ADJUSTABLE STRUCTURAL SUPPORT

Description

CROSS REFERENCE AND PRIORITY CLAIM UNDER 35 U.S.C. § 119

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/670,301 entitled “Adjustable Structural Support” filed on Jul. 12, 2024, which is assigned to the assignee hereof and the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a rotating adjustable structural support, and in particular, a rotating adjustable structural support that is embedded into a cementitious material for supporting a structure.

BACKGROUND

Floor joists, flooring beams, and various flooring structures may encounter drooping and sagging caused by shifting foundations and ground movement. Over time, these structural elements can also undergo permanent deformation due to continual loading. The ramifications of sagging or shifting floor structures are significant, potentially leading to compromised safety, structural damage, and increased maintenance costs. Thus, maintaining a level and stable support is important for the overall integrity of structures. There is a need for improved structural supports.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Disclosed herein are rotating adjustable structural support apparatuses and methods of installation and use thereof. As will be described herein in further detail, the structural support apparatuses may comprise a rod operatively coupled to a base that is operatively coupled to a foundation. A mount assembly that is operatively coupled to the opposite end of the rod and to structural members of a structure. The mount assembly may comprise a bracket that is operatively coupled to a seat of the rod through the use of a mount connector. The structural support apparatus allows for the rotation of the rod to adjust the position of the structural support apparatus, and thus, the structure, with the bracket installed to the structural member. Moreover, the connection of the mount connector to the bracket and the seat also provides resistance to loading, such an uplift loading, while still allowing for rotation of the rod. The various embodiments and the improvements that the structural support system and the structural support apparatuses thereof provide over traditional systems and apparatuses will be discussed in further detail herein.

In one aspect, a structural support apparatus is presented. The structural support apparatus may include a rod having an upper end and a lower end, a base configured to be operatively coupled with the lower end of the rod and a foundation, and a mount assembly having a bracket configured to be operatively coupled with a structural member, and a mount connector operatively coupling the bracket to the upper end of the rod. The mount connector may be configured to allow the rod to rotate with respect to the bracket while restricting separation of the bracket from the rod. The structural support apparatus may be configured to allow for vertical adjustment of the structural member without having to remove the bracket from the structural member.

In some implementations, the mount assembly may further include a seat operatively coupled to the upper end of the rod, wherein the seat may be configured to rotate with the rod with respect to the bracket.

In some implementations, the seat may include a cap defining a cap aperture, wherein the cap extends at least partially over and may be operatively coupled to the upper end of the rod.

In some implementations, the cap aperture may include a rod shoulder for contacting the rod.

In some implementations, the mount connector operatively couples the bracket to the rod through the cap aperture.

In some implementations, the upper end of the rod defines a rod aperture, and wherein the mount connector may be operatively coupled to the upper end of the rod through the rod aperture.

In some implementations, the mount connector may include external threads and the rod aperture may include internal threads for operatively coupling the mount connector and the rod.

In some implementations, the cap may include a nut portion configured to aid in rotation of the cap using a tool.

In some implementations, an upper surface of the seat may be configured to rotate against a lower surface of the bracket.

In some implementations, lubricant may be located between the upper surface of the seat and the lower surface of the bracket to aid in the rotation of the seat with respect to the bracket, or may be located between mating surfaces of the mount connector and the bracket.

In some implementations, the seat or the bracket defines a lubricant passage, wherein the lubricant passage may be configured to receive the lubricant and direct the lubricant between mating surfaces of the seat, the bracket, or the mount connector.

In some implementations, the mount assembly further may include one or more bearings, wherein the one or more bearings aid in the rotation of the seat with respect to the bracket.

In some implementations, the upper surface of the seat or the lower surface of the bracket may include one or more channels in which the one or more bearings sit.

In some implementations, the base may include at least one projection extending outwardly from the base.

In some implementations, the at least one projection may include at least one fin.

In some implementations, the structural support apparatus further may include a stop configured to restrict movement of the rod with respect to the base.

In some implementations, at least the lower end of the rod may be threaded and the stop may be a nut, and wherein the nut may be configured to be positioned adjacent the base to restrict longitudinal movement of the rod.

In some implementations, the base may be configured to be operatively coupled within the foundation made of a cementitious material.

