Channel support for forming concrete trench drain

Abstract

A channel support assembly formed by a pair of interlocking supports. The supports each have a base with a pair of latches including a series of crenelations a hook. A strut extends from the base between the pair of latches. The base includes a boss formed therethrough that has a throughbore that is dimensioned to accommodate a rod of rebar. A stepless height adjustment may be carried out by using a side adjusting screw that is clamped to the boss of support. The pair of supports may be interlocked into one of several positions based on interlocking between the hooks of each of the pair of latches interlocks with a corresponding one of the series of crenelations.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to channel supports and, more particularly, to a channel support assembly that can accommodate different nominal channel widths.2. Description of the Related Art

[0002] When pouring concrete to form trench drains, channel supports are used to keep the channels in place and prevent being pushed up (floating) by the pressure of the poured concrete. Current channel supports are made of steel and have fixed widths and thus cannot be adjusted to accommodate different width channels. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a channel support that is easy to manufacture and that can be easily adjusted to wide range of channel nominal widths.BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention is a channel support assembly formed from a pair of supports. Each of the supports has a base supporting a pair of latches extending therefrom, wherein each of the pair of latches includes a series of crenelations along an intermediate portion thereof and a hook positioned at an end of the latch. Each of the pair of supports further includes a strut extending between the pair of latches and the base includes a boss formed therethrough with a throughbore that is dimensioned to accommodate a rod of rebar. The pair of supports may be interlocked into one of several positions based on interlocking between the pair of latches from a fully extended position, one of several intermediate positions, and a fully collapsed position. The stepless height adjustment is carried out using the side adjusting screws, which are clamped to the round rods of the support. The channel is secured with two locking screws on each of the support sides.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0004] The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reading the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0005] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a channel support assembly according to the present invention.

[0006] FIG. 2 is a top plan of a channel support unit according to the present invention.

[0007] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a support of a channel support unit according to the present invention.

[0008] FIG. 4 is a top plan, side view, and bottom plan of a support of a channel support assembly according to the present invention.

[0009] FIG. 5 is pair of end views a support of a channel support unit according to the present invention.

[0010] FIG. 6 is a schematic showing interlocking of pair of supports to form a support of a channel support assembly according to the present invention.

[0011] FIG. 7 is a schematic showing interlocking of pair of supports in an extended position according to the present invention.

[0012] FIG. 8 is a schematic showing interlocking of pair of supports in an intermediate position according to the present invention.

[0013] FIG. 9 is a schematic showing interlocking of pair of supports in a collapsed position according to the present invention.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Referring to the figures, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, there is seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, a channel support assembly 10 for rebar positioning that can accommodate different nominal widths. Channel support assembly 10 is comprises of a pair of identical supports 12 that can be interlocked together. As seen in FIG. 3, each of the pair of interlocking supports 12 has a base 14 supporting a pair of latches 16 extending therefrom. Latches 16 are spaced apart from each other and each latch 16 includes a series of crenelations 18 along an intermediate portion thereof and a hook 20 positioned at the end of each latch 16. Each of the pair of interlocking supports 12 also includes a strut 22 extending between the pair of latches 16. Strut 22 is L-shaped and is slightly offset from the central axis of each of the pair of supports 12. Base 14 includes a boss 24 formed therethrough that has a throughbore 26 that is dimensioned to accommodate a rod of rebar. A stepless height adjustment may be carried out by using a side adjusting screw 28 that is clamped to boss 24 of support 12. Channel support assembly 10 may be fixed in its desired installation position by two locking screws 30 on each side of the end to prevent the drainage channel from floating. Side, end, top and bottom views may be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0015] As seen in FIG. 6, the pair of supports 12 may be interlocked with central member 22 of each of the pair of supports in sliding engagement. Each of the pair of latches 16 of one of the pair of supports 12 interlocks with one of the pair of latches 16 of the other of the pair of supports 12. Hook 20 of one latch 16 of one of the pair of supports 12 is positioned to protrude outwardly to extend into one of the series of crenelations 18 of the corresponding latch 16 of the other of the pair of supports 12. The pair of supports 12 may thus be interlocked into one of several positions based on interlocking between hook 20 of the pair of latches 16 of both of the pair of supports interlocking with one of the series of crenelations 18 of the corresponding latch 16 so that channel support assembly 10 can be locked into one of several positions from the fully extended position where hooks 20 are positioned in the crenelation 18 that is at the end of latches 16 as seen in FIG. 7, to one of several intermediate positions as seen in FIG. 8, and to a fully collapsed position as seen in FIG. 9.

[0016] Supports 12 are identical so channel support assembly 10 may be formed from two copies of single component and then interlocked to accommodate different nominal widths. Supports 12 of channel support assembly 10 are preferably manufactured from plastic, and can be easily fitted into each other and then adjusted to the desired nominal width using the incorporated grid structure. Hole 24 enables the drainage channel to be aligned to the correct height. The two identical supports are pushed into one another. Hooks 20 protruding laterally at the end latch into the desired recess for the respective nominal diameter (NW100-300).

[0017] Due to the mirror-image arrangement of the two supports 12, a positive connection is created that transfers the horizontal load through the channel to the outside of the side stands. The middle struts 22 serve to avoid torque as long as there is only one side of the load (channel). Two locking screws may be fitted on both sides to prevent the drainage channel from floating.

Claims

1. A channel support assembly, comprising:a pair of supports, each of which has a base supporting a pair of latches extending therefrom, wherein each of the pair of latches includes a series of crenelations along an intermediate portion thereof and a hook positioned at an end;wherein each of the pair of supports further includes a strut extending between the pair of latches; andwherein the base includes a boss formed therethrough with a throughbore that is dimensioned to accommodate a rod of rebar.

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