Reinforcing support chair

Abstract

A chair for supporting reinforcing bar for reinforcing concrete or masonry structures during pouring of the concrete is disclosed. In an embodiment, the chair includes a baseplate and a pair of support elements which upwardly depend from the baseplate. The support elements are arranged to provide an upper receiving region, a lower receiving region and a passageway which at least partially extends between the upper receiving region and the lower receiving region. The passageway is resiliently openable to allow a reinforcing bar to move from the upper receiving region to the lower receiving region, or move from the lower receiving region to the upper receiving region. In embodiments, the upper receiving region is configured to support the reinforcing bar at a predetermined height relative to the baseplate, and the lower receiving region is configured to accommodate the bar underneath the upper receiving region.

Description

REINFORCING SUPPORT CHAIRCLAIM OF PRIORITY

[0001] The present application for patent claims priority from Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2024901609 entitled “REINFORCING SUPPORT CHAIR”, filed 29 May 2024, which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to support chairs for reinforcing bars or mesh formed of such bars. In a particular embodiment, the present disclosure relates to support chairs for supporting reinforcing bars or mesh when forming concrete structures.BACKGROUND

[0003] Reinforcing bars (also commonly referred to as ‘rebar’ or ‘rebars’) or reinforcing mesh formed from reinforcing bars are used to reinforce concrete or masonry structures to strengthen and aid the structure in resisting tensile forces and so reduce the likelihood of cracking. When forming reinforced concrete structures, a base is prepared and a grid of reinforcing bars or mesh is located on the base. When the concrete is poured onto the base, the bars or mesh are lifted or raised to a particular height above the base and within the wet concrete such that, upon curing, the bars or mesh are located at the particular height within the concrete structure. In practice, the bars or mesh are supported at the particular height using support chairs that are positioned between the reinforcing bars or mesh and the base to support the bars or mesh at the particular height relative to the base.

[0004] Various types of support chairs (also referred to as simply “chairs” or “bar chairs”) exist which are prepositioned to support reinforcing bars or mesh in concrete and masonry structures before and during a pouring operation. Although existing support chairs may support the reinforcing bars or mesh at the desired height prior to and during the pouring operation, in practice the reinforcing bars or mesh may be unintentionally moved during the pouring operation. Such movement may occur, for example, when personnel or equipment travel across the bar or mesh during the pouring operation and may result in the support chairs being broken, deformed, or knocked. In some cases, movement may also occur due to a failure of the support chair to correctly orientate or set in its desired or specified place or position. In any case, movement of the reinforcing bars or mesh may cause the reinforcing bars or mesh to be no longer supported at the desired height.

[0005] It is against this background and the problems and difficulties associated therewith, that the present invention has been developed.SUMMARY

[0006] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a support chair for supporting reinforcing bars or mesh for reinforcing concrete or masonry structures during pouring of the concrete.

[0007] In one aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a chair for supporting reinforcing bar is provided, the chair including: a baseplate; a pair of support elements upwardly depending from the baseplate, such that the support elements are arranged to provide an upper receiving region, a lower receiving region and a passageway at least partially extending between the upper receiving region and the lower receiving region, wherein the passageway is resiliently openable to allow a reinforcing bar to move from the upper receiving region to the lower receiving region, or move from the lower receiving region to the upper receiving region; and wherein the upper receiving region is configured to support the reinforcing bar at a predetermined height relative to the baseplate, and wherein the lower receiving region is configured to accommodate the bar underneath the upper receiving region.

[0008] In certain embodiments, the passageway includes a slit which is disposed between the pair of support elements at an upper extent of the passageway.

[0009] In an embodiment, the baseplate has an area, in a horizontal plane, sized for receiving an overlying volume of a concrete mass to apply a downwardly directed force to the baseplate. In such embodiments, the support elements and the area of baseplate may be configured such that, when the overlying volume of the concrete mass exceeds a minimum mass, a resultant downwardly directed force exceeds the force required to move the reinforcing from the lower receiving region to the upper receiving region through the passageway. An advantage of such a configuration is that, when the chair is located on a base and overlaid with the concrete mass, the force applied by the overlying mass of concrete may enable, or at least assist, the chair to maintain a fixed positional relationship with the base as the reinforcing bar is forcibly moved (such as by being “pulled” or “lifted”) from the lower receiving region to the upper receiving region, thus reducing the likelihood of an unintentional movement of the chair across the base.

[0010] In embodiments, the area of the baseplate is sized such that the volume of the concrete mass for applying the resultant downwardly directed force to the baseplate corresponds with a volume having a height which is at least the height of the chair. In certain embodiments, the baseplate includes an areawhich surrounds the support elements so as to form a pad thereabouts for contacting the overlying volume of concrete. In certain embodiments, the baseplate is tile-shaped, and the support elements are located generally centrally on the baseplate such that the area of the baseplate which surrounds the support elements provides the pad. One example of a suitable tile shape is a rectangular tile shape having dimensions of about 100 mm x 100 mm and a height of between about 3 mm and 10 mm.