In another aspect, a structural support system is presented. The structural support system may include a plurality of structural support apparatuses. The structural support apparatus having a rod having an upper end and a lower end, a base configured to be operatively coupled with the lower end of the rod and a foundation, and a mount assembly having a bracket configured to be operatively coupled with a structural member of a structure, and a mount connector operatively coupling the bracket to the upper end of the rod. The mount connector may be configured to allow the rod to rotate with respect to the bracket while restricting separation of the bracket from the rod. The plurality of structural support apparatuses may be configured to allow for vertical adjustment of the structure without having to remove the bracket from the structural member.

In yet another aspect, a method for adjustably supporting a structure is presented. The method may include assembling a plurality of structural support apparatuses to a foundation, a structural support apparatus may include a rod having an upper end and a lower end, a base configured to be operatively coupled with the lower end of the rod and the foundation, and a mount assembly that may include a bracket configured to be operatively coupled with a structural member, and a mount connector operatively coupling the bracket to the upper end of the rod. The method may include assembling the bracket of the plurality of structural support apparatuses to one or more structural members of the structure. The method may further include adjusting one or more of the plurality of structural support apparatuses to allow for vertical adjustment of the structure without removing the bracket from the structural member.

The above summary is provided merely for purposes of summarizing some example implementations to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the above-described implementations are merely examples and should not be construed to narrow the scope or spirit of the disclosure in any way. It will be appreciated that the scope of the present disclosure encompasses many potential implementations in addition to those here summarized, some of which will be further described below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus described implementations of the disclosure in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings. The components illustrated in the figures may or may not be present in certain implementations described herein. Some implementations may include fewer (or more) components than those shown in the figures.

FIG. 1 illustrates a structural support apparatus, in accordance with an implementation of the disclosure;

FIG. 2A illustrates a cutaway view of a structural support apparatus along line A-A of FIG. 2B, in accordance with an implementation of the disclosure;

FIG. 2B illustrates a side view of a structural support apparatus, in accordance with an implementation of the disclosure;

FIG. 3A illustrates a cutaway view of a structural support apparatus along line B-B of FIG. 3B, in accordance with an implementation of the disclosure;

FIG. 3B illustrates a side view of a structural support apparatus, in accordance with an implementation of the disclosure;

FIG. 4A illustrates a cutaway view of a structural support apparatus along line C-C of FIG. 4B, in accordance with an implementation of the disclosure;

FIG. 4B illustrates a side view of a structural support apparatus, in accordance with an implementation of the disclosure;

FIG. 5A illustrates a perspective view of a base of a structural support apparatus, in accordance with an implementation of the disclosure;

FIG. 5B illustrates a side view of a base of a structural support apparatus, in accordance with an implementation of the disclosure;

FIG. 5C illustrates a cutaway view of a base of a structural support apparatus along line D-D of FIG. 5B, in accordance with an implementation of the disclosure;

FIG. 6A illustrates a top plan view of a seat of a structural support apparatus, in accordance with an implementation of the disclosure;

FIG. 6B illustrates a cutaway view of a seat of a structural support apparatus along line E-E of FIG. 6A, in accordance with an implementation of the disclosure;

FIG. 7A illustrates a top plan view of a bracket of a structural support apparatus, in accordance with an implementation of the disclosure;

FIG. 7B illustrates a cutaway view of a bracket of a structural support apparatus along line F-F, in accordance with an implementation of the disclosure;

FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of a plurality of structural support apparatuses assembled to a structure, in accordance with an implementation of the disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a process flow for the installation and/or use of a plurality of the structural support apparatuses, in accordance with an implementation of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Implementations (otherwise described herein as embodiments) of the present disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all, implementations of the disclosure are shown. Indeed, the disclosure may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the implementations set forth herein; rather, these implementations are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Where possible, any terms expressed in the singular form herein are meant to also include the plural form and vice versa, unless explicitly stated otherwise. Also, as used herein, the term “a” and/or “an” shall mean “one or more,” even though the phrase “one or more” is also used herein. Furthermore, when it is said herein that something is “based on” something else, it may be based on one or more other things as well. In other words, unless expressly indicated otherwise, as used herein “based on” means “based at least in part on” or “based at least partially on.” Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

The components of the structural support apparatus described herein may be fabricated from a range of rigid materials, including but not limited to, metals such as steel, stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, copper, plastics such as polyethylene, Teflon, acetal, ABS, and polycarbonate, composites such as fiberglass and carbon fiber, graphene, ceramics, glass, wood, various alloys of the aforementioned materials, laminates, and so forth. Indeed, any suitable rigid material capable of fulfilling the intended function of a component falls within the scope of this disclosure.

