U.S. patent application number 13/907121 was filed with the patent office on 2013-12-05 for non-welded metal foundation.
The applicant listed for this patent is James E. Tappe. Invention is credited to James E. Tappe.
Application Number | 20130322970 13/907121 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49670441 |
Filed Date | 2013-12-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130322970 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tappe; James E. |
December 5, 2013 |
Non-Welded Metal Foundation
Abstract
The metal foundations of the present invention are comprised of
integrated fins which allows for the metal foundations to be
manually assembled and fastened by any mechanical means.
Inventors: |
Tappe; James E.;
(Zelienople, PA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Tappe; James E. |
Zelienople |
PA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
49670441 |
Appl. No.: |
13/907121 |
Filed: |
May 31, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61653781 |
May 31, 2012 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
405/229 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E02D 2250/00 20130101;
E02D 31/10 20130101; E02D 27/00 20130101; E02D 2300/0026 20130101;
E02D 27/08 20130101; E02D 27/32 20130101; E02D 27/02 20130101; E02D
5/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
405/229 |
International
Class: |
E02D 27/00 20060101
E02D027/00 |
Claims
1. A metal foundation comprising a plurality of bodies, each body
being comprised of ends with integrated fins, wherein the metal
foundation is assembled by mechanically fastening the fins of said
bodies forming a perimeter geometrical shape.
2. A metal foundation comprising a plurality of fins that are
centrally fastened via mechanical means and forming a radial
geometrical shape.
3. A metal foundation comprising: a first metal foundation that is
comprised of a plurality of bodies, each body being comprised of
ends with integrated fins, wherein the metal foundation is
assembled by mechanically fastening the fins of said bodies forming
a perimeter geometrical shape, and a second metal foundation that
is comprised a plurality of fins that are centrally fastened via
mechanical means and forming a radial geometrical shape, and
wherein the second metal foundation is placed within the first
metal foundation and is connected to the first metal foundation via
the fins of the first metal foundation by a mechanically fastening
means.
4. The metal foundation of claim 1 wherein each body is comprised
of sides forming an obtuse angle.
5. The metal foundation of claim 1 wherein each body is arced
forming a cylindrical perimeter geometric design.
6. The metal foundation of claim 1, wherein each body on one end is
comprised of a long fin and on a second end is comprised of a short
fin.
7. The metal foundation of claim 2 further comprising two formed
fins, each fin being formed on one end and straight on an
peripheral end, and a single straight fin, said straight fin being
comprised of a central end and a peripheral end whereby the two
formed fins and the straight fin are fastened by mechanical
means.
8. The metal foundation of claim 3 wherein the second metal
foundation is comprised of three fins forming the radial geometric
shape.
9. The metal foundation of claim 3 wherein the second metal
foundation is comprised of four fins forming the radial geometric
shape.
10. The metal foundation of claim 1, whereby the bodies can be
manually assembled.
11. The metal foundation of claim 2, whereby the fins can be
manually assembled.
12. The metal foundation of claim 3, whereby the fins of the first
metal foundation and the fins of the second metal foundation can be
manually assembled.
13. The metal foundation of claim 1, wherein one end of the
plurality of bodies is cut or mitered.
14. The metal foundation of claim 2, wherein one end of the
plurality of fins is cut or mitered.
15. The metal foundation of claim 3, wherein one end of the
plurality of bodies of the first metal foundation and the fins of
the second metal foundation is cut or mitered.
Description
[0001] This application is a non-provisional application and claims
priority to provisional application Ser. No. 61/653781 filed on May
31, 2012.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to metal foundations and assembly
thereof.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Over the last several years, metal foundations have been
used to provide support for many different types of structures,
because they offer many advantages over concrete foundations. Once
installed, metal foundations can be used to instantly provide
support for a structure, unlike concrete foundations which require
a significant amount of time to cure. Metal foundations also can be
installed in any weather condition and on any terrain; they are
less damaging to the environment and they are easily moved when
compared to concrete foundations.
