Aboveground foundation for building superstructures

Abstract

A foundation for building superstructures is formed of metalogs that define an aboveground enclosure, a confined first fill that substantially fills the enclosure to a height sufficient to anchor and support the superstructure, and a loose second fill that is placed atop the first fill and leveled and compacted to form a hardpan floor.

Claims

1. A foundation for building superstructures, the foundation comprising: metalogs resting directly on the ground but not embedded in the ground, the metalogs defining an aboveground enclosure, and fill filling the aboveground enclosure to a height sufficient to anchor and support the superstructure, wherein the fill comprises: a first fill in frictional contact with the metalogs, the first fill having a weight sufficient to anchor and support the superstructure and being confined to avoid deforming the metalogs, and a loose second fill atop the first fill having insufficient weight to deform the metalogs and being leveled and compacted to form a hardpan floor.

2. (canceled)

3. A foundation according to claim 1 comprising a plurality of containers for confining the first fill.

4. A foundation according to claim 3 wherein the containers are selected from the group consisting of wooden barrels, cloth bags, paper bags, cardboard boxes, and metalogs.

5. A foundation according to claim 4 wherein the metalogs have axes that are oriented vertically.

6. A foundation according to claim 1 wherein each metalog has a cylindrical curvature and is substantially tangent to a vertically adjacent metalog and some of the second fill follows a cylindrical curvature up to the tangent to assist in locking the foundation to the superstructure.

7. A foundation according to claim 1 wherein the ratio of the height of the superstructure to the height of the foundation does not exceed 5:1.

8. A foundation according to claim 7 wherein the ratio is within the range of 4:1 to 3:1.

9. A foundation according to claim 7 wherein the ratio is substantially 5:1.

10. A method of constructing a foundation for a building superstructure, the method comprising the steps of: laying metalogs directly on the ground but not embedded in the ground, the metalogs defining an aboveground enclosure; and adding a sufficient quantity of fill to the aboveground enclosure in frictional contact with the metalogs defining the enclosure to anchor and support the superstructure.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein adding the fill comprises: adding a first fill; containing the first fill so as not to deform the metalogs; adding atop the first fill a second fill that is loose and of insufficient weight to deform the metalogs; leveling the second fill; and compacting the second fill to form a hardpan floor.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein the steps of adding, leveling and compacting the second fill are performed sequentially and cyclically.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] A better understanding of the objects, features and advantages of the invention can be gained from a consideration of the following detailed description of its preferred embodiments, together with the appended drawings, wherein:

[0043] FIG. 1 is an isometric perspective view of a first pair of elongated metalogs (with corner connectors attached at either end) about to be laid parallel to each other on bare, flat, level ground in positions indicated by dotted rectangles separated by a distance substantially equal to the length of a second pair of elongated metalogs, shown in FIG. 2;

[0044] FIG. 2 is an isometric perspective view of the second pair of metalogs (with corner connectors attached at either end), which are about to be laid parallel to each other with their corner connectors atop the corner connectors attached to the metalogs of FIG. 1, the second pair of metalogs of FIG. 2 being perpendicular to the metalogs of FIG. 1;

[0045] FIG. 3 is an isometric perspective view of the second pair of metalogs interlocked with the first pair of metalogs;

[0046] FIG. 4 is an isometric perspective view of a later stage of the process of assembling a building superstructure, showing the addition of framing for entryways;

[0047] FIG. 5 is an isometric perspective view showing the framing of FIG. 4 seated and further showing the addition of contained fill to anchor the superstructure in accordance with the invention;

[0048] FIG. 6 is an isometric perspective view, partly broken away, showing the addition of loose fill atop the contained fill to form a level hardpan floor;

[0049] FIG. 7 is an isometric perspective view showing the completion of the hardpan floor;

[0050] FIG. 8 is an isometric perspective view showing a later stage of the process, after the addition of windows and entry stairs;

[0051] FIG. 9 is a view in side elevation, partly broken away, showing a building superstructure, which could be another superstructure substantially the same as the one the construction of which is shown in FIGS. 1-8, put up under the same auspices, at substantially the same time, in the same general area, using the same tube-forming machine, and employing the same laborers; and

[0052] FIG. 10 is a fragmentary end view of a metalog that has a cylindrical curvature and is substantially tangent to a vertically adjacent metalog that also has a cylindrical curvature, showing that some of the second fill follows the cylindrical curvatures up to the tangent line between the two metalogs to assist in locking the foundation to the superstructure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0053] As explained in detail below, whereas in conventional practice a building superstructure is erected on top of a foundation, in accordance with the present invention the foundation is elevated above the surrounding ground, and the lower part of the superstructure surrounds the foundation rather than being erected on top of it.

