Rebar placement device and method

Abstract

An apparatus for holding a rebar rod and a method for installing the same, the apparatus comprising an elongated member and a plurality of fasteners evenly spaced apart from one another and disposed on the elongated member, each of the plurality of fasteners adapted to receive and hold a portion of the rebar rod.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to construction, and more particularly to an apparatus for installing rebar rods prior to cement injection. [Background technology]

[0002] Rebar (short for reinforcing bar), collectively known as reinforcing steel or reinforcement steel, is a steel bar or mesh of steel wire used as a tensioning device in reinforced concrete and reinforced concrete masonry structures to strengthen and aid concrete under tension. Concrete is strong in compression but has poor tensile strength. Rebar greatly increases the tensile strength of a structure. Rebar surfaces are often "deformed" with ribs, lugs, or indentations to improve adhesion to the concrete and reduce the risk of slipping.

[0003] The rebar framework (referred to herein as a "mesh" configuration made from longitudinal and transverse rods) is assembled either on-site or off-site at the project. The rebar is placed by rebar "rodbusters" or concrete reinforcement ironworkers, with bar supports and concrete or plastic rebar spacers spacing the rebar from the concrete forms to build the concrete cover and ensure proper embedment is achieved. The rebar within the framework is connected by spot welding, steel wire ties, sometimes using an electric rebar tie machine, or mechanical connections. Epoxy-coated or galvanized wire is typically used for tying epoxy-coated or galvanized rebar, respectively.

[0004] Spot welding generally works for small diameter rebar. Larger diameter rods are generally strapped with steel wire. Electric rebar strapping equipment is less common and almost non-existent in third world countries. Rebar strapping is one of the most labor and time intensive activities on any given job site.

[0005] Shells prepared off-site present numerous additional challenges, both in transporting the unwieldy shells and in transferring the shells from the truck to the correct location at the building site. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention solves many of the problems associated with rebar framing. It allows the transportation of rebar (hereinafter referred to as "rebar rods") in long bundles, solving the problem of wide framing. With the present invention, the rods are installed at the desired location and in the desired configuration on site. This solves many of the problems associated with transporting rebar mesh on site. Furthermore, the bundling of rebar is completely made obsolete by the present method and apparatus, replacing this tedious activity with a respective fast and efficient method for the installation of rebar mesh.

[0007] According to the present invention, a method for installing a rebar mesh includes providing at least two longitudinal rebar holders and at least two transverse rebar holders, each of the at least two longitudinal rebar holders and the at least two transverse rebar holders comprising an elongated member having a receiving surface and a plurality of fasteners spaced (e.g., at regular intervals) and attached to the receiving surface; positioning the at least two longitudinal rebar holders parallel to and spaced apart from each other on a support surface such that at least a portion of the plurality of fasteners of each of the at least two longitudinal rebar holders are aligned; providing a plurality of longitudinal rebar rods, inserting a portion of the longitudinal rebar rods into the aligned fasteners of the at least two longitudinal rebar holders, and fastening the at least two longitudinal rebar rods to the at least two transverse rebar holders. the at least two transverse rebar holders are positioned parallel to and spaced apart from one another (e.g., on a support surface) such that at least a portion of the fasteners of each of the at least two transverse rebar holders are aligned, the at least two transverse rebar holders protruding / extending from the support surface at least one fastener higher than the at least two longitudinal rebar holders; and providing a plurality of transverse rebar rods and inserting the transverse rebar rods into the aligned fasteners of the at least two transverse rebar holders such that the longitudinal rebar rods are disposed between a transverse bar and the support surface.

[0008] According to a further feature, the transverse rebar holders are positioned on the longitudinal holders (e.g., by docking pins that engage docking openings in the longitudinal elongated members). According to yet a further feature, the method further includes providing at least two double-sided holders, attaching the at least two double-sided holders to at least two of the transverse rebar rods, and inserting a second layer of the longitudinal rebar rods into the at least two double-sided holders.

[0009] According to further features, each of the double-sided holders comprises at least one elongate member, a plurality of receiving fasteners adapted to receive the second layer of the longitudinal rebar rods, and a plurality of support fasteners adapted to attach the double-sided holder to one of the transverse rebar rods, the at least one elongate member, the plurality of receiving fasteners, and the plurality of support fasteners being coupled together.

[0010] According to a further feature, each of the double-sided holders comprises a double-sided elongate member having a plurality of receiving catches on a first side thereof and a plurality of support catches on a second side thereof.

