Grout accommodating shells for easy storage and transport

Claim 2

Apparatus for use in a concrete construction for surrounding and positioning a rod or a bolt used for strengthening said construction or for securing a machine or other device thereto, comprising, a. a thin shelled longitudinal tubular member of a predetermined length disposed about a given axis, said member having a top and a bottom end, said member having a given cross sectional configuration about said axis and having a major continuous surface thereof disposed about said axis said surface including means thereon permitting said member to be in either one of two states, said first state corresponding to said tubular member disposed about said given axis and substantially of a given volume, said second state corresponding to the activation of said means to cause said given volume to be substantially reduced, b. means coupled to and disposed within the hollow confines of said member for adapting said member for use in said concrete construction.

Claim 3

The article of manufacture according to claim 1 whereIn said means on said major surface comprises, a. a plurality of flexible accordion-like pleats distributed along the length thereof adapting said member to be compressed along said given axis to substantially reduce said volume.

Claim 4

The article of manufacture according to claim 1 wherein said means on said surface comprises a plurality of creases parallel to said given axis and along said length for adapting said member to be collapsed by reducing the cross sectional area perpendicular to said given axis and thusly reducing said volume.

Claim 5

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means coupled to and disposed within the hollow confines of said member, comprising, a. a rod mounted relatively parallel to said given axis and of a length greater than said predetermined length so as to extend beyond said top and bottom ends.

Claim 6

The apparatus according to claim 4 further comprising, a. an annular ring having an aperture located thereon of a diameter sufficient to accommodate said rod, and b. means coupling said annular ring to one of said ends of said longitudinal member to surround and position said rod.

Claim 7

The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein at least one of said ends has located on a surface thereof a plurality of perforations forming a wedge shaped configuration and adapted to surround any one of a plurality of different dimensioned cross sectioned rods.

Claim 8

A grout accommodating shell configuration, for use in a concrete construction, comprising, a. a relatively thin-shelled longitudinal tubular member of a predetermined length disposed about a given axis, said member fabricated from a compressible elastomeric material, said thin-shelled member having the major surface thereof about said given axis defined by a plurality of pleat-like protrusions giving said member an accordion-like construction, b. means coupled to said thin-shelled member attachable to hold the same in a first compressed position to cause said member to assume a length substantially less than said predetermined length, whereby when said means are removed said elastomeric thin-shelled member assumes a second position wherein said length is between the said compressed length and said predetermined length, and c. means coupled to and disposed within the hollow confines of said longitudinal member for adapting said member for use in said concrete construction.

Claim 9

A grout accommodating shell configuration, for use in a concrete construction, comprising, a. a relatively thin-shelled longitudinal tubular member of a predetermined length disposed about a given axis, said member fabricated from a compressible elastomeric material, said thin-shelled member having the major surface thereof about said given axis defined by a plurality of pleat-like protrusions giving said member an accordion-like construction, b. means coupled to said thin-shelled member attachable to hold the same in a first compressed position to cause said member to assume a length substantially less than said predetermined length, whereby when said means are removed said elastomeric thin-shelled member assumes a second position wherein said length is between the said compressed length and said predetermined length, and c. means coupled to and disposed within the hollow confines of said longitudinal member for adapting said member for use in said concrete construction.

Claim 10

The grout accommodating shell configuration according to claim 7, further comprising a grout substance coupled within the hollow confines of said tubular member for fixedly securing said means coupled therein, and interposed between said pleat-like protrusions, for preventing said shell from being pulled out of said concrete construction.

Claim 11

The grout accommodating shell according to claim 8 wherein said means coupled to and disposed within the hollow confines of said member comprises, a. a rod rigidly mounted between opposing sides of said longitudinal tubular member within the hollow confines thereof, said rod as positioned within said member being substantially perpendicular to said given axis, b. a bolt member coupled to said rod member and an opposite threaded end, protruding from said open face end, and c. means coupled to said threaded end of said bolt for securing said bolt to utilization means external to said concrete construction.

Claim 12

In combination with concrete insert apparatus of the type employing a rod assembly positionally variable within an outer shell for insertion into a concrete construction, the improvement in said shell comprising, a. a longitudinal tubular member of a predetermined length having a top open faced end surrounded by a flange having at least a first aperture thereon, said member fabricated from a compressible material and having the major surface thereof defined by a plurality of pleat-like ridges giving said member an accordion-like construction, said member further having on a surface opposite to said open face end a second Aperture of the same relative dimension as said first, and b. at least one rod of a diameter smaller than said first and second apertures forceably inserted therethrough to expand said accordion-like structure.

Claim 13

In combination with concrete insert apparatus of the type employing a rod assembly positionally variable within an outer shell for insertion into a concrete construction, the improvement in said shell comprising, a. a longitudinal tubular member of a predetermined length having a top open faced end surrounded by a flange having at least a first aperture thereon, said member fabricated from a compressible material and having the major surface thereof defined by a plurality of pleat-like ridges giving said member an accordion-like construction, said member further having on a surface opposite to said open face end a second Aperture of the same relative dimension as said first, and b. at least one rod of a diameter smaller than said first and second apertures forceably inserted therethrough to expand said accordion-like structure.