Protective cap adaptable to protruding rods waiting on construction sites

Abstract

This protective cap 101, intended to cover the ends of protruding rods in alignment, such as metal bars protruding from reinforced concrete structural elements, consists of an envelope profile comprising flanges 102 connected to a base 103 and equipped with retention means on the ends of the protruding rods. It is characterized in that each flange 102 is connected to the base 103 by a portion 107 inclined outwards, the interior zones 113, substantially V-shaped, of the two portions 107 constituting a stop region for the protruding rods as well as shock-absorbing areas, each inclined portion 107 extending, opposite said base 103, into a portion 108-109 comprising a retention zone 116 for the rods by pinching them in cooperation with the same zone of the opposite flange.

Description

PROTECTIVE CAP ADAPTABLE TO PROJECTING STEMS IN WAITING ON THE CONSTRUCTION SITES The main patent application relates to a protective cap intended to cover the end of a protruding rod, such as a metal bar protruding from reinforced concrete structural elements. This cap comprises a skirt connected to a base and internally equipped with means for retaining the cap on the end of the protruding rod. The cap is characterized in that the skirt connects to the base via a portion internally defining a substantially frustoconical wall opening towards the free end of the skirt and constituting a buffer zone for the protruding rod and providing shock absorption. The skirt extends, opposite the base, into a portion comprising a retaining zone for the rod by pinching it. This cap provides safe and acceptable protection against the risk of accidents caused by protruding steel bars in reinforced concrete structures. Its advantages include adaptability to protruding bars or rods of varying diameters, multiple reusability, and simple, low-cost manufacturing. The original characteristics of this headgear are that its truncated conical part which is connected to its head provides the damping in itself, and that the pinching is carried out at two points, namely at the level of the upper truncated conical part, by circular support forming a stop, and, at the lower part, by the pinching zone itself. The Applicant has now conceived of adapting the characteristics of this cap to a profile-envelope designed to cover a row of protruding rods. Indeed, it frequently happens, particularly on large construction sites, that the reinforcing bars protruding from reinforced concrete structural elements are aligned, and in such cases, applying a profile-envelope simultaneously to several aligned reinforcing bars or rods requires less time than applying individual caps. This supplementary certificate relates to such a profile-envelope cap which, thanks to the same functional characteristics of the cap conforming to the main patent application, allows for the preservation of all the advantages of protection offered by individual caps. French patent application no. 2,541,752 describes a protective device for exposed metal starter bars in reinforced concrete structural elements. This device consists of an omega-shaped profile designed to cover a line of starter bars. A metal profile is inserted into this profile to cover the ends of the metal starter bars in the alignment, providing internal reinforcement. The profile is held in place by brackets positioned at appropriate locations and secured at their base with screw-nut systems. The installation of this system is tedious and complicated. The present invention offers a significant simplification compared to such a system by proposing a one-piece device instead. Application for a Certificate of Addition No. 2,552,526 to the French patent application also describes a self-locking skirt-shaped profile designed to cover a row of primers. This device consists of an omega-shaped profile element with internal reinforcement at the top. The skirt-like flanges of the profile have extensions at their base that flare outwards. Such a device only provides a clamping action for protruding rods; it does not provide a stop function for protruding rods, nor shock absorption, as is the case with the present invention. The present invention therefore relates to a protective cap intended to cover the ends of protruding rods in alignment, such as metal bars protruding in reinforced concrete construction elements, this cap being made up of an envelope profile comprising wings connected to a base and being equipped with means for retaining the ends of the protruding rods, characterized in that each wing is connected to the base by a part inclined outwards, the interior areas substantially in the shape of a V of these two inclined parts constituting a stop region for the protruding rods and a damping region in case of impact, each inclined part extending, on the opposite side of said base, by a part comprising a retaining zone by pinching the rods by cooperation with the same zone of the opposite wing. In a particular embodiment, the part of a wing comprising the pinch zone is constituted by an inwardly inclined band, which is connected to the part of the wing defining the damping zone, and which terminates in an outwardly inclined band again, the intermediate zone between these two bands defining the pinch zone. Furthermore, the base of the protective cap of the invention is preferably thickened to help absorb energy in the event of an impact, and, moreover, it can advantageously