CH719084B1 - Device for bending or unbending a rebar or a retaining bar. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a device for folding or unfolding a rebar, in particular a waiting bar included in a waiting box or case. The device comprises a tubular head (1) comprising an interior space and an opening (2) arranged along the tubular head (1) and intended to receive the rebar and an actuating bar (3) fixed on the tubular head (1) so as to form an angle (A) with respect to the tubular head, the actuating bar (3) being aligned with respect to a longitudinal axis of symmetry of the tubular head (1).

Description

Field of invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a device or hand tool in the field of construction.

[0002] More particularly, the present invention relates to a device or tool or hand tool for bending and unbending one or more reinforcing bars so that they adopt a desired position. The present invention is particularly suitable for bending and unbending waiting bars included in a waiting box.

[0003] The present invention also makes it possible to remove the cover of a holding box after concreting in order to expose the holding bars contained in the box.

State of the art

[0004] A rebar, or rebar, is a steel bar used for reinforcing concrete (reinforced concrete) or masonry (reinforced stone). It is generally made of low-carbon steel, and may have a ribbed surface to improve its adhesion to the concrete.

[0005] In order to ensure correct reinforcement of concrete structures, the reinforcing bars must most often be bent into a desired shape imposed by the structure.

[0006] Waiting boxes are used in concrete structures where continuous reinforcements are required and where, for implementation reasons, these reinforcements cannot be produced in a single phase. The box can then be simply placed or fixed on the formwork. After concreting, the cover of the waiting box is removed and the waiting bars contained in the box are unfolded into a projecting position so that the latter are covered with reinforcements from another concrete structure, thus ensuring a connection between the structures and increased strength.

[0007] The unfolding or folding of rebars or waiting bars is usually carried out using a hammer-chisel, a crowbar, or a crowbar. However, such methods carry a risk of injury to the user, including cutting or impalement. In addition, these methods can lead to a loss of time and physically difficult handling. Finally, it may be that the waiting bars contained in the waiting box or the rebars do not offer sufficient space around them to allow the insertion of a hammer-chisel, a crowbar, or a crowbar.

[0008] On the other hand, the device according to the invention makes it possible to overcome all these drawbacks.

[0009] There is therefore a need to enable the folding and unfolding of reinforcing bars or waiting bars quickly, requiring less force and energy for the user and minimizing the risk of injury.

Summary of the invention

[0010] The present invention makes it possible to overcome the problems mentioned in the previous chapter and relates to a device for folding or unfolding a reinforcing bar according to claim 1 or the folding or unfolding of a waiting bar included in a waiting box.

[0011] Other advantageous features of the invention are indicated in the dependent claims.

Description of figures

[0012] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the detailed description which results from the embodiments of the invention given as non-limiting examples and illustrated by the appended drawings in which: Figure 1 represents a front sectional view and a side sectional view of an embodiment of the device according to the invention in which the device is made of a single piece; Figure 2 represents a front view of an embodiment of the device of the invention in which the lever arm is removable; Figure 3 represents a front view of an embodiment of the device in which the lever arm is removable; Figure 4 represents a front sectional view and a side sectional view of the device according to the invention, comprising a head of the double-slit device; and Figure 5 represents a front view of an embodiment of the device comprising a force spout.

Detailed description of the invention

[0013] The invention provides a device for bending or unbending a reinforcing bar.

[0014] The device may be intended for folding or unfolding a waiting bar included in a waiting box or case.

[0015] The device comprises a tubular head 1 comprising an interior space and an opening 2 arranged along the tubular head 1 and intended to receive the reinforcing bar.

[0016] The tubular head 1 comprises a tube geometry, for example a cylindrical, rectangular or square tube.

[0017] The tubular head 1 comprises a length and a width or section, the length being greater than the width or section.

[0018] Furthermore, the tubular head 1 comprises a longitudinal axis of symmetry extending along the length of the tubular head 1.

[0019] The tubular head may comprise a material providing high mechanical strength. This material may be a metal such as steel, hardened steel or any other suitable metal.

[0020] The tubular head 1 may be a steel or hardened steel tube.

[0021] The tubular head or the actuating bar can be formed by rolling, pressing, stamping, cold bending.

[0022] Alternatively The tubular head or the actuator bar can be formed by rolling, pressing, stamping, hot bending.

[0023] The tubular head or steel tube 3 will have, for example, a dimension of the order of 100 mm in length or at least 100 mm in length.

[0024] Depending on the diameters of the reinforcement bars or the waiting bars, the dimensions of the space of the tubular head 1 as well as of the opening 2 must allow the insertion of a bar into this space through the opening 2. The dimensions of the opening must be defined according to the diameter of the reinforcement or waiting bars intended to be inserted into the device.

[0025] The diameter of the tubular head 1 can be between 4 and 20 mm or more depending on the user's request and the diameter of the holding or reinforcing bars.

