Post Anchor Bracket

Abstract

A post anchoring bracket incorporating a first plate; a second plate overlying the first plate; a pin and eye combination interconnecting the first and second plates, such combination being adapted for facilitating rotations and counter rotations of the second plate with respect to the first plate and about a vertical rotation axis; at least a first threaded lug, travel slot, and threaded nut combination connected operatively to the first and second plates, such combination being adapted for alternatively resisting and permitting the rotations and counter-rotations of the second plate about the vertical rotation axis; at least a first post anchoring arm fixedly attached to and extending upwardly from the second plate; and at least a first pier anchoring arm fixedly attached to and extending downwardly from the first plate.

Claims

1. An anchor bracket for mounting a building structure member upon a concrete foundation member, the anchor bracket comprising: a. a first plate; b. a second plate overlying the first plate; c. rotating means interconnecting the first and second plates, said means being adapted for facilitating rotations and counter rotations of the second plate about a vertical rotation axis; d. releasable locking means connected operatively to the first plate, said means being adapted for alternatively resisting and permitting the rotations and counter-rotations of the second plate about the vertical rotation axis; e. at least a first concrete foundation anchoring arm fixedly attached to and extending downwardly from the first plate; and, f. at least a first building structure member anchoring arm fixedly attached to and extending upwardly from the second plate.

2. The anchor bracket of claim 1, wherein, the rotating means comprise at least a first a travel slot and pin combination, said combination's travel slot extending through second plate, said combination's pin being fixedly attached to and extending upwardly from the first plate.

3. The anchor bracket of claim 2, wherein, the releasable locking means comprise at least a first helically threaded lug and helically threaded nut combination, said combination's helically threaded lug being fixedly attached to the first plate, said combination's helically threaded nut being adapted for, upon tightening, bearing against the second plate.

4. The anchor bracket of claim 3, wherein, the at least fist helically threaded lug and nut combination's helically threaded lug comprises the at least first travel slot and pin combination's pin.

5. The anchor bracket of claim 4, wherein, the rotating means comprise a pivot axle and eye combination, said combination's pivot axle being fixedly attached to the first plate, and said combination's eye opening at the second plate.

6. The anchor bracket of claim 5, wherein, the at least first building structure member anchoring arm comprises a first flange, and further comprising a second flange fixedly attached to second plate, the second flange either paralleling the first flange or extending 90 degrees from the first flange.

7. The anchor bracket of claim 1, further comprising a riser fixedly attached to and extending upwardly from the second plate.

8. The anchor bracket of claim 7, wherein, the riser comprises a plurality of support walls and a first plurality of water drainage ports, each water drainage port among the first plurality of water drainage ports opening at a lower end of one of the support walls.

9. The anchor bracket of claim 8, wherein, the riser comprises a cap fitted for covering the support walls.

10. The anchor bracket of claim 9, wherein, the riser comprises a second plurality of water drainage ports, each port among the second plurality of water drainage ports opening at a lower end of the cap.

11. The anchor bracket of claim 10, wherein, the riser comprises a third plurality of water drainage ports, each port among the third plurality of water drainage ports opening at an upper end of the cap.

12. The anchor bracket of claim 1, wherein, the at least first concrete foundation anchoring arm comprises a first A plate.

13. The anchor bracket of claim 12, further comprising a second A plate fixedly attached to the first plate, the second A plate mirroring the first A plate.

14. The anchor bracket of claim 13, wherein, the first and second A plates are canted toward each other.

15. The anchor bracket of claim 14, further comprising a third plate underlying the first plate, the third plate spanning between lower ends of the first and second A plates.

16. The anchor bracket of claim 15, further comprising a concrete passage extending through the third plate.

17. The anchor bracket of claim 16, further comprising a first plurality of reinforcement flanges, each reinforcement flange extending from a side edge of one of the A plates.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the instant inventive anchor bracket.

[0014] FIG. 2 re-depicts the structure if FIG. 1, the view of FIG. 2 showing a riser cap component in exploded view.

[0015] FIG. 3 re-depicts the structure of FIGS. 1 and 2, the view of FIG. 3 showing upper components of the bracket removed.

