WO1995025209A1

WO1995025209A1 - Method and apparatus for positioning anchor bolts within a concrete form

Info

Publication number: WO1995025209A1
Application number: PCT/US1995/003129
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Arnhart; John Tucker
Original assignee: John Arnhart; John Tucker
Priority date: 1994-03-14
Filing date: 1995-03-13
Publication date: 1995-09-21
Also published as: AU1991595A

Abstract

A method and apparatus comprising a system (10) of support rails (16), cross rails (34), and extension rails (40) which support clamp assemblies (44) that receive the anchor bolts (32) within a channel (46) and engage contact surfaces extending parallel to the longitudinal axes of the anchor bolts (32) to retain the anchor bolts (32) in proper orientation. The clamp assemblies (44) may be mounted directly on the support rails (16), cross rails (34), or extension rails (40). The cross rails (34) and extension rails (40) may be moved relative to the support rails (16) or one other to provide unlimited access to any point within a defined area. The position of the anchor bolts (32) may be precisely adjusted in the lateral, transverse, and axial directions, as well as controlling the orientation through a range of angles. The system (10) is at least partially received within the concrete form (12) and provides structural reinforcement. Dimensions and tolerances are uniform to assist in verifying the alignment and calculating displacements.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR POSITIONING ANCHOR BOLTS

WITHIN A CONCRETE FORM

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This is a continuation-in-part of copending application Serial No. 08/212,218 filed on March 14, 1994 and entitled "Multi-Axial Concrete Anchor

Bolt Setting System." Priority from that copending application pursuant to 35 USC §120 is hereby claimed. The entire specification of that copending application is incorporated herein by reference as though fully set forth in its entirety, including the drawings, specification, claims, and all associated papers.

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to devices for precisely positioning anchor bolts in a defined pattern within a concrete form, and particularly to a method and apparatus for creating complex patterns of anchor bolts, permitting incremental adjustments to the position of the anchor bolts within that pattern in distinct linear directions relative to the concrete form, and permitting axial adjustment of the height of the anchor bolts relative to the concrete form.

2. Prior Art

In many construction applications, it is necessary to imbed various types of anchoring members within a monolithic concrete structure with a portion of the anchoring members exposed from the surface and arranged in a precisely defined pattern or-array. Absolute spatial alignment of the exposed portions of the anchoring members within the pattern or array, and vertical orientation along the entire length of the anchoring members, are a necessity for most applications. The fabrication tolerances are very narrow, and an error can result in the expensive and time consuming process of destroying and refabricating an entire structure.

The conventional practice of positioning anchor bolts in a pattern or array when pouring a concrete structure involved fastening wooden beams across the top of the form, and tying the anchor bolts to the beams using wire or a similar binding material. The bottom ends of the anchor bolts were sometimes similarly bound to reinforcing bars that were disposed within the interior of the form and beneath the eventual surface height of the concrete.

This process made surveying and position the anchor bolts difficult, since calculations or visual reference to a jig, template, or other external markers were required to ensure adequate alignment of the longitudinal axes of the anchor bolts relative to the concrete form and any ancillary structures. In addition, the position method did not provide sufficient

Some attempts have been directed towards developing faster and more reliable systems for positioning and securing anchor bolts. One noteworthy example is described in United States Patent No. 4,261,544 to Addison, which shows a mounting plate slidably attached to two parallel strips that are tacked in place at their opposing ends on the top of the concrete form. The Addison '544 system is essentially quite similar to the conventional process of binding anchor bolts to wooden beams, but utilizes a sliding mounting plate and metal rails in place of wooded beams and wire. Referring to Figure 1 of the Addison '544 patent and Figures 5-7, 8, 16, and 18 herein, it may be appreciated that the Addison '544 system presents several significant disadvantages. First, while the Addison '544 system is suitable for use with small "rebar" type anchors that are relatively short and light, it is unsuitable for heavy anchor bolts that may extend 10' or more in length and weigh up to 200 lbs. each.

The rails in Addison '544 must initially be secured to the mounting plate to maintain proper parallel alignment and spacing of the rails when they are attached to the top of the concrete form, and the anchor bolts must then be threaded up through the mounting plates from the bottom. If used for large anchor bolts, it would be very difficult for workers to lift the anchor bolt into position and thread it entirely through the mounting plate — a time consuming and potentially injurious process.

The mounting plate cannot be threaded onto the anchor bolt and installed on the rails after the rails have been attached on the concrete form, because the square shape and flanges of the mounting plate prevent it from being seated on the rails once they are fixed in spaced apart relation on top of the form. Alternately, if the mounting plate is first threaded down onto the anchor bolt, it must be done so before the mounting plate is placed between the rails or else the entire rail and mounting plate combination must be rotated on the anchor bolt to thread the mounting plate onto the anchor bolt. This becomes progressively more impractical as the length of the anchor bolt or rails are increased.

