Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CAGE SPACER WITH ROLLER WHEEL
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a spacer, and is more particularly concerned
with a cage spacer for spacing a reinforcement structure apart from a forming
surface of a forming structure during formation of a cementitious structure in
the
forming structure.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Cage spacers for cement forming structures, for example a mould, for forming
cementitious structures are well known in the art. Such spacers typically have
a
bracket having an inner face attached to and abutting against a reinforcement
structure, for example a cage, with a cylindrical roller wheel, freely and
rotatably
mounted in the bracket with a portion of the circumference thereof extending
beyond an outer side, disposed opposite the inner face of the bracket. Thus,
one or more spacers may be attached to the reinforcement structure, preferably
spaced apart around a perimeter thereof, with the outer facing away therefrom.
The reinforcement structure may then be easily placed in a mould, or other
forming structure, by rolling the reinforcement structure into the forming
structure on the roller wheels. At the same time, each roller wheel is mounted
on the bracket and is sized and shaped such that that the distance between the
forming surface of the forming structure, against which the roller wheel abuts
and rolls, and the cage, against which the inner face abuts, is equal to the
desired spacing. Thus, use of the spacer also ensures that the desired spacing
between the forming surface and the reinforcement structure are maintained.
Unfortunately, such conventional spacers often have metal or glass
components, which may be expensive and damaged by cementitious materials
such concrete or cement. Further, the roller wheels for conventional roller
spacers are typically not removable or replaceable. Thus, the distance of the
spacing provided by such spacers is not adjustable. Further, should the roller
wheel be defective, then the entire spacer must be discarded and replaced.
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Accordingly, there is a need for an improved spacer for spacing a
reinforcement
structure apart from a forming surface of a forming structure during formation
of
a cementitious structure in the forming structure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide an
improved
cage spacer for spacing a reinforcement structure, such as a cage, apart from
a
forming surface of a forming structure during formation of a cementitious
structure in the forming structure.
An advantage of the present invention is that the spacer can provide an
adjustable spacing at an adjustable distance for the reinforcement structure
relative the forming surface.
Another advantage of the present invention is that the spacer is resistant to
damage and impediment by the cementitious material of which the cementitious
structure is formed.
In one aspect, the invention provides a cage spacer for spacing a
reinforcement
structure apart at a predefined distance from a forming surface of a forming
structure for a cementitious structure during formation of the cementitious
structure therein, the cage spacer comprising:
- a bracket having an attachment face and a generally opposed roller
face, the bracket being connectable to the reinforcement structure with
the attachment face abutting thereagainst; and
- a cylindrically shaped roller wheel rotatably mounted in the bracket with
an outer circumferential surface thereof extending from within the
bracket partially beyond the roller face, the roller wheel being sized and
positioned relative the attachment face for abutting and rolling of the
outer circumferential surface against the forming surface at the
predefined distance from the reinforcement structure, thereby spacing
the reinforcement structure apart from the forming surface at the
predefined distance and enabling rolling of the reinforcement structure
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into the forming structure at the predefined distance from the forming
surface, the bracket and the roller wheel being constructed of a plastic
material.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent
from a careful reading of the detailed description provided herein, with
appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better
understood with reference to the description in association with the following
Figures, in which similar references used in different Figures denote similar
components, wherein:
Figure 1 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of a cage spacer in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is an exploded view of the spacer shown in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a top plan view showing the spacer of Figure 1 in use in a mould
for
a cementitious structure;
Figure 4 is a sectional view, taken along line 4-4 of Figure 3, showing the
spacer of Figure 1 in use in a mould for a cementitious structure; and
Figure 5 is a top perspective view showing the spacer of Figure 1 in use in a
mould for a cementitious structure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With reference to the annexed drawings the preferred embodiments of the
present invention will be herein described for indicative purpose and by no
means as of limitation.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown an embodiment of a cage spacer,
shown generally as 10, in accordance with the present invention. The spacer
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consists of a bracket, shown generally as 12, having generally first and
second opposed side frames, shown generally as 18, preferably identical. The
side frames 18 each have a, preferably straight, bottom side 24 and a
generally
opposed top side 26, the sides 24, 26 of each side frame 18 being connected to
5 one another at longitudinally opposed frame ends 20 by a vertically
extending
side connecting member 28, as well as by a plurality of spaced apart side
connecting members 28 extending therebetween and which connect the bottom
and top sides 24, 26 of each side frame 18.
The frames 18 are, in turn, connected to one an other by a plurality of spaced
10 apart frame connecting members 22 extending between and connecting the top
sides 26 and bottom sides 24, with the exception of a central portion of the
frames 18, where a cylindrically shaped side socket 30 is formed in,
preferably
centrally situated, side mounting wall 50 of each side frame 18. The bottom
sides 24 and horizontal members 22 extending therebetween define a,
preferably straight and planar, attachment side or face 16 for the bracket 12,
whereas the top sides 26 and horizontal members 22 extending therebetween
form an outer roller side or face 14 for the bracket 12, disposed generally
opposite the attachment face 16.
