Abstract
A post anchoring support device comprising a ground anchor having a shaft with a threaded upper portion terminating in an upper end that may be engaged and rotated by a drive tool for rotating the shaft about a vertical axis, and a lower portion for insertion into the ground, and a post receiving bracket having a base with an elongate aperture adapted to receive the externally threaded portion of the shaft, a support portion defining a support surface for abutting the end of the post, vertical planar walls extending above the support surface, each planar wall having an inside surface for abutting a side of the post, and each planar wall defining a plurality of vertically oriented elongate holes and having a raised portion on the outside surface adjacent each elongate hole adapted to abut a lower surface of a head of a fastener passing through the elongate hole and into the post to allow the fastener to travel within the elongate hole upon the application of a vertically force to the post anchoring support device sufficient to overcome a coefficient of friction between the head of the fastener and the raised portion.
Claims
1. A post or beam anchoring support device for anchoring an end of a support post or beam of a deck or similar construction to the ground, the anchoring support device comprising: a ground anchor having a shaft with a lower portion and an upper portion, the upper portion having an externally threaded portion and terminating in an upper end having at least one planar vertical wall for enabling the upper end to being engaged and rotated by a drive tool for rotating the shaft about a vertical axis, the lower portion having a lower end for insertion into the ground and at least one helical blade circumscribing the shaft above the lower end for boring the lower portion into the ground as the shaft is rotated about the vertical axis; a post receiving bracket having a base with an elongate aperture adapted to receive the externally threaded portion of the shaft and enable lateral movement of the threaded portion within the elongate aperture, a support portion defining a support surface for abutting the end of the post, the support surface being located vertically on the receiving bracket to be above the upper end of the shaft when the anchoring support device is in an operable configuration, at least two vertical planar walls extending above the support surface, each planar wall having an inside surface for abutting a vertical side of the post and an outside surface, and each planar wall defining a plurality of vertically oriented elongate holes; and a threaded nut for engaging the externally threaded portion of the shaft and securing the post receiving bracket to the ground anchor.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the support portion comprises a first and second horizontal platforms and a recessed platform in between the first and second horizontal platforms, the recessed platform defining the elongate aperture therein to accommodate the shaft, wherein the recessed platform is positioned below the first and second horizontal platforms by a distance sufficient to provide clearance between the upper end of the shaft and first and second horizontal platforms when the post receiving bracket is connected to the external threaded portion of the ground anchor.
3. The device of claim 1 further comprising a raised portion on the outside surface adjacent each elongate hole adapted to abut a lower surface of a head of a fastener passing through the elongate hole and into the post to allow the fastener to travel within the elongate hole upon the application of a vertical force to the post anchoring support device sufficient to overcome a coefficient of friction between the head of the fastener and the raised portion.
4. The device of claim 1 further comprising a horizontal plate member adapted to being received about the shaft of the ground anchor, sandwiched between the ground and the base of the post receiving bracket when the ground anchor has been driven into the ground and the post receiving bracket is connected to the external threaded portion of the ground anchor.
5. The device of claim 4 further comprising a second hole on the horizontal plate dimensioned to accommodate the shaft, a circumferential platform on the upper portion of the shaft below the externally threaded portion for abutting a bottom surface of the horizontal plate about the second hole, and a second nut complementary to the externally threaded portion for engaging an upper surface of the horizontal plate about the second hole and securing the horizontal plate against the circumferential platform.
6. The device of claim 3 wherein the support portion comprises a first and second horizontal platforms and a recessed platform in between the first and second horizontal platforms, the recessed platform defining the elongate aperture therein to accommodate the shaft, wherein the recessed platform is positioned below the first and second horizontal platforms by a distance sufficient to provide clearance between the upper end of the shaft and first and second horizontal platforms when the post receiving bracket is connected to the external threaded portion of the ground anchor.
7. The device of claim 3 wherein each raised portion comprises a narrow edge portion of highest elevation adjacent the elongate hole for abutting the lower surface of the head of the fastener, and tapers in elevation away from the elongate hole.
8. The device of claim 2 further comprising a horizontal plate member adapted to being received about the shaft of the ground anchor, sandwiched between the ground and the base of the post receiving bracket when the ground anchor has been driven into the ground and the post receiving bracket is connected to the external threaded portion of the ground anchor.
