TITLE

SECURE RETENTION CLIP FOR CONCRETE REINFORCING

MATERIALS FIELD

[001] This invention relates generally to reinforcement of poured concrete, and more specifically to devices for tying concrete reinforcing elements within the poured concrete.

BACKGROUND

[002] Reinforcing elements for poured concrete, such as steel rebar, are relatively heavy and require support from what are known in the industry as chairs and clips. In the case of rebar, the reinforcing elements are often laid out in a grid with longitudinally extending bars intersecting, typically at 90 degree angles, with other bars. At the intersection points, the bars are preferably connected together, or tied with wire, or clips. Alternatively, two pieces of rebar have been placed parallel to each other so as to have laid side-by, and thus have required tying to each other to hold them together.

[003] Prior non-chair-type means for interconnecting or tying rebar has included bailing wire. In more recent times there have been developed devices directed to the purpose of interconnecting rebar at locations where one piece of rebar crosses or lies parallel adjacent to another piece of rebar. For example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US2011/0107714, to Kodi, discloses a system for attaching reinforcing bars of equal diameter that are both parallel adjacent or transversely-oriented adjacent each other. While the Kodi patent application discloses a clip for tying rebar in either parallel or transverse, orthogonal, orientation, the device of that application has suffered from the fact that flexing of the heavy rebar being clipped together, such as may have happened when the grid has been moved or a person has walked on the grid framework clipped together, has popped the clips off of the rebar, leaving the rebar undipped or requiring re-installation of the clips.

[004] Similarly, another prior device used to interconnect rebar at normal intersections of the rebar, one rebar positioned above another, or alternatively as parallel-oriented adjacent pieces of rebar, is found in U.S. Patent No. 5,626,436 to Dragone. While this patent teaches an elastic clip to fasten crossed bars, or alternatively parallel-oriented adjacent pieces of rebar, the device of this patent also suffers from the fact that flexing of the heavy rebar being clipped together has relatively easily popped the clip off of the rebar.

[005] Strength and stability of such tie clips are at a premium, since the clips must be strong enough to withstand the stress of the sometimes flexing rebar, as well as the weight of pouring concrete or workers that sometimes walk on the framing structure of the tied reinforcing materials. Still further, the process of constructing a reinforcing framework for poured concrete is often awkward, requiring a lot of lifting of materials by workers, moving, flexing the rebar, tying and the like. As sometimes heavy bars or other materials are dragged across the framework, it is not uncommon for the framework to shift, thus stressing the framework ties popping them off the rebar.

[006] Further, from time to time there has been a need to pick up the rebar reinforcing elements to move them after they have been placed in prior art tying devices. For the foregoing reasons, and because relative movement or shifting of the rebar has caused a reinforcing element to become dislodged from a clip, there has developed a need for a clip that is easy to install, that easily hooks, or semipermanently locks onto the rebar to prevent the clip from popping off the rebar during stress of the clip as by flexing of the rebar.

[007] Compounding the problems mentioned above associated with strength of clips, often times it has been desirable to have multiple layers of reinforcements stacked, as it were, for reinforcing thicker concrete pours. In such cases the bottom lower clips have been required to withstand the aforementioned stresses as applied by two or more layers of reinforcing materials, as well as the weight of workers and other materials from time to time. Since the clips have often been made of plastic resin and are preferably lightweight, this has placed a premium on design and ingenuity of design of the clips.

[008] There are varying sizes of clips on the market associated with differing diameters of rebar. For example, it is not uncommon in the industry for there to be #4, #5 and #6 rebar, corresponding to 1/2 inch, 5/8 inch, 3/4 inch rebar, and larger sizes as well. Thus, to be efficient, it has been desirable to simplify the number of devices from which to choose by providing a single clip that is capable of tying two different sizes of rebar, or wire mesh and rebar, together. The aforementioned prior art clips teach about devices capable of tying two different sizes of rebar together, but again suffer from the shortcomings described above. SUMMARY

