging the lifting hook of a hoist device. More specifically, several attempts have been made to provide recessed anchors in the outer surfaces of concrete pipes. The recessed arrangement of the anchor eliminates the need for a subsequent cutting operation to remove any portion of the anchor that projects beyond the outer surface after installation. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,082,700, issued to Lancelot, III et al., discloses a removable anchor-positioning insert, or “void,” for forming a recess in the outer surface of a concrete structure. The insert is bolted to the outer form of a mold and includes an anchor placement channel for receiving the apex of a U-shaped or V-shaped anchor. The anchor placement channel is shaped to cooperate with the anchor so as to prevent the anchor from moving relative to the insert when concrete is supplied to the mold. Thus, after the concrete structure is formed, the mold and positioning insert are separated from the concrete pipe to expose the recess with the apex of the anchor positioned therein.
While bolting an anchor-positioning insert to the mold may suffice for some operations, Applicant has found that occasionally during the molding process, the anchor is pulled out of the insert when a no-slump concrete mix is “slung” into the mold. Supplying heavier wet-cast concrete mix may also cause the anchor to shift relative to the insert during molding. Thus, there is a need for a lifting fixture that does not require support from the mold during the formation of the concrete structure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a lifting fixture for concrete structures having reinforcing wires embedded therein. The lifting fixture generally comprises an anchor having a first end adapted to be operatively coupled to the lifting hardware of a hoist and a second end configured to be securely embedded within the concrete structure. At least one clip member is coupled to the anchor for securing the lifting fixture to the reinforcing wires. The clip member also positions the first end of the anchor relative to a recess to be formed in the outer surface of the concrete structure, thereby providing easy access to the anchor.
The lifting fixture may further comprise a cover member, or “void former,” for forming the recess in the outer surface. The cover member is adapted to cover at least a portion of the first end of the anchor when secured thereto, and may be removed from the first end after the concrete structure has been formed. Removing the cover thus exposes the recess with the first end of the anchor positioned therein.
In one aspect of the invention, each clip member comprises a body, a first clasp positioned on the body and sized to operatively engage a first reinforcing wire, and a second clasp positioned on the body and sized to operatively engage a second reinforcing wire. The second clasp is spaced apart from said first clap by a distance corresponding to the spacing of the reinforcing wires. Thus, the first and second clasps secure the anchor while the concrete structure is formed in a mold. Additional attachments to secure the anchor to the mold are not required, but may be provided if desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a concrete structure with an exemplary lifting fixture according to an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1, showing the lifting fixture secured to the reinforcing wires embedded within the concrete structure;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the lifting fixture shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is an exploded side elevation view showing the lifting fixture of FIG. 2 and a removable cover according an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 5 is a side elevation view similar to FIG. 4 showing the removable cover secured to a portion of the lifting fixture;
FIG. 6 is a side elevation view showing the lifting fixture of FIG. 2 and the lifting hardware of a hoist;
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a lifting fixture according to a second embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view depicting the lifting fixture of FIG. 8 secured to concrete reinforcing wires;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a clip member of the lifting fixture shown in FIG. 8;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a lifting fixture in accordance with the principles of the present invention; and
FIG. 12 is a side elevation view, similar to FIG. 4, depicting the lifting fixture of FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a lifting fixture 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown embedded within a concrete structure 12 in the form of a pipe. The lifting fixture 10 is used to facilitate lifting and transporting the concrete structure 12 between job sites and other locations, as will be described in greater detail below. Although the concrete structure 12 is shown as a concrete pipe, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the lifting fixture 10 may be used to facilitate lifting concrete structures having other shapes and configurations. For example, the concrete structure 12 may alternatively be a concrete slab, block, wall, or any other structure commonly used in the construction industry.
The lifting fixture 10 is generally positioned in a recess 14 formed in an outer surface 16 of the concrete structure 12. More specifically, the lifting fixture 10 includes an anchor 20 having a first end 22 extending into the recess 14, and a second end 24 securely embedded within the concrete structure 12. At least one clip member 30 is coupled to the anchor 20 to secure the lifting fixture 10 to reinforcing wires 32 that are also embedded within the concrete structure 12, as best seen in FIG. 2.