[0011] According to still further features, each of the at least two longitudinal rebar holders has a transverse axis X perpendicular to a parallel axis Z of the longitudinal rebar rod inserted into the aligned fasteners. According to still further features, the method further includes installing at least one diagonal holder at a 45 degree angle to both the at least two longitudinal holders and the at least two transverse holders, and joining the at least two longitudinal holders and the at least two transverse holders at their overlapping junctures with fasteners attached to the at least one diagonal holder.

[0012] According to yet further features, the receiving fastener is oriented in a first direction perpendicular to a second direction in which the support fastener is oriented.

[0013] According to another embodiment, an apparatus for securely holding a rebar rod is provided that includes an elongate member and a plurality of fasteners evenly spaced apart from one another and disposed on the elongate member, each of the plurality of fasteners adapted to receive and hold a portion of the rebar rod.

[0014] According to a further feature, the elongate member has a receiving surface (surface) and a base / support surface (surface), the fasteners being provided on the receiving surface, and the support surface being provided on a plane adapted to be parallel to a support surface (deck).

[0015] According to yet a further feature, the apparatus further comprises at least one support member disposed on the support surface, wherein the at least one support member is selected from the group including a pair of legs, a stand, an adhesive layer, a post, a bi-prod, a tri-prod, and a bolster.

[0016] According to yet a further feature, the elongate member is adapted to be attached to the support surface via a coupling member selected from the group including fasteners, screws, bolts, nails, staples, and spikes attached to or preformed on the base surface of the elongate member.

[0017] According to yet a further feature, the elongate member has a male coupling member / portion at a first longitudinal end thereof and a corresponding female coupling member / portion at a second, opposite longitudinal end thereof.

[0018] According to yet a further feature, the fasteners are fixedly attached to or in intimate contact with the elongate member. According to yet a further feature, the fasteners have an inverted omega shape having an aperture adapted to receive a rebar rod, whereby prongs defining the aperture are adapted to elastically deform to allow the rebar rod to pass through the aperture. According to yet a further feature, the fasteners are made from a material selected from the group including metal, polymer, polystyrene, and plastic.

[0019] According to yet further features, each fastener of the plurality of fasteners is coupled to a second fastener adapted to receive a second rebar rod such that an axis A of the second rebar rod is perpendicular to an axis Z of the second rebar rod.

[0020] According to yet a further feature, the apparatus further comprises at least one support member disposed on a deck / support surface of the elongate member. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0021] Various embodiments are herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0022] [Figure 1A] FIG. 2 is a diagram of an example of a rebar holder. [Figure 1B] FIG. 2 is a diagram of an example of a rebar holder. [Figure 1C] FIG. 2 is a diagram of an example of a rebar holder. [Figure 1D] FIG. 2 is a diagram of an example of a rebar holder. [Diagram 2] This is a second configuration of the rebar holder. [Figure 3A] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a double-sided holder / spacer. [Figure 3B] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a double-sided holder / spacer. [Figure 4A] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an example of a partially formed mesh array of rebar holders and rods for a section of a construction project. [Figure 4B] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an example of a finished mesh arrangement of rebar holders and rods for a section of a construction project. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a method 500 for providing a rebar rod mesh according to some embodiments. [Figure 6] 1 is an exemplary embodiment of a diagonal holder. [Figure 7A] FIG. [Figure 7B] FIG. [Figure 8A]FIG. [Figure 8B] FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] The principles and operation of an apparatus method and system according to the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and accompanying descriptions.

[0024] overview Building structures such as walls, floors, roofs, columns, etc. are commonly made from cement reinforced with rebar rods. A common method for making a slab of cement, whether a wall, floor, column, etc., is to place numerous rebar rods parallel to one another at roughly regular intervals (e.g., lengthwise) and then place rebar rods across the width or crosswise to form a mesh. To keep the mesh structure rigid, a common method is to restrain the crisscrossing rods at the various intersections.

[0025] The present method and system eliminates the need to carefully place rods at measured intervals and tie off the rods at intersections by providing a number of special holders that can be arranged in such a way that the holders can securely hold the rods in a mesh arrangement, and with much less effort, time and manpower. The time and manpower savings cannot be overestimated. Additionally, there has been a great increase in the use of epoxy coated rebar, particularly in the United States, to prevent corrosion of the rebar and the resulting damage to the reinforced structure. However, these rebars can only be tied off with plastic coated wire to prevent damage to the coating. This must be done manually. The present method and apparatus are ideally suited to handle such rebar, particularly when plastic or plastic coated fasteners are used in the holders.