FIG. 1 illustrates a structural support apparatus 100, in accordance with implementations of the disclosure. To address the challenge of sagging floor structures and the limitations of existing support systems, a structural support apparatus 100 may provide a solution. As will be discussed in further detail herein, the structural support apparatus 100 of the present disclosure aims to maintain stability and mitigate the effects of shifting structures by allowing for height adjustments to the structural support apparatuses 100 without the need for decoupling (e.g., partial or complete decoupling) from the structural members 30 of the structure 20, as will be described in further detail herein. Moreover, the structural support apparatus 100 may still provide uplift loading resistance (e.g., uplift wind loading, or the like) in addition to allowing the rod to rotate without the need for decoupling the structural support apparatus 100.

The structural support apparatus 100 is placed underneath a structural member 30 (e.g., a flooring joist, flooring support, or the like) and extends between the structural member and a foundation 50 of a structure 20 (e.g., building, house, mobile home, or the like), as will be described in further detail herein with respect to FIG. 8. As used herein, a “foundation” 50 may refer to the lower portion of a structure (e.g., building, house, or the like), typically constructed at or near ground level or below ground level to support and distribute the weight of the structure. Examples of foundations 50 may include shallow foundations such as strip and spread footings, deep foundations such as piles and caissons, layers of sediment, rock, or cementitious material above the ground level, below the ground level, and/or flush with the ground level, mat foundations and raft slabs, concrete columns formed from concrete poured into a mold (e.g., Sonotube®, or the like), or other like foundation or support.

The structural support apparatus 100 may be operatively coupled to the foundation 50 and one or more structural members 30 (e.g., beams, joists, trusses, columns, frames, or the like) of the structure 20, as will be described in further detail herein. Generally speaking, a fixed distance exists between the structural member 30 and the foundation 50 during or after the construction of a structure 20. One or more structural support apparatuses 100 may be placed between the structural member(s) 30 and the foundation 50, and the effective length of the structural support apparatus 100 may be adjusted (e.g., increased or decreased) in order to adjust the level of the structural member(s) 30, and thus, the structure 20 supported by the structural member(s) 30. As such, the structural support apparatuses 100 are loaded with a compressive force, thereby providing an upward force against the floor structure to either mitigate or prevent sagging of the floor structure relative the rest of the structure 20. As will be described herein, over time the structural support apparatuses 100 may be adjusted in order to account for changing conditions with the structure 20 and/or structural members 30 thereof, (e.g., sagging, sinking, settling, or the like) caused by changes in the ground, foundation 50, structural members 30, structure 20, or the like due to natural phenomena (e.g., settling, issues within building materials, human intervention, or the like.

As used herein, the “effective length” of a structural support apparatus 100 may refer to the overall length of the structural support apparatus 100 when placed between a structural member 30 and the foundation 50. Increases to the effective length may lead to larger fixed distances between a structural member 30 and the foundation 50, while decreases to the effective length may lead to shorter fixed distances therebetween.

The one or more structural support apparatuses 100, which may form a structural support system 10, may be operatively coupled to the structural members 30 of a structure 20 in order to restrict (e.g., prevent, reduce, or the like) the movement of the structural members 30 with respect to the one or more structural support apparatuses 100. For example, the one or more structural support apparatuses 100 may aid restricting sliding of the structural members 30 with respect to the structural support apparatuses 100, restricting the upward separation of the structural members 30 from the structural support apparatuses 100, or the like (e.g., due to tremors, wind, settling of the ground or building, or other like force, such as an uplift force, transverse force, combination thereof, or other like force). In other words, the structural support apparatuses 100 may act as ties between the structural members 30 and the foundation 50 to aid in maintaining the fixed distance therebetween, regardless of whether the building is at a resting/natural state or subject to forces (e.g., uplift, downward, transverse, or the like forces) caused by natural (e.g., wind, tremors, or the like) or unnatural phenomena (e.g., human damage, issues with building materials, or the like).

