WO2007003867A1 - A support - Google Patents

Abstract

A support, comprising: a fixing arrangement adapted to fix the support to a substantially cylindrical member at a desired location along the length of the member; and a cantilevered support portion having a free end and presenting a support surface on which an object to be supported may rest.

Description

"A Support"

THIS INVENTION relates to a support, and in particular concerns a support for supporting, and maintaining the position of, a shaping block during the construction of structures from concrete or a similar substance. During the building of structures from concrete or a similar substance, a network of sturdy metal rods or bars is generally constructed and put in place before the concrete is added. In the finished structure, these rods or bars are embedded within the concrete, and provide a reinforcing function.

If a structure is to be built in which a floor and an adjoining wall are to be made of concrete, it is common for some of the metal rods or bars at the appropriate edge of the floor region to be bent upwards through 90° and to rise up, thus providing reinforcement for the wall.

In order to form a suitable right-angle join between the floor and wall that are to be made, a shaping block is generally provided. The shaping block is typically an elongate member having a rectangular cross-section, and is positioned so that one of the right-angle corners thereof rests in a place where, as concrete is added around the shaping block, the right-angle corner will form a right-angle join between the floor and the wall. Typically, concrete is then poured to a depth equal to the base of the shaping block, to form the floor of the room, and is also poured (only on the side of the shaping block that is furthest from the centre of the room) to the height of the shaping block, so that a floor with a short, upstanding concrete wall around the perimeter thereof is formed. After the concrete has set, or has set sufficiently to hold its shape, the shaping block is removed and can be re-used.

The support of the holding block prior to the adding of concrete can be problematic. Often, the shaping block is supported on loose pieces of wood or fragments of concrete, and this is frequently an ad hoc job using whatever materials are to hand on site.

This approach is unsatisfactory, particularly since the shaping block is liable to "float" on the surface of concrete as it is poured, and also because site workers may walk on the shaping blocks shortly after the concrete has been poured to form the floor, since this concrete will be soft and cannot be walked upon.

More recently, it has been proposed to provide a dedicated support for the shaping block, which is attached to one or both of the blinding (i.e. the rough surface on to which the concrete to form the floor will be poured) or to a rear shutter (i.e. a plywood sheet which is placed vertically to contain the concrete and define the outer surface of the wall that is to be formed).

These methods have, however, proved to be unwieldy and ineffective.

The present invention seeks to alleviate some or all of the above difficulties.

Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention provides a support, comprising: a fixing arrangement adapted to fix the support to a substantially cylindrical member at a desired location along the length of the member; and a cantilevered support portion having a free end and presenting a support surface on which an object to be supported may rest.

Advantageously, the fixing arrangement comprises first and second spaced apart fixing elements, and a body connecting the first and second fixing arrangements to one another.

Advantageously, at least a part of the support portion extends in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the displacement between the first and second fixing elements.

Conveniently, at least one of the first and second fixing elements comprises an aperture through which a substantially cylindrical member may pass.

Advantageously, the at least one fixing element further comprises a threaded element which is received in a threaded bore passing through a wall of the aperture, such that the threaded element may be advanced into the aperture while a substantially cylindrical member is received in the aperture, thus pressing against the substantially cylindrical member and fixing the support thereto.

Preferably, the support portion is attached to the body and is cantilevered away therefrom.

Conveniently, the support comprises first and second lengths of a rigid material attached to one another, to form a body portion and the support portion. Advantageously, the first length of rigid material has a bend formed therein, to form the body portion and a first connection protrusion for connection to the substantially cylindrical member.

Preferably, the second length of rigid material forms the support portion and a second connection protrusion for connection to the substantially cylindrical member.

Conveniently, the first length of rigid material is attached to the second length of rigid material at a point along its length.

Advantageously, the body portion and the support portion subtend an angle of approximately 90°.

Preferably, the support portion has a bend or kink formed in or near a distal end thereof.

Conveniently, both the body and the cantilevered support portion are formed from lengths of a rigid material.