[0026] In addition, all manufacturers of waiting boxes respect a distance between each bar. The head of the device must therefore respect a length less than this spacing. The external diameter of the tubular head 1 can be between 10mm and 25mm, for example 21mm.

[0027] The device further comprises an actuating bar 3 fixed to the tubular head 1 so as to form an angle A relative to the tubular head 1.

[0028] The actuating bar 3 can be arranged so as to be aligned with respect to the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the tubular head 1.

[0029] The actuating bar 3 may be arranged to extend to form a non-zero angle between the actuating bar and the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the tubular head 1. Preferably, the actuating bar 3 extends in a direction opposite to the side of the tubular head 1 comprising the opening 2.

[0030] The angle A can be between 20° and 90° or be equal to 45°, thus ensuring the user.

[0031] The fixing of the head of the device with the lever arm can respect a precise angle of 45°.

[0032] The 45° angle allows to minimize the unfolding and folding actions, however the angle can be made from 20 to 90°. Depending on the length of the head of the device and the diameter of the waiting bar, the connection of these two elements should be adapted.

[0033] With reference to the drawing figure 1, the device comprises a tubular head 1 or a steel tube 1, an opening or a slot 2 of which is made on one face of the steel tube. An actuating bar 3 or a second steel tube 3 is fixed at 5 thus forming a lever arm. The device allows a user to insert a reinforcing bar into the space of the steel tube through the slot 2 and to bend or unbend this reinforcing bar thanks to the lever arm formed by the actuating bar 3 and the steel tube 1.

[0034] The lever arm or the actuating bar 3 may have a thickness, a diameter and a measurement calculated to multiply the force exerted by the user.

[0035] The thickness of the actuating bar 3 may be 2mm or more.

[0036] The length of the actuating bar 3 can be defined in order to obtain a sufficient lever arm for folding or unfolding a reinforcing bar or a waiting bar. The force necessary for folding or unfolding such a bar can depend on the diameter of this bar. Thus the actuating length 3 can be 200mm, 300mm, 400mm, 500mm, 600mm or 700mm. The length of the actuating bar 3 can also be between 100mm and 1000mm or greater than 1000mm.

[0037] For example, when the rebar is 12mm, the inner diameter of the tubular head 1 may be 12mm and its thickness 2mm. The length of the tubular bar 1 may be 100mm or more. The length of the actuating bar may be 500mm.

[0038] The inner diameter of the tubular head or the diameter of the space included in the tubular head is sized according to the diameter of the reinforcing bar or the waiting bar to be received. The diameter may be for example 12mm, 14mm, 16mm, 18mm or more.

[0039] The length of the actuating bar 3 can be variable depending on the diameter of the reinforcement bar or the waiting bar to be folded or unfolded.

[0040] The actuating bar 3 may be arranged so that the opening 2 of the tubular head 1 is arranged laterally when the actuating bar is on top of the device as shown in Figures 1 to 5.

[0041] The actuating bar 3 can be arranged substantially in the middle of the length of the tubular head 1.

[0042] According to one embodiment of the invention, the actuating bar 3 can be removably mounted on the tubular head 1.

[0043] The actuating bar may comprise a first part 3 fixed on the tubular head 1 and a second part 6 removably fixed on the first part 3 as shown in figures 2, 3 and 5.

[0044] The second part 6 can be fixed to the first part 3 using fixing means such as pins. In this case, holes 7 are arranged on the parts 3 and 6 as shown in Figure 5.

[0045] The first and second parts can be fixed by screwing as described in figure 3 or using a magnet to hold the two parts together.

[0046] In this variant of the invention where the device is in two removable elements, the user can thus use the same lever arm or the same actuating bar 3 for several heads of the device while respecting the safety standards informed by the manufacturer and depending on the size and diameter of the reinforcement or waiting bars.

[0047] According to variants not illustrated, the fixing between the second part 6 or the lever arm 6 and the first part 3 or the steel tube 3 can be carried out with other systems allowing the connection.

[0048] The device may also comprise a reinforcing element 4) configured to mechanically reinforce the fixing of the actuating bar 3 on the tubular head 1.

[0049] The reinforcing element 4 may be of triangular shape comprising a first side in contact with the tubular head 1, a second side in contact with the actuating bar 3 and a third projecting side, configured to open a cover of a waiting box.

[0050] This reinforcing element can be a steel part forming a right triangle 4 represented with the letters A, B, C in figures 1 to 5, the side of which opposite the angle A is projecting or acute, allows both the opening of the waiting box, the reinforcement of the fixing of the tubular head 1 and the actuating bar 3 and to respect a desired angle A, for example 45°.

[0051] The dual function of the projecting triangular part 4 or of the reinforcing element 4, combined with the length of the head of the device 1 and of the lever arm 3 are such that a small pressure exerted by the user on the lever arm 3 is multiplied and allows the waiting or reinforcement bar to be unfolded or folded.

