Patent Application
20180163392
Single point cast-in anchors are known. A single point cast-in anchor is a pre-installed anchor that is provided to connect a male element, e.g., a threaded rod, bolt, etc., or a female element, e.g., a connector, to a concrete structure, such as a ceiling or a floor. Typical applications are grouped into the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing installations in, for example, a building. More specifically, single point cast-in anchors are typically used for fastening:
The key advantages of this type of anchor versus any other type of anchor, such as studs or chemical anchors, are easiness to design/specify, ease of installation, reliability, relatively low cost, and limited inspection is required after installation.
A single point cast-in anchor is installed as follows:
Such anchors are available in various sizes, with all of the various sizes being able to fasten a single threaded rod. The anchors are generally composed of a metal body, i.e., the anchor itself, and a plastic sleeve which holds nails in place, which nails then hold the anchor in position on the wood form when attaching the anchor to the wood form. The anchors generally have a non-circularly shaped head, to prevent the anchor from spinning when disposed in the poured concrete.
Because the anchors may be of various sizes to fasten differently sized threaded rods, the anchors may be color coded where a different color is associated with each different size anchor. This color coding may be effected by color coding the plastic sleeve where, for example, a red sleeve may be used for a ⅜ inch anchor.
However, on any particular job site, it is common to use several hundred, or even thousands, of single point cast-in anchors at a time, which are meant to be used to fasten the various different elements, e.g., pipes, sprinklers, HVAC elements, etc., of the different trades and of the different contractors that are installing the different types of elements. For example, the plumbers will use some of the installed anchors and the fire protection contractors will also use some of the installed anchors. Hence, a problem exists with identifying which of the installed anchors are to be used by which of the various contractors for the various systems, e.g., plumbing, electrical, etc.
Whereas the various sizes of the anchors may be determined, it is very difficult to identify the anchors that are to be used for the various purposes. Hence, once the wood form is removed, it is possible to identify the anchors and their sizes, but not the application for which they were installed. Thus, it is difficult to identify which anchor belongs to which application, which results in wasted time since the contractors must find and review the overall anchor layout plans. It is also difficult to identify which anchor belongs to which contractor. Further, possible errors can result since contractors can use anchors that are meant to be used by other contractors for other applications. This can result in possibly the need to install other anchors, or in a worst case scenario, require a total re-do of the layout of the anchors.
It has been known to spray paint the anchors with different colors before installation. Or, the anchor location can be spray painted on the wood form before the concrete is poured, and thus, possibly some of the spray paint from the wood form can be transferred to the concrete. However, both of these spray painting methods are inefficient for a variety of reasons including being time-intensive, unreliable, and potentially covering the thread-size color coding of the anchor.
Thus, a need is present to facilitate the identification of single point cast-in anchors, once the anchors are installed. This will reduce the time required to identify the anchors to be used so that there is no need to look at the master plan every time. This will also reduce errors from occurring where one contractor is using the fastening point of another contractor. Further, this will reduce the requirement for any redesign of the anchor layouts in the case of error and reduce the use of post-installed anchors, which will also save time and costs.
An apparatus for coding of an anchor point includes a single point anchor and a coded element associated with the single point anchor. The coded element includes an indicia that is indicative of a use of the single point anchor with a function.
A method for coding of an anchor point in a structure includes the steps of associating a coded element with a single point anchor, where the coded element includes an indicia that is indicative of a use of the single point anchor with a function. The single point anchor and the coded element are disposed in the structure.
As can be seen, the sleeve 200 is disposed around the single point anchor 100. Thus, the single point anchor 100 has a cylindrical body with an internal cavity that is able to receive a threaded connector within the cavity. The threaded connector is associated with a structure that is to be mounted on the concrete structure 12. Thus, the anchor 100 is a single point anchor 100 since a single threaded connector, and thus a single structure, is mounted on the single point anchor.
The sleeve 200 also has a central cylindrical body 202 that surrounds the cylindrical body of the single point anchor 100. The cylindrical body of the single point anchor 100 is axially movable within the central cylindrical body 202 of the sleeve.
