Bar clip with flared legs

Abstract

A color coded molded plastic clip comprising a pair of opposing clasp assemblies provides a means of holding a pair of reinforcement bars in a parallel orientation. Each clasp assembly comprises an upper clasp and a lower clasp. Each upper clasp includes a pair opposing, convexly curved fingers extending upward from a transverse support toward and attached to a pair of parallel longitudinal supports. Each clasp assembly further includes a second pair of opposing, convexly curved fingers extending downward from either end of the transverse support so as to form a lower clasp. Flared guides are attached to the lower ends of the opposing fingers of each lower clasp. During installation of the lower clasp of the clip upon a reinforcement bar, the pair of flared guides engages the bar and guides it to the lower clasp gap for insertion into the lower clasp.

1 . A clasp assembly for attaching and holding reinforcement bars, the clasp assembly comprising: 
 a support rod;    a first and a second pair of opposing fingers, each pair of opposing fingers attached to the support rod and extending away in opposition, the support rod and the first pair of opposing fingers cooperating to form a first clasp, the support rod and the second pair of opposing fingers cooperating to form a second clasp, each clasp having a gap disposed between the pair of opposing fingers of the clasp, each clasp adapted to receive a reinforcement bar; and    a plurality of guide legs,    wherein, for each finger of at least one pair of opposing fingers, a guide leg is disposed upon the end of such finger distal to the support rod so as to extend outward in a flared manner.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein guide legs are disposed on opposite sides of the gap of at least one clasp so as to form a flared guide, and 
 wherein, each such flared guide is adapted to direct a reinforcement bar into the clasp gap.    
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each such flared guide is further adapted cooperate with a reinforcement bar so as to cause the pair of opposing fingers to which such guide is attached to spread apart so as to enlarge the gap of the clasp.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second clasps are each adapted to receive and hold a first and second reinforcement bar, respectively, in a parallel orientation.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the clasp assembly further comprising a pair of longitudinal supports disposed in parallel orientation, 
 wherein, each longitudinal support is attached to an opposing finger of the first clasp such that the longitudinal supports extend from the gap of the first clasp in a direction generally orthogonal to the first clasp.    
   
   
       6 . A clip for attaching and holding reinforcement bars, the clip comprising opposing first and second clasp assemblies as recited in  claim 1 , 
 wherein, the clip further comprises opposing first and second longitudinal supports disposed in parallel with each other, such supports each having a first and a second end,    wherein, the first clasp assembly is attached to the first ends of the longitudinal supports and the second clasp assembly is attached to the second ends of the longitudinal supports such that, for each clasp assembly, the longitudinal supports are attached to opposing fingers of the first clasp.    
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein, the first clasps of the opposing clasp assemblies are aligned so as to cooperatively receive and hold a first reinforcement bar, and 
 wherein, the second clasps of the opposing clasp assemblies are aligned so as to cooperatively receive and hold a second reinforcement bar.    
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein, with the first reinforcement bar held in the first clasps, the second clasps holds the second reinforcement bar in an orientation parallel to the first reinforcement bar.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein, the opposing clasp assemblies extend orthogonally from the longitudinal supports so as to form a U-shaped assembly adapted to receive and hold the first reinforcement bar.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein, with the first reinforcement bar held in the U-shaped assembly, the second clasps holds the second reinforcement bar in an orientation transverse to the first reinforcement bar.  
   
   
       11 . A clip for attaching and holding reinforcement bars, the clip comprising: 
 a first and a second upper clasp, each upper clasp disposed in aligned opposition with the other, each upper clasp including a transverse support connected to proximate ends of a first and a second longitudinal support by means of opposing first and second upper fingers, each first and second upper fingers attached, respectively, to opposing ends of the transverse support by a first end of each upper finger, each first and second finger extending toward and attached to an end of each first and second respective longitudinal support that is proximate to the transverse support, the first and a second longitudinal supports extending in parallel opposition between the first and a second upper clasps, an upper clasp gap being defined between the first and second longitudinal supports;    a first and a second lower clasp, each lower clasp disposed in aligned opposition with the other, each lower clasp including the transverse support and opposing first and second upper fingers, each first and second lower fingers attached, respectively, to opposing ends of the transverse support by a first end of each lower finger, each first and second lower finger extending away from the first and second longitudinal support, each lower finger having a second end opposite the transverse support, a lower clasp gap disposed between the second ends of each pair of opposing lower fingers, each lower clasp gap further disposed opposite the transverse support; and    a first and a second guide leg,    wherein, for each lower finger, a guide leg is disposed upon the second end of such finger so as to extend outward from both the transverse support and the direction such finger generally extends.    
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second guide legs are disposed on opposite sides of the lower clasp gap so as to form a flared guide, and 
 wherein, with the lower clasp pressed against a reinforcement bar, the flared guide is adapted to direct such reinforcement bar into the lower clasp gap.    
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the flared guide is further adapted to cause the opposing lower fingers to spread open so as to enlarge the lower clasp gap sufficiently for the insertion of the bar into the lower clasp.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second upper clasps are cooperatively adapted to receive and hold a first reinforcement bar, and 
 wherein, the first and second lower clasps are cooperatively adapted to receive and hold a second reinforcement bar, so that such first and second reinforcement bars are held in a parallel orientation.    
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the clip comprises a plastic material having a color, the color being selectable prior to the manufacture of the clip, 
 wherein, the clip has a gauge corresponding to the gauge of the reinforcing bar receivable by the upper or lower clasp, the clip gauge selectable prior to the manufacture of the clip, and    wherein, the color of the plastic material is selected so as to correspond to and indicate the selected gauge of the clip.    
   
