Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6418685
-
Patent Number
6,418,685
-
Date Filed
Tuesday, November 14, 200023 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, July 16, 200221 years ago
-
Inventors
-
-
Examiners
- Friedman; Carl D.
- Yip; Winnie
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 052 23
- 052 1673
- 052 1699
- 052 157
- 052 156
- 052 148
- 052 146
- 052 2933
- 052 149
- 052 1266
- 052 DIG 11
- 248 503
- 248 508
- 248 680
- 403 353
- 024 191
- 024 199
- 024 269
- 024 311
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International Classifications
-
Abstract
A frame clamp for an anchor strap assembly (10) for a manufactured home (70) having a frame member (74), such as an I-beam (75), and supported above ground (99), such as by piers (91). Anchor strap assembly (10) includes elongate anchor strap (30) connecting a ground anchor (20) to frame clamp (40). Ground anchor (20) includes head (22) fixed near ground (99) to the side of beam (75). Clamp (40) attaches top end (34) of strap (30) to beam (75) and comprises stationary jaw (42) and movable jaw (60) joined such that movable jaw (60) to which strap (30) is attached is pivotable about axis (58) perpendicular to the plane of strap (30) and such that movable jaw (60) is hinged such that tensioning strap (30) clamps beam (75) between jaws (42,61). Clamp (40) is easily attached and prevents strap breakage during home movement such as during an earthquake or storm.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates in general to ground anchors for manufactured homes, and more specifically involves a clamp connecting an anchor strap to the I-beam frame of a manufactured home.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A typical manufactured home has a frame comprising a pair of longitudinal support beams that are supported at a height above the ground to allow for ventilation and crawl space. Common supports include piers and blocks. Manufactured homes may also be anchored to the ground to help prevent lateral movement due to earthquakes or high winds.
Conventional anchor systems include an anchor head located near the ground at a position off to the side of a beam. The anchor head is typically held in position by being connected to a ground anchor, typically an auger and shaft, driven into the ground. The head may rotate to align with the strap direction. A solid steel strap connects the anchor head and the beam. The strap is tensioned, such as by wrapping the strap around a tensioning bolt in the head. Typically, a clamp is attached to the beam and the strap is attached to the clamp.
A problem with conventional anchor systems is the tendency for the steel anchor straps to break during considerable longitudinal movement of the manufactured home such as may be encountered in earthquakes and hurricanes. The failure of the anchor strap can then result in catastrophic failure of the support system as the home can teeter off its piers.
Longitudinal movement of the home puts great stress on one side of the strap. This causes the strap to rip at a weak point in the strap or at a point of a stress riser, such as its attachment point to the beam or to the beam clamp.
Therefore, there has been a need for a device that reduces the likelihood of anchor strap breakage from movement of anchored item such as a manufactured home.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is a frame clamp for an anchor strap assembly for a manufactured home having a support beam, such as an I-beam, and supported above the ground, such as by piers. The anchor strap assembly includes an elongate anchor strap connecting a ground anchor to the frame clamp. The ground anchor includes a head fixed near the ground to the side of the beam.
The clamp attaches the top end of the strap to the beam and comprises a stationary jaw and a movable jaw. The stationary jaw overlies the top side of the beam and projects downward to engage the distal side of the beam. The movable jaw includes a connecting portion including means for attaching the strap and a contact area. The jaws are joined such that the movable jaw connecting portion is pivotable relative to the stationary jaw about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the strap and such that the movable jaw is hinged relative to stationary jaw such that tensioning the strap moves the contact area toward the stationary jaw so as to clamp the beam therebetween.
In this manner, a very simple clamp, which is extremely easy to apply, has a pivoting feature that reduces strap breakage.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be readily understood when the detailed description thereof is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a left side elevation view of the frame clamp of the invention shown in use in stabilizing a manufactured home.
FIG. 2
is an enlarged perspective view of the frame clamp of
FIG. 1
attaching an anchor strap to the I-beam frame of the manufactured home.
FIG. 3
is an enlarged exploded view of the frame clamp of FIG.
2
.
FIG. 4
is an enlarged left side elevation view of the clamp, frame and strap of
FIG. 2
, attached to the I-beam.
FIG. 5
is a top plan view of the clamp, frame and strap of FIG.
