US3788335A

US3788335A - Anchor means for portable building structure

Info

Publication number: US3788335A
Application number: US00197094A
Authority: US
Inventors: R Hemmelsbach
Original assignee: SPACE AGE IND Inc
Current assignee: SPACE AGE IND Inc
Priority date: 1971-11-09
Filing date: 1971-11-09
Publication date: 1974-01-29
Anticipated expiration: 1991-01-29

Abstract

A building construction having a geodetic type metal frame and a cover of flexible plastic sheet material, the frame and the cover both being secured to the ground through an elongated plate and anchor rods which are driven through the plate in close relationship therewith into the ground at an angle to the vertical. One group of anchor rods is secured to the lower end of the frame members and another group of anchor rods is secured to the lower end of the cover through an adjustable resilient biasing means which permits expansion and contraction of the cover with temperature changes while maintaining tension on the cover. The elongated plate is formed by angle iron and inverted with the first group of anchor rods driven through one side of the plate and the second group of anchor rods driven through the other side of the plate so that the rods are crossed with respect to each other. The anchor rods bear against the elongated plate so that the plurality of anchor rods hold the plate down tightly to the ground.

Description

United States Patent 91 Hemmelsbach Jan. 29, 1974 [75] Inventor: Richard J. Hemmelsbach, Spring Lake, Mich.

[73] Assignee: Space Age Industries, Inc., West Olive, Mich.

[22] Filed: Nov. 9, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 197,094

[52] U.S. Cl. 135/1 R, 52/63 [51 Int. Cl E04b 1/347 [58] Field of Search... 135/1 R, 3 R, 15 P0, 15 PE;

Primary ExaminerPeter M. Caun Attorney, Agent, or Firm-McGarry & Waters ABSTRACT A building construction having a geodetic type metal frame and a cover of flexible plastic sheet material, the frame and the cover both being secured to the ground through an elongated plate and anchor rods which are driven through the plate in close relationship therewith into the ground at an angle to the vertical. One group of anchor rods is secured to the lower end of the frame members and another group of anchor rods is secured to the lower end of the cover through an adjustable resilient biasing means which permits expansion and contraction of the cover with temperature changes while maintaining tension on the cover. The elongated plate is formed by angle iron and inverted with the first group of anchor rods driven through one side of the plate and the second group of anchor rods driven through the other side of the plate so that the rods are crossed with respect to each other. The anchor rods bear against the elongated plate so that the plurality of anchor rods hold the plate down tightly to the ground.

11 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures ANCHOR MEANS FOR PORTABLE BUILDING STRUCTURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to building structures. In one of its aspects, the invention relates to metal frame building structures having improved means for anchoring metal frame members and plastic cover members to the ground. In another of its aspects, the invention relates to a building structure having a geodetic metal frame and a plastic cover with improved means for anchoring the plastic cover.

2. State of the Prior Art A relatively new development in building structures employs a geodetic metal framework and a cover of a thick, but flexible, sheet of plastic material such as polyvinylchloride. Such structures have been used for swimming pool enclosures, farm storage buildings, garages and the like. These building structures are economically attractive and are relatively portable, minimizing construction time and labor.

Heretofore, the buildings have been anchored by securing frame members and covers to eye bolts which have been set to concrete. For this purpose, the covers have at the ground level sleeves or slings through which a rod passes. The rod also passes through the eye bolts which extend into the sleeves through openings therein.

The cement base is very satisfactory but is costly and time consuming for some installations. In many instances, a truly portable building is desired with the building positioned on bare earth without a cement base. In these installations, helieally shaped augers have been used to anchor the frame members and the covers to the ground. The augers are screwed vertically into the ground along parallel lines, one line of augers anchoring the frame members and another line of augers anchoring the covers. The augers have eyes at the top portions thereof for securing the frame members and the covers in the same manner as the eye bolts which are set into cement. It has been found that due to human error, ground rock and the like, it is virtually impossible to place the augers in the ground in a truly straight line. Some of the augers go astray during the process of placing them in the ground with the result that the top portions are out of line. The frame members must be bent out of line in securing the frame to the augers to accomodate the auger misalignment, the bending resulting in some undesirable stress on the frame members. Further, the frame members are usually assembled completely before the frame is anchored to the ground. The process of anchoring these frame members to the augers may require movement of the frame members and corresponding stress or movement of the augers. The tops of the augers have a certain amount of flexibility and movement of the frame members during anchoring may tend to loosen the augers in certain types of soils.