[0011] In an embodiment, the support elements comprise a pair of bilaterally arranged support elements which provide, in combination, the upper receiving region as an exterior surface in the form of an upwardly facing surface disposed towards the top of the support elements.

[0012] In an embodiment including a pair of bilaterally arranged support elements, the lower receiving region is formed as an interior space which is disposed between the support elements and below the passageway.

[0013] In an embodiment including a pair of bilaterally arranged support elements, the support elements may provide opposing faces for forming the passageway which at least partially extends between the upper receiving region of the chair and the lower receiving region of the chair. In such an embodiment, resiliently opening the passageway may involve flexion of the support elements during which the opposing faces resiliently displace laterally outwardly to widen or open the passageway.

[0014] In embodiments, one or both of the support elements may be resiliently flexible to allow the passageway to resiliently open to support movement of the reinforcing bar from the upper receiving region to the lower receiving region, or move from the lower receiving region to the upwardly receiving region.

[0015] In certain embodiments, each support element includes one or more strakes which are aligned to bias the passageway into a closed position when the chair is located in an overlying volume of a concrete mass. In preference, the at least one strake of each support element cooperates with the at least one strake of the other support element of the pair to convert a downward force component applied to the strake into a horizontal force component directed towards the passageway.

[0016] Yet another aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a chair for supporting reinforcing bar, the chair including: a baseplate; a pair of support elements upwardly depending from the baseplate, the support elements being arranged bilaterally to provide opposing faces forming a passageway which at least partially extends between an upper receiving region of the chair and a lower receiving region of the chair, wherein the opposing faces are resiliently displaceable to widen or open the passageway toaccommodate movement of the reinforcing bar from the upper receiving region to the lower receiving region or from the lower receiving region to the upwardly receiving region, wherein the upper receiving region is configured to support the bar at a predetermined height relative to the baseplate and wherein the lower receiving region is configured to accommodate the bar below the upper receiving region.

[0017] In certain embodiments, the chair includes an intermediate receiving region which is disposed between the upper receiving region and the lower receiving region, such that the intermediate receiving region is configured to support the bar at a second predetermined height, relative to the baseplate, between the upper and the lower receiving region and wherein the opposing faces are resiliently displaceable to widen or open the passageway to accommodate movement of the bar between the upper receiving region and the intermediate region or the between intermediate region and the lower receiving region. In such embodiments the height of the reinforcing bar may be selected from one of two different predetermined heights.

[0018] Yet another aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a chair for supporting reinforcing bar, the chair including: a baseplate having an area, in a horizontal plane, sized for receiving an overlying volume of a concrete mass to apply a downwardly directed force to the baseplate; and a pair of support elements upwardly depending from the baseplate, the support elements being arranged bilaterally to provide opposing faces forming a passageway which at least partially extends between an upper receiving region of the chair and a lower receiving region of the chair, wherein the opposing faces are resiliently displaceable to widen or open the passageway to allow a reinforcing bar to move from the upper receiving region to the lower receiving region through the passageway, or move from the lower receiving region to the upper receiving region through the passageway, and wherein the upper receiving region is configured to support the bar at a predetermined height relative to the baseplate when the passageway is not opened, and wherein the lower receiving region is configured to accommodate the reinforcing bar below the upper receiving region.

[0019] In certain embodiments, the support elements and the area of baseplate are configured such that, when the overlying volume of the concrete mass exceeds a minimum mass, a resultant downwardly directed force exceeds the force required to move the reinforcing bar from the lower receiving region to the upper receiving region through the passageway. In other words, in certain embodiments, the downwardly directed force resists movement of the chair as the reinforcing bar is moved from the lower receiving region to the upper receiving region through the passageway.

[0020] Another aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method of forming a reinforcing system for reinforcing concrete or masonry structures at a site, the method comprising: providing plural support chairs according to the above described aspect; for each of the plural chairs, applying a force to resiliently open the passageway of each respective chair to move reinforcing bar from the upper receiving region to the lower receiving region; locating the baseplate of each chair on a sub-base so as to provide an array of chairs located on the sub-base having reinforcing bar positioned in the lower receiving region; pouring a concrete mass over the array of chairs; and applying an upward force to the reinforcing bar to move the reinforcing bar from the lower receiving region to the upper receiving region of each chair of the array so that the reinforcing bar is supported, by each chair of the array, at a predetermined height relative to the baseplate of each chair.

[0021] Before continuing further, it is to be noted that throughout this description reference will be made to “reinforcing bar”. In the context of this specification, the term “reinforcing bar” denotes any bar like reinforcing structure which is used when forming a concrete or masonry structure from a poured concrete or other fluid material intended to set to form a structure, including but not limited to “reinforcing mesh”, “reinforcing grid”, or “rebar”. It is to be appreciated that these terms may be used interchangeably to describe a reinforcing structure for improving the tensile strength of concrete or masonry structures so as to aid these structures to resist cracking and breaking.

