BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a penetration reinforcement member in accordance with the preamble of claim 1 and in particular to a penetration reinforcement member to be attached to reinforcement bars of a concrete casing slab or a reinforced concrete slab.

[0002] Concrete as such is a material that sustains well compression, but its tensile strength is poor, and therefore concrete structures are often provided with reinforcement so as to transfer tensile forces. Reinforced concrete slab assemblies may locally have spots with high shearing stresses. These spots include, for instance, areas where the slab is supported to a pillar, a wall end or a corner in a wall. Without additional reinforcement there is a risk that the stress being high the slab will be punched into the upper end of the supporting pillar, for instance.

[0003] There are known a variety of penetration reinforcement members to prevent the penetration at areas with high local shear force. Conventionally hooks bent of ribbed bars or vertical pegs arranged in line have been used as penetration reinforcement members.

[0004] The above prior art arrangements have a problem, however, that their attachment often requires special parts and separate attaching means or special joint techniques, such as welding, which are often difficult to apply on site and/or which do not provide tight and sturdy anchorage to the reinforcement of the reinforced concrete slab without separate attaching means or attaching techniques. When prefabricated shear reinforcement elements are used, they are generally provided with vertical pegs such that shear resistance is constant for the whole reinforcement element. In structures the shear force reduces sharply in relation to the distance. The invention enables customized prefabrication of a shear reinforcement by adding separate pieces with suitable, varying spacing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The object of the invention is to provide a penetration reinforcement member with which the above problems can be solved. This is achieved with a penetration reinforcement member in accordance with the characterizing part of claim 1 , which is characterized in that the penetration reinforcement member comprises a lower part which is substantially parallel to

said reinforcement bars and which comprises first fixed gripping means for attaching the penetration reinforcement member to the reinforcement bars of a reinforced concrete casing slab, and an upper part which is perpendicular to the lower part and extends to a top cast to be provided on the casting surface of the reinforced concrete casing slab and which comprises second fixed gripping means for attaching the penetration reinforcement member to the reinforcement bars of the reinforced concrete casing slab

[0006] The preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

[0007] The invention is based on forming a penetration reinforcement member, advantageously by cutting and edging it of a metal plate, which member is a one-piece structure and which comprises a lower part that is parallel to the reinforcement bars of the reinforced concrete casing slab and that is provided with first attaching means for anchoring to said reinforcement bars and an upper part that is perpendicular to the lower part and extends to a top cast to be provided on the casting surface of the reinforced concrete casing slab and that is provided with second attaching means for anchoring to said reinforcement bars. The first and the second attaching means are designed to provide slots that are able to receive the reinforcement bars of the reinforced concrete casing slab so as to secure the penetration reinforcement member to the reinforcement bars. The slots in the penetration reinforcement member are designed such that the penetration reinforcement member can be mounted by simply passing it in position without recourse to separate means for attaching When mounted in position the penetration reinforcement member is supported tightly and firmly to the reinforcement bars of the reinforced concrete casing slab. In addition, the upper part of the penetration reinforcement member according to the invention extends from the casting surface of the reinforced concrete casing slab to the top cast to be formed on the reinforced concrete casing slab, to the reinforcement of which it can be attached

[0008] The penetration reinforcement member of the invention has an advantage that it allows easy and fast mounting without separate attaching means or attaching techniques such as welding, for instance The invention also makes it possible that exactly the required number of penetration reinforcement members is mounted at any particular point by adjusting their mutual distance The prefabrication plant may store parts in accordance with the invention and use them for an element as required It is also easier to fit in a

separate part among the rest of the reinforcement in an element than a conventional welded in-line reinforcement of the prior art

[0009] In one embodiment of the present invention the penetration reinforcement member is arranged for attachment to two parallel reinforcement bars of the reinforced concrete casing slab with first and second attaching means

[0010] In one embodiment the penetration reinforcement member is made into a one-piece whole by cutting and edging it of a metal plate, in which the surface of a plate-like lower part is substantially parallel to two parallel reinforcement bars and the surface of a plate-like upper part is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the lower part and the reinforcement bars

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] In the following the invention will be described in greater detail in connection with preferred embodiments, with reference to the attached drawings, in which

Figures 1A to 1 C show one embodiment of a penetration reinforcement member according to the invention,

Figure 2 shows the penetration reinforcement member of Figures 1A to 1C attached to the reinforcement bars of a reinforced concrete casing slab

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Reference is made to Figure 1A which shows one embodiment of a penetration reinforcement member 1 in accordance with the invention According to Figure 1A the penetration reinforcement member of this embodiment is made of a metal plate, advantageously of sheet metal, by cutting and edging it into a one-piece whole, but alternatively it may be made of another materia! and consist of a plurality of pieces that are secured to one another

