Alignment-affixing device

Abstract

According to one aspect, the present invention is an alignment-affixing device having at least two portions, for affixing a projecting member, such as an anchor bolt, through an opening in a support structure, such as a concrete masonry unit, substantially at a right angle. The alignment-affixing device includes a locking collar substantially disposed on an interior side of the concrete masonry unit, and an alignment cap substantially disposed on an exterior side obverse to the interior side. When the anchor bolt is placed through said locking collar and said alignment cap, and when said locking collar and said alignment cap are interlocked, the anchor bolt is affixed substantially at a right angle to the concrete masonry unit.

1 . An alignment-affixing device having at least two portions, the alignment-affixing device for affixing an anchor bolt through an opening in a concrete masonry unit substantially at a right angle, comprising: 
 an alignment cap further comprising: 
 an outer collar with slots, the outer collar dimensioned to receive the anchor bolt of varying sizes, at least a portion of said outer collar having inwardly extending fins for releasably securing the anchor bolt to the alignment-affixing device,  
 a leveling structure orthogonally attached to said outer collar, the leveling structure for aligning the alignment-affixing device perpendicular to the concrete masonry unit, and  
 a plurality of arm flexures attached to said leveling structure obverse to said outer collar, said plurality of arm flexures passing through the opening in the concrete masonry unit; and  
   a locking collar which slidably engages with said alignment cap, the locking collar further comprising: 
 an inner collar dimensioned to fit within said outer collar, said inner collar for passing through the opening in the concrete masonry unit and for supporting and slidably receiving an anchor bolt;  
 a plurality of arm extenders which flex said plurality of arm flexures outward,  
 a plurality of locking flexures which lock within the slots of said outer collar, the plurality of locking flexures and the plurality of arm extenders affixing said alignment cap into the concrete masonry unit and preventing disengagement of the alignment-affixing device from the concrete masonry unit.  
   
   
   
       2 . An alignment-affixing device having at least two portions, the alignment-affixing device for affixing an anchor bolt through an opening in a concrete masonry unit substantially at a right angle, comprising: 
 a locking collar substantially disposed on an interior side of the concrete masonry unit; and    an alignment cap substantially disposed on an exterior side obverse to the interior side,    wherein, when the anchor bolt is placed through said locking collar and said alignment cap, and when said locking collar and said alignment cap are interlocked, the anchor bolt is affixed substantially at a right angle to the concrete masonry unit.    
   
   
       3 . An alignment-affixing device according to  claim 2 , 
 wherein said locking collar further comprises: 
 an elongated cylindrical inner collar dimensioned to receive the anchor bolt, said inner collar including a first end, and a second end obverse to the first end, and  
 a planar sealing structure affixed orthogonally around said inner collar, said sealing structure disposed between the first and second ends.  
   
   
   
       4 . An alignment-affixing device according to  claim 3 , 
 wherein said alignment cap further comprises: 
 an elongated cylindrical outer collar dimensioned to receive said inner collar, and a planar leveling structure affixed orthogonally around said outer collar, said leveling structure disposed at one end of said outer collar,  
   wherein, when said inner collar and said outer collar are slidably engaged, said leveling structure interfaces with the concrete masonry unit and said sealing structure.    
   
   
       5 . An alignment-affixing device according to  claim 4 , 
 wherein said locking collar further comprises a plurality of substantially identical, locking flexures parallel to and disposed equiangularly at an angle  0 , circumferentially around said inner collar, said plurality of locking flexures being disposed between the first end and said sealing structure,    wherein said alignment cap further comprises a plurality of an openings through said outer collar, the plurality of an openings disposed equiangularly at angle  0 , circumferentially around said outer collar and dimensioned to receive said plurality of locking flexures, and    wherein, when said plurality of locking flexures and said plurality of an openings are engaged, said leveling structure locks against the concrete masonry unit and said sealing structure, and said locking collar is prevented from slidably disengaging said alignment cap.    
   