[0016] FIG. 4 re-depicts the structure of FIG. 1, the view of FIG. 4 showing installation of the bracket within a concrete pier and showing the bracket's receipt of a wooden post.

[0017] FIG. 5 presents an alternate configuration of the structure of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2, a preferred embodiment of the instant inventive anchor bracket is referred to generally by reference arrow 1. The anchor bracket 1 comprises a first plate 2 which preferably incorporates a fixedly attached and upwardly expanding swivel pin 4, such pin preferably being cylindrical and being positioned substantially centrally on the plate 2. A vertical axis of the swivel pin 4 preferably aligns with the bracket's vertical rotation axis shown by dashed line 6.

[0019] Referring further to FIG. 3, helically threaded pins or lugs 8 and 12 preferably extend upwardly from the upper surface of the first plate 2. Such pins or lugs 8 and 12 may suitably be fixedly welded to the plate 2 with their lower ends anchored within circular eyes or apertures 10 and 14. In a suitable though less preferred embodiment, such pins or lugs 8 and 12 may comprise helically threaded shafts of hexagonal headed bolts, such shafts slidably extending upwardly through apertures 10 and 14. In such configuration, enlarged heads of such bolts (not depicted within views) may bear against the undersurface of the plate 2 to restrict upward movements of the pins lugs 8 and 12 beyond apertures 10 and 14.

[0020] A further structural component of the instant inventive bracket comprises a second plate 16 which abuts and vertically overlies the first plate 2. Such second plate 16 suitably includes or presents a triple of apertures 18, 20, and 22. In the depicted preferred embodiment, apertures 18 and 20 are configured as elongated and curved slots having a radiuses of curvature about swivel pin 4 and about rotation axis 6. The radial widths of such slots 18 and 20 are preferably slightly greater than the diameters of pins 8 and 12 to facilitate the pins' extensions through and travels along such slots.

[0021] Referring in particular to FIG. 2, the third aperture 22 among the triple of apertures 18, 20, and 22 is suitably configured as a circular eye, such eye 22 being fitted for receipt of an upward extension of swivel pin 4. In the preferred embodiment, the lip or inner wall of aperture 22 is closely fitted to the radially outer periphery of the swivel pin 4, such fitting allowing the aperture's wall to function as a rotary bearing.

[0022] Upon a downward placement of the second plate 16 upon the upper surface of the first plate 2, pins 8 and 12 may extend upwardly through the travel slots 18 and 20, and the swivel pin 4 may simultaneously extend upwardly through eye 22. Thereafter, the second plate 16 may slidably rotate and counter rotate about vertical axis 6, such rotations being angularly limited by the clockwise and counterclockwise ends of slots 18 and 20.

[0023] The bracket's pin and travel slot combinations 8, 18 and 12, 20 constitute and operatively function as rotating means components of the invention, and the swivel pin 4 and eye 22 combination constitutes an additional or alternative rotating means component. While both of such rotating means are preferably incorporated within the anchor bracket, either of such combinations may suitably function alone as the invention's rotating means.

[0024] The instant inventive anchor bracket 1 preferably further comprises releasable locking means which are connected operatively to the first plate 2, such means being adapted for alternatively resisting and permitting rotations and counter rotations of the second plate 16 about the vertical rotation axis 6. As depicted in the FIGS. 1-3 embodiment, the releasable locking means suitably comprise external helical threads extending about the lugs or pins 8 and 12 in combination with internally helically threaded nuts 54 and 58 and washers 56 and 60. Upon rotary positioning of the second plate 16 at desired angular orientation with respect to the first plate 2, washers 56 and 60 may be placed over the helically threaded pins 8 and 12. Thereafter, nuts 54 and 58 may threadedly engage the pins 8 and 12. Upon screw turning and tightening of such nuts, the washers 56 and 58 forcefully engage the upper surface of the second plate 16 at the peripheries of the travel slots 18 and 20 in the manner of clamping jaws. Such washer engagements securely hold the second plate 16 downwardly against the upper surface of the first plate 2. Tightening of the nuts 54 and 58 effects a frictional attachment of the second plate 16 to the first plate 2 allowing the plates to advantageously function together as a single plate.