[0022] Additionally, it will be appreciated that embodiments of the present disclosure may be suitable for use with any poured concrete or other fluid material intended to set to form a structure requiring reinforcement with reinforcing (such as a drive-way, pavement, road, platform, slab, foundation, wall, playing surface etc.) to increase strength, ductility, and resistance to applied loads. Examples of such fluid materials include premix concrete, epoxy resin and the like.

[0023] Certain embodiments of the present disclosure may enable the reinforcing bar to be moved from a position which is close to or near the base of the chair, to a predetermined height above the base while minimising or mitigating unintentional movement of the chair during pouring of the concrete.

[0024] In one embodiment, and as described above, the baseplate of the chair is positionable on an underlying base for a concrete structure. In this respect, where used throughout this description references to the term “base” will be understood to denote a surface or region into or onto which the concrete is to be poured to form a concrete or masonry structure. The surface or region may be a preprepared surface or region, such as a surface or region formed using formwork, aggregate, trenches, sheeting or the like. The concrete or masonry structure may include a foundation, drive-way, footings, floor, court, path, road, tarmac, ramp, stair, base, or the like. It is also possible that the “base” may be asurface of a mould for use in the construction of prefabricated concrete masonry structures, such as a prefabricated concrete wall or block.

[0025] Embodiments of the present disclosure are expected to provide advantages in various applications that require supporting reinforcing bars or mesh for reinforcing concrete or masonry structures during pouring of the concrete. For example, a chair according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure may be prepositioned to support reinforcing before a pouring operation at a height close to the base. Once prepositioned, the reinforcing bar may be raised prior or during a concrete pouring operation to a predetermined height for support on the upper receiving region at or towards the top of the chair without the support chair being unintentionally moved from its position.

[0026] A further advantage of certain embodiments of the present disclosure is that they may reduce the risk of incorrectly orientating the support chair during the pouring of the concrete since the support chair may be maintained in a position which supports reinforcing with the base of the support chair at a desired location on a sub-base of the concrete or masonry structure.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0027] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be discussed with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0028] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a reinforcing support chair according to an embodiment;

[0029] Figure 2 is a front view of the reinforcing support chair shown in Figure 1 showing a reinforcing bar supported on an upper receiving region;

[0030] Figure 3 is a front view of the reinforcing support chair shown in Figure 1 showing the reinforcing bar of Figure 2 translating from the upper receiving region towards a lower receiving region;

[0031] Figure 4 is a front view of the reinforcing support chair shown in Figure 1 in use showing the reinforcing bar of Figure 2 accommodated within the lower receiving region;

[0032] Figure 5 is a front view of the reinforcing support chair shown in Figure 1 showing the reinforcing bar of Figure 2 translating from the lower receiving region towards the upper receiving region;

[0033] Figure 6 is a perspective view of a reinforcing support chair according to another embodiment;

[0034] Figure 7 is a front view of the reinforcing support chair shown in Figure 6 in use;

[0035] Figure 8 is a perspective view of a reinforcing support chair according to another embodiment;

[0036] Figure 9 is a perspective view of a reinforcing support chair according to another embodiment;

[0037] Figures 10A to 10C show an example sequence of a concrete laying process using a reinforcing support chair according to an embodiment; and

[0038] Figure 11 is a perspective view of a reinforcing support chair according to another embodiment.

[0039] In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the figures.DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0040] Referring initially to Figures 1 to 5, there is illustrated a reinforcing support chair 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As will be explained in more detail below, the reinforcing support chair 100 may be used for supporting reinforcing bars or mesh comprising reinforcing bars (herein after ‘reinforcing’) of the type used for reinforcing concrete or masonry structures during pouring of the concrete. For example, the reinforcing support chair 100 (herein after ‘the chair’) may be used during the construction of reinforced concrete or masonry structures, such as concrete slabs or foundations, to support reinforcing 160 (ref. Figures 2 to 5) within those structures at a desired height within the structures.

[0041] The reinforcing may comprise individual reinforcing bars or mesh, such as mesh made from longitudinal and transverse steel bars welded or tied together at intersections of the bars. One example of individual reinforcing is cold-rolled steel-ribbed bars of the type used to tie masonry or concrete walls to slabs or footings. Examples of mesh including reinforcing “reo” mesh or “reinforcing mesh sheet”, such as mesh comprising bars having a diameter of between 5 mm and 25 mm.

[0042] Irrespective of whether the reinforcing comprises individual bars or a mesh of bars, the bars may be of smooth or ribbed construction. Other suitable types of reinforcing would be well known to a person skilled in the art.

[0043] As will be appreciated, to support reinforcing prior to and during a concrete pouring operation, plural reinforcing support chairs 100 are required. The number of chairs 100 required for a particular reinforcing requirement is typically specified in terms of a “per rod” or “per sheet” requirement. For example, a general-purpose “reo mesh”, such as 2400x6000mm SL92 (F92) Reo would typically be specified as requiring fourteen chairs per sheet of mesh.

