Protective covers

Abstract

A construction-related rod free end cover comprises an elongate main body having at least one elongate chamber accessible by at least one elongate opening. The at least one opening extends longitudinally along the cover. The at least one chamber is configured to house a plurality of spaced-apart free ends of construction-related rods. At least part of the at least one chamber is configured to deform to releasably attach the cover to the free end of the construction-related rods.

Description

[0001] Protective Covers

[0002] The present invention relates to a protective cover. In particular the present invention relates to protective covers for the free ends of construction-related rods including bolts and rebar.

[0003] Rebar (short for reinforcing bar) is a steel bar or mesh of steel wires used as a tension device in reinforced concrete and reinforced masonry structures to strengthen concrete under tension.

[0004] However, whilst construction is ongoing the free ends of rebar are often exposed, posing a significant health and safety risk.

[0005] The present invention seeks to address this issue.

[0006] According to the present invention there is provided a construction-related rod free end cover comprising an elongate main body having: at least one elongate chamber accessible by at least one elongate opening; wherein: the at least one opening extends longitudinally along the cover; the at least one chamber is configured to house a plurality of spaced-apart free ends of construction-related rods; at least part of the at least one chamber is configured to deform to releasably attach the cover to the free end of the construction-related rods.

[0007] Beneficially a cover made in accordance with the present invention that may rapidly be deployed to cover the free ends of plurality of rods simultaneously, saving time in comparison to covering the end of each rod individually. Advantageously a cover made in accordance with the present invention acts as a highly visible warning to passers-by of the presence of a row of rebar.

[0008] In some embodiments the at least one opening extends for at least 80% of the length of cover, or for at least 85% of the length of the cover, or for at least 90% of the length of the cover or for at least 95% of the length of the cover, or for at least 97.5% of the length of the cover. In some embodiments the cover is between 0.5 and 1.5m in length, or between 0.75 and 1.25m in length, or around lm in length.

[0009] In some embodiments a chamber is configured to elastically deform to provide an interference fit with a free end of a rod.

[0010] In some embodiments a chamber comprises at least one deformable member extending from a side wall of the chamber towards its centre.

[0011] Provision of at least one deformable member enables a cover to releasably grip a free end of a rod. Furthermore, by providing deformable members to releasably grip a free end of a rod, the cover may be employed with rods of slightly varying diameter.

[0012] In some embodiments a chamber comprises a plurality of deformable members extending from a side wall of the chamber towards its centre.

[0013] Provision of at least one or a plurality of elastically deformable members enables a cover to releasably grip a free end of a rod.

[0014] In some embodiments opposing side walls of a chamber each comprise at least one deformable member.

[0015] In some embodiments opposing side walls of a chamber each comprise a plurality of deformable members.

[0016] In some embodiments deformable members on opposing side walls are positioned facing each other.

[0017] In some embodiments a deformable member is an elongate fin that extends longitudinally along an inner wall of a chamber.

[0018] In some embodiments a deformable member extends from a side wall of a chamber at an angle away from the opening. In some embodiments a deformable member is angled away from the opening by between 10 degrees and 20 degrees, or between 20 degrees and 40 degrees, or between 25 degrees and 35 degrees, or at around 30 degrees.

[0019] In some embodiments opposing side walls of the chamber are angled towards each other such that the chamber narrows from adjacent its opening towards an opposing roof of the chamber.

[0020] In some embodiments the opening is defined by elongate deformable flaps that extend from opposing side walls of the chamber, such that the opening is narrower than the width of the chamber adjacent the opening.

[0021] In some embodiments the deformable flaps are substantially coplanar.

[0022] In some embodiments the deformable flaps are angled into the chamber by between 10 degrees and 20 degrees, or between 20 degrees and 40 degrees, or between 25 degrees and 35 degrees, or at around 30 degrees.

[0023] In some embodiments the deformable flaps curve into the chamber.

[0024] Preferably the cover is formed of a flexible material.

[0025] Beneficially forming the cover of a flexible material permits the cover to bend laterally so as to house free ends of rods that are out of line with other rods housed by the same cover.

[0026] In some embodiments the cover is formed of a deformable thermoplastic elastomer

[0027] In some embodiments the thermoplastic elastomer has a hardness on the Shore A scale of between 20 and 80, or of between 30 and 70, or of between 40 and 60, or of around 50.

[0028] By providing a cover formed of a deformable thermoplastic elastomer with a central chamber to house a free end of a rod the cover may releasably retain itself on a free end of a rod. Beneficially TPE can be cushioning and is recyclable.

[0029] In some embodiments the construction-related rods are rebar rods.