Advantageously, the support comprises at least one connection protrusion which protrudes from the support to allow the support to be attached to the substantially cylindrical member.

Preferably, the fixing arrangement comprises at least one joining device comprising a pair of spaced apart tines, distal ends of the tines being adapted to retain a substantially cylindrical member and the space between the tines allowing one of the connection protrusions to pass therebetween and a securing arrangement adapted, when a substantially cylindrical member is retained by the tines and one of the first and second connection protrusions passes between the tines, to secure the substantially cylindrical member and the one of the first and second connection protrusions to each other.

Conveniently, the support further comprises an anchor connector, and an anchor which is attached to the anchor connector.

Advantageously, the anchor comprises at least one rigid protrusion.

Preferably, the anchor connector is elongate.

Conveniently, the anchor connector is flexible.

Advantageously, the anchor connector is removably attachable to the remainder of the support.

Alternatively, the anchor connector is attached to the remainder of the support.

Alternatively, the anchor connector is separate from the remainder of the support.

Preferably, the support further comprises a fixing connector, which is adapted to co-operate with a further component to form an attachment therebetween. Conveniently, the support further comprises a fixing connector, which is adapted to co-operate with a further component to form an attachment therebetween, the fixing connector being attached to the anchor connector.

Preferably, the fixing connector comprises a threaded bore, the arrangement being such that the longitudinal axis of the threaded bore is substantially parallel with the cantilevered support portion.

Another aspect of the present invention provides an anchor member comprising a fixing connector which is adapted to cooperate with a further component to form an attachment therebetween, a fixing arrangement adapted to fix the anchor member to an elongate member at a desired location along the length of the member, an elongate anchor connector, and an anchor connected to the anchor connector.

Conveniently, the anchor connector is flexible.

Advantageously, the fixing connector comprises a threaded bore, the arrangement being such that the longitudinal axis of the threaded bore is substantially perpendicular to the elongate member when the anchor member is attached to the elongate member by the fixing arrangement.

A further aspect of the present invention provides a method of supporting a shaping block on an elongate member, the method comprising providing an elongate member providing a support, the support comprising a fixing arrangement adapted to fix the support to the elongate member at a desired location along the length of the member and a cantilevered support portion having a free end and presenting a support surface on which an object to be supported may rest, fixing the support to the elongate member, and placing the shaping block on the support so that the shaping block rests against the support portion.

Preferably, the step of fixing the support to the elongate member comprises the step of fixing the support to the elongate member such that the support portion is substantially horizontal.

Conveniently, the step of providing an elongate member comprises the step of providing a substantially cylindrical member.

Advantageously, the method further comprises the step of placing a setting substance around the shaping block so that, once the setting substance has set, the support, as well as the portion of the elongate member to which the support is fixed, are substantially embedded in the setting substance but the shaping block is not embedded in the setting substance.

Preferably, the step of providing a support comprises the step of providing a support having an anchor, and further comprising the step of placing a setting substance around the shaping block so that, once the setting substance has set, the support, as well as the portion of the substantially cylindrical member to which the support is fixed, are substantially embedded in the setting substance but the shaping block is not embedded in the setting substance, and the anchor lies at a location which is lower than the support portion of the support.

Conveniently, the step of placing a setting substance around the shaping block comprises the step of placing a concrete around the shaping block. Advantageously, the method comprises the steps of providing a plurality of spaced-apart elongate members, fixing respective supports to each of the members, so that the support portions of the respective supports are at substantially the same height as one another, and placing the shaping block on the supports so that the shaping block rests against the support portions of the supports.

Preferably, the elongate member is a reinforcing rod of a structure, and further comprising the step of placing a setting substance around the shaping block so that, once the setting substance has set, the support, as well as the portion of the reinforcing rod to which the support is fixed, are substantially embedded in the setting substance but the shaping block is not embedded in the setting substance, the shaping block forming at least a part of the shape of the setting substance.

Conveniently, the structure is a building structure.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a building structure formed by the above method.

