The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 23, 2001
Filed:
Dec. 22, 1998
Earl D. Smith, Virginia Beach, VA (US);
Other;
Abstract
A device for expediently and efficiently adjoining overlapping segments of reinforcement bar with substantially accurate and precise measures of overlap is disclosed. The device comprises a first coupling element for coupling to a first reinforcement bar and a second coupling element for coupling to a second reinforcement bar. The device is structured and configured to gauge the amount of overlap between the first and second reinforcement bars upon coupling the first and second coupling elements to their respective reinforcement bars. A guide element may be provided to guide the second reinforcement bar into contact with the second coupling element to aid in coupling the second reinforcement bar to the second coupling element over a substantial distance. A coupling device according tot he invention may comprise two coupling components each having a first opening at a first end and a second second opening at a second end. The first component has a first abutment surface to limit the travel of a first reinforcement bar through the first component and the second component has a second abutment surface to limit the travel of a second reinforcement bar through the second component. A centering device structured and dimensioned to center each of the coupling components in a hollow block cell may also be provided.