Rebar positioner for masonry construction

Abstract

A rebar positioner for positioning rebar in concrete masonry units has a spine having a midsection, a first end, and a second end. The first end may be partially offset to form a first rest and the second end may be partially offset to form a second rest. The positioner includes a ring, which may be bifurcatingly attached to the spine. The positioner also includes a crossbar attached to the spine.

Description

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 708,650, filed Aug., 16, 2005.BACKGROUND INFORMATION [0002] In masonry construction, particularly for the construction of retail buildings, such as big box retailers or drug stores, sidewalls are typically made of stacked concrete masonry units (CMUs), commonly called cinder blocks. CMUs are generally rectangular, right parallelepipeds having peripheral sidewalls and a central core. Typically the central core includes two channels extending between the two longer edges of the parallelepiped and separated a medial wall. During construction, CMUs are stacked by offsetting the CMUs of odd and even courses so the various channels of the CMUs align vertically. For example, the left channel of a CMU in one course is positioned over the right channel of a CMU in the course above or below. Such staggering, while increasing stability, also creates relatively continuous vertical channels extending from course to...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] The positioner also comprises a crossbar attached to the spine near the spine midsection. The crossbar has a crossbar midsection, a first crossbar end, and a second crossbar end. The crossbar is preferably substantially perpendicular to the spine. In preferred embodiments, the crossbar is also in contact with the ring to increase the strength of attachment, yet embodiments that do not utilize such ring contact are still within the scope of the present invention. Still, in other embodiments, the crossbar may be attached to the spine through the ring, rather than attached directly to the spine, such as, for example, the cross bar contacts the spine without attachment to the spine. In those embodiments where the spine midsection is downwardly positioned in the channel of the CMU, the crossbar, because it is attached near the midsection of the spine, is also downwardly positioned in the channel. The crossbar provides widthwise stability, preferably, by contacting interior walls of the channel. Still in other embodiments, the crossbar may provide widthwise stability by contacting other portions of the CMU, or other portions of the CMU in combination with the interior walls.

Problems solved by technology

Using traditional positioners however, such as, for example, the positioner shown in FIG. 1, creates numerous problems.

But, because positioner 12 is itself prone to excessive movement relative to block 10, requisite rebar positioning can be difficult.

This adds to positioner instability, because such vibration further results in the movement of the rebar positioners.

In addition to the general positioning problems that can occur as positioners move generally, another specific problem arises when positioners move widthwise or irregularly.

When positioners move widthwise or irregularly they have an increased tendency to punch out mortar on either the exterior or interior portion of the wall.

Such problems require extensive and costly repair.

While positioner systems such as positioner 22 are desirable for their ability to provide some increased stability, they still leave several problems unaddressed.

For example, while bent arms 26 reduce lengthwise movement, they do not always prevent widthwise movement.

Again, such widthwise instability, in addition to contributing to general positioning problems also increases the tendency for mortar punch-out.

Such positioners are also problematic because square 30 typically allows for too much rebar movement, resulting in further positioning inaccuracies.

Even further still, positioners such as positioners similar to positioner 22 do not provide two separate positioner portions for rebar overlapping, which can create additional alignment problems.

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