As previously noted, over time, the fixed distance between the structural members 30 and the foundation 50 may increase or decrease as a result of various conditions, such as foundation settling and/or shifting, warping and/or sagging of the floor structure, compression of building materials that comprise the foundation 50 and/or structural members 30, ground settling or shifting, remedial measures undertaken elsewhere within the structure 20, or the like. Traditional support systems for structures 50 may require removal from the structural members (e.g., detachment or decoupling) prior to adjusting the effective length thereof. Alternatively, or additionally, traditional support systems for structures may also fail to provide the ability to resist forces, such as uplift forces that may separate the structural members 30 of the structure 20 from the traditional support systems.

Accordingly, the effective length of the structural support apparatuses 100 of the present disclosure may be adjusted (e.g., increased or decreased) to alter the forces (e.g., upward forces, or the like) acting on the structural members 30 of the structure 20. The features and components of the structural support apparatuses 100 of the structural support systems 10, and methods for use thereof, that allow for such adjustment and the resulting support of the structure 20 (e.g., through the structural members 30) will henceforth be described in further detail.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-4B, the structural support 100 may include a rod 102 having an upper end and a lower end. In some implementations, the rod 102 may be an elongated member with a substantially circular or oval cross-section, rectangular or square cross-section, any polygonal cross-section, uniform or non-uniform cross-section, or the like. It should be understood that the rod 102 may have at least a portion that is any type of cross-sectional shape anywhere along the length of the rod 102. The outer surface of the rod 102 may include at least one threaded portion along at least a portion of the length of the rod 102. Additionally, or alternatively, the outer surface of the rod 102 may include at least one substantially smooth portion. As such, it should be understood that in some embodiments, the rod 102 may be threaded along the entire length of the rod 102, only adjacent the ends of the rod 102, in the middle of the rod 102 extending to a location near the ends of the rod 102 but not at the ends of the rod, and/or at one or more different locations along the rod 102.

The lower end of the rod 102 may be operatively coupled to a base 104. The base 104, as illustrated in FIGS. 5A-5C, may include features to allow for the operative coupling between the rod 102 and the base 104. For example, in some implementations, the base 104 may include a threaded feature to engage with a threaded portion of the rod 102 (e.g., internal threads in a cavity to engage with the outer threads of the rod 102). Upon the rotation of the rod 102 relative to the base 104, the threads may increase or decrease the length of the rod 102 exposed in the longitudinal direction, thereby increasing or decreasing the effective length of the structural support 100. Additionally, or alternatively, a stop 140 (e.g., a nut as illustrated in the figures, a clamp, a locking member, collar with a connector, such as a fastener, pin, or the like, moveable flange, or the like) may be operatively coupled to the outer surface of the rod 102 and/or the base to restrict (e.g., prevent, reduce, or the like) the movement of the rod 102 with respect to the base 104. For example, in some embodiments, the rod 102 may be able to slide freely with respect to the base 104 (e.g., into and/or out of the base), but the stop 140 is utilized to allow for rotation of the rod 102 relative the base 104 while preventing movement in a longitudinal direction (e.g., into and/or out of base 104). However, in some embodiments when the stop 140 is operatively coupled to the base 104 and/or the rod 102 (e.g., tightened against the base 104, or the like), the stop 104 may restrict (e.g., reduce, prevent, or the like) the movement of the rod 102 with respect to the base 104 (e.g., longitudinal, rotational, or the like). Additionally, or alternatively, other means for operatively coupling the rod 102 to the base 104 may be implemented, including, but not limited to bearings, couplers, or the like.

The base 104 may be operatively coupled to a foundation. For example, in some implementations, at least a portion of the base 104 may be placed within liquid cementitious material, and the cementitious material is allowed to cure (e.g., harden) to permanently operatively couple the base 104 in place within a foundation 50. The liquid cementitious material may be poured in-situ, such as underneath a structural member of an existing structure, and the base 104 placed therein while the cementitious material cures (e.g., for a retrofit application). Alternatively, the base 104 may be inserted into a liquid cementitious material that is allowed to cure on site before the structural members 30 of the structure 20 are operatively coupled to the structural support apparatuses 100 during a new build.