A further aspect of the present invention provides a method of providing an attachment site, comprising the steps of providing an elongate member, providing an anchor member comprising a fixing connector which is adapted to cooperate with a further component to form an attachment therebetween, a fixing arrangement adapted to fix the anchor member to an elongate member at a desired location along the length of the member, an elongate anchor connector, and an anchor connected to the anchor connector, and attaching the anchor member to the elongate member so that, once the setting substance around the anchor member has set, the anchor member, as well as the portion of the elongate member to which the anchor member is fixed, are substantially embedded in the setting substance, and the fixing connector presents an attachment site at or near a surface formed by the setting substance.

Advantageously, the method further comprises the steps of attaching a substantially planar member to the attachment site, and placing a further quantity of a setting substance within a volume which is at least partially bounded by the planar member.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a support, comprising a fixing arrangement adapted to fix the support to an elongate rod or bar, which is not provided with co-operating attachment means, at a desired location along the length of the rod or bar, and a cantilevered support portion having a free end and presenting a support surface on which an object to be supported may rest.

In order that the present invention may be more readily understood, embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a first support embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 shows the support of Figure 1 in use;

Figure 3 shows a second support embodying the present invention;

Figures 4 shows a top view of the support of Figure 3; Figures 5 and 6 show a third support embodying the present invention;

Figure 7 shows the support of Figures 5 and 6 in use;

Figure 8 shows a part of a fourth support embodying the present invention; and

Figures 9 and 10 show a joining device suitable for use with the part of Figure 8.

Referring firstly to Figure I₅ a support 1 embodying the present invention comprises an elongate, substantially cylindrical body 2. The body 2 is preferably formed from a rigid, sturdy material such as steel and, in accordance with prevailing building regulations, should be galvanised. Protruding from the body 2 at spaced apart locations are first and second fixing elements 3, 4, which form a fixing arrangement. Each of the fixing elements 3, 4 comprises a sturdy loop 5 which is joined to the body 2. The loops 5 are arranged so that a substantially tubular member may pass through the loops 5 of both the first and second fixing elements 3, 4 in a direction substantially parallel to that of the body 2. Threaded bores 6 are provided in a wall of each loop 5, and each threaded bore 6 has a wing nut 7 including a threaded pin 8 inserted therein.

It will be appreciated that, once a tubular member has been inserted through the loops 5 in the first and second fixing elements 3, 4, the wing nuts 7 may be advanced into the loops 5 so that the tubular member is pressed between the advancing head of the threaded pin 8 and the opposing wall of the loop 5, thereby fixing the support 1 to the tubular member. The present invention is not limited to this type of fixing arrangement, and any fixing arrangement that allows the support 1 to be attached to a substantially tubular member may be provided.

The support 1 further comprises a support portion 9. The support portion 9 has a free end and is cantilevered away from the body 2. The support portion 9 is preferably elongate and substantially cylindrical, and in preferred embodiments of the invention may be integral with the body 2. In these embodiments, the body 2 and the support portion 9 may be formed from a substantially "L-shaped" metal rod or bar, with the right-angled bend therein forming the join between the body 2 and the support portion 9.

Figure 2 shows the support 1 in use. A metal reinforcing rod or bar 10 comprises a substantially horizontal portion 11, which will eventually be embedded in concrete forming the floor of a room, and a substantially vertical portion 12, which will ultimately be embedded in concrete forming a wall of the building. Further rods 13 are arranged substantially perpendicularly to this rod 10, and some of these may be attached thereto, for instance by twists of wire, to form a network or lattice of the rods 10, 13.

