Snap tie breaker tool

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6619332
  • Patent Number
    6,619,332
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, May 22, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, September 16, 2003
    21 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Original Assignees
    • (San Diego, CA, US)
  • Examiners
    • Larson; Lowell A.
    Agents
    • Eastman; Gary L.
Abstract
A snap tie breaker tool includes a handle connected to a body shaft with a locking brace and two receiving tubes attached to the body shaft. The snap tie breaker tool operates by sliding a concrete snap tie through both receiving tubes. The portion of the concrete snap tie that passes through both receiving tubes is then bent to a position perpendicular to its original position. Next, the handle is rotated so that the bent portion of the concrete snap tie contacts the body shaft. Once contact is made, an increased amount of force is applied to continue rotating the handle and the concrete snap tie. Eventually, the concrete snap tie will break and can be removed from the concrete wall. The process of breaking the concrete snap tie with the snap tie breaker tool is substantially less time consuming and takes less work than conventional methods.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates generally to tools that aid in the formation of concrete walls. More specifically, the present invention pertains to tools that break concrete snap ties. The present invention is particularly, though not exclusively, useful for bending and breaking concrete snap ties that are used for holding wood forms in place while concrete cures.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




The curing of concrete plays an integral role in the formation of concrete walls. The process of forming a concrete wall typically starts by installing rebar into the ground vertically. Rebar is positioned in concrete walls to give vertical and lateral support to the cured concrete. Next, plywood is secured in a vertical position to surround both sides of the area where the concrete will eventually be poured. Two-by-fours (2×4's) are then lined vertically on the outside of the plywood to give support against the pressure from the weight of wet concrete, once it is poured. Concrete snap ties (“snap ties”) are long metal rods used to give lateral support to the two-by-fours (2×4's) and plywood. The snap ties travel horizontally through both sets of plywood and two-by-fours (2×4's). Anchors are attached to the snap tie just inside of the plywood form and stop the plywood form from moving past a designated point where the concrete will be poured. Walers, often called wedges, are wood or plastic blocks that have crevices shaped to receive the end of a snap tie and are used to keep the two-by-fours (2×4's) from moving. The waler contacts the two-by-four (2×4) and slides around the snap tie. The waler presses against the two-by-four (2×4) and pulls on the snap tie on both sides of the structure, resulting in a stable wood structure. The concrete is now ready to be poured into the center between the plywood and around the rebar.




Once the concrete has been poured and has time to cure, the walers, two-by-fours (2×4's) and plywood form are removed. The last and most critical stage is the breaking of the snap tie. In anticipation for this step, the snap ties have grooves, or break backs, etched or formed so they will break at a pre-determined location. The grooves are located just inside the plywood form so that an epoxy filler can cover the remaining portion of the snap tie. Usually, snap ties are bent back and forth until they break, leaving the remainder of the snap tie inside the cured concrete. The process of breaking the snap ties is difficult because they are made of thick bars of metal. Pipes are often used to slide around the snap ties and bend the snap ties back and forth until they break. Even though each snap tie is pre-formed with a groove, it is very difficult and time consuming to break off the concrete snap ties.




SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION




The snap tie breaker tool of the present invention is used to break a concrete snap tie (“snap tie”) and includes a handle connected to a body shaft with a locking brace and two receiving tubes welded to the body shaft.




The process of breaking a snap tie with the snap tie breaker tool starts by sliding the snap tie into the first receiving tube and then the second receiving tube. The portion of the snap tie that is outside the second receiving tube is then bent to a ninety (90) degree angle or perpendicular from the stationary portion of the snap tie. When the outside portion of the snap tie is bent to a ninety (90) degree angle, the handle is rotated in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. The outside portion of the snap tie will contact the hinge and the rotation of the handle will be resisted by the snap tie.




A larger amount of force will be needed to rotate the handle further. As an adequately large amount of force is applied, the snap tie will begin to rotate until it breaks at its weakest point. Because the snap tie has been pre-grooved at a designated point just inside the plywood form, this is the weakest point and will break first. The snap tie is broken and can be removed from the structure leaving a small gap in the concrete where the snap tie was once located. The concrete wall is now ready for filler to be spread over the gap that was once a snap tie.











DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




The novel features of this invention, as well as the invention itself, both as to its structure and its operation, will be best understood from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description, in which like reference characters refer to similar parts, and in which:





FIG. 1

is a side view of a form for pouring a concrete wall showing a plywood and two-by-four (2×4) frame, with a concrete snap tie extending through the wall;





FIG. 2

is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the Snap Tie Breaker Tool of the present invention;





FIG. 3

is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the Snap Tie Breaker Tool of the present invention as it is engaged with a concrete snap tie;





FIG. 4

is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the Snap Tie Breaker Tool of the present invention;





FIG. 5

is a detailed view of the concrete snap tie extending from a poured concrete wall, with a Snap Tie Breaker Tool of the present invention shown in preparation for placement over the snap tie; and





FIG. 6

is a detailed view of the Snap Tie Breaker Tool being used to remove the protruding portion of the snap tie from the wall by rotating the tool.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION




Referring initially to

FIG. 1

, a side view of a prior art form for pouring a concrete wall is shown. Specifically, a concrete wall


151


includes rebar


150


positioned inside wet concrete


152


, and held in place by plywood form


154


and wedge


158


contacting a two-by-four (2×4) frame


156


and concrete snap tie


162


. Snap tie


162


includes an upper portion


163


formed with an anchor


159


and a head


171


that extends through two-by-four frame


156


and is positioned within wedge


158


. Once assembled, snap tie


162


holds plywood


154


tightly against anchor


159


to provide for a wall having a consistent thickness.