[009] Responsive to the needs presented by the industry having encountered prior art devices, in accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a retention clip, adapted for releasably interconnecting first and second lengths of concrete reinforcing elements crossed at substantial right angles and adjacent each other, comprising: a saddle portion, a plurality of retaining guide members, each retaining guide member having first and second ends, the first end of each retaining guide member attached to the saddle portion, each of the retaining guide members extending away from the saddle portion, the retaining guide members defining there- between first and second, orthogonally-oriented concrete reinforcing element retaining sockets adapted for receiving and retaining the reinforcing elements, one reinforcing element after another, the first reinforcing element being received and retained in the first concrete reinforcing element retaining socket adjacent the saddle portion, the second reinforcing element being received and retained adjacent the first reinforcing element and in the second concrete reinforcing element retaining socket. The retention clip in accordance with this first aspect of the invention further comprises: a plurality of concrete reinforcing element entry guide members, each entry guide member attached to a second end of one of the plurality of retaining guide members, and a hook member attached to a second end of at least one of the plurality of retaining guide members adapted for hooking around the second length of concrete reinforcing element such that removal of the clip from the concrete reinforcing elements would require manual biasing of the clip with a user's hand or a tool to release the hook from the concrete reinforcing elements to enable removal of the clip.

[010] Preferably, the plurality of concrete reinforcing element entry guide members are offset, V-shaped members comprising matched, angled opposing, angular surfaces, one surface for each V-shaped entry guide member integrally formed with the second end of each retaining guide member, the retaining guide members and the entry guide members defining an opening at the bottom of the V- shaped entry guide members and adapted for receiving one of the concrete reinforcing elements upon installation of the clip.

[011] Further, preferably, the at least one hook member comprises a plurality of hook members with each hook member being integrally formed in the second end of a different one of the plurality of retention guide members together with one of the surfaces of the V-shaped entry guide members. [012] The retention clip of this aspect of the invention is easy to install and yet provides a more resilient clip for withstanding the stresses presented by flexing and shifting rebar than that offered by the prior art devices for tying rebar. This feature, in turn, provides greater stability for supporting heavy loads during the often awkward process of constructing a concrete supporting reinforced framework.

[013] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, preferably the saddle portion of the retention clip further comprises a receiving surface and an opposing base surface, wherein the base surface of the saddle portion is reinforced with a plurality of ribs so as to be adapted for receiving a striking force, as by a hammer or a ram of an clip installation gun, for installing the clip on the concrete reinforcing elements. Still further, preferably, the retention clip in accordance with this aspect of the invention further comprises multi-clip interconnection means adapted for releasably and re-attachably interconnecting a plurality of retention clips together. Preferably this multi-clip interconnection means comprises a two-piece, snap-fit interconnection means further comprising an extension member, extension members, or extensions, having first and second ends, or an end on each extension, and extending from the base surface of the clip. An end, or the first end, of the extension member preferably comprises thereon a rounded bar with a transversely-oriented alignment key on the rounded bar, and an end, or the second end, of the extension member comprises formed thereon a snap-fit receptacle and key seat adapted for aligning, receiving and releasably retaining the bar and key of the other, first, end of an extension member of another retention clip for holding the two retention clips together side-by-side until the retention clips are forced apart during installation of one of the retention clips.

[014] The retention clip in accordance with this aspect of the invention enables the stacking of multiple releasably attached retention clips side -by-side as would be desirable to form a bar of clips for easy storage, or for retention and/or storage in a magazine adapted for a retention clip installation gun. Unlike prior art mechanisms for attaching multiple clips for such storage, or use in a gun, the retention means of the present invention enables attachment, removal and easy reattachment of multiple retention clips in a bar, and such may prove useful for combining portions of magazines of clips into a longer bar of retention clips.

[015] In accordance with yet another aspect of and in another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a multi-function retention clip wherein the retention guide members further define yet another concrete reinforcing element retention area that is adapted for receiving and retaining a concrete reinforcing element that would be oriented parallel to and adjacent another concrete reinforcing element to be retained in the clip, the clip thus comprising a multifunction clip adapted for retaining two orthogonally-oriented concrete reinforcing elements or alternatively two parallel- oriented concrete reinforcing elements.

[016] Still further, in accordance with this aspect of the invention, the retention guide members may further preferably define still another concrete reinforcing element retention socket having a different dimension than that of the other concrete reinforcing element retention sockets of the same clip and that is adapted for receiving and retaining a concrete reinforcing element of a different cross- section diameter than the other retention sockets of the clip.