serve as a gripping head for said cap. In addition, this base may have longitudinal grooves in its longitudinal lateral walls, which allows for material savings during molding without compromising the desired functions of the cap. To better illustrate the purpose of this certificate of addition, we will now describe, by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, a method of embodiment represented on the attached drawing, which shows, in perspective, the cap intended to be applied to an alignment of starters. This 101 cap, shaped like an envelope profile, is made in one piece by molding, for example by injection, from an impact-resistant plastic material, such as high-density polyethylene. Its length can be varied according to the approximate number of aligned rebars that one wishes to be able to cover simultaneously with this 101 cap. The cap 101 has a plane of symmetry perpendicular to the average longitudinal line of the base 103 and is composed of two opposing wings 102, connected to a thick base 103, which acts as a gripping head for the cap 101 during its installation. The base 103 is delimited by two opposing longitudinal lateral walls 104 and a slightly convex upper wall 105. Each wing 102 connects to its associated longitudinal lateral wall 104 via a rounded wall 1C6, with a profile that is essentially an arc of a circle and its concavity facing outwards. Reinforcements are thus formed in these areas to contribute to the stability of the cap 101 in the event of an impact. In parts 104, longitudinal grooves 104a have been made. These grooves 104a are optional; they simply allow for material savings in molding, without interfering with the protective and gripping head functions of the base 103. The wings 102 have a substantially constant thickness, except in the junction zone with the wall zones 106 where they gradually thicken from the outer surface. Each wing 102 has a connecting portion 107 with the base 103, inclined outwards. This connecting portion 107 extends into a band 108 inclined in the opposite direction, i.e., inwards, and terminates in a shorter band 109, again inclined outwards. The connecting portions 116 between the bands 108 and 109 are formed by thin bands parallel to the plane of symmetry of the fairing 101. The internal surfaces 113 of the parts 107, which form a V-shaped profile and which meet along a line 112 belonging to the bottom 103, form a stop zone for the ends of irons or primers from which one wants to protect oneself, as well as for cushioning in case of impact. The two connecting parts 116 internally form the pinching zone of the succession of waiting irons that we want to cover with the cap 101. The fitting of the cap 101 onto the ends of the waiting irons is carried out in a very simple manner, the shape of the head 103, without sharp angles, facilitating the gripping of the cap 101. This is presented on the end of the waiting irons by the entry strips 109 which open by spreading apart slightly. The ends of the primers come, when the cap 101 is put in place, into contact with the surfaces 113 of the parts 107. The position of these primers with respect to the cap 101 is analogous to that shown in Figure 4 of the main patent application. Furthermore, in the event of an impact, for example, if a person falls onto the ends of primers fitted with the protective cap 101, the resulting impact causes the cap 101 to be further compressed onto the primer ends, the corresponding position of which is analogous to that shown in dashed lines in Figure 4 of the main patent application. The energy generated by the impact is therefore absorbed by the damping zones 113. The primer ends thus do not penetrate the cap 101, which then fully performs its protective function. It is understood that the above-described embodiment is in no way limiting and may be modified without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

DEMANDS 1 - Protective cap intended to cover the ends of protruding rods in alignment, such as metal bars protruding from reinforced concrete structural elements, this cap (101) being constituted by an envelope profile comprising flanges (102) connected to a base (103) and being equipped with retention means on the ends of the protruding rods, characterized in that each flange (102) is connected to the base (103) by a portion (107) inclined outwards, the substantially V-shaped internal zones (113) of the two portions (107) constituting a stop region for the protruding rods as well as shock-absorbing areas, each inclined portion (107) extending, opposite said base (103), by a portion (108-109) comprising a retention zone (116) for pinching the rods in cooperation with the same zone of the opposite wing. 2 - Protective cover according to claim 1, characterized in that the part (108-109) of a wing (102) comprising the pinch zone (116) is constituted by a band (108) inclined inwards, which is connected to the part (107) of the wing (102) defining the damping zone, and which terminates in a band (109) inclined outwards, the intermediate zone (115) between these two bands defining the pinch zone. 3 - Protective cap according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said base (103) is thickened. 4 - Protective cap according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said base (103) constitutes a gripping head of said cap (101). 5 - Protective cap according to one of claims 3 and 4, characterized by the fact that the base (103) has longitudinal grooves (104a).