[0026] It is also worth noting that the present method and apparatus can save approximately 15% of the metal that would otherwise be used. There are many reasons for this, but one very practical reason is that off-site welded frameworks can only be as wide as they can be loaded onto a flatbed truck trailer. These dimensions are usually regulated by law (e.g., in some areas, the maximum width is 2.6 meters). As a result, the framework is often not wide enough for the project, so two or more frameworks must be installed side-by-side. However, since these are separate frameworks, they must be placed with an overlap or else the concrete will be vulnerable. In some cases, the overlap can be 50 cm, which is nothing but wasted metal due to frameworks being welded together in a factory, whereas much longer rebar is installed on-site, as supported by the present method and apparatus.

[0027] The device, i.e. rebar holder (hereinafter interchangeably referred to as "rebar spacer" or "longitudinal holder / spacer"), comprises elongated members each having a rebar fastener secured thereto. This can also be seen the other way around, i.e. multiple fasteners are connected by a common (elongated member). In some cases there may be more than one elongated member. The fasteners are configured to receive and hold a rebar rod. The rod can be held straight and parallel to a surface by two holders aligned parallel to each other (i.e. the holders are placed parallel to each other with the fasteners aligned). The rod is pressed into one holder and then into the other holder. For long rods it may be necessary to have more than two holders to ensure that the rod does not sag between the holders. More bars or rods are placed into other fasteners so that a number of rods are parallel to each other at a predefined (preferably constant) interval. The next step is to provide a similar array of holders (two or more) oriented at right angles. These holders (hereafter "lateral holders", "lateral spacers", and variations thereof) may be the same height away from the surface as the longitudinal holders, or slightly higher than the longitudinal holders. In an embodiment, the lateral holders have locking pins that slide into corresponding openings in the longitudinal holders. When the lateral holders are aligned and positioned, the rebar rods are placed laterally across the longitudinal rods. Now the rods form a mesh and cement can be poured.

[0028] If an area larger than the length of one holder is required in either direction, two or more holders can be arranged in sequence (i.e., side by side). In this way, the system of holders can be scaled to any size.

[0029] The same process can be repeated twice for the vertical structure. However, when working against gravity, the holder needs to be fixedly attached to the vertical deck. This can be done by any method known in the art.

[0030] In some cases, more than one layer of rebar mesh is needed. In these cases, a double-sided holder is used to create the second layer. The double-sided holder has fasteners on both sides. The fasteners can face the same direction or in opposite directions. The double-sided holder clicks onto the bottom layer of rebar rods for positioning, and the new layer of rebar rods is inserted into the still free fasteners. This is done both lengthwise and crosswise.

[0031] Various terms used in this specification have more than one meaning or use, generally and even in a particular technical field. Moreover, various terms are used in different regions to refer to certain components and / or processes, and in some cases, a single term is used in different regions to mean different things. Therefore, in the following, various terms are explained with reference to the accompanying drawings to provide an explanation of how the author intends the terms to be interpreted. Terms and phrases that are not specifically mentioned should be understood according to their general meaning in the technical field and / or based on the context and / or the accompanying drawings.

[0032] Rebar holder Figure 1A shows an example of a rebar holder 100. The rebar holder includes an elongated member 110 and a number of fasteners 150. Figure 1B is a perspective view 1-1 of the rebar holder 100.

[0033] Long parts As referred to herein, an elongate member is a length of plastic, metal, polymer, or any combination thereof on which a plurality of fasteners 150 are present. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1A, the elongate member 110 is rectangular in shape with a width at least as wide as the fastener members and a thickness (and material strength) sufficient to hold the weight of several rebar rods. In the depicted exemplary embodiment, the holder is configured to hold five rods. Rebar rods RR are shown in dashed lines for illustrative purposes only. The length of the elongate member can vary based on several factors. Some of the factors include, but are not limited to, the type of material the member is made from, the diameter of the rebar rods attached to the member, the desired spacing between parallel rods, and where / how the member is intended to be used.

[0034] The elongate member 110 has a receiving surface or surface 112 and a base surface or surface 114. The base surface is also referred to herein as the support surface (i.e. the surface that abuts against a support member or members or structures, such as a wall or floor). In some areas the support surface is referred to as a deck and thus the support surface may also be referred to as a deck surface. The support surface of the elongate member is provided on a plane P which, in use, is adapted to be parallel to the support surface (deck).

[0035] In some embodiments, the elongate member further comprises at least one support member disposed on the support surface. For example, the support member may be a pair of legs, or multiple pairs of legs (like a centipede), a stand, a post, a bolster, a bipod, a tripod, and / or an adhesive layer. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1A, the support member is multiple pairs of legs 130.