[017] In busier concrete pouring operations there is recognized the benefit of having a single tying/retention clip device that clips either rebar, securely gripping and tying two pieces of same-sized rebar together, alternatively a smaller piece of rebar with a larger piece of rebar, or further alternatively wire mesh and rebar, all by using the same, multifunctional device. Having such a retention clip available would be convenient and save time, since workers would not have to choose from as many devices given the particular job at hand. Further, this makes easier the ordering of materials for a particular job.

[018] Thus, it will be appreciated that the present invention is capable of being used to either interconnect rebar, whether in parallel orientation or normal orientation, or to interconnect wire mesh with rebar, or wire mesh with wire mesh, depending upon the size, or sizes, of the sockets of clip selected and the needs of the job.

[019] Regarding the interconnection of two pieces of rebar normal adjacent to each other, the plurality of retaining guide members preferably comprise four guide members, wherein as viewed from a side orthogonal view the plurality of retaining guide members defines a generally U-shaped channel leading to a lower, first, socket adapted for allowing passage of the first concrete reinforcing element for retention in the lower socket, and wherein the retaining guide members further define

interconnected upper second and lower first sockets in a figure-8-shaped

configuration as viewed from a front view and adapted for allowing passage of the second concrete reinforcing element through the entry guide members, oriented normal to the first concrete element, into the upper second socket for retention adjacent the first concrete reinforcing element.

[020] Regarding the interconnection of two pieces of rebar parallel adjacent to each other, the plurality of retaining guide members preferably comprise four guide members, wherein as viewed from a side orthogonal view the plurality of retaining guide members defines a generally U-shaped channel leading to the first, lower, socket, and wherein the retaining guide members further define interconnected upper second and lower first sockets in a figure-8-shaped configuration as viewed from a front view and adapted for allowing passage of a first concrete reinforcing element through the entry guide members into the lower first socket, the retaining guide members further adapted for allowing passage of a second concrete reinforcing element into the upper second socket and oriented parallel adjacent to the first concrete reinforcing element.

[021] Regarding the interconnection of a wire mesh adjacent with two pieces of rebar normal adjacent to each other, the plurality of retaining guide members preferably comprises four guide members, wherein as viewed from a side orthogonal view the plurality of retaining guide members defines a generally U-shaped channel leading to the first socket and wherein the plurality of retaining guide members further defines a lowermost smaller socket adapted for first allowing passage of a preliminary concrete reinforcing element of smaller size than the other first and second concrete reinforcing elements and through the U-shaped channel, through the first socket and for retention in the lowermost socket, wherein the U-shaped channel also allows passage of the first concrete reinforcing element for retention in the intermediate socket adjacent the preliminary concrete reinforcing element retained in the lowermost socket, and wherein the retaining guide members further define interconnected upper first and lower second sockets in a figure-8-shaped

configuration as viewed from a front view and adapted for allowing passage of the second concrete reinforcing element through the entry guide members, oriented normal to the first concrete element, into the upper first socket for retention adjacent the first concrete reinforcing element.

[022] Thus, regardless of whether the multifunction device of the invention is used with rebar or with wire mesh and rebar, the device grips the reinforcing material so that movement of the material after installation of the device does not present any problems with the device falling or popping off of the framework. [023] For purposes of clarity, the clip device has been described in this specification in an orientation with the saddle portion described as a lower portion of the device, with the guide members extending upwardly therefrom. However, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the device may be oriented in any other position suitable for tying concrete reinforcing materials together, whether sideways, right-side-up, upside-down, or diagonally, and the claims shall not be limited by the orientation chosen for description of the preferred embodiments of the device in this specification. It will further be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that, described in terms of motion of the clip during installation, a leading end of the clip device as it advances onward to clip reinforcing materials is that represented by the second ends of the guide members, since it is this end at which the device first encounters rebar to be clipped as the device is pushed onto the rebar through the V-shaped entry guide members.

[024] In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, preferably the clip is made of plastic and preferably comprises a phosphorescent additive to the material of the clip to enable better sighting of the clip in lower- light conditions.