[0004] However the current metal foundations that are available
have several disadvantages. Current metal foundations have fins
that are not integrated into the metal foundation bodies and
welding is used for assembly. Welding, either on site or offsite
requires qualified people and special equipment. This adds to the
expense of installing foundations. Usually because it is less
expensive, the metal foundation bodies are welded together in a
shop and then transported on to the worksite. Transporting
pre-assembled metal foundations limits their size and shape. If the
metal foundations necessary for a specific project are too large or
awkward to transport, the individual pieces can be weld together on
site. However, this increases the expense of installing metal
foundations because all the necessary personnel and equipment must
also be transported to the worksite. Welding also generates toxic
fumes which is not healthy for people or environmentally
friendly.
[0005] There is a need for a metal foundation whose assembly does
not require welding.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The invention discloses metal foundation bodies that are
assembled together without welding. in the disclosed invention, the
fins are part of the metal foundation body. The bodies of the metal
foundation of the disclosed invention are assembled manually via
the integrated fins by mechanical fastening. The metal foundations
of the invention can either be a perimeter geometric shape, a
radial geometric shape or if the job requires, both shaped
foundations can be combined/used in conjunction with one another.
The mechanical fastening means can be any known in the field
including, but not limited to Huck Bolts, rivets, clips, bolts,
studs and clamps. The advantage of the disclosed invention is that
it only requires manual assembly and not welding. The manual
assembly can be done by persons generally familiar with the
construction field and no special equipment other than that
necessary for mechanical fastening is needed. With the disclosed
invention there is virtually no limitations on size and shape for a
metal foundation, the design can be easily adapt to any engineering
specification. The metal foundations of the disclosed invention can
be pre-assembled and transported to the worksite for installation
or they can be assembled onsite-at a cost much lower than welding
onsite. Because the metal foundations of the disclosed invention
are manually assembled, they are not a health hazard and they are
more environmentally friendly than welded metal foundations.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0007] FIG. 1a--a top view of one embodiment of a perimeter metal
foundation.
[0008] FIG. 1b--a longitudinal view of one embodiment of an
assembled perimeter metal foundation.
[0009] FIG. 2a--a top view of one embodiment disclosing the fins
used to assemble a radial metal foundation.
[0010] FIG. 2b--a top view of one embodiment disclosing an
assembled radial metal foundation.
[0011] FIG. 3a--a top view of three sided foundation with a three
fin assembly.
[0012] FIG. 3b--a top view of a nine sided foundation with a three
fin assembly.
[0013] FIG. 3c--a top view of a six sided foundation with a three
fin assembly.
[0014] FIG. 3d--a top view of an eight sided foundation with a four
fin assembly.
[0015] FIG. 3e--a top view of a twelve sided foundation with a four
fin assembly.
[0016] FIG. 3f--a top view of a four sided foundation with a four
fin assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] Metal foundations are better than concrete foundations
because once installed, metal foundations can provide instant
support for a structure on worksite. However, current metal
foundations have the disadvantage in that they require welding.
This adds to the added expense of installing metal foundations.
Welding also produces toxic fumes which are unhealthy and bad for
the environment. The disclosed invention eliminates the welding
expense and hazards by providing for metal foundations that can be
manually assembled. The metal foundations of the disclosed
invention are manufactured with the fins integrated into the
finished bodies. These metal foundations are assembled via the fins
by any mechanical fastening known in the art including but not
limited to Huck Bolts, rivets, clips, bolts, studs and clamps.
[0018] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment for perimeter geometric shaped
metal foundations. in FIG. 1A a top view of an octagonal shape
metal foundation is disclosed. At the ends of body 1 are long fins
3 and short fins 4, The individual bodies are assembled together by
fastening means 2. However because the metal foundations of the
disclosed invention is assembled out of bodies with integrated
fins, the metal foundations can be any practical shape necessary;
from a hexagon shape for a smaller foundation, to a virtually
limitless number of sides to accommodate larger foundation designs.