If the rails are attached to the mounting plate after the anchor bolt has been mounted to avoid these assembly problems, then the entire combination of mounting plate, rails, and anchor bolt must be positioned on the concrete form at one time, thus defeating the primary purpose behind making the mounting plates adjustable. Furthermore, in a pattern involving several aligned anchor bolts, all of the anchor bolts would been to be mounted on a common rail structure and then positioned in the concrete form. This would require significant labor and might necessitate the use of a crane or derrick to lift and place the assemblies. The use of flat parallel strips as rails presents the problem of axial or longitudinal displacement as shown in Figure 8, caused by bending or flexure of the rails under load from the anchor bolts. Sufficient initial clearance and exposed threading must be provided both above and below the mounting plates so the individual anchor bolts can be rotated within the respective mounting plates to adjust the critical exposure height relative to the top of the concrete, and the rails can still bend below the desired surface level of the concrete. The use of multiple anchor bolts as shown in Figure 9 presents an increased problem of longitudinal displacement, but also of angular separation or displacement due to the anchor bolts not being spaced equidistantly from the opposing support surfaces of the concrete form. As the concrete is poured into the form and solidifies, it exerts significant lateral and transverse pressure on the anchor bolts, which can result in torsional flexure of the rails and angular displacement of the anchor bolts.

Since both absolute spatial alignment of the exposed portions of the anchor bolts and vertical orientation along the entire length of the anchor bolts is an essential requirement in most applications, the Addison '544 system is not a practical, effective, or efficient alternative to conventional practices for positioning anchor bolts within a concrete form.

Moreover, the Addison '544 system is incapable of use in fabricating complex patterns such as triangles, circles, or other geometric shapes frequently encountered in normal construction. Referring to Figures 16 and 18 herein, it may be appreciated that forming a small circular or triangular pattern is precluded by the inability to align the apertures in the mounting places with uniformly spaced locations along the pattern. While some anchor bolts may be adequately positioned (shown as darkened circles in Figures 16 and 18), many others cannot be properly aligned (shown as open circles in Figures 16 and 18.) In order to accommodate such patterns, separate mounting plates with offset apertures would need to be drilled for each non-centered anchor bolt position.

In addition to creating unbalanced torsional forces, an offset aperture would eliminate the utility of having the mounting plates be adjustable along the rails, and would only be useful where the rails of one assembly did not intersect or obstruct another desired anchor bolt position.

BRD2F SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore one object of this invention to design a method and apparatus for positioning anchoring members (such as anchor bolts) within a concrete form, and which permits the precise spatial alignment and vertical orientation of those anchoring bolts relative to a defined pattern or array. It is a related object of this invention to design the above method and apparatus to permit the fabrication of complex patterns or arrays, including geometric shapes such as circles, triangles, and so forth.

It is a further object of this invention to design the above method and apparatus to allow incremental adjustments to the position of individual anchor bolts within that pattern in distinct linear directions relative to the concrete form, both transversely and laterally throughout an entire range of X-Y coordinates covering a predetermined area.

It is a distinct object of this invention to design the above method and apparatus to facilitate rapid and precise longitudinal (axial) adjustment of the height of the anchor bolts relative to the concrete form or top surface of the concrete.

It is another object of this invention to design the above method and apparatus so that a plurality of units may be disposed in vertical alignment with one another and engage different portions along the length of the same anchor bolt to minimize pivoting of that anchor bolt due to transverse or lateral forces.

It is an additional object of this invention to design the above method and apparatus so that incremental adjustments in the position or orientation of an anchor bolt can be made at any time, including after concrete has been poured into the form but prior to it solidifying.

It is a unique object of this invention to design the above method and apparatus so that the support rails and cross rails are assembled to form an internal framework that maintains the shape and integrity of the concrete form in two dimensions against compression and expansion forced. It is yet another object of this invention to design the above method and apparatus so that the components may be readily interchanged to accommodate a wide variety of conventional applications as well as being particularly suited for specialized applications, and to permit rapid adjustability or modification of the components for those uses. It is a distinct object of this invention to design the above method and apparatus so that all dimensions are uniform and relative, so as to promote efficient and accurate calculations for spacial alignment, separation distance, displacement, or exposure height for each anchor bolt within a defined pattern.

It is a related object of this invention to design the above method and apparatus so that it ensures complete access for surface conditioning and smoothing of the concrete surrounding the entire circumference of the anchor bolt while the apparatus is in place.