[025] The subject matter of the present invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of this specification. However, both the organization and method of operation, together with further advantages and objects thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following descriptions taken in connection with accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[026] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a concrete reinforcing element clip device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[027] FIG. 2 is a front plan view of the clip device shown in FIG. 1 and in use clipping two pieces of perpendicular-oriented, normal-oriented, rebar;

[028] FIG. 3 is a right-side plan view of the device shown in FIG. 1 and in use clipping two pieces of parallel-oriented rebar;

[029] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a concrete reinforcing element clip device in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

[030] FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the device shown in FIG. 4;

[031] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 4 and in use clipping two pieces of parallel-oriented rebar; [032] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 4 and in use clipping two pieces of perpendicular-oriented, or normal-oriented, rebar;

[033] FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 1;

[034] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the device shown in FIGS. 1 and 8;

[035] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a concrete reinforcing element clip device in accordance with another aspect and embodiment of the invention; and

[036] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a plurality of clip devices of FIGS. 1, 8 and 9 and interconnected together to form a bar, or magazine, of devices adapted for use in a magazine of a clip installation gun.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[037] Referring to FIGS. 1-3 and 8-9, a preferred embodiment of a concrete reinforcing element retention clip device 10 is provided that is adapted for releasably clipping, or tying, reinforcing materials, such as rebar 11, 13, prior to the pouring of concrete around the materials. The retention clip device 10 of this embodiment of the invention may be referred to as a multi-function clip since it is capable of

interconnecting two pieces of rebar 11, 13 in normal, otherwise known as

perpendicular, orientation as shown in FIG. 2, or the device may be used to interconnect two pieces of rebar 11, 13 in parallel orientation as shown in FIG. 3. The clip 10 preferably comprises a saddle portion 12 and a plurality of uprights, legs, or guide members 14, 16, 18, 20, each guide member depending from the saddle portion at a first end 15, 17, 19, 21 of each guide member respectively, and extending vertically away from the saddle portion, the guide members extending upwardly towards a second end 23, 25, 27, 29 of each guide member, respectively.

[038] The saddle portion 12 comprises a lower surface 22 which, together with the guide members 14, 16, 18, 20, and other portions of the device 10 described hereafter, defines a first lower socket, or hole, 24 as viewed from a side view orthogonal orientation (i.e., FIG. 3) adapted for receiving a piece of rebar 13 as shown in FIG. 2. The first lower socket 24 resides at the bottom of a U-shaped channel 28 as best seen in FIG. 3, however in FIG. 3, first lower socket 24 is not completely filled with rebar 13, since the rebar 13 shown in FIG. 3 only passes perpendicularly, and not longitudinally, through socket 24. The first lower socket 24 is further defined by upper ledge surface members 54 forming notches 58, the upper ledge surface members and the notches adapted for holding the rebar in the socket after the rebar passes through the U-shaped channel 28, forcing the guide membersl4, 16 apart from guide members 18, 20 as it passes the notches and until the rebar comes to rest in the socket such that the upper ledge surface members 54 grip the rebar and resist removal of the rebar from the socket.

[039] Each of the four upright guide members 14, 16, 18, 20 is preferably integral with the saddle portion 12, with the first ends 15, 17, 19, 21 of the guide members interconnecting with the saddle portion and together with the saddle portion further defining another lower first hole, or socket, 30 as seen in a front orthogonal view (i.e., FIG. 2), the socket 30 defining what appears to be the lower portion of a figure-8-type interconnected channel with an opening 32 into the upper portion of the channel and an opening 34 into the lower portion, socket 30, of the channel. This lower first socket 30 serves at least a dual purpose comprising not only means for allowing biasing of the clip device 10 outwardly for allowing the upright guide members 14, 16, 18, 20 to be adapted for being forced or expanded outwardly from a pre-installation first position shown to a second position (not shown) as rebar is forced into the clip 10, but also a socket 30 adapted for receiving and retaining rebar 13 as shown in FIG. 3 as is commonly used when interconnecting two pieces of rebar, rebar 11 and 13, together in parallel-oriented fashion as shown.

[040] At the upper portion of the socket 30, there is further defined by the guide members 14, 16, 18, 20 upper surfaces 56 leading to a narrowed neck portion 59 of the figure-8 shaped channel. As rebar 13 passes through the narrowed neck portion 59 of the figure-8 shaped channel, the guide members 16, 18 are forced apart from the guide members 14, 20 to allow passage of the rebar through the narrowed neck portion 59 and until the rebar comes to rest in the first lower socket 30, with upper surfaces 56 gripping the rebar, retaining it, and resisting release of the rebar from the socket.