[0036] In some cases, it may be necessary to lift or support the members (and therefore the rebar rods) away from the surface / deck (see, e.g., FIGS. 8A-8B). One or more of the support members described above (or other support members not specifically disclosed herein but which will be known or devised by those of skill in the art in light of this disclosure) can provide that function.

[0037] In some instances, the elongated members need to be attached directly to a wall (or floor or other deck / surface). In some instances, an adhesive layer may serve to facilitate this function. In other instances, the elongated members may simply be attached to the supporting surface by any one of a number of methods. For example, the elongated members may be attached to the deck / supporting surface by fasteners, screws, bolts, nails, protruding rebar / wire, and / or staples.

[0038] In some cases, one or more intermediate pieces, such as one or more plastic or shaped metal rods, may be placed between the elongated members and the deck. The elongated members may, for example, be bonded to the intermediate piece and then nailed or otherwise secured to the wall / deck.

[0039] In some embodiments, spikes may be attached or pre-formed into the base / deck / support surface of the elongate member that facilitate fastening of the elongate member to the support surface without the need for additional fasteners (or in addition to other fasteners).

[0040] FIG. 2 depicts another configuration of a rebar holder. The rebar holder / spacer 200 has all the features and characteristics of the rebar holder 100, except for the type of support member. In embodiments, the elongated members may be installed both lengthwise and laterally. Indeed, such a configuration is often necessary to achieve a mesh configuration of rods. To this end, in some embodiments, such as the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, locking or docking pins 230 may be bonded or formed on the support surface of the elongated members. It can be said that a set of longitudinal rebar holders such as rebar holder 100 (hereinafter also referred to as "longitudinal rebar holders" with any characteristics that may be used herein with the words "longitudinal elongated members" and / or "longitudinal") may have legs (support members) 130 on the support surface of the longitudinal elongated members, and a set of transverse rebar holders such as rebar holder 200 (hereinafter also referred to as "transverse rebar holders" with any characteristics that may be used herein with the words "transverse elongated members" and / or "transverse") may have docking pins 230 on the support surface of the transverse elongated members. The longitudinal elongated members have docking holes (not shown) on their receiving sides for the docking pins to fit into. First, the rebar rods are placed in the longitudinal fasteners, and then the transverse holders 200 are arranged on the longitudinal holders, and the rebar rods are installed in the fasteners. The resulting configuration of rebar rods is a mesh, but the rods are not [necessarily] in contact with each other.

[0041] It will be understood that the terms "longitudinal" and "lateral" are used herein merely to distinguish the orientation of one rebar holder relative to another, and are not intended to imply that some holders will be installed in a particular orientation and others in another. The longitudinal and lateral holders are installed at right angles to each other.

[0042] In some exemplary embodiments, one or more diagonal rebar rods may be placed across the mesh to ensure that the square (or rectangular) mesh formation is held at right angles.

[0043] In some cases, more than one elongated member may need to be installed in series. To ensure consistent spacing between fasteners and facilitate easy, fast and consistent installation of rebar rods, in some exemplary embodiments, the elongated members have a coupling arrangement at each end of the member. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1A, elongated member 110 has a male coupling portion 120 at its first longitudinal end and a corresponding female coupling portion 122 at its second, opposite longitudinal end. In this manner, the elongated members are coupled together to ensure the required stiff and consistent formation regardless of the dimensions of the structure supported by the array of rebar rods.

[0044] In some embodiments, the elongate members may be made from a flexible polymer (such as rubber or silicone) that can be manipulated to conform to non-linear surfaces (e.g., corners or curves) or even form free-standing shapes (such as circles, ellipses, squares, rectangles, etc.), for example, to support columns, posts, pylons, etc.

[0045] It is referred to as the receiving surface 112 since it is the surface that receives the rebar rod, or more precisely the surface or face that has fasteners 150 that receive the rod. The elongated member is prepared with a number of fasteners on the receiving surface. The fasteners are spaced at regular intervals along the member. In an embodiment, the fasteners are arranged such that when two elongated members are joined, the spacing between the fasteners is constant and uninterrupted.

[0046] 1C is a top down view of rebar rod 100. In order for the elongated members to be lightweight and cost effective, in some embodiments, the elongated members have openings (places lacking material) or voids. For example, voids 118 are provided in elongated member 110.

[0047] In some embodiments, there may be more than one elongate member for each spacer, for example some "composite" spacers / holders may include multiple fasteners connected by bars (elongate members) that extend along two opposing sides of the fasteners (see FIG. 3B for an example).

[0048] Fastener 1D is a front view of the fastener 150. The diameter d of the fastener opening is equal to or slightly smaller than the diameter of the rebar rod RR that is intended to be inserted into the fastener.