Briefly described, the method and apparatus of this invention comprises using a system of support rails, cross rails, and extension rails which support clamp assemblies that receive the anchor bolts within a channel and engage contact surfaces extending parallel to the longitudinal axes of the anchor bolts to retain the anchor bolts in proper orientation. The clamp assemblies may be mounted directly on the support rails, cross rails, or extension rails. The cross rails and extension rails may be moved relative to the support rails or one other to provide unlimited access to any point within a defined area. The position of the anchor bolts may be precisely adjusted in the lateral, transverse, and axial directions, as well as controlling the orientation through a range of angles. The system is at least partially received within the concrete form and provides structural reinforcement. Dimensions and tolerances are uniform to assist in verifying the alignment and calculating displacements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a concrete form showing the apparatus of this invention mounted therein;

Figure 2 is a partially broken away detail view of a clamp assembly and extension rail mounted on a cross rail of Figure 1 holding the top portion of an anchor bolt;

Figure 3 is a partially broken away side elevation view of the clamp assembly, extension rail, cross rail, support rail, and concrete form of Figure 1 holding the top portion of an anchor bolt;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the clamp assembly, extension rail, cross rail, support rail, concrete form, and anchor bolt of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a side elevation diagrammatic view of a prior art anchor bolt positioning system showing longitudinal bending and axial displacement;

Figure 6 is a side elevation diagrammatic view of a prior art anchor bolt positioning system holding two anchor bolts showing longitudinal bending, axial displacement, and angular displacement;

Figure 7 is a perspective diagrammatic view of a prior art anchor bolt positioning system showing torsional flexure and angular displacement;

Figure 8 is a side elevation view of an alternate embodiment of the apparatus of this invention showing a two-tiered installation; Figure 9 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of apparatus of this invention showing a support rail, end plates, intermediate rail, and clamp assembly;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the apparatus of this invention showing a cylindrical form and a curved gasket and plate assembly;

Figure 11 is a top plan view of the cylindrical form and a curved gasket and plate assembly of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the apparatus of this invention showing an angular connection between the plate and support rail;

Figure 13 is a top plan view of the angular connection between the plate and support rail of Figure 12;

Figure 14 is a partially broken away diagrammatic top plan view showing a concrete form, two support rails, and a plurality of extension rails and clamp assemblies used to form a large diameter circular pattern;

Figure 15 is a partially broken away diagrammatic top plan view showing a tank-type concrete form having inner and outer walls, with a plurality of support rails and clamp assemblies used to form a large diameter circular pattern between the inner and outer walls; Figure 16 is a diagrammatic top plan view of a prior art anchor bolt positioning system showing the inability to form a small circular pattern; Figure 17 is a diagrammatic top plan view of the apparatus of this invention showing a plurality of support rails and clamp assemblies used to form the small circular pattern of Figure 16;

Figure 18 is a diagrammatic top plan view of a prior art anchor bolt positioning system showing the inability to form a small triangular pattern; and

Figure 19 is a diagrammatic top plan view of the apparatus of this invention showing a plurality of support rails and clamp assemblies used to form the small triangular pattern of Figure 18.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The method and apparatus for positioning anchor bolts within a concrete form of this invention is shown in Figures 1-19 and referenced generally therein by the numeral 10.

Referring particularly to Figures 1-4, it may be seen that a concrete form 12 comprised of plywood or another suitable sheet material is constructed to enclose an interior region into which fluid or molten concrete 14 is poured, solidified, conditioned, and treated to form a monolithic structure such as a pier, piling, foundation, or other support or anchoring structure. The process of fabricating the concrete form 12, pouring, solidifying, conditioning, and treating the concrete 14 is well known to those skilled in the pertinent art. A pair of support rails 16 each having a plate 18 fixedly attached to the opposing ends are mounted generally parallel with one another and extend between a first side 20 and second side 22 of the concrete form 12. The support rail has a first segment 24 and second segment 26 telescopingly mated to one another, and secured at a desired length either by a threaded fastener (not shown) extending through an aperture in the second segment 26 and engaging the first segment 24, or by the plates 18 being secured to the first side 20 and second side 22 of the concrete form 12 by fasteners 28.

Center-marking collars 30 are disposed on the support rails 16 and may be slidably positioned at a desired location along the support rail 16 and locked in position using a threaded fastener (not shown) that extends through an aperture in the center-marking collar 30 and engages the support rail 16. The linear center points of the pattern of anchor bolts 32 and the sides 20, 22 of the form 12 may be determined by surveying or with reference to a jig, template, or other external markers (not shown), and the center-marking collars 30 may be locked in position accordingly to denote the center points or other reference points. A pair of cross rails 34 are suspended beneath the support rails 16 oriented generally perpendicular thereto and generally parallel to one another, with each cross rail 34 depending from and received within a clamp mechanism 36. Each clamp mechanism 36 can be moved slidably along the corresponding support rail 16, thereby permitting the cross rails 34 to be moved transversely relative to one another or to the concrete form 12. The position of each clamping mechanism 36 may be adjusted and secured along the support rail 16 by the threaded fasteners 38 which may either cause the clamping mechanism 36 to exert a compressive force on the support rail 16

A plurality of extension rails 40 are disposed along each cross rail 34, with each extension rail 40 defining an aperture through which the cross rail 34 extends and is received and may be slidably repositioned therealong in the lateral direction. The position of each extension rail 40 may be secured by tightening the corresponding threaded fastener 42 which engagingly contacts the cross rail 34. A clamp assembly 44 is attached to the opposing end of each extension rail 34, with each clamp assembly 44 defining a channel 46 receiving the top threaded portion 48 of the anchor bolt 32. The anchor bolt 32 is forced into frictional engaging contacting with at least two confronting faces on the interior surface of the channel 48 by a threaded securing member 50 that extends through a threaded aperture and guide 52 positioned on the side of the clamp assembly 44 opposing the contact faces, those faces forming an angle or vertex therebetween. The axis of the securing member 50 intersects that vertex so that the pressure exerted on the anchor bolt 32 pressing it into contact with the confronting faces of the channel 46 retain the anchor bolt 32 in a predetermined orientation with its longitudinal axis aligned with the channel 46.

