Patent Application
20240368889
Concrete is a mixture of cement, water, and aggregates. Known for its strength, durability, low maintenance, energy efficiency, and relatively low cost, concrete is one of the most frequently used building materials used for constructing buildings, bridges, roads, sidewalks and other structures. In some structures, concrete is used in combination with reinforcement bars (herein, rebars). The combination of concrete and rebars is known as reinforced concrete and is widely used to mitigate the weak tension of concrete by distributing the tensile forces evenly across the structure and support heavy loads.
Some embodiments of the invention provide a column shoe. A shoe body can include an access opening and a lower rebar opening that defines a connection axis to receive a threaded rebar end. A lower protrusion may extend from the lower end of the shoe body to secure a rebar tie assembly to the shoe body.
In some examples, an assembly can include a plurality of the column shoes. A rebar tie assembly can engage the lower protrusions of the column shoes to connect the column shoes together.
In some examples, a method of installing a rebar assembly can include arranging a plurality of the column shoes in a spaced array. A rebar tie assembly can be engaged with the lower protrusions of the column shoes to connect the column shoes together. Concrete can be poured to cover the column shoes and the rebar tie assembly.
Some embodiments of the invention provide a column shoe with a shoe body that includes an access opening and a lower end with a lower rebar opening that defines a connection axis to receive a threaded rebar end. A first threaded opening can be included on a first lateral side of the shoe body to secure a first threaded rebar of a rebar tie assembly to the shoe body. A second threaded opening can be included on a second lateral side of the shoe body to secure a second threaded rebar of the rebar tie assembly to the shoe body.
In some examples, an assembly can include a plurality of the column shoes. A rebar tie assembly can include threaded rebar segments that engage the first and second threaded openings of the column shoes to connect the column shoes together.
In some examples, a method of installing a rebar assembly can include arranging a plurality of the column shoes in a spaced array. A respective first rebar length can be engaged with each of first threaded openings of the plurality of column shoes and a respective second rebar length can be engaged with each of the second threaded openings of the plurality of column shoes. Sets of the first and second rebar lengths can be secured together with turnbuckles to connect the column shoes together. Concrete can be poured to cover the column shoes and the rebar tie assembly.
Some embodiments of the invention provide a column shoe with a shoe body that includes an access opening at a front side, and a lower end with a lower rebar opening that defines a connection axis to receive a threaded rebar end. A vertical member can extend at a back side of the shoe body to secure a rebar tie assembly to the shoe body.
In some examples, an assembly can include a plurality of the column shoes. A rebar tie assembly can engage the vertical members of the column shoes to connect the column shoes together.
In some examples, a method of installing a rebar assembly can include arranging a plurality of the column shoes in a spaced array. A rebar tie assembly can be engaged with the vertical members of the column shoes to connect the column shoes together. Concrete can be poured to cover the column shoes and the rebar tie assembly.
In some examples, an assembly for a concrete column can include a first shoe body and a second shoe body. Each of the first and second shoe bodies defines an internal cavity, a lower wall, an upper wall, an opening, a first lug, and a second lug, respectively. The internal cavity is closed continuously around a rear side and at opposite lateral sides by a rear wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall of the respective first or second shoe body. The lower wall can include a lower rod opening that defines a connection axis and receives a threaded end of a first length of rod into the internal cavity along the connection axis. The upper wall can secure a second length of rod opposite the lower rod opening. The opening opens into the internal cavity at a front side of the shoe body to provide access to secure the threaded end of the first length of rod within the internal cavity. The first lug protrudes from one or more of the first side wall or the rear wall. The second lug protrudes from one or more of the second side wall or the rear wall. A tie assembly can include a first tie that can be secured to, and extend between, the first lug of the first shoe body and the second lug of the second shoe body to secure the first and second shoe bodies together.
In some examples, an assembly for a concrete column can include a first shoe body, a second shoe body and a third shoe body. Each of the first shoe body, the second shoe body, and the third shoe body can include an internal cavity, a lower rod opening, an upper wall, a first lug and a second lug. The lower rod opening can receive a threaded end of a corresponding first length of rod into the internal cavity along a connection axis to be secured within the internal cavity. The upper wall can secure a corresponding second length of rod (e.g., opposite the lower rod opening). The first lug can protrude in a first direction away from the connection axis and the second lug can protrude in a second direction away from the connection axis. A tie assembly can include a first tie and a second tie. The first tie can extend between the first lug of the first shoe body and the second lug of the second shoe body to secure the first and second shoe bodies together. The second tie can extend between the second lug of the first shoe body and the first lug of the third shoe body to secure the first and third shoe bodies together.