[0049] The fasteners may be made of the same or different material as the elongated member. In an embodiment, the fasteners are secured to the elongated member. Any fastener or fastening method may be used to connect or secure the fasteners to the elongated member. For example, each of the fasteners may be secured to the elongated member by one or more of the following: screws, nails, staples, welding, adhesives, heating, threading the fastener into a preformed male or female thread, snap-fit ​​fasteners, and / or any type of fastener in fact. For example, the fastener 150 depicted in FIG. 1D has a coupling piece 152 through which the fastener may be inserted into a corresponding opening (not shown) in the elongated member 110. For example, the fastener 150 with the coupling piece 152 may couple with the elongated member in a "snap-fit" or similar coupling arrangement. Additionally, there may be multiple spaced openings on the elongated member through which the fasteners may be inserted at regular or irregular intervals as determined by the user. In this manner, the holder may be customized for use by the user, who selects the amount of spacing between the fasteners according to the needs of the project or task at hand. The elongate members and fasteners may even be sold separately in a "combined" state, if desired.

[0050] Alternatively, the fasteners may be intimately formed with the elongate members. For example, both the elongate member (or, in some embodiments, multiple elongate members) and the fasteners may be formed as a single piece, such as by injection molding, 3D printing, or thermoforming. Pre-formed or pre-attached holders may be provided in a variety of configurations, including standard or common lengths, spacing between fasteners and / or various support members.

[0051] Each fastener is designed and configured to receive and hold a portion of a rebar rod. At least two fasteners spaced apart (i.e., on separate holders) are required to hold the rebar rod / bar straight. In some embodiments, the fastener body 154 is an inverted omega shape with an aperture 156 adapted to receive the rebar rod, and the prongs 158 defining the aperture therebetween are adapted to elastically deform to allow the rebar rod to pass through the aperture. In other embodiments, the fastener 150 is not omega shaped, but rather simply comprises an inlet adapted to hold a portion of the rebar rod therein. The fastener is made from a material selected from the group including metal, polymer, polystyrene, and plastic.

[0052] Double-sided spacer FIG 3A shows a front view of a double sided holder / spacer 300. FIG 3B is a perspective view 1-1 of FIG 3A. The holder 300 comprises a plurality of fasteners 150 joined by two elongate members 310 on two opposing sides of the fasteners. In an exemplary embodiment, the holder 300 comprises only one elongate member 310. Solely for clarity, the holder 300 is referred to as a longitudinal double sided rebar holder 300, or simply a longitudinal holder 300.

[0053] The double-sided holders can be used on the longitudinal rebar rods to support the transverse rebar rods to complete the mesh construction. Alternatively, or in addition, the double-sided holders can be used to form one or more additional layers of rebar rods on an existing mesh. In this manner, multiple layers of mesh can be arranged one on top of the other.

[0054] The holder 300 can be described in two different ways: One way to describe the holder 300 is that it has a number of fasteners 350 on the receiving surface, and for each receiving fastener 350 there is a support member 330, also referred to as a support fastener 330 hereinafter. In some embodiments, the support fasteners may not be aligned or connected to the receiving fasteners 350. There may be more or less support fasteners than receiving fasteners. The support fasteners are adapted to be attached to a transverse rebar rod RR-C (which itself is coupled to at least two transverse rebar holders, e.g., transverse rebar holder 200). Each of the receiving fasteners 350 is adapted to receive a longitudinal rebar rod RR-L.

[0055] It should be noted that the axis Z about which the longitudinal reinforcing rod RR-L is disposed is perpendicular to the axis X about which the longitudinal elongated member or members are disposed.

[0056] Another way to describe the double-sided holder 300 is to say that there are multiple double-sided fasteners that are connected, for example, by an elongated member. Each double-sided fastener is made up of a receiving body / fastener and a supporting body / fastener. When the receiving body / fastener is viewed from the direction in which the rebar rods would be installed, the body can be said to have a top open end, a bottom closed end, and two side walls. The same is true in a mirrored (180 degrees) and vertically rotated (90 degrees) orientation. The top longitudinal or receiving fastener 350 may be directly connected to the bottom lateral or supporting fastener in any number of ways. For example, the fastener body may be attached (e.g., by adhesive, heat, screws, nails, snap-fit ​​fasteners, and / or any other fastener or bonding arrangement), may be tightly formed (e.g., by injection molding, 3D printing, thermoforming, etc.), and / or may be bonded (or tightly formed) onto either side of a flat elongated member. In the embodiment depicted herein shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the fastener bodies are joined or formed together and the two elongate members are joined to a lateral / support fastener 330.