As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the first and second side sockets 30 are axially
aligned with one another along axis X and house a cylindrically shaped roller
wheel, shown generally as 32, mounted therein. Specifically, the first and
second side sockets 30 are disposed in the side wall 50 of each side frame 18.
The side mounting wall 50 extends from the top side 26 downwardly to the
bottom of the side socket 30 and, preferably, therebeyond to the bottom side
24.
Preferably the top side 26 slopes upwardly, again preferably in a central
portion
of the bracket 12, towards the side mounting wall 50, such that each side
mounting wall 50 is elevated relative the longitudinal ends 20. Thus, the top
side 26 is relatively further spaced apart from the bottom side 24 at the side
mounting wall 50 compared to the frame ends 20.
The frame and side connecting members 22, 28 advantageously reinforce the
bracket 12 and help to prevent compression or deformation thereof during use
of the spacer 10.
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Referring now to Figures 1 through 4, the roller wheel 32 consists of
centrally
situated inner cylinder 34 and an outer cylinder 36 connected to the inner
cylinder 34 by radial support members or arms 38 extending therebetween.
The inner cylinder 34 extends axially along axis X through outer cylinder 36
and
5 slightly beyond the radial support arms 38 and the outer cylinder 36 on both
wheel sides, shown generally as 44, of the roller wheel 32, Thus, the inner
cylinder extends slightly beyond the outer cylinder ends 40 of the outer
cylinder
36 and the arm end 42 of the radial support arms 38, which together form the
wheel sides 44, and into the side sockets 30.
The inner cylinder 34 extends into the side sockets 30 when the roller wheel
32
is mounted in the bracket 12 and provides the rotatable mounting of the wheel
32. The inner cylinder 34 is of slightly lesser circumference than the side
sockets 30, and is thus sized and shaped to be freely rotatable in the side
sockets 30 while loosely abutting an inner socket surface of each side socket
30. Advantageously, this loose abutment of the side socket 30 against inner
socket surface allows free rotation of the roller wheel 12 in the side sockets
30
while promoting stability of the roller wheel 32 by reducing wobbling of the
roller
wheel 32 in the side sockets 30. At the same time, the radial support arms 38
provide reinforcement of the wheel 32 when the spacer 10 is placed with in the
forming structure 54, shown as mould 54 in Figures 3 and 4, with the
reinforcement structure 56, shown as cage 56, and helps ensure that the wheel
32 is not squashed or compressed during use, which could compromise the
spacing between the reinforcement structure 56 and the forming structure 54.
The respective thickness T1 of the radial support arms 38 and the outer
cylinder
36 between the wheel sides 44 is less than the distance Dl between the
respective interior sides 46 of the support frames 18. Thus, the side frames
18
are spaced slightly further apart between respective interior sides 46 than a
thickness of the radial support arms 38 and the outer cylinder 36.
Accordingly,
the roller wheel 32 is sized and shaped such that when it is housed in the
side
sockets 30, it may rotate freely without being obstructed by the side frames
18.
Similarly, the radius R1 of the roller wheel 32 is less than the vertical
distance
D2 between the centre of the side socket 30 and the frame connecting
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members 22 extending between the bottom sides 24 of the side frames 18.
Accordingly, the wheel 32 is also sized and shaped such that when it is
mounted in the side socket 30 it may freely rotate without obstruction by the
frame connecting members 22 extending between the bottom sides 24 of the
side frames 18. The distance between the side mounting walls 50 at the
interior
sides 46 is, preferably slightly, less than the thickness of the inner
cylinder 34
extending between inner cylinder ends 52 thereof. Thus, the inner cylinder 34
is
retained in the sockets 30 to prevent unwanted dislodging of the inner
cylinder
34 from side sockets 30.
Referring still to Figures 1 through 4, the roller wheel 32 is further sized
and
shaped, with regard to the radius R1 thereof, such that an outer
circumferential
portion of the outer circumferential surface 64 of the wheel 32, notably of
the
outer cylinder 36, extends beyond the top side 26 when the wheel 32 is
mounted in side sockets 30 of the bracket 12. Thus, the outer circumferential
surface 64 extends from within the bracket 12 beyond the roller face 14.
When the spacer 10 is connected to the reinforcement structure 56, typically
with the frame connecting members 22 of the attachment face 16 abutting
against the reinforcement structure 56, the reinforcement structure 56 can be
inserted into the forming structure 54 with the roller wheel 32, specifically
the
outermost point of the circumferential surface 64 against the forming surface
58
of the forming structure 54. As the roller wheel 32 is freely rotatable in the
side
sockets 30, the reinforcement structure 56 can be rolled on the wheel 12 into
the forming structure 54. At the same time, the spacer 12 maintains the
reinforcement structure 56, or the portion thereof supported thereby, spaced
apart from the forming surface 58 at a distance D3 equal to the distance
between the attachment face 16 and the point of contact, situated on the outer
circumferential surface 64, of the wheel 32 and the forming surface 58. Thus,
by providing a rolling wheel 32 of appropriate radius, which determines the
circumference thereof, and a bracket 12 having the sockets at a desired
distance from the attachment face 16, a spacing of the cage 56 at a desired
predetermined distance from the forming surface 58 can be provided.