9. The device of claim 8 further comprising a second hole on the horizontal plate dimensioned to accommodate the shaft, a circumferential platform on the upper portion of the shaft below the externally threaded portion for abutting a bottom surface of the horizontal plate about the second hole, and a second nut complementary to the externally threaded portion for engaging an upper surface of the horizontal plate about the second hole and securing the horizontal plate against the circumferential platform.
10. The device of claim 6 further comprising a horizontal plate member adapted to being received about the shaft of the ground anchor, sandwiched between the ground and the base of the post receiving bracket when the ground anchor has been driven into the ground and the post receiving bracket is connected to the external threaded portion of the ground anchor.
11. The device of claim 10 further comprising a second hole on the horizontal plate dimensioned to accommodate the shaft, a circumferential platform on the upper portion of the shaft below the externally threaded portion for abutting a bottom surface of the horizontal plate about the second hole, and a second nut complementary to the externally threaded portion for engaging an upper surface of the horizontal plate about the second hole and securing the horizontal plate against the circumferential platform.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
(1) For a better understanding of the present invention and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference is made by way of example to the accompanying drawings in which:
(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the complete device of one embodiment including a ground anchoring auger rod, load plate and post bracket;
(3) FIG. 2 is a top down view of the load plate showing the center aperture and the folded corner and sides of the plate generally defining a convex upper surface;
(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the auger rod showing the at least one helix, the stop washer, threaded rod and hex shaped terminus;
(5) FIG. 3A is a perspective close up view of the threaded rod, nut and hex shaped terminus of the auger rod;
(6) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the post receiving bracket showing the vertical sides and the vertically elongated fastener holes with outwardly embossed region circumscribing the holes;
(7) FIG. 5 is a section view of the post bracket showing the vertical side of the bracket and a cross sectional view of the middle;
(8) FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the ground anchoring auger rod with load distribution plate and the post receiving bracket;
(9) FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the post receiving bracket with a post secured by a screw where the post is fully seated and the screw is set in the lowest position in the elongated aperture;
(10) FIG. 8 is another side view cross sectional view of the post receiving bracket with a post secured by a screw where the post is risen within the bracket as would occur with upward forces from the attached beam and the screw has moved upward along the elongated aperture permitting post movement;
(11) FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the device when installed on the ground and with the post in its lowest flush position;
(12) FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the device when installed on the ground and with the post in its highest position;
(13) FIG. 11 is a side view of a plurality of devices supporting a common beam and depicts the ground or soil conditions which are disposed to risk of uneven movement or expansion in freezing environmental conditions;
(14) FIG. 12 is another side view of a plurality of devices supporting a common beam and depicts the ground or soil movement during freezing conditions and how the device absorbs uneven forces;
(15) FIG. 12A is a close up side view of the middle device of FIG. 12;
(16) FIG. 13 is a close up side view of the threaded rod, nut and hex shaped terminus of the auger rod shown with a portion of the load distribution plate received on the threaded portion;
(17) FIG. 14 is a close up side view of the threaded rod, nut and hex shaped terminus of the auger rod shown with a portion of the load distribution plate received on the threaded portion;
(18) FIG. 15 is a perspective view from the top of another embodiment of the post bracket showing an elongated aperture for the hexagon head of the rod to pass through and a deeper cavity without a nut welded to the underside of the lower surface;
(19) FIG. 16 is a perspective view from the top of the post bracket in FIG. 15 shown as transparent to reveal the underlying structure;
(20) FIG. 17 is a cross sectional view of the ground anchoring auger rod with load distribution plate and the embodiment of the post receiving bracket shown in FIG. 15;
(21) FIG. 18 is a top plan view of a plurality of the assembled devices, having the post brackets of FIG. 15, as they may appear in the field ready to accept a common beam and the range of positions of the post bracket relative to the load plate are depicted; and
(22) FIG. 19 is a top view of a plurality of the assembled devices, having the post brackets of FIG. 15, as they may appear in the field once a common beam is set in place while showing how the plates may be imperfectly aligned relative to one another.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(23) For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive features herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention.