The sleeve 200 also includes tubular structures 204 which are disposed on the outside of the cylindrical body 202 and which each receive one of the nails 210. In an embodiment, three nails 210, and accordingly, three tubular structures 204 are provided. The nails 210 and tubular structures 204 are spaced evenly around the single point anchor 100, and thus, are spaced 120° from each other around the circumference of the single point anchor 100 and sleeve 200. The tubular structures 204 are designed to hold the nails 210. Sleeve 200 also includes a base plate 206 that engages with a base plate 314A of color-coded element 300A.
The top of the single point anchor 100 has a striking surface 110 that can be struck by a hammer to drive the nails 210 into the wood form 14. This striking surface may be the head of the single point anchor and the head may be hexagonally shaped to prevent the single point anchor from spinning in the concrete structure 12 when a threaded connector is threaded into the single point anchor. The nails 210 are axially movable within the tubular structures 204 such that they are able to be driven into the wood form 14 when a hammer strikes the striking surface 110. When the hammer strikes the striking surface 110, the cylindrical body of the single point anchor 100 axially moves through cylindrical body 202 of the sleeve and the striking surface accordingly drives the nails 210 axially through the tubular structures 204 to drive the portion 212 of the nails 210 into the wood form 14. In an alternative embodiment, the single point anchor, the sleeve, and nails can be rigidly connected together such that all these components are driven together into the wood form with the hammer strikes.
Whereas an embodiment of the anchor apparatus includes a sleeve and nails, such sleeve and nails are not required. The sleeve and nails assist in positioning and securing the single point anchor on the wood form. However, the sleeve and nails are not required for such positioning and securing. The single point anchor and color-coded element could be placed on the wood form without a sleeve and nails, and possibly be attached to the wood form by other means, e.g., an adhesive.
As discussed above, the color-coded element 300A is disposed at a bottom-most portion of the single point anchor 100, and the sleeve 200 if used, and is assembled to the single point anchor 100 and the sleeve 200. After the wood form 14 is removed, the lowest-most surface 310A of the color-coded element 300A is visible. Thus, a color-coded element 300A is disposed between the single point anchor 100 and the wood form 14 before the wood form 14 is removed. In the embodiment of
In the embodiment of the color-coded element 300 of
As can be further seen in
The present invention is not limited to three slots or three nails. Any number of slots and nails, and corresponding tubular structures on the sleeve, can be contemplated in the present invention depending on the particular installation requirements.
As can be further seen, the base plate 206 may include apertures 207. As can be particularly seen in the bottom view of
Further details of embodiments of the color-coded element will be discussed in connection with the drawings showing the different embodiments.
As can be seen, and as discussed, the color-coded element is associated with the single point anchor 100. The color-coded element includes a color, e.g., is colored, such that the color is indicative of a use of the single point anchor 100 with a function. The function may be, for example, an electrical system or a plumbing system or a mechanical system. Thus, for example, if the single point anchor 100 is to be used to mount a plumbing fixture to the single point anchor 100, the color-coded element that is associated with that single point anchor 100 can be colored, for example, with a purple color where the purple color is indicative of the use of that single point anchor for a plumbing function, and thus, a plumbing fixture such as a plumbing drain line. Similarly, all other single point anchors in a building plan layout that are also to be used for the plumbing function would also have associated, purple colored, color-coded elements. In this way, all of the single point anchors that are assigned for the plumbing function can be similarly colored, and thus, easily identified by the plumbing contractor.
In like manner, a color-coded element can include another color that is indicative of another use of another single point anchor with another function. For example, a fresh water function, e.g., drinking water, can use the color blue. A fire sprinkler function can use the color red. An electrical function can use the color yellow. The present invention is not limited to any particular color with any particular function or to any number of colors and functions.