[041] Guide members 14, 16, 18, 20 define another, second, upper hole, or socket, 36, positioned above socket 30 in the figure-8 shaped channel, and normal to socket 24, second socket 36 being adapted for receiving, gripping and retaining a piece of concrete reinforcing stock such as rebar 11 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The guide members 14, 16, 18, 20 are allowed to bias or deform enough to allow insertion of the rebar stock after which the guide members return to their pre-installation position with the guide members gripping the stock in the socket 36. Upper second socket 36 comprises a set of lower sloped surfaces 60 designed to assist with retention of the second rebar 11 in place relative to the first rebar 13, and secondarily to assist with forcing apart of the guide members 16, 18 and guide members 14, 20, to begin to allow passage of a first piece of rebar to pass through the narrow neck portion 59 into the lower socket 30.

[042] The clip device 10 further comprises structural base members, or ribs, 80 adapted for providing a sturdy and resilient foundation upon which to strike the clip device, as with a hammer, or the ram of a gun, during installation of the device onto concrete reinforcements. The base members 80 are positioned opposite the surface 22 of the saddle 12. A cross member, rib, or extension member 82 further strengthens and provides an additional striking surface for the base members 80 adjacent the saddle 12 for facilitating striking installation of the device on concrete reinforcements.

[043] It will be apparent that the device 10 is adapted for retaining either the rebar stock 11 in the socket 36 during use for interconnecting parallel-oriented stock as shown in FIG. 3 or during use for interconnecting normal-oriented stock as shown in FIG. 2. Further, it will be apparent that varying sizes of stock may be

interconnected together using embodiments of the invention integrating sockets of different sizes in place of sockets 24, 36 and 30, which may be accomplished without departing from the true scope and spirit of the claims appended hereto. Common sizes for the sockets therefore correspond with commonly available sizes of rebar, such as #2, #4, #5, #6, #8, combinations of these in different sockets, and even larger if necessary for a particular application. In other words, the size of the rebar used, and the corresponding socket to be employed, shall not in itself present a limiting factor for the claims of the invention that are intended to cover all different sizes of rebar and combinations thereof for a particular job.

[044] A V-shaped notch 38 is comprised of a plurality of angled surfaces 40,

42, 44, 46 defining the opening 32 for facilitating installation of the clip device 10 on a first piece of rebar 13 into lower rebar socket 30. The angled surfaces 40, 42, 44, 46 are preferably formed in the second ends 23, 25, 27, 29, respectively, of upright guide members 14, 16, 18, 20. The angled surfaces 40, 42, 44, 46 are for guiding and admitting entry of a first piece of rebar 13 into place and serving to press guide members 16, 18 away from uprights 14, 20 as the rebar is pushed through the opening 32 first into the upper second socket 36, then through the opening 34, and into the lower first socket 30, as in the case where two pieces of rebar 11, 13 are

interconnected in parallel orientation as shown in FIG. 3. The process is partially repeated, as the second piece of rebar 11 is likewise pushed through the opening 32 into the upper second socket 36 for retention there relative to the rebar 13. Thus, while the pieces of rebar 11, 13 may be pushed into the V-shaped notches 38 of the clip device 10, the more likely situation is that the clip 10 will be forced onto two pieces of rebar, either with a hammer, or with a clip installing gun, designed to force the clip into place. At the lower opening of the V-shaped notch 38, adjacent the lower most portions of angled surfaces 40, 46, there are provided beveled edges 66, 68 for facilitating passage of reinforcing stock through the opening 32. Likewise, at the lower opening of the V-shaped notch 38, adjacent the lower most portions of angled surfaces 42, 44, there are provided ramp portions 70, 72 for facilitating passage of the reinforcing stock through the opening 32. In other words, beveled edges 66, 68 and ramp portions 70, 72 define the contours of opening 32.