The support 1 is attached to the vertical portion 12 of the rod 10, by sliding the support 1 on to the vertical portion 12 so that the vertical portion 12 passes through the loops 5 of the first and second fixing elements 3, 4. When the support 1 is in the desired location, the wing nuts 7 of the first and second fixing elements 3, 4 are tightened so that the support 1 is fixed to the vertical portion 12 of the rod 10. It will be appreciated that, in this configuration, the first fixing element 3 is directly above the second fixing element 4. A shaping block 14 is then placed on the support portion 9 of the support

I₅ so that a lower surface of the shaping block 14 rests on the support portion 9, and a rear surface of the shaping block 14 rests against the body 2 of the support 1. The shaping block 14 may be additionally held in place by a length of wire 15, or of another suitable material such as string or cord, which passes over the top of the shaping block 14 and may be secured to the support 1 at the junction of the body 2 and the first fixing element 3, and also at the free end of the support portion 9. For this purpose, the free end of the support portion 9 may include a bend or kink 16, preferably in or near a distal end thereof, to minimise the possibility of a twist of the wire 15 from slipping off.

In practice, it is envisaged that the support 1 may be fixed to the network of metal rods or bars at intervals of approximately one metre or less, thus providing a platform on which to rest an elongate fixing block.

Figure 3 shows a second support 17 embodying the present invention. The second support 17 has all of the features of the support 1 described above.

The second support 17 further includes an anchor member 18, which comprises an anchor connector 19 and an anchor 20. The anchor connector 19 is elongate and, in the example depicted in Figure 3, is formed as a rigid member. However, in preferred embodiments of the invention, the anchor connector 19 may be flexible, as will be described below.

The anchor 20 comprises a rigid bar 21 which extends substantially at right-angles to the anchor connector 19. The anchor 20 may, however, take any suitable shape that will, once concrete has set such that the anchor 20 is embedded therein, retain the anchor 20 rigidly within the concrete. The anchor connector 19 terminates, at the opposite end thereof from the end to which the anchor 20 is fixed, in a fixing connector 22. The fixing connector 22 is substantially cylindrical in shape, and has an open-ended threaded bore 23 in a first end 24 thereof. The anchor connector 19 extends away from a second, opposite end of the fixing connector 22, and bends through approximately 90° before terminating in the anchor 20.

Figure 4 shows a top view of the anchor member 18. It can be seen that an L-shaped connecting arm 25 protrudes from a side surface 26 of the fixing connector 22, such that a proximal portion 27 of the connecting arm 25 extends directly away from the side surface 26 and a distal portion 28 of the fixing connector 25 is substantially parallel therewith. A threaded bolt 29 passes through the distal portion 28 of the connecting arm 25 in such a way that, when the bolt 29 is advanced through the distal portion 28, the bolt travels substantially towards the side surface 26. A skilled person will readily appreciate that this arrangement allows a supporting member to be held tightly between the side surface 26 and the bolt 29, and thus allows the anchor member

18 to be fixed securely to (in the example of Figure 3) the vertical portion 12 of the rod 10.

The anchor member 18 is attached to the vertical portion 12 of the rod 10 at a location between the first and second fixing elements 3, 4, and is arranged so that the first end 24 of the anchor member 18 is substantially aligned with the body 2 of the support 17. The open end of the bore 23 points in a substantially horizontal direction, which is approximately parallel with the support portion 9. It will be appreciated that, when concrete is poured around the support 17 and the shaping block 14, and the shaping block 14 is subsequently removed, the open end of the threaded bore 23 will appear as an aperture in the vertical concrete wall in which the body 2 of the support 17 is embedded.

Once, as described above, a concrete floor and short upstanding concrete wall have been formed, the next stage in construction of the room is the formation of vertical concrete walls of the full height of the room. In order to do this, plywood or similar boards (often known in the trade "as shutters") are fixed in place to contain the concrete that will form these walls. Since a short upstanding concrete wall has already been formed, it is usual to rest the inner lower surfaces of the front and back shutters against the respective front and back surfaces of this short upstanding concrete wall.