In some examples, a method of forming a concrete column can include arranging a first shoe body and a second shoe body in a spaced array. Internal cavities of the first and second shoe bodies can be closed continuously around a rear side and at opposite lateral sides by a rear wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall of the respective first or second shoe body. Lower rod openings can define connection axes to receive ends of first lengths of rod into the internal cavities. Openings into the internal cavity at front sides of the shoe bodies can provide access to the ends of the first lengths of rod within the internal cavities. First and second lugs can extend away from the corresponding connection axis. Second lengths of rod can be secured to upper ends of the first and second shoe bodies. A tie assembly can be engaged with the first and second shoe bodies, including: securing a first tie to the first lug of the first shoe body and to the second lug of the second shoe body to extend between, and secure together, the first and second shoe bodies. Concrete can be poured to cover the first and second shoe bodies and the tie assembly, with the lower rod openings and the openings at the front sides of the first and second shoe bodies remaining exposed to an exterior of the concrete.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of embodiments of the invention:
Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways.
The following discussion is presented to enable a person skilled in the art to make and use embodiments of the invention. Various modifications to the illustrated embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles herein can be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from embodiments of the invention. Thus, embodiments of the invention are not intended to be limited to embodiments shown, but are to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein. The following detailed description is to be read with reference to the figures, in which like elements in different figures have like reference numerals. The figures, which are not necessarily to scale, depict selected embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of embodiments of the invention. Skilled artisans will recognize the examples provided herein have many useful alternatives and fall within the scope of embodiments of the invention.
In some construction operations, reinforced concrete is pre-cast at a prefabrication site (e.g., a dedicated facility) to form a section of a structure (e.g., walls or columns). Various sections can then be transported to an installation site to be joined together into a larger assembled structure, typically with various rebar connectors used to join the rebar of adjacent sections of the concrete.
Some concrete sections in particular can be configured as columns, to be stacked onto supporting foundations to assemble a larger structure (e.g., stacked onto a foundation provided by an earlier-installed column). However, a variety of section forms are possible. Correspondingly, discussion of columns in particular examples herein can generally apply to a variety of other concrete sections, in some cases.
When pre-cast columns (for example) are formed from concrete, the concrete can withstand substantial compressive loads exerted to the columns. However, concrete alone sometimes cannot withstand relevant tension loads, and reinforcing bar (rebar) is accordingly embedded within the concrete column. For example, rebar can be assembled to form a rebar cage that includes vertical and horizontal rebars. The vertical rebars can withstand tension loading from a bending moment of the column while the horizontal rebars can provide for lateral and shear strength.
Horizontal rebars of rebar cages are typically wound around rebar couplers. However, horizontal rebars cannot be wrapped around column shoes because this configuration can interfere with access to the interior cavity of the column shoes (e.g., interfere with access through a front opening of the column shoe to block tightening of nuts that secure the column shoes on supporting threaded rods).
Embodiments of the invention can address these and other issues, including by providing improved column shoe assemblies for concrete structures. For example, some configurations can provide improved connections between column shoe bodies via horizontal rebar with corresponding improvements to structural configurations for load distribution within concrete structures without adverse effects on access to the interior of column shoes. In some configurations, column shoe bodies can be securely connected with threaded horizontal rebars within the corresponding pre-cast concrete sections. In some configurations, a rebar tie assembly can be engaged with grooves or vertical members on column shoe bodies.
As also generally noted above, discussion herein applies generally to assembly of column shoe bodies to withstand high load by forming a rebar cage within prefabricated concrete sections. In this regard, the figures presented herein illustrate example column shoes as part of pre-cast columns that are mounted on simple foundations. However, column shoes according to this disclosure (e.g., as shown in the figures) can be used in other types of concrete sections, including as part of a foundation, as part of a pre-cast wall, etc. Correspondingly, discussion herein of foundations is generally applicable to concrete sections of a variety of types, including other columns, walls, etc. that are arranged to support a section that includes a column shoe.
