Footing plates

Abstract

A footing plate (10) including a planar web (12) through or from which a plurality of tubes (14) pass, the tubes (14) being adjacent to the edges of the planar web (12) and being disposed at angles to the planar web (12), none of the angles being 90°, the tubes (14) being sized to permit the passage therethrough of pins (18) for fixing into underlying ground, the upper face of the planar web (12) optionally being provided with a plurality of holes to accept bolts for retaining means to receiving a post, pole or upright structural beam, the planar web (12) also being provided with a downwardly extending flange (16) from at least one of the edges of the planar web (12).

Claims

1. A footing plate comprising a planar web, the planar web having a plurality of tubes passing therethrough, the tubes being disposed upon a polygon circuiting the web, the polygon comprising straight section lines and vertices, at least one of the plurality of tubes is disposed on a straight section line of the polygon and having a tube axis that both forms an angle with the planar web when the planar web is considered in lateral view and is substantially parallel to the straight section line of the polygon upon which it is disposed when the planar web is considered in plan view, at least one of the plurality of tubes is disposed on a vertex of the polygon, said tubes being sized to permit the passage therethrough of pins for fixing into underlying ground, said planar web being provided with a flange extending downwardly from an edge of said planar web, the flange configured to contact the underlying ground, said planar web having on its upper surface a central region having a socket extending upwardly therefrom, the socket configured to receive a post, a pole or an upright structural member.

2. The footing plate of claim 1 wherein the polygon has four internal angles of 90 degrees each.

3. The footing plate of claim 1 wherein two of the plurality of tubes are disposed upon opposing lines of the polygon, and the tube axes are angled in opposite directions when the planar web is considered in lateral view.

4. The footing plate of claim 1 wherein two of the plurality of tubes are adjacent and have tube axes angled in opposite directions when the planar web is considered in lateral view.

5. The footing plate of claim 1 wherein no adjacent tubes of the plurality of tubes have tube axes angled in the same direction when the planar web is considered in lateral view.

6. The footing plate of claim 1 wherein a tube is disposed at each corner of the polygon, and/or a tube is disposed upon each straight line section of the polygon.

7. The footing of claim 1 wherein the tubes axes of adjacent tubes is rotated by 90 degrees when the footing plate is considered in plan view.

8. The footing of claim 1 wherein the line circuiting the planar web forms a polygon having four internal angles of 90 degrees each, and two of the plurality of tubes are disposed upon opposing lines of the polygon and two of the plurality of tubes are disposed adjacent to each other, and the two opposing tubes have tube axes angled in opposite directions, and the two adjacent tubes have tube axes angled in opposite directions, and no adjacent tubes have tube axes angled in the same direction, a tube is disposed at each corner of the polygon.

Description

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(1) In order that the invention may be more clearly understood some preferred embodiments are hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment with a socket (in phantom) secured thereto and pins (in phantom);

(3) FIG. 2 is an underneath perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4 is a plan view from above of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view along line A-A of FIG. 4 (showing the first embodiment in use);

(7) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment showing a socket and pins in phantom;

(8) FIG. 7 is an underneath perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 6;

(9) FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 6;

(10) FIG. 9 is a plan view from above of the embodiment of FIG. 6;

(11) FIG. 10 is a sectional view along line A-A of FIG. 9;

(12) FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a third preferred embodiment of the present invention;

(13) FIG. 12 is an underneath perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 11;

(14) FIG. 13 is a plan view from above of the embodiment of FIG. 11;

(15) FIG. 14 is a plan view from below of the embodiment of FIGS. 11; and

(16) FIG. 15 is an elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 11.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(17) In FIGS. 1 to 10 the numerals 10 and 40, respectively, denote generally footing plates being the first and second preferred embodiments, respectively, of the present invention. Throughout the drawings the numerals 12 and 42, respectively, denote the planar webs of the first and second preferred embodiments, respectfully, and the numerals 14 and 44, respectively, denote the tubes passing through planar webs 12 and 42, respectively. The numerals 16 and 46, respectively, denote flanges extending downwardly from the edges of planar webs 12 and 42, respectively. The flanges (16, 46) typically are formed by cutting corners of the planar web and folding down portions of the planar web (12, 42) at an angle so as to not impede the passage of pins, 18 (in phantom), 48 (in phantom), respectively, through tubes 14 or 44, respectively, into the underlying ground on which the footing plate is placed in use.

(18) Each of the planar webs 12, 42 is provided with holes in registration with holes in the base plate 50 of a means for receiving a post or pole, which means consists of a socket 52 permanently secured to the base plate 50, preferably by welding. Bolts 54 and nuts 56 secure the base plate 50 to the planar web 12 or 42.

(19) In use a support plate 50 and socket 52 are secured to the planar web 12 or 42 by bolts 54 and nuts 56 just prior to placing the footing plate 10 or 40 in position on leveled ground. For ease of transportation the support plate 50 and socket 52 are separated from the footing plate. Pins 18 or 48 are then driven through tubes 14, 44 into the underlying ground 70 until the top ends of the pins (18, 48) are close to level with the tops of the tubes (14, 44). A jackhammer may be used to achieve this relatively quickly. FIG. 5 shows how one such pin 18 can be used as part of the anchoring of foot plate 10 to the ground. The “splaying” of the pin 18 leads to a stable and securely anchored footing plate. The pins (18, 48) typically are of such a length that they are securely engaged with the ground into which they are driven.

(20) In the second embodiment 40 a plurality of reinforcing ribs 60 are fixed to the underside of the planar web 42. The reinforcing ribs 60 extend from the inner side of the flange 46 across the underside of the planar web 42 until they meet a reinforcing rib 60 extending transversely. Preferably, the intersection or meeting of the reinforcing ribs is as shown in FIG. 7. The use of such reinforcing ribs 60 enable the use of a lighter weight planar web. FIG. 10 shows how a plurality of pins 48 typically are “splayed” to provide a stable and secure anchorage for the footing plate.

(21) In FIGS. 11 to 15 the numeral 80 denotes generally a footing plate in a third preferred embodiment. Throughout FIGS. 11 to 15, the numeral 82 denotes the planar web, the numeral 84 denotes tubes originating in planar web 82 and extending downwardly therefrom, and the numeral 86 denotes flanges extending downwardly from the edges of planar web 82. In this embodiment the tubes and flanges and planar web may be cast as one piece. The numeral 88 denotes threaded holes for receiving threaded bolts whilst the numeral 90 denotes slots for allowing for adjustment of structures received on the top of the planar web or to receive projections descending from structures received on the top of the planar web. On the underside of the planar web 82 is provided an array of reinforcing ribs 92 which reinforce the planar web 82 and the threaded holes 88 and slots 90. The array of reinforcing ribs 92 also reinforces central hole 94. The array of reinforcing ribs, planar web, tubes, and flanges are cast as one piece. This is aimed at achieving a reduced weight yet retaining satisfactory strength and rigidity for the footing plate.

(22) As can be seen from FIG. 13 the tubes 84 are inclined at an angle, not being 90°, to the planar web 82.

(23) In use the third preferred embodiment may be used in the same manner as that described in relation to the first and second preferred embodiments.

(24) It is to be understood that the invention may embrace many further modifications as would be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art and which would be deemed to reside within the broad scope and ambit of the invention. The preferred embodiments described above are by way of example only and are not to be considered as limiting.

(25) Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise”, and variations such as “comprises” and “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

(26) The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form or suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.