It will be appreciated that the threaded aperture in the external surface of the wall that is presented by the anchor member 18 can be used to facilitate the attachment of an internal shutter. The internal shutter may be placed against the inner surface of the short upstanding concrete wall, and a sturdy bolt may be passed through the shutter and received in the threaded bore 23 of the fixing connector 22. Since the anchor member 18, including the fixing connector 22, is embedded within the short upstanding wall, this allows the shutter to be fixed securely thereto.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the anchor connector 19 is shaped so that the anchor 20 rests at a position which is "lower" than the support member 9 of the support 17. In other words, if the support 17 is attached to a vertical tubular member such that a shaping block may rest on the support 9, the anchor lies at a position which is lower, in a vertical direction, than the support portion 9. The reason for this is that, once concrete has been poured (as discussed above) to form a concrete floor and a short upstanding concrete wall, the anchor 20 will lie in a position which is lower than the upper surface of the floor. The erection of concrete buildings often takes place rapidly, and it is not uncommon for the walls of a room to be formed as soon as the day after the floor and the short upstanding concrete wall have been formed. In this case, the concrete forming the floor and the short upstanding concrete wall will not have hardened to full strength, and attaching the shutters to the short upstanding concrete wall can sometimes cause this wall to break.

However, in the embodiment described above, the fact that the anchor

20 lies within the floor means that force applied to the fixing connector 22 will, at least in part, be transmitted to the floor of the room, rather than to the short upstanding concrete wall, and hence the short upstanding concrete wall is less likely to be damaged.

The anchor member 18 may further comprise a secondary anchor 20a, which is attached to the anchor connector 19 at a point between the fixing connector 22 and the anchor 20. The secondary anchor 20a may also take any form that will hold the anchor member 18 firmly in place once it is embedded in concrete, and in the present example comprises a rigid bar 21a which is substantially perpendicular to the anchor connector 19. The secondary anchor 20a provides additional strength in fixing the anchor member 18 in place once it is embedded in concrete, and may also provide a useful site by which the anchor member 18 may be held in place before concrete is poured therearound. It will be appreciated that, in the support 17 described above, the body 2, support portion 9 and fixing arrangement 3, 4 are provided separately from the anchor member 18. These components, nevertheless, make up a support 17.

Turning to Figure 5, a third support 30 embodying the present invention is shown. In common with the support 1 described above, the third support 30 comprises a body 2 and a cantilevered support portion 9. The third support 30, however, has an anchor member 31 provided integrally therewith.

The anchor member 31, in common with the anchor member 18 described above, comprises a fixing connector 22 having a threaded bore 23 provided therein, an aperture on a first end 24 of the fixing connector 22 providing access to the threaded bore 23. The anchor member 31 further comprises an anchor connector 19, terminating in an anchor 20 comprising a rigid bar 21 which is substantially perpendicular to the anchor connector 19.

The body 2 of the third support 30 is attached directly to the fixing connector 22 of the anchor member 31. The fixing member 22 has a fixing protrusion 32 attached to a side surface 33 thereof. The fixing protrusion 33 has an aperture 34 passing therethrough, with a threaded nut 35 being arranged to pass through a threaded bore in the fixing protrusion 32 so that advancing the threaded nut 35 through the threaded bore advances the threaded nut 35 into the aperture 34.

A fixing element 4, having corresponding components to the fixing elements 3, 4 of the above-described connector 1 and having an aperture therethrough, is also attached to the body 2. The arrangement is such that the apertures in the fixing element 4 and in the fixing protrusion 32 align with one another so that a rigid, tubular rod may pass through both of these apertures. Advancing the threaded nuts 7, 35 will then affix the third support 30 to the rigid member.

It will be appreciated that integrating the anchor member 31 with the body 2 and cantilevered support portion 9 provides a sturdy and compact unit.

In this embodiment, the anchor connector 19 is provided as a flexible length of steel rope, rather than as a rigid member. This is advantageous because the arrangement of components in the vicinity of the third support 30 is difficult to predict in advance, and a rigid member may interfere with support rods and the like. The provision of a flexible anchor connector 19 allows the anchor connector 19 to be positioned so as to avoid obstacles and obstructions in the vicinity of the third support 30, and also allows the anchor 20 to be placed at any desired location.