[045] Thus, if the clip 10 is to be installed onto two parallel-oriented pieces of adjacent rebar 11, 13 as shown in FIG. 3, the V-shaped notch 38 is oriented onto the first piece of rebar 11 , with the rebar spanning transversely the U-shaped channel 28, and a hammer, or gun, is used to strike the clip 10 to bias the clip at guide members 16, 18 and each piece of rebar is guided successively into place to reside in sockets 30 and 36. If, however, the clip 10 is to be installed onto two normal-oriented pieces of adjacent rebar 11, 13 as shown in FIG. 2, the U-shaped channel 28 (shown in FIG. 3) is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the piece of rebar 13 closest to the clip 10 such that upon forcing of the clip onto the rebar 11, 13, as by hammering, pushing with the hand, or with a clip installation gun, the rebar 13 passes through the U-shaped channel, past the retention ledges 58 and into the lower first socket 24, after which the rebar 11 is forced through the V-shaped notch 38 (rebar 11 being normal to the U- shaped channel 28), through the opening 32 and into the upper second socket 36.

[046] At each of the second ends 23, 29 of corresponding guide members 14, 20, there is formed a hook member, 50, 52, respectively, each hook having a corresponding upper surface 62, 64 for securely, but releasably, retaining the concrete reinforcing element, rebar 11, and thus the lower rebar 13 as well, within the clip 10. As the first rebar 13 is pushed into the clip 10 (or more likely vice-versa where the clip 10 is pushed onto the first rebar 13), whether through U-shaped channel 28, or through opening 32, it is driven past the hooks 50, 52 into the lower first socket 24 or lower first socket 30, where it is held in place by upper surfaces 54, in the case where the rebar passes into socket 24, or upper surfaces 56, in the case where the rebar passes into socket 30. As the clip is pushed onto the second and adjacent piece of rebar 13 such that the rebar 13 passes through the V-shaped notch 38, through opening 32 that is widened by forcing surfaces 42, 44 away from surfaces 40, 46 upon pushing the clip onto the rebar, the resilient plastic of the guide members 16, 18 of the clip 10 is forced outwardly to allow passage of the rebar and then returns to its pre- installation position closing the guide members around the second piece of rebar and forcing the rebar into the socket 30 with the hooks 50, 52 securely engaging the rebar 11. Thus, the rebar 11, and likewise the rebar 13, is prevented from popping out of the clip in the event the rebar were to flex or otherwise be lifted or shifted contrary to the clipping retention force of the clip. In other words, the positive retention force of the hooks 50, 52 of the clip 10 effectively counteract the flexion or translation forces of the rebar at the clipped location sufficient to keep the rebar from flexing out of, or the clip from popping off of, the rebar. If such were to happen either the clip would have failed, or the clip would have to be reinstalled on the rebar.

[047] The preferred way to remove the clip 10 from rebar 11, 13 is to manually bias the guide members 16, 18 away from the guide members 14, 20 to allow disengaging of the hooks 50, 52 and pushing of the clip off of the rebar elements. Otherwise, without biasing the guide members 16, 18 and disengaging the hooks 50, 52, the clip will not release, disengage, or pop off, from the rebar, except in a catastrophic failure of the structure in which case the steel rebar could conceivably tear through the plastic of the clip.

[048] The second ends 23, 29 of guide members 14, 20, respectively, of clip 10 further comprise upper, inner, angled surfaces 84, 86 which facilitate installation of the clip device 10 on a first piece of rebar 13 into socket 24, the angled surfaces guiding the rebar 13 that is longitudinally aligned with and into the U-shaped channel 28 and serving to press guide member uprights 18, 20 apart from uprights 14, 16, and vice-versa, as the rebar is pushed into the clip, until a midway point on the cross section of the rebar reaches edge members 58 just above socket 24, at which point the guide members 14, 16 start to move back towards guide members 18, 20 such that inner surfaces 22, 54 grip securely around the rebar as the rebar moves towards becoming fully positioned within the socket 24. Additional upper, inner, angled surfaces, not shown, may be added to the second ends 25, 27 of guide members 16, 18 respectively, without departing from the true scope and spirit of the invention. [049] During installation of reinforcing element material 11, 13 into the clip device 10, the guide members 14, 16, 18, 20 are able to be spread sufficiently apart from a first pre-installation position during receipt of a reinforcing element, the guide members being spread to their outermost extent at a second position when a piece of rebar is pushed to the widest diameter position of the rebar on the clip 10 with enough force sufficient to push the reinforcing material past the widest portion of the material and into the multi-function clip. Thus the holes 24 and 30 defined adjacent the saddle portion 12 sufficiently weakens the guide members 14, 16, 18, 20 at their point of attachment to the saddle to allow biasing and temporary deformation of the guide members outwardly to allow receipt of the reinforcing material into the first lower socket 24, the first lower socket 30 or the upper second socket 36. In other words, this process occurs whether the rebar 13 is being retained in one of the lower first sockets 24, 30 or whether the rebar 11 is being retained in upper second socket 36.