[0057] 4A is a schematic diagram of an example of a partially formed mesh arrangement of rebar holders and rods for a section of a construction project, depicting the stage of the task where the longitudinal holders and rebar rods have been installed along with the transverse holders.

[0058] FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram of an example of a finished mesh arrangement of rebar holders and rods for a section of a construction project. The arrangement can be provided in a variety of ways. Below, two methods for providing the mesh arrangement are described, followed by a third method for a mesh with at least one additional layer of rebar rods.

[0059] Method 1 - Longitudinal and Transverse Holders 5 depicts a flow diagram of a method 500 for providing a rebar rod mesh according to some embodiments. The method 500 for installing a rebar mesh begins at step 502 and involves providing at least two longitudinal rebar spacers / holders and at least two transverse rebar spacers / holders. For example, the longitudinal rebar holders may be the same as, similar to, or a variation of the longitudinal rebar holders 100, and the transverse rebar holders may be the same as, similar to, or a variation of the transverse rebar holders 200.

[0060] Each of the longitudinal and transverse rebar holders includes an elongated member having at least a receiving surface and a plurality of regularly spaced fasteners attached to the receiving surface.

[0061] At least two longitudinal rebar holders are positioned parallel to and spaced apart from one another on a support surface, step 504. The holders are positioned such that at least a portion of the plurality of fasteners of each of the at least two longitudinal rebar holders are aligned with one another.

[0062] At step 506, a plurality of longitudinal rebar rods are provided and inserted into aligned fasteners of at least two longitudinal rebar holders, each of the longitudinal rebar spacers having a transverse axis X perpendicular to the parallel axis Z of the longitudinal rebar rods inserted into the fasteners.

[0063] In step 508, at least two lateral rebar holders are positioned on a support surface parallel to and spaced apart from one another such that at least a portion of the plurality of fasteners of each of the at least two lateral rebar holders are aligned or in line.

[0064] The transverse rebar holders (eg, holder 200) are adapted so that the transverse fasteners are at least one fastener taller than the longitudinal fasteners of the longitudinal rebar holders.

[0065] This alignment can be accomplished in a variety of ways. One exemplary embodiment involves the lateral holders having bolster / support members that elevate the elongate members and / or fasteners above the fasteners of the longitudinal holders.

[0066] To illustrate this optional example, a detailed example of a rebar holder (such as a longitudinal holder) is provided. Measurements of an exemplary transverse rebar holder according to this optional example are detailed below. The detailed example provides measurements for most parameters of the holder and includes some optional variations. These measurements are also exemplarily depicted in FIG. 1A. This example is not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way, but merely to provide one detailed example for implementing the invention.

[0067] In the example of FIG. 1A, all measurements are given in millimeters (mm). The length of the elongated member is 1000 mm (1 meter) and the width of the member is 40 mm. The height of the legs, including the thickness of the elongated member, is 20 mm. The legs 130 are spaced 50 mm apart. The fasteners are positioned 200 mm (20 centimeters [cm]) apart. According to other illustrative options, the spacing can be 10 cm, 15 cm, or 25 cm apart, or indeed any desired spacing. Similarly, the length of the elongated member can optionally be 2 meters, or 3 meters, or indeed any desired length.

[0068] Holders of various (possibly standardized) lengths may be provided, for example, in various colors or with associated markings, to easily distinguish one from the other. By marking the holders of various lengths in an easily distinguishable manner, an operator can easily and accurately select the holder of the desired length.

[0069] Similarly, there may be fasteners of various diameters (or adapted to receive rebar rods of various ranges of diameters). For example, fasteners may be adapted to receive rods of diameters including 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 25, and / or 32 millimeters. Fasteners may be provided to receive rods of only one particular diameter or of a range of diameters. Fasteners may be color coded or have other indicative and / or distinctive markings to facilitate selection of the appropriate fastener for the task at hand. As described elsewhere, fasteners and elongated members may be sold / provided separately, with the user selecting the appropriate elongated member and required fasteners individually for each task and then connecting them in the desired configuration (e.g., number of fasteners per member and length of spacing per fastener). In some cases, there may even have to be staggered spacing as may be required by the task.

[0070] Referring back to the method of arranging a mesh of rebar rods described above, after placing the longitudinal rebar rods RR-L in step 506, the next step, step 508, is to position the transverse holders parallel to the longitudinal rebar rods and perpendicular to the longitudinal holders. In Figure 4A, the longitudinal holders are depicted in green and the longitudinal rebar rods in black. The transverse holders are depicted in blue.