Figure 7 shows the third support 30 in use, attached to a vertical portion 12 of a rod 10, and supporting a shaping block 14.

It will be appreciated that the cost of producing a support is an important consideration. Firstly, in the construction of a building many supports are likely to be needed, since several rooms may be formed at the same time, for instance when concrete is poured to form the floor of one storey of the building. Secondly, once a support has been used, it remains embedded in the concrete that was poured around it and cannot be recovered.

Figures 8, 9 and 10 depict components of a fourth support embodying the present invention. Figure 8 shows a frame 36 of the fourth support. The frame 36 comprises first and second lengths 37, 38 of a rigid material, such of steel which are joined to one another to form a body portion, against which a shaping block may rest as described above, a cantilevered support portion, to support the shaping block, and first and second connection protrusions, which may be used to attach the support to a substantially cylindrical member, as will be discussed below in more detail.

The first length 37 is, in the illustrated embodiment, bent to form a long straight portion 37a and a short straight portion 37b. Preferably, the first length 37 is bent through approximately 90°. The two lengths 37, 38 are attached together, for instance by welding, so that the end of the long straight portion 37a of the first length 37 is fixed to a point 39 along the second length 38, and subtends approximately a right angle therewith. The join is made so that the short straight portion 37b of the first length 37 and a free end of the second length 38 are substantially parallel, and terminate approximately level, with one another. The free ends of the short straight portion 37b of the first length 37 and of the second length 38 then form the connection protrusions, as discussed above.

The portion of the second length 38 which protrudes beyond the join with the first length 37 forms the support portion and presents a surface upon which a shaping block 14 may rest. In preferred embodiments, the distal end of the second length 38 is provided with a bend or kink which may be used to minimise the possibility of a twist of wire from slipping off, as described above. In advantageous embodiments, the bend in the second length is also bent through approximately 90°.

It will be understood that the frame 36 of the fourth support provides the structure that is needed to support a shaping block 14 and attach the support to a supporting rod 12. This is achieved, however, using only two lengths of steel, one or both of which have a bend formed therein and which are then welded together, and these are simple operations which may be carried out swiftly and at minimal expense.

Figures 9 and 10 show a joining device suitable for use with the frame 36 of the fourth support, to allow the frame 36 to be attached to a supporting rod 12 and hence complete the fourth support.

The joining device 40 comprises a plate 41, which has a threaded bore 42 therethrough. A threaded bolt 43 is provided, passing through the threaded bore 42. Extending from one edge of the plate 41, substantially at right angles to the plane of the plate 41, are a pair of parallel tines 44 having a space therebetween. Each time 44 extends away from the plate 41, and at a distal end thereof describes a curve so that the end of the tine 44 points towards the plate 41.

A pair of the joining devices 40 may be used to attach the frame 36 of the fourth support to a supporting rod 12. To do so, the curved portions of the tines 44 of a joining device 40 are placed round the supporting rod 12, so that the tines are "hooked" round the supporting rod 12. One of the connection protrusions formed by the free end of the short straight portion 37b of the first length 37 of rigid material or the second length of material is passed through the gap between the tines 44 of the joining device 40, so that the length 37b, 38 contacts the supporting rod 12 and lies substantially at right angles thereto. The threaded bolt 43 is then advanced through the threaded bore 42 in the plate 41 of the joining device, until the bolt 43 presses against the length 37b, 38 that has been inserted between the tines 44.

The tines 44 may be joined to one another at distal ends thereof, and a skilled person will realise that, in this embodiment, the tines 44 may together form a unitary connection portion with an aperture of suitable size to allow one of the lengths 37, 38 of rigid material to pass therethrough.

It will be appreciated that this arrangement of the frame 36 and two joining devices 40 provides a fourth support that is robust and performs the same function as the supports 1, 17, 30 described above. However, the fourth support does so at an appreciably lower cost.

It will be appreciated that the present invention provides a robust and flexible solution to the above-outlined problems.

