Post Base with Support Formed from Side Members

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a connection between a cementitious foundation and an upstanding vertical member or post by means of a partially embedded connector and fasteners. The connector anchors the post to the foundation to counteract moment and uplift forces on the post while also supporting the bottom of the post and transferring bearing forces into the foundation.

One type of connectors for anchoring posts to a foundation uses U-shaped metal straps that are set in the wet concrete. The post is fastened to the portions of the upstanding metal straps that extended above the concrete. It is best not to have the post bear directly on the concrete foundation, if the post is made from wood as the end of the post can absorb moisture from water on the foundation surface. One solution to this problem is to connect an intermediate plate to the upstanding straps above the level of the concrete and have the post bear on this intermediate plate. U.S. Design Pat. No. D215, 727, invented by Tyrell Gilb, and which issued in 1969, shows such a post connector. U.S. Pat. No. 4,543,757 which was invented by Eunice M. Cosgrove, and which issued in 1985, teaches supporting the post on tabs struck from the metal sides of the connector.

Another type of connection for securing a post to a foundation is to anchor an upstanding tubular or rod-like member in the foundation that protrudes above the surface. The tubular anchor is provided with a u-shaped or tray-shaped member at its top that can receive and support the post. The sides of the members atop the tubular anchor are connected to the sides of the post. One of the earlier patents to this type of anchor is U.S. Pat. No. 2,909,816, invented by Wood and which granted in 1959.

Additional patents in this area, include U.S. Pat. No. 4,995,206, invented by Karen W. Colonias et al and which issued in 1991. This patent teaches a connector for a post that is shaped similarly to a bolt which supports a tray-shaped top for receiving the post, but the connector is made from a single sheet metal blank that is folded on itself. U.S. Pat. No. 4,096,677, invented by Tyrell Gilb and which issued in 1978, teaches an embedded post connector where the main body of the connector is created by bending an elongated member upon itself. The post is attached to the connector with bolts that are run through the two ends of the straps protruding from the foundation. The connector is used with a stand-off member that attaches to the two upstanding straps.

United Kingdom Patent 2,274,937, invented by Martin Olsen and which published in 1994, teaches a two-part connector where each part consists of an elongated strap that has a lower portion that is embedded in the ground and an upper portion that interfaces with the post, and each part also has an intermediary plate that juts from the strap and is disposed underneath the post. The elongated straps are connected to each other through fasteners received in the jutting intermediary plates below the post. U.S. Pat. No. 6,886,296, invented by Michael John and which issued in 2005, teaches a box-shaped protective sleeve that attaches to the base of a post by means of screws. The sleeve and the base of the post are inserted in the ground. The box-shaped sleeve completely encloses the base of the post except for the fastener openings that attach the post to the connector. According to the invention, openings are provided in the base of the box-shaped protective sleeve to allow moisture to drain from the bottom of the sleeve.

The present invention improves upon the prior art by providing a connector that is inexpensive to make and install and yet provides strong resistance to downward forces imposed on the post.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an embedded connector that is constructed from a single sheet metal blank, requires no welding or painting, and can resist forces transmitted to the connector by the post that it supports.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a connector that can elevate the bottom of the post above the top surface of the foundation or cementitious member.

It is further object of the invention to provide a support that has two upstanding first and second side members. The connector is connected to the post by fasteners. The fasteners are preferably threaded fasteners when the post is made from wood.

It is a further object of the invention in certain embodiments to provide the first and second side members with strengthening flanges that further interface with the post.

It is a further object of the invention to provide extension members bent from the material of the first and second side members to form a support member for the post.

In a preferred form of the invention, the post rests on the support member, and the support member is disposed above the top surface of the foundation. The first and second extension members which make up the support member are preferably bent upwardly from the top edge of an opening in the each of the first and second side members. The first and second extension members preferably have strengthening bends, interfacing portions, and are joined to each other by a fastener.

It is a further object of the invention in certain embodiments to provide the support member with a depending flange so that installer can see where the support member should be disposed above the top surface of the cementitious member or foundation.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a connector with a base member that has a first side edge and an opposed second side edge with the first side member being connected to the first side edge of the base member and the opposed second side member being connected to the second side edge of the base member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the connector, fasteners and post of the present invention, with the post shown embedded in a cementitious member. The cementitious member, the post, and fasteners are shown in dotted lines.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a connector of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a connector of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a connector of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a connector of the present invention, showing the first side and the base of the connector. The opening for receiving a screw for connecting the extension members at their depending flanges is shown.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a connector of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a connector of the present invention, showing the fastener for connecting the depending flanges of the extension members of the support member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, the connector 1 is embedded in and supported by a cementitious member 3 such as a concrete base or foundation. The connector 1 receives a post or supported member 4. The preferred elevated post base or connector 1 of the present invention is formed from a single sheet metal blank that is folded on itself.

As shown in FIG. 2, the connector 1 consists of a base or foot member 5 adapted for embedment in the cementitious member 3. The base member 5 is formed with opposed first and second side edges 6 and 7.

