Magnetized reinforcing bar protective cap

Abstract

A protective cap for covering an exposed end of any sized reinforcing bar (rebar or reinforced steel) is provided. The protective cap is configured to be affixed to an exposed end of the reinforcing bar and protect falling objects from being punctured by the reinforcing bar. The protective cap includes a magnet embedded and secured within the protective cap to secure the protective cap to the reinforcing bar.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A protective cap, comprising:
 a cap top end and a cap bottom end opposite the top end;   a crumple zone structure located within the protective cap proximal the cap top end, the crumple zone structure configured to withstand a force resulting from a maximum weight of two-hundred and fifty pounds dropped from a maximum height of ten feet above the protective cap;   a collar structure located at the cap bottom end, the collar structure sized and dimensioned to fit over and receive an end section of reinforcing bar in such a way that the protective cap surrounds and removably couples with the end section of reinforcing bar; and   a magnetic field located internally within the protective cap at a top end of the collar structure;   wherein the protective cap is comprised of two halves that are mechanically coupled together to form the protective cap.   
     
     
         2 . The protective cap of  claim 1 , wherein the two halves comprise:
 a first cap half having a first cap half top end and a first cap half bottom end, the first cap half comprising:
 a first half of the crumple zone structure located at the first cap half top end; 
 a first half of the collar structure located at the first cap half bottom end; and 
 a first plurality of mechanically interconnecting features configured for mechanical coupling with a second plurality of mechanically interconnecting features; 
   a second cap half having a second cap half top end and a second cap half bottom end, the second cap half comprising:
 a second half of the crumple zone structure located at the second cap half top end; 
 a second half of the collar structure located at the second cap half bottom end; and 
 the second plurality of mechanically interconnecting features configured for mechanical coupling with the first plurality of mechanically interconnecting features; 
   wherein the first cap half mechanically couples with the second cap half by the first plurality of mechanically interconnecting features interconnecting with the second plurality of interconnecting features to form the protective cap.   
     
     
         3 . The protective cap of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic field is generated from a plurality of magnetic particles integrated into the protective cap structure. 
     
     
         4 . The protective cap of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic field is generated from a magnet or magnetized component located in an internal chamber of the protective cap at a top end of the collar structure. 
     
     
         5 . The protective cap of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic field is generated from neodymium or ferrite. 
     
     
         6 . The protective cap of  claim 1 , wherein when the protective cap is removably coupled with an end section of reinforcing bar the magnetic field interacts with the reinforcing bar to magnetically pull the protective cap against the reinforcing bar, contributing to holding the protective cap in place. 
     
     
         7 . The protective cap of  claim 1 , wherein the crumple zone structure comprises a plurality of crumple zones. 
     
     
         8 . The protective cap of  claim 1 , wherein the force resulting from the weight of two-hundred and fifty pounds dropped from the height of up to ten feet above the protective cap matches a level required to withstand OSHA mandated load conditions without failure. 
     
     
         9 . The protective cap of  claim 1 , wherein the protective cap is manufactured of injection molded High Density Polyethylene (HDPE). 
     
     
         10 . The protective cap of  claim 1 , wherein the collar structure sized and dimensioned to fit over and receive an end section of reinforcing bar in such a way that the protective cap removably couples with the end section of reinforcing bar comprised of different sizes.