In this specification, supports embodying the present invention are described as being adapted to be fixed to a substantially cylindrical member, in accordance with current building practices. However, supports embodying the present invention may be adapted to be fixed to reinforcing rods having other cross sectional shapes, for instance rectangular or elliptical. However, a support embodying the present invention should preferably be capable of attachment to a rod or bar which is not provided with co-operating attachment means. The support should be adapted to be attached to the rod or bar at any position along a straight portion thereof.

When used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A support, comprising: a fixing arrangement adapted to fix the support to a substantially cylindrical member at a desired location along the length of the member; and a cantilevered support portion having a free end and presenting a support surface on which an object to be supported may rest.

2. A support according to Claim 1, wherein the fixing arrangement comprises: first and second spaced apart fixing elements; and a body connecting the first and second fixing arrangements to one another.

3. A support according to Claim 2, wherein at least a part of the support portion extends in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the displacement between the first and second fixing elements.

4. A support according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein at least one of the first and second fixing elements comprises an aperture through which a substantially cylindrical member may pass.

5. A support according to Claim 4, wherein the at least one fixing element further comprises a threaded element which is received in a threaded bore passing through a wall of the aperture, such that the threaded element may be advanced into the aperture while a substantially cylindrical member is received in the aperture, thus pressing against the substantially cylindrical member and fixing the support thereto.

6. A support according to any one of Claims 2 to 5, wherein the support portion is attached to the body and is cantilevered away therefrom.

7. A support according to Claim I₅ comprising first and second lengths of a rigid material attached to one another, to form a body portion and the support portion.

8. A support according to Claim 7, wherein the first length of rigid material has a bend formed therein, to form the body portion and a first connection protrusion for connection to the substantially cylindrical member.

9. A support according to Claim 7 or 8, wherein the second length of rigid material forms the support portion and a second connection protrusion for connection to the substantially cylindrical member.

10. A support according to Claim 9, wherein the first length of rigid material is attached to the second length of rigid material at a point along its length.

11. A support according to any one of Claims 7 to 10, wherein the body portion and the support portion subtend an angle of approximately 90°.

12. A support according to any preceding claim, wherein the support portion has a bend or kink formed in or near a distal end thereof.

13. A support according to any one of Claims 2 to 12, wherein both the body and the cantilevered support portion are formed from lengths of a rigid material.

14. A support according to any preceding claim, comprising at least one connection protrusion which protrudes from the support to allow the support to be attached to the substantially cylindrical member.

15. A support according Claim 14, wherein the fixing arrangement comprises at least one joining device comprising: a pair of spaced apart tines, distal ends of the tines being adapted to retain a substantially cylindrical member and the space between the tines allowing one of the connection protrusions to pass therebetween; and a securing arrangement adapted, when a substantially cylindrical member is retained by the tines and one of the first and second connection protrusions passes between the tines, to secure the substantially cylindrical member and the one of the first and second connection protrusions to each other.

16. A support according to any preceding claim, further comprising:_, an anchor connector; and an anchor which is attached to the anchor connector.

17. A support according to Claim 16, wherein the anchor comprises at least one rigid protrusion.

18. A support according to Claim 16 or 17, wherein the anchor connector is elongate.

19. A support according to any one of Claims 16 to 18, wherein the anchor connector is flexible.

20. A support according to any one of Claims 16 to 19, wherein the anchor connector is removably attachable to the remainder of the support.

21. A support according to any one of Claims 16 to 19, wherein the anchor connector is attached to the remainder of the support.

22. A support according to any one of Claims 16 to 19, wherein the anchor connector is separate from the remainder of the support.

23. A support according to any preceding claim, further comprising a fixing connector, which is adapted to co-operate with a further component to form an attachment therebetween.

24. A support according to any one of Claims 16 to 22, further comprising a fixing connector, which is adapted to co-operate with a further component to form an attachment therebetween, the fixing connector being attached to the anchor connector.