3
.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
With reference now to the drawings,
FIG. 1
is a left side elevation view of a preferred embodiment of the anchor strap assembly
10
including frame clamp
40
of the invention shown in use in stabilizing a manufactured home
70
, and
FIG. 2
is an enlarged perspective view of anchor strap assembly
10
of FIG.
1
. Manufactured home
70
generally includes a plurality of spaced transverse floor joists
72
that are supported by a plurality, typically two, longitudinal frame members such as beams
74
, such as I-beams
75
. As best seen in
FIG. 2
, I-beam
75
includes a longitudinal flange, such as top flange
76
, and a bottom flange
88
joined by a web
89
. A plurality of supports
90
, such as jacks or piers
91
, are disposed along the length of I-Beams
75
for supporting home
70
a distance above the ground
99
such that there is a crawl space and ventilation under home
70
. A foundation or foundation pads
92
supports piers
91
.
Anchor strap assembly
10
resists lateral forces on home
70
. Anchor strap assembly generally includes a ground anchor
20
, an elongate anchor strap
30
, and frame clamp
40
. As best seen in
FIG. 1
, anchor strap assembly
10
may include one or more additional anchor straps
30
and clamps
40
attached to other beams
74
. Ground anchor
20
may be of conventional design and includes an anchor head
22
disposed near the ground to the side of beam
75
. Anchor head
22
is attached to a retaining object, such as a foundation or anchor shank
29
, partially shown, so as to be fixed in position. Head
22
includes strap tensioning means, such as one or more tensioning bolts
25
, for tensioning anchor strap
30
. Anchor strap
30
is of conventional design being an elongate, wide, solid flat metal strap, such as of high tension steel. Strap
30
has a bottom end
32
, a top end
34
and a mid-section
39
therebetween. Top end
34
may be formed into a loop held by attachment means, such as a clamp
36
, for attachment to clamp
40
. Strap
30
has a length and width defining a strap plane. Clamp
40
includes a stationary jaw
42
and a movable jaw
60
.
Looking additionally at
FIGS. 3-5
,
FIG. 3
is an enlarged exploded view of clamp
40
of
FIG. 2
;
FIG. 4
is an enlarged left side elevation view of clamp
40
, frame member
75
and strap
30
of
FIG. 3
; and
FIG. 5
is a top plan view of the elements of FIG.
3
. I-beam
75
top flange
76
includes a top side
77
, a bottom side
78
, a distal portion
80
disposed away from strap
30
and a proximal portion
84
disposed toward strap
30
. Distal portion
80
includes an edge
81
. Proximal portion
84
includes an edge
85
between top side
77
and bottom side
78
.
Clamp
40
includes a stationary jaw
42
and a movable jaw
60
. Preferably, stationary jaw
42
is attached to beam
75
so as to not move relative to beam
75
. Stationary jaw
42
generally includes a central portion
44
, an engaging portion
47
and a proximal portion
48
. Central portion
44
, adapted for overlying top side
77
of beam
75
, has a distal end
45
and a proximal end
46
.
Engaging portion
47
is connected to central portion distal end
45
and projects downward from central portion
44
for engaging I-beam distal edge
81
. The shape of engaging portion
47
may vary according to the shape of the frame member to which it is adapted. In the illustrative example, engaging portion
47
is hook-shaped or J-shaped so as to pass around and even slightly under edge
81
of beam flange distal portion
80
so as to resist disengagement when tension is applied to clamp
40
via strap
30
. Engaging portion
47
may have gripping means, such as teeth, to engage edge
81
of a beam
74
of different shape, such as of a C-beam.
Proximal portion
48
is connected to central portion
44
, such as to proximal end
46
, and preferably slants downward so as to be substantially in the plane of attached strap
30
.
Movable jaw
60
generally comprises two end portions, a gripping portion
61
and a connecting portion
67
, and a central portion
63
joining the two end portions. Gripping portion
61
includes a contact area
62
, such as toothed area
64
, for contacting bottom side
78
offrame
74
opposite clamp central portion
44
.
Connecting portion
63
includes attaching means, such as thru slot
68
, for attaching anchor strap
30
. Preferably, the attaching means is adapted so as to not induce high stress points on strap
30
so as to cause tears. To this end, slot
68
includes a radiused surface
69
around which strap
30
is run for applying tension to strap
30
.
