GB2512132A

GB2512132A - A base support

Info

Publication number: GB2512132A
Application number: GB1305256.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Derek Trayner
Original assignee: AV NORTHWEST Ltd
Current assignee: AV NORTHWEST Ltd
Priority date: 2013-03-22
Filing date: 2013-03-22
Publication date: 2014-09-24
Also published as: GB201305256D0

Abstract

There is provided a base support 1 comprising a support portion 20, 30 for supporting a base above a ground. The support portion comprises a support block 20 and a support plate 34 that is attached to the support block, wherein the support plate comprises at least one support area 36 that extends beyond the support block in a direction perpendicular to a thickness of the support plate. The at least one support area is configured for supporting the base against the support block. The support portion may comprise a damp proof layer between the support plate and the support block. The support block may be formed of wood.

Description

A BASE SUPPORT

The present invention relates to a base support, in particular to a base support for supporting a base above the ground.

There are many situations in which it is desirable to support a base above a ground, for example to support the base of a garden shed above the ground, or the base of a platform andlor decking above the ground.

One of the difficulties with installing base supports is to make sure that they are placed in the correct position with respect to the base to be supported, so that they perform their function effectively.

A known base support is described in GB 2,420,129, which discloses a decking that has cylindrical corner pieces. Dovetailed longitudinal slots are provided along the lengths of the cylindrical corner pieces, the dovetailed longitudinal slots for receiving beams to support the decking.

Although, the need to orient the cylindrical corner pieces so that the dovetailed longitudinal slots properly line up with the beams at all of the corners may present problems during installation, particularly if the installer is a novice and does not have much experience with installing decking.

It is therefore an aim of the invention to provide an improved base support.

According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a base support comprising a support portion for supporting a base above a ground. The support portion comprises a support block and a support plate that is attached to the support block, wherein the support plate comprises at least one support area that extends beyond the support block in a direction perpendicular to a thickness of the support plate, and wherein the at least one support area is configured for supporting the base against the support block.

Since the base support provides a support plate with a support area that extends beyond a support block, an installer can use the base support to support a base by simply placing the base on top of the support area and moving the base support and/or base until the base abuts against the support block.

The base support may comprise an anchor portion for anchoring into the ground. For example, the anchor portion may comprise a base plate that is configured to lie substantially horizontal when the base support is anchored into the ground. The base plate could be bolted to the ground, or the base plate could be put into a hole that is dug into the ground, and the hole filled with concrete.

The anchor portion may comprise a raise member for holding the support portion above the ground, the support portion being attached to the raise member.

The support portion may be attached to the raise member by an attachment device.

The attachment device may allow a position of attachment of the support portion to the raise member to be varied along a length of the raise member, for example so that a height of the support portion above the ground can be varied.

The attachment device may enable a position of attachment of the support portion to the raise member to be varied around an axis of the raise member, so that the support portion can be rotated to ease installation without the raise member needing to be rotated. In particular, the raise member may have a circular cross-section and the attachment device may comprise an adjustable clamp for clamping around a circumference of the raise member.

The support portion may further comprise a damp proof layer between the support plate and the support block, to prevent moisture from travelling from the ground up to the support block.

The support portion may further comprise a back plate that is connected to the support plate, the back plate also being attached to the support block. The support portion may comprise a damp proof layer between the back plate and the support block. The damp proof layer may be formed from the same area of damp proofing as the damp proof layer between the support plate and the support block.

The attachment device may further comprise a fixing member that passes through the back plate and the support block to help secure the support portion to the raise member. Preferably, the support block comprises a back face and a lower face, wherein the back face and back plate are in parallel planes, and wherein the lower face and support plate are in parallel planes. Then, the support block fits against the back plate and the support plate, and may be held securely by them.

The back plate and the support plate may be joined to one another at/along an edge of the support block between the back face and the lower face where the back face and the lower face adjoin one another. The back plate and the support plate may be integrally formed, for example by bending a first plate at angle that matches the angle between the back face and the lower face of the support block, so that the bent first plate can be fitted to the support block and constitute the back plate and the support plate. The back plate and the support plate may be perpendicular to one another, for example so that the support plate is configured to lie in a horizontal plane during use, and the back plate is configured to lie in a vertical plane during use.

The length of the back plate may be no longer than the overall length of the support block, and the back plate and the support plate may have the same length as one another.

The support block may comprise first and second end faces that are at opposite ends of the support block to one another, and wherein the at least one support area comprises a first support area that protrudes beyond the first end face and a second support area that protrudes beyond the second end face.