Further, other information can be included on the color-coded element. For example, specific information related to the contractor that is responsible for the identified functions, e.g., the company name or logo of the contractor, can be included on the color-coded element. Additionally, other specific information, e.g., free text, can be provided on the color-coded element to provide further helpful information for the installer and/or contractor.
As discussed previously, the sleeve 200 can be color-coded to indicate the size of the single point anchor 100 that is associated with the sleeve, and thus, the size of the threaded connector that can be received within the single point anchor 100. As such, the sleeve 200 can also include a color where this color is indicative of a size of the single point anchor 100. For example, a blue colored sleeve could indicate a ½ inch single point anchor 100 and threaded connector. A red colored sleeve could indicate a ¾ inch single point anchor 100 and threaded connector. The present invention is also not limited to any particular color with any particular size or to any number of colors and sizes.
Further, the same color can be used for both the color-coded element and sleeve 200 that are associated with the same single point anchor 100. Because the colors are on different components, i.e., the color-coded element and the sleeve 200, the same color can designate different parameters for the different components. For example, for the same single point anchor 100, both the color-coded element and the sleeve 200 that are associated with that single point anchor 100 can be colored purple. The purple color-coded element could indicate the plumbing function and the purple sleeve 200 could indicate a ¼ inch single point anchor and threaded connector.
Additionally, the present invention is not limited to how the color-coded element, and the sleeve 200, is color coded. These elements can be totally colored in these colors or any form of color swatch can be applied to these elements.
As can be seen particularly in the bottom view of the anchor apparatus of
As can also been seen in the bottom view of
Whereas the embodiment disclosed thus far describes a color-coded element, the present invention is not limited to an element that is color coded, and thus, a color-coded element. More broadly, the element is a coded element that can include any of a variety of codes for indicating a use of the single point anchor with a function. As such, the element is a coded element that includes an indicia that is indicative of a use of the single point anchor with a function. As discussed above, the indicia can be a color where the color indicates the use of the single point anchor with a function. Alternatively, the indicia can be a graphic, e.g., picture, logo, drawing, etc., or text, e.g., letter(s), word(s), etc., that indicates the use of the single point anchor with a function.
Further yet, the present invention is not limited to the indicia being only a single color that indicates the use of the single point anchor with a function. For example, the indicia can include the multiple colors of a rainbow for indicating the use of the single point anchor with a function.
However, as discussed above where the present invention only requires a coded element with an indicia that indicates the use of the single point anchor with a function, hereinafter the further embodiments will again be discussed in the context of a color-coded element. Of course, these further embodiments, and all embodiments, of the color-coded element apply equally to the coded element with an indicia of the present invention.
As with the coded element, the sleeve is also not limited to being color-coded. Thus, the sleeve can also include an indicia that indicates, for example, the size of the single point anchor that is associated with the sleeve, and thus, the size of the threaded connector that can be received within the single point anchor, or any other characteristic of the single point anchor or sleeve, e.g., the material of the single point anchor, length of the single point anchor, etc.
Continuing,
Each of the wings 312 includes a generally upward extending portion 312A which extends generally upwardly from base plate 314, i.e., at an angle of 45° plus/minus several degrees. Extending generally flat from the upward extending portion 312A, i.e., at an angle of approximately 45° plus/minus several degrees with respect to upward extending portion 312A, and generally parallel to base plate 314, is a flat portion 312B. Further, extending generally downwardly from the flat portion 312B is downward extending portion 312C. Downward extending portion 3120 extends generally downwardly from flat portion 312B, i.e., at an angle of 45° plus/minus several degrees with respect to flat portion 312B. Upward extending portion 312A and downward extending portion 312C extend at generally the same angle with respect to flat portion 312B. In this embodiment, the upward extending portion 312A and downward extending portion 312C have different lengths. Thus, the downward extending portion 312C extends a much shorter distance than upward extending portion 312A.
As can be understood, the general hook-shape of the wings 312 permits the wings 312 to be securely embedded within the concrete structure 12 and to resist a downwardly exerted force that would tend to pull the wings 312, and thus, the color-coded element 300 downwardly and out of the concrete structure 12. Thus, the wings create an undercut in the concrete structure. As discussed, this undercut provides for the color-coded element to securely stay in the concrete structure 12 once the wood form 14 is removed and nails 210 are broken off.
