AU2014101382A4 - Footing Improvement - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract The present disclosure relates to a foundation system. Particularly, the present invention relates to a foundation system for ground structures. - 110 Figure 1

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 INNOVATION PATENT APPLICATION Footing Improvement The invention is described in the following statement.

Footing Improvement TECHNICAL FIELD 5 The present disclosure relates to an improved constructional support in particular relates to a device for founding posts and poles to support a range of different structures. BACKGROUND Footing or foundations are known to be used for supporting a range of structure types. A 10 variety of different methods can be used with the common most being concrete. This method requires a hole to be formed in the ground and a post or pole to be inserted to the required depth. Conventional constructional support systems such as concrete require skilled labour, as well as heavy machinery such as earth bores and movers to form these holes. 15 An alternative to the conventional constructional support systems or footing system is provided in AU1999045929, in which Lawson describes a constructional support having three tubes secured to a central support member. The tubes define guides for guiding anchor members being driven into the ground to secure the constructional support with 20 respect to the ground. However, a drawback here is that this system has limited use in regards to the types of structures it can support. OBJECTS Some of the objects of the device and/or system of the present disclosure, which satisfies at 25 least one embodiment of the present disclosure, are as follows: It is an object of the present disclosure to ameliorate one or more problems of the state of the art or to at least provide a useful alternative. It is also an object of the footing of the present disclosure to provide a sturdy and reliable support for varied structures. 30 It is a further object of the present disclosure to provide a support that can be used to support structures of varied nature, shape, and/or dimension. 1 Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a support that resists upward, downward, and sideward forces that the footing of the present disclosure are subjected to in usual course of operation. Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a support that facilitates direct 5 attachment with the structure that is to be supported. An object of the present disclosure is to provide a support that is easy to install and saves on time and effort of a labor and costs of installation. Further object of the present disclosure is to provide a support that eliminates the need for heavy earth moving machinery. 10 Other objects and/or advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures, which are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. SUMMARY 15 The present disclosure, in accordance with an embodiment, describes an improved device and/or system as shown in the drawings and a system implementing said constructional support device. The present invention relates to a system for founding posts and poles to support a range of structures, the system comprising: 20 (i) a vertical member; (ii) a plurality of tubular pipes members attached around the vertical member wherein the vertical member is orientated around a housing member and the tubular pipes are juxapositioned in an angular arrangement and capable of being 25 driven into the ground to provide support to the system; (iii) a stop member engaged to the housing member adapted to receive a post or pole member; and (iv) a substantially U-shaped guide. 2 Preferably, the stop member halts the post or pole member from travelling any further down. Preferably, the housing member has a square cross-section which is adapted to receive a 5 lower end of the drive means or an assembly means through its outer peripheral surface, and is attached to the vertical member. Preferably, the system according to the present invention further comprises assembly means selected from a plate attachment assembly, a pipe attachment assembly, a beam 10 attachment assembly, and a post attachment assembly. Preferably, the system comprises at least four pipes. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present disclosure will now be explained in relation to non-limiting accompanying 15 drawing, in which: Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a constructional support device, in accordance with an embodiment. Figure 2 illustrated a bottom view of a device as an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 illustrates a further perspective view of a constructional support device, in 20 accordance with an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are 25 explained with reference to one or more non-limiting embodiment in the following description. Description of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to 3 practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein. The description hereinafter, of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily 5 modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while 10 the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein. Referring to Figure, a constructional support device 100 and its various components are shown. In Fig. 1, the constructional support device 100 is shown having a housing 15 member 102, a vertical member 104, and guides 106 and 108 (Figures 2 and 3). In an embodiment, the housing member 102 has a square cross-section and is adapted to receive a lower end of a drive means or an assembly means (not shown). The housing member 102, through its outer peripheral surface, is attached to the vertical member 104. This housing member or central riser 102 preferably has a square, rectangular or circular 20 cross-section and adapted to receive the vertical member 104 and anchor means 110. The vertical member 104 has a longitudinal axis, which is also a central longitudinal axis of the constructional support device 100, from which tapered or partially-tapered metal plates radiate. In an embodiment, the vertical member 104 and the housing member 102 may be formed as one integral unit by using appropriate metal forming methods. In 25 another embodiment, a peripheral edge of the housing member 102 is welded to a peripheral edge of a broad end of the vertical member 104. The vertical member 104 resists movement of a structure supported thereon in any direction due to the various forces acting on the constructional support device 100 by taking into consideration the physical phenomena of skin friction and soil strata in its design. 30 Further, the guides 106 or 108 are attached to the outer periphery of the housing member 102, for example, by welding. In an embodiment, the guides 106 and 108 have a substantially square or a rectangular or a U-shaped cross section and a length significantly smaller than the housing member 102. In an embodiment, the guides 106 and 108 are 4 attached to the housing member 102 at an angle, angularly or outwardly, with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the constructional support device 100. The U-shaped guide configuration 108 as shown in Figures 2 and 3 has been adapted to receive the ground engaging piles set at an angle around the outside of the central riser 102 which are shaped 5 according to the type of central riser being used- round, square or rectangular. The guides 108 are attached to the riser 102 the full length of the guide which in turn adds to the strength of the system of forces upward, laterally and downward. The guides 108 are now not restricted to the thickness of tube that can be bought as a standard material or item off the shelf from a steel supplier as they are formed from a flat sheet of material that can 10 vary in thickness. By arranging the guides 108 in this manner the user is able to reduce the overall height of the system which can be restrictive to users at times in its current form with regard to the height of a building or structure off the ground. Further, each of the guides 108 is adapted to pass through at least one anchor means 110. The anchor means 110, in an embodiment, may include tubular pipes having a diameter of such 15 measurement so that these pass through the guides 108 in a snug-fit manner. In another embodiment, the system further comprises a stop member 112 engaged at the base of the housing. Figure 3 shows the U shaped guides 108 attached to the housing member 102 as an embodiment of the present invention. 