REBAR POSITIONING DEVICE

Abstract

A rebar positioning device has a generally planer shape and includes top and bottom cross bars and left and right side bars forming a generally rectangular profile. Upwardly extending upper left, upper right, lower left and lower right channels are formed in upper and lower portions of the device, each channel sized to receive a length of rebar to hold and position the rebar in the interior openings of a row of masonry blocks stacked to form a wall.

Description

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to construction equipment and more particularly relates to a device for retaining and positioning rebar being placed in internal openings in masonry blocks in preparation for pouring grout in the block to make a monolithic wall.

Description of Related Art

Many retaining walls are built using stacked rows of masonry blocks. Rebar is inserted in horizontal and vertical spaces formed by the rows of masonry blocks and grout is poured into the spaces to form a monolithic structure. Unfortunately, placement of the rebar is time consuming and can result in uneven disposition of the rebar with respect to the surrounding edges of the blocks which compromise integrity of the bond formed by grout pouring in the blocks. If it is desired to space rebar at fixed distances from each other or from the interior edges of the blocks, spacers or blocks must be manufactured or the bars must be tied in a desired pattern, or both, frequently manufacturing the spacers on site. It is therefore needed to find a solution which reduces the time and materials required to install and fix in place rebar in masonry block walls.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rebar positioning device according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a depiction of a slice of a wall formed using masonry blocks in which the rebar positioning device has been installed to place rebar in the masonry blocks.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT

A rebar positioning device 10 according to the invention is described in detail with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2. The device has a generally planar shape, and it is anticipated will be constructed from a light material that can withstand being embedded in grout yet is sturdy enough to hold lengths of rebar. A suitable material for making the device is rubber, but other materials are to be expected.

The rebar positioning device 10 has a generally rectangular shape having top and bottom horizontal cross bars 12, 14 and left and right vertical side bars 16, 18 extending between the top and bottom cross bars. The top bar is defined by top outer edge 20 and top inner edge 22 and the bottom bar is defined by bottom outer edge 24 and bottom inner edge 26. The left side bar 16 is defined by left outer edge 28 and left inner edge 30 and the right side bar 18 is defined by right outer edge 32 and right inner edge 34. The top, bottom, left and right inner edges, 22, 26, 3034 bound a large center opening 36.

Left and right inner and outer retention bars 38, 39, 40, 41 extend upwardly from the bottom inner edge 26. The lower left inner retention bar 38 is spaced from the left outer retention bar 40 to form a lower left channel 42. Similarly, the lower right inner retention bar 39 is spaced from the lower right outer retention bar 41 to form a lower right channel 44.

An upwardly opening upper left channel 45 is formed in an upper portion 46 of the device, bounded on the left by top left outer retention bar 48 and on the right by top inner retention bar 50. Similarly, an upwardly opening upper right channel 54 is formed in the upper portion 46 of the device opposite the upper left channel 45, the upper right channel 54 being bounded on the right by top right outer retention bar 56 and, on the left, by top right inner retention bar 58.

Each of the upper left, upper right, lower left and lower right channels 44, 54, 42, 44 are sized to receive rebar of the kind typically used for embedment in grout. In one embodiment of the invention, some or all of the channels are deep enough to accept two overlaying lengths of rebar.

The device is used during construction of a wall made from hollow masonry blocks 60 as seen in FIG. 3. During construction blocks are dry-stacked in rows and the rebar positioning devices are placed in the hollow openings 62 in the masonry units as shown. To aid in insertion, the outer edges 64 (see FIG. 2) of the top outer retention bars 48, 56 and of the lower retention bars 40, 41 are tapered. When the blocks are stacked in a desired configuration rebar 68 is inserted in the interior openings of the blocks and placed in the channels of the rebar positioning device as shown. The device secures the rebar in the openings of the block well-spaced apart from each other and from the interior edges of the openings in the block so that, when it is poured, grout will surround the rebar, freely adhere to the interior edges of the openings, and improve the strength of the bond formed when the rebar-embedded grout hardens. Moreover, using the rebar position device saves time and provides guidance to installers.

There have thus been described and illustrated certain embodiments of a rebar positioning device according to the invention. Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it should be clearly understood that the disclosure is illustrative only and is not to be taken as limiting, the spirit and scope of the invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

Claims

1. A rebar positioning device comprising: a generally planar body sized to fit in the interior opening of a masonry block, the body having horizontal top and bottom cross bars and one or more vertical bars extending between said top and bottom cross bars, each of the top and bottom cross bars having opposite left and right ends, andeach of said left and right ends having a pair of spaced apart retention bars extending upwardly from each of said top and bottom cross bars, said pairs of retention bars forming upwardly extending upper left and upper right retention channels on the left and right ends of said top crossbar and upwardly extending lower left and lower right retention channels on the left and right ends of said bottom crossbar, each of said retention channels sized to receive a section of rebar, the upper left and upper right channels of said top channel horizontally spaced apart and the lower left and lower right channels of said bottom channel horizontally spaced apart, and the upper left and upper right retention channels of the top cross bar vertically spaced apart from the lower left and lower right retention channels of the bottom crossbar,wherein the channels are sized to receive, secure and position one or more lengths of rebar that have been inserted in the interior opening of the masonry block in spaced apart disposition.

2. The rebar positioning device of claim 1 wherein said one or more vertical bars comprise two or more vertical bars.

3. The rebar positioning device of claim 1 further comprising: the one or more vertical bars comprising left and right side bars, anda center opening defined by said top and bottom cross bars and said left and right side bars.

4. The rebar positioning device of claim 1 further comprising: each of the pairs of retention bars of said bottom cross bar including an outer retention bar having a tapered edge to facilitate insertion of the body in the interior opening of a masonry block.

5. The rebar positioning device of claim 4 further comprising: each of the pairs of retention bars of said top cross bar including an outer retention bar having a tapered edge.

6. The rebar positioning device of claim 1 further comprising: the upper left and upper right retention channels being in vertical alignment with the lower left and lower right retention channels.

7. A rebar positioning device comprising: a generally planar body sized to fit in the interior opening of a masonry block, the body having horizontal top and bottom cross bars and vertical left and right side bars extending between said top and bottom cross bars, each of the top and bottom cross bars having opposite left and right ends, andeach of said left and right ends having a pair of spaced apart retention bars extending upwardly from each of said top and bottom cross bars, said pairs of retention bars forming upwardly extending upper left and upper right retention channels on the left and right ends of said top crossbar and upwardly extending lower left and lower right retention channels on the left and right ends of said bottom crossbar, each of said retention channels sized to receive a section of rebar, the upper left and upper right channels of said top channel horizontally spaced apart and the lower left and lower right channels of said bottom channel horizontally spaced apart, and the upper left and upper right retention channels of the top cross bar vertically spaced apart from the lower left and lower right retention channels of the bottom crossbar,wherein the channels are sized to receive, secure and position one or more lengths of rebar that have been inserted in the interior opening of the masonry block in spaced apart disposition.

8. The rebar positioning device of claim 7 further comprising: a center opening defined by said top and bottom cross bars and said left and right side bars.