In the illustrated embodiments, each of the vertical rebars 106 are connected to an adapter 108 that is securely connected to a column shoe 110 (e.g., via a threaded connection). The horizontal rebars 104 can be tied the vertical rebars 106 in various ways. For example, a wire (not shown) can be used to tie the horizontal rebars 104 with the vertical rebars 106.
In other examples, other types of rods can be used instead of rebars. In some examples, the rods (e.g., rebar) may include threaded ends (e.g., to be received by the adapters 108 or into the column shoes 110, as further discussed below). In some examples, the rods (e.g., rebars) can be bent to fit the shape of a particular concrete structure that is different from the illustrated configuration of the structure 102.
In the illustrated embodiment, a plurality of column shoes forms an array, and the plurality of column shoes may include substantially identical same components and features. For the sake of discussion, a single column shoe will be discussed in detail to describe different components and features of the column shoe. In some examples, however, differently configured column shoes can be used together in an array (e.g., to accommodate extended flat sections of concrete walls or other geometry).
Generally, a column shoe discussed below can be formed as an integral casting (or otherwise) using a variety of suitably strong materials (e.g., ductile iron, tempered ductile iron, etc.). A shoe body of a column shoe can also take a variety of forms, including those with improved material distribution as further discussed below. As further discussed below, in the example shown, the column shoe 110 includes a shoe body 112 that is connected to the adapter 108 at an upper end 114 (or an upper wall). Further, a lower end 116 (or the lower wall) of the shoe body 112 includes a lower protrusion 140 to secure a rebar tie assembly 118 (e.g., a single overlapped length of rebar) to the shoe body 112.
Referring now to
The upper opening 122 and the lower opening 124 are aligned coaxial to each other about a connection axis CA. In some examples, referring back to
The lower opening 124 of the illustrated embodiment extends through the lower protrusion 140, which can be formed integrally with the column shoe 110. In particular, the lower protrusion 140 includes a shaft body 142 that extends away from the lower end 116 of the shoe body 112. The shaft body 142 includes a lip 144 that protrudes radially from the axially extending shaft body 142 to define a groove 146 that extends circumferentially about the connection axis CA. The lip 144 includes a flattened lower surface 148 that can be configured to sit on a fastening mechanism (e.g., nut, washers) on a threaded rebar end when the threaded rebar end is received into the shoe body 112 along the connection axis CA to support the column shoe 110 (and the concrete structure 102).
In the example shown, the lower protrusion 140 is radially asymmetrical relative to the connection axis CA. More specifically, the lip 144 of the lower protrusion 140 may extend radially only partially about the connection axis CA. For example, the lip 144 of the lower protrusion 140 can form a sector of a circular disk. With the lower protrusion being radially asymmetrical, the groove 146 defined between the lip 144 and the lower end 116 of the shoe body 112 can also be asymmetrical relative to the connection axis CA. Alternatively, in some examples, the lip 144 may be a disc-like shape and the lower protrusion 140 or the groove 146 may be otherwise radially symmetrical relative to the connection axis CA.
Referring back to
Other column shoes described hereinafter may include similar features. For example, referring to
Still referring now to
In the illustrated example, the first axis FA and the second axis SA are substantially perpendicular to each other. As used herein, unless otherwise limited or defined, “substantially perpendicular” indicates a direction that is within ±12 degrees of perpendicular a reference direction (e.g., within ±6 degrees or ±3 degrees), inclusive. Alternatively, the first axis FA and the second axis SA can be substantially parallel to each other, or otherwise oriented. As used herein, unless otherwise limited or defined, “substantially parallel” indicates a direction that is within ±12 degrees of a reference direction (e.g., within ±6 degrees or ±3 degrees), inclusive.
Referring back to
In particular, in the illustrated example, the first and second threaded rebars 246A, 246B extending from the column shoes 210 are connected by a turnbuckle 254 that is disposed between two adjacent column shoes 210 to provide an adjustable coaxial connection between the rebars 246A, 246B. Due to the opposed thread directions discussed above, the turnbuckle 254 can thus be rotated in a single direction to tighten the connection with the first and second threaded rebars 246A, 246B to a desired length. The securement of the threaded rebar via turnbuckle 254 can thus allow easy adjustment of the rebar length between the column shoes 210.