20 The system has been designed to be used, but not limited, to the following applications. * Housing * Modular homes * Sheds * Ground mounted solar systems 25 * Communication towers * Signage * Carport and garages * Patios and covered areas * Retaining walls 30 * Flag poles and masts * Light poles * Shade sail structures 5 * Decking * Boardwalks and bridges * Park equipment * Fencing 5 e Stock yards * Stair construction * Conveyor systems * Street furniture * Irrigation lines and pipelines 10 TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS AND ECONOMICAL SIGNIFICANCE The technical advancements offered by the constructional foundation device as described in the present disclosure, which add to the economic significance of the disclosure, include the realization of: 15 a) A more stable and reliable constructional support system for use in varied construction applications; b) A comparatively less expansive constructional support system as compared to conventional constructional supports; and c) An easy to implement constructional support system that is less affected by soil 20 condition. d) The invention consists of a plurality of tubes driven into the ground at angles as well as vertically and consists of a central riser being round, square or rectangular in shape to receive a post or pole to support structures such as but not limited to housing, light poles, sign posts, banners and flag poles as well as shading 25 structures. As a result of extensive testing and investigation the present invention provides the following improvements 1. The prior art described three angular ground engaging piles only, the present 6 invention uses a plurality of ground engaging tubes 110 being both driven at angles as well as vertically 104. The addition of a central vertical pile 104 to the system provides greater strength of the footing system laterally or in a side way motion. The prior art does not allow for lateral strength thus cannot support posts 5 or poles of considerable height without providing additional bracing support of a post or pole. According to the present invention, by adding a vertical driven pile 110, the capacity or strength of the system is increased considerably thus reducing the need for additional bracing support of a post or pole that would be considered out of the ordinary compared to traditional founding methods such as a concrete 10 footing systems. This in turn saves the end user both labour hours and money adding to the benefit of a central vertical pile. 2. The primary purpose of the prior art is to replace concrete and wooden stumps and piers supporting flooring materials of various types to which internal frames are constructed of various materials are in turn attached to form the complete 15 building structure. By adding the central vertical pile 110 the present invention is able to use the footing system for other means such as but not limited to light poles, sign posts, banners and flag poles as well as shading structures which are all structures that require considerable lateral strength from a footing system which the prior art does not disclose or teach. 20 3. The prior art uses three angular ground engaging piles arranged in an equilateral triangular pattern around a central tubular riser. The present invention has been designed to accommodate a square or rectangle post inserted into the housing or central riser 102 which are more commonly found and used post types within the 25 different industry types. This footing system consists of four angular ground 7 engaging piles set at 900 to each other and a central vertically driven pile 110 to provide lateral strength. 4. The prior art describes a central riser where the post being inserted is open at 5 the bottom and relies on screws or a bolt to stop the inserted post or pole from travelling further down the central riser. The present invention has a stop means 112 at the bottom of the housing of the central riser 102 where the post is inserted to halt the post from travelling any further down. This in turn adds to the strength of the system especially for applied downward forces or self-weight of the 10 structure above. The present invention now does not only rely on screws or a bolt to stop the inserted post from travelling further down the central riser which in cases can shear or break screws or bolts because of the loads applied from the structure above. 15 5. The prior art requires an alignment tool to set the system in the ground. The present invention utilises the central vertical pile 104 to set the system in the ground in the right position whilst the other angular tubes are being driven. This reduces the need for other tools required to set the system in the ground in addition to the main footing system, making it easier for the user to install, thus 20 requiring less monetary outlay with regard to tools required to install. 6. The prior art comprises of three lengths of steel tubing welded in an equilateral triangular configuration to a central riser and is attached only at the top of the central riser. The present invention uses a U shaped guide 108 to receive the 25 ground engaging piles set at an angle around the outside of the central riser 102 8 which are shaped according to the type of central riser being used- round, square or rectangular. The guides 108 are attached to the riser 102 the full length of the guide which in turn adds to the strength of the system of forces upward, laterally and downward. The guides 108 are now not restricted to the thickness of tube that 5 can be bought as a standard material or item off the shelf from a steel supplier as they are formed from a flat sheet of material that can vary in thickness. By arranging the guides 108 in this manner we are able to reduce the overall height of the system which can be restrictive to users at times in its current form with regard to the height of a building or structure off the ground. In this case the user would 10 have to dig the ground out and cover the system with earth to achieve a height close to the ground. This is not a desirable method as it only increases labour costs of installing the system. Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or 15 step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps. The use of the expression "at least" or "at least one" suggests the use of one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the use may be in the embodiment to achieve one or more of the desired objects or results. 20 Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like that has been included in this specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the disclosure. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the disclosure as it existed anywhere before the priority date of this application. 25 The numerical values mentioned for the various physical parameters, dimensions or quantities are only approximations and it is envisaged that the values higher/lower than the numerical values assigned to the parameters, dimensions or quantities fall within the scope of the disclosure, unless there is a statement in the specification specific to the contrary. 9