Accordingly, the weight of the base that is exerted upon the base support may be balanced about the support block. Preferably, the attachment device is at a mid-point between the first and second ends of the support block.

The first and second end faces may be both perpendicular to the support plate, for example so that the base can rest against the first and second end faces when the first and second support areas are in a horizontal plane and the base comprises base members having a square cross-section.

The first and second end faces may be perpendicular to one another, i.e. in first and second planes that are perpendicular to one another. Then, when the base comprises two base members that are perpendicular to one another, perpendicular base members can lie against the first and second end faces of the support members. Accordingly alignment of the base support and the base may be achieved by simply moving the base support and/or base until the first and second end faces of the base support abut against perpendicular base members, for example at a corner of the base.

The support plate may be formed of metal to provide strength, and the support block may be formed of wood to match against a wooden base. The back plate may also be formed of metal.

There is also provided a system comprising the base support and a base comprising first and second base members, wherein the first and second base members and the support portion are configured so that in use the first end face abuts against a side of the first base member with the first support area extending beneath the first base member, and the second end face abuts against a side of the second base member with the second support area extending beneath the second base member.

The first and second base members may be configured to join to one another at an internal angle IA in use, the support block may be configured to abut the first base member at an angle of (180° IA)/2 in use, and the support block may also be configured to abut the second base member at an angle of (1800 IA)/2 in use. Accordingly, the support block and first and second base members may together define an isosceles triangle when the support member is wedged into a corner of the base, the corner having the internal angle. The internal angle may be 90°.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1A shows a schematic perspective diagram of a base support according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 1 B shows a schematic cross-sectional diagram of the base support of Fig. 1A; Fig. 1C shows another schematic cross-sectional diagram of the base support of Fig. 1A; Fig. 1 D shows another schematic perspective diagram of the base support of Fig. 1A; Fig. 2 shows a plan schematic diagram of four of the base supports of Fig. 1A being used to support a base above the ground; and Fig. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional diagram of the base and one of the base supports of Fig. 2.

The schematic perspective diagram of Fig. 1A shows a rear view of a base support 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. The base support 1 comprises a square-shaped base plate 5 formed of steel, and a steel tube 10 that is mounted to the base plate 5 at one end, and extends upwardly therefrom. The steel tube 5 has a circular cross-section. The base plate 5 and steel tube 5 are galvanised to protect against corrosion, and together form an anchor portion for anchoring the base support to the ground.

The base support 1 further comprises a wooden support block 20 which is treated to prevent rotting, using known techniques. The support block 20 is an elongate wooden member having a substantially rectangular cross section. As shown in the cross-sectional diagram of Fig. 1B, which is taken along line A-A marked on Fig. 1A, the support block 20 has a back face 21 that faces towards the metal tube 10, a lower face 22 that faces downwardly towards the base plates, a front face 23 opposite the back face 21, and an upper face 24 opposite the lower face 22. The steel tube 10 constitutes a raise member for holding the support block 20 above the ground.

As shown in Fig. 1A, the support block 20 also has a first end face 26 that adjoins the faces 21 24, and a second end face 28 that also adjoins the faces 21 24, the first and second end faces being at opposite ends of the support block 20. The back face 21 adjoins the lower face 22 along a first edge 25 that runs the whole length of the support block 20 between the first and second end faces 26 and 28.

The support block 20 is provided with a rectangular steel sheet 30 that is folded over through 90 degrees along the first edge 25 of the support block 20, to lie parallel to the back face 21 and the lower face 22. The steel sheet 30 is thus considered to comprise a back plate 32 that lies over the back face 21, and a support plate 34 that lies over the lower face 22. The back plate 32 and the support plate 34 have the same length as one another, and extend substantially the whole length of the first edge 25 between the back and lower faces 21 and 22.

To prevent ingress of water and/or moisture into the wooden support block 20, a layer of damp coursing 40 is provided in between the steel sheet 30 and the support block 20, as shown in Fig. lB.

The first and second end faces 26 and 28 in this embodiment are not set perpendicular to the faces 21 24, but are angled towards one another such that they each make an internal angle of 45 degrees with the back face 21. Since the rectangular support plate 34 extends substantially the whole length of the first edge 25, and the first and second end faces 26 and 28 are angled inwardly towards one another from the back face 21, two portions of the support plate 34 extend beyond the first and second end faces, in the length direction of the support block 20. The length direction is perpendicular to the thickness of the support plate 34. These two portions that extend beyond the first and second end faces 26 and 28 are first and second support areas 36 and 38 of the support plate 34, as best shown in the schematic perspective diagram of Fig. 1 D. The schematic cross-sectional diagram of Fig. 1C is taken nearer towards an end of the support block 20, along line B-B marked on Fig. 1A. Fig. 1C shows the reduced width of the support block 20 towards the end of the support block 20, due to the angled first end face 26. The first support area 36 and the damp proof course 40 extend beyond the support block 20.

