AU2014201295B2

AU2014201295B2 - Mesh cover

Info

Publication number: AU2014201295B2
Application number: AU2014201295A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Adam Daly; Grant Daly
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-03-07
Filing date: 2014-03-07
Publication date: 2018-11-08
Anticipated expiration: 2034-03-07
Also published as: AU2019200334A1; AU2019200334B2; AU2014201295A1

Abstract

A protective cover for metal mesh comprises caps which are respectively mountable to free ends of the metal mesh. The caps may each comprise internal members such as ribs, projections or vanes that facilitate mounting and/or securing the caps to the free 5 ends of the mesh. The caps may be interconnected by respective spacers. The protective cover may further comprise bracing members that comprise serrations or teeth which are capable of engaging the mesh. A further form of the protective cover comprises a sleeve which is mountable to a plurality of free ends of the metal mesh. The sleeve comprises an elongate head portion, a cavity and one or more sheet members and is 10 adapted to be placed over a plurality of free ends of mesh whereby each free end slides into the cavity and is clamped by the sheet members. 16bv Alt IUD, itt' 1 ~ -7 L- lt i, -;b f law

Description

TITLE

MESH COVER TECHNICAL FIELD THIS INVENTION relates to a cover for metal mesh. More particularly, this invention relates to a protective cover for the free ends of steel reinforcing mesh.

BACKGROUND

Steel reinforcing mesh is typically used to reinforce concrete such as in building slabs, floors, paths, driveways and roads.

In many cases the steel reinforcing mesh is transported to, and stored at, construction sites with protruding free ends along one or more sides of the mesh sheet. These ends can be dangerous to workers and other persons handling, working or walking near the mesh. The free ends are also susceptible to being bent and can also be entagled with the free ends of adjacent mesh sheets when stacked.

SUMMARY

The present inventors have realized a need for a device which is capable of protecting or otherwise covering the free ends of mesh, particularly steel reinforcing mesh.

The invention is therefore broadly directed to a protective cover for the free ends of metal mesh, such as steel reinforcing mesh, which protects the metal mesh from damage and/or protects workers or other persons from injury by free ends of the metal mesh. A preferred advantage is that the protective cover is quickly and easily mounted to the metal mesh.

In one aspect, the invention provides a protective cover for metal mesh comprising one or a plurality of caps which are respectively mountable to free ends of the metal mesh.

In one embodiment, the caps each comprise internal members such as ribs, projections, vanes or the like that facilitate mounting and/or securing the caps to the free ends of the mesh.

In one particular embodiment, the plurality of caps are interconnected by respective spacers.

In another particular embodiment, the protective cover further comprises a plurality of bracing members which are capable of releasably engaging a mesh strand oriented perpendicularly to the free ends of the metal mesh.

In one particular form of this embodiment, the bracing members comprise serrations or teeth which releasably engage a mesh strand oriented perpendicularly to the free ends of the metal mesh.

In another aspect, the invention provides a protective cover for metal mesh comprising a sleeve which is mountable to a plurality of free ends of the metai mesh.

In yet another aspect, the invention provides metal mesh comprising at least one protective cover of either or both of the aformentioned aspects mounted thereto.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a method of mounting a protective cover to metal mesh, said method including the step of mounting the protective cover of either or both of the aformentioned aspects to free ends of the metal mesh.

In one embodiment, the method includes the step of releasably engaging a mesh strand oriented perpendicularly to the free ends of the metal mesh.

Suitably, the metal mesh referred to in the aforementioned aspects is steel reinforcing mesh. Typically, the steel reinforcing mesh is of a size, strength and/or configuration suitable for reinforcing concrete.

Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the words “comprise”, “comprises” and “comprising” will be understood to mean the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting embodiments of the invention are described herein with reference to the following drawings wherein: FIG. 1 shows a plan view of an embodiment of a cap mounted to a free end of steel mesh; FIG. 2 shows a plan view of an embodiment of a protective cover, comprising spacers, mounted to free ends of steel mesh; FIG. 3A shows a plan view of an embodiment of a protective cover, comprising bracing members, mounted to free ends of steel mesh; and FIG 3B shows a side view of a bracing member; FIG. 4A shows a sectional view of an embodiment of a protective cover mounted to free ends of steel mesh; FIG. 4B shows a sectional view of an embodiment of a protective cover, comprising spacers, mounted to free ends of steel mesh; FIG. 4C shows a sectional view of an embodiment of a protective cover, comprising spacers and bracing members, mounted to free ends of steel mesh; FIG. 5 A shows a sectional view of an another embodiment of a protective cover, comprising spacers, mounted to free ends of steel mesh; and FIG 5B shows a sectional view of a cap according to this embodiment; and FIG. 6 shows yet another embodiment of a protective cover comprising a sleeve mounted to the free ends of steel mesh.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, protective cover 100 comprises cap 110 which is mounted to free end 210 of steel mesh 200. Cap 110 comprises body 111 having head portion 112 and internal wall 113 that defines cavity 114 configured to fit over free end 210. Internal wall 113 is substantially circumferential to match the outer diameter of free end 210 of mesh 200. Free ends 210 of mesh 200 are typically, although not exclusively, about 6 mm-10mm in diameter, so cavity 114 may be dimensioned slightly less at about 5-9mm (depending on steel mesh 200 strand diameter) to facilitate frictional engagement between flexible cap 110 and free end 210. Cap 110 may be formed of rigid plastic or may be heat shrunk onto free end 210.