[0044] As will be described in more detail below, to support reinforcing prior to and during a concrete pouring operation, plural chairs 100 are positioned on a prepared base or substrate, such as a compacted base of sand or gravel, and the bars or mesh are then supported on or within the chairs 100 according to the stage of the concrete pouring operation. An advantage of embodiments of the present disclosure is that they allow reinforcing 160 to be prepositioned in the plural chairs 100 located on the base 200 (ref. Figure 2) at a height which is close to the prepared base or substrate underlying the chair prior to the concrete operation commencing and then raised or “lifted” to a predetermined height during or after the concrete pouring operation.

[0045] Referring now to Figure 1, the illustrated support chair 100 has a baseplate 110, and a pair of support elements 120 which depend upwardly from the baseplate 110. The pair of support elements 120 are shaped and arranged to provide an upper receiving region 130, a lower receiving region 140 and a passageway 148. The passageway 148 shown here extends between the upper receiving region 130 and the lower receiving region 140. A slit 150 is disposed between opposing faces of the support elements 120 at an upper extent of the passageway 148.

[0046] In the present case, upwardly depending portions 152 are positioned laterally about the upper receiving region 130. The illustrated upwardly depending portions 152 are shaped to locate reinforcing 160 (ref. Figure 2) on or within the upper receiving region 130 such that when so located the upwardly depending portions 152 tend to restrict lateral movement of the reinforcing 160. In the present case, the upwardly depending portions 152 comprise upwardly projecting edges which slant laterally outwardly as they depend upwardly. However, other arrangements are possible.

[0047] The baseplate 110 of the chair 100 provides a platform from which the support elements 120 depend upwardly. The baseplate 110 has an underside surface 114 configured for location on the underlying base 200 (ref. Figure 2) and an upper surface 112 for receiving concrete poured thereon. The underlying base 200 may be a prepared surface for the concrete structure, or alternatively, it may be an existing part of the concrete structure.

[0048] In the present case, the support elements 120 are located generally centrally on the baseplate 110 with an area of the baseplate 110 extending about the support elements 120 to form a border or rim thereabouts. The baseplate 110 may have any suitable shape. One example of a suitable shape is a tileshape, such as a rectangular tile shape, having dimensions of about 100 mm x 100 mm and a height of between about 3 mm and 5 mm. It is possible that other shapes and dimensions may be used.

[0049] The baseplate 110 is preferably sized so that a mass of overlying concrete poured thereon during a concrete pouring operation advantageously aids in maintaining the chair 100 in its position during a disturbance. In the present case, the baseplate 110 has an area, in a horizontal plane, which is sized sothat an overlying volume of concrete mass applies a downwardly directed force to the baseplate 110. That is to say that the upper surface 112 of the baseplate 110 provides a surface onto which poured concrete adds ballast for the chair 100.

[0050] As shown in Figure 2, when the chair 100 is located on an underlying base 200, the lower receiving region 140 of the chair 100 is disposed below the passageway 148 and the upper receiving region 130, and the upper receiving region 130 is located at a predetermined height (H) (ref. Figure 4) above the underside surface 114 of the baseplate 110 and at or towards the top of the support chair 100. In certain embodiments, the predetermined height (H) may be a predetermined distance (D) (ref. Figure 7) below a required top of a concrete structure 400 (ref. Figure 7).

[0051] When, as is shown in Figure 2, the reinforcing 160 is supported on or within the upper receiving region 130 of the chair 100, the reinforcing 160 is positioned at the predetermined height (H). In use, and as will be explained in more detail below, the reinforcing 160 may be positioned at the predetermined height prior to, during or after a concrete pouring operation.

[0052] On the other hand, and as is shown in Figure 4, when the reinforcing 160 is located to extend through the lower receiving region 140, the reinforcing 160 is positioned in at least a juxtaposed relationship with the baseplate 110 and thus close to the underlying base 200. In use, and as will be explained in more detail below, the reinforcing 160 may be positioned to extend through the lower receiving region 140 prior to or during a concrete pouring operation. In this position, if an external load is applied downwardly to a section of the reinforcing 160 supported between, and thus bridging across, two chairs 100, such as by an operator (such as a tradesperson) walking on that section, resultant deflection of the reinforcing 160 causes the reinforcing 160 to contact the base 200 and thus reduce the load distributed across the supporting chairs 100. An advantage of this arrangement is that it may reduce the likelihood of the chairs 100 being disturbed or damaged by the external load. In addition, traversing “reo” in place while pouring concrete is made easier and safer by positioning the “reo” at or close to “floor level”, being the level of the base 200.