[0071] To allow the lateral holder to have a greater height above the fastener surface than the longitudinal fastener, in one exemplary embodiment, the lateral holder may be similar to holder 100 (previously referred to as a "longitudinal holder" for clarity, but is not intended to be limited to such use), but modified such that the legs of the lateral holder are longer than the legs of the longitudinal holder. For example, the height of the legs, including the thickness of the elongated members, may be 60 mm. Thus, the support members of both the longitudinal and lateral holders are legs, only the legs of the lateral holder are longer.

[0072] In another exemplary embodiment, the lateral holders are the same as or similar to the holder 200 depicted in FIG. 2. According to this embodiment, the lateral holders are inserted into the longitudinal members by inserting the docking pins 230 into corresponding holes (not shown) in the longitudinal members in step 508. According to this embodiment, the longitudinal and lateral rebar holders are locked together with their own weave / mesh configuration. This embodiment may provide a more rigid, reliable, and accurate mesh configuration. FIG. 4A depicts the unfinished assembly of the rebar mesh at this stage of the process 500.

[0073] For either, both, or any other exemplary embodiment, optional step 510 is provided, which involves placing diagonal holders diagonally across the longitudinal and lateral holders in assembly 400. One or more diagonal holders may be placed diagonally across the mesh structure to further ensure rod species spacing and alignment.

[0074] FIG. 6 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a diagonal holder 600. The holder 600 comprises an elongated body 610. The elongated body comprises a male coupling member 620 and a female coupling member 622 at opposing longitudinal ends thereof. Additionally, a number of fasteners, e.g., straps 640, are positioned or located along the elongated body of the diagonal holder. The straps may be any type of elastic material. In one exemplary embodiment, the straps 640 are cable ties. The straps may be attached or secured to the elongated body, e.g., at abutment portions 642 located at regular intervals on the elongated body. In an optional step 510, a diagonal holder, depicted in pink, is placed across the junction where the longitudinal and lateral holders overlap. The holder is positioned such that the straps are located at the junction. The straps are used to tie the holders together where they overlap. In some embodiments or variations, the diagonal holders are positioned above the lateral holders (i.e., above the lateral holders if the surface is considered the bottom surface), and in other embodiments or variations, the diagonal holders are positioned between the longitudinal holders and the surface (i.e., below the longitudinal holders if the surface is considered the bottom surface).

[0075] In step 512 of process 500, a plurality of transverse rebar rods are provided and inserted into the aligned fasteners of the transverse rebar holder. Figure 4B depicts the completed assembly of the longitudinal and transverse rebar rods. In addition to those depicted in Figure 4A, transverse rebar rods RR-C are depicted in grey in Figure 4B.

[0076] Method 2 - Longitudinal and double-sided holders Another method for assembling the holders and mesh of rebar rods (cross configuration) is as follows: Steps 502-506 are the same as Method 1. In step 508, instead of using the transverse holders, a double-sided holder is substituted. Attach the support fasteners of the double-sided holder to some (or all) of the longitudinal rebar rods. In step 512, place the transverse rebar rods RR-C in the receiving fasteners of the double-sided holder.

[0077] Method 3 - In addition to the longitudinal and transverse holders, at least one layer from the double-sided holder In method 3, a first mesh layer is arranged as detailed in method 1 according to any of the various options and embodiments. In addition, in optional step 514, double-sided holders are attached to the lateral holders of the first mesh layer. Rebar rods are then inserted into the receiving brackets. Additional layers can be added in this manner.

[0078] FIG. 7A is of a corner holder 700. FIG. 7B is a perspective view 1-1 of FIG. 7A. The corner holder comprises an elongated member, depicted here as a bar 710. The bar 710 connects a row of receiving fasteners 750. Two support fasteners 730 are connected to the receiving fasteners at right angles to each other. The corner holder is adapted to be attached to a curved rebar rod having a vertical portion and a horizontal portion. It is made clear that the terms vertical and horizontal are used merely to indicate the relative positions of the portions as opposed to any objective direction in space. The two support fasteners 730 connect to one of the vertical and horizontal portions of the curved rebar, respectively.

[0079] Figures 8A and 8B depict an exemplary bolster holder 800. Figure 8B is a perspective view 1-1 of Figure 8A. The bolster holder 800 has a number of triangular support members 830 with fasteners 850 at the apexes of the triangular bolsters. Elongated members or bars 810 connect the triangular bolsters together. The bars 810 have male and female coupling arrays 820 and 822 at opposite ends of each bar 810.

