Bracket

Abstract

A rebar protection strip cover bracket 1, the bracket comprises an aperture (2 figure 1) for housing a portion of A rebar protection strip 3 and a support surface (5 figure 1) for supporting a cover (

Description

The present invention relates to a bracket. In particular the present invention relates to a rebar protection strip cover bracket. 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 or compression. However, whilst construction is ongoing the free ends of rebar and dowel bars are often exposed, posing a significant health and safety risk. A variety of prior art solutions to this problem already exist. For example, GB2535885 discloses a protective cap that is attachable to an end of a rebar rod, the cap being capable of supporting a cover for adjacent rebar rods. US5826398 and US6073415 disclose similar arrangements. Rebar protection strips, of the sort illustrated in US6199333, are strips, typically of a plastic material such as extruded polypropylene. An elongate rebar protection strip is configured to house and thereby cover a plurality of ends of rebar rods. The present invention seeks to improve upon the prior art. According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a rebar protection strip cover bracket, the bracket comprising: an aperture for housing a portion of rebar protection strip; a support surface for supporting a cover over the rebar protection strip. In some embodiments the upper support surface is substantially planar. In some embodiments the bracket comprises a first sidewall extending upwardly at a first edge of the support surface. In some embodiments the bracket comprises a second sidewall extending upwardly at a second edge of the support surface. In some embodiments at least one sidewall comprises a hole for a fixing to extend therethrough. In some embodiments the aperture passes through a collar extending from a side of the bracket. In some embodiments the support surface has a width between first and second edges of at least 5cm, or of at least 7cm, or of at least 8cm, or of at least 9cm, or of at least 10cm. In some embodiments the bracket comprises an upper member that extends over support surface. According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a system for covering a plurality of ends of rebar rods comprising: i) a plurality of brackets made in accordance with any preceding statement of invention; ii) at least one length of rebar protection strip; iii) an elongate cover. Preferably the aperture is sized such that a portion of rebar protection strip is snugly housed in the aperture. Preferably the aperture and rebar protection strip are shaped such that when the bracket is in use and the bracket is prevented from rotating around the rebar protection strip. In some embodiments an elongate cover comprises wood, metal, plastic, a composite material, or any combination of the aforementioned. According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of attaching a cover to a rebar protection strip, the method comprising the steps of: i) attaching a plurality of brackets made in accordance with any preceding statement of invention to a rebar protection strip by a housing portion of rebar protection strip in an aperture of each bracket; ii) supporting a cover on the support surfaces of the brackets. In some embodiments the method comprises the further step of: iii) attaching the cover to the support brackets by locating fixings through holes in sidewalls of the bracket. 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: Figure 1 is a first perspective view of a first embodiment bracket made in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a second perspective view of the bracket of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a first side view of the bracket of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a plan view of the bracket of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a second side view of the bracket of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a perspective view of three brackets attached to a length of rebar protection strip, the brackets being at a first spacing from each other; Figure 7 is a perspective view of two brackets attached to a length of rebar protection strip, the brackets being at a second spacing from each other; Figure 8 is a perspective view of the brackets of Figure 6 supporting a portion of cover; Figure 9 is a cross-section through a bracket of Figure 7; Figure 10 is a perspective view of a length of rebar protection strip; Figure 11 is a cross-section through the rebar protection strip of Figure 9; and Figure 12 is a side view of a bracket made in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. A bracket 1 is formed in one piece. In the present instance bracket 1 is formed of polypropylene but any other suitable material may of course be used. Bracket 1 has a main aperture 2 for attaching bracket 1 to a length of rebar protection strip 3 by threading such strip through aperture 2. Aperture 2 is sized and shaped so as to substantially snugly accommodate a particular size and shape of rebar protection strip 3. The cross-circular shape of rebar protection strip is not substantially circular, and thus bracket 2 is not able to rotate around rebar protection strip 3 when attached thereto. Instead, owing to the cross-sectional shape of rebar protection strip 3 and aperture 2, bracket 1 is maintained in a substantially fixed orientation relative to rebar protection strip 3. Aperture extends through collar 4 that is located at a side of bracket 1. Collar 1 extends the length of aperture 2 and thereby assists to prevent any torsional movement of bracket 1 relative to rebar protection strip 3. Bracket 1 comprises a support surface 5 that is configured to support a cover 6 when bracket 1 is in use. When bracket 1 is in use support surface 5 is located vertically above aperture 2 and rebar protection strip 3. At a first side of support surface 5 is located first sidewall 7a, and at a second side of support surface 5 is located second sidewall 7b. Sidewalls 7a, 7b prevent the lateral displacement of a cover 6 that is supported upon support surface 4. In the present embodiment the width of support surface 5 (i.e. the distance between first and second side walls 7a, 7b is approximately 10.2cm (roughly 4 inches). Thus, support surface 5 substantially snugly accommodates a plank of wood having a width of 4 inches. First sidewall 7a comprises first fixing hole 8a that extends from an opening at a first side face of bracket 1 to opening at above the first side of support surface 5. Second sidewall 7b comprises second fixing hole 8b that extends from an opening at a second side face of bracket 1 to an opening above the second side of support surface 5. Fixing holes 8a, 8b each comprise a widened recess portion 8a', 8b' to accommodate a screwhead at the side faces of bracket 1. Turning to Figures 6 to 11, and bracket 1 in use, bracket 1 is configured to be attached to rebar protection strip 3 by inserting rebar protection strip 3 through aperture 2 of bracket 1 such that bracket 1 is slidably mounted on rebar protection strip 3. Rebar protection strip 3 is configured to house a plurality of ends of rebar rods 11 in an internal chamber 9 by means of the ends of the rods 11 being inserted into an elongate aperture 10 in an underside of rebar protection strip 3. When rebar protection strip 3 is in place on a plurality of rebar rods 11, a plurality of brackets 1 that are retained on the rebar protection strip may be employed to support a rigid elongate cover 6 above the rebar rods 11. As illustrated by Figures 6 and 7, as brackets 1 are slidably mounted on rebar protection strip 3 they may be positioned at any desired spacing along rebar protection strip 3 instead of having to position support brackets precisely where rebar rods are located as with prior art bracket systems. As illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 a cover 6, in the present embodiment in the form of a plank of wood, may be supported by support surface 5 of bracket 1. Screws (not shown) inserted through holes 8a, 8b may then be used to secure cover 6 to brackets 1. Thus, elongate cover 6 provide protection against injury from any rebar rods 11 located between adjacent brackets 1. Such protection is in addition to the protection provided by rebar protection strip 3. Figure 12 illustrates a second embodiment of a bracket 12 made in accordance with the present invention. In this embodiment the bracket comprises an upper member 13 that extends over support surface 14 between sidewalls 15a, 15b such that upper member 13, support surface 14 and sidewalls 15a, 15 define an aperture 16 for housing a cover (not shown) such as a plank of wood. In this arrangement a cover inserted through aperture 16 is restricted from being displaced from bracket 1 by upper member 13. 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. Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A rebar protection strip cover bracket, the bracket comprising: an aperture for housing a portion of rebar protection strip;a support surface for supporting a cover over the rebar protection strip.

