Adjustable support bracket for concrete reinforcing bars

Abstract

An adjustable bracket is provided for supporting concrete reinforcing bars for use in the construction of concrete structures. In particular, The present invention is an apparatus, system and method for supporting concrete reinforcing bars as used in the construction of concrete structures. In particular, this invention relates to an adjustable support for reinforcement bar, or similar reinforcing members, a plurality of which are disposed within a concrete form. The support is adjustable to a desired length corresponding to the cross-sectional width of the form. The support is mounted across opposing form walls providing a simple, inexpensive and time-saving means of positioning reinforcing bars in an essentially parallel arrangement within the form prior to the form's being filled with liquified concrete. In one embodiment of the present invention, and adjustable support is disclosed having an assembly of interlocking members with one member supportable by one form wall and having multiple holes for reinforcement bar, and another member supportable by an opposing form wall and having multiple retainer segments aligned with the reinforcement bar holes of the first member, whereby the two members are axially positionable and lockable to a desired length of bracket to support transversely mounted reinforcing bars. In an alternate embodiment, an adjustable bracket is formed of two molded members, each of which has multiple holes for reinforcement bar, the first member being supportable from a first by wall and the second member being supportable by an opposing wall, whereby each member is overlapped with the other to be axially positionable and lockable to a desired length of bracket. In another embodiment, an adjustable bracket is formed of two molded members, the first member of which is supportable by one form wall and has multiple holes for reinforcement bar and score marks at regular intervals to allow a worker to selectively and easily break off an undesired excess length of material. The second member is supportable by an opposing form wall and has a recess to receive the broken-off end of the first member, whereby the two members are axially positionable to a desired length of bracket.

1 . An adjustable bracket for supporting bars for reinforcing concrete structures, the adjustable bracket comprising: 
 a first member having a first end comprising a wall-engaging surface supportable by a first form wall, and a second end comprising a plurality of longitudinally disposed recessions located between the first end and the second end, the recessions sized to retain a cross-sectional diameter of a reinforcing rod; and    a second member having a first end comprising a wall-engaging surface supportable by a second opposing form wall, and a second end for engagement with the second end of the first member;    whereby the first member and the second member are overlapped to engage each other at any one of a plurality of locations along a common longitudinal axis to selectively form a desired length for the bracket, and whereby the bracket is supported between the first and second form, and at least one reinforcing rod is placed within a recession of the first member, thereby locking the first and second members together as a rigid assembly.    
   
   
       2 . The adjustable bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the second member further comprises a plurality of longitudinally disposed projections located between the first end and the second end, the projections aligned to engage the recessions on the first member.  
   
   
       3 . The adjustable bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the first member and the second member are a formed rigid wire.  
   
   
       4 . The adjustable bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the first member and the second member are a formed rigid strip, whereby the first member and the second member laterally engage one another.  
   
   
       5 . The adjustable bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the wall-engaging surface of the first member and the wall-engaging surface of the second member are comprised of upward and outward angles with respect to the common longitudinal axis of the bracket, whereby a plurality of reinforcing bars are suspended to a predetermined depth within a form.  
   
   
       6 . The adjustable bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the wall-engaging surface of the first member and the wall-engaging surface of the second member are comprised of downward and inward angles with respect to the common longitudinal axis of the bracket, whereby the bracket is securely retained within a form due to the inward directed spring forces on the outsides of opposing form walls.  
   
   
       7 . The adjustable bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the first member and the first end of the second member further comprise at least one score, whereby an undesirable exposed end piece is easily removable after a concrete structure cures.  
   
   
       8 . The adjustable bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the first member further comprises a plurality of longitudinally disposed apertures, and the second member further comprises a plurality of secondary longitudinally disposed projections, whereby the first member is able to be engaged and interlocked with the second member.  
   