Central portion
63
connects gripping portion
61
to connecting portion
67
.
Stationary jaw
42
and movable jaw
60
include cooperative joining means
50
for joining jaws
42
,
60
such that movable jaw connecting portion
67
is pivotable relative to stationary jaw
42
about an axis, such as pivot axis,
58
, perpendicular to the plane of attached strap
30
. Movable jaw
60
is hinged relative to stationary jaw
42
such that tensioning attached anchor strap
30
moves contact area
62
toward central portion
44
of stationary jaw
42
so as to clamp frame
74
, such as proximal flange
84
, therebetween.
In the illustrative example of
FIG. 3
, stationary jaw joining means
50
A includes joining slot
51
and connected bore
52
. Bore
52
includes a bearing
53
including a radiused bearing surface
54
. Movable jaw joining means
50
B includes a journal
56
adapted for bearing on bearing surface
54
.
Jaws
42
,
60
are joined as follows. One end, that is gripping portion
61
or connecting portion
67
, of movable jaw
60
, is passed through stationary jaw joining means
50
A such that journal
56
is in bearing
54
. Gripping portion
61
is adapted, such as being wider than journal
56
, so as to engage stationary jaw
42
, i.e. so as to not be pulled through bore
54
, when journal
56
is in bearing
54
and strap
30
is tensioned. The hinging movement of movable jaw
60
is best illustrated in
FIG. 4
where an alternate position
60
′ of movable jaw
60
is shown in phantom. The pivoting movement of movable jaw
60
is best seen in
FIG. 5
where an alternate position
60
″ of movable jaw
60
is shown in phantom. The hinge bearing surfaces and the pivot bearing surfaces are substantially the same surfaces.
It can be appreciated that if beam
75
moves slightly longitudinally, such as during an earthquake, connecting portion
67
pivots such that less severe stresses and tearing forces are induced to strap
30
and less severe twisting on stationary jaw
42
. The elements of the embodiment shown allow pivoting up to about 45 degrees in either direction or to about ninety degrees total. Preferably, the allowable pivot angle in either direction should be greater than 20 degrees to maintain anchor integrity after movement.
Clamp
40
is made of strong material that can withstand the forces exerted thereon, such as steel.
Having described the invention, it can be seen that it provides an excellent device for anchoring a beam with an anchor strap in a manner that is more likely to provide anchoring during movement of the beam.
Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, various changes may be made in the form, composition, construction, and arrangement of the parts herein without sacrificing any of its advantages. Therefore, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims such modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
In the claims, directional terms, such top and bottom, are relative and are not to be construed in an absolute sense.
Claims
- 1. A clamp for attaching an elongate anchor strap to a frame component; the strap having a length and width defining a strap plane; the frame component having a top side, a bottom side, a distal edge, and a proximal edge; said clamp comprising:a stationary jaw comprising: a central portion adapted for overlying the top side of the frame component; said central portion including: a distal end; and a proximal end; a engaging portion connected to said central portion distal end and projecting downward from said central portion for engaging the frame component distal edge; and a proximal portion connected to said central portion; and a movable jaw comprising: a gripping portion including: a contact area for contacting said bottom side of the frame component opposite said central portion; a connecting portion including: means for attaching the anchor strap; and a central portion connecting said gripping portion to said connecting portion; wherein said central portion and said proximal portion include cooperative joining means joining said movable jaw to said stationary jaw such that said movable jaw proximal end is pivotable relative to said stationary jaw about an axis perpendicular to the plane of an attached strap; and such that said movable jaw is hinged about an axis parallel to the plane of an attached strap relative to stationary jaw such that tensioning an attached anchor strap urges said contact area of said gripping portion of said movable jaw toward said central portion of stationary member so as to clamp the frame component therebetween.
- 2. The clamp of claim 1 wherein:said central portion of said movable jaw includes: a journal; and said proximal portion of said stationary jaw includes: a mating bearing.
