Claims
- 1. An apparatus for use in embedding an anchor in a concrete structure, comprising:
(a) a body having first and second sections hinged together at upper portions thereof for movement between a closed condition engageable around an anchor received therebetween and a an open condition in which said sections are separated to release an anchor received therebetween; (b) a latch disposed between said sections to releasably secure the sections in the closed condition; and, (c) a passage defined between the first and second sections and opening through the undersurface, said passage being adapted to receive and retain an anchor therein when in the sections are in the closed condition and, upon movement of the first and sections to the open condition, being disposed to release an anchor received therein from the body.
- 2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the latch is disposed beneath the upper portions of the sections.
- 3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the body is hollow and formed of flexible polymeric material and comprises a monolithic shell defining the first and second sections and a cap secured over the shell to provide a closure therefor.
- 4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the latch comprises a protruding catch integrally formed with the first section and an opening integrally formed with the second section for latching engagement with the catch when the sections move from the second condition to the first condition.
- 5. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the catch and opening include mating surfaces which assume an engaged condition to secure the sections in the first condition and cam apart to release the latch upon applying force to the body to move the sections to the second condition.
- 6. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the hinge comprises first bridge elements monolithically formed with and extending between upper portions of the first and second sections.
- 7. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein:
(a) the cap comprises separated sections disposed over the first and second sections of the shell; and, (b) the hinge further comprises second bridge elements integrally formed with and extending between the separated sections.
- 8. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the first bridge elements interdigitate with the second bridge elements.
- 9. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the flexible polymeric material comprises polypropylene copolymer, reprocessed.
- 10. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the flexible polymeric material comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of styremic copolymer, polyesther elastomer, polyethelene, nylon, polyurethane, polyether block amide, styrene butadiene copolymer, EPDM rubber and polypropylene copolymer, reprocessed.
- 11. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first and second sections carry guide elements which mutually engage when the sections move to the first condition to maintain the sections in alignment.
- 12. In combination with an anchor for lifting a concrete structure, an improved apparatus for placing the anchor in a form for the structure and forming a void partially therearound, said apparatus comprising:
(a) a body having first and second sections hinged together at upper portions thereof for movement between a closed condition in which said sections engage around the anchor and an open condition in which said sections are separated at the lower portion thereof to release the anchor; (b) a latch disposed between said sections to releasably secure the sections in the closed condition; and, (c) a passage defined between the sections, said passage complimentally receiving the anchor and opening through an undersurface of the body to permit the anchor to extend from the undersurface, said body, upon movement of the first and sections to the open condition, being disposed to release the anchor from the body.
- 13. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the latch is disposed, at least in part, beneath the passage.
- 14. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the body is hollow and formed of flexible polymeric material and comprises a monolithic shell defining the first and second sections and a cap secured over the shell to provide a closure therefor.
- 15. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the latch comprises a protruding catch integrally formed with the first section and an opening integrally formed with the second section for latching engagement with the catch when the sections move from the open condition to the closed condition.
- 16. An apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the catch and opening include mating surfaces which assume an engaged condition to secure the sections in the closed condition and cam apart to release the latch to upon applying force to the body to move the sections to the open condition.
- 17. An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the hinge comprises first bridge elements monolithically formed with and extending between upper portions of the first and second sections.
- 18. An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein:
(a) the cap comprises separated sections disposed over the first and second sections of the shell; and, (b) the hinge further comprises second bridge elements integrally formed with and extending between the separated sections.
- 19. An apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the first bridge elements interdigitate with the second bridge elements.
- 20. An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the flexible polymeric material comprises polypropylene copolymer, reprocessed.
- 21. An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the flexible polymeric material comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of styremic copolymer, polyesther elastomer, polyethelene, nylon, polyurethane, polyether block amide, styrene butadiene copolymer, EPDM rubber and polypropylene copolymer, reprocessed.
- 22. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the first and second sections carry guide elements which mutually engage when the sections move to the first condition to maintain the sections in alignment.
- 23. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein:
(a) the anchor is an angle shape having apex received within the passage above the latch and legs extending to either side of the latch.
- 24. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the anchor is of a generally plate-shaped configuration having a portion complimentally received within an upper portion of the passage and an opening extending therethrough through which latch extends when the sections are in the closed condition.
- 25. A method for embedding an anchor in a concrete structure, comprising:
(a) providing a polymeric body having:
(i) first and second sections hinged together at upper portions thereof for movement between a closed condition engageable around an anchor received therebetween and an open condition in which said sections are separated to release an anchor received therebetween; (ii) a passage defined between the first and second sections and opening through the undersurface for receipt and retention of the anchor between the sections when the sections are in the closed condition, and release of the anchor when the sections are in the open condition; and, (iii) a latch to secure the sections in the closed condition and selectively release the sections for movement to the open condition upon the application of force to the body to move the sections to the second condition; (b) moving the sections to the open condition and positioning the anchor therebetween; (c) moving the sections to the closed condition and securing the sections together through the latch to retain the anchor in the passage in the condition extending partly out of the passage; (d) casting the hollow body in the concrete structure with the upper portion of the body exposed through one side of the structure and the anchor embedded within the structure; (e) applying force to the body to release the latch and move the sections to the open condition; and, (f) removing the hollow body from the concrete structure.
- 26. A method according to claim 25 wherein the latch is integrally formed with the body and comprises a catch protruding from the first section and opening formed in the second section for latching engagement with the catch when the sections move from the open condition to the closed condition.
- 27. A method of forming a hollow body for a concrete void former wherein the body comprises first and second sections hinged together for movement between a closed condition in which the sections complimentally meet and an open condition in which the sections are separated at the lower portion thereof into a bifurcated configuration, said method comprising:
(a) providing an mold for injection forming the body from a polymeric material, with the first and second sections in the open condition and joined by bridge formed between the upper portions thereof; (b) injection molding a flexible polymer into the mold to form the body; and, (c) removing the body from the mold and hinging the sections relative to one another through bending of the bridge, before the polymer is fully cured.
- 28. A method according to claim 27 wherein the mold includes portions for forming a catch protrusion on the first section extending toward the second section and an opening in the second section for complimental latching engagement with the protrusion when the sections are moved to the closed condition.
- 29. A method according to claim 25 wherein the polymer comprises polypropylene copolymer, reprocessed.
- 30. A method according to claim 25 wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of styremic copolymer, polyesther elastomer, polyethelene, nylon, polyurethane, polyether block amide, styrene butadiene copolymer, EPDM rubber and polypropylene copolymer, reprocessed.
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of Provisional Application 60/300,890, filed Jun. 25, 2001.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60300890 |
Jun 2001 |
US |