Referring particularly to Figure 9, an alternate embodiment of the apparatus 10 is shown in which the clamping mechanism 36 and clamp assembly 44 are cast metal, the position of each clamping mechanism 36 is adjusted and secured along the support rail 16 by the threaded fasteners 38 which directly contact and engage the support rail 16. It may further be appreciated that either a cross rail 34 or an extension rail 40 may be used as an intermediate between the support rail 16 and the clamp assembly 44, and either an extension rail 40 or a clamp assembly 44 can be mounted directly on the support rail 16. The clamp assembly 44 may therefore be slidably mounted directly on the cross rail 34, the extension rail 40, or a support rail 16, and an extension rail 40 may similarly be mounted directly on the support rail 16 without an intermediate cross rail 34. Any variety or combination of such configurations may be used to achieve various patterns of anchor bolts 32, and the respective circular or square cross section of the support rails 16, cross rails 34, or extension rails 40 may be interchanged or modified to accomplish this result.

Referring to Figures 10 and 11, one specialized adaptation of the support rail 16 is shown for use with a tubular form 54 having a generally cylindrical or ovoid shape. In this embodiment, a flexible gasket 56 is attached to the end plate 18 and disposed between the end plate 18 and the form 54, with the gasket 56 being fastened to the form 56 using a plurality of threaded fasteners 58 and conforming to the curvature of the inner surface of the form 54. Referring to Figures 12 and 13, another specialized adaptation of the support rail 16 is shown for use with a large or complex forms 12 in which the support rails 16 do not extend perpendicular to the side of the form 12. In such a case, the support rail 16 may be fixedly or pivotally connected to the end plate 18 so that an acute angle is formed between the surface of the end plate 18 contacting the side wall 20 of the form 12 and the longitudinal axis of the support rail 16.

Referring again to Figure 8, it may be appreciated that in some applications additional lateral and transverse stability may be required to resist pivotal rotation of the anchor bolt 32 about the longitudinal axis of the corresponding extension rail 40, cross rail 34, or support rail 16. In such a case, a second apparatus 10 comprising a support rail 16, cross rail 34, clamp assembly 44, or other components as necessary to duplicate the position and alignment of the anchor bolt 32 corresponding to the first apparatus may be disposed vertically above or below the first apparatus 10, thus engaging the anchor bolt 32 at two points spaced apart along the length of the anchor bolt 32 to provide additional leverage and resist torsional forces. It is understood that the first and second apparatuses 10 need not be assembled in the same configurations, and that changing the respective orientations of the components of the first and second apparatuses 10 can further increase the stability and reinforcing strength provided by those apparatuses 10.

Referring particularly to Figures 14, 15, 17 and 19, it may be understood that both smaller geometric patterns and larger complex patters can be fabricated using the apparatuses 10 of this invention as described above.

Referring particularly to Figure 14, one half of a large diameter circular pattern is fabricated using two support rails 16 of the type having angled end plates 18 as shown in Figures 12-13, with nine extension rails 40 and nine clamp assemblies 44 attached to each support rail 16. Because the extension rails 40 are movable and their positions can be adjusted relative to the support rail 16, and further because the clamp assemblies 44 are movable and their positions can be adjusted along the extension rails 40 to provide a combination of both lateral and transverse coverage, it is not necessary to uniformly space the extension rails 40 along each support rail 16. Alternately, a more complex pattern such as a star or undulating curve can be fabricated by adjusting the displacements of the clamp assemblies 44 relative to the extension rails 40, or the extension rails 40 relative to the support rails 16.

Figure 15 shows a representative example of the apparatus 10 used with a tank form 60 composed or separate outer and inner walls 62, 64, between which concrete 14 is poured to form a hollow cylindrical structure. A plurality of anchor bolts 32 are spaced apart around the tank form 60, using individual support rails 16 of the type shown in Figures 10 and 11 for use with tubular forms or the conventional type used with rectangular piers, depending upon the distance the outer wall 62 and inner wall 64 are spaced apart. Each clamp assembly 44 may be disposed on an extension rail 40 to facilitate both lateral and transverse adjustment, or may be mounted directly on the corresponding support arm 16.

Figure 17 shows a circular pattern as another representative example, in which two support rails 16 extend parallel to one another, five cross rails 34 extend perpendicular to the support rails 16 and parallel to one another with a non-uniform spacing therebetween, and eight clamp assemblies 44 are disposed on the cross rails 16 to locate eight anchor bolts 32 spaced equidistantly around the circular pattern. From this configuration, it may be readily appreciated that extension rails 40 may be disposed between the clamp assemblies 44 and their respective cross rails 16 to further facilitate both lateral and longitudinal adjustment of each anchor bolt 32 if non-uniform spacing of the anchor bolts 32 is desired.