FIG. 3 illustrates the lifting fixture 10 and reinforcing wires 32 of FIG. 2 in further detail. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the anchor 20 is formed from steel or iron and is bent to have an apex 40 at the first end 22 and first and second legs 42, 44 extending downwardly on opposing sides of the apex 40. Thus, the anchor 20 generally has an inverted V or U-shaped configuration. The first and second legs 42, 44 terminate in respective flanges 46, 48 at the second end 24 for reasons discussed more fully below.
In order to properly position the first end 22 of anchor 10 relative to the recess 14 and outer surface 16 of the concrete structure 12, pairs of clip members 30 are secured to the anchor 20 at a desired location along the first and second legs 42, 44. Each clip member 30 generally comprises a body 54, a first clasp 56 positioned on the body 54 and sized to operatively engage a first reinforcing wire 32 a, and a second clasp 58 positioned on the body 54 and sized to operatively engage a second reinforcing wire 32 b. The first and second clasps 56, 58 are spaced apart from each other by a distance corresponding to the spacing of the first and second reinforcing wires 32 a, 32 b. While a pair of clip members is shown for securing anchor 20 to the reinforcing wires 32 a, 32 b, it will be recognized that a single clip member, or more than two clip members may alternatively be used to secure an anchor to the reinforcing wires.
In the embodiment shown, each clip member 30 is constructed from a metal rod that has been bent into the appropriate shape to form the body 54, first clasp 56, and second clasp 58. In this embodiment, the body 54 may be welded to the anchor 20 and the first and second clasps 56, 58 resemble hooks that are configured to wrap around respective portions of the first and second reinforcing wires 32 a, 32 b. The second clasp 58 includes a guide portion 60 that facilitates securely engaging the second clasp 58 to the second reinforcing wire 32 b by providing a small amount of interference between the parts in an installed position. In the embodiment shown, guide portion 60 comprises a length of rod that is bent downwardly and outwardly relative to the body 54. Thus, the lifting fixture 10 may be secured to the reinforcing wires 32 by “hooking” the first clasp 56 onto the first reinforcing wire 32 a, and then applying a sufficient force to overcome the interference of the guide portion 60 and “snap-fit” the second clasp 58 onto the second reinforcing wire 32 b.
The simple and economical configuration of the exemplary fixture 10 makes it feasible to produce the lifting fixture 10 according to a concrete manufacturer's specifications. For example, concrete pipes are typically produced with a particular diameter and wall thickness. The shape and size of the anchor 20 may generally be determined from this information. The clip members 30, on the other hand, are designed with reference to the gage and spacing of the reinforcing wires 32, 32 a, 32 b. Wire sizes in large concrete pipes typically vary from 10 gage (0.135 inch diameter) to 2 gage (0.331 inch diameter), and spacing arrangements between intersecting wires typically range from 2 inch ×2 inch to 3 inch ×8 inch.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the lifting fixture 10 may further include a cover member or void former 70 adapted to be releasably secured to the first end 22 of the anchor 20. The cover member 70 generally has an outer surface 72 shaped to cooperate with the outer form of a mold (not shown) in which the concrete structure 12 is formed, and a body structure 74 adapted to cover at least a portion of the first end 22 of anchor 20 when the cover 70 is secured thereto. The overall shape of the body structure 74 generally corresponds to the shape of the recess 14 to be formed in the concrete structure 12. Thus, if a semi-spherical recess is desired, the body structure 74 is provided with a semi-spherical shape, etc. Although the body structure 74 may be formed from any material having the desired geometry, the cover member 70 is preferably a unitary component molded from an elastomeric material.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the cover member 70 generally has a dome-shaped configuration. A slot 80 extends down the center of the dome such that the cover member 70 is divided into first and second halves 82, 84. Each half includes a groove 86 facing the slot 80, and each groove 86 is shaped to receive the first end 22 of the anchor 20. Thus, in order to secure the cover member 70 to the anchor 20, the first and second halves 82, 84 may be pulled apart from each other to open the slot 80. Once cover member 70 is placed on the anchor 20 with the first end 22 received in the grooves 86, the first and second halves 82, 84 may be moved back towards each other to close the slot 80.
A method of forming the concrete structure 12 will now be described. The concrete structure 12 is formed in a mold, which is not shown in the figures for the sake of clarity. As discussed in the background section, the mold for a concrete pipe typically includes an inner form and outer form. After positioning the reinforcing wires 32 in the mold, between the inner and outer forms, one or more anchors 20 may be secured to the reinforcing wires 32, 32 a, 32 b using the clip members 30. The removable cover 70 is then positioned over the first end 22 of the anchor 20 in the manner described above, with the outer surface 72 of the cover member 70 generally bearing against the outer form of the mold. Alternatively, cover member 70 may be secured to the first end 22 of anchor 20 and the anchor secured to the reinforcing wires 32, 32 a, 32 b prior to positioning the wires in the mold.
