Rebar installation device and corresponding method

Abstract

The present disclosure concerns rebar installation devices for forming concrete structures, and methods of installing rebar(s) in a concrete structure form space using one or more rebar installation devices described herein.

1 . A rebar installation device, comprising:
 a rebar-engaging member defining a rebar-receiving cavity and comprising a distal portion and a proximal portion at least partially spaced apart from each other;   the distal portion having an outer surface, an opposed inner surface and a first fastener-receiving opening extending therethrough between the inner and outer surfaces;   the proximal portion having an inner surface, an opposed support-mounting surface and a second fastener-receiving opening extending therethrough between the inner and support-mounting surfaces;   wherein the inner surfaces of the distal and proximal portions at least partially delimit the rebar-receiving cavity; and   wherein the first and second fastener-receiving openings are in register with each other.   
     
     
         2 . The rebar installation device according to  claim 1 , wherein the rebar-engaging member further comprises a connecting portion connecting the distal and proximal portions and substantially perpendicular thereto,
 wherein each of the proximal and distal portions comprises a first connecting end portion connected to or formed integral with the connecting portion, and an opposed second end portion, and   wherein the second end portions of the distal and proximal portions are spaced apart from each other and at least partially delimit a rebar-engaging aperture opening into the rebar-receiving cavity.   
     
     
         3 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The rebar installation device according to  claim 2 , wherein the proximal portion comprises two support-mounting members forming at least partially the support-mounting surface, and
 wherein the two support-mounting members are spaced apart from each other and form at least partially the support-mounting surface, and a concrete-filling cavity being at least partially delimited between said two support-mounting members.   
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The rebar installation device according to  claim 6 , wherein one of said two support-mounting members is substantially aligned with the connecting portion or at least partially formed integral therewith and comprises at least partially the second fastener-receiving opening. 
     
     
         9 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A method of installing a rebar in a concrete structure form space at least partially delimited by at least one form wall, said method comprising:
 a) providing at least one rebar installation device according to  claim 1 ;   b) arranging the rebar in the concrete structure form space to extend substantially vertically or horizontally;   c) engaging a portion of the rebar with the rebar-receiving cavity of said at least one rebar installation device;   d) abutting the support-mounting surface of said at least one rebar installation device against a portion of said at least one form wall;   e) engaging a mechanical fastener with the first fastener-receiving opening and the second fastener-receiving opening so as to maintain the portion of the rebar in the rebar-receiving cavity; and   f) engaging a portion of the mechanical fastener with the portion of said at least one form wall to secure the rebar installation device thereto.   
     
     
         14 . A rebar installation device, comprising:
 an upper rebar-engaging body defining an upper rebar-receiving cavity; and   at least two supporting members secured to or formed integral with the upper rebar-engaging body, said at least two supporting members being spaced apart from each other;   wherein each of said at least two supporting members defines a lower rebar-receiving cavity; and   wherein the lower rebar-receiving cavities of said at least two supporting members are in register with each other.   
     
     
         15 . The rebar installation device according to  claim 14 , wherein the upper rebar-engaging body comprises two upper rebar-engaging members and an upper portion between the two upper rebar-engaging members and connecting the upper rebar-engaging members to each other, thereby at least partially delimiting the upper rebar-receiving cavity,
 wherein the two upper rebar-engaging members are slightly inclined with respect to a vertical direction when the rebar installation device is supported on a substantially horizontal plane, and   wherein the two upper rebar-engaging members are inclined in two opposed directions with respect to the vertical direction.   
     
     
         16 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The rebar installation device according to claim  5 , wherein each upper rebar-engaging member defines an acute angle with the vertical direction. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The rebar installation device according to  claim 18 , wherein the two upper rebar-engaging members substantially converge toward each other at junctions between the corresponding upper rebar-engaging member and the upper portion. 
     
     
         21 . The rebar installation device according to  claim 20 , wherein the upper portion comprises two substantially inclined parts, so that the upper portion is substantially V-shaped. 
     
     
         22 . The rebar installation device according to  claim 21 , wherein a concavity is defined by the upper portion which at least partially delimits the upper rebar-receiving cavity. 
     
     
         23 . The rebar installation device according to  claim 22 , wherein the lower rebar-receiving cavity is at least partially delimited by a portion of a corresponding upper rebar-engaging member and by a portion of the corresponding supporting member. 
     
     
         24 . The rebar installation device according to  claim 23 , wherein the at least two supporting members are substantially parallel to each other and extend substantially in a vertical direction when the rebar installation device is supported on a substantially horizontal plane, and wherein each of the at least two supporting members is substantially bent to form a concavity delimiting at least partially the corresponding lower rebar-receiving cavity. 
     
     
         25 . The rebar installation device according to  claim 24 , wherein the lower rebar-receiving cavities open towards opposed directions. 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . The rebar installation device according to  claim 25 , wherein each of the at least two supporting members comprises a rebar-maintaining protrusion at least partially delimiting a rebar-engaging aperture opening into the corresponding lower rebar-receiving cavity,
 wherein each of the at least two supporting members comprises a flat bottom surface, and   wherein each of the at least two supporting members comprises a supporting part forming at least partially the flat bottom surface and an opposed rebar-guiding part.   
     
     
         28 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . The rebar installation device according to  claim 27 , wherein the rebar-guiding part of each of said at least two supporting members is dividable into a cavity-delimiting portion and an opposed outer portion, and
 wherein the cavity-delimiting and outer portions are inclined with respect to each other.   
     
     
         31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . The rebar installation device according to  claim 30 , wherein each rebar-maintaining protrusion forms a junction between the cavity-delimiting and outer portions of the rebar-guiding part of the corresponding supporting member and is shaped and dimensioned to guide and maintain a lower rebar within the lower rebar-receiving cavity, and
 wherein the cavity-delimiting portion extends downwardly from the rebar-maintaining protrusion towards the lower rebar-receiving cavity.   
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . The rebar installation device according to  claim 27 , wherein an acute angle is created between the cavity-delimiting portion and the corresponding upper rebar-engaging member, and
 wherein the cavity-delimiting portion substantially converges toward the upper rebar-engaging member such that the lower rebar-receiving cavity is substantially V-shaped.   
     
     
         35 - 36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . A method of installing upper and lower rebars in a concrete structure form space at least partially delimited by a form floor, said method comprising:
 a) providing a rebar installation device according to  claim 14 ;   b) arranging the rebar installation device in the concrete structure form space with said at least two supporting members being supported on the form floor;   c) engaging at least two spaced-apart portions of the lower rebar with the lower rebar-receiving cavities of said at least two supporting members; and   d) engaging at least a portion of the upper rebar with the upper rebar-receiving cavity.   
     
     
         38 - 39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . The rebar installation device according to  claim 14 , for use in forming concrete structures.