Figure 19 shows a triangular pattern as a final representative example, in which two support rails 16 extend parallel to one another, five cross rails 34 extend perpendicular to the support rails 16 and parallel to one another with a non-uniform spacing therebetween, and six clamp assemblies 44 are disposed on the cross rails 16 to locate six anchor bolts 32 spaced around the triangular pattern at its vertices and midpoints. From this configuration, it may be readily appreciated that extension rails 40 or clamp assemblies 44 may be disposed on the same or alternating sides of the same cross rail 34 to further facilitate both lateral and longitudinal adjustment of each anchor bolt 32 if non-uniform spacing of the anchor bolts 32 is desired. In that respect, clamp assemblies 44 may be disposed on opposing sides of the same extension rail 40, cross rail 34, or support rail 16 in order to locate anchor bolts 32 on opposing sides of the same common rail 16, 34, 40.

It may be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that various adaptations or modifications to these embodiments may be produced. For example, referring particularly to and comparing Figures 4 and 9, it is understood that the in some applications it may be preferable to have an angular channel 46 as shown in Figure 4 or a curved or circular channel 46 as shown in Figure 9. In each case, the channel 46 defines an interior surface that engages the anchor bolt 32 along a portion of the anchor bolt 32 extending parallel with the longitudinal axis, and presents confronting faces separated by an angle relative to that longitudinal axis that contact the anchor bolt 32 and retain it in proper orientation and alignment. It may be a single contact face, a pair of angularly disposed contact faces, to tangential contact faces along a curve, or the entire curved channel 46 may contact the anchor bolt 32.

Similarly, the clamping mechanism 36 may be entirely enclosed as shown in Figure 4, or define an opening or gap 66 as shown in Figure 9. In the latter case, the gap 66 may be sufficient for the clamping mechanism 36 to be removed from the support rail 16 without disassembling the segments 24, 26 of the support rail 16, or may be narrow enough to retain the clamping mechanisms 36 on the support rails 16 when not secured in place. The support rails 16 could be fabricated with an oval cross section to permit passage through the gap 66 when not installed on a form, or when the clamping mechanisms 36 are rotated 90° relative to horizontal, but not when the clamping assemblies are suspended from the support rails 16 in a horizontal position. The clamp assemblies 44 may similar be fabricated so as to be removable from and installable on support rails 16, cross rails 34, or extension rails 40 regardless of whether the ends of those rails 16, 34, 40 are obstructed by a plate 18, the form 12, or another clamp assembly 44 or camping mechanism 36. The fasteners or securing members 38, 42, 50 may contact the respective rails 16, 40, or anchor bolts 32, or may engage an opposing portion of the clamping mechanism 36, clamp assembly 44, or channel 46 to exert a compressive force on the respective rails 16, 40, or anchor bolts 32.

It may further be appreciated that the methods and apparatuses 10 of this invention have been described with reference to a generally linear cylindrical anchor bolt 32, however the methods and apparatuses 10 described herein may be applied to a variety of anchored structures or articles imbedded within a poured concrete structure, for example railings having anchor extensions could be secured in preformed wall sections using the principles, techniques, and equipment described herein. Therefore, the terms "anchor" or "anchor bolt" should be construed where applicable to encompass other articles, objects, or implements that are embedded in part within a poured concrete structure and require spacial alignment relative to particular aspects of the structure or form 12.

While the preferred embodiments of the above method and apparatus for positioning anchor bolts within a concrete form 10 have been described in detail with reference to the attached drawing Figures, it is understood that various changes and adaptations may be made in both the method and apparatus for positioning anchor bolts within a concrete form 10 without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