Once the lifting fixture 10 is appropriately secured and positioned within the mold, concrete may be supplied to the mold to form the concrete structure 12. Even if a no-slump concrete mix is slung into the mold in a dry-cast operation, or even if a heavier concrete mix is supplied to the mold for the purposes of a wet-cast operation, the secure attachment between the clip members 30 and the reinforcing wires 32 helps ensure that the anchor 20 remains in the desired position. Thus, the lifting fixture 10 may be advantageously used for both wet-cast and dry-cast operations.
Concrete mix is added until it fills the mold and surrounds any portion of the lifting fixture 10 that is not covered by the cover member 70. As shown in FIG. 5, the second end 24 of the anchor 20 and the first and second clasps 56, 58 of the clip members 30 become embedded in the concrete structure 12 along with the reinforcing wires 32. When the casting operating is complete, the formed concrete structure 12 is separated from the mold and the cover member 70 is removed from the anchor 20.
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the removal of the cover member 70 exposes the recess 14. The first end 22 of the anchor 20 extends into the recess 14 and is adapted to be operatively coupled to the lifting hardware of a hoist. For example, the recess 14 may provide sufficient space for a lifting hook 90 to engage the apex 40 of the anchor 20 between the first and second legs 42, 44. Although the first end 22 of the anchor 20 is shown has having an arch-shaped configuration within the recess 14, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the anchor 20 may be any other shape designed to couple to lifting hardware. For example, the first end 22 of the anchor 20 may alternatively be in the form of an eyebolt designed to engage the hook 90, or an anchor bolt designed to engage a clamp or retainer.
Thus, whenever the concrete structure 12 needs to be transported between various locations, installed at a job site, or otherwise moved, the hook 90 may be used to engage the first end 22 of the anchor 20 and apply a sufficient force to lift the concrete structure 12. The rigidity and strength of the concrete ensures that the second end 24 of the anchor 20 remains embedded therein so that the concrete structure 12 moves with the anchor 20. Additionally, the first and second flanges 46, 48 further extend within the concrete structure 12 to provide additional resistance to the lifting force and thus assist retaining the second end 24 within the concrete structure 12.
As a result of such an arrangement, the first end 22 of the anchor 20 must have sufficient strength to support the weight of the concrete structure 1 2. In other words, the first end 22 must not break or substantially deform when the lifting force is applied thereto. In one embodiment, the anchor is formed from low carbon steel.
After the concrete structure 12 has been moved to its intended location, the hook 90 may simply be disengaged from the first end 22. There is no need to complete a subsequent patching operation because the recess 14 does not extend through the concrete structure 12. If desired, however, mortar may be packed into the recess 14 to provide a clean appearance and give the pipe a uniform thickness.
FIGS. 8-10 depict another exemplary lifting fixture 110 in accordance with the invention. Like the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-7, the lifting fixture 110 generally comprises an anchor 120 and at least one clip member 130 coupled to the anchor 120 for securing the lifting fixture 110 to reinforcing wires 132, 132 a, 132 b. The anchor 120 has substantially the same shape and configuration as the anchor 20 with the exception that the ends 124 of its legs 142, 144 include Hex-shaped heads. The foregoing description of anchor 20 is applicable to anchor 120.
The clip members 130, on the other hand, differ in several respects from the clip members 30. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the clip members 130 are formed from stamped metal. Each clip member 130 still comprises a body 154, a first clasp 156 adapted to operatively engage a first reinforcing wire 132 a, and a second clasp 158 adapted to operatively engage a second reinforcing wire 132 b. However, instead of resembling hooks that are designed for a particular spacing of the reinforcing wires, the first and second clasps 156, 158 comprise elongated slots defined by opposing, spaced surfaces and are adapted to accommodate a wide variety of reinforcing wire spacing arrangements. For example, the second clasp 158 includes a first portion 162 angled downwardly from the body 154 and a second portion 164 that is spaced apart from the body 154. When securing the clip member 130, the second reinforcing wire 132 b may be securely received anywhere between the body 154 and the first or second portions 162, 164.
The clip members 130 are also adapted to accommodate a wide variety of wire sizes. More specifically, the first clasp 156 includes threaded aperture 166 adapted to receive a fastener 168, such as a screw or bolt. When the first reinforcing wire 132 a is received in the first clasp 156, the fastener 168 is tightened to secure the reinforcing wire 132 a within the clasp 156. Thus, even if a reinforcing wire is too small to frictionally engage the first clasp 156, the wire may be secured therein by the fastener 168.