- 3. A clamp for attaching an elongate anchor strap to a frame component; the strap having a length and width defining a strap plane; the frame component having a top side, a bottom side, a distal edge, and a proximal edge; said clamp comprising:a stationary jaw comprising: a central portion adapted for overlying the top side of the frame component; said central portion including: a distal end; and a proximal end; a engaging portion connected to said central portion distal end and projecting downward from said central portion for engaging the frame component distal edge; and a proximal portion connected to said central portion; and a movable jaw comprising: a gripping portion including: a contact area for contacting said bottom side of the frame component opposite said central portion; a connecting portion including: means for attaching the anchor strap; and a central portion connecting said gripping portion to said connecting portion; wherein said central portion and said proximal portion include cooperative joining means joining said movable jaw to said stationary jaw such that said movable jaw proximal end is pivotable relative to said stationary jaw about an axis perpendicular to the plane of an attached strap; and such that said movable jaw is hinged relative to stationary jaw such that tensioning an attached anchor strap urges said contact area of said gripping portion of said movable jaw toward said central portion of stationary member so as to clamp the frame component therebetween; and wherein: said central portion of said movable jaw includes: a journal; and said proximal portion of said stationary jaw includes: a mating bearing.
- 4. In combination with a manufactured home supported above the ground; the home including a support beam including: a flange including: a top side; a bottom side; a distal edge; and a proximal edge; and an anchor head disposed near the ground to the side of the beam; an anchor strap assembly including:an elongate anchor strap including: a bottom end connected to the anchor head; and a top end; said strap having a length and width defining a strap plane; and a clamp attaching said top end of said strap to the beam; said clamp comprising: a stationary jaw comprising: a central portion adapted for overlying the top side of the flange; said central portion including: a distal end; and a proximal end; an engaging portion connected to said central portion distal end and projecting downward from said central portion for engaging the flange distal edge; and a proximal portion connected to said central portion; and a movable jaw comprising: a gripping portion including: a contact area for contacting said bottom side of the frame component opposite said central portion; a connecting portion including: attaching means for attaching said anchor strap; said top end of said anchor strap being attached to said attachment means; and a central portion connecting said gripping portion to said connecting portion; wherein said central portion and said proximal portion include cooperative joining means joining said movable jaw to said stationary jaw such that said movable jaw proximal end is pivotable relative to said stationary jaw about an axis perpendicular to the plane of an attached strap; and such that said movable jaw is hinged relative to stationary jaw such that tensioning said attached anchor strap moves urges said contact area of said gripping portion of said movable jaw toward said central portion of stationary member so as to clamp the flange therebetween; wherein: said central portion of said movable jaw includes: a journal; and said proximal portion of said stationary jaw includes: a mating bearing.
- 5. The combination of claim 4 wherein:said beam is an I-beam.
- 6. In combination:a manufactured home including:a support beam including: a flange including: a first side; a second side; a distal edge; and a proximal edge; supports supporting said home above the ground;an anchor strap assembly including:an elongate anchor strap including: a bottom end; and a top end; an anchor head disposed near the ground to the side of said beam; said anchor head connected to said bottom end of said anchor strap; and a clamp attaching said top end of said anchor strap to said beam; said clamp comprising: a stationary jaw comprising: a central portion adapted for overlying the top side of said flange; said central portion including: a distal end; and a proximal end; an engaging portion connected to said central portion distal end and projecting downward from said central portion for engaging said flange distal edge; and a proximal portion connected to said central portion; and a movable jaw comprising: a gripping portion including: a contact area for contacting said bottom side of the frame component opposite said central portion; a connecting portion including: attaching means for attaching said anchor strap; said top end of said anchor strap being attached to said attachment means; and a central portion connecting said gripping portion to said connecting portion; wherein said central portion and said proximal portion include cooperative joining means joining said movable jaw to said stationary jaw such that said movable jaw connecting portion is pivotable relative to said stationary jaw about an axis perpendicular to the plane of an attached strap; and such that said movable jaw is hinged relative to stationary jaw such that tensioning said attached anchor strap urges said contact area of said gripping portion of said movable jaw toward said central portion of stationary member so as to clamp said flange therebetween; wherein: said central portion of said movable jaw includes: a journal; and said proximal portion of said stationary jaw includes: a mating bearing.
- 7. The combination of claim 6 wherein:said beam is an I-beam.
US Referenced Citations (12)