Claims

1. An apparatus for holding an anchor bolt within a concrete form at a predetermined location and in a predetermined orientation, said concrete form having generally upright walls defining an interior and including a first side and a second side, said apparatus comprising: a support rail, said support rail being mounted on the concrete form and received at least partially within the interior thereof, said support rail being connected to and extending between the first side and the second side of the concrete form; a clamp assembly, said clamp assembly being mounted on and slidably movable relative to said support rail, said clamp assembly receiving a portion of the anchor bolt therein, said clamp assembly defining at least one contact surface oriented generally parallel with both the anchor bolt and the predetermined orientation, said at least one contact surface engaging the anchor bolt and maintaining the anchor bolt in the predetermined orientation; a securing assembly for securing said clamp assembly relative to said support rail; and a securing member for securing the anchor bolt within the clamp assembly and in engagement with the at least one contact surface, whereby the support rail is mounted to the concrete form extending between the first side and the second side, and the anchor bolt may be positioned at the predetermined location and in the predetermined orientation and held in place within the clamp assembly by the securing member, with the anchor bolt engaging the at least one contact surface to maintain the anchor bolt in the predetermined orientation and at the predetermined location within the concrete form, with the anchor bolt extending into the interior of the concrete form.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support rail is a first support rail, and wherein the apparatus further comprises: a second support rail, said second support rail being connected to the concrete form and spaced apart from the first support rail, the first support rail and said second support rail being oriented generally parallel with one another; a cross rail, said cross rail extending between the first support rail and said second support rail, said cross rail being oriented at an angle relative to the first support rail and said second support rail, said cross rail being mounted on and slidably movable relative to both the first support rail and said second support rail, the securing assembly including a first end clamp and a second end clamp for securing said cross rail relative to the first support rail and said second support rail, the clamp assembly being slidably mounted on said cross rail, the clamp assembly being slidably mounted on the cross rail and movable in a first linear direction relative to the concrete form as the clamp assembly is moved relative to the cross rail, and the clamp assembly is slidably mounted on the first support rail and said second support rail and movable in a second linear direction generally perpendicular to said first linear direction as the cross rail is moved relative to the first support rail and said second support rail, whereby the clamp assembly may be moved in both the first linear direction and the second linear direction to position the anchor bolt at the predetermined location relative to the concrete form.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the clamp assembly is a first clamp assembly and the anchor bolt is a first anchor bolt, and wherein the apparatus is used to hold a second anchor bolt within the concrete form at a second predetermined location in a second predetermined orientation, the apparatus further comprising: a second clamp assembly, said second clamp assembly being mounted on and slidably movable relative to said cross rail, said second clamp assembly receiving a portion of the second anchor bolt therein, said second clamp assembly defining at least one contact surface oriented generally parallel with both the second anchor bolt and the second predetermined orientation, said at least one contact surface engaging the second anchor bolt and maintaining the second anchor bolt in the second predetermined orientation.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the first clamp assembly and the second clamp assembly are mounted on the cross rail such that the first anchor bolt and the second anchor bolt are disposed on opposing sides of the cross rail relative to one another.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising: an extension rail, said extension rail being mounted on and slidably movable relative to the cross rail, said extension rail being connected to and extending between the clamp assembly and the cross rail such that the clamp assembly is spaced a distance apart from the cross rail.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the extension rail is slidably movable relative to the cross rail, whereby the distance that the clamp assembly is spaced apart from the cross rail may be selectively adjusted to position the anchor bolt at the predetermined location relative to the concrete form.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the clamp assembly is slidably movable relative to the extension rail, whereby the distance that the clamp assembly is spaced apart from the cross rail may be selectively adjusted to position the anchor bolt at the predetermined location relative to the concrete form.

8.The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: an extension rail, said extension rail being mounted on and slidably movable relative to the support rail, said extension rail being connected to and extending between the clamp assembly and the support rail such that the clamp assembly is spaced a distance apart from the support rail.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the extension rail is slidably movable relative to the support rail, whereby the distance that the clamp assembly is spaced apart from the support rail may be selectively adjusted to position the anchor bolt at the predetermined location relative to the concrete form.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the clamp assembly is slidably movable relative to the extension rail, whereby the distance that the clamp assembly is spaced apart from the support rail may be selectively adjusted to position the anchor bolt at the predetermined location relative to the concrete form.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support rail is oriented generally horizontally and the anchor bolt is oriented generally vertically, and wherein the support rail extends from the first side of the concrete form at a generally perpendicular angle.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support rail is oriented generally horizontally and the anchor bolt is oriented generally vertically, and wherein the support rail extends between the first side and the second side of the concrete form at generally acute angles relative thereto.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support rail has a first end and a second end, the apparatus further comprising: a first plate connected to the first end of the support rail, said first plate being received within the interior of the concrete form and disposed in close abutting contact with the first side of the concrete form, said first plate being engagingly fastened to the concrete form to hold the first end of the support rail in a fixed position relative to the first side of the concrete form; and a second plate connected to the second end of the support rail, said second plate being received within the interior of the concrete form and disposed in close abutting contact with the second side of the concrete form, said second plate being engagingly fastened to the concrete form to hold the second end of the support rail in a fixed position relative to the second side of the concrete form, whereby the first plate and the second plate are securely fastened to the concrete form to maintain the support rail in a generally horizontal orientation.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the concrete form is filled with concrete to a predetermined height, said concrete having a top surface, the clamp assembly having a bottom surface, and wherein the first plate and the second plate each have a respective indicia, the first plate and the second plate each being disposed such that said respective indicia are aligned with said predetermined height of said concrete, such that said top surface of said concrete is spaced a predetermined distance beneath said bottom surface of the clamp assembly, whereby the top surface of the concrete can be conditioned suπounding the anchor bolt without obstruction by the support rail or the clamp assembly.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the concrete form is filled with concrete to a predetermined height, said concrete having a top surface, and wherein the clamp assembly has a bottom surface, the support rail being mounted on the concrete form such that said top surface of said concrete is spaced a predetermined distance beneath said bottom surface of the clamp assembly, whereby the top surface of the concrete can be conditioned surrounding the anchor bolt without obstruction by the support rail or the clamp assembly.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the clamp assembly is a first clamp assembly and the anchor bolt is a first anchor bolt, and wherein the apparatus is used to hold a second anchor bolt within the concrete form at a second predetermined location in a second predetermined orientation, the apparatus further comprising: a second clamp assembly, said second clamp assembly being mounted on and slidably movable relative to said support rail, said second clamp assembly receiving a portion of the second anchor bolt therein, said second clamp assembly defining at least one contact surface oriented generally parallel with both the second anchor bolt and the second predetermined orientation, said at least one contact surface engaging the second anchor bolt and maintaining the second anchor bolt in the second predetermined orientation.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the first clamp assembly and the second clamp assembly are mounted on the support rail such that the first anchor bolt and the second anchor bolt are disposed on opposing sides of the support rail relative to one another.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the predetermined orientation of the first anchor bolt and the second predetermined orientation of the second anchor bolt are both generally parallel with one another.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support rail has a length and further comprises: a first segment; a second segment, said first segment and said second segment being generally aligned longitudinally with one another, said first segment being slidably movable relative to said second segment such that the length of the support rail may be selectively adjusted; and a support rail securing member for securing the first segment relative to the second segment.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the clamp assembly includes a channel, said channel defining the at least one contact surface, the portion of the anchor bolt engaging the at least one contact surface being received at least partially within said channel, whereby the portion of the anchor bolt is slidably received within the channel and may be moved therein to adjust the position of the anchor bolt relative to the clamp assembly.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the anchor bolt has a longitudinal axis and the number of the at least one contact surface is two with each defimng a plane, said planes being aligned with the predetermined orientation and disposed in close confronting relation to one another so as to define an angle therebetween relative to said longitudinal axis of the anchor bolt.

22. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the channel is enclosed.

23. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the channel defines an exposed opening on at least one side thereof.

24. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the anchor bolt has a longitudinal axis and the number of the at least one contact surface is two, and further wherein the channel defines an interior surface having a first face and a second face, said first face and said second face defining an angle therebetween relative to said longitudinal axis of the anchor bolt, said first face and said second face each defining a one of the two contact surfaces.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the first face and the second face are oriented generally perpendicular to one another.

26. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the interior surface of the channel defines a generally arcuately curved segment disposed between the first face and the second face.

27. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the first face and the second face are oriented at a generally acute angle relative to one another.

28.The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the clamp assembly defines a threaded aperture and the securing member is a matingly threaded fastener received through said threaded aperture and contacting the support rail.

29.The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the clamp assembly defines a bore, the support rail being slidably received through said bore such the clamp assembly may be slidably moved along the support rail, and wherein the clamp assembly further defined a channel, said channel defining the at least one contact surface, the portion of the anchor bolt engaging the at least one contact surface being received at least partially within said channel, whereby the portion of the anchor bolt is slidably received within the channel and may be moved therein to adjust the position of the anchor bolt relative to the clamp assembly and the clamp assembly may be moved relative to the support rail to position the anchor bolt at the predetermined location.

30. A method for holding an anchor bolt within a concrete form at a predetermined location and in a predetermined orientation, said concrete form having generally upright walls defining an interior and including a first side and a second side, said method comprising the steps of: providing a support rail; providing a clamp assembly; disposing said clamp assembly on said support rail such that said clamp assembly is slidably movable along said support rail; connecting said support rail to the concrete form such that said support rail is at least partially received within the concrete form and extends from the first side to the second side; mounting the anchor bolt within said clamp assembly; and positioning said clamp assembly such that the anchor bolt is in the predetermined location and in the predetermined orientation.

31. A method for holding an anchor bolt within a concrete form at a predetermined location and in a predetermined orientation, said concrete form having generally upright walls defining an interior and including a first side and a second side, said method comprising the steps of: providing a support rail; connecting said support rail to the concrete form such that said support rail is at least partially received within the concrete form and extends from the first side to the second side providing a clamp assembly; disposing said clamp assembly on said support rail such that said clamp assembly is slidably movable along said support rail; mounting the anchor bolt within said clamp assembly; and positioning said clamp assembly such that the anchor bolt is in the predetermined location and in the predetermined orientation.

32. A method for holding a first anchor bolt and a second anchor bolt within a concrete form at a first predetermined location and a second predetermined location, said concrete form having generally upright walls defining an interior and including a first side and a second side, said method comprising the steps of: providing a support rail; providing a first clamp assembly, said first clamp assembly disposed on said support rail such that said clamp assembly is slidably movable along said support rail; providing a second clamp assembly, said second clamp assembly disposed on said support rail such that said clamp assembly is slidably movable along said support rail; connecting said support rail to the concrete form such that said support rail is at least partially received within the concrete form and extends from the first side to the second side; mounting the first anchor bolt within said first clamp assembly; mounting the second anchor bolt within said second clamp assembly; positioning said first clamp assembly such that the first anchor bolt is in the first predetermined location; and positioning said second clamp assembly such that the second anchor bolt is in the second predetermined location.