Instead of being welded to the anchor 120, the clip members 130 are removably and adjustably secured thereto. To this end, each clip member 130 further includes a receiving member 174 positioned on the body 154 and adapted to receive a portion of the anchor 120. Like the first clasp 156, the receiving member 174 resembles a slot defined by opposing, spaced surfaces and includes a threaded aperture 176 for receiving a fastener 178. Thus, when a first leg 142 or second leg 144 of the anchor 120 is received in the slot, the fastener 178 may be tightened to secure the clip member 130 to the anchor 120.
The ability to adjust the position of each clip member 130 before tightening the fastener 178 enables the lifting fixture 110 to be used for many different sizes of concrete structures. More specifically, the position of each clip member 130 may be adjusted for different wall thicknesses of the concrete structure to ensure that the first end 122 of the anchor 120 is positioned at a desired location within the recess to be formed in the outer surface of the concrete structure. For relatively thick concrete structures, the receiving member 174 of each clip member 130 may further include an offset portion 184 (FIG. 10) to increase the overall length of the lifting fixture 110.
In the various embodiments described above, the anchors and clip members have been shown in configurations wherein the legs 42, 44, 142, 144 of the anchors 20, 120 extend generally through a plane that includes the reinforcing wires 32, 32 a, 32 b. Such configurations are typical when the reinforcing wires 32, 32 a 32 b are substantially centered within the thickness of the concrete section 12. In some applications, however, the reinforcement wires 32, 32 a, 32 b may be arranged so that they lie relatively deep within the thickness of the concrete section 12, such that the reinforcement wires 32, 32 a, 32 b are closer to an inner surface of the concrete structure 12 compared to the distance of the wires 32, 32 a, 32 b from a surface where the anchor will be positioned. FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a lifting fixture 200 wherein first and second clip members 202 are configured to support an anchor 110 such that the anchor 110 is spaced sufficiently above the reinforcing wires 32, 32 a, 32 b and are suitable for configurations where the reinforcing wires 32, 32 a, 32 b are deeply embedded within the concrete section 12. In the embodiment shown, the first and second clip members 202 are mirror images of one another. While two clip members 202 are depicted supporting anchor member 120, it will be recognized that only one clip member 202 may be needed in some applications. In this embodiment, each of the first and second clip members 202 is constructed from a metal rod that has been bent to form a generally U-shaped body portion 204. The body portion comprises a generally closed end 206 and first and second legs 208, 210 extending from the closed end 206. First and second clasps 212, 214 are formed on the first leg 208 by bending the rod material. The first clasp 212 comprises a first bend radius 216 sized to correspond to the general size of the reinforcing wire 32 a, whereby the reinforcing wire 32 a may be received within the first bend radius 216. A third leg 218 of the clip 202 extends in a direction back toward the closed end 206 of the body 204. To help retain the reinforcing wire 32 a within the first clasp 212, a portion of the rod material at the first clasp 212 may be offset, such as by a second bend radius 220, such that the reinforcing wire 32 a must be snapped into place through the offset portion. The second clasp 214 of the clip member 202 is defined by the first and third legs 208, 218 of the body portion 204. The first and third legs 208, 218 are generally parallel and are spaced from one another a distance such that a reinforcing wire 32 b will be clamped therebetween. To facilitate insertion of the reinforcing wires 32 a, 32 b between the first and third legs 208, 218 and into the first and second clasps 212, 214, the distal end 222 of the third leg 218 is angled in a direction generally upwardly and outwardly relative to the body portion 204, and also in a direction toward the first clasp 212. This angled arrangement helps to facilitate separation of the first and third legs 208, 218 when the clip member is forced into engagement with reinforcing wires 32 a, 32 b such that the reinforcing wires 32 a, 32 b may be admitted between the first and third legs 208, 218, whereafter the angled end 222 inhibits subsequent removal of the clip member 202 from the reinforcing wire 32 a, 32 b.
A fourth leg 230 of the clip member 202 is spaced from the closed end 206 of the body 204 and extends upwardly from the second leg 210. An arm 232 extends from the fourth leg 230 in a direction substantially parallel to the second leg 210 and has a bent distal end 234 with a bend radius sized to receive one of the legs of the anchor member 120. When two such clip members 202 are secured to the reinforcing wires 32 a, 32 b and an anchor member 120 is secured within the bent distal ends 234 of the arms 232, the first and second clip members 202 are able to support the anchor member 120 such that it is spaced from the plane of the reinforcing wires 32, 32 a, 32 b, as best depicted in FIG. 12. A cover member 70 may be secured to the apex of the anchor member 120, in a manner similar to that described above with respect to FIGS. 4 and 5.
While the invention has been illustrated by the description of one or more embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in considerable detail, they are not intended to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the scope or spirit of Applicant's general inventive concept.