As shown in FIG. 1, attached to the first and second side edges 6 and 7, and extending upwardly therefrom are first and second side members 8 and 9, respectively. Preferably, in some embodiments, the first and second side members 8 and 9 are each formed with a respective strengthening flanges 10 or 11. The first and second side members 8 and 9 each have lower ends 12 and 13 which are integrally connected to the opposed first and second side edges 6 and 7 of the base member 5 and adapted for embedment in the concrete foundation 3. The first and second side members 8 and 9 have upper portions 14 and 15 that extend above the cementitious member 3. The upper portions 14 and 15 substantially extend along the supported member 4. The post or supported member 4 has a bottom surface 16 and the cementitious member 3 has an upper or top surface 17 with the bottom surface 16 of the post 4 preferably being spaced apart from the base member 5 and with material of the cementitious member 3 disposed between the bottom surface 16 of the post 4 and the base member 5. The bottom surface 16 of the post 4 is also preferably supported by the connector 1 above the upper surface 17 of the cementitious member 3. The connector 1 has a lower portion 18 embedded in the cementitious member 3 and an upper portion 19 receiving the post 4 with cementitious material from the cementitious member 3 disposed within the lower portion 18 of the connector 1.

The first side member 8 is connected to the first side edge 6 of the base member 5. The first side member 8 extends upwardly from the base member 5 so as to extend out of the upper surface 17 of the cementitious member 3. The first side member 8 has one or more strengthening flanges, preferably a first strengthening flange 10 and a second strengthening flange 10a extending angularly toward the opposed second member 9. Similarly, the opposed second side member 9 is connected to the second side edge 7 of the base member 5. The second side member 9 extends upwardly from the base member 5 so as to extend out of the upper surface 17 of the cementitious member 3. The second side member 9 has one or more strengthening flanges, preferably a first strengthening flange 11 and a second strengthening flange 11a extending angularly toward the opposed first side member 8. Preferably the first and second side members 8 and 9 and the strengthening flanges 10, 10a, 11 and 11a closely received the post 4.

One or more fasteners 20 connect the post 4 to the connector 1 so that the post 4, the connector 1 and the cementitious member 3 will resist movement as a unit. The fasteners 20 are preferably self-drilling and self-tapping threaded fasteners that are driven through the connector 1 and into the supported member 4.

The first and second side members 8 and 9 are attached to at least two opposed sides 21 and 22 of the supported member or post 4 with fasteners 20. Opposed sides 21 and 22 of the post 4 are aligned with the first and second side edges 6 and 7 of the base member 5.

Preferably one or more openings 29 may be formed in base member 5. The opening can have a formed wall around the opening to help strengthen the base member 5.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, additional openings can also be formed in the lower portions of the first and second side members that have a formed wall around the openings to help strengthen the base member 5. The additional openings help mechanically attach the connector 1 to the cementitious member 3.

As show in FIG. 1, the present invention has first and second side members 8 and 9 that together with the base member 5 make the shape of a “U” by bending the blank along the bend lines which are also the first and second side edges 6 and 7 of the base member 5.

To enable a post member 4 to be easily attached to the connector with fasteners 20, the first and second side members 8 and 9 are formed with fastener openings 34.

The elevated post base can be installed by forcing it into wet concrete at preselected location to a preselected depth, or it can be attached to members supported by a form and the concrete can be poured around it. Depending flanges 27 are provided at a location whereby the top surface 17 of the cementitious member 3 should be disposed approximately in line with the bottom edges 28 of the depending flanges 27. When installing the connector 1 in the cementitious member 3, the user should install the connector 1 to a depth where the bottom edges 28 of the depending flanges 27 are approximately aligned with the top or upper surface 17 of the cementitious members. One or more connecting fastener openings 36 are provided in the depending flanges 28 to receive a connecting fastener 37.

Typically, after the concrete hardens, the post 4 is placed on the support member 40 which consists of first and second extension members 41 and 42 bent from the first and second side members 8 and 9, respectively. The top of the support member 40 is preferably set so that it is approximately 1 inch above the upper surface 17 of the cementitious member 3. Preferably, self-drilling and self-tapping threaded fasteners 20 are driven through openings 34 and into the supported member 3.

The first and second extension members are preferably bent from the top edges 43 and 44 of first and second openings 45 and 46 formed in the first and second side members 8 and 9. The first extension 41 preferably has a first jutting flange 47 that preferably extends orthogonally from the first side member 8, a first positioning flange 48 that extends upwardly from the first jutting flange 47 at an orthogonal angle to the first jutting flange 47, a first extending flange 49 that extends from the first positioning flange 48 at an orthogonal angle and horizontally to the first side member 8, and a first depending flange 27 that extends downardly from the first extending flange. The first extension member 41 is preferably one piece formed by bending metal removed from the first side member 8. The second extension 42 preferably has a first jutting flange 57 that preferably extends orthogonally from the second side member 9, a first positioning flange 58 that extends upwardly from the first jutting flange 57 at an orthogonal angle to the first jutting flange 57, a first extending flange 59 that extends from the first positioning flange 58 at an orthogonal angle and horizontally to the second side member 9, and a second depending flange 27 that extends downardly from the first extending flange. The second extension member 42 is preferably one piece formed by bending metal removed from the second side member 9. The first and second depending flanges 27 are preferably formed in interfacing engagement with their one or more connecting fastener openings 36 aligned and a connecting fastener 37 received between the aligned connecting fastener openings 36.