[0013] The penetration reinforcement member 1 of the invention comprises a lower part 2 and an upper part 4 that is perpendicular thereto The lower part 2 and the upper part 4 are designed to comprise gripping means 14 16, 7, 9, by means of which the penetration reinforcement member is attached to the reinforcement bars of a reinforced concrete casing slab in connection with the casting thereof In this embodiment the plate-like lower part 2 sets in the same direction as the reinforcement bars of the casing slab / the casting

surface of the casing slab the upper part 4 being perpendicular to the lower part and protruding up from the casting surface of the casing slab into a top cast to be provided on the casing slab, when the penetration reinforcement member 1 is mounted in position. Advantageously the lower part 2 and the upper part 4 are perpendicular to one another, but they may also be at any other optional angle to one another, yet in such a manner that the upper part 4 protrudes from the casting surface of the casing slab as the penetration reinforcement member 1 is mounted in position.

[0014] The penetration reinforcement member of Figure 1A is designed such that, when mounted in position, it is attached to the two substantially parallel reinforcement bars of the casing slab by means of the first gripping means 14 and 16 of the lower part 2 as well as the second gripping means 7 and 9 of the upper part. Thus these two parallel reinforcement bars are advantageously parallel with the casting surface of the casing slab, whereby the lower part 2 is in the same direction as the reinforcement bars and the casting surface of the casing slab and the upper part 4 is perpendicular thereto protruding from the casting surface of the casing slab. In addition, the reinforcement bars, to which the penetration reinforcement member 1 is attached, are advantageously adjacent to one another, even though it is not necessary. However, it should be noted that in accordance with the present invention the penetration reinforcement member 1 may also be formed such that it can be attached to one or three or more reinforcement bars that need not necessarily be parallel or adjacent. In addition it should be noted that the reinforcement bars of the casing slab are not necessarily parallel to the casting surface of the casing slab, but they may deviate from that direction, whereby the angle between the lower part 2 and the upper part 4 may vary, yet in such a manner that the upper part 4 protrudes from the casting surface of the casing slab. By attaching the penetration reinforcement member to two or more substantially parallel reinforcement bars of the casing slab it is possible to assure the attachment of the penetration reinforcement member 1 firmly so that it will stay in position during the casting of the casing slab. The penetration reinforcement member 1 will be firmly mounted, because it links two parallel reinforcement bars closely together.

[0015] In the embodiment of Figures 1A, 1 B and 1C the gripping means 14, 16 of the lower part 2 are arranged to form slots 6 and the gripping means 7, 9 of the upper part 4 are arranged to form slots 8 and 12 to receive

two parallel reinforcement bars of the reinforced concrete casing slab. In accordance with the present invention the gripping means may be provided in a variety of ways, the substantial thing being that they are an integral part of the penetration reinforcement member 1 so that no separate gripping means nor techniques will be necessary for attaching the penetration reinforcement member 1 to the reinforcement bars of the casing slab. In order that the fixed gripping means could be utilized the gripping means 14, 16, 7, 9 of the penetration reinforcement member 1 are designed such that the penetration reinforcement member 1 can be attached to the two parallel reinforcement bars of the reinforced concrete casing slab by passing it onto them. Passing is possible when the gripping means 14, 16, 7, 9 and the slots 6, 8, 12 formed thereby are provided in the penetration reinforcement member 1 such that while the penetration reinforcement member 1 is being mounted on the reinforcement bars of the casing slab by turning the penetration reinforcement member 1 in a particular way in relation to the reinforcement bars, the gripping means 14, 16, 7, 9 will engage firmly with the reinforcement bars. As the penetration reinforcement member is mounted by passing it, no separate gripping means or techniques will be needed, but after the correctly performed passing the penetration reinforcement member is ready for use. When the penetration reinforcement member 1 is suitably dimensioned with respect to the distance between the reinforcement bars, the reinforcement bars can be firmly inserted in the slots 6, 8 and 12 such that a clamping joint is provided between the connecting means 14, 16, 7, 9 and the reinforcement bars.

[0016] The substantial thing is that the penetration reinforcement member having first been passed such that the reinforcement bars set in the slots 6, the connecting means 7 can be pressed against the bars such that the bars bend and slide along the inclined lower surface of the connecting means 7 upwardly and then click into place in the slots 8. The connecting means 7 are designed such that the reinforcement bars 10 bend sideways when the upper part 4 is pressed downwardly and by the effect of the tension caused by bending they penetrate into the recesses provided by the connecting means 7. The connecting means 9 may be designed in the same manner to receive the reinforcement bars 10.