2. The bracket of claim 1 wherein the upper support surface is substantially planar.

3. The bracket of claim 1 or 2 comprising a first sidewall extending upwardly at a firstedge of the support surface.

4. The bracket of claim 3 comprising a second sidewall extending upwardly at a second edge of the support surface.

5. The bracket of claim 3 or 4 wherein at least one sidewall comprises a hole for a fixing to extend therethrough.

6. The bracket of any preceding claim wherein the aperture passes through a collar extending from a side of the bracket.

7. The bracket of any preceding claim wherein the support surface has a widthbetween first and second edges of at least 5cm, or of at least 7cm, or of at least 8cm, or of at least 9cm, or of at least 10cm.

8. The bracket of any preceding claim comprising an upper member that extends over support surface.

9. A system for covering a plurality of ends of rebar rods comprising: a plurality of brackets made in accordance with any preceding claim; at least one length of rebar protection strip;an elongate cover.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the aperture is sized such that a portion of rebar protection strip is snugly housed in the aperture.

11. The system of claim 9 or 10 wherein the aperture and rebar protection strip are shaped such that when the bracket is in use and the bracket is prevented from rotating around the rebar protection strip.

12. The system of any of claims 9 to 11 wherein a cover comprises wood, metal, plastic, a composite material, or any combination of the aforementioned.

13. A method of attaching a cover to a rebar protection strip, the method comprising the steps of:i) attaching a plurality of brackets made in accordance with any of claims 1 to 8 to a rebar protection strip by a housing portion of rebar protection strip in an aperture of each bracket;ii) supporting a cover on the support surfaces of the brackets.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the further step of:iii) attaching the cover to the support brackets by locating fixings through holes in sidewalls of the bracket.

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