In other implementations not depicted graphically, the base 104 may be coupled to an existing foundation through fastening mechanisms, such as anchor bolts, lag bolts, concrete bolts, clips, brackets, or the like, attached to or extending through one or more apertures of the base 104 and received by the existing foundation 50 or ground to secure the base 104 thereto.

Proximate the upper end of the rod 102 may be a mount assembly 106, as illustrated in some implementations in FIGS. 1-4B. The mount assembly 106 is utilized to operatively couple the upper end of the rod 102 to the structural member 30 of the structure 20 and to provide the improvements described herein. In some embodiments, the mount assembly 106 may include a bracket 108 that is operatively coupled to a structural member 30 (e.g., a flooring support, or the like) of a structure 20. The bracket 108 is generally illustrated as a rectangular plate, however, it should be understood that the bracket 108 may be any shape (e.g., circular, oval, square, triangular, any polygonal shape, uniform, non-uniform, or the like). Moreover, while the bracket 108 is illustrated as a plate, it may have one or more arms (e.g., L-shaped, u-shaped, n-shaped, v-shaped, c-shaped, I-shaped, H-shaped, or the like) that are used to extend over and/or around one or more surfaces of a structural member 30. In some implementations, as will be described herein with respect to FIGS. 7A and 7B, the bracket 108 may include a flat portion forming one or more bracket support apertures 131 through which one or more bracket support connectors 130 (e.g., fasteners, such as screws, bolts, pins, nuts, rivets, or the like, clip, clamps, adhesives, or the like) are used to secure the bracket 108 to the structural member 30, for example, the underside of a joist, beam, or the like. In some implementations, the bracket support apertures 131 are through-holes that allow the passing of fasteners therethrough, including wood screws, machine screws, bolts, nails, or the like, the fasteners engaging with the structural member 30 to secure the bracket 108. Other implementations may include apertures 131 that are slots in the backet 108 to allow such fasteners to pass through and fasten the bracket 108 to the structural member 30. Additionally, or alternatively, projections (e.g., tabs, or the like) on the bracket 108 may be included to provide anchor points for the fasteners. Additionally, or alternatively, the bracket 108 may include other projections (e.g., prongs, teeth, or the like) to grip the structural member 30 or become embedded into the structural member 30 during installation. Additionally, or alternatively, adhesives such as epoxy or construction adhesive may be implemented to adhere the bracket 108 to the structural member. Additionally, or alternatively, other connectors 130, such as clips, clamps, or brackets may be implemented to secure the bracket 108 to the structural member 30.

As will be described in further detail herein, the bracket 108 may be utilized to allow the rod 102 to rotate with respect to the bracket 108 while the bracket 108 is installed to the structural member 30. As such, it should be understood that in some embodiments of the present disclose, the bracket 108 of the mounting assembly 106 may be configured to allow the rod 102 to rotate with respect to bracket 108 in a number of ways, some of which will be described in further detail below with respect to FIGS. 2A-7B.

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a side view and a cross-sectional view of a structural support apparatus 100 along line A-A, in accordance with an implementation of the disclosure. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B the mount assembly 106 may comprise a bracket 108 having a seat 112. In some embodiments the seat 112 may include a surface against which the rod 102 (or a projection therefrom) mates and allows the rod 102 to rotate with respect to the seat 112. In particular embodiments, the seat may define a seat aperture 113 (e.g., a cavity, or the like) extending at least partially within the seat 112 (e.g., into the seat and/or through the seat). As such, the seat 112 may receive at least a portion of the rod 102 (e.g., threaded portion and/or non-threaded portion). In some embodiments the rod 102 may be allowed to rotate within the seat aperture 113 of the seat 112 to allow the rod 102 to move the mounting assembly 106, in particular, the bracket 108 thereof up or down as the rod 102 is rotated to adjust the position of the structural member 30 to which the mount assembly 106 is operatively coupled. In some embodiments, the bracket 108 and seat 112 may be separate portions that are operatively coupled together or may be integrally operatively coupled when formed as a unitary body that includes both the bracket 108 and the seat 112.