[0053] The support elements 120 and the area of the upper surface 112 of the baseplate 110 are configured such that, when an overlying volume of the concrete mass exceeds a minimum mass, the resultant downwardly directed force exerted on the chair 100 exceeds the force required to move the reinforcing 160 from the lower receiving region 140 to the upper receiving region 130 to set the reinforcing 160 at the required height. This forcible upward movement opens the slit 150, and thus the passageway 148. An advantage of such a configuration is that, when the chair 100 is located on a base 200 and overlaid with the concrete mass, the force applied by the overlying mass of concrete may enable, or at least assist, the chair 100 to maintain a fixed positional relationship with the base 200 as the reinforcing 160 is forcibly moved (such as by pulling or lifting the reinforcing 160) from the lowerreceiving region 140 to the upper receiving region 130 thus holding the reinforcing 160 in position on the base 200 as the reinforcing 160 is forcibly moved upwards towards and into the upper receiving region 130.

[0054] Continuing now with reference to Figure 1, the support elements 120 are shown as a pair of bilaterally arranged elements which provide, in combination, an exterior surface in the form of an open three-sided upwardly facing surface disposed towards the top of the support elements 120 which includes the upper receiving region 130. In the present case, and as described above, the upwardly facing surface is shaped to provide lateral support to the reinforcing using upwardly depending portions 152 which tend to restrict lateral movement of the reinforcing. It will be appreciated that other configurations may be used. Other examples of suitable configurations include a U-shaped or V-shaped surface. Yet another example is a surface which has a notch or slot for at least partially accepting the reinforcing 160 (ref. Figure 2) to provide lateral as well as vertical support on the upper receiving region 130.

[0055] As will be explained in more detail below, at least one of the support elements 120 is manufactured from a resilient material so that, in use, the passageway 148, and thus the slit 150, is able to resiliently open or widen during forcible upward or downward movement of the reinforcing 160 between the upper receiving region 130 and the lower receiving region 140. In this respect, the chair 100 may be manufactured from any suitable resilient material or materials. Examples of suitable materials include thermoplastic polymers such as High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and Nylon. Depending on the material selection, the chair 100 may be manufactured using, for example, injection moulding techniques, 3D printing techniques or other manufacturing processes.

[0056] In the present case, and continuing now with reference to Figure 1, each support element 120 has linearly shaped front 170, side 180, rear 190 and inner 210 (ref. Figure 2) surfaces. However, it will be appreciated that other shapes may be used. In the present case, the inner surfaces 210 are arranged so that the passageway 148 comprises a first section or space 220 (ref. Figure 2) which narrows linearly inwardly as it depends upwardly to form a vertex 230 (ref. Figure 2) at the slit 150. In the present case, the lower receiving region 140 includes a second section or space 240 (ref. Figure 2) disposed between parallel walls of the inner surfaces 210 and below the first section or space 220.

[0057] Turning now to Figure 5, the passageway 148 is shaped so that forcible upward movement of the reinforcing 160 through the first section 220 causes the passageway 148, and thus the slit 150, to progressively open or widen to accommodate movement of the reinforcing 160 therethrough. In the present case, during forcible upward movement of the reinforcing 160 from the lower receiving region 140 towards the upper receiving region 130, the reinforcing 160 bears against the inner surfaces 210 of the first section 220 of the passageway 148 to cause each support element 120 to progressively flexion laterally outwardly and resiliently as the reinforcing 160 moves upwardly. In other words, the supportchair 100 is configured so that the passageway 148 is resiliently openable to accommodate forcible upward movement of the reinforcing 160 from the lower receiving region 140 to the upper receiving region 130.

[0058] On the other hand, the second section 240 (ref. Figure 2) is shaped to allow the reinforcing 160 to extend through it when the reinforcing 160 is statically supported within the lower receiving region 140 after being forcibly downwardly moved from the upper receiving region 130 to the lower receiving region 140.

[0059] As best shown in Figure 3, during movement of reinforcing 160 from the upper receiving region 130 to the lower receiving region 140, the reinforcing 160 bears against the slit 150 and forces each support element 120 to initially flexion laterally outwardly and resiliently to open the slit 150. As the reinforcing 160 moves downwardly through the slit 150 and into the passageway 148 each support element 120 then progressively flexion laterally inwardly as the reinforcing 160 moves downwardly within the passageway 148 until the slit 150 is closed. In embodiments, the laterally outwardly flexion of the slit 150 involves a user or operator manually opening the slit 150 to allow reinforcing 160 to move downwardly from the upper receiving region 130 into and through the passageway 148. For example, a user or operator may interact with the chair 100 to “clip” the chair 100 onto the reinforcing 160 prior to locating the baseplate 112 of the chair 100 onto the base 200.

[0060] An advantage of embodiments in which the reinforcing 160 can move between the upper receiving region 130 and the lower receiving region 140 is that the reinforcing 160 can be positioned in one of two different predetermined positions depending on the progress of the construction of reinforced concrete or masonry structures. For example, prior to pouring concrete, the reinforcing 160 may be positioned to extend through the lower receiving region 140 so as to be either juxtaposed to or in contact with the baseplate 110. Once poured, the reinforcing 160 may then be moved from the lower receiving region 140 to the upper region 130 for support thereon at a predetermined height above the baseplate 110. In this respect, the predetermined height may be between 30 mm and 100 mm above the underside surface 114 of the baseplate.

