Int.Cl.: E04c

German Class: 37b - 5/16

Federal Republic of Germany

[emblem]

German Patent Office

AUSLEGESCHRIFT 1 270 774

[ = Patent Application Published for Opposition ]

Number: 1 270 774

Application number: P 12 70 774.3-25

Filing date: May 21, 1963

Disclosure date: June 20, 1968

Applicant: Kuno Reuss, 5600 Wuppertal-Eberfeld, Funckstr. 101

Inventor: Kuno Reuss, 5600 Wuppertal-Eberfeld

Spacer for Concrete Reinforcement Bars

The invention relates to a spacer for concrete reinforcement bars in the form of an essentially cylindrical disk, comprising an inside ring and an outside ring, both of which are connected together by means of legs in the region of their ends with the simultaneous formation of a radially tapering, jaw-shaped holding aperture.

Spacers of the aforementioned type that are clipped on reinforcement bars are known in a variety of designs and are made preferably of a synthetic plastic material. For example, there exists a spacer in the shape of an octagon. This spacer exhibits smooth outer walls; and the jaw-shaped aperture is formed by two straps, which are bent inwards away from the outer jacket. The internal recess, which serves to hold the reinforcement bar, is formed by both the free ends of the straps and by two claw-shaped legs, which are arranged at right angle thereto and extend from the outer jacket, and exhibits a square cross section. As a result, between the reinforcement bar and the inside recess there is only a strip-shaped contact. In order to rule out the possibility that the individual spacers are mounted in different ways on the formwork - once with a side face and the next time with a corner edge - (which would not guarantee a constant spacing between the reinforcement bar and the formwork), a rib is stretched additionally around the octagonal body. Since, however, the width of this rib is considerably smaller than the wall height of the spacer, it cannot be manufactured in the extrusion process, which is desirable from an economic viewpoint. In addition, the smooth outer surfaces of this spacer do not permit a connection that affords a positive grip with the surrounding concrete.

In another existing spacer the inside ring, which wraps around the reinforcement bar, together with a jaw-shaped aperture is made of one piece of continuous material, whereas the inside ring and the outside ring are connected by spokes, which extend under some circumstances beyond the outer ring and can also be reinforced with a center ring.

The object of the present invention is to develop a spacer while at the same time eliminating the above described drawbacks. Given its good inherent stability, this spacer can be slid easily in a resilient springy manner on the reinforcement bar and enters into a connection that affords a positive grip with the concrete. In addition, the spacer is to be designed in such a manner that in its horizontal position of use, the spacer protects the reinforcement bar against moisture penetrating from the outside. Moreover, the spacer is to be made of a synthetic plastic material in the extrusion process.

This object is achieved by the invention in that, in addition, the two rings are connected together only by means of two legs, which run at approximately right angle to the holding aperture, and that on the side opposite the holding aperture there is at least one leg, which is attached only unilaterally to either the inside ring or to the outside ring.

The inventive spacer can be used in an especially advantageous manner with vertically running reinforcement bars. The legs, which are configured between the inside ring and the outside ring only unilaterally - either on the inside ring or on the outside ring -, prevent the water, which collects on the outside ring, from penetrating through the legs as far as to the inside ring and, thus, as far as to the reinforcement bar. Rather the water seeps into the concrete body. Therefore, the reinforcement bar is protected from moisture penetrating into it; and the risk of rust is totally ruled out. In order to be able to achieve this effect, it is logical to clip the spacer on the reinforcement bar in such a manner that the insertion aperture faces away from the wall of the framework, thus totally covering outwards the reinforcement bar following placement of the concrete. In addition, the relatively large recesses, which remain between the outside ring and the inside ring, guarantee that the concrete body in the region of the spacer will not experience a noteworthy weakening.

The following description discloses other features and advantageous embodiments of the subject matter of the invention that is depicted in the drawing by means of one embodiment.

Figure 1 is a top view of a spacer; and

Figure 2 is a side view of the spacer.

The outside ring is marked with the reference numeral 3. The ribs 4 extend outwardly in a radial arrangement from this outside ring. Adjoining the outside ring 3 is a continuous material strip, which forms the walls 5 of the aperture 9 as well as the inside ring 6. Between the inside ring and the outside ring there are the reinforcement spokes 8, which serve the stability of the spacer and which are configured so as to be bent or angled in order to absorb the compression and tensile strains. A leg 7 is attached to the groove 10, which is formed by the inside ring 6. The free end of this leg faces the outside ring 3. This leg is supposed to prevent the spacers from deflecting at this point owing to an excessive load from the outside. The reinforcement bar, which is not shown in the drawing, is inserted through the jaw-shaped aperture 9 into the spacer. In so doing, any longitudinal rib of the reinforcement bar can engage with the groove 10.

Patent Claims:

1. Spacer for concrete reinforcement bars in the form of an essentially cylindrical disk with a sector-shaped holding aperture, comprising two concentrically arranged, slotted rings, which are connected together by means of legs in the region of their ends with the simultaneous formation of a radially tapering, jaw-shaped holding aperture, characterized in that, in addition, both rings are connected together only by means of two legs (8), which run at approximately right angle to the holding aperture, and that on the side opposite the holding aperture (9) there is at least one leg (7), which is attached only unilaterally to either the inside ring (6) or to the outside ring (3).

2. Spacer, as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the additional legs (8) are designed in the shape of an arc or in an angled manner.

3. Spacer, as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the ribs (4), which extend radially outwards, are arranged in a manner that is well known on the outer ring (3).

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Documents that were taken into consideration:

German Utility Model No. 1 838 422; British Patent No. 715 563.

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One sheet of Drawings

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