Claims

1. A lifting fixture for a concrete structure having reinforcing wires embedded therein and an outer surface with a recess, the lifting fixture comprising:

an anchor having a first end adapted to be operatively coupled to lifting hardware of a hoist and a second end configured to be securely embedded within the concrete structure, the first end having a strength sufficient to support the weight of the concrete structure; and

at least one clip member coupled to the anchor for securing the lifting fixture to a reinforcing wire and positioning said first end within the recess in the outer surface, said clip member including a first portion coupled to said anchor and a second portion adapted to be coupled to the reinforcing wire.

2. The lifting fixture of claim 1, further comprising a cover member releasably secured to said first end and covering at least a portion of said first end when secured thereto.

3. The lifting fixture of claim 1, wherein each clip member comprises:

a body;

a first clasp positioned on said body and sized to operatively engage a first one of the reinforcing wires; and

a second clasp positioned on said body and sized to operatively engage a second one of the reinforcing wires, said second clasp spaced from said first clap a distance corresponding to a spacing of the reinforcing wires.

4. The lifting fixture of claim 3, wherein said clip member is formed from a metal rod, said metal rod including bends defining said first and second clasps.

5. The lifting fixture of claim 1, wherein said clip member is removably secured to said anchor.

6. The lifting fixture of claim 1, wherein said clip member is welded to said anchor.

7. The lifting fixture of claim 1, wherein said clip member further comprises a receiving member positioned on said body and includes opposing surfaces adapted to receive a portion of said anchor.

8. The lifting fixture of claim 1, wherein said clip member is adjustably coupled to said anchor for selective positioning of said clip member relative to said first end of said anchor.

9. The lifting fixture of claim 1, wherein said anchor has an apex at said first end and first and second legs extending downwardly on opposing sides of said apex to said second end.

10. The lifting fixture of claim 9, wherein said clip member is configured to support said anchor such that said first and second legs intersect a plane containing at least some of the reinforcing wires.

11. The lifting fixture if claim 9, wherein said clip member is configured to support said anchor such that said first and second legs are spaced a distance from the reinforcing wires.

12. A concrete structure, comprising:

a concrete body having an outer surface with a recess formed therein;

a plurality of spaced apart reinforcing wires embedded within said concrete body; and

a lifting fixture for lifting the concrete structure, said lifting fixture comprising:

an anchor having a first end adapted to be operatively coupled to lifting hardware of a hoist and a second end securely embedded within said concrete body, and at least one clip member positioning said first end of said anchor within said recess, said clip member including a first portion operatively coupled to said anchor and a second portion operatively coupled to said reinforcing wire.

13. The concrete structure of claim 12, further comprising a cover member releasably secured to said first end of said anchor and covering at least a portion of said first end when secured thereto.

14. The concrete structure of claim 12, wherein each said clip member comprises:

a body;

a first clasp positioned on said body and sized to operatively engage a first one of said reinforcing wires; and

a second clasp positioned on said body and sized to operatively engage a second one of said reinforcing wires, said second clasp spaced from said first clap a distance corresponding to the spacing of said reinforcing wires.

15. The concrete structure of claim 14, wherein said clip member is formed from a metal rod bent into the appropriate shape.

16. The concrete structure of claim 12, wherein said clip member is removably secured to said anchor.

17. The concrete structure of claim 12, wherein said clip member is welded to said anchor.

18. The concrete structure of claim 12, wherein said clip member further comprises a receiving member positioned on said body and includes opposing surfaces adapted to receive a portion of said anchor.

19. The concrete structure of claim 18, wherein said receiving member is adjustably coupled to said anchor for selective positioning of said clip member relative to said first end of said anchor.

20. The concrete structure of claim 12, wherein said anchor has an apex at said first end and first and second legs extending downwardly on opposing sides of said apex to said second end.

21. A method of forming a concrete structure in a mold, comprising:

securing at least one anchor to at least one reinforcing wire with at least one clip member;

positioning a removable cover over a first end of the anchor, the removable cover defining a recess to be formed in an outer surface of the formed concrete structure;

positioning the reinforcing wire in the mold; and

supplying concrete to the mold to form the concrete structure.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

separating the formed concrete structure from the mold; and

removing the removable cover to expose the recess in the outer surface of the formed concrete structure, the recess having the first end of the anchor positioned therein to facilitate lifting the concrete structure.