Apparatus for supporting infrastructure in slabs

Abstract

An apparatus and mounting arrangement supports infrastructure in slabs. The apparatus includes a lower section ( 104 ) that provides stability and is further able to communicate information about the apparatus or mounting arrangement after the slab has been formed around the apparatus. The apparatus further includes an upper section ( 102 ), that when combined with the lower section ( 104 ), is capable of holding a plurality of infrastructure items at a predefined distance above a base level. The upper section ( 102 ) is further provided with a portion ( 1002 ) that will extend above the upper surface of the slab to communicate the presence of the apparatus after the slab has been poured.

1 . An apparatus for holding infrastructure in a slab, the apparatus comprising: 
 a body; and    at least two receiving areas formed within the body for securing infrastructure in a slab.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 at least one set of legs mechanically coupled to the body for supporting the body in a slab.    
   
   
       3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 at least one foot attached to each of the at least one set of legs, the foot having at least one of a raised character, a raised symbol, a recessed character, and a recessed symbol on a surface of the foot.    
   
   
       4 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 an elongated portion mechanically coupled to the apparatus and extending in a direction opposite the legs, for protruding through an upper surface of a slab to identify a location of the apparatus.    
   
   
       5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the at least two receptacles comprises: 
 a set of opposing arms mechanically coupled to the body for providing the at least one receiving area.    
   
   
       6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the set of opposing arms comprises a flexible material that allows the infrastructure to displace the arms when being inserted within the receiving area defined by the arms and provides mechanical resistance to infrastructure being removed from the receiving area defined by the arms.  
   
   
       7 . An infrastructure mounting arrangement for holding infrastructure, the arrangement comprising: 
 at least one upper section; and    a lower section removably attachable to the at least one upper section,    wherein the lower section and the at least one upper section provide at least two receiving areas for securing infrastructure in a slab.    
   
   
       8 . The infrastructure mounting arrangement according to  claim 7 , wherein each of the at least two receiving areas comprises: 
 a set of opposing arms mechanically coupled to the upper section for providing the at least one receiving area.    
   
   
       9 . The infrastructure mounting arrangement according to  claim 8 , wherein the set of opposing arms comprises a flexible material that allows the infrastructure to displace the arms when the infrastructure is inserted within the receiving area defined by the arms and provides resistance to the infrastructure when being removed from the receiving area defined by the arms.  
   
   
       10 . The infrastructure mounting arrangement according to  claim 7 , wherein the lower section comprises: 
 at least two feet.    
   
   
       11 . The at least two feet according to  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 at least one of a recessed area and a raised area on a surface of at least one of the at least two feet for visually indicating information about the infrastructure mounting arrangement.    
   
   
       12 . The at least two feet according to  claim 11 , wherein the recessed area and the raised area provides at least one of a character and a symbol.  
   
   
       13 . The infrastructure mounting arrangement according the  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 at least one protrusion extending from each upper section; and    at least one opening in the lower section that accepts the at least one protrusion and holds the sections together as one.    
   
   
       14 . The infrastructure mounting arrangement according to  claim 7 , wherein the infrastructure is a post-tension cable.  
   
   
       15 . The infrastructure mounting arrangement according to  claim 7 , wherein adjacent receiving areas lie on an opposite one of two different parallel lines.  
   
   
       16 . The infrastructure mounting arrangement according to  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 an auxiliary upper section removably attachable to a side of the lower section, providing additional receiving areas for securing the infrastructure.    
   
   
       17 . The infrastructure mounting arrangement according to  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 an elongated portion extending from the upper section in a direction opposite the lower section when the upper section and lower section are removably attached, for protruding through a slab to identify a location of the apparatus.    
   
   
       18 . An apparatus for holding infrastructure in a slab, the apparatus comprising: 
 at least one upper section;    a lower section mechanically coupled to the at least one upper section; and    at least two receiving areas in each upper section for holding infrastructure in a slab.    
   
   
       19 . The apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein each of the at least two receiving areas comprises: 
 a set of opposing arms mechanically coupled to the apparatus for providing the at least one receiving area.    
   
   
       20 . The apparatus according to  claim 18 , further comprising: 
 at least one foot having at least one of a recessed area and a raised area on a surface for visually indicating information about the apparatus.