33. A method for holding an anchor bolt within a concrete form at a predetermined location and in a predetermined orientation, said concrete form having generally upright walls defining an interior and including a first side and a second side, said method comprising the steps of: providing a support rail; connecting said support rail to the concrete form such that said support rail is at least partially received within the concrete form and extends from the first side to the second side; providing a clamp assembly; mounting said clamp assembly on said support rail such that said clamp assembly is slidably movable along said support rail; mounting the anchor bolt within said clamp assembly; and positioning said clamp assembly such that the anchor bolt is in the predetermined location and in the predetermined orientation by moving said clamp assembly relative to said support rail.

34. A method for holding an anchor bolt within a concrete form at a predetermined location and in a predetermined orientation, said concrete form having generally upright walls defining an interior and including a first side and a second side, said method comprising the steps of: providing a first support rail; providing a second support rail; connecting said first support rail to the concrete form such that said first support rail is at least partially received within the concrete form and extends from the first side to the second side; connecting said second support rail to the concrete form such that said second support rail extends generally parallel to said first support rail; providing a cross rail; mounting said cross rail on said first support rail and said second support rail such that said cross rail is slidably movable relative to said first support rail and said second support rail in a first linear direction; providing a clamp assembly; mounting said clamp assembly on said cross rail such that said clamp assembly is slidably movable along said cross rail in a second linear direction; mounting the anchor bolt within said clamp assembly; and positioning said clamp assembly such that the anchor bolt is in the predetermined location and in the predetermined orientation by moving said cross rail in the first linear direction relative to said support rail and moving said clamp assembly in the second linear direction relative to said cross rail.

35. A method for holding an anchor bolt within a concrete form at a predetermined location and in a predetermined orientation, said concrete form having generally upright walls defining an interior and including a first side and a second side, said method comprising the steps of: providing a support rail; providing an extension rail, said extension rail having a clamp assembly mounted thereon; connecting said support rail to the concrete form such that said support rail is at least partially received within the concrete form and extends from the first side to the second side; mounting said extension rail on said support rail such that said clamp assembly is movable relative to said support rail in a first linear direction and said extension rail is movable relative to said support rail in a second linear direction, said first linear direction and said second linear direction being generally perpendicular to one another; mounting the anchor bolt within the clamp assembly; and positioning said clamp assembly such that the anchor bolt is in the predetermined location and in the predetermined orientation by moving said clamp assembly in the first linear direction relative to the support rail and moving said extension rail in the second linear direction relative to said support rail.

36. A method for holding a first anchor bolt and a second anchor bolt within a concrete form respectively at a first predetermined location and a second predetermined location, said concrete form having generally upright walls defining an interior and including a first side and a second side, said method comprising the steps of: providing a support rail; providing a first clamp assembly mounted on the support rail; providing a second clamp assembly mounted on the support rail; connecting said support rail to the concrete form such that said support rail is at least partially received within the concrete form and extends from the first side to the second side; mounting the first anchor bolt within said first clamp assembly; mounting the second anchor bolt within said second clamp assembly, the first anchor bolt and the second anchor bolt each being disposed on opposing sides of the support rail relative to one another; and positioning said first clamp assembly and said second clamp assembly such that the first anchor bolt and the second anchor bolt are respectively in the first predetermined location and in the second predetermined location.

37. A method for holding a first anchor bolt and a second anchor bolt within a concrete form respectively at a first predetermined location and a second predetermined location, said concrete form having generally upright walls defining an interior and including a first side and a second side, said method comprising the steps of: providing a support rail connected to the concrete form such that said support rail is at least partially received within the concrete form and extends from the first side to the second side; providing a first clamp assembly mounted on the support rail; providing a second clamp assembly mounted on the support rail; mounting the first anchor bolt within said first clamp assembly; mounting the second anchor bolt within said second clamp assembly, the first anchor bolt and the second anchor bolt each being disposed on opposing sides of the support rail relative to one another; and positioning said first clamp assembly and said second clamp assembly such that the first anchor bolt and the second anchor bolt are respectively in the first predetermined location and in the second predetermined location.

38. A method for holding an anchor bolt within a concrete form at a predetermined location and in a predetermined orientation, said concrete form having generally upright walls defining an interior and including a first side and a second side, said method comprising the steps of: providing a first support rail; connecting said support rail to the concrete form such that said support rail is at least partially received within the concrete form and extends from the first side to the second side; providing a second support rail; connecting said support rail to the concrete form such that said support rail is at least partially received within the concrete form and disposed above said first support rail; providing a first clamp assembly; mounting said first clamp assembly on said first support rail; providing a second clamp assembly; mounting said second clamp assembly on said second support rail; mounting the anchor bolt within said first clamp assembly and within said second clamp assembly such that said first clamp assembly engages the anchor bolt at a first point displaced from a second point where said second clamp engages the anchor bolt; and positioning said first clamp assembly and said second clamp assembly such that the anchor bolt is in the predetermined location and in the predetermined orientation.