The cover attachment is less critical but misalignment of the auger results in difficulty in getting the rod through the eyes of the auger top portions. The system for anchoring the cover to the ground as well as to cement presents still further problems. The cover expands and contracts with temperature changes. Over a period of time, the cover was subject to stretching during colder periods and thereby developing stress points at which tears can develop more easily. Further, the stretched cover was subject to undesirable sagging when it expanded during warm weather. The sagging cover was not only aesthetically upappealing but provided slack for flapping by the wind. The flapping promotes deterioration of the cover.

BRIEF STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, an improved anchoring system is provided for building structures in which structural frame members are secured together to form an exterior supporting framework and a cover of flexible plastic sheet material extends over the framework. The improved anchoring system comprises a rigid elongated plate extending along at least one edge of the building, a first anchor means extending through the elongated plate into the ground and engaging the elongated plate to restrain movement of the plate with respect to the first anchoring means. The first anchor means comprise, for example, a plurality of rods which project through the elongated plate along its length. The framework is secured to the first anchor means. A second anchor means extends through the elongated plate into the ground and at an angle with respect to the first anchor means, the second anchor means engaging the elongated plate to restrain movement of the plate with respect to the second anchor means. The second anchor means also comprise a plurality of rods which prject through the elongated plate at spaced points along the length thereof different from the first anchor means rods. A bottom portion of the cover is secured to the second anchor means. The first and second anchor means are thus coupled together by the elongated plate. Holes providing close tolerance between the anchor means rods and the elongated plate are provided as a guide for the rods. The elongated plate provides not only a guide so that each of the anchor means can be aligned along a predetermined straight line, but also provides a means of interlocking each of the anchor means rods to each other so that each is held by each other and by the ground.

Preferably, the first and second anchor means are crossed with respect to the other with both anchor means being positioned at an acute angle to the verti cal. Further, the elongated plate is desirably angularly shaped providing a peak and two sloping legs, with one anchor means extending through each of the sloping legs.

Still further according to the invention, the cover is secured to an anchor means through a resilient biasing means to permit expansion and contraction of the cover with respect to the anchor means. The spring is secured to the bottom portion of the cover through a rigid adjustable member, such as a chain, so that the tension of the spring can be adjusted to compensate for differences between anchor means and the cover attaching means. The tensioning means permits the cover to expand and contract without stretching or developing slack of the cover.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a building having an anchoring system according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial view along the lines 22 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a side view seen along lines 33 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated a building 12 having a covering 14 of a flexible plastic sheet material such as polyvinyl chloride. The building 12 has an end 16 with a door 18 therein. In FIG. 1, the plastic cover is partially broken away to illustrate a geodetic framework or tubular metal members 20 which support the cover.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the cover 14 extends down to the level of the ground 26 terminating in an outwardly extending runoff flap 22. Crushed stone 24 is positioned on top of the runoff flap 22 to hold the flap in position. A sling 28 of vinyl material is heat sealed together and to the inside surface of the cover 14 at a bottom portion thereof but spaced upwardly from the level of the ground 26. The sling 28 extends along the entire length of the side walls of the building and is substantially parallel to the level of the ground 26. A rod 32 is carried by the sling 28. A plurality of openings are provided at spaced locations along the bottom of the sling 28 for exposure of the rod 32.

An L-shaped elongated ground plate 34 is positioned within the wall of the building and runs along the entire length of the sides of the building adjacent the bottom of the cover 14. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the ground plate 34 is spaced slightly inwardly of the cover 14. A plurality of holes 36 are provided on each downwardly sloping leg of the ground plate 34 to receive

anchor rods

38 and 48. Anchor rod 38 extends through the holes 36 in the legs of the ground plate 34 adjacent the cover 14 and well into the ground 26. The anchor rod 38 is substantially perpendicular to the leg of the plate 34 and at an angle to the vertical. A hook portion 40 at the top of the anchor rod 38 is positioned tightly against the leg of the ground plate 34. The

anchor rods

38 and 48 have a straight lower shaft which is driven straight into the ground, the movement of the shafts being guided by the holes in the elongated plate 34. The anchor rods have a diameter very close to that of the holes so that when the rods are driven down tightly against the elongated plate 34, the anchor rods engage the plate 34, eliminating movement of the plate 34 with respect to the

anchor rods

38 and 48. The anchor rods 38 are spaced along the entire length of the plate 34 at regular intervals such as, for example, two feet.