As was discussed above, slots 315 are provided in the base plate 314 of color-coded element 300 and radial cuts 316 extend from the aperture 313 of the color-coded element 300.
The color-coded element may be made out of a thin, colored plastic material, such as polypropylene or polyethylene. However, it may also be made . from a carbon or steel material. It may, be produced by a plastic molding technique or any of a variety of other production methods. The color-coded element may also be used as a seal to protect the concrete structure 12 from intrusion by liquids, or even solids.
The following Figures illustrate various other alternative embodiments for the color-coded element. In the Figures for the various embodiments, generally only the differences in the embodiments will be discussed.
Each of the wings 512 includes a generally upward extending portion 512A which extends generally upwardly from base plate 514, i.e., at an angle of 45° plus/minus several degrees. Extending generally flat from upward extending portion 512A, i.e., at an angle of approximately 45° plus/minus several degrees with respect to upward extending portion 512A, and generally parallel to base plate 514, is a flat portion 512B. Further, extending generally downwardly from flat portion 512B is downward extending portion 512C. Downward extending portion 512C extends generally downwardly from flat portion 512B, i.e., at an angle of 45° plus/minus several degrees with respect to flat portion 512B. Upward extending portion 512A and downward extending portion 512C extend at generally the same angle with respect to flat portion 512B. In this embodiment, the upward extending portion 512A and downward extending portion 512C have generally the same length. Thus, the bottom-most portion of downward extending portion 512C extends almost to the plane of the base plate 514.
The color-coded element 500 also has three slots 515 provided in the base plate 514. This embodiment of color-coded element 500 does not have radial cuts that extend from the aperture 513 of the color-coded element 500.
However, whereas the other embodiments of the color-coded elements have a central open aperture, the embodiments 1000 and 1100 do not include a central, completely open aperture. Rather, the color-coded elements of these embodiments are formed with a continuous membrane for base plates 1014, 1114. In the embodiment for color-coded element 1000, the membrane of base plate 1014 contains a slit (cut) 1014A, or “closed” opening, that may be penetrated by a threaded connector when threaded into the single point anchor.
The embodiment for color-coded element 1100 also includes a membrane for base plate 1114, however, the base plate 1114 contains three slits (cuts) 1114A that may be penetrated by a threaded connector when threaded into the single point anchor.
Thus, as can be understood, and as also discussed above, the present invention also provides a method for coding of an anchor point in a structure. In an embodiment, the method includes the steps of associating a coded element with a single point anchor, where the coded element includes an indicia that is indicative of a use of the single point anchor with a function. The single point anchor is disposed in the structure and the coded element is disposed on a surface of the structure.
The present invention also provides a method of identifying anchor points in a structure. In an embodiment, the method includes the steps of disposing a plurality of single point anchors in the structure, where each of the plurality of single point anchors is associated with a respective one of a plurality coded elements and where each of the plurality of coded elements includes a respective indicia that is indicative of a use of the associated single point anchor with a function.
As also discussed above, the method of the present invention includes assembling a coded element to a single point anchor. The coded element is assembled to the single point anchor before the single point anchor is nailed into the wood form. It can be pre-assembled before it is sold as an anchoring apparatus or the coded element can be sold as a separate item and then assembled to the single point anchor and sleeve on the job site. The coded element can be assembled to the single point anchor and the sleeve via the nails of the sleeve that are associated with both the single point anchor and the coded element. The coded element can also be assembled to the single point anchor and/or the sleeve by using an adhesive for attaching the coded element to the single point anchor and/or the sleeve. Additionally, the central aperture of the coded element can be disposed around the cylindrical body of the single point anchor, which cylindrical body has the internal cavity that is able to receive a threaded connector within the cavity. However, the present invention is not limited to these ways of assembling the coded element to the single point anchor and/or the sleeve. Further, it is not required that the coded element be directly attached to the single point anchor. All that is required is that the coded element be associated with the single point anchor such that the coded element is indicative of a use of the single point anchor with a function.
