Rail for guarding reinforcement bars

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention is specifically directed to overcoming the above enumerated problems in a novel and simple manner.
According to the invention, a guard rail for use with linearly-arranged reinforcement bars is provided, the guard rail including a housing for guarding reinforcement bars with the housing including structure for capturing the reinforcement bars therein, and structure on the capturing structure for guiding movement of the capturing structure between a non-secured position and a position wherein the housing is securely maintained in a guarding position over the reinforcement bars extending into the housing.
Preferably, the housing includes an insert to be placed over the reinforcement bars in a guarding position where the cooperating structure securely maintains the insert in the guarding position over reinforcement bars extending into the housing.
In another preferred form, the housing is formed from a plastic material and includes a top wall and two opposing side walls downwardly depending from the top wall so that the walls cooperate to define a channel having upper and lower regions.
In one exemplary embodiment, the capturing structure is the lower portions of the side walls, with the side wall lower portions extending towards each other so that reinforcement bars can be captured between the side wall lower portions.
In another preferred form, the insert is an elongate strip of metal extending within the housing channel adjacent to the housing walls.
In yet another preferred form, the cooperating structure extends through the capturing structure to guide movement of the capturing structure between the non-secured position and the position wherein the housing is securely maintained in the guarding position over the reinforcement bars extending therein.
In one exemplary embodiment, the cooperating structure is a nut and a bolt, with the bolt extending through aligned holes in the side walls of the housing thereby biasing the side walls towards each other when tightened so that the reinforcement bars are captured therebetween