A tension spring 42 has a hook at one end which engages the hook portion 40 of anchor rod 38 and a hook at the other end which engages a chain 44. An S hook 46 supports the chain and engages the rod 32. The cover 42 is thus anchored to the ground through anchor rod 38. tension adjuster 42., chain 44, and rod 32. The tension adjuster 42 provides a resilient biasing for the cover to permit expansion and contraction of the plastic cover with temperature changes. The chain 44 permits an adjustment to be made between the sling 28 and the level of the ground 26 in the event that the ground is not completely flat or in the event that there are some minor differences in the height of the sling 28 above the cover 14.

The metal framework which supports the cover comprises a plurality of metal rods 20 which have flattened end portions 52. These flattened end portions have holes (not shown) therethrough and are brought together. Bolts extend through the holes in the flattened end portions to hold the frame together. At the bottom of the structure, the rods are brought together and bolted together through a bolt 54 and nut 56. The anchor rod 48 is similar or identical in construction with the anchor rod 38 and has a hook portion 50 at the top thereof fof receiving the bolt 84. A plurality of anchor rods 48 are provided along the side of the building to extend through the holes 36 in the inside leg of the ground plate 34 for securing the ends of the tubular members 20. The anchor rods 48 are spaced along the plate 34 at regular intervals of, for example, two feet. The anchor rods 48, however, are staggered with respect to the anchor rods 38. In like fashion to the anchor rods 38, the anchor rods 48 are driven straight into the ground at an angle to the vertical and substantially perpendicular to the inside sloping leg through which it extends. In FIG. 2, a portion of the earth is broken away to show the crossed relationship of the two groups of anchor rods. Normally, the anchor rods 48 are driven down so that the hook portion 50 abuts the elongated plate 34 for engaging the elongated plate.

Whereas the ground plate 34 has been described as an L-shaped angle iron plate with holes in each side, the plate can take other form so long as it provides separate means for engaging anchoring rods which can be driven into the ground at different angles to each other. The ground plate can be sectionally placed along the ground or can be one continuous piece along the entire Side of the building.

The invention described above provides a simple, effective, yet rapidly assembled anchoring means for a portable building structure of the type in which a flexible plastic sheet material is used to cover a geodetic type of frame. The linearity of the anchoring system for the building is assured by the use of the ground plate 34. The ground plate provides holes of close tolerance for the anchor rods which are driven into the ground. The close tolerances between the anchor rods and the ground plate, and the crossed relationship between the

anchor rods

38 and 48 securely and firmly fix the plate 34 to the ground. Further, because of the close tolerances between the anchor rods and the plate 34, each anchor rod is securely held in place by the other anchor rods through the ground plate 34. Thus, during the process of securing the bottom of the frame members to the anchor rods 48, the anchor rods cannot be moved or loosened in the soil.

Still further, the anchoring system for the cover provides a strong yet flexible anchoring system for the cover. The cover is held against upward movement not only by the anchor rods to which it is attached but also by the weight of the frame and the retantive force of anchor rods 48 through the ground plate 34. Thus, the cover is very securely fixed to the ground. Yet, the spring 42 tensions the cover so that it can expand and contract with changes in temperature without undesirable stretching or development of slack. The chain 44 provides a means for adjusting the distance between the anchoring means for the cover and the attachment. Thus, if the ground level varies somewhat, or the sling 28 is not evenly positioned from the bottom of the cover, this difference can be taken up by the chain 44. This tensioning system for the cover functions especially well with the portable units which are fixed directly to the ground. However, the same tensioning unit can also be employed with other anchoring systems in which the building is anchored to a cement base.

The description of the invention has been with reference to a building which has been placed directly onto the ground. This system is also adaptable to be used with other similar types of soft surfaces, including asphalt, gravel, etc.

Reasonable variation and modification are possible within the scope of the foregoing disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows.

1. In a building construction in which slructural frame members are secured together to form a supporting framework, a cover of flexible plastic sheet material extends over said framework, and means secure said cover and said exterior framework to the ground, the improvement in said securing means comprising:

a rigid elongated plate extending along at least one edge of said building inside said cover, said plate having a first series of spaced aligned holes and a second series of spaced aligned holes, said second series being laterally offset from said first series of said spaced holes;

first anchor means extending through said first series of holes into the ground, said first anchor means engaging said elongated plate to restrain movement of said elongated plate with respect to said first anchor means;

means securing said framework to said first anchor means;

second anchor means extending through said second series of holes into the ground and at an angle with respect to said first anchor means; said second anchor means also engaging said elongated plate to restrain movement of said plate with respect to said second anchor means; and

means securing a bottom portion of said cover to said second anchor means; whereby said cover and said framework are securely anchored to the ground and are linked together through said elongated plate.