25. A support according to Claim 23 or 24, wherein the fixing connector comprises a threaded bore, the arrangement being such that the longitudinal axis of the threaded bore is substantially parallel with the cantilevered support portion.

26. An anchor member, comprising: a fixing connector which is adapted to cooperate with a further component to form an attachment therebetween; a fixing arrangement adapted to fix the anchor member to an elongate member at a desired location along the length of the member; an elongate anchor connector; and an anchor connected to the anchor connector.

27. An anchor member according to Claim 26, wherein the anchor connector is flexible.

28. An anchor member according to Claim 26 or 27, wherein the fixing connector comprises a threaded bore, the arrangement being such that the longitudinal axis of the threaded bore is substantially perpendicular to the elongate member when the anchor member is attached to the elongate member by the fixing arrangement.

29. A method of supporting a shaping block on an elongate member, the method comprising: providing an elongate member; providing a support, the support comprising a fixing arrangement adapted to fix the support to the elongate member at a desired location along the length of the member and a cantifevered support portion having a free end and presenting a support surface on which an object to be supported may rest; fixing the support to the elongate member, and placing the shaping block on the support so that the shaping block rests against the support portion.

30. A method according to Claim 29, wherein the step of fixing the support to the elongate member comprises the step of fixing the support to the elongate member such that the support portion is substantially horizontal.

31. A method according to Claim 29 or 30, wherein the step of providing an elongate member comprises the step of providing a substantially cylindrical member.

32. A method according to any one of Claims 29 to 31 , further comprising the step of placing a setting substance around the shaping block so that, once the setting substance has set, the support, as well as the portion of the elongate member to which the support is fixed, are substantially embedded in the setting substance but the shaping block is not embedded in the setting substance.

33. A method according to any one of Claims 29 to 32, wherein the step of providing a support comprises the step of providing a support having an anchor, and further comprising the step of placing a setting substance around the shaping block so that, once the setting substance has set, the support, as well as the portion of the elongate member to which the support is fixed, are substantially embedded in the setting substance but the shaping block is not embedded in the setting substance, and the anchor lies at a location which is lower than the support portion of the support.

34. A method according to Claim 32 or 33, wherein the step of placing a setting substance around the shaping block comprises the step of placing a concrete around the shaping block.

35. A method according to any one of Claims 29 to 34, comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of spaced-apart elongate members; fixing respective supports to each of the members, so that the support portions of the respective supports are at substantially the same height as one another; and placing the shaping block on the supports so that the shaping block rests against the support portions of the supports.

36. A method according to any one of Claims 29 to 35, wherein the elongate member is a reinforcing rod of a structure, and further comprising the step of placing a setting substance around the shaping block so that, once the setting substance has set, the support, as well as the portion of the reinforcing rod to which the support is fixed, are substantially embedded in the setting substance but the shaping block is not embedded in the setting substance, the shaping block forming at least a part of the shape of the setting substance.

37. A method according to Claim 36, wherein the structure is a building structure.

38. A building structure formed by the method of Claim 37.

39. A method of providing an attachment site, comprising the steps of: providing an elongate member; providing an anchor member comprising a fixing connector which is adapted to cooperate with a further component to form an attachment therebetween, a fixing arrangement adapted to fix the anchor member to an elongate member at a desired location along the length of the member, an elongate anchor connector, and an anchor connected to the anchor connector; and attaching the anchor member to the elongate member so that, once the setting substance around the anchor member has set, the anchor member, as well as the portion of the elongate member to which the anchor member is fixed, are substantially embedded in the setting substance, and the fixing connector presents an attachment site at or near a surface formed by the setting substance.

40. A method according to Claim 39, further comprising the steps of. attaching a substantially planar member to the attachment site; and placing a further quantity of a setting substance within a volume which is at least partially bounded by the planar member.

41. A support, comprising: a fixing arrangement adapted to fix the support to an elongate rod or bar, which is not provided with co-operating attachment means, at a desired location along the length of the rod or ban and a cantilevered support portion having a free end and presenting a support surface on which an object to be supported may rest.