[0054] FIG. 1 shows a first pair of elongated metalogs 10 used at the beginning of the construction of a foundation 11, most clearly seen in FIG. 9. Each is secured at either end to corner connectors 12. The metalogs 10 are about to be laid parallel to each other on bare, flat, level ground in positions indicated by dotted rectangles 14.

[0055] The dotted rectangles 14 represent measured positions that can be inscribed on the ground. Alternatively, the metalogs 10 can be roughly positioned, and their precise separation and parallel alignment can be determined by a second pair of metalogs 16 with corner connectors 18 that interlock with the corner connectors 12 as shown in prior art cited above and as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings appended hereto.

[0056] The metalogs 10 and 16 form an aboveground enclosure 20 (FIG. 3), which in nearly all cases will be rectangular but could have another shape. In the usual case, the metalogs 10 have equal length, and the metalogs 16 have equal length, but the metalogs 10 do not necessarily have a length equal to the length of the metalogs 16.

[0057] In accordance with the invention, fill indicated generally at 22 in FIG. 6 is added to the enclosure 20. The fill 22 is added to a height sufficient to anchor and support the superstructure 25 in the absence of the usual concrete slab or in-ground basement.

[0058] That height to which the fill 22 is added will depend on its density, the height of the superstructure 25 (FIGS. 8 and 9), and the external forces expected to be applied to the superstructure 25 in the environment in which it is located. Factors arguing for a greater height of fill 22 include lower-density fill, greater height of the superstructure 25, and higher expected winds in the vicinity of the superstructure 25.

[0059] The fill 22 is of two types, described separately below: a multiply contained first fill 24, shown in FIGS. 5, 6, 9, and 10, and an (initially) loose second fill 26, shown in FIGS. 6-10. The first fill 24 is massive and capable by itself of adequately anchoring and supporting the superstructure. The second fill 26 is leveled and compressed into hardpan and provides a solid support for furniture and human traffic.

Contained Fill 24

[0060] The contained first fill 24, comprises a multiplicity of containers 28 (FIG. 5) into which any suitable fill 24 is placed, such as sand, clay, dirt, gravel, or a mixture thereof. It is within the scope of the invention to include sizable rocks, fairly large pieces of metal, and other debris in the contained fill 24, though in such case it is preferably mixed with finer fill so that there are no appreciable voids left within the fill containers 28. This helps to ensure that there is no opportunity for the fill 24 to shift within the containers 28 after installation and that the fill in each container 28 rises to the same height.

[0061] The containers 28 should be sturdy enough not to break open from the weight of the contained first fill 24. The larger the containers 28 the sturdier they must be to withstand the weight of the contained fill 24. They can in principle be made of wooden barrels, cloth bags, paper bags, cardboard boxes, and/or metalogs, so long as they are sturdy enough and are resistant enough to moisture and other conditions in the environment that might cause rot or other degradation of the containers 28 over time.

[0062] Unskilled local laborers using wheelbarrows and shovels can find suitable nearby fill and load the containers 28 either before or after positioning them in their desired locations within the enclosure 20. To avoid having to move filled containers 28, especially if they are large and consequently heavy, it will usually be preferred to place empty containers 28 in their desired locations within the enclosure 20 before adding the first fill 24.

[0063] As indicated above, metalogs can be used as containers 28 for fill. When so used they are much shorter than the average length of the metalogs used in the walls of the superstructure and are preferably mounted with their axes oriented vertically. No corner connectors are required.

[0064] Since a metalog used as a container 28 is placed on flat ground within the enclosure 20, its ends need not be sealed if the fill is added after placement of the metalog container 28 in its desired position within the enclosure 20. If one end of a metalog container 28 is sealed, first fill 24 can be added to it when it is not in its desired location within the enclosure 20, and the filled metalog container 28 can then be moved to its desired location. Closing the tops of metalog containers 28 is optional but not required.

[0065] Depending on the desired total height of the contained fill 24 and the height of the individual containers 28, more than one level of containers 28 may be provided. In that case, the containers 28 in the lowest level rest on the ground, as illustrated in the drawings, the containers in the next level (not separately illustrated) rest on the containers in the first level, and so on if there are additional levels. Higher levels of containers will normally be sealed at least at the bottom.