   
       16 . A clip for holding together two transversely positioned bars comprising two bodies, each body having two curved legs to define two semi-hooks, said bodies being joined together at two points to define a fulcrum, each body between said curved legs defining an area to receive one bar, said semi-hooks of each body when said bodies are joined defining two hooks to hold the other of said bars, 
 the improvement comprising a flared guide disposed upon each semi-hook wherein, with both semi-hook pressed against the other of said bars, the flared guide is adapted to direct such bar into the area between said curved legs of each semi-hook.    
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the flared guide comprises a plurality of guide legs disposed one upon each of the two curved legs of each semi-hook so as to extend outward from both the transverse support and the direction such curved legs generally extends.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the flared guide is further adapted to cause the two curved legs of each semi-hook to spread open sufficiently for the other of said bars to be inserted into the open semi-hook.  
   
   
       19 . A clasp assembly for attaching and holding reinforcement bars, the clasp assembly comprising: 
 a lateral support;    a first pair of opposing fingers disposed upon the lateral support, each such finger extending away from the lateral support and having one end distal to the lateral support, the first pair of opposing fingers cooperating to form a first clasp having a first clasp gap disposed between the distal ends of the opposing fingers; and    a second pair of opposing fingers, each such finger extending away from the lateral support and having one end distal to the lateral support, the second pair of opposing fingers cooperating to form a second clasp having a second clasp gap disposed between the distal ends of the opposing fingers,    wherein, the first and second clasp are each adapted to receive a reinforcement bar,    wherein, for at least one finger of the second pair of opposing fingers, a guide is disposed upon the distal end of said finger adjacent said second clasp gap and extending outward away from the lateral support, and    wherein, with the second clasp pressed against a reinforcement bar, each such guide is adapted to direct such reinforcement bar into the second clasp gap.    
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein each said guide is further adapted to cause the second pair of opposing fingers to spread open so as to enlarge the second clasp gap sufficiently for the insertion of the bar into the second clasp.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein, for the second pair of opposing fingers, at least one said guide is disposed upon said distal end of each said finger adjacent said second clasp gap and extending outward away from the lateral support so as to form a flared guide channel.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein, with the second clasp pressed against a reinforcement bar, the flared guide channel is adapted to direct such reinforcement bar into the second clasp gap, and wherein each said guide is further adapted to cause the second pair of opposing fingers to spread open so as to enlarge the second clasp gap sufficiently for the insertion of the reinforcement bar into the second clasp.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein, for at least one of said first and second clasps, at least one finger of said pair of opposing fingers forming said clasp comprises a convexly curved finger.  
   
   
       24 . A clip for attaching and holding reinforcement bars, the clip comprising: 
 a base;    a pair of projecting appendages extending from the base, each appendage having a proximal end and a distal end, each said proximal end attached to the base, the pair of projecting appendages cooperating to form: 
 a first clasp having a first clasp gap disposed between the projecting appendages and opposite the base; and  
 a second clasp having a second clasp gap disposed between the projecting appendages and opposite the base,  
   wherein, for at least one appendage of the pair of projecting appendages, a guide is disposed upon the distal end of said appendage adjacent said second clasp gap and extending outward away from the base, and    wherein, with the second clasp pressed against a reinforcement bar, each said guide is adapted to direct said reinforcement bar into the second clasp gap.    
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of claim  26 , said clip further comprising: 
 a second pair of projecting appendages extending from the base, each appendage having a proximal end and a distal end, each said proximal end attached to the base, the second pair of projecting appendages cooperating to form: 
 a first clasp having a first clasp gap disposed between the projecting appendages and opposite the base; and  
 a second clasp having a second clasp gap disposed between the projecting appendages and opposite the base,  
   wherein, for at least one appendage of the second pair of projecting appendages, a guide is disposed upon the distal end of said appendage adjacent said second clasp gap and extending outward away from the base, and    wherein, the pairs of projecting appendages are disposed along the base such that the first clasp of the first pair of projecting appendages is aligned the first clasp of the second pair of projecting appendages so as to receive one reinforcement bar and the second clasp of the first pair of projecting appendages is aligned the second clasp of the second pair of projecting appendages so as to receive a second reinforcement bar.