[0061] Although one example of a chair has been described above, it will be appreciated that the chair may take alternate forms which provide the two-position support for the reinforcing 160. For example, with reference to Figure 6 there is shown another example form of a chair 300 in which each support element 120 includes one or more force redirecting portions, shown here as strakes 310, which are shaped to bias the slit 150 into a closed position when, as shown in Figure 7, the chair 300 is located in an overlying volume 400 of a concrete mass.

[0062] In the example shown in Figure 6, the strake 310 of each support element 120 cooperates with the strake 310 of the other support element 120 of the pair to convert a downward force (F) component applied to the strake 310 into a horizontal force component for biasing the slit 150 into the closed position. Of course, although the force redirecting portions are depicted as external strakes 150 it will be appreciated that other types of force redirecting portions may be used.

[0063] With reference now to Figure 8 there is shown another form of a chair 500 according to another example. The chair 500 shown in Figure 8 also includes baseplate 110, support elements 120, upper receiving region 130, lower receiving region 140, passageway 148 and slit 150. However, in the depicted example the shape of these features differs from the shape of the equivalent features of the chair 100 described above with reference to Figures 1 to 5. Nevertheless, the chair 500 shown in Figure 8 is similar in function to chair 100 described above with reference to Figures 1 to 5.

[0064] Turning now to Figure 9 there is shown another example of a chair 600 which is similar in function to the chair 100 described above with reference to Figures 1 to 5. However, chair 600 additionally includes a channel 602 (shown here as a “u-shaped” channel) which is aligned in perpendicular relationship with the passageway 148 and the slit 150 to allow the chair 600 to receive intersecting sections of reinforcing 160.

[0065] Figure 11 depicts another example of a chair 700 which is similar in function to the chair 100 described above with reference to Figures 1 to 5. However, chair 700 has support elements 120 which are configured such that the passageway 148 is located between opposing faces of a tongue portion 702 and a slotted portion 704. Using a tongue portion 702 and a slotted portion 704 may reduce the bulk material required to manufacture the chair 700 compared to the chair 100 shown in Figures 1 to 5.

[0066] In the present case, the tongue portion 702 and the slotted portion 704 are arranged so that the passageway 148 narrows linearly inwardly as it depends upwardly. The tongue portion 702 and the slotted portion 704 are arranged such that the receiving region 130 includes upwardly facing surfaces disposed towards the top of the support elements 120 with a slit 150 extending therebetween. However, in other embodiments it is possible that the tongue portion 702 and the slotted portion 704 could be arranged to intermesh with each other such that the upwardly facing surfaces as intermeshed surfaces.

[0067] The tongue portion 702 and slotted portion 704 are resiliently displaceable to widen or open the passageway 148 to allow reinforcing to move from the upper receiving region 130 to the lower receiving region 140 through the passageway 148, or move from the lower receiving region 140 to the upper receiving region 130 through the passageway 148. Upper receiving region 130 is configured to support the reinforcing at a predetermined height relative to the baseplate when the passageway 148 is notopened. The lower receiving region 140 is configured to accommodate the reinforcing below the upper receiving region.

[0068] It will be appreciated that an advantage of reinforcing support chair according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure is that they may enable repositioning of the reinforcing 160 between a lower position which is a position in which the reinforcing 160 is in juxtaposed or contacting relationship with the baseplate 110, and an upper position at which the reinforcing 160 is supported at a predetermined height, being the height required to provide a required reinforcement to the concrete structure.

[0069] It will be appreciated that concrete or masonry structures often require reinforcing 160 to be positioned at different ‘predetermined heights’ therein to achieve designed tensile ratings. Accordingly, in any one of the disclosed embodiments, the reinforcing support chairs may be manufactured with support elements 120 of different heights (and thus different sizes). That is to say, for setting reinforcing 160 at different ‘predetermined heights’, different chairs 100 may be manufactured with different associated predetermined heights of the support elements 120 so that upper support region 130 supports the reinforcing 160 at a required ‘predetermined height’. Examples of suitable heights include 25 mm, 40 mm, 50 mm, 65 mm. Of course, taller heights are also possible.

[0070] Accordingly, the reinforcing support chair of any one of the embodiments herein may be manufactured such that the dimensions of its support elements 120, and indeed its baseplate 110, suit industry requirements for the use of reinforcing 160 in concrete or masonry structures. It will thus be appreciated that, a particular or different sized reinforcing support chairs 100 may be used within a single concrete or masonry structure to achieve a designed tensile rating for the structure.

