Slab bolster

Abstract

A slab bolster including a longitudinally-extending spine and a plurality of legs coupled to the opposite sides of the spine and extending away from the spine. The slab bolster has a frangible portion along which the slab bolster is configured to be manually broken to allow the slab bolster to be manually separated into at least two parts.

1 . A slab bolster comprising:
 a longitudinally-extending spine, wherein the spine includes at least one of a plurality of protrusions or a plurality of recesses spaced along a length thereof; and   a plurality of legs coupled to the opposite sides of the spine and extending away from the spine, wherein the slab bolster has a frangible portion along which said slab bolster is configured to be manually broken to allow said slab bolster to be separated into at least two parts.   
     
     
         2 . The bolster of  claim 1  wherein the frangible portion is at least one of an area of weakness or reduced thickness compared to adjacent areas of the slab bolster. 
     
     
         3 . The bolster of  claim 1  wherein the slab bolster is shaped generally as an inverted “V” or an inverted “U” in end view. 
     
     
         4 . The bolster of  claim 1  wherein each leg is shaped generally as a rectangular prism. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The bolster of  claim 1  wherein each leg has a uniform thickness in a direction perpendicular to an outer surface of each leg. 
     
     
         7 . The bolster of  claim 1  wherein each leg is generally straight and forms a constant angle with the spine relative to a height direction of the slab bolster. 
     
     
         8 . The bolster of  claim 1  wherein the spine extends generally continuously an entire length of the bolster. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The bolster of  claim 1  further comprising a set of openings, each opening being positioned between adjacent legs, and wherein the openings extend at least about 60 percent of a length of the slab bolster. 
     
     
         11 . The bolster of  claim 1  further comprising a pair of feet, each foot being positioned at a distal end of one of the legs and extending in the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         12 . The bolster of  claim 11  wherein each foot extends entirely between at least two adjacent legs. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The bolster of  claim 1  wherein an inner surface of the bolster generally corresponds to an outer surface of the bolster such that the bolster is nestably stackable with other such bolsters. 
     
     
         17 . A slab bolster comprising:
 a longitudinally-extending spine having a pair of opposite sides extending in the longitudinal direction; and   a plurality of legs coupled to each opposite side of the spine and extending away from the spine, wherein each leg has a uniform thickness, wherein the slab bolster has a frangible portion along which said slab bolster is configured to be manually broken to allow said slab bolster to be separated into at least two parts, and wherein the slab bolster is shaped generally as an inverted “V” or an inverted “U” and lacks any structure extending entirely between a distal end of adjacent legs in a direction transverse to the spine.   
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The slab bolster of  claim 17  wherein the slab bolster further includes a set of openings, each opening being positioned between adjacent legs in the longitudinal direction, and wherein the slab bolster lacks any structure extending between the distal end of adjacent legs in the direction transverse to the spine. 
     
     
         21 . The slab bolster of  claim 17  wherein each leg has a uniform thickness in a direction perpendicular to an outer surface of each leg, and wherein the spine includes at least one of plurality of protrusions or a plurality of recesses spaced along a length thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The slab bolster of  claim 17  wherein the spine includes a plurality of spaced-apart protrusions that extend generally perpendicular to an upper surface of the spine. 
     
     
         23 . The slab bolster of  claim 1  wherein an upper surface of the spine is generally flat and provides a support surface for the at least one of the plurality of protrusions or recesses. 
     
     
         24 . The slab bolster of  claim 23  wherein the spine includes a plurality of spaced-apart protrusions that extend generally perpendicular to the upper surface of the spine. 
     
     
         25 . A slab bolster comprising:
 a longitudinally-extending spine; and   a plurality of legs coupled to the opposite sides of the spine and extending away from the spine, wherein the slab bolster has a frangible portion along which said slab bolster is configured to be manually broken to allow said slab bolster to be separated into at least two parts, wherein each leg is curved.   
     
     
         26 . The slab bolster of  claim 25  wherein each leg is curved along its entire length from a base end of each leg, located adjacent to the spine, to a distal end thereof. 
     
     
         27 . The slab bolster of  claim 26  wherein the slab bolster has a generally inverted “U” shape in end view.