In some embodiments, it should be understood that the seat aperture 113 may include an internally threaded portion corresponding to a threaded portion of the rod 102 (e.g., may be long enough to extend over a length of the upper end and/or immediate portion of the rod 102). As such, in some embodiments, the rod 102 may be able to move the bracket 108 through the threading and unthreading of the rod 102 with respect to the threaded seat 102.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a side view and a cross-sectional view of a structural support apparatus 100 along line B-B, in accordance with other implementations of the support structure apparatus 100. As illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the mount assembly 106 may comprise the bracket 108, a seat 112, and a mount connector 110. In this embodiment the bracket 108 and the seat 112 are separate components. The bracket 108 is operatively coupled to a structural member 30 of a structure 20, as previously described herein. The seat 112 is operatively coupled to the upper end of the rod 102, such that the seat 112 and rod 102 do not move with respect to each other, and instead both rotate with respect to the bracket 108. As such, in some implementations, the seat 112 may comprise a cap 114 defining a cap aperture 116 therethrough for receiving the rod 102. The cap 114 therefore may extend over and be operatively coupled to the upper end of the rod 102.

The cap aperture 116 (or a seat aperture 113 with respect to the use of a seat 112) may extend from the upper surface of the cap 114 through the cap 114 and may include reductions and/or increases to diameters or other dimensions therein to accommodate the various implementations of the mount connector 110. For example, as will be described in further detail herein, a mount connector 110, such as a shoulder bolt, may require a circular cap aperture 116 with a first diameter adjacent the lower portion of the cap 114 to allow for the passing of a threaded portion of the mount connector 110, while a larger second diameter adjacent the upper portion of the cap 114 may be implemented to accommodate the shoulder portion of the mount connector 110. One or more surfaces of the cap aperture 116 may include a chamfer 144, as illustrated in FIG. 6B, to reduce the potential for friction during the rotation of the cap 114.

In some implementations, the cap 114 may include a nut portion 122 on the external surface of the cap 114. The nut portion 122, which may include one or more flat faces (e.g., one, two, three, four, five, six, or the like), allows for the use of tools such as spanners, adjustable wrenches, socket wrenches, or the like to grip the cap 114 and obtain leverage to rotate the cap 114 for adjusting the effective length of the structural support apparatus 100. Additionally, or alternatively, the cap 114 may include an elongated body projecting from the cap 114 and permanently or removably coupled to the cap 114 to allow for assisted turning by hand or via a tool.

In some embodiments, the cap 114 may further include a rod shoulder 118 within the cap aperture 116 for contacting the rod 102. The rod shoulder 118 may have a surface that corresponds with a portion of the rod 102, for example, each may have at least one flat portion that mate with each other. The cap aperture 116 may be threaded in order to be operatively coupled with the upper end of the rod 102. Additionally, or alternatively, the cap 114 may be operatively coupled to the upper end of the rod 102 through a press fit, welding, cured liquid (e.g., adhesive, epoxy, or the like), swaging or flaring (e.g., when the mount connector 110 is installed, or the like), through a cap connector (e.g., a set screw, or the like) that extends through the cap 114 and into the rod 102, formed integrally with each other (e.g., machined), or the like. It should be understood that the cap aperture 116 may be described as a seat aperture 113 when other types of seats 112 are utilized instead of a cap 114.

In other embodiments of the invention, instead of the seat 112 being a cap 114 that extends over the rod 102, the rod may be large enough to extend around at least a portion of the seat 112, in the same or similar way as the cap 114 is described as being operatively coupled to the rod 102.

In still other embodiments, the seat 112 may be operatively coupled to the top surface of the rod 102 directly without one component extending over the other (e.g., by welding the seat 112 to the rod 102, or the like).

Regardless of how the seat 112 is operatively coupled to the upper end of the rod 102, the seat 112 (e.g., the cap 114, or the like) and the rod 102 may be rotated together. In some embodiments, the seat 112 may have one or more flat surfaces (e.g., two, three, four, five, six, or the like) that allow a tool (e.g., wrench, or the like) to turn the seat 112 in order to turn the rod 102, as will be described in further detail herein.