As shown in

FIG. 1

, snap tie


162


is formed with a preparation cut, or break back,


164


. This preparation cut


164


establishes a predetermined break location along the length of the snap tie


162


. Thus, as will be described more thoroughly in conjunction with

FIGS. 5 and 6

, once the wall is formed, the end portion of the snap tie may be easily removed from the cured concrete wall.




Referring now to

FIG. 2

, a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the Snap Tie Breaker Tool of the present invention is shown and generally designated


100


. Snap Tie Breaker Tool


100


includes handle


102


connected to the first end of body shaft


104


. In a preferred embodiment, shaft


104


attaches to the approximate midpoint of handle


102


to form a “T”.




Locking brace


106


is attached to the body shaft


104


, above a first receiving tube


108


and a second receiving tube


110


located adjacent the end


105


of body shaft


104


. First receiving tube


108


and second receiving tube


110


are substantially axial to each other and together define a bore for receiving a snap tie


162


, and formed with an internal diameter


107


sized large enough to receive snap tie


162


.




In a preferred embodiment, handle


102


, shaft


104


, locking brace


106


, first receiving tube


108


and second receiving tube


110


may be made of steel or aluminum, or other strong material known in the art. Handle


102


, locking brace


106


, first receiving tube


108


and second receiving tube


110


may be connected to body shaft


104


by a weld


103


, or any other method of attaching two metals together as is known in the art.




OPERATION




The operation of Snap Tie Breaker Tool


100


starts when concrete snap tie


162


is inserted through first receiving tube


108


and second receiving tube


110


. The portion of concrete snap tie


162


that is outside second receiving tube


110


is then bent to approximately a ninety (90) degree angle, or bent position


170


. Handle


102


is then rotated in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction until concrete snap tie


162


, in bent position


170


, contacts body shaft


104


. Further rotational force will break concrete snap tie


162


at break back


164


.





FIG. 3

is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the Snap Tie Breaker Tool


100


of the present invention is generally designated


200


and is shown as it is engaged with concrete snap tie


250


. Alternate embodiment


200


includes handle


202


with grips


204


, upper body shaft


206


with cradle


208


and locking brace


210


attached, first receiving tube


212


and second receiving tube


213


are attached to lower body shaft


207


. Upper body shaft


206


may pivot about hinge


214


in a direction


215


from a substantially colinear position to to lower body shaft


207


, to an angled position, such as between one hundred eighty (180) to ninety (90) degrees.




Cradle


208


is used to bend the upper portion


152


of concrete snap tie


250


to bent position


252


. The process starts by sliding concrete snap tie


250


through first receiving tube


212


and then second receiving tube


213


until it passes cradle


208


. Next, handle


202


and upper body shaft


206


are pivoted in direction


215


so that upper body shaft


206


is in a position up to perpendicular to lower body shaft


207


. Cradle


208


makes contact with concrete snap tie


251


and bends upper portion in direction


253


. Handle


202


and upper body shaft


206


then pivot back to their original position leaving upper concrete snap tie


251


in bent position


252


. Finally, handle


202


is rotated in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction so that upper concrete snap tie


251


, now in position


252


, contacts hinge


214


. Handle


202


is rotated further until concrete snap tie


250


breaks at break back


164


(not shown this Figure).




Preferably handle


202


, body shaft


206


, cradle


208


and enclosed receiving tube


212


may be composed of aluminum or other lightweight and strong metal that can bend concrete snap tie


250


. Hinge


214


may be composed of metal or other strong material that has the ability to pivot. It should also be noted that grips


204


may be composed of rubber or other material known in the art that can give a user




a cushioned or friction-enhancing grip.

FIG. 4

is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the Snap Tie Breaker Tool


100


of the present invention and is generally designated


300


. Alternate embodiment


300


includes hex-head


302


connected to the end of upper body shaft


304


, locking brace


306


is welded to upper body shaft


304


, first receiving tube


308


and second receiving tube


310


are attached to lower body shaft


305


.




The operation of alternate embodiment


300


includes inserting a snap tie into first receiving tube


308


and second receiving tube


310


and then bending the end portion of the snap tie, such as by using a separate pipe. Once the snap tie is inserted and bent, hex-head


302


may be rotated with a tool to break the concrete snap tie at the break back


164


. A variety of tools can be used to rotate hex-head


302


, such as a socket and manual ratchet or air powered ratchet tool, or other tools known in the art.




