Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Footing or foundation type
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-17
2001-01-23
Friedman, Carl D. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Footing or foundation type
C052S297000, C052S295000, C052S167700, C052S167900, C052S742100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06176055
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable. That is, the benefit of the filing date of a co-pending application for a patent that was previously filed in the United States is not sought under 35 U.S.C. §120.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable. That is, the U.S. Government does not have a paid-up license in this invention or the right in limited circumstances to require the patent owner to license others on reasonable terms.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to foundation systems for structures. More particularly, the present invention relates to a modular foundation system that may be assembled at the job site.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A conventional pole building foundation system comprises vertical load bearing wooden poles having their lower ends buried in the earth. The wooden poles must be treated with preservatives to repel insects and decay. In order to increase their load bearing capacity, the lower ends of the wooden poles may be supported by a punch pad and/or may be provided with a concrete encasement. The concrete encasement may be a butt encasement, in which only part of the lower end of the wooden pole that is located below the ground finish line is encased; or it may be a full encasement, in which all of the lower end of the wooden pole that is located below the ground finish line is encased. Whether a butt encasement or a full encasement is used, the encasement will also increase the wooden pole's uplift strength, and wind deflection resistance.
Such conventional pole building foundation systems are economical and strong. However, they may be undesirable since they may be correctly perceived to have a relatively short lifetime, since even treated wooden poles will eventually be subject to failure due to insect damage and decay. In addition, the preservatives used to treat the wooden poles may present environment concerns since the preservatives are poisons that are toxic to many life forms. Further, if butt or full concrete encasements are desired, it may be difficult, or even impossible, for a conventional pre-mixed concrete delivery truck to reach the job site to pour the encasements; and it may be difficult and expensive to mix the large quantities of concrete needed for the encasements at the job site.
Turning now to the modular foundation system of the present invention, it may comprise at least two ring-shaped, pre-formed, stackable, modular foundation units, each defining an axial opening. The modular foundation units may be made from any suitable material, such as concrete. The modular foundation system may further comprise a pole and an axial column that may extend through the axial openings of the modular foundation units. The pole may comprise several reinforced metal bars, or a metal pipe; and may have a length selected to enable it to extend upwardly to and/or into the structure it is intended to support.
In order to use the modular foundation system, a foundation hole must first be formed at the job site for each modular foundation system. The modular foundation units may then be stacked in the foundation hole; the pole may be located in the axial holes of the modular foundation units; and the axial column may then be poured, with the modular foundation units serving as permanent forms for the axial column. The axial column may be made from any suitable material, such as concrete. Once it has hardened, the axial column may serve to hold the modular foundation units and the pole together as one strong, integral structure; and the pole may serve to not only support the structure, but to also reinforce the axial column and the modular foundation units.
At least one of the modular foundation units may have an outer radial size that is greater than the outer radial size of at least one of the other modular foundation units, in order to help increase the load bearing capacity, uplift strength and wind resistance of the completed modular foundation system.
The modular foundation system may further comprise modular foundation unit locking means for helping to properly align the adjacent modular foundation units with respect to each other; and/or for helping to prevent the adjacent modular foundation units from moving laterally with respect to each other. Such modular foundation unit locking means may comprise complimentary shapes or configurations in the adjacent upper and lower surfaces of the adjacent modular foundation units.
The modular foundation system may also comprise axial column locking means for helping to lock the modular foundation units and the axial column together, and for helping to prevent relative axial motion between the modular foundation units and the axial column; after the axial column has been poured and has hardened. Such axial column locking means may comprise one or more grooves, flanges, lugs and/or recesses on the inner radial surfaces of at least one of the modular foundation units.
The modular foundation system may further comprise modular foundation unit ground locking means for helping to lock the modular foundation units and the surrounding ground together; thereby desirably providing greater friction between the modular foundation units and the ground. The greater friction provided by the modular foundation unit ground locking means may increase the load bearing capacity, uplift strength and wind resistance of the modular foundation system. The modular foundation unit ground locking means may comprise one or more grooves, flanges, lugs and/or recesses on the outer radial surface of at least one of the modular foundation units.
The modular foundation system may also comprise a punch pad upon which the modular foundation units may be stacked in the foundation hole. The punch pad may be pre-formed and lowered into the foundation hole; or it may be poured in the foundation hole and allowed to set before the modular foundation units are stacked upon it. The punch pad may be made from any suitable material, such as concrete. The punch pad may comprise a dowel to integrally connect it to the axial column when the axial column is poured. If a punch pad is used, then it may also serve as the permanent form for the bottom of the axial column. If a punch pad is not used, then the bottom of the foundation hole may serve as the form for the bottom of the axial column.
The modular foundation system may further comprise a punch pad locking means for helping to properly align the punch pad and its adjacent modular foundation unit with respect to each other; and/or for helping to prevent the punch pad and its adjacent modular foundation unit from moving laterally with respect to each other. Such punch pad locking means may comprise complimentary shapes or configurations in the upper surface of the punch pad and the lower surface of its adjacent modular foundation unit. Such complimentary shapes or configurations may comprise, for example, complimentary grooves, flanges, lugs and/or recesses in the upper surface of the punch pad and the lower surface of its adjacent modular foundation unit.
As an alternative, the punch pad may be eliminated and may be replaced by one of the modular foundation units that has an outer radial size that is larger than the outer radial size of at least one of the other modular foundation units in the modular foundation system.
The modular foundation system may further comprise punch pad ground locking means for helping to lock the punch pad and the surrounding ground together; thereby desirably providing greater friction between the punch pad and the ground. The greater friction provided by the punch pad ground locking means may increase the load bearing capacity, uplift strength and wind resistance of the modular foundation system. The punch pad ground locking means may comprise one or more grooves, flanges, lugs and/or recesses on the outer radial surface of the punch pad.
The modular foundation units, the axial column and/or the punch pad may further comprise reinforcing means, such as rebar (reinforcing bar), reinforcin
A Phi Dieu Tran
Friedman Carl D.
Moravan Gregory W.
LandOfFree
Modular foundation system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Modular foundation system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Modular foundation system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2523188