(24) Referring to FIGS. 1-10, there is depicted an embodiment of post anchoring support device 1 in accordance with the present invention. The post anchoring support device comprises a post receiving bracket 2 that permits placement of a post 4 set inside the inner cavity of said device, said cavity defined by at least two opposing and upwardly standing walls or flanges 5 rising from a base and first common horizontal planar surface 6 which said post 4 would rest downward upon, to be connected to the upward flanges 5 by screws 10 passing through vertical aligned and elongated holes 8 of the flanges, said flanges are further defined by a raised portion or embossed region 9 circumscribing the elongate holes 8 in an upwardly sloping direction and away from the outside planar surface 11 of the flange such that when a screw 10 is driven into the post the underside of the screw head rests at the first point of surface contact with the elevated or embossed edges of the holes; said embossed surface slopes from its highest elevation downwards toward the greater planar surface 11 of the flange at an approximate 45 degree angle so as to direct the compression force of the screw as far away from the penetration point and over as large a surface area as possible.
(25) FIGS. 7, 8 show the elongated embossed regions 9 circumscribing the holes 8 that dissipate the otherwise highly concentrated compression force of the screw 10 thus reducing the compression force of the flanges 5 and screws 10 against the post 4 which in turn reduces the coefficient of friction and results in a lower force applied to initiate vertical movement of the post against the inner flange surfaces. This allows the post and flanges to slide against each other as the post is pulled up or pushed back down within the flanges when used in conjunction with three or more devices and posts secured to the underside of a common carrier beam in situ and anchored to frost prone soil; said soil possessing differing moisture content from one zone of soil below any given device and the next and thus subject to differing degrees of soil expansion and contraction when water is frozen in the soil and later thaws.
(26) FIGS. 9, 10 show perspective views of the post 4 and the assembled device 1 of the present invention as it would appear when installed on the ground. FIG. 10 further depicts when soil movement occurs and the post movement is restricted to vertical movement only, creating a space 12 underneath the post within the range that the screws 10 may freely move and defined by the length of the elongate holes 8 and to slide back downward if certain discreet downward forces are subsequently exerted on the post.
(27) Referring again to FIGS. 4-6, in some embodiments the post receiving bracket 2 include a first flat planar surface 6 upon which the bottom of the post may rest and a second planar surface 7 parallel to the first surface but lower such that a cavity 26 is created when the post 4 is fully seated on the first surface 6, said cavity is intended to allow for the hex head 28 upper terminus of the auger rod 40 to pass through aperture 29 defined in surface 7 and through first threaded upper nut 19 welded to underside 30 of surface 7 into which a threaded rod with corresponding male threads may be secured.
(28) Post anchoring support device 1 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6 comprises a load plate 3 with an upper surface 13 and an underside surface 14, said load plate featuring bending lines 16 and 17 upon the upper surface 13 such that a convex upper surface is defined or a concave underside surface 14 with corners 15 bent at less than perpendicular from the upper surface 13. An aperture 18 is located in the center of the load plate 3 of sufficient diameter as to allow the threaded rod 27 to clear and pass through such that the plate is free to rotate independently of the auger rod 40.
(29) Post anchoring support device 1 as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 3a further comprises a cylindrical ground anchoring auger rod 40 preferably made of hollow tubing with stop washer 22, at least one small helix 24 and optional second larger helix 25. A lock washer 21 and second nut 20 fit over the threaded rod 27 portion, and a lower terminus cut at an angle 23. The auger rod 4 further defined by a hexagon portion 28 formed into the upper terminus and beginning after the male threads 27 end, said hexagon portion 28 short enough that its top flat end does not rise above the upper flat planar surface 6 of the post receiving device 2 and conflict with the post bottom when fully threaded into the upper nut 19, said nut welded or formed integrally with the female aperture 29 of second lower planar surface 7. The rod further defined such that it passes through an aperture 18 in the load plate 3, mating with the upper nut 19 of the post receiving bracket 2, and said bracket possessing a perimeter dimension that is less than the perimeter defined by the load plat 3. The stop washer 22 formed outwardly or transversely from the longitudinal axis of cylindrically shaped rod 40 so that underside of plate 14 can rest on the upper surface of said stop washer 22 while male thread of rod 27 is long enough to mate with the upper nut 19 forming female aperture 29. In this manner, the post receiving bracket device 2, the load plate 3 and the rod 40 can be screwed together until the lower edges of the lower peripheral walls of the device 2 firmly contact the upper planar surface 13 of the plate; the lower terminus of the rod 40 having a helical shape of one or more independent helixes 24, 25 thus permitting the rod to be screwed into the ground by a socket attached to the hexagon shaped upper terminus 28.