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The bracket 12, and in particular the side mounting walls 50, are constructed
of
a sturdy, but slightly resilient plastic, such that the frames 18, and in
particular
the side mounting walls 50 are slightly outwardly and resiliently movable to
provide removable insertion of said roller wheel into said side sockets
between
the side mounting walls 50. To further facilitate mounting or seating of the
roller
wheel 32 in the side sockets 30, the bracket 12 has, preferably centrally
situated, guide indentations 48 extending into the side mounting wall 50 in
each
side frame 18, from the top side 26 down to the side socket 30. The guide
indentation 48 is of similar, but slightly greater, width than the outer
circumference of the inner cylinder 34. Further, the guide indentations 48 are
recessed into the interior of the side mounting wall 50 such that the inner
cylinder 34 may be slid or pushed into the indentations 48 with the inner
cylinder
ends 52 disposed proximal and possibly abutting the interior of the side
mounting wall 50 in the indentations 48. Thus, roller wheel 32 may be mounted
in the side sockets 30 by positioning the roller wheel 32 with the inner
cylinder
ends 52 aligned with guide indentations 48 and then forcing or wedging the
roller wheel 32 towards side sockets 30 with the inner cylinder ends 52
engaged
in the indentations 32. As the inner cylinder 34 is inserted in the
indentations 48
towards the side socket 30, the side mounting walls 50 are biased or forced
slightly away from one another, until the inner cylinder 34, and notably the
ends
52 thereof, are housed, i.e. snap into, the side sockets 30. At this point,
the
walls 50 bias back towards one another due to the rigid nature of the plastic.
To
remove the rolier wheel 30, the side walls 50 need only be slightly pulled
apart
from one another and the inner cylinder 34 moved away from the side sockets
30 through the guide indentations 48 until the wheel 32 is removed.
As one skilled in the art will appreciate, the ability to easily insert and
remove
the roller wheel 32 presents a number of advantages over the prior art. For
example, one may easily replace defective roller wheels 32. Additionally, one
may choose and install roller wheels 32 of differing radii, and therefore
differing
circumferences, to adjust the amount of spacing provided to a desired
predefined distance for the reinforcement structure 56 from the forming
surface
58, while still using a common bracket 12. Additionally, all components of the
spacer 10 are made of a solid plastic material, resistant to erosion or damage
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by cementitious materials such as concrete and cement which form the
cementitious structure in the forming structure 54.
Reference is now made to Figures 1 though 5. In use, after determining the
predefined distance for the desired spacing of the reinforcement structure 56
from the forming surface 58, a roller wheel 32 of appropriate circumference
and
bracket 12 of appropriate size are selected and the roller wheel 32 is mounted
in the side sockets 30 through the guide indentations 48. The bracket 12,
preferably the frame connecting members 22 of the attachment face 16, is
attached to the cage 56, as shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5, preferably with the
attachment face 16 extending along and preferably abutting the reinforcement
structure 56. For example, the bracket 12 may be tied to the reinforcement
structure 56 with wires 60, the wires 60 being tied around one or more of the
frame connecting members 22 of the attachment face 16 and the reinforcement
structure 56. Preferably, and as shown in Figures 3 and 5, a plurality of
spacers
10 are so attached, spaced apart from one another around the perimeter of the
reinforcement structure 56, which is preferably of similar shape to the
forming
surface 58. For example, and as shown, for a cylindrical reinforcement
structure 56, i.e. cage 56, and forming structure 54, i.e. mould 54, spacers
10
are attached spaced apart from one another at various positions on the
circumference of the cage 56. However, it should be noted that the spacer 10
may be used with any shape of reinforcement structure 56 and forming structure
54, provided that the spacing/distribution of the spacers 10 is such that the
desired predefined distance of spacing for the reinforcement structure 56
relative the forming surface 58 of the forming structure 54 is maintained and
that
the reinforcement structure 56 can be rolled into the forming structure 54 on
the
spacers 10.
Once the spacers 10 have been attached, the reinforcement structure 56 is
rolled thereupon into the forming structure 54. The cementitious material is
then
poured into the reinforcement structure 56 to form the cementitious structure.
It
should be further noted that spacers 10 could also be attached with the outer
face 14 facing inwardly from the reinforcement structure 56 towards an outer
forming surface of inner forming structure, not shown, positioned inside the
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reinforcement structure 56 for spacing the reinforcement structure 56 at a
desired distance from the inner forming structure. The cementitious material
may be any material commonly used for forming cementitious structures,
including cement, concrete, asphalt, or the like.
Although the present invention has been described with a certain degree of
particularity, it is to be understood that the disclosure has been made by way
of
example only and that the present invention is not limited to the features of
the
embodiments described and illustrated herein, but includes all variations and
modifications within the scope and spirit of the invention as hereinafter
claimed.