2. A building construction according to claim 1 wherein said first and second anchor means are crossed with respect to each other.

3. A building construction according to claim 2 wherein said second anchor means is at an acute angle with respect to the vertical.

4. A building construction according to claim 3 wherein said first anchor means is at an angle with respect to the vertical.

5. A building construction according to claim 2 wherein said first and second anchor means are substantially perpendicular to each other and each of said first and second anchor means is at an acute angle with respect to the vertical.

6. A building construction according to claim 1 wherein said second anchor means is at an acute angle with respect to the vertical.

7. A building construction according to claim 1 wherein said cover securing means comprises a resilient biasing member to permit expansion and contraction of said cover with respect to said anchor means.

8. A building construction according to claim 7 wherein said cover securing means further comprises a rigid extendable connection fixed to said biasing means to adjust the tension of said biasing means and to compensate for variations in distances between cover portions and said second anchor means.

9. In a building construction in which structural frame members are secured together to form a supporting framework, a cover of flexible plastic sheet material extends over said framework, and means secure said cover and said exterior framework to the ground, the improvement in said securing means comprising:

a rigid elongated plate extending along at least one edge of said building inside said cover, a raised central portion and sloping first and second elongated side portions which are angularly disposed with respect to each other; each of said elongated side portions having a series of spaced aligned holes;

first anchor means extending through a series of holes in said first elongated side portion of said elongated plate into the ground, said first anchor means engaging said elongated plate to restrain movement of said elongated plate with respect to said first anchor means;

means secruing said framework to said first anchor means;

second anchor means extending through another series of holes in said second elongated side portion of said elongated plate into the ground and at an angle with respect to said first anchor means; said second anchor means also engaging said elongated plate to restrain movement of said plate with respect to said second anchor means;

said first and second anchor means being substantially perpendicular to each other and each of said first and second anchor means being at an acute angle to the vertical; and 7 means securing a bottom portion of said cover to said second anchor means; whereby said cover and said framework are securely anchored to the ground and are linked together through said elongated plate.

10. A building construction according to claim 9 wherein said first anchor means is substantially perpendicular to said first elongated side portion and said second anchor means is substantially perpendicular to said second elongated side portion.

11. A building construction according to claim 10 wherein said first and second anchor portions comprise a plurality of linear rods with hook shaped top portions.

Claims

1. In a building construction in which slructural frame members are secured together to form a supporting framework, a cover of flexible plastic sheet material extends over said framework, and means secure said cover and sAid exterior framework to the ground, the improvement in said securing means comprising: a rigid elongated plate extending along at least one edge of said building inside said cover, said plate having a first series of spaced aligned holes and a second series of spaced aligned holes, said second series being laterally offset from said first series of said spaced holes; first anchor means extending through said first series of holes into the ground, said first anchor means engaging said elongated plate to restrain movement of said elongated plate with respect to said first anchor means; means securing said framework to said first anchor means; second anchor means extending through said second series of holes into the ground and at an angle with respect to said first anchor means; said second anchor means also engaging said elongated plate to restrain movement of said plate with respect to said second anchor means; and means securing a bottom portion of said cover to said second anchor means; whereby said cover and said framework are securely anchored to the ground and are linked together through said elongated plate.

9. In a building construction in which structural frame members are secured together to form a supporting framework, a cover of flexible plastic sheet material extends over said framework, and means secure said cover and said exterior framework to the ground, the improvement in said securing means comprising: a rigid elongated plate extending along at least one edge of said building inside said cover, a raised central portion and sloping first and second elongated side portions which are angularly disposed with respect to each other; each of said elongated side portions having a series of spaced aligned holes; first anchor means extending through a series of holes in said first elongated side portion of said elongated plate into the ground, said first anchor means engaging said elongated plate to restrain movement of said elongated plate with respect to said first anchor means; means secruing said framework to said first anchor means; second anchor means extending through another series of holes in said second elongated side portion of said elongated plate into the ground and at an angle with respect to said first anchor means; said second anchor means also engaging said elongated plate to restrain movement of said plate with respect to said second anchor means; said first and second anchor means being substantially perpendicular to each other and each of said first and second anchor means being at an acute angle to the vertical; and means securing a bottom portion of said cover to said second anchor means; whereby said cover and said framework are sEcurely anchored to the ground and are linked together through said elongated plate.