   
       9 . An adjustable bracket for supporting bars for reinforcing concrete structures, the adjustable bracket comprising: 
 a first member having a first end comprising a wall-engaging surface that is supportable by a first form wall, and a second end comprising a plurality of longitudinally disposed recessions located between the first end and the second end, the recessions sized to retain a cross-sectional diameter of a reinforcing rod, and a first surface having a plurality of fasteners disposed thereon; and    a second member having a first end comprising a wall-engaging surface that is supportable by a second opposing form wall, and a second end comprising a plurality of corresponding longitudinally disposed recessions aligned with the recessions on the first member, and located between the first end and the second end, and a second surface having a plurality corresponding fasteners disposed thereon and aligned with the fasteners of the first member;    whereby the first member and the second member are overlapped to engage each other at any one of a plurality of locations along a common longitudinal axis to selectively form a desired length for the bracket, and the fasteners of the first member securely engage the corresponding fasteners on the second member, thereby locking the first and second members together as a rigid assembly.    
   
   
       10 . The adjustable bracket of  claim 9 , wherein the wall-engaging surface of the first member and the wall-engaging surface of the second member are comprised of upward and outward angles with respect to the common longitudinal axis of the bracket, whereby a plurality of reinforcing bars are suspended to a predetermined depth within a form.  
   
   
       11 . The adjustable bracket of  claim 9 , wherein the wall-engaging surface of the first member and the wall-engaging surface of the second member are comprised of downward and inward angles with respect to the common longitudinal axis of the bracket, whereby the bracket is securely retained within a form due to the inward directed spring forces on the outsides of opposing form walls.  
   
   
       12 . The adjustable bracket of  claim 9 , wherein the first end of the first member and the first end of the second member further comprise at least one score, whereby an undesirable exposed end piece is easily removable after a concrete structure cures.  
   
   
       13 . An adjustable bracket for supporting bars for reinforcing concrete structures, the adjustable bracket comprising: 
 a first member having a first end comprising a wall-engaging surface that is supportable by a first form wall, and a second end comprising a plurality of longitudinally disposed recessions located between the first end and the second end, the recessions sized to retain a cross-sectional diameter of a reinforcing bar, and a surface having a plurality of scores disposed thereon; and    a second member having a first end comprising a wall-engaging surface that is supportable by a second opposing form wall, and a second end comprising a means for securely engaging the second end of the first member;    whereby the first member is selectably sized by breaking off an undesirable excess length at one of the scores, and a remaining portion of the second end is securely engaged with the second member along a common longitudinal axis thereby holding the first and second members together as an assembly to selectively form a desired length for the bracket member.    
   
   
       14 . The adjustable bracket of  claim 13 , wherein the wall-engaging surface of the first member and the wall-engaging surface of the second member are comprised of upward and outward angles with respect to the common longitudinal axis of the bracket, whereby a plurality of reinforcing bars are suspended to a predetermined depth within a form.  
   
   
       15 . The adjustable bracket of  claim 13 , wherein the wall-engaging surface of the first member and the wall-engaging surface of the second member are comprised of downward and inward angles with respect to the common longitudinal axis of the bracket, whereby the bracket is securely retained within a form due to the inward directed spring forces on the outsides of opposing form walls.  
   
   
       16 . The adjustable bracket of  claim 13 , wherein the first end of the first member and the first end of the second member further comprise at least one score, whereby an undesirable exposed end piece is easily removable after a concrete structure cures.  
   
   
       17 . The adjustable bracket of  claim 13 , wherein the second end of the second member comprises a recess for receiving the second end of the first member.  
   
   
       18 . The adjustable bracket of  claim 13 , wherein the wall-engaging surface of the first member and the wall-engaging surface of the second member are comprised of upward and outward angles with respect to the common longitudinal axis of the bracket, whereby a plurality of reinforcing bars are suspended to a predetermined depth within a form.  
   
   
       19 . The adjustable bracket of  claim 13 , wherein the first end of the first member and the first end of the second member further comprise at least one score, whereby an undesirable exposed end piece is easily removable after a concrete structure cures.  
   
   
       20 . A method for supporting concrete reinforcing bars in the construction of concrete structures, the method comprising the steps of: 
 determining the distance between opposing concrete form walls for a structure under construction;    selecting an adjustable bracket for supporting concrete reinforcing bars;    assembling the adjustable bracket to provide a length of the bracket corresponding to the distance between opposing concrete form walls;    inserting the adjustable bracket into a channel between the opposing concrete form walls; and    installing at least one concrete reinforcing bar into the adjustable bracket.