Tie bar assembly

Abstract

A tie-bar assembly including a tie-bar pocket, a first tie-bar attachable to the tie-bar pocket, and a second tie-bar attachable to the tie-bar pocket in a manner such that the second tie-bar is coupled to the first tie-bar. During construction, the first tie-bar is attached to the tie-bar pocket. This assembly is fastened to the form. After the first slab is poured the first tie-bar and the tie-bar pocket are embedded in the first slab. The form is removed, and the interior of the tie-bar pocket and a bent portion of the first tie-bar are exposed. The bent portion of the second tie-bar is then inserted into the tie-bar pocket and engages with the first tie-bar. The second slab is then poured and encapsulates the second tie-bar.

The claims are as follows: 
     
         1 . A tie-bar assembly comprising:
 a tie-bar pocket;   a first tie-bar is insertable in the tie-bar pocket; and   a second tie-bar insertable in the tie-bar pocket,
 wherein the tie-bar pocket and the first tie-bar are configured to be positioned in a first concrete slab, 
 wherein the second tie-bar is configured to be positioned in the tie-bar pocket and in an adjacent second concrete slab, 
 wherein the second tie-bar is configured to be coupled to the first tie-bar in the tie-bar pocket, and 
 wherein the second tie-bar is configured to be positioned in the tie-bar pocket after the first concrete slab is poured and before the adjacent second concrete slab is poured. 
   
     
     
         2 . The tie-bar assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tie-bar assembly is configured to be attached to a leave-in-place form for continuous pouring of the first concrete slab and the second concrete slab. 
     
     
         3 . The tie-bar assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first tie-bar includes an elbow, wherein the second tie-bar includes an elbow, and wherein the elbow of the second tie-bar is couplable to the elbow of the first tie-bar in the tie-bar pocket. 
     
     
         4 . The tie-bar assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the tie-bar pocket includes a first pocket configured to receive the first tie-bar and a second pocket configured to receive the second tie-bar. 
     
     
         5 . The tie-bar assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the first pocket of the tie-bar includes a tie-bar body boss, a tie-bar elbow receiver, and a tie-bar end receiver, wherein the tie-bar body boss defines a tie-bar receiving opening, wherein the tie-bar elbow receiver defines a tie-bar elbow channel, and wherein the tie-bar end receiver defines a tie-bar end channel. 
     
     
         6 . The tie-bar assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the tie-bar body boss is configured to secure the first tie-bar. 
     
     
         7 . The tie-bar assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the second pocket of the tie-bar assembly includes a tie-bar body receiver, a tie-bar elbow receiver, and a tie-bar end receiver. 
     
     
         8 . The tie-bar assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the tie-bar body receiver defines a tie-bar body channel, wherein the tie-bar elbow receiver defines a tie-bar elbow channel, and wherein the tie-bar end receiver defines a tie-bar end channel. 
     
     
         9 . The tie-bar assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the second pocket of the tie-bar pocket is configured to secure the second tie-bar. 
     
     
         10 . The tie-bar assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the second pocket of the tie-bar pocket includes snap fit ribs to secure the second tie-bar. 
     
     
         11 . A tie-bar pocket for a first concrete slab and a second concrete slab, the tie-bar pocket comprising:
 an attaching wall configured to be attached to a concrete form;   a first pocket connected to and extending from the attaching wall and configured to receive a first tie-bar; and   a second pocket connected to and extending from the attaching wall and configured to receive a second tie-bar insertable.   
     
     
         12 . The tie-bar pocket of  claim 11 , wherein the first pocket is configured to receive the first tie-bar and the second pocket is configured to receive the second tie-bar. 
     
     
         13 . The tie-bar pocket of  claim 12 , wherein the first pocket includes a tie-bar body boss, a tie-bar elbow receiver, and a tie-bar end receiver, wherein the tie-bar body boss defines a tie-bar receiving opening, wherein the tie-bar elbow receiver defines a tie-bar elbow channel, and wherein the tie-bar end receiver defines a tie-bar end channel. 
     
     
         14 . The tie-bar pocket of  claim 13 , wherein the tie-bar body boss is configured to secure the first tie-bar. 
     
     
         15 . The tie-bar pocket of  claim 14 , wherein the tie-bar body boss includes ribs configured to secure the first tie-bar. 
     
     
         16 . The tie-bar pocket of  claim 11 , wherein the second pocket includes a tie-bar body receiver, a tie-bar elbow receiver, and a tie-bar end receiver, wherein the tie-bar body receiver defines a tie-bar body channel, wherein the tie-bar elbow receiver defines a tie-bar elbow channel, and wherein the tie-bar end receiver defines a tie-bar end channel. 
     
     
         17 . The tie-bar pocket of  claim 11 , wherein the second pocket is configured to secure the second tie-bar. 
     
     
         18 . The tie-bar pocket of  claim 17 , wherein the second pocket includes snap fit ribs configured to secure the second tie-bar. 
     
     
         19 . The tie-bar pocket of  claim 11 , which includes one or more alignment tabs configured to align the tie-bar pocket with an adjacent flat plate dowel pocket. 
     
     
         20 . The tie-bar pocket of  claim 19 , wherein the one or more alignment tabs includes two sets of alignment tabs alignable with an adjacent flat plate dowel pocket.