[0030] In order that the present invention may be more fully understood a specific embodiment will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, of which:

[0031] Figure 1 is a first perspective view of a cover made in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 2 is a second perspective view of the cover of Figure 1;

[0033] Figure 3 is a view of the base of the cover of Figure 1;

[0034] Figure 4 is a longitudinal cross-section of the cover of Figure 1;

[0035] Figure 5 is a transverse cross-section of the cover of Figure 1;

[0036] Figure 6 is a first perspective view of the cover of Figure 1 housing a plurality of spaced-apart free ends of rebar rods;

[0037] Figure 7 is a second perspective view of the cover of Figure 6;

[0038] Figure 8 is a view of the base of the cover of Figure 6 illustrating how the rebar rods interact with the elongate opening of the cover;

[0039] Figure 9 is a longitudinal cross-section of the cover of Figure 6;

[0040] Figure 10 is a transverse cross-section of a cover made in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; and

[0041] Figure 11 is a transverse cross-section of a cover made in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] Referring to the drawings, a cover 1 comprises an elongate main body 2 that is formed of a resiliently flexible thermoplastic elastomer having a hardness of around 50 on the Shore A scale.

[0043] Main body 2 has a base 3a, a domed top 3b, first and second sides 3c, 3d and first and second ends 3e, 3f. Main body 2 is in the form of a substantially elongate bar, with its base 3a being 4cm in width between first and second sides 3c, 3d, its height being 4.5cm between base 3a and the apex of domed top 3b, and its length being lm between first and second ends 3e, 3f.

[0044] Extending around 95% of the length of main body 2 and formed in base 3a is elongate opening 4, leading to elongate chamber 5 formed within main body 2.

[0045] Chamber 5 has first and second side walls 5a, 5b and a roof 5c. End walls of chamber 5 are formed adjacent to first and second ends 3e, 3f of main body 2.

[0046] Side walls 5a, 5b of chamber 5 are angled towards each other such that chamber 5 narrows from adjacent opening 4 towards roof 5c of chamber 5.

[0047] Opening 4 is defined by first and second deformable flaps 6a, 6b that are coplanar and extend away from side walls 5a, 5b towards each other at the bottom of first and second side walls 5a, 5b. First and second deformable flaps 6a, 6b extend the longitudinal length of opening 4.

[0048] First and second deformable flaps in part define base 3a of main body 2.

[0049] Formed on first side wall 5a of chamber 5 are deformable fins 8a, 8b, 8c. Fins 8a, 8b, 8c are spaced apart from each other, with fin 8a being nearest to deformable flap 6a, fin 8c being nearest to chamber roof 5c and fin 8b being between fins 8a and 8c. Fins 8a, 8b, 8c each extend the longitudinal length of chamber 5.

[0050] Each of fins 8a, 8b, 8c is angled away from the plane of base 3a, and thus the plane of opening 4 by 31 degrees, such that fins 8a, 8b, 8c point slightly in the direction of roof 5c of chamber 5.

[0051] Formed on second side wall 5b of chamber 5 are deformable fins 9a, 9b, 9c. Fins 9a, 9b, 9c are spaced apart from each other, with fin 9a being nearest to deformable flap 6a, fin 9c being nearest to chamber roof 5c and fin 9b being between fins 9a and 9c. Fins 9a, 9b, 9c each extend the longitudinal length of chamber 5. Each of fins 9a, 9b, 9c is angled away base 3a, and thus the plane of opening 4 by 31 degrees, such that fins 9a, 9b, 9c point slightly in the direction of roof 5c of chamber 5.

[0052] Fin 8a is positioned directly opposite fin 9a, fin 8b is positioned directly opposite to fin 9b and fin 8c is positioned directly opposite fin 9c such that three pairs of opposing fins are formed on side walls 5a and 5b of chamber 5.

[0053] Turning to Figures 6 to 9 and cover 1 in use, a row of rods of rebar 10 that is set in concrete (not shown) in rows may be rapidly made safe by positioning cover 1 on the rebar. A user may simply insert the free ends of the rebar (10) through opening 4 on base 3a of main body 2 and push cover 1 until the free ends of rebar 10 reach roof 5c of chamber 5.

[0054] Pair of deformable flaps 6a and 6b and pairs of deformable fins 8a & 9a, 8b & 9b, 8c & 9c all grip rebar 10 so as to hold cover 1 in position.

[0055] When cover 1 is no longer needed a user may remove it from rebar 10 by exerting sufficient force to overcome the grip of pair of deformable flaps 6a and 6b and pairs of deformable fins 8a & 9a, 8b & 9b, 8c & 9c.

[0056] Although in the present embodiment the cover comprises three pairs of deformable fins 8a & 9a, 8b & 9b, 8c & 9c in other embodiments other number of finds may be provided. For example, some embodiments may comprise two pairs of fins, or may comprise four pairs of finds, or may comprise five pairs of fins, or may comprise more than five pairs of fins.