The support block 20 and L-shaped steel sheet 30 together form a support portion of the base support 1, and the support portion is connected to the anchor portion by an attachment device in the form of a steel clamp 15. The steel clamp surrounds the circumference of the steel tube 10, such that it can be positioned at a desired height and rotation with respect to the steel tube 10, and then clamped to the steel tube 10. The steel clamp is clamped to the steel tube 10 by tightening a screw 17 of the clamp within a barrel 16. Tightening the screw 17 brings two opposite sides of the clamp 15 towards one another, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Fig. 1 D shows the base support 1 with the support portion at a different rotation relative to the steel tube 10 than in Fig. 1A, so that a front view of the support portion can be seen.

The steel clamp 15 also comprises a bolt 18 that extends from an opposite side of the steel clamp 15 from where the barrel 16 is located. The bolt 18 is used as a fixing member to fix the support portion to the clamp 15. The bolt 18 extends through the back plate 32, through the support block 20, and is provided with a nut 19 that is tightened against the front face 23 of the support block 20 to compress the support block 20 and the back plate 32 between the clamp 15 and nut 19. The nut 19 is shown in Fig. 1D, and the bolt 18 is visible in the cross-sectional view of Fig. 3. The tightening of the nut 19 also serves to secure the back plate 32 to the back face 21, with the damp proofing 40 being compressed therebetween.

A use of the base support 1 will now be described with reference to the schematic diagram of Fig. 2, which shows a plan view of four of the base supports 1 when being used to support a base 100. The four base supports 1 are individually labelled asiA 1D, and the base 100 comprises a rectangular frame that is formed from four wooden base members 101 104 joined together at their corners. The four wooden base members each have a rectangular cross-section, and may be used to support additional items such as decking, garden sheds, etc. The base members 101 and 104 are joined together at a corner of the base 100, and the support block 20 of base support 1A is wedged into the corner. Since the first end face 26 of the support block 20 is perpendicular to the second end face 28 of the support block 20, and the base members 101 and 104 are perpendicular to one another, the base support 1A fits into the corner with the first end face 26 resting against the base member 101 and the second end face 28 resting against the base member 104. The corner has an internal angle of 90°, and the support block 20 makes an angle of 45° with the base member 101, and an angle of 45° degrees with the base member 104, defining an isosceles triangle.

The base member 101 is supported above the ground by resting on the support area 36 of the support plate 34, and the base member 104 is supported above the ground by resting on the support area 38 of the support plate 34. This is best seen with reference to the cross-sectional diagram of Fig. 3, which is taken along line C-C marked on Fig. 2.

The base member 101 is secured to the base support 1A by a screw 126 that is screwed through the base member 101 and into the first end face 26, and the base member 104 is secured to the base support 1A by a screw 128 that is screwed through the base member 104 and into the second end face 28.

In this embodiment the support plate 34 is held in place beneath the support block 20 by virtue of the support plate 34 being connected to the back plate 32, the back plate 32 being connected to the support body 20 by the bolt 18.

This means that only one hole needs to be made through the damp course 40, for the bolt 18. However, in alternative embodiments, the support plate 34 may be provided with bolts to connect it directly to the support block 20.

The cross-sectional diagram of Fig. 3 also shows the base plate 5 as being embedded in the ground 300. Firstly, a hole was dug into the ground 300 in the rough location where the base support 1A needed to be located. Then, a first layer of concrete 310 was added at the base of the hole to provide a substantially horizontal surface for the base plate 5 to rest upon.

Then, the base support 1A was moved within the hole, and/or the clamp 15 was rotated about the steel tube 10, to make the first and second end faces 26 and 28 rest against the base members 101 and 104 respectively. Furthermore, the clamp 15 was raised or lowered, up or down the steel tube 10, to support the base members 101 and 104 at the desired height on the first and second support areas 36 and 38 of the support plate 34.

The base member 101 was then secured to the base support 1A by screwing the screw 126 through the base member 101 and into the first end face 26. The base member 104 was then secured to the base support 1A by screwing the screw 128 through the base member 104 and into the second end face 28.

