SIDE-ATTACHED ANCHOR BOLT HOLDING BRACKET

Abstract

Claims

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of pouring wet concrete includes pouring said wet concrete to a pour line, and wherein said step of attaching said bracket more specifically includes attaching said bracket so that said anchor bolt is supported at a point below said pour line.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said bracket includes a tube portion, for accepting and retaining said anchor bolt.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said tube portion includes interior features adapted to retain an anchor bolt.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said interior features are resiliently compressible.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of constructing a frame is not completed before the step of attaching said bracket to said frame.

7. A bracket adapted to receive and retain an anchor bolt, comprising: (a) an anchor bolt holder defining an axis along which any anchor bolt held by said holder will be oriented; (b) an attachment and spacing portion, being attached to said anchor bolt holder, and being adapted to be attached to a substantially planar, vertical surface and oriented and configured so that when attached to said vertical surface, said axis is vertical and said anchor bolt holder is spaced from 3 to 8 cm (1.2 to 3.2 in) from said vertical surface.

8. The bracket of claim 7 wherein said anchor bolt holder is in the form of a tube.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said tube portion includes interior features adapted to retain an anchor bolt.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said interior features are resiliently compressible.

11. A concrete frame assembly adapted to support an anchor bolt, comprising: (a) a frame to retain wet concrete, said frame including a sidewall, said sidewall having a major interior side surface; and (b) a bracket adapted to receive and retain an anchor bolt, attached to said major interior side surface and positioned to retain an anchor bolt at a point below said top of said side wall.

12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein a pour line is predetermined and wherein said bracket is positioned to retain said anchor bolt at a point below said pour line.

13. The assembly of claim 11 wherein said bracket includes a tube portion, for accepting and retaining said anchor bolt.

14. The assembly of claim 13 wherein said tube portion includes interior features adapted to retain an anchor bolt.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said interior features are resiliently compressible.

Description

[0001] Anchor bolts embedded in concrete foundations have become an increasingly feature of construction. This building feature is particularly frequently encountered in buildings on slopes and in earthquake prone regions. There are many different brackets for holding an anchor bolt in place during a concrete pour. It appears, however, that all of these brackets attach to the top of the concrete form. This can be problematic because anchor bolts are typically required to be embedded in concrete to a particular depth, as indicated by a minimum embedment marking on the anchor bolt. Generally, if the minimum embedment marking is visible above the top of the concrete, the concrete work will not pass building inspection.

[0002] Unfortunately, when using the available, top-mounting brackets, it may be difficult or impossible to suspend an anchor bolt far enough down, relative to the form, for the minimum embedment line to be positioned below the pour line. In this situation the concrete contractor is typically required to improvise, thereby losing valuable time. Additionally, holding the anchor near its top, above the pour, may not result in a firm enough constraint to prevent the force of the flowing concrete from pushing the anchor bolt off of its preferred vertical alignment. Again, the concrete contractor may be forced to improvise with nail and wire to hold the anchor bolt in a vertical position, while the concrete is filling the form.

SUMMARY

[0003] In a first separate aspect the present invention comprises a method of installing a concrete element having an anchor bolt protruding therefrom. The method begins with the construction of at least part of a frame to retain wet concrete that includes a sidewall that has a major interior side surface and a top. A bracket adapted to receive and retain an anchor bolt is attached to the major interior side surface of the sidewall so that the bracket is positioned to retain an anchor bolt at a point below the top of the side wall. An anchor bolt is placed into the bracket and wet concrete is poured into the form so that the anchor bolt protrudes from the wet concrete and is permitted to cure.

[0004] In a second separate aspect, the present invention comprises a bracket adapted to receive and retain an anchor bolt that includes an anchor bolt holder defining an axis along which any anchor bolt held by the holder will be oriented. Also, an attachment and spacing portion is attached to the anchor bolt holder, and is adapted to be attached to a substantially planar, vertical surface. This portion is oriented and configured so that when attached to the vertical surface, the axis is vertical and the anchor bolt holder is spaced from 3 to 8 cm (1.2 to 3.2 in) from the vertical surface.

[0005] In a third separate aspect, the present invention comprises a concrete frame assembly adapted to support an anchor bolt, comprising a frame to retain wet concrete that includes a sidewall that has a major interior side surface. Also, a bracket adapted to receive and retain an anchor bolt is attached to the major interior side surface and positioned to retain an anchor bolt at a point below the top of the side wall.

[0006] The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tools and methods which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope. In various embodiments, one or more of the above-described problems have been reduced or eliminated, while other embodiments are directed to other improvements.

[0007] In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the drawings and by study of the following detailed descriptions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bracket according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0009] FIG. 2 is a perspective of a bracket according to an alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] FIG. 3 is a side view of the bracket of FIG. 1 attached to a concrete pour form and retaining an anchor bolt.

[0011] FIG. 4 is a side view of the bracket of FIG. 2 attached to a concrete pour form and retaining an anchor bolt.

[0012] Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures of the drawings. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

[0013] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3 a first preferred embodiment of a bracket 10 for retaining an anchor bolt 12 (FIG. 3) during a concrete pour, includes an attachment and spacer portion 14 and a bolt retaining portion 16. More specifically, attachment and spacer portion can be divided into an attachment element 18 and a spacer element 20. Bolt retaining portion 16 is in the form of a tube. Attachment element spacers 22, prevent the bulk of the attachment element 18 from being visible in the concrete after the form 30 (FIG. 3) is removed. Resiliently compressible interior features 24 act to retain an anchor bolt 12. In a variant, internal threads are used for this purpose. Apertures 26 are defined by bracket 10, to accommodate wet concrete during the pour and cured concrete afterwards. This results in a lesser void space in the finished concrete structure, which is generally considered to be structurally desirable.

[0014] Referring to FIG. 3, prior to pouring concrete a form 30 is constructed. To hold the anchor bolt 12 in place, bracket 10 is attached (typically using nails 34) to the interior side surface 32 of sidewall 30. This is typically done below the anticipated pour line of the concrete, so that the anchor bolt 12 is not pushed sideways, off vertical, by the flowing cement. Anchor bolt 12 is then placed in the retaining portion 16 of bracket 12 and the concrete is poured and cured.

[0015] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, in an alternative preferred embodiment 10', an attachment and spacer portion 14' is comprised of two thin vertical tubes, sized to retain nails 34' (FIG. 4) that are hammered into the side surface 32 of wall 30 (FIG. 4). Retaining portion 16' is slightly longer than portion 16 of bracket 10.

[0016] Both bracket 10 and 10' may be made of substantially rigid material, such as substantially rigid polymers and metals. In preferred embodiments that are not shown, brackets 10 and 10' are formed to include sharp, nail like protrusions, which are driven into the form 30. As a note, nails 34 or 34' or a nail like portion may be easily broken off after the concrete has been poured by using a wrench to bend it repeatedly back and forth. In a preferred embodiment made of metal, the bracket takes up less volume, as it is in the form of wire work.

[0017] While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize that there may be modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations thereof. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations as are within their true spirit and scope.