[0017] In the embodiment of Figures 1A to 1 B the upper part 4 is designed to extend downwardly below a level determined by the two parallel reinforcement bars of the reinforced concrete casing slab, onto which bars the

penetration reinforcement member is mounted, with respect to the top cast to be provided on the casting surface of the reinforced concrete casing slab, the penetration reinforcement member 1 being mounted in position, and upwardly above said ievel in the top cast to be provided on the casting surface of the reinforced concrete casing slab. The connecting means 7, 9 of the upper part 4, which are recesses made in the plate-like upper part, are provided below the plate-like surface of the lower part 2 extending below the reinforcement bars. These recesses 7, 8 are provided in the vertical side 19 of the upper part 4 such that they are laterally able to receive the reinforcement bars, i.e. in the direction that is perpendicular to the plate-like surface of the upper part 4. The portion of the penetration reinforcement member that extends downwardly below a level determined by the two parallel reinforcement bars of the reinforced concrete casing slab, onto which bars the penetration reinforcement member 1 is mounted, may be made by attaching, for instance welding or soldering, a metal plate or another piece to the lower part 2. The metal plate or piece secured in this manner thus advantageously constitutes the whole upper part 4, i.e. also the portion of the upper part 4 that extends to the top cast to be provided on the casting surface of the casing slab.

[0018] The upper part 4 of this embodiment is provided, in accordance with Figures 1A, 1 B and 1C, by bending a metal plate first downwardly, in the transverse direction of the lower part 2, to obtain a first folded portion 11 , with respect to the top cast to be provided on the casting surface of the reinforced concrete casing slab, the penetration reinforcement member 1 being mounted in position, then by bending it in the direction of the lower part 2 below a level determined by the two parallel reinforcement bars 10, away from the lower part 2 to obtain a second folded portion 13, and finally upwardly again, in the transverse direction of the lower part 2, in the top cast to be provided on the casting surface of the reinforced concrete casing slab to obtain a third folded portion 15. When the upper part 4 of the penetration reinforcement member 1 is formed in the above-described manner, the downwardly folded first folded portion 11 and the upwardly folded third folded portion 15 in the upper part 4 of the penetration reinforcement member 1 , bent of a metal plate, both comprise one horizontal slot 8, 12 for each of the two reinforcement bars 10 of the reinforced concrete casing slab. These slots are provided with recesses 7 and 9 as described above. The penetration reinforcement member 1 designed as shown in Figure 1A and described above is rigid, because the

whole consisting of the first folded portion 11 , the second folded portion 13 and the third folded portion 15 stiffens the penetration reinforcement member. In addition, as the upper part 4 of this kind comprises two vertical folded portions 11 and 15, it enables formation of two separate slots 8 and 12 in the upper part 4 for receiving each reinforcement bar, which further enables firm attachment of the penetration reinforcement member 1 to the reinforcement bars.

[0019] It is also possible to design the upper part 4 such that it comprises only one slot 8 or 12 for each reinforcement bar. This can be applied particularly when the upper part 4 is provided by attaching a metal plate or the like, for instance, by welding it directly to the lower part 2, in which case it is impossible to use two slots. In other words, the upper part 4 comprises at least one slot 8, 12, which is provided by making a recess 7, 9 in the upper part 4 for each of the two reinforcement bars 10 of the reinforced concrete casing slab.

[0020] To lock the penetration reinforcement member 1 further to the reinforcement of the top cast to be provided on the casting surface of the casing slab the upper part 4 comprises locking means for engaging with the reinforcement of the top cast. These locking means of the upper part 4 provided in its upper extremity 25 extending to the top cast include a fold, for instance, with which the reinforcement of the top cast is engaged, whereby the penetration reinforcement member 1 , while being attached to the reinforcement bars of the casing slab, locks the reinforcement of the top cast to the casing slab by means of the fold. Advantageously the fold is transversely directed to the third, vertical folded portion of the upper part 4 protruding from casting surface of the casing slab. In other words, the fold is advantageously parallel to the lower part 2 and/or the casting surface of the casing slab and it extends further advantageously in the direction of the lower part 2. When this kind of fold is used as locking means, the reinforcement of the top cast is locked below the fold, i.e. on the side of the casting surface of the casing slab.