[0057] Although in the present embodiment deformable flaps 6a, 6b are substantially coplanar, in other embodiments alternative arrangements may be provided, and such flaps may be formed in a variety of shapes.

[0058] For example, Figure 10 illustrates an embodiment of a cover 11 where deformable flaps 12a and 12b are angled in the same manner as deformable fins 13a, 13b, 13c and 14a, 14b, 14c, being set at an angle of 31 degrees to the plane of the base of cover 11.

[0059] Figure 11 illustrates a further embodiment of a cover 15 where deformable flaps 16a, 16bb are curved in shape and curve into chamber 17. Whilst in the present embodiment the cover comprises a single elongate opening and a single elongate chamber in other embodiments a cover may comprise a plurality of elongate openings and a plurality of associated elongate chambers, or a single chamber may be accessed by a plurality of elongate openings. However, such embodiments would not be preferred as the gaps between openings may restrict the versatility of the cover in its use with differently spaced rebar.

[0060] Whilst in the present embodiment a thermoplastic elastomer with a hardness of around 50 on the Shore A scale is employed in other embodiments any suitable material may be employed. It is preferable that any material is UV stable and resistant to temperature fluctuations of at least -10 to +40 degrees Celsius.

[0061] Whilst in the present embodiment a cover made of particular dimensions is described any suitable dimensions may of course be used, for example to accommodate different diameters of rebar.

[0062] In some embodiments the thermoplastic elastomer used may be biodegradable.

[0063] In this specification an apparatus / method / product "comprising" certain features is intended to be interpreted as meaning that it includes those features, but that it does not exclude the presence of other features.

[0064] Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

Claims:

1. A construction-related rod free end cover comprising an elongate main body having: at least one elongate chamber accessible by at least one elongate opening; wherein: the at least one opening extends longitudinally along the cover; the at least one chamber is configured to house a plurality of spaced-apart free ends of construction-related rods; at least part of the at least one chamber is configured to deform to releasably attach the cover to the free end of the construction-related rods.

2. The cover of claim 1 wherein the at least one opening extends for at least 80% of the length of cover, or for at least 85% of the length of the cover, or for at least 90% of the length of the cover or for at least 95% of the length of the cover, or for at least 97.5% of the length of the cover.

3. The cover of claim 1 or 2 wherein the cover is between 0.5 and 1.5m in length, or between 0.75 and 1.25m in length, or around lm in length.

4. The cover of any preceding claim wherein a chamber is configured to elastically deform to provide an interference fit with a free end of a rod.

5. The cover of any preceding claim wherein a chamber comprises at least one deformable member extending from a side wall of the chamber towards its centre.

6. The cover of any preceding claim wherein a chamber comprises a plurality of deformable members extending from a side wall of the chamber towards its centre.

7. The cover of any preceding claim wherein opposing side walls of a chamber each comprise at least one deformable member.

8. The cover of any preceding claim wherein opposing side walls of a chamber each comprise a plurality of deformable members.

9. The cover of claim 7 or 8 wherein deformable members on opposing side walls are positioned facing each other.

10. The cover of any of claims 5 to 9 wherein a deformable member is an elongate fin that extends longitudinally along an inner wall of a chamber.

11. The cover of any of claims 5 to 10 wherein a deformable member extends from a side wall of a chamber at an angle away from the opening.

12. The cover of claim 11 wherein a deformable member is angled away from the opening by between 10 degrees and 20 degrees, or between 20 degrees and 40 degrees, or between 25 degrees and 35 degrees, or at around 30 degrees.

13. The cover of any preceding claim wherein opposing side walls of the chamber are angled towards each other such that the chamber narrows from adjacent its opening towards an opposing roof of the chamber.

14. The cover of any preceding claim wherein the opening is defined by elongate deformable flaps that extend from opposing side walls of the chamber, such that the opening is narrower than the width of the chamber adjacent the opening.

15. The cover of claim 14 wherein the deformable flaps are substantially coplanar.

16. The cover of claim 14 wherein the deformable flaps are angled into the chamber by between 10 degrees and 20 degrees, or between 20 degrees and 40 degrees, or between 25 degrees and 35 degrees, or at around 30 degrees.

17. The cover of claim 14 wherein the deformable flaps curve into the chamber.

18. The cover of any preceding claim wherein the cover is formed of a flexible material.

19. The cover of any preceding claim wherein of a deformable thermoplastic elastomer20. The cover of claim 19 wherein the thermoplastic elastomer has a hardness on the Shore A scale of between 20 and 80, or of between 30 and 70, or of between 40 and 60, or of around 50.

21. In some embodiments the construction-related rods are rebar rods.

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