As further illustrated in FIG. 3A, the bracket 108 may be operatively coupled to the upper end of rod 102 through the use of a mount connector 110. In such implementations, the mount connector 110 may be configured to allow the rod 102, seat 112, and the mount connector 110 to rotate with respect to the bracket 108 while the bracket 108 is installed to the structural member 30 and while restricting separation of the bracket 108 from the rod 102 (e.g., during loading, such as during uplift loading). As such, as illustrated in FIGS. 3A, 4A, 7A, and 7B, the bracket 108 may comprise a bracket mount aperture 146 that extends through the bracket 108. Moreover, as illustrated in FIGS. 3A, 4A, 6A and 6B, the seat 112 (e.g., cap 114, or the like) defines a seat mount aperture (e.g., illustrated as a cap aperture 116 in one embodiment). Consequently, the mount connector 110 may extend through the bracket mount aperture 146 and the seat mount aperture (e.g., the cap aperture 116, or other seat aperture) to operatively couple the bracket 108 to the rod 102 while still allowing the relative rotation of the mount connector 110, rod 102, and seat 112 (e.g., the cap 114, or other seat) with respect to the bracket 108.

As illustrated in FIG. 3A, in some implementations, the upper end of the rod 102 defines a rod aperture 120. The rod aperture 120 may be used to operatively couple the upper end of the rod 102 to the mount connector 110. The rod aperture 120 may include an internally threaded portion, while the mount connector 110 may include a portion has an externally threaded portion. As such, the mount connector 110 may comprise a fastener (e.g., a shoulder bolt, or the like) that extends through the bracket 108 (through a bracket mount aperture 146) and the seat aperture (e.g., the cap aperture 116, or the like) and operatively coupled into the internally threaded portion of the rod 102. The rod aperture 120 may engage the mount connector 110 and prevent the separation and rotation of the rod 102 relative the mount connector 110, while also retaining the bracket 108.

Additionally, or alternatively (e.g., instead of the mount connector 110 being coupled to the rod 102), the mount connector 110 may be operatively coupled to the seat 112 (e.g., cap 114, or the like). For example, the seat 112 (e.g., cap 114, or the like) may be operatively coupled to the rod 102 and the mount connector 110 may be operatively coupled to the seat 112, such as an internally threaded portion in the seat 112 (e.g., in the cap 114, or other seat).

As illustrated in FIGS. 6B and 7B, the seat 112 (e.g., the cap 114, or the like) may include a seat chamfer (or a seat countersink), such as cap chamfer 144 and/or the bracket 108 comprises a bracket chamfer 148 (or bracket countersink). Accordingly, a mount connector 110 may include a corresponding countersunk head (e.g., flat head with conical seating surface). As a result, the mount connector 110 may sit flush with or below the upper surface of the bracket 108, creating a bracket upper surface without a protrusion of the mount connector 110 at the upper surface of the bracket 108, thereby allowing the bracket 108 to be seated flush against the structural member 30. Other implementations may include the use of a counterbore feature of the bracket mount aperture 146 and a corresponding head portion of the mount connector 110.

While the implementations depicted herein implement a shoulder bolt as the mount connector 110, it shall be appreciated that various other securing devices are contemplated, each of which may secure the bracket 108 to the rod 102 in the longitudinal direction (otherwise described as the axial direction) while still allowing for the rotation of the rod 102 relative the bracket 108. Examples of the mount connector 110 include, but are not limited to, machine screws, self-tapping screws, hex bolts, carriage bolts, solid rivets, blind rivets, drive rivets, dowel pin, cotter pins, spring pins, retaining clips, spring clips, snap rings, anchors, or the like.

For example, as is the case when the mount connector 110 comprises a shoulder bolt, the rod aperture 120 may include internal threads for receiving external threads of a mount connector 110, thereby operatively coupling the two components together. Additionally, or alternatively, one or more of the mount connectors 110 and the rod aperture 120 may be smooth (e.g., unthreaded). As such, the rod aperture 120 may receive the mount connector 110 via a slip-fit connection and retain the mount connector 110 therein via other hardware, including but not limited to one or more setscrews extending into the rod aperture 120 to engage the mount connector 110, one or more apertures for receiving pins (e.g., cotter pins), clips, or the like.

