Adjustable Rebar Cage Tool

Abstract

An adjustable rebar cage tool comprising a functional base, an exterior housing, an internal latching mechanism having a latch release arm, a latch tooth and an adjustable arm, the internal latching mechanism being disposed within the exterior housing, an upper U-bracket member and a lower U-bracket member, the U-bracket members capable of holding a rebar rod. The adjustable rebar cage tool is portable, lightweight and can be carried by a single individual. After assembly of a rebar cage, the rebar cage tool is removed from the assembly and can be reused.

1 . An adjustable rebar cage tool comprising a base, an exterior housing, an internal latching mechanism having a latch release arm, a latch tooth, and an adjustable arm, said internal latching mechanism being disposed with said exterior housing, an upper U-bracket member, and a lower U-bracket member wherein each of said upper U-bracket member and said lower U-bracket member is capable of holding and retaining a rebar rod. 
     
     
         2 . The adjustable rebar cage tool in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said internal latching mechanism is capable of manual adjustment by extending and retracting said adjustable arm. 
     
     
         3 . The adjustable rebar cage tool in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said adjustable arm comprises a plurality of ratchet grooves which are configured to engage said latch tooth. 
     
     
         4 . The adjustable rebar cage tool in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the engagement of said latch tooth with one of said plurality of rachet grooves prevents the retraction of said adjustable arm. 
     
     
         5 . The adjustable rebar cage tool in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said adjustable rebar cage tool is adjustable in height from about twelve inches (12″) when said adjustable arm is fully retracted to about twenty-four (24″) when said adjustable arm is fully extended. 
     
     
         6 . The adjustable rebar cage tool in accordance with  claim 5 , which can be utilized to assemble a rebar cage sized from about twelve inches (12″) to about twenty-four (24″). 
     
     
         7 . The adjustable rebar cage tool in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the height of said adjustable rebar cage tool can be modified to assemble a cage bar sized at about four inches (4″) to a cage bar sized at about thirty inches (30″). 
     
     
         8 . The adjustable rebar cage tool in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said base can be mounted to a flat surface. 
     
     
         9 . The adjustable rebar cage tool in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising pneumatic means to adjust said internal latching means. 
     
     
         10 . The adjustable rebar cage tool in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising hydraulic means to adjust said internal latching means. 
     
     
         11 . The adjustable rebar cage tool in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein a rebar cage can be assembled by utilizing a plurality of adjustable rebar cage tools positioned in such a manner that a first set of rebar rods can be held and retained by said lower U-bracket members and a second set of rebar rods can be held and retained by said upper U-bracket members and wherein a plurality of rebar rings are positioned over the outside of the rebar rods and secured thereto by metal wire, thereby assembling said rebar cage. 
     
     
         12 . The adjustable rebar cage tool in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein said plurality of rebar rings are in the form of square rings and wherein the assembled rebar cage is in the form of a square rebar cage. 
     
     
         13 . The adjustable rebar cage tool in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein said plurality of rebar rings are in the form of circular rings and wherein the assembled rebar cage is in the form of a circular rebar cage. 
     
     
         14 . The adjustable rebar cage tool in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of adjustable rebar cage tools utilized in the assembling of a rebar cage can be removed from the rebar cage once it is assembled.