As mentioned above, in the illustrated example, the first axis FA of the first threaded opening 242A and the second axis SA of the second threaded opening 242B are perpendicular to each other, corresponding to the location of the column shoes 210 at the four corners of the column 202. Additionally and alternatively, additional ports 240A, 240B including corresponding threaded openings can be oriented at various other angles to provide otherwise configured arrays. For example, as discussed above, ports on column shoes can be substantially parallel to each other (e.g., parallel with the front face of the column shoe).
Referring now to
Referring back to
Referring now to
Referring back to
Referring now to
Referring back to
Referring now to
Referring back to
Referring now to
In the illustrated example, the first lug 740 of the shoe body 712 is integrally formed with the one or more of the first side wall 730 or the rear wall 728 of the shoe body. Similarly, the second lug 742 of the shoe body 712 is integrally formed with the one or more of the second side wall 732 or the rear wall 728 of the shoe body 712. In some examples, the first and second lugs 740, 742 extends from a medial region 743 that is disposed between the upper end 714 and the lower end 716 of the column shoe 710.
In the illustrated example, the first lug 740 of the shoe body 712 is a first flattened car 744 that includes a first bore 746 defining a first connection axis FA through the first bore 746. Similarly, the second lug 742 of the shoe body 712 is a second flattened ear 748 that includes a second bore 751 defining a second connection axis SA through the second bore 751. In some examples, the first connection axis FA, the second connection axis SA and the connection axis CA of the column shoe 710 that extends through the upper opening 722 and the lower opening 724 can be parallel (or substantially parallel) with respect to each other. The first flattened ear 744 extends from the first side wall 730 or the rear wall 728 at a first direction FD and the second flattened ear 748 extends from the second side wall 732 or the rear wall 728 at a second direction SD. In some examples, the first direction FD is angularly offset from the second direction by about 90 degrees. Thus, as also discussed below, the first bore 746 allows a tie assembly to be secured to the shoe body 712, spaced apart from the connection axis CA of the shoe body 712 in the first direction FD, the second bore 751 allows a tie assembly to be secured to the shoe body 712, spaced apart from the connection axis CA of the shoe body 712 in the second direction SD (e.g., angularly offset from the first direction FD by about 90 degrees).
As shown in the front elevation view of
Referring back to
The vertical rebar 706 is secured (e.g., by the adapters 708, as shown) at an upper opening 722 of each of the column shoes 710A, 710B, 710C, 710D (see, e.g.,
Each of the column shoes 710A, 710B, 710C, 710D is connected to another (e.g., adjacent) column shoe by a tie 752 (e.g., a rebar tie). For example, a first lug 740A of the first column shoe 710A is coupled to a second lug 742B of the second column shoe 710B by a first tie 752A, a second lug (not shown) of the first column shoe 710A is coupled to a first lug 740D of the fourth column shoe 710D by a second tie 752B, a second lug 742D of the fourth column shoe 710D is coupled to a first lug 740C of the third column shoe 710C by a third tie 752C, and the second lug 742C of the third column shoe 710C is coupled to the first lug 740B of the second column shoe 710B by a fourth tie 752D.
In particular, the ties 752A, 752B, 752C, 752D include a first bent end 754 and a second bent end 756 that are received by the first and second bores 746, 751 of the first and second flattened ear 744, 748 of adjacent shoe bodies 712. For example, the first bent end 754 of the first tie 752A can be received by the first bore 746 of the first column shoe 710A and the second bent end 756 of the first tie 752A can be received by the second bore 751 of the second column shoe 710B. Furthermore, the first bent end 754 of a second tie 752B can be received by the second bore 751 of the first column shoes 710A and the second bent end 756 of the second tie 752B can be received by the first bore 746 of the fourth column shoes 710D. Accordingly, multiple column shoes 710A, 710B, 710D can be linked together by rebar ties 752 in series (or in a chain configuration).
As described above, the laterally extending first flattened cars 744 of the first, second, third, and fourth column shoes 710A, 710B, 710C, 710D extends laterally to the outside of the respective first side wall 730 and the laterally extending second flattened cars 748 extend laterally to the outside of the respective second side wall 732. In some examples, the cars 744, 748 can extend to have top or bottom surfaces substantially parallel with the flattened cars 744, 748 of an adjacent column shoe. For example, the first flattened ear 744 of the first shoe body 710A can extend substantially parallel to a second flattened ear 748 of the second shoe body 710B.