[0066] Metalogs forming the walls of a building superstructure are typically made of thin, inexpensive material to minimize overall construction costs. While they easily resist deformation by wind, they could be deformed by a large weight of loose fill in the enclosure 20. The containers 28 prevent the contained fill 24 from settling horizontally and pressing too forcibly against the metalogs. The containers 28 therefore prevent the fill 24 from deforming the metalogs.

[0067] The contained fill 24 is in frictional contact with the metalogs all around the perimeter of the enclosure 20, so that the superstructure 25 has no room to move relative to the fill 24 in response to a high wind or other source of an external force applied to the superstructure 25. The fill 24 is massive, rises to the requisite height in view of the factors mentioned above, and therefore by itself adequately supports and anchors the superstructure 25

Loose Second Fill Raked Smooth and Level and Compacted into Hardpan

[0068] The second fill 26 is fine-grained and initially loose and is raked and tamped (compacted) to form a smooth and level hardpan surface. It is in direct contact with the metalogs defining the enclosure 20 at the height of the fill 26 but forms a relatively shallow coating over the contained fill 24 and is of insufficient weight to deform the metalogs.

[0069] Since the fill 26 is fine-grained and initially loose, it sifts down to fill or partly fill the typically small spaces between the containers 28, thus forming a monolithic structure that prevents the containers 28 from moving relative to one another after completion of the foundation 11, even in a high wind. To avoid the risk of the unit being washed away in a flowing flood notwithstanding the weight of its base, one may plant one or more solid poles (not shown) in the ground within the foundation walls before placing the bags or containers 28.

[0070] Each metalog has a cylindrical curvature and is substantially tangent to a vertically adjacent metalog. As FIG. 10 shows, the second fill 26 follows the cylindrical curvature of any metalogs it makes contact with. In some construction projects, depending on the depth of the second fill 26, the fill 26 will follow the curvature of vertically adjacent metalogs up to the tangent line 30 between the metalogs to further assist in locking the superstructure to the foundation 11.

[0071] Wheelbarrows can be used to move locally available second fill 26 to the immediate vicinity of the worksite. The second fill 26 can then be applied atop the contained first fill 24 by unskilled laborers manning shovels and rakes. Compaction can be done with simple hand-held compaction tools plus water-filled drums that are rolled manually.

[0072] As the second fill 26 is added, it first begins sifting down into any small spaces between the containers 28 and between the foundation metalogs that define the enclosure 20 and the containers 28 that are in frictional contact therewith.

[0073] In accordance with the invention, the ratio of the height of the superstructure 25 to the height of the foundation 11 does not exceed 5:1. If the ratio is greater than that, there is a risk that the superstructure 25 will be top-heavy relative to the foundation 11, even in a relatively benign environment with light winds. In most environments, the ratio will be in the range of 3:1 to 8:1. An optimum ratio suitable for most environments is substantially 5:1.

Method of the Invention

[0074] The method of constructing a foundation 11 for a building superstructure 25 in accordance with the invention comprises the steps of arranging means such as a plurality of metalogs to define an aboveground enclosure 20 and adding a sufficient quantity of fill 22 to the enclosure 20 in frictional contact with the enclosure-defining means to anchor and support the superstructure.

[0075] More specifically, it comprises using metalogs as the enclosure-defining means, adding a first fill 24 to the enclosure, containing the first fill 24 so as not to deform the metalogs, and adding atop the first fill 24 a second fill 26 that is loose and of insufficient weight to deform the metalogs. The second fill 26 is then leveled and compacted to form a hardpan floor.

[0076] The operations of adding second fill 26, raking it level, and compacting it will usually be performed sequentially and cyclically: that is, some second fill 26 is added, then it is raked, then it is compacted, then more second 26 fill is added, raked, and compacted, and so on until the desired thickness of compacted second fill 26 is attained.

[0077] At suitable points during the erection of superstructures according to the invention, door framing 32, windows 34, stairs 36 providing access to the entrance or entrances, etc., are provided, as those in the industry understand.

[0078] Thus there is provided in accordance with the invention a novel and highly effective foundation for building superstructures and method for its construction. The invention has features that make it especially desirable in situations where speed of construction is important and construction costs must be kept to a minimum.

[0079] Many modifications of the preferred embodiments of the invention disclosed herein will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of this disclosure. The invention extends to all structures and methods that fall within the scope of the appended claims.