[050] Thus, in use, the concrete reinforcing element clip device 10 is capable in essence of clipping, or tying, two pieces of rebar 11, 13 in stacked and normal relation to each other, or the device 10 is capable of clipping onto and supporting two pieces of rebar 11, 13 in a parallel adjacent orientation to each other.

[051] Still further, for receiving and securely retaining stock into any of the sockets 24, 30, 36 the guide members 14, 16, 18, 20 are made of resilient enough, but also thin enough plastic that they are able to be forced apart from an initial, pre- installation first position by pressing stock into the respective socket to allow temporary deformation of the guide members 14, 16 away from the guide members 18, 20, or alternatively deformation of the guide members 16, 18 away from the guide members 14, 20 to a second position at the widest spread apart distance of the uprights to allow passage of the rebar stock into the appropriate socket. Then, after the rebar stock is pressed into the socket 24, 30, 36, so that the midpoint largest diameter of the rebar stock passes either the retention ledge 58, or alternatively the narrowed neck 59 or opening 32, at which point the guide members begin to return back to their pre-installation first position until the stock is completely seated and engaged by the socket and the guide member uprights have completely returned back to their pre-installation first position with the hooks 50, 52 engaging the second piece of rebar stock 11.

[052] Reinforced construction of the clip device 10 as seen at 90, 92, 94, 96, 98, 99, primarily around the figure-8 channel defined by the guide members 14, 16, 18, 20, and their counterparts in other embodiments of the invention, is important for resisting the various compressive, tensile and torsional forces often encountered by such a device when installed by striking and used for interconnecting reinforcement materials for poured concrete. This reinforced construction aspect of the invention conversely also allows more ready deformation of the clip to allow more ready installation without cracking or breaking of the clip. Thus, the reinforcement of the clip devices 10, 10', 10" as shown and described serve the dual purposes of reinforcing the clip against cracking, splitting or breakage, while at the same time allowing the clip to be installed more readily.

[053] While this aspect of the invention calls to attention the importance for enhanced stability and enhanced strength provided by the ribbed construction and other features of the present invention which better resist torsional and compressive forces over prior art devices, such as the hooks 50, 52, it will be appreciated that nevertheless the invention is preferably constructed of molded ABS regrind plastic. Thus, while this plastic is preferred, it will be appreciated that other even stronger materials may be devised for manufacture of the device 10 which may even be stronger for special applications, and such a device constructed of stronger materials would fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

[054] Preferably, as shown in FIGS 1-3 and 8-9, the retention clip device 10 further comprises a multi-clip interconnection means 102, 104 adapted for releasably and re-attachably interconnecting a plurality of retention clips together. The multi- clip interconnection means 102, 104 comprises a two-piece, snap-fit, or alternatively snap-fit tongue-and-groove, interconnection means further comprising first and second extension member ends 106, 108, respectively, or an extension member (essentially cross member 82 extending beyond base members 80) having first and second ends 106, 108 and extending from the base members 80, 82 of the clip 10, the first end 106 of the extension member 82 comprising thereon a rounded bar 102 with a transversely-oriented alignment key 110 on the rounded bar and the second end 108 of the extension member having formed thereon a snap-fit receptacle 104 and key seat 112 adapted for aligning, receiving and releasably retaining the bar 102 and key 110 of the first end 106 of an extension member end 108 of another retention clip 10 for holding the two retention clips together side-by-side as shown in FIG. 11 until the retention clips are forced apart during installation of one of the retention clips. [055] Upon disconnecting a rounded bar 102 and key 110 of one retention clip 10 from a snap-fit receptacle 104 and key seat 112 of another retention clip 10, the clips, or other clips may be re -united, or snapped back together, with the severed interconnection means. The multi-clip interconnection means 102, 104 enables stacking of a plurality of clips 10 in a brick, a block, or a magazine, as may be desirable for use of the clips 10 in a magazine clip for a retention clip installation gun (not shown).