Generally, adjacent cars can be spaced apart from each other by a gap. For example, the first flattened ear 744 of the first shoe body 710A and a second flattened ear 748 of the second shoe body 710B be spaced apart by a lateral gap, which can be bridge by a tie assembly.
As described above, the column shoe 710 includes multiple openings and bores that are configured to receive a rod (e.g., a rebar). The upper opening 722 and the lower opening 724 of the column shoe 710 are configured to receive vertical rod and can be substantially coaxial to each other. The upper opening and the lower opening being substantially coaxial relative to reach other can provide structural rigidity to distribute the stress more evenly throughout the structure, and may in some cases correspond to thickened material around a front opening of a shoe body, rearward placement of lugs, or other adjustments. The first and second lugs 740, 742 (e.g., flattened cars, as shown) are configured to receive the rebar ties 752 to connect the column shoes 710 together. In other words, the first and second lugs 740, 742 are specifically configured to establish linking connections between the column shoes 710 through the rebar ties 752 to provide lateral and shear strength to the assembly, whereas engagement of the rods at the openings 722, 724 subject specifically implicates tension loading.
In particular, the first and second lugs 740, 742 extend from the medial region 743 of the column shoe 710, which can be beneficial to redistribute tension load that can be exerted by the rebar ties 752 when connecting to adjacent column shoes 710. For example, since the upper end 714 and the lower end 716 includes upper opening 722 and lower opening 724 respectively, inclusion of first and second lugs 740, 742 along the closer to the upper end 714 and the lower end 716 could result in unfavorable stress concentrations around the upper and lower opening 722, 724. Thus, the positioning of the first and second lugs 740, 742 being disposed along the medial region 743 allows the load to be redistributed while forming the tie assembly 718 and may also allow the tie assembly to be easily and reliably connected during and after pouring of concrete to form the concrete structure 702.
In some examples, a thickness T of the first and second lugs 740, 742 can be changed to withstand different loading conditions.
Additionally and alternatively, the first and second lugs of the column shoe 710 can configured to provide lateral and shear strength of the rebar cage 700. For instance, the horizontal rebars surrounding the vertical rebars require wires to connect the horizontal rebars to the vertical rebars. This may be a cumbersome task for a user. However, inclusion of the first and second lugs 740, 742 enables the rebar tie 752 to directly engage the neighboring column shoes 710, allowing easy installation.
The column shoes described above can be used to form a concrete column or a concrete structure 702. For instance, still referring to
Generally, the various concrete structures 102 through 702 (or other columns) can be formed by pouring concrete to cover the components of the rebar cages 100 through 700 described above. For instance, once any of the rebar cages 100 through 700 with the column shoes 110 through 710 are arranged to form the arrays 150 through 750 and rebar tie assemblies 118 through 718 are coupled to the relevant structures of the column shoes 110 through 710, the concrete can be poured and cured to form the relevant pre-cast concrete structures.
In some implementations, devices or systems disclosed herein can be utilized, manufactured, installed, etc. using methods embodying aspects of the disclosed technology. Correspondingly, any description herein of particular features, capabilities, or intended purposes of a device or system should be considered to disclose, as examples of the disclosed technology a method of using such devices for the intended purposes, a method of otherwise implementing such capabilities, a method of manufacturing relevant components of such a device or system (or the device or system as a whole), and a method of installing disclosed (or otherwise known) components to support such purposes or capabilities. Similarly, unless otherwise indicated or limited, discussion herein of any method of manufacturing or using for a particular device or system, including installing the device or system, should be understood to disclose, as examples of the disclosed technology, the utilized features and implemented capabilities of such device or system.
In this regard, for example, some embodiments of the disclosed invention can include prefabricating concrete structures using the column shoe assemblies as disclosed herein (or components thereof), or securing concrete structures together using the column shoe assemblies disclosed herein (or components thereof). Similarly, some examples can include manufacturing or using sets of substantially identical column shoes or column shoe assemblies (e.g., of one or more sizes) for prefabrication or for on-site operations.
It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further, “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.
With respect to methods presented herein, unless otherwise specified, operations can be optionally included, excluded, or performed in different sequences (e.g., with different orders, in parallel, etc.). Thus, for example, relative to the methods discussed herein, rebar or other rods or associated adaptors can be secured to top walls of column shoes (e.g., the upper end 714, etc.) before or after the column shoes are arrayed and secured together with a tie assembly (and vice versa).