[0052] The waiting boxes may comprise a lid or a cardboard or PVC case fixed to the waiting box by metal fasteners such as metal ribbons or wires. The projecting, sharp or cutting side of the reinforcing element 4 allows, after insertion of the tubular head 1 into the lid or between the fasteners and the lid, to cut or break the fasteners of the lid or case of the waiting box, thus allowing it to be opened.

[0053] In the embodiment shown in Figures 2 and 3, the head of the device consists of two steel tubes 1 and 3 and the triangular piece 4 representing a single element.

[0054] According to a variant of the invention, the device may comprise two tubular heads 1, each tubular head 1 comprising an interior space and an opening 2, the openings 2 being opposite each other as indicated in Figure 4.

[0055] The head 1 of the device produced in Figure 4 may consist of a double-slit head 1 which can be produced by different methods. The head of this type of device may be made of one or two elements.

[0056] The steel tube 1 can be made with a slot 2 fixed at 5 with both a steel tube 3 representing a part of the lever arm 6 and the triangular piece 4.

[0057] The steel tube 3 will have, for example, a dimension of the order of 100 mm in length, this length should be taken into account in the final length of the lever arm 6.

[0058] In the embodiment of Figure 5, the head of the device 1 and the actuating bar 3 are connected in a single element by welding at 5.

[0059] As shown in Figure 5, the tubular head may comprise a force beak 8 arranged at one end of the tubular head 1.

[0060] The tubular head 1 may comprise an angular cutout made in the shape of an 8 which will be called a “force beak 8”, representing a point, like a crowbar or a chisel allowing the user to disentangle and create a small separation of the waiting bar in the housing in order to insert it into the tubular head 1 through the opening 2.

[0061] The force beak 8 may be an extension of a part of the tubular head 1.

[0062] The force spout 8 can be fixed on one of the ends or on both ends of the tubular head 1.

[0063] The embodiment of figures 2 and 3, constituting to represent the head of the device of three parts 1, 3 and 4 in a single element by molding for example.

[0064] The steel tube 1 with slot 2 can also be made with a slot on each side for unfolding and folding the double waiting bars (see figure 4).

[0065] The head 1 of the device can be made up of different characteristics, this cylindrical contact element has a slot 2 or an opening 2 which can be made on the right or on the left. This same head can be made from a cylindrical bar made up of a slot on each side (see figures 1, 2, 3 and 4).

[0066] In a variant of the invention, the device comprises a cylindrical contact element 1 having a slot 2 allowing access to the waiting bars to unfold or fold them, a lever arm 3 fixed angularly so as to respect an angle A of 45°, in order to carry out the minimum of manipulation and acting as a force reinforcement member making it possible to multiply the force exerted by the user. Thus when the user inserts the waiting bar into the cylindrical element having a slot which will be called "the head of the device", he will exert a minimal force using the lever arm fixed to the head of the device in order to unfold or fold the waiting bars to the desired position.

[0067] The present invention further allows the user to rotate the device 180° in order to avoid having to remove and then reinsert the holding bar into the tool to unfold or fold it.

[0068] When the tubular head 1 captures the reinforcement or waiting bar to be bent or unfolded, the latter is for example unfolded by the action of the user on the actuating bar. If the bar must be unfolded further or at a different angle, the device can be rotated for example by 90° or 180° relative to the bar without the reinforcement or waiting bar being removed from the tubular head 1. Thus, the user can perform a new action such as pulling on the actuating bar allowing the bar to be bent or unfolded in a new direction or more significantly without the bar having been removed from the tubular head 1, thus improving the safety of the operation and avoiding possible injuries due to the unfolded bar left unprotected.

[0069] It will be understood that various modifications and/or improvements obvious to those skilled in the art may be made to the various embodiments of the invention described in the present description without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.

[0070] The invention is obviously not limited to the examples illustrated in this application.

Claims (9)

1. Device for bending or unbending a rebar, the device comprising: – a tubular head (1) comprising an interior space and an opening (2) arranged along the tubular head (1) and allowing the insertion of the rebar into the interior space; and – an actuating bar (3) fixed to the tubular head (1) so as to form an angle (A) with respect to the tubular head, the actuating bar (3) being aligned with respect to a longitudinal axis of symmetry of the tubular head (1). 2. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the angle (A) is between 20° and 90°. 3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the angle (A) is equal to 45°. 4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating bar (3) is arranged in such a way that the opening (2) of the tubular head (1) is arranged laterally when the actuating bar (3) is on top of the device. 5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating bar (3) is arranged substantially in the middle of a length of the tubular head (1). 6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating bar (3) comprises a first part (3) fixed on the tubular head (1) and a second part (6) removably fixed on the first part. 7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tubular head (1) comprises a force beak (8) arranged at one of the ends of the tubular head (1). 8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device comprises two tubular heads (1), each tubular head (1) comprising an interior space and an opening (2), the openings (2) being opposite each other. 9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, the reinforcing bar being a holding bar included in a holding box, characterized in that the device comprises a reinforcing element (4) configured to mechanically reinforce the fixing of the actuating bar (3) on the tubular head (1).