(30) In some embodiments rather than helical blades, a spike may be impaled into the ground whereby male threads are similarly defined in an upper remote portion of the spike such that it may thread into a female threaded aperture part as defined in the underside of device 2 so the two may be connected. Such embodiment would differ in its utility as an impalement method of installing the ground anchoring portion would be required demanding greater force to install and require a sledge hammer or jack hammer rather than a simple lightweight pneumatic or electric impact wrench as taught with the preferred embodiment. However, in such an alternate embodiment, the post receiving bracket would function similarly as it would allow or compensate for uneven soil movements among adjacent support posts supporting a common beam by virtue of the unique features of the flanges 7 specifically the elongated holes 8 and the embossed region which spreads the force of the penetrating screws 10 over a larger surface area thus lower the coefficient of friction value at which point the posts may slide vertically and safely within the flanges 11.
(31) Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12 the functionality of the physical features of the completed invention 1 and the method of installation in the field shows how posts and a beam supporting a structure can adjust for uneven soil movements from one footing to the next and thereby protect the post to underside of beam connections from separating. Referring to FIG. 11 a non-freezing environment is depicted or immediately after the devices 31, 32 and 33 have been installed into the ground and the posts and beam 30 have been interconnected. Often unknown to the installer is whether the soil below is homogeneous or heterogeneous. Some soils may differ enough in terms of porosity and within close proximity that is not uncommon in the field to encounter situations where soil zone 34 and 36 are predominantly composed of clay or similar soil such that it retains moisture and where an adjacent soil zone 35 may be of differing composition such that is composed of sand or granular stone such that it does not retain as much or any moisture. If the ground never freezes or is never subjected to any other natural subsidence the positions of the devices relative to one another will not change and the forces exerted on the posts and beam will remain unchanged. However referring to FIG. 12, when freezing conditions occur, the soil zones retaining higher amounts of water will expand upwardly with great force. Devices supporting posts 31 and 33 are pushed upwards in direction A from the frost expansion in soil zones 34 and 36. Posts 31 and 33 in exert upward force on beam 30 causing it to rise and create a tension force on post 32. With all prior art devices, there would be no release mechanism to permit post 32 to move freely upward and preserve the post to beam connection. If the post to beam receiving bracket connection were strong enough to resist the tension from the beam connection the post to beam connection would fail. Alternatively if the post to beam connection were strong enough to resist the tension force the buried lower portion of the anchor rod or spike as referred to in alternate embodiments would be pulled up from the soil. This latter scenario is less likely in the instance of a helical blade within the soil if frost surrounds the entire anchor rod in the ground. But this would then result more likely in failure of the post to bracket or post to beam connections. In any of the possible scenarios the entire system is placed under stress and to preserve or protect the system there must be a means of releasing said stress or forces to prevent any damage to the system.
(32) Over the course of seasons a structure built using an embodiment of the present invention in a plurality of connections supporting a common beam will be best designed to absorb and release the powerful and potentially destructive forces generated by most often frost but also any natural subsidence that may occur. The present invention performs this task very efficiently.
(33) In the field a typical installation occurs as follows. An area of soil is prepared by removing any grass (sod) and exposing the soil below. It is preferable to remove any obviously soft or disturbed soil and this is usually achieved by removing three to four inches (8-10 cm) of loose soil. Crushed granular stone is set in place as it tends to be porous and the polygonal shapes of the stone interlock as they compress making them well suited to not erode if heavy rains or water flows over the surface. This soil preparation is done for each area where a device will be located and in common line to support a single beam. An impact wrench with a socket is then used to drive the helical blades of the rod 4 into the soil in a vertical orientation, perpendicularly to the prepared surface below.
(34) Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14 the load plate 3 can be placed over the threaded rod 27 and rest loosely on the stop washer 22. The lock washer 21 would rest loosely on surface 13 of the load plate 3 and the second nut 21 would be turned down on the threaded rod 27 only to the intersection point between the hex head 28 and threads 27 the reasons for which will be explained.
(35) As the impact wrench rotates the helical blades into the ground the load plate 3 is free to remain stationary and not spin wildly in concert with the revolving rod 4. Eventually the underside 14 of the load plate 3 will make contact with the soil and the rod will continue to be driven downwards until the top surface 13 of the load plate contacts the lock washer 21 and in turn the underside of the second nut 21. This state is depicted in FIG. 13.
