Patent Application
20240125076
The present invention relates generally to ground piers for supporting a building foundation in poor bearing soil environments.
Helical piers or piles are large screws or poles driven deep into the ground to support the foundation of a structure. Piers are typically used in poor bearing soil environments. Heavy construction equipment can screw and/or drive the pier deep into the ground to provide support. Dozens or hundreds of piers may be required on a worksite. In use, piers will typically have top caps or brackets to connect building materials to the load bearing piers. Proper location accuracy and precision require the piers to be less than 1 inch (25 mm) out of design position.
A complication of driving poles deep into the ground is that obstructions, such as rock or ledge, can divert their path and final position. Many pier bracket systems do not allow for adjustment in the alignment of brackets. The state-of-the-art relies on the imprecise rotation by the construction equipment and unpredictable spring-back of the torqued pier. Hence, many piers do not meet the position requirements which cause costly and time-consuming resolution. Current solutions for misaligned piers include: unscrewing and repositioning the pier (subject to breakage and similar misaligned results), installing an adjacent pier to create a bracket bridge, fabricating onsite one-off adapter brackets, and/or altering building design/materials to compensate. These valiant efforts to resolve the misalignment cause delays, unsightly bracket or building construction, increased project cost, and compromise the original design and intent of the system. Thus, new solutions are required to assist with these problematic building situations.
The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.
Before describing in detail embodiments that are in accordance with the present invention, it should be observed that the embodiments reside primarily in combinations of method steps and apparatus components related to a rotating linear adjustment bracket for use with a screw ground pier. Accordingly, the apparatus components and method steps have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.
In this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises . . . a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.
Further, a base plate 103 is fastened substantially orthogonally atop the sleeve 101 and includes one or more adjustment slots 104 allowing it to be moved to a desired position. One or more gussets 105 are attached to and extend below the base plate 103. The gussets 105 are used to provide additional support of the base plate 103 against the sleeve 101. The gussets 105 include at least one access port 106 allowing for structural glue, adhesive or other fastening materials to be applied to the assembly. Finally, a saddle clamp, clamp collar or tube clamp 109 is used for locking of the bracket 101 to the pier to provide resistance and prevent uplift. A saddle bracket weldment 107 is shown top of sleeve 101. In use, the sleeve 101 is configured over the pier 111 downwardly to the point of the top cap 113 on the pier 111.
Thus, embodiments of the present invention are directed to a rotating linear adjustment bracket (RLAB that is fabricated from a metal such as aluminum or steel and coated for corrosion resistance (anodize or zinc, respectively). One RLAB bracket, for example, is a U-shape saddle bracket used for mounting 4-inch×4-inch and 6-inch×6-inch wood posts. Other mounting brackets include, but not limited to, those for holding structural members (poles, joists, footings, columns, etc. of various materials (wood, metal, laminates, concrete, etc.).
In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present invention. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63415383 | Oct 2022 | US |