Next, a second layer of concrete 320 was added to the hole to fix the position of the base support 1A within the hole, and a thin covering of soil 330 was added on top the second layer of concrete to completely fill the hole.

Alternatively, the base supports 1A 1 D could be attached to the base members 101 104 with screws 126 128 prior to placing the base supports 1A 1 D into the ground.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment, it will be appreciated that there are many possible variations that could be made to the particular materials and structures described above without departing from the scope of the appended claims. For example, materials other than steel or wood could be used for the base support, other types of raise member besides cylindrical tubes could be used, other types of attachment devices besides clamps could be used, holes could be provided in the base plate for bolting the base plate to a solid ground surface rather than creating a hole, other support areas could be provided by the support plate to support base members against the support block depending upon the particular type of base to be supported. The base supports may be utilised at a point within a base framework where two members meet one another at 90 degrees, or meet one another at a different angle if the support block of the base support is shaped to fit the different angle.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A base support comprising a support portion for supporting a base above a ground, wherein the support portion comprises a support block and a support plate that is attached to the support block, wherein the support plate comprises at least one support area that extends beyond the support block in a direction perpendicular to a thickness of the support plate, and wherein the at least one support area is configured for supporting the base against the support block.
2. The base support of claim 1, further comprising an anchor portion for anchoring into the ground.
3. The base support of claim 2, wherein the anchor portion comprises a base plate configured to lie substantially horizontal when the base support is anchored into the ground.
4. The base support of claim 2 or 3, wherein the anchor portion comprises a raise member, and wherein the support portion is attached to the raise member, the raise member configured for holding the support portion above the ground.
5. The base support of claim 4, wherein the support portion is attached to the raise member by an attachment device.
6. The base support of claim 5, wherein the attachment device allows a position of attachment of the support portion to the raise member to be varied along a length of the raise member.
7. The base support of claim 5 or 6, wherein the attachment device enables a position of attachment of the support portion to the raise member to be varied around an axis of the raise member.
8. The base support of any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the raise member has a circular cross-section and wherein the attachment device comprises an adjustable clamp for clamping around a circumference of the raise member.
9. The base support of any preceding claim, wherein the support portion further comprises a damp proof layer between the support plate and the support block.
10. The base support of any preceding claim, wherein the support portion further comprises a back plate that is connected to the support plate, the back plate also being attached to the support block.
11. The base support of any one of claims 5 to 9, wherein the support portion further comprises a back plate that is connected to the support plate, the back plate also being attached to the support block, and wherein the attachment device further comprises a fixing member that passes through the back plate and the support block.
12. The base support of claim 10 or 11, wherein the support block comprises a back face and a lower face, wherein the back face and back plate are in parallel planes, and wherein the lower face and support plate are in parallel planes.
13. The base support of claim 10, 11, or 12, wherein the back plate and the support plate are joined to one another at an edge of the support block where the back face of the support block adjoins the lower face of the support block.
14. The base support of any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the back plate and the support plate are perpendicular to one another.
15. The base support of any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein the back plate has a length that is no longer than an overall length of the support block.
16. The base support of any one of claims 10 to 15, wherein the back plate and the support plate have the same length as one another.
17. The base support of any one of claims 10 to 16, wherein the support portion further comprises a damp proof layer between the back plate and the support block.
18. The base support of any preceding claim, wherein the support plate is formed of metal, and wherein the support block is formed of wood.
19. The base support of any preceding claim, wherein the support block comprises first and second end faces that are at opposite ends of the support block to one another, and wherein the at least one support area comprises a first support area that protrudes beyond the first end face and a second support area that protrudes beyond the second end face.
20. The base support of claim 19, wherein the first and second end faces are both perpendicular to the support plate.
21. The base support of claim 20, wherein the first and second end faces are in first and second planes respectively, and wherein the first and second planes are perpendicular to one another.
22. A system comprising the base support of any one of claims 19 to 21, and a base comprising first and second base members, wherein the first and second base members and the support portion are configured so that in use the first end face abuts against a side of the first base member with the first support area extending beneath the first base member, and the second end face abuts against a side of the second base member with the second support area extending beneath the second base member.
23. The system of claim 22, wherein the first and second base members are configured to join to one another at an internal angle IA in use, wherein the support block is configured to abut the first base member at an angle of (1800 IA)12 in use, and wherein the support block is configured to abut the second base member at an angle of (180° IA)/2 in use.
24. A base support substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.