[0071] It will also be understood that the reinforcing support chair disclosed herein may be considered as part of an assembly for supporting reinforcing 300 of a concrete or masonry structure. In this embodiment, the assembly comprises the reinforcing 300 which comprises one or more reinforcing bars 160, and a plurality of the support chairs 100 attached to the reinforcing bars 160 at spaced locations to support a volume of the concrete. As described above, manipulation (i.e. raising, “lifting” or “pulling”) of the reinforcing bars 160 moves the reinforcing 160 from a lower position to a raised position for support at or towards a top of the reinforcing support chair, being the predetermined height that the associated reinforcing 160 is required at, and being the desired height within the concrete or masonry structure. By way of industry example only, the spacing between the reinforcing support chairs for a typical concrete structure may be between 600 mm to 800 mm from a centre of one support chair 100 to an adjacent chair 100 supporting the reinforcing 160.Example 1

[0072] With reference to Figures 10A to 10D, an exemplary use of the s reinforcing support chair according to any one of the above embodiments may include the steps of:1. Firstly, referring to Figure 10A - a plurality of reinforcing support chairs 100 are positioned on an underlying base 200. In this example, the reinforcing 160 is shown supported on the upper receiving regions 130 of the plural chairs 100. However, each chair 100 could be “clipped” directly onto the reinforcing to locate the reinforcing in the lower receiving region 140 of each chair 100 (and thus proximal to the base 200) so that the reinforcing 160 extends through the lower receiving region 140 of each chair prior to a concrete a pouring operation.2. In the illustrated example, the support chairs 100 are positioned so as to be spaced-apart to support non-intersecting regions of reinforcing bars that make up a grid of the reinforcing 160. If, as shown in Figure 10A, the reinforcing 160 is initially supported by the upper receiving regions 130, it will be moved to reposition the reinforcing 160 to extend through the lower receiving region 140 of each chair 100 prior to the concrete pouring operation, which is the position shown in Figure 10B, and thus close to the base 200.3. Referring to Figure 10B, once the reinforcing 160 is positioned close to the base 200, the concrete pouring operation commences to lay a mass of concrete 400 for a concrete structure whilst the reinforcing 160 is positioned close to the base 200. However, it is also possible that reinforcing 160 could be forcibly moved for support on the upper receiving regions 130 of the plural chairs 100 prior to concrete pour if desired by, for example, holding a foot or other object on baseplate 110 and raising the reinforcing 160.4. Referring to Figure 10C, in the illustrated example, during the pouring operation, and once an overlying volume of concrete covers the chairs 100, an operator uses a lifting tool (not shown) to raise (e.g. by pulling or lifting) the reinforcing 160 to the reposition the reinforcing 160 so that it is supported across the upper receiving regions 130 of the plural chairs 100. In this way the raised (or “pulled” or “lifted”) reinforcing 160 is now at the predetermined height corresponding to the desired height within the concrete structure 400.

[0073] Advantageously, an operator is able to raise the reinforcing 160 while travelling across (with the concrete pouring equipment) with a reduced risk of breaking, deforming or knocking the support chairs 100 over, as it will be appreciated from the Figures and the embodiments disclosed, the reinforcing 160 is lower which is near base 200 so risk of movement when travelling thereon is mitigated or minimised. Additionally, when the concrete is poured and partially fills or is held on the upper support area 130 of the support chair 100, it acts like a ballast to maintain the support chair 100 in its upright position as the reinforcing 160 is raised.

[0074] It will be appreciated that in any one of the above embodiments, and as illustrated in any one of the Figures, the chair has a particular advantage in that it may be prepositioned on base 200 to locate the reinforcing close to the base 200 prior to commencing a concrete pouring operation. The prepositioning may involve” pressing” or “clipping” the reinforcing 160 “into” the lower receiving region 140 of each chair. During the pouring operation, the reinforcing 160 may then be raised (“lifted” or “pulled”) to a predetermined height. The prepositioning may involve” pressing” or “clipping” the reinforcing 160 “into” the lower receiving region 140 of each chair 100.

[0075] One particular advantage of embodiments of the present disclosure is that the reinforcing 160 is prepositioned in a chair according to an embodiment of the disclosure prior to commencing a concrete pouring operation and is then able to be raised (i.e. by “lifting” or “pulling”) to a desired height with a reduced risk of unintentional movement of the chair on the base 200. Furthermore, when positioned in the lower receiving region 140 there is a reduced risk of the chair being unintentionally moved, broken, deformed or knocked prior to or during the pouring process. A further advantage of the present disclosure is that there is minimal risk of the chair being incorrectly orientated, as the base 10 is configured to hold poured concrete thereon to resist movement of the chair.

[0076] The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that such prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

[0077] It will be understood that the terms “comprise” and “include” and any of their derivatives (e.g., comprises, comprising, includes, including) as used in this specification, and the claims that follow, is to be taken to be inclusive of features to which the term refers, and is not meant to exclude the presence of any additional features unless otherwise stated or implied.