Unless otherwise specifically indicated, ordinal numbers are used herein for convenience of reference, based generally on the order in which particular components are presented in the relevant part of the disclosure. In this regard, for example, designations such as “first,” “second,” etc., generally indicate only the order in which a thus-labeled component is introduced for discussion and generally do not indicate or require a particular spatial, functional, temporal, or structural primacy or order.
As used herein, unless otherwise limited or specified, “substantially identical” refers to two or more components or systems that are manufactured or used according to the same process and specification, with variation between the components or systems that are within the limitations of acceptable tolerances for the relevant process and specification. For example, two components can be considered to be substantially identical if the components are manufactured according to the same standardized manufacturing steps, with the same materials, and within the same acceptable dimensional tolerances (e.g., as specified for a particular process or product).
As used herein, unless otherwise limited or defined, “or” indicates a non-exclusive list of components or operations that can be present in any variety of combinations, rather than an exclusive list of components that can be present only as alternatives to each other. For example, a list of “A, B, or C” indicates options of: A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; and A, B, and C. Correspondingly, the term “or” as used herein is intended to indicate exclusive alternatives only when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of,” “only one of,” or “exactly one of.” For example, a list of “one of A, B, or C” indicates options of: A, but not B and C; B, but not A and C; and C, but not A and B. A list preceded by “one or more” (and variations thereon) and including “or” to separate listed elements indicates options of one or more of any or all of the listed elements. For example, the phrases “one or more of A, B, or C” and “at least one of A, B, or C” indicate options of: one or more A; one or more B; one or more C; one or more A and one or more B; one or more B and one or more C; one or more A and one or more C; and one or more of A, one or more of B, and one or more of C. Similarly, a list preceded by “a plurality of” (and variations thereon) and including “or” to separate listed elements indicates options of multiple instances of any or all of the listed elements. For example, the phrases “a plurality of A, B, or C” and “two or more of A, B, or C” indicate options of: A and B; B and C; A and C; and A, B, and C.
Also as used herein, unless otherwise limited or defined, “integral” and derivatives thereof (e.g., “integrally”) describe elements that are manufactured as a single piece without fasteners, adhesive, or the like to secure separate components together. For example, an element stamped or cast as a single-piece component from a single piece of sheet metal or a single mold (etc.), without rivets, screws, or adhesive to hold separately formed pieces together, is an integral (and integrally formed) element. In contrast, an element formed from multiple pieces that are separately formed initially, then later connected together, is not an integral (or integrally formed) element.
Also as used herein, unless otherwise limited or specified, “substantially identical” refers to two or more components or systems that are manufactured or used according to the same process and specification, with variation between the components or systems that are within the limitations of acceptable tolerances for the relevant process and specification. For example, two components can be considered to be substantially identical if the components are manufactured according to the same standardized manufacturing steps, with the same materials, and within the same acceptable dimensional tolerances (e.g., as specified for a particular process or product).
Unless otherwise specified or limited, the terms “about” and “approximately”, as used herein with respect to a reference value, refer to variations from the reference value of +5% or less, inclusive of the endpoints of the range. Similarly, as used herein with respect to a reference value, the term “substantially equal” (and the like) refers to variations from the reference value of less than ±5% (e.g., ±2%, ±1%, ±0.5%) inclusive. Where specified in particular, “substantially” can indicate a variation in one numerical direction relative to a reference value. For example, the term “substantially less” than a reference value (and the like) indicates a value that is reduced from the reference value by 30% or more (e.g., 35%), and the term “substantially more” than a reference value (and the like) indicates a value that is increased from the reference value by 30% or more (e.g., 35%).
Additionally, unless otherwise specified or limited, “substantially coaxial” indicates that the described elements have axes that are substantially parallel with each other and are aligned so that extension of the axis one of the elements intersects an axial end of another of the elements (e.g., at or within a diameter thereof, within 50% of a diameter thereof, within 25% of a diameter thereof, or within 5%—or less—of a diameter thereof). Thus, for example, substantially coaxial sections of rebar on opposing sides of a column shoe can extend substantially in parallel with each other, along a substantially identical axis, to provide single-axis load transmission across the column shoe as further detailed above.
The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.
This application claims priority to and incorporates by reference U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/500,185, filed May 4, 2023.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63500185 | May 2023 | US |
