Patent Application
20120304564
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to wall systems utilizing precast concrete columns and wall panels made of precast concrete or other materials, and more particularly to mechanisms for attaching these systems to footings constructed of cast-in-situ concrete.
2. Description of Related Art
The building construction industry has increasingly utilized precast concrete structures due to the many advantages precast products offer when compared to cast-in-situ concrete methods. Precast production techniques allow higher quality products to be formed due to controlled environmental conditions, specialized equipment, and strict quality standards. The factory environment allows greater efficiency and labor savings due to the utilization of reusable forms instead of constructing forms at the job site. The use of precast concrete products may also reduce construction delays related to the inability to pour cast-in-situ concrete in inclement weather.
Precast concrete columns allow for simplified and therefore expedient construction methods when utilized in solo as architectural design features or when used in conjunction with wall panels of concrete or other materials.
Local building codes applicable to precast concrete column and panel wall construction typically require a firm foundation for each spaced apart column, provided by excavation and installation of a steel reinforced cast-in-situ concrete footing at the location of each column. After sufficient curing of the concrete footings has occurred, placement and securing of the columns (and wall panels) can proceed.
Common building industry practices include the application of wet concrete or grout at the base or interior cavity of precast columns and/or wall panels to secure their position. The wet concrete or grout, whether procured as ready-mixed or mixed on site, requires that such materials be transported to the construction site. Time and labor is required to mix and/or apply the wet concrete or grout and clean the related tools afterwards. After application of the wet concrete or grout is complete, subsequent construction operations may be delayed until the applied concrete or grout is sufficiently cured.
Other building practices that may not include the application of wet concrete or grout to secure a precast concrete column to a footing include comparatively costly and/or complex systems that may include tensioned cables, welded structural steel elements or multiple brackets. Many of these systems require that the precast column include a hollow interior space and opening at the top surface, in order to access and secure the fastening apparatus within. Other systems may require that a tensioning rod or bar extend vertically through the column, with a threaded nut or bolt bearing against a surface at or near the top. Both of the aforementioned systems typically require a cap or cover to conceal the fastening hardware or hollow void in the column, thereby increasing production and transportation costs. A required cap or cover may also restrict the range of possible aesthetic designs of the structure.
The present invention provides a novel method of connecting and securing a precast concrete column to an intermittent (spaced apart) foundation, as a part of the method of constructing a wall or barrier. Each concrete column is be secured to a cast-in-situ concrete footing by means of a threaded member imbedded in the concrete footing. The column is lifted vertically and lowered onto the footing so that the exposed threaded member extends through a narrow cylindrical opening in bottom of the concrete column. Through one or more access ports in the side of the column, a washer is positioned over the end of the threaded member and a nut is threaded onto the member and tightened, causing tension in the threaded member, fixedly attaching the concrete column to the foundation.
The column may include one or more vertical slots for receiving wall panels. Wall panels are lifted vertically and slid downward into two opposing vertical slots between two installed precast columns. The installed wall panels conceal the access port(s) in the side(s) of the column.
The present invention provides a novel method of connecting and securing a concrete column to a footing or foundation.
Among the objectives of this invention is to provide a method of assembly for a precast concrete column and panel wall system.
Another objective of this invention is to reduce the amount of time required to install a precast concrete column and panel system by reducing the complexity and thus the time required to securely fasten a precast concrete column to a precast or cast-in-situ concrete footing.
Another objective of this invention is to provide a precast concrete column and panel wall system that does not require enclosing or covering the top surface of the precast concrete columns, thereby simplifying the column design, reducing the required components and production costs, and reducing restrictions on the aesthetic design parameters.
Still another objective of this invention is to provide a precast concrete column and panel wall system that does not include exposed mounting or fastening brackets, braces or hardware, and is thus aesthetically pleasing.
Another objective of this invention is to provide a precast concrete column and panel wall system having a high resistance to wind load.
Yet another objective of this invention is to provide a precast concrete column and panel wall system that is simpler to disassemble and move if required, as when roadways are widened or reconfigured.
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It will be understood that in another embodiment of this invention, access port 8 as depicted in
It is to be recognized that the various arrangements described above in this disclosure are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. Numerous alternative arrangements and modifications may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and the appended claims are intended to cover such arrangements and modifications. While the present invention has been depicted in the drawings and fully described in this disclosure in considerable detail in connection with what is presently deemed to be the most practical and preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous alterations and modifications, including, but not limited to, variations in size, form, shape, function, materials, and manner of construction and use may be made, without departing from the concepts and principles of the present invention as set forth in the claims.