[0080] While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be understood that numerous variations, modifications, and other applications of the invention may be made. Accordingly, the invention as set forth in the following claims is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

Claims

1. 1. A method for installing reinforcing mesh, comprising: (a) providing at least two longitudinal rebar holders and at least two transverse rebar holders, each of the at least two longitudinal rebar holders and the at least two transverse rebar holders comprising: (i) an elongate member having a receiving surface; (ii) a plurality of fasteners spaced apart on the receiving surface; (b) positioning the at least two longitudinal rebar holders parallel to and spaced apart from one another on a support surface such that at least a portion of the plurality of fasteners of each of the at least two longitudinal rebar holders are aligned; (c) providing a plurality of longitudinal reinforcing rods, the longitudinal reinforcing rods being perpendicular to the longitudinal reinforcing bar holders as a result of insertion of the longitudinal reinforcing bar rods into the aligned fasteners of the at least two longitudinal reinforcing bar holders; (d) positioning the at least two transverse rebar holders perpendicular to the longitudinal rebar holders such that at least a portion of the plurality of fasteners of each of the at least two transverse rebar holders are aligned, the transverse rebar holders being parallel to and spaced apart from one another; (e) providing a plurality of transverse rebar rods, and inserting the transverse rebar rods into the aligned fasteners of the at least two transverse rebar holders such that the transverse rebar rods are perpendicular to the transverse rebar holders and to the longitudinal rebar rods disposed between the transverse bar and the support surface; and (f) injecting cement onto the rebar mesh and holder. The method includes:

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transverse rebar holders are positioned on the longitudinal holders.

3. Providing at least two double-sided holders; attaching the at least two double-sided holders to at least two of the transverse reinforcing rods; and Inserting a second layer of the longitudinal rebar rods into the at least two double-sided holders. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

4. Each of the double-sided holders has: At least one elongate member; a plurality of receiving fasteners adapted to receive the second layer of the longitudinal reinforcing rods; a plurality of support fasteners adapted to attach the double-sided holder to one of the transverse reinforcing rods; The method of claim 3 , wherein the at least one elongate member, the plurality of receiving fasteners, and the plurality of support fasteners are coupled together.

5. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein each double-sided holder comprises a double-sided elongate member having a plurality of receiving fasteners on a first side thereof and a plurality of supporting fasteners on a second side thereof.

6. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the at least two longitudinal rebar holders has a transverse axis X perpendicular to a parallel axis Z of the longitudinal rebar rod inserted into the aligned fasteners.

7. placing at least one diagonal holder at a 45 degree angle relative to both the at least two longitudinal holders and the at least two lateral holders; and using fasteners attached to the at least one diagonal holder to join the at least two longitudinal holders to the at least two lateral holders at junctures where the holders overlap. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

8. A long member; a plurality of fasteners evenly spaced from one another and disposed on the elongated member, each of the plurality of fasteners adapted to receive and hold a portion of a respective rebar rod, the elongated member having a receiving surface and a support surface, the plurality of fasteners disposed on the receiving surface, the support surface being disposed on a surface adapted to be parallel to the support surface; Equipped with An apparatus for securely holding a rebar rod, wherein said elongate member and said plurality of fasteners are adapted to have cement injected thereon.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising at least one support member disposed on the support surface.

10. 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one support member is selected from the group including a pair of legs, a stand, an adhesive layer, a post, a bi-prod, a tri-prod, and a bolster.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the elongate member is adapted to be attached to the support surface.

12. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the elongate member is adapted to be attached to the support surface via coupling members selected from the group including fasteners, screws, bolts, nails, staples, and spikes attached to or preformed on the base surface of the elongate member.

13. A long member; a plurality of fasteners evenly spaced from one another and disposed on the elongated member, each of the plurality of fasteners adapted to receive and retain a portion of a respective rebar rod, the elongated member having a male coupling member disposed at a first longitudinal end thereof and a corresponding female coupling member disposed at a second, opposite longitudinal end thereof; Equipped with An apparatus for securely holding a rebar rod, wherein said elongate member and said plurality of fasteners are adapted to have cement injected thereon.

14. The device of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of fasteners are fixedly attached to or in intimate contact with the elongate member.

15. 10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the fastener has an inverted omega shape having an aperture adapted to receive a rebar rod, whereby prongs defining the aperture are adapted to elastically deform to allow the rebar rod to pass through the aperture.

16. a second elongated member, the second elongated member including a plurality of fasteners evenly spaced apart from one another and disposed on the second elongated member, each fastener adapted to receive and retain a portion of the rebar rod; 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein each fastener of the plurality of fasteners is coupled to a second fastener, the second fastener adapted to receive the second rebar rod such that an axis Z of the second rebar rod is perpendicular to an axis X of the second rebar rod.

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