   
       6 . An alignment-affixing device according to  claim 4 , 
 wherein said locking collar further comprises a plurality of substantially identical arm extenders for flexing said plurality of arm flexures outward, the plurality of arm extenders being disposed equiangularly at an angle θ 2  circumferentially around said inner collar, said plurality of arm extenders being disposed between said sealing structure and said second end,    wherein said alignment cap further comprises a plurality of arm flexures affixed on said leveling structure obverse to said outer collar, each of said plurality of arm flexures being aligned circularly and equiangularly at angle θ 2 , and each of said plurality of arm flexures having a distal catch, and    wherein, when said plurality of arm flexures and said plurality of arm extenders are slidably engaged, the distal catch locks said leveling structure against the concrete masonry unit and said sealing structure, and said locking collar is prevented from slidably disengaging said alignment cap.    
   
   
       7 . An alignment-affixing device according to  claim 4 , 
 wherein said locking collar further comprises a plurality of substantially identical elongated guide tabs disposed equiangularly at an angle θ 3  circumferentially around said inner collar, said plurality of guide tabs located between said first end and said sealing structure,    wherein said alignment cap further comprises a plurality of substantially identical, inward-facing, elongated grooves through said outer collar, the plurality of grooves disposed parallel to and equiangularly at angle θ 3  circumferentially around said outer collar and dimensioned to receive said plurality of guide tabs, and    wherein, when said plurality of guide tabs and said plurality of elongated grooves are slidably engaged, said inner collar cannot rotate within said outer collar.    
   
   
       8 . An alignment-affixing device according to  claim 4 , 
 wherein at least a portion of said outer collar and/or said inner collar has inwardly-extending fins for releasably securing the anchor bolt to the alignment-affixing device.    
   
   
       9 . An alignment-affixing device according to  claim 4 , 
 wherein said alignment-affixing device is comprised of plastic.    
   
   
       10 . A method for affixing an anchor bolt through an opening in a concrete masonry unit substantially at a right angle using a two-portion alignment-affixing device, comprising the steps of: 
 mounting one end of the anchor bolt on a locking collar of the alignment-affixing device;    positioning the locking collar within the concrete masonry unit through an opening in the concrete masonry unit;    mounting an alignment cap of the alignment-affixing device on the anchor bolt, in front of the concrete masonry unit; and    interlocking the locking collar and the alignment cap, such that the locking collar and the alignment cap affix the anchor bolt substantially at a right angle to the concrete masonry unit.    
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 10 , further comprising the steps of: 
 securing the locking collar and the anchor bolt to the concrete masonry unit, removing a portion of the alignment-affixing device from the concrete masonry unit and the anchor bolt.    
   
   
       12 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the portion of the alignment-affixing device is removed by twisting the alignment cap.  
   
   
       13 . An alignment-affixing device having at least two portions, the alignment-affixing device for affixing a projecting member through an opening in a support structure substantially at a right angle, comprising: 
 a locking collar substantially disposed on an interior side of the support structure; and    an alignment cap substantially disposed on an exterior side obverse to the interior side,    wherein, when the projecting member is placed through said locking collar and said alignment cap, and when said locking collar and said alignment cap are interlocked, the projecting member is affixed substantially at a right angle to the support structure.    
   
   
       14 . An alignment-affixing device according to  claim 13 , 
 wherein said locking collar further comprises: 
 an elongated cylindrical inner collar dimensioned to receive the projecting member, said inner collar including a first end, and a second end obverse to the first end, and  
 a planar sealing structure affixed orthogonally around said inner collar, said sealing structure disposed between the first and second ends.  
   
   
   
       15 . An alignment-affixing device according to  claim 14 , 
 wherein said alignment cap further comprises: 
 an elongated cylindrical outer collar dimensioned to receive said inner collar, and  
 a planar leveling structure affixed orthogonally around said outer collar, said leveling structure disposed at one end of said outer collar,  
   wherein, when said inner collar and said outer collar are slidably engaged, said leveling structure interfaces with the support structure and said sealing structure.    
   