[056] In an alternative embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 4-7, a retention clip 10' is shown comprising the same elements, features and benefits as the clip 10 of the primary embodiment of the invention, except in the alternative embodiment of the invention there is no multi-clip interconnection means 102, 104 included. Thus, clip 10' comprises structures, features and benefits that are the same as those described in connection with the primary embodiment of clip device 10. Thus, just like clip device 10, clip device 10' also comprises saddle portion 12', guide members 14', 16', 18', 20' defining sockets 24', 30' and 36' all designed to perform the same function and benefit as they provide in connection with clip 10. Clip device 10' likewise also further comprises angled surfaces 40', 42', 44', 46' forming V- shaped notch 38', and clip device 10' also comprises hooks 50', 52' like the primary embodiment clip device 10. Thus, viewing the drawings, one of ordinary skill in the art will be able to see how all of the features, benefits and structure details of the embodiment of device 10' of the invention are the same as corresponding features, benefits and structure details of the device 10, except for the multi-clip

interconnection means difference described above.

[057] In an alternative embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 10, an additional lowermost socket 100 is provided in the saddle portion 12" of the clip device 10". Socket 100 is adapted for receipt and gripping of smaller-diameter concrete reinforcing materials, such as smaller gauge rebar or wire mesh. The socket 100 is designed to be approximately the same size as the reinforcing material such that upon pushing of the reinforcing material into the socket, the socket will grip onto, or essentially snap into place around, the reinforcing material. The clip device 10" need not necessarily be able to grip the mesh in more than one normal location or direction, as is necessary in the case of tying rebar, since the wire mesh has already been welded at intersections of the wire mesh and thus the individual elements of the wire mesh need not be interconnected by the clip device. There are two other differences between the device 10" of this embodiment shown in FIG. 10 and the device 10 of the primary embodiment. The first other difference as shown in FIG. 10 is that the extent of ledge edge members 58", for biasing the guide members 14", 16", 18", 20" outwardly and for retaining the rebar 13 in socket 24", once the rebar has passed the ledge edge members, is not as pronounced as that of other

embodiments of the invention. The second other difference as shown in FIG. 10 is that there are only two base members 80" in this latter embodiment of the device 10", whereas there were three base members 80 in the primary embodiment of the device 10. The other structures, features and benefits of clip device 10" are the same as those described in connection with the primary embodiment of clip device 10. Thus, just like clip device 10, clip device 10" also comprises saddle portion 12", guide members 14", 16", 18", 20" defining sockets 24", 30" and 36". Clip device 10" further comprises angled surfaces 40", 42", 44", 46" forming V-shaped notch 38", and clip device 10" also comprises hooks 50", 52" like the primary

embodiment clip device 10. Thus, the clip device 10" functions in the same way as clip device 10, except it provides the additional socket 100 for enabling

interconnection of rebar with wire mesh.

[058] It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the various structures, features and benefits of the various embodiments of the present invention may be interchanged from one embodiment of the invention to another without departing from the true scope and spirit of the invention as claimed. Thus, for example, the multi-clip interconnection means 102, 104 of the primary embodiment may be employed on any of the other embodiments of the invention without departing from the true scope and spirit of the invention. Likewise, the wire mesh

interconnection socket 100 capability of the corresponding embodiment of the invention may as well be employed on any other embodiment of the invention without departing from the true scope and spirit of the invention. Similarly, the ledge edge retaining members 58" and the base members 80" of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 10 may likewise be used with other embodiments of the invention, and vice-versa, without departing from the true scope and spirit thereof.

[059] For purposes of clarity, the devices 10, 10', 10" have been described in an orientation with the saddle portions as a lower portion of the device, with the guide members extending upwardly therefrom. However, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the device may be oriented in any other position suitable for tying concrete reinforcing materials together and the claims shall not be limited by the orientation chosen for description of the embodiments of the device in this specification. It will further be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a leading end of the devices 10, 10', and 10" are those represented by the second ends, e.g., 23, 25,27, 29, of the guide members, e.g., 14, 16, 18, 20, since it is this end at which the device first encounters rebar to be clipped as the device is pushed onto the rebar through the V-shaped entry guide members or alternatively the U-shaped channel 28, 28', 28".

[060] While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. The appended claims are therefore intended to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.