Prefabricated cage system for reinforcing concrete members

Abstract

A device for reinforcing concrete. The device includes a perforate load-bearing member with first and second surfaces around which concrete can be placed. Apertures in the perforate load-bearing member form connectivity points between concrete disposed on the first and second surfaces to promote bonding of the concrete such that a contiguous mass of concrete forms upon curing. The resulting reinforced concrete structure is of integral construction. In one embodiment, the device can be configured as cage-like structure. In addition, the device may define a unitary structure that can be prefabricated, thereby reducing the time and cost of formation of a reinforced concrete structural member.

1 . A concrete reinforcing device comprising a perforate load-bearing member having a first surface and a second surface, said device configured such that upon placement of concrete in cooperative arrangement with said surfaces, apertures defining said perforate load-bearing member facilitate bonding between concrete disposed on said first and second surfaces to effect contiguous mass of said concrete that forms upon curing an integral structure with said device.  
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein material making up said device comprises a metal.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said device is of unitary construction.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said device is configured as a cage such that said first surface is substantially inward facing and said second surface is substantially outward facing.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said apertures defined in said device are arranged in a substantially repeating pattern.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein said apertures are substantially rectangular in shape.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein all said apertures are substantially similar in size.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein said apertures comprise a plurality of sizes.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said apertures are substantially circumscribed by a plurality of transverse reinforcements and a plurality of longitudinal reinforcements such that said apertures and one side of said reinforcements define said first surface of said load-bearing member while said apertures and an opposing side of said reinforcements define said second surface of said load-bearing member.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein said lateral and longitudinal reinforcements are substantially coplanar with one another within each of said surfaces of said load-bearing member.  
   
   
       11 . A reinforced concrete structure comprising: 
 a concrete reinforcing device comprising a perforate load-bearing member having a first surface and a second surface; and    a concrete mass cooperative with said perforate load-bearing member such that apertures defining said perforate load-bearing member facilitate bonding between a portion of said mass disposed on said first surface and a portion of said mass disposed on said second surface to effect an integral structure between said mass and said device.    
   
   
       12 . The structure of  claim 11 , wherein said load-bearing member comprises at least one perforate cage into which said portion of said mass disposed on said first surface is placed.  
   
   
       13 . The structure of  claim 12 , wherein said structure is a column.  
   
   
       14 . The structure of  claim 13 , wherein said column comprises a substantially cylindrical shape along its longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       15 . The structure of  claim 13 , wherein said column comprises a substantially rectangular shape along its longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       16 . The structure of  claim 12 , wherein said structure is a pile.  
   
   
       17 . The structure of  claim 14 , wherein said pile comprises a substantially cylindrical shape along its longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       18 . The structure of  claim 12 , wherein said perforate load-bearing member comprises a plurality of cages each of which sized to facilitate concentric placement of said plurality of cages into said mass of concrete.  
   
   
       19 . A reinforced concrete column comprising: 
 a perforate load-bearing metal cage having at least an inward-facing first surface and an outward-facing second surface, said cage comprising a unitary construction; and    a concrete mass cooperative with said cage such that apertures defined in said cage facilitate bonding between a portion of said mass disposed on said first surface and a portion of said mass disposed on said second surface to effect an integral structure between said mass and said cage.    
   
   
       20 . The column of  claim 19 , wherein said apertures are substantially circumscribed by a plurality of transverse reinforcements and a plurality of longitudinal reinforcements such that said apertures and one side of said reinforcements define said first surface of said load-bearing member while said apertures and an opposing side of said reinforcements define said second surface of said cage.  
   
   
       21 . A method of reinforcing a building, said method comprising: 
 configuring at least one load-bearing structure to comprise: 
 a concrete reinforcing device comprising a perforate member having a first surface and a second surface; and  
 a mass of concrete cooperative with said perforate member such that apertures defining said perforate member facilitate bonding between a portion of said mass of concrete disposed on said first surface and a portion of said mass of concrete disposed on said second surface to effect an integral structure between said mass of concrete and said perforate member; and  
   placing said load-bearing structure in a position in said building such that it carries at least a portion of a structural load of said building.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said perforate member is configured as a cage.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said cage is of unitary construction.  
   
   
       24 . A method of making a concrete column, said method comprising: 
 configuring a load-bearing metal cage to have at least an inward-facing first surface and an outward-facing second surface such that each of a plurality of apertures defined between said first and second surfaces defines a channel therebetween; and    flowing a concrete mass onto said cage such that a portion of said mass forms substantially against said first surface, a portion of said mass forms substantially against said second surface and a portion of said mass forms in said apertures such that a substantially contiguous concrete structure is formed by said mass around said cage; and    curing said concrete mass.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising placing forms around said cage prior to said flowing said concrete mass such that upon said flowing said concrete mass, a layer corresponding to said mass forming substantially against said second surface becomes substantially bounded by said outward-facing second surface and said form.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising removing said forms from said column once said concrete has cured.