[0025] Loosening of nuts 54 and 58 alternatively releases the second plate 16 for rotary readjustment and reorientation, and retightening of the nuts may fix the second plate 16 at a newly selected rotary orientation.

[0026] During tightening, rotating, and loosening, operations applied to the nuts 54 and 58, the bracket's swivel pin 4 and eye 22 combination rotating means advantageously holds the second plate 16 at a substantially central location upon the upper surface of the first plate 2.

[0027] At least a first building structure member anchoring arm 42 is preferably fixedly attached to and extends upwardly from the second plate 16, and a second rendition of such arm 48 is preferably provided. In the preferred embodiment, such arms are configured as flanges. Lower ends of such flange configured arms 42 and 48 are preferably fixedly welded to the second plate 16, and stabilizing gusset plates 44 and 58 are preferably provided to lend vertical rigidity to the arms. The flange configured building structure anchoring arms 42 and 48 preferably include fastener apertures 46 and 52 for receipt of, referring further simultaneously to FIG. 4, mounting screws 96.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 3, the instant inventive anchoring bracket comprises at least a first concrete foundation anchoring arm which is referred to generally by reference arrow 62, and in the preferred embodiment the inventive bracket further comprises a second and mirroring rendition 74 of arm 62. Each of the concrete anchoring arms 62 and 74 is preferably configured, as depicted, in the form of an inverted A plate, the A configuration of the first concrete anchoring arm 62 comprising legs 64 and 66 and a cross bar 68, and the A configuration of the second rendition 74 of such arm comprising legs 76 and 78 and cross bar 80. The A configurations of the first and second arms or plates 62 and 74 preferably further incorporate reinforcement flanges 70, 72 and 82, 84.

[0029] Each of the A plate configured concrete foundation anchoring arms 62 and 74 may be advantageously fabricated through application of a plasma cutter to sheet steel. Fabrication of such arms may include formation of the plates' reinforcement flanges 70, 72, 78, and 82 by working the lateral edges of A configured sheet steel blanks within a press break machine.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 3, each of the A plate configured concrete foundation anchoring arms 62 and 74 is angled or canted inwardly toward rotation axis 6. To hold the plates 62 and 74 at their inwardly canted configurations, their lower ends of such plates are preferably rigidly interconnected by a lower plate or third plate 86. Such third plate 86 preferably includes an enlarged concrete passage or port 88 which allows the liquid concrete to easily pass upwardly and into the interior spaces defined between the plates 62 and 74.

[0031] In use of the instant inventive anchor bracket 1, and referring simultaneously to FIGS. 1-4, an operator may initially pour within a cylindrical concrete form (not depicted within views) or within a cylindrical pit a concrete foundation 90. The concrete foundation of FIG. 4 constitutes a cylindrical pier for the sake of example. The concrete foundation may alternatively comprise a poured concrete slab or a poured concrete wall.

[0032] Prior to hardening of such concrete foundation 90, the operator may grasp the lower weldment portion of the bracket represented by drawing FIG. 3, and may drive such portion downwardly against and into the liquid concrete volume of the foundation 90. During such downward driving action, concrete flows through opening 88, and flows inwardly through the arm openings defined by the A legs of plates 62 and 74, the inwardly canted orientations of plates 62 and 74 assisting such inward flows. Upon complete downward extension of plates 62 and 74, as depicted in FIG. 4, the lower surface of the first plate 2 preferably securely rests against an abuts the horizontal upper surface 92 of the concrete foundation 90.

[0033] Thereafter, the second plate 16 may be placed downwardly over the first plate 2 so that the helically threaded pins or lugs 8 and 12 extend upwardly through curved travel slots 18 and 20, and so that, referring further simultaneously to FIG. 2, the swivel pin 4 extends upwardly through eye 22. Following such plate placement, washers 56 and 58 may be placed over pins 8 and 12, and nuts 54 and 58 may be threadedly engaged with such pins. Thereafter a cap component 34 a riser 3 component may be placed over walls 24, 26, 28, the functions of which are further described below.