(36) A larger socket is then placed on the impact wrench and engaged with the second nut 20. The nut is turned downward and forces the load plate 3 to compress the soil below it until the underside 14 contacts the stop washer 22. The threads of rod 27 now remain exposed and are of sufficient height above the top surface 13 of the load plate as to engage into the threaded aperture 19 of upper nut 20 so that post receiving bracket 2 can be secured with the rod 4 and plate 3 forming the completed device.
(37) Posts 4 are then inserted between the flanges 11 and screwed in place. Tops of said posts are then secured to the underside of the beam 30. In order for the device to function as designed at least three posts must be connected to a common beam, said beam posts and devices them forming a complete system for supporting structures and being capable of absorbing uneven forces from subsidence of the ground.
(38) Referring to FIGS. 15-19, there is depicted another embodiment of a post receiving bracket 102 that accommodates imperfect linear alignment of a plurality of post anchoring support devices on the soil when used to support a beam such as support beam 30. The post receiving bracket 102 includes at least two opposing and upwardly standing walls or flanges 105 rising from a base and first horizontal planar surface 106 upon which the post or beam would rest downward, and a second planar surface 107 parallel to the first surface but lower such that a cavity 126 is defined when the post or beam is fully seated on the first surface 106. The cavity 126 accommodates the hex head 28 upper terminus of the auger rod 40 so that it does not interfere with the post or beam. The post or beam is connected to the upward flanges 105 by screws passing through vertical aligned and elongated holes 108 of the flanges, said flanges further include a raised portion or embossed region 109 circumscribing the elongate holes 108 in an upwardly sloping direction and away from the outside planar surface 111 of the flange such that when a screw is driven into the post the underside of the screw head rests at the first point of surface contact with the elevated or embossed edges of the holes. The embossed surface curves or slopes from its highest elevation downwards toward the greater planar surface 111 of the flange 105 so as to direct the compression force of the screw over a larger surface area. In the aforementioned manner, post receiving bracket 102 is similar to post receiving bracket 2 described above herein. The principal differences in post receiving bracket 102 are that the central aperture in the lower surface 107 is an elongate aperture 129, the threaded upper nut is not welded to the underside of the surface 107 but is rather a separate nut 119, and the cavity 126 is deeper to accommodate the additional length of the upper end of the auger rod 40 required to secure the post receiving bracket 102 to the auger rod 40.
(39) The elongate aperture 129 in the surface 107 is adapted to receive the threaded rod portion 27 of the auger rod 40 and provides some travel of the threaded portion therein. The travel of the threaded portion 27 within the elongate aperture 129 enables a degree of movement of the post receiving bracket 102 relative the auger rod 40 (which is secured to the soil in use of the device) to accommodate imperfect linear alignment of a plurality of post anchoring support devices by enabling each post receiving bracket 102 to be moved laterally in relation to the linear direction of an intended common support beam 30, whether or not the beam 30 is received directly on the horizontal surface 106 of the brackets 102 or secured upon posts 4 set within the flanges 105.
(40) Referring to FIG. 17 post anchoring support device 1 comprises a load plate 3 as described herein though which the threaded rod 27 of auger rod 40 passes such that the plate 3 is free to rotate independently of the auger rod 40. Washer 21 and nut 20 fit over the threaded rod 27 portion and secure the plate 3 against the lock washer 22 on the auger rod 40. The elongate aperture 129 of post receiving bracket 102 is fit over the remaining threaded rod portion 27 such that the portions of the planar member with surface 107, adjacent to the elongate aperture 129, abut the top of nut 20. A washer 121 and the threaded nut 119 are fit over the remainder of threaded rod portion 27 and tightened to secure the post receiving bracket 102 against the nut 20 on the auger rod 40. Prior to the nut 119 being tightened, the post receiving bracket may be moved laterally within the range provided by the elongate aperture 129 as required for alignment purposes.
(41) Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19, a linear arrangement of post anchoring support devices 1 having post receiving brackets 102 are shown from a top view in order to demonstrate the lateral mobility of the post receiving device 102 relative to each load plate 3. A common beam 30 is shown set into each adjacent receiving device 102 in an application where the support devices were misaligned during installation.
(42) Although the preferred embodiments of the device and method have been shown in the attached drawings and detailed description, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of other modifications without departing from the spirit of the invention set forth and defined in the following claims.