[0021] The lower part 2 of the penetration reinforcement member 1 , in turn, comprises a first end 3, at which there are provided gripping means 14 and 16, which form a slot 6 for each of the two reinforcement bars 10, and a second end 5, at which the upper part 4 is provided. The gripping means 14 and 16 constitute the first end of the lower part 2. Each of the slots 6 at the first end 3 of the lower part 2 consists of a pair of metal flanges 14 and 16, which protrude from the lower part 2 transversely to the reinforcement bars 10 of the

reinforced concrete casing slab and which form a slot 6 for engagement with the reinforcement bars 10 of the reinforced concrete casing slab when the penetration reinforcement member 1 is mounted by passing it into position. The reinforcement bars 10 run through the slot 6 formed by each flange pair 14 and 16 advantageously such that the flanges 14 and 16 support each reinforcement bar from several directions.

[0022] In the embodiment of Figures 1 A, 1 B and 1 C the lower part 2 comprises a first pair of metal flanges 14, which constitute an end surface 17 of a first extremity 3 and which are designed to engage with the two parallel reinforcement bars 10 of the reinforced concrete casing slab, the penetration reinforcement member 1 being mounted in position, such that they extend from between the reinforcement bars 10 below said bars with respect to the top cast provided on the reinforced concrete casing slab and engage with the reinforcement bars 10 from the opposing sides and from below them. Thus the metal flanges 14 of the first pair protrude between the two parallel reinforcement bars and beneath them and support the reinforcement bars from the sides facing one another and from below.

[0023] In the embodiment of Figures 1A, 1 B and 1C the lower part 2 comprises a second pair of metal flanges 16, which are designed to engage with the two parallel reinforcement bars of the reinforced concrete casing slab, the penetration reinforcement member 1 being mounted in position, such that they extend from above the reinforcement bars onto the sides facing away from one another with respect to the top cast to be provided on the reinforced concrete casing slab and engage with the reinforcement bars on the sides facing away from one another and above them. Thus the pair of flanges 16 presses two parallel reinforcement bars therebetween.

[0024] The flanges in the lower part 2 of the penetration reinforcement member being designed as shown in Figures 1A to 1 C and described above each slot 6 provided by the first and the second pairs of flanges 14, 16 engages with the reinforcement bar of the reinforced concrete casing slab from above, below and both sides with respect to the top cast to be provided on the reinforced concrete casing slab, whereby the first and the second pairs of flanges 14, 16 form a separate slot 6 for each reinforcement bar of the reinforced concrete casing slab. Thus each reinforcement bar can be locked to the penetration reinforcement member 1 from all directions, and the reinforcement

bar cannot slip off the engagement with the penetration reinforcement member 1 in connection with casting.

[0025] In accordance with Figures 1 A to 1C the second pair of flanges 16 is placed apart from the first pair of flanges 14, in the longitudinal direction of the reinforcement bars 10 of the reinforced concrete casing slab, in the direction of the second end 5 of the lower part 2 for at least a distance equalling the thickness of the reinforcement bars such that a recess 18 transversal to the longitudinal direction of the reinforcement bars is produced between the first and the second flanges 14, 16 in the lower part 2, which recess enables the penetration reinforcement member to be passed in position in engagement with the reinforcement bars of the concrete casing slab. The recesses 18 facilitate the passing of the penetration reinforcement member 1 into engagement with the reinforcement bars.

[0026] Figure 1B is a front view of the penetration reinforcement member 1 according to this embodiment of the present invention and Figure 1C is a side view thereof. From Figures 1 B and 1C it appears clearly how the penetration reinforcement member 1 is designed.

[0027] Figure 2 shows the penetration reinforcement member 1 according to Figures 1A to 1 C mounted in engagement with two parallel reinforcement bars 10 of the casing slab. As it can be seen in Figure 2 the penetration reinforcement member 1 is attached in position by using only the fixed gripping means of the penetration reinforcement member. The penetration reinforcement member of this embodiment is attached to the reinforcement bars 10 such that the lower part 2 is passed between the reinforcement bars 10 by pushing the end surface 17 consisting of the first pair of flanges 14 in the narrower direction between the reinforcement bars 10. Thereafter the penetration reinforcement member 1 is turned such that the reinforcement bars 10 set in the slots provided by the flanges 14 and 16. Then the penetration reinforcement member 1 is pressed downwardly until the reinforcement bars 10 sink in the horizontal slots 8, 12 in the upper part 4. This is possible, because the reinforcement bars 10 bend sideways.

[0028] On the reinforced concrete casing slab there may be a sheer reinforced concrete slab, to the reinforcement bars of which, or to the reinforcement bars of the lower and/or upper part of which, the penetration reinforcement member is attached.

[0029] It is apparent to a person skilled in the art that as technology progresses, the basic idea of the invention can be implemented in a variety of ways. Thus the invention and the embodiments thereof are not restricted to the above-described examples but they may vary within the scope of the claims.