[0034] Following setting and hardening of the matrix of the concrete foundation 90, a wooden post 94 may be downwardly extended between flanges 42 and 48, causing the lower end of the post 94 to bear against and be supported by the upper surface of the riser 3. The wooden post 94 is intended as being representative of other building structure members which may be supported by the inventive bracket, such as floor joists. Following placement of the post 94, the screw fasteners 96 may be extended horizontally through fastener receiving eyes 46 and 56 of flanges 42 and 48, such fastener extensions securely mounting and attaching the lower end of the post 94 between flanges 42 and 48.

[0035] The post 94 may then be rotated or counter-rotated to a correct and precisely aligned orientation with respect to the pier 90 and with respect to a roof line, wall or floor joist of the building. Thereafter, the nuts 54 and 58 may be tightened to finally secure and fix the post 94 at the selected rotary orientation.

[0036] Referring to drawing FIGS. 1-4, the instant inventive anchoring bracket preferably comprises the riser 3 which comprises a plurality of peripheral walls 24 which are fixedly welded to and extend upwardly from the second plate 16, the riser 3 further comprising X configured support walls 26 and 28. Such X configured support walls 26 and 28 are preferably similarly fixedly welded to plate 16. Central portions of the lower ends of the support walls 26 and 28 are preferably slotted to provide clearance for the upward extension of the swivel pin 4. Such walls are preferably further slotted and to form lower water passages 32. Peripheral or outer ends of the walls 24, 26, and 28 are preferably spaced to form further water passage ports 30. Tab and slot welding assembly guides (not depicted within views) may be provided at the interfaces of the second plate 16 with flanges 42 and 48, with gussets 44 and 50, with peripheral walls 24, and with support walls 26 and 28.

[0037] The inventive bracket's riser 3 preferably further comprises a cap 34 having peripheral walls 36 which are positioned and fitted to allow the cap 34 to nestingly receive and cover walls 24, 26, and 28. The ends of the sidewalls 36 at the corners of the cap 3 are preferably spaced apart to form water passage ports 38, and the upper end or ceiling of the cap 34 preferably presents additional water passage ports 40. Water passage ports 30 and 32 formed at the lower ends of walls 24, 26, 28 are considered to constitute a first plurality of water passage ports component of the riser 3. The ports or gaps 38 formed by the side walls 36 of the cap 34 are considered to constitute a second plurality of water passage ports component of the riser 3. The circular ports 40 formed within the ceiling or upper end 34 of the cap 3 are considered to constitute a third plurality of water passage ports.

[0038] Water present at the lower end of the post 94 may advantageously flow downwardly through cap ports 40, and into the riser's interior space. Such water may then flow along the upper surface of the second plate 16, passing beneath walls 24, 26, and 28 through water passage ports 32. The water may then drain and flow outwardly through ports 30 and 38 which are formed at the corners of the riser 3. The X configured support walls 26 and 28 of the riser 3 securely support the post 94 while ports 30, 32, and 36 prevent accumulations of water at the post's lower end, advantageously protecting the base of the post from water rot.

[0039] Referring simultaneously to all figures, all structures identified in FIG. 5 by a reference numeral having a suffix A are configured substantially identically with similarly numbered structures appearing in FIGS. 1-4. The anchor bracket of FIGS. 1-4 is ideally utilized for support of the lower ends of mid-wall structural posts of a building, or for support horizontally extending floor joists. The alternative configuration of FIG. 5 may be advantageously utilized to support a building's corner post.

[0040] In the alternative configuration of FIG. 5, flanges 100 and 102 having fastener receiving eyes 102 and 106 are oriented at 90-degree angles with respect to each other. Also, in the FIG. 5 configuration, arcuately curved travel slots 108 and 110 extend through plate 16A at 90-degree angles from each other, and are positioned immediately outside of flanges 100 and 102.

[0041] While the principles of the invention have been made clear in the above illustrative embodiment, those skilled in the art may make modifications to the structure, arrangement, portions and components of the invention without departing from those principles. Accordingly, it is intended that the description and drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in the limiting sense, and that the invention be given a scope commensurate with the appended claims.