[0078] In some cases, a single embodiment may, for succinctness and / or to assist in understanding the scope of the disclosure, combine multiple features. It is to be understood that in such a case, these multiple features may be provided separately (in separate embodiments), or in any other suitable combination. Alternatively, where separate features are described in separate embodiments, these separate features may be combined into a single embodiment unless otherwise stated or implied. This also applies to the claims which can be recombined in any combination. That is a claim may be amended to include a feature defined in any other claim. Further a phrase referring to “at least one of’ a list of items refers to any combination of those items, including single elements. As an example, “at least one of: a, b, or c” is intended to cover: a, b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c, and a-b-c.

[0079] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the disclosure is not restricted in its use to the particular application or applications described. Neither is the present disclosure restricted in itspreferred embodiment with regard to the particular elements and / or features described or depicted herein. It will be appreciated that the disclosure is not limited to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the scope as set forth and defined by the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A chair for supporting reinforcing bar, the chair including: a baseplate; a pair of support elements upwardly depending from the baseplate, such that the support elements are arranged to provide an upper receiving region, a lower receiving region and a passageway at least partially extending between the upper receiving region and the lower receiving region, wherein the passageway is resiliently openable to allow a reinforcing bar to move from the upper receiving region to the lower receiving region, or move from the lower receiving region to the upper receiving region; and wherein the upper receiving region is configured to support the reinforcing bar at a predetermined height relative to the baseplate, and wherein the lower receiving region is configured to accommodate the bar underneath the upper receiving region.

2. A chair according to claim 1, wherein the baseplate has an area, in a horizontal plane, sized for receiving an overlying volume of a concrete mass to apply a downwardly directed force to the baseplate.

3. A chair according to claim 1, wherein the area surrounds the support elements so as to form a pad thereabouts for contacting the overlying volume of concrete mass.

4. A chair according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the support elements comprise a pair of bilaterally arranged elements which provide, in combination, the upper receiving region in the form of an upwardly facing surface disposed towards the top of the support elements.

5. A chair according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein one or both of the support elements are resilient elements capable of resilient flexion laterally outwardly to open the passageway to accommodate forcible upward or forcible downward movement of the reinforcing bar between the upper receiving region and the lower receiving region.

6. A chair according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, the lower receiving region is formed as an interior space disposed between the support elements and below the passageway.

7. A chair according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the lower receiving region is for accommodating the reinforcing bar in juxtaposed relationship with the baseplate.

8. A chair according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the lower receiving region is for accommodating the reinforcing bar in contacting relationship with the baseplate.

9. A chair according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the lower receiving region is sized so that reinforcing bar having a diameter of less than 25 mm can extend therethrough.

10. A chair according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the upper receiving region is located to support the reinforcing at a predetermined height of between 30 mm and 100 mm above an underside of the baseplate.

11. A chair for supporting reinforcing bar, the chair including: a baseplate having an area, in a horizontal plane, sized for receiving an overlying volume of a concrete mass to apply a downwardly directed force to the baseplate; and a pair of support elements upwardly depending from the baseplate, the support elements being arranged bilaterally to provide opposing faces forming a passageway which at least partially extends between an upper receiving region of the chair and a lower receiving region of the chair, wherein the opposing faces are resiliently displaceable to widen or open the passageway to allow a reinforcing bar to move from the upper receiving region to the lower receiving region through the passageway, or move from the lower receiving region to the upper receiving region through the passageway, and wherein the upper receiving region is configured to support the reinforcing bar at a predetermined height relative to the baseplate when the passageway is not opened, and wherein the lower receiving region is configured to accommodate the reinforcing bar below the upper receiving region.

12. A chair according to claim 11, wherein when the chair is located on a base, the downwardly directed force resists movement of the chair as the reinforcing bar is moved from the lower receiving region to the upper receiving region through the passageway.

13. A reinforcing system comprising: a reinforcing element comprising one or more lengths of reinforcing bar; and a chair according to any one of claims 1 to 12 for supporting the reinforcing element with respect to a base.

14. A concrete or masonry structure including plural support chairs according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein each of the plural support chairs supports reinforcing located within the concrete or masonry structure.

15. A site for receiving poured concrete to form a concrete or masonry structure, the site including a sub-base onto which plural support chairs according to any one of claims 1 to 12 are located.

16. A method of forming a reinforcing system for reinforcing concrete or masonry structures at a site, the method comprising: providing plural support chairs according to any one of claims 1 to 12; for each of the plural chairs, applying a force to resiliently open the passageway of each respective chair to move the reinforcing bar from the upper receiving region to the lower receiving region; locating the baseplate of each chair on a sub-base so as to provide an array of chairs located on the sub-base having the reinforcing bar positioned in the lower receiving region; pouring a concrete mass over the array of chairs; and applying an upward force to the reinforcing bar to move the reinforcing bar from the lower receiving region to the upper receiving region of each chair of the array so that the reinforcing bar is supported, by each chair of the array, at a predetermined height relative to the baseplate of each chair.

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