In a preferred embodiment, hex-head


302


, body shaft


304


, locking brace


306


, first receiving tube


308


and second receiving tube


310


may be composed of aluminum or other material that is strong, lightweight and known in the art. Hex-head


302


may have compatible measurements to fit the Standard or Metric sized sockets. It should also be noted that first receiving tube


308


and second receiving tube


310


may be combined to form an extended receiving tube


311


(shown in dashed lines).




Referring now to

FIGS. 5 and 6

, the Snap Tie Breaker Tool


100


of the present invention is shown as used to remove the protruding portion of a snap tie


162


from a cured concrete wall


152


. In

FIG. 5

, the poured concrete has at least partially cured, and plywood form


154


, waler


158


and two-by-fours (2×4)


156


have been removed. In use, Snap Tie Breaker Tool


100


is positioned in line with a snap tie


162


, and lowered in direction


165


such that snap tie


162


passes through first receiving tube


108


and second receiving tube


110


until first receiving tube


108


contacts concrete


152


. Once in position, as shown in

FIG. 6

, the upper portion


163


of the snap tie


162


is bent in direction


167


by any means know in the art, such as a tube being placed over the upper portion


163


and manually bending the snap tie


162


in direction


167


. Once the snap tie


162


is bent, the handle


102


is rotated about shaft


104


causing the snap tie


162


to twist and break at break back


164


.




While the snap tie breaker tool of the present invention as herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of obtaining the objects and providing the advantages herein before stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as described in the appended claims.



Claims
  • 1. A snap tie breaker tool comprising:a body shaft having a first end and a second end; a handle extending from said first end of said body shaft; a first receiving tube attached to said body shaft adjacent said second end of said body shaft; a second receiving tube attached to said body shaft between said first receiving tube and said handle wherein said first receiving tube and said second receiving tube are substantially axial defining an axis.
  • 2. The snap tie breaker tool in claim 1, wherein said handle further comprises a grip.
  • 3. The snap tie breaker tool in claim 1, wherein said handle is substantially perpendicular to said body shaft.
  • 4. The snap tie breaker tool in claim 1, wherein said body shaft and said handle form a “T”.
  • 5. The snap tie breaker tool in claim 1, wherein said body shaft further comprises a hinge located between said first end and said second receiving tube to define an upper body shaft and a lower body shaft, wherein said lower body shaft and said upper body shaft articulate about said hinge from a first position wherein said lower body shaft and said upper body shaft are substantially collinear, to a second position wherein said bower body shaft and said upper body shaft are at an angle.
  • 6. The snap tie breaker tool of claim 5, wherein said angle is between one hundred eighty (180) and ninety (90) degrees.
  • 7. The snap tie breaker tool of claim 5, further comprising a cradle positioned on said body shaft between said first receiving tube and said handle and on said axis.
  • 8. The snap tie breaker tool in claim 7, wherein said cradle receives a portion of a concrete snap tie.
  • 9. A snap tie breaker tool comprising:a body shaft having a first end and a second end; a handle extending from said first end of said body shaft; and an extended receiving tube attached to body shaft adjacent said second end of said body shaft wherein said extended receiving tube defines an axis, and wherein said axis is parallel to said body shaft.
  • 10. The snap tie breaker tool in claim 9, wherein said handle further comprises a grip.
  • 11. The snap tie breaker tool in claim 9, wherein said handle is substantially perpendicular to said body shaft.
  • 12. The snap tie breaker tool in claim 9, wherein said body shaft and said handle form a “T”.
  • 13. The snap tie breaker tool in claim 9, wherein said body shaft further comprises a hinge located between said locking brace and said extended receiving tube to define an upper body shaft and a rower body shaft, wherein said lower body shaft and said upper body shaft articulate about said hinge from a first position wherein said lower body shaft and said upper body shaft are substantially collinear, to a second position wherein said lower body shaft and said upper body shaft are at an angle.
  • 14. The snap tie breaker tool of claim 9, further comprising a cradle positioned on said body shaft between said extended receiving tube and said handle and on said axis.
  • 15. The snap tie breaker tool in claim 14, wherein said cradle receives a portion of a concrete snap tie.
  • 16. A snap tie breaker tool comprising:a body shaft having a first end and a second end; a head attached to first end of said body shaft; a first receiving tube on said body shaft adjacent to said second end of said body shaft; a second receiving tube attached to said body shaft between said first receiving tube and said head.
  • 17. The snap tie breaker tool of claim 16, wherein said head is formed with a hexagonal shape.
US Referenced Citations (5)
Number Name Date Kind
2777479 Beanum Jan 1957 A
2857792 McNish Oct 1958 A
3174517 Wilson Mar 1965 A
3546919 Fial Dec 1970 A
3722555 Voelsch Mar 1973 A
Non-Patent Literature Citations (3)
Entry
Dayton/Richmond May 16, 2001 “A-3 Standard Snap Tie” http://www.daytonrichmond.com/products/lightforming/a3standard.html.
Dayton/Richmond May 16, 2001 “A-30 Break Back Wrench” http://www.daytonrichmond.com/products/lightforming/a30.html.
Dayton/Richmond May 16, 2001 “A-29 Snap Tie Wrench” http://www.daytonrichmond.com/products/lightforming/a29.html.