Cage spacer with roller wheel

Abstract

A cage spacer for spacing a reinforcement structure apart at a predefined distance from a forming surface of a forming structure for a cementitious structure during formation of the cementitious structure therein has a bracket and a roller wheel, both constructed of a plastic material. The bracket has an attachment face and a generally opposed roller face and is connectable to the reinforcement structure with the attachment face abutting thereagainst. The roller wheel is rotatably and removably mounted in the bracket with an outer circumferential surface thereof extending from within the bracket partially beyond the roller face. The roller wheel is sized and positioned relative the attachment face for abutting and rolling of the outer circumferential surface against the forming surface at the predefined distance from the reinforcement structure, thereby spacing the reinforcement structure apart from the forming surface at the predefined distance.

1 . A cage spacer for spacing a reinforcement structure apart at a predefined distance from a forming surface of a forming structure for a cementitious structure during formation of the cementitious structure therein, the spacer comprising:
 a bracket having an attachment face and a generally opposed roller face, said bracket being connectable to said reinforcement structure with said attachment face abutting thereagainst; and   a cylindrically shaped roller wheel rotatably mounted in said bracket with an outer circumferential surface thereof extending from within said bracket partially beyond said roller face, said roller wheel being sized and positioned relative said attachment face for abutting and rolling of said outer circumferential surface against said forming surface at said predefined distance from said reinforcement structure, thereby spacing said reinforcement structure apart from said forming surface at said predefined distance and enabling rolling of said reinforcement structure into said forming structure at said predefined distance from said forming surface, said bracket and said roller wheel being constructed of a plastic material.   
   
   
       2 . The cage spacer of  claim 1 , wherein said roller wheel is removably mounted in said bracket. 
   
   
       3 . The cage spacer of  claim 1 , wherein said attachment face is generally straight. 
   
   
       4 . The cage spacer of  claim 1 , wherein said bracket is comprised of generally opposed first and second side frames, said side frames being connected to one another and each side frame having a generally straight bottom side and a generally opposed top side. 
   
   
       5 . The cage spacer of  claim 4 , wherein each side frame comprises a plurality of spaced apart vertically extending side connecting members connecting said top side to said bottom side and, at respectively longitudinally opposed frame ends of said side frame, one said side connecting member for each frame end connecting said bottom side to said top side. 
   
   
       6 . The cage spacer of  claim 5 , wherein said side frames are connected to one another by a plurality of frame connecting members, said frame connecting members extending from one said top side to the other and from one said bottom side to the other, said top sides and said frame connecting members extending therebetween defining said roller face, said bottom sides and said frame connecting members extending therebetween defining said attachment face. 
   
   
       7 . The cage spacer of claim of  claim 4 , wherein said bracket comprises generally opposed and aligned first and second side sockets, one side socket on each side frame, said roller wheel being rotatably mounted in said side sockets. 
   
   
       8 . The cage spacer of  claim 7 , wherein said side sockets are generally centrally situated between said frame ends. 
   
   
       9 . The cage spacer of  claim 7 , wherein said side sockets are cylindrically shaped. 
   
   
       10 . The cage spacer of  claim 9 , wherein said roller wheel comprises a centrally situated inner cylinder and an outer cylinder connected to said inner cylinder, said inner cylinder extending through said outer cylinder and said outer circumferential surface extending around said outer cylinder. 
   
   
       11 . The cage spacer of  claim 10 , wherein said roller wheel further comprises a plurality of spaced apart radial support arms extending radially from said inner cylinder to said outer cylinder. 
   
   
       12 . The cage spacer of  claim 10 , wherein said inner cylinder extends beyond said outer cylinder and radial support arms on opposing wheels sides of said roller wheel and into said side sockets to mount said roller wheel therein, said inner cylinder being freely rotatable in said side sockets while abutting, in each side socket, a respective inner socket surface. 
   
   
       13 . The cage spacer of  claim 12 , wherein said side frames are spaced slightly further apart between respective interior sides thereof than a thickness of said radial support arms and said outer cylinder between said wheel sides, said roller wheel being thereby freely rotatable without being obstructed by said side frames when mounted in said side sockets. 
   
   
       14 . The cage spacer of  claim 12 , wherein a radius of said roller wheel is less than a vertical distance from a centre of each side socket to said frame connecting members, said roller wheel being thereby freely rotatable without being obstructed by said frame connecting members when mounted in said side sockets. 
   
   
       15 . The cage spacer of  claim 13 , wherein each said bracket comprises generally opposed and aligned first and second side mounting walls, each side frame having one said side mounting wall extending from said top side downwardly to said bottom side, said side socket being formed in said mounting wall. 
   
   
       16 . The cage spacer of  claim 15 , wherein, for each side frame, said top side in proximity to said side mounting wall slopes outwardly away relative said bottom side and towards said side mounting wall, said top side being relatively further spaced apart from said bottom side at said side mounting wall than at said frame ends. 
   
   
       17 . The cage spacer of  claim 13 , wherein said side sockets and said side mounting walls are generally centrally situated between said frame ends. 
   
   
       18 . The cage spacer of  claim 14 , wherein respective inner cylinder ends between which said inner cylinder extends are spaced slightly further apart than said side mounting walls at said interior surface for retaining inner cylinder in said side sockets. 
   
   
       19 . The cage spacer of  claim 18 , wherein said side mounting walls are slightly outwardly and resiliently movable for removable insertion of said roller wheel into said side sockets between said side mounting walls. 
   
   
       20 . The cage spacer of  claim 19 , wherein said side mounting walls comprise guide indentations extending on said interior side from said top side to said side socket, one said guide indentation for each side mounting wall, said inner cylinder being insertable from said top side through said guide indentations with said inner cylinder ends biasing said side mounting walls resiliently outwardly until said inner cylinder is seated in said side sockets.