The size of the angle in the body 1 is dependent on the size of the
foundation and the number of bodies necessary to accommodate the
specific size. Larger foundations generally require more sides
which increases the number of bodies necessary. The more bodies
that are necessary the more obtuse the angle can be. Or the angle
can be eliminated in favor of an arc to accommodate cylindrical
designs. While FIG. 1A depicts bodies with short fins as well as
long fins which lower the cost of the bodies, the invention also
contemplates exclusively using long fins. To assemble the metal
foundation, the fins from separate bodies are joined by any
mechanical fastening means such as Huck Bolts, rivets, clips,
bolts, studs clamps or any other feasible means known in the art.
As depicted in the metal foundation 5 disclosed in FIG. 1B, the
bottom of the foundation can be cut or mitered to any viable shape
known in the art that is required to penetrate the earth for a
specific project.
[0019] FIG. 2 depicts a radial geometric embodiment of the
disclosed metal foundation. In FIG. 2B, the radial metal foundation
12 is comprised of three fins that are centrally connected via a
mechanical means 13 forming a triangular radial shape. Each of fins
6 has one formed end 7 and a peripheral end 8 and fin 9 is a
completely straight fin with a central end 11 and a peripheral end
10. When assembled, each of the formed ends 7 of fins 6 adjoin with
the central end 11 of fin 9 to form a geometrically triangular
radial metal foundation with three fins. The invention also
contemplates the use of greater than three fins in a radial metal
foundation. The fins are adjoined by any suitable means known in
the art such as Huck Bolts, rivets, clips, bolts, studs clamps or
any feasible means known in the art.
[0020] The invention also contemplates metal foundations using a
combination of both the perimeter and radial geometric designs.
Radial geometric foundations can be any number of fins as long as
they match the segments of the perimeter foundation bodies. For
instance, a three fin radial foundation such as that depicted in
FIG. 2B will match any perimeter body shape that is divisible by
three as shown by the preferred embodiments depicted in FIGS. 3A-C
and a four point radial foundation assembled with only straight
fins 9 and fastening means 13 will match any perimeter body shape
divisible by four as shown by the preferred embodiments depicted in
FIGS. 3D-F. The triangular radial foundation depicted in FIG. 2B is
shown in use with a three sided foundation in FIG. 3a, a nine sided
foundation in FIG. 3b, and a six sided foundation in FIG. 3c. A
four point radial foundation is shown in use with an eight sided
foundation in FIG. 3d, a twelve sided foundation in FIG. 3e and a
four sided foundation depicted in FIG. 3f. These designs give a
very strong and supportive foundation. These are some of the
preferred embodiments; the invention is flexible that the pieces
can be assembled in any feasible shape needed for a specific
project. The fins of the radial metal foundation embodiments
connect via the fins of the perimeter metal foundations by any
suitable mechanical means such as Huck Bolts, rivets, clips, bolts,
studs clamps or any feasible means known in the art.
[0021] The disclosed invention allows for a lot of flexibility in
engineering designs for foundations. Any practicable size, shape,
thickness or length can be accommodated by the disclosed invention.
The metal foundations of the disclosed invention can be comprised
of sheet or plate steel with any grade and thickness necessary to
meet the load requirements of a specific project. The manufacturing
methods used to make the bodies of the metal foundation are those
commonly known in the art. The metal foundations of the disclosed
invention have the advantage of manual assembly, thus eliminating
the need for welding. This in turn, eliminates a significant cost
in the installation of metal foundations. If small enough, the
metal foundations of the disclosed invention can be assembled in
one place and transported to the work site. Alternatively for
larger foundations, the individual pieces can be transported and
manually assembled at the worksite as no special equipment other
than that necessary for mechanical fastening is needed. The metal
foundations of the disclosed invention can be installed in the
ground to any depth by any means known in the art including but not
limited to vibrating, pushing, or driving.
[0022] The foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely
exemplary embodiments of the present invention. One skilled in the
art will readily recognize from the accompanying drawings and
claims that various changes or modifications can be made without
departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.
* * * * *