Referring to FIG. 2, protective cover 100 comprises plurality of caps 110 which are mounted to respective free ends 210 of steel mesh 200 along each of sides 201 A, B and are interconnected by respective spacers 120.

In an embodiment shown in FIG. 3A, bracing members 130 are located at approximate midpoint 121 of spacer 120. The number and spacing of bracing members 130 may he varied as required. Referring to FIG. 3B, bracing members 130 comprise jaw member 131, that respectively comprise plurality of teeth or serrations 132A, 132B. Jaw member 131 is positioned to releasably engage perpendicular mesh strand 220 (i.e relative to free ends 210) of steel mesh 200.

The embodiments described in FIGS 1-3 are summarized in FIGS. 4A-C.

An embodiment shown in FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B shows that to further aid frictional engagement between cap 110 and free ends 210 of steel mesh 200, internal wall 113 of cap 110 comprises plurality of ribs 115, which are formed of a resiliently deformable material whereby ribs 115 grip free ends 210. In this embodiment, ribs 115 are oriented in a direction toward spacers 120 (shown by a solid arrow) to thereby easily slide in the direction of the solid arrow over any protuberances (not shown) typically present on free ends 210 when mounting caps 110 to free ends 210 of steel mesh 200. Likewise, ribs 115 while can engage the protuberances to prevent caps 110 inadvertently being pulled off free ends 210 of steel mesh 200. Although not shown, this embodiment of protective cover 100 may further comprise a plurality of bracing members 130 as shown in FIG. 3A, 3B or FIG. 4C.

In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 6, protective cover 100 comprises sleeve 140 that comprises elongate head portion 141, cavity 142 and sheet members 143A, B. Cavity 142 is located between sheet members 143A, B and extends into elongate head portion 141. Cover 100 is placed over a plurality of free ends 210 of steel mesh 200 by pushing protecive cover 100 onto free ends 210 so that free ends 210 slide into cavity 142, effectively clamped by sheet members 143 A, B which are formed of a resilently deformable material, typically a plastic or other synthetic polymeric material. Cavity 142 typically has a width that is slightly less than the outside diameter of free ends 210 of mesh 200, to facilitate clamping engagement of free ends 210. Cavity 142 may he continuous or may be segmented or otherwise comprise a plurality of separate cavities 142, whereby free ends 210 of mesh 200 fit into respective cavities 142 or cavity segments 142,

It will be appreciated that protective cover 100 may be removed from steel mesh 200 prior to pouring concrete over steel mesh 200, for example. However, preferably protective cover 100 is formed of a material (typically a plastic or other synthetic polymeric material) that does not compromise the integrity, strength or other desirable quality of concrete (for example) when poured over steel mesh 200 while protective cover 100 remains mounted to free ends 210.

The invention therefore provides a protective cover for the free ends of metal mesh, such as steel reinforcing mesh, which protects the metal mesh from damage and/or protects workers or other persons from injury by free ends of the metal mesh. Furthermore, the protective cover is quickly and easily mounted to the metal mesh.

Throughout the specification the aim has been to describe the preferred embodiments of the invention without limiting the invention to any one embodiment or specific collection of features. It will therefore be appreciated by those of skill in the art that, in light of the instant disclosure, various modifications and changes can be made in the particular embodiments exemplified without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A protective cover for metal mesh comprising a plurality of caps which are respectively mountable to free ends of the metal mesh, wherein the caps are interconnected by respective spacers and the protective cover further comprising a plurality of bracing members which are capable of engaging a mesh strand oriented perpendicularly to the free ends of the metal mesh.

2. The protective cover of Claim 1, wherein the caps each comprise internal members such as ribs, projections and/or vanes that facilitate mounting and/or securing the caps to the free ends of the mesh.

3. The protective cover of Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the bracing members comprise serrations or teeth which are capable of engaging the mesh strand oriented perpendicularly to the free ends of the metal mesh.

4. The protective cover of Claim 3, wherein respective bracing members are connected to each of the spacers.

5. Metal mesh comprising at least one protective cover according to any one of Claims 14, mounted thereto.

6. A method of mounting a protective cover to metal mesh, said method including the step of mounting the protective cover of any one of Claims 1-4 to free ends of the metal mesh.

7. The method of Claim 6, which includes the step of releasably engaging a mesh strand oriented perpendicularly to the free ends of the metal mesh.

8. The protective cover of any one of Claims 1-4, metal mesh according to Claim 5 or the method of Claim 6 or Claim 7, wherein the metal mesh is steel reinforcing mesh.