   
       16 . An alignment-affixing device according to  claim 15 , 
 wherein said locking collar further comprises a plurality of substantially identical, locking flexures parallel to and disposed equiangularly at an angle θ 1  circumferentially around said inner collar, said plurality of locking flexures being disposed between the first end and said sealing structure,    wherein said alignment cap further comprises a plurality of an openings through said outer collar, the plurality of an openings disposed equiangularly at angle θ 1  circumferentially around said outer collar and dimensioned to receive said plurality of locking flexures, and    wherein, when said plurality of locking flexures and said plurality of an openings are engaged, said leveling structure locks against the support structure and said sealing structure, and said locking collar is prevented from slidably disengaging said alignment cap.    
   
   
       17 . An alignment-affixing device according to  claim 15 , 
 wherein said locking collar further comprises a plurality of substantially identical arm extenders for flexing said plurality of arm flexures outward, the plurality of arm extenders being disposed equiangularly at an angle θ 2  circumferentially around said inner collar, said plurality of arm extenders being disposed between said sealing structure and said second end,    wherein said alignment cap further comprises a plurality of arm flexures affixed on said leveling structure obverse to said outer collar, each of said plurality of arm flexures being aligned circularly and equiangularly at angle θ 2 , and each of said plurality of arm flexures having a distal catch, and    wherein, when said plurality of arm flexures and said plurality of arm extenders are slidably engaged, the distal catch locks said leveling structure against the support structure and said sealing structure, and said locking collar is prevented from slidably disengaging said alignment cap.    
   
   
       18 . An alignment-affixing device according to  claim 15 , 
 wherein said locking collar further comprises a plurality of substantially identical elongated guide tabs disposed equiangularly at an angle θ 3  circumferentially around said inner collar, said plurality of guide tabs located between said first end and said sealing structure,    wherein said alignment cap further comprises a plurality of substantially identical, inward-facing, elongated grooves through said outer collar, the plurality of grooves disposed parallel to and equiangularly at angle θ 3  circumferentially around said outer collar and dimensioned to receive said plurality of guide tabs, and    wherein, when said plurality of guide tabs and said plurality of elongated grooves are slidably engaged, said inner collar cannot rotate within said outer collar.    
   
   
       19 . An alignment-affixing device according to  claim 15 , 
 wherein at least a portion of said outer collar and/or said inner collar has inwardly-extending fins for releasably securing the projecting member to the alignment-affixing device.    
   
   
       20 . An alignment-affixing device according to  claim 15 , 
 wherein said alignment-affixing device is comprised of plastic.    
   
   
       21 . A method for affixing a projecting member through an opening in a support structure substantially at a right angle using a two-portion alignment-affixing device, comprising the steps of: 
 mounting one end of the projecting member on a locking collar of the alignment-affixing device;    positioning the locking collar within the support structure through an opening in the support structure;    mounting an alignment cap of the alignment-affixing device on the projecting member, in front of the support structure; and    interlocking the locking collar and the alignment cap, such that the locking collar and the alignment cap affix the projecting member substantially at a right angle to the support structure.    
   
   
       22 . A method according to  claim 21 , further comprising the steps of: 
 securing the locking collar and the projecting member to the support structure, removing a portion of the alignment-affixing device from the support structure and the projecting member.    
   
   
       23 . A method according to  claim 22 , wherein the portion of the alignment-affixing device is removed by twisting the alignment cap.  
   
   
       24 . A single-piece alignment-affixing device for affixing an anchor bolt through an opening in a concrete masonry unit substantially at a right angle, comprising: 
 an alignment portion for aligning the alignment-affixing device substantially perpendicular to the concrete masonry unit; and    a locking portion for preventing disengagement of the alignment-affixing device from the concrete masonry unit,    wherein the alignment-affixing device is dimensioned to receive the anchor bolt of varying sizes.    
   
   
       25 . A method for affixing an anchor bolt through an opening in a concrete masonry unit substantially at a right angle using a single-portion alignment-affixing device, comprising the steps of: 
 mounting one end of the anchor bolt on the alignment-affixing device;    positioning the alignment-affixing within the concrete masonry unit through an opening in the concrete masonry unit; and    mounting the alignment-affixing device onto the concrete masonry unit such that the an alignment portion of the alignment-affixing device affixes the anchor bolt substantially at a right angle to the concrete masonry unit.