To further describe the installation process of the anchor apparatus, the coded element is installed together with the single point anchor, and sleeve, through the hammering process into the wood form. The coded element will stay in place between the single point anchor and the wood form during the pouring and curing of the concrete. The coded element stays in place when the wood form is removed and the nails are broken off, if nails are used. Thus, the coded element provides for a visual coding of the single point anchor when the wood form is removed in terms of the functional application for the single point anchor.
As can be seen in
The plug has a diameter that corresponds to the diameter of the aperture of the sleeve such that the plug can be inserted into the sleeve, but yet, retained in the sleeve by frictional engagement with the sleeve. The bottom-most portion of the plug can extend slightly below the bottom-most portion of the sleeve so that the color of the plug remains easily visible after insertion of the plug into the sleeve and so that the plug can be easily gripped by the hand of a contractor, for example, or a tool, such as pliers, to remove the plug after the concrete is poured, the wood form is removed, and the single point anchor is identified by the contractor for its use.
The plug can be made out of any of a variety of materials, such as plastic or foam.
Additionally, as can be seen in
Whereas the illustrated tab element has a T-shaped structure and is disposed through the plug, the present invention is not limited to such a physical configuration. All that is required is that the tab element be attached to the plug and be engagable by a hand or a tool. As such, the tab element could be adhered to the lowest-most portion of the plug with an adhesive, for example, or could be integrally formed with the plug, such as being molded in one piece with the plug. Additional physical configurations can also be utilized in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
As can be seen in
In this embodiment, the plug has an upper portion 1310 and a lower portion 1320. Between the upper portion 1310 and the lower portion 1320 a groove 1330 is defined by the upper and lower portions. When the plug is inserted into the sleeve 200, the upper portion 1310 is disposed above a portion of the ledge 201A of the sleeve, the lower portion 1320 is disposed below this portion of the ledge 201A, and the inner-most portion of ledge 201A is disposed in groove 1330 of the plug. Thus, the plug can be retained within the sleeve with these configurations of the plug and the sleeve. Of course, the plug is made of a material which is pliable enough such that the upper portion 1310 can be deformed for insertion and removal with respect to ledge 201A.
As can be seen in
In this embodiment, the plug also has an upper portion 1510 and a lower portion 1520, between which upper portion 1510 and lower portion 1520 a groove 1530 is also defined. As with the previous embodiment, when the plug is inserted into the sleeve 200, the upper portion 1510 is disposed above a portion of the ledge 201A of the sleeve, the lower portion 1520 is disposed below this portion of the ledge 201A, and the inner-most portion of ledge 201A is disposed in groove 1530 of the plug.
In this embodiment, the upper portion 1510 has a curved top surface and the lower portion 1520 is an elongated, flat structure that extends radially outward beyond the upper portion. The lower portion 1520 engages with at least a substantial length, e.g., 25% of the length, of the lower surface of ledge 201A of sleeve 200. The lower portion 1520 can engage with the entire length of the lower surface of the ledge 201A. This length of the lower portion 1520 can provide for even greater visibility of the color code of the color-coded element.
Thus, providing the same color coding on both the upper and lower ends of the anchor apparatus can provide advantages. For example, after the anchor apparatus is nailed into the wood form, but before the concrete is poured, the function of the anchor apparatus can still be easily determined by viewing the upper second color-coded element. As such, the layout of the installed anchor apparatuses in the wood form can be verified before the concrete is poured since the colors of the various installed anchor apparatuses can be easily seen on the top end of the anchor apparatuses.
However, the present invention is not limited to any particular location for disposing a second color-coded element. Alternatively, the second color-coded element can be a ring(s) that is/are disposed on one of the nails. Further yet, the second color-coded element can be disposed on a top surface of the base plate of the sleeve.
The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.