Regardless of the configuration, the bracket 108 is prevented from movement in the longitudinal direction (or axial direction), yet the rod 102, seat 112, and mount connector 110 are able to rotate with respect to the bracket 108. As such, an upper surface of the seat 112 may be configured to rotate against a lower surface of the bracket 108 to allow for adjustment of the structural support apparatus 100 without having to disengage the bracket 108. In some implementations, the bracket 108 may be operatively coupled to and be stationary relative to the structural member 30. Moreover, the base 104 may be operatively coupled to and be stationary relative to the foundation 50. As such, rotation of the seat 112 (by a tool, hand, or otherwise) causes the rotation of the rod 102 while maintaining the positional relationship between the bracket 108 and the structural member 30 and the base 104 and foundations 50. As a result of the rotation of the rod 102 relative to the bracket 108 and the base 104, the effective length of the structural support apparatus 100 may therefore increase or decrease.

In some implementations, lubricant may be located (e.g., applied before, during, and/or after installation) between the upper surface of the seat 112 and the lower surface of the bracket 108. It shall be appreciated that the rotation of the seat 112 may cause a portion of the seat 112 to rub against the adjacent portion of the bracket 108 (e.g., the lower surface). While the materials (e.g., the same or different materials) between the seat 112 and the bracket 108 may allow for lubricant-free rotation (e.g., a self-lubricating plastic such as acetal rotating against a metal component), other implementations may require the use of a lubricant therebetween in order to prevent burr formation, material loss, seizing between components due to frictional forces and/or material reactions, and to otherwise aid in the rotation of the seat 112 with respect to the bracket 108. Examples of such lubricants include, but are not limited to, grease, silicone grease, white lithium grease, graphite, polytetrafluoroethylene lubricant, mineral oil, synthetic oil, multipurpose grease, molybdenum disulfide grease, gear oil, penetrating oil, or the like.

Additionally, or alternatively, the surfaces between the mount connector 110 and the bracket 108 and/or seat 112 may require a lubricant to avoid similar challenges related to burr formation, material loss, seizing between components due to frictional forces and/or material reactions. As such, the lubricant may also be located (e.g., applied before, during, and/or after installation) between mating surfaces of the mount connector 110 and the bracket 108 and/or seat 112.

In some implementations, the seat 112, the bracket 108, and/or the mount connector 110 may define a lubricant passage 124. The lubricant passage 124 may be any channel or recessed feature that may be located within, and/or deliver lubricant to, the contact area between the seat 112, the bracket 108, and/or the mount connector 110. For example, in some implementations the seat 112 and/or the bracket 108 may have one or more circular grooves machined or otherwise applied to the mating surfaces between the components that function to receive and retain the lubricant. In doing so, this lubricant passage 124 stores and otherwise directs the lubricant to the mating surfaces of seat 112 and/or the bracket 108 during rotation relative one another. Additionally, or alternatively, the lubricant passage 124 may be located between the mount connector 110 and the bracket 108. Additionally, or alternatively, the lubricant passage 124 may be located between the mount connector 110 and the seat 112. Various implementations of lubricant passages 124 are contemplated, including circular groove(s), linear groove(s), discrete aperture(s) or cutout(s), or the like. Cross-sections of the lubricant passages 124 may be substantially in the shape of a circle, v-shaped, u-shaped, rectangular, uniform, non-uniform, or the like.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate a side view and a cutaway view of a structural support apparatus 100 along line C-C, in accordance with an implementation of the present disclosure. While the implementation of the mount assembly 106 illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B may include the use of a lubricant, additionally, or alternatively, the mount assembly 106 as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B may include one or more bearings 126 (e.g., ball bearings, roller bearings, cylindrical bearings, taper bearings, needle bearings, spherical roller bearings, plain bearings, angular contact bearings, ceramic bearings, or the like). In doing so, the bearings 126 reduce the friction between the mating surfaces of the seat 112 and the bracket 108 during rotation relative one another by physically separating the seat 112 from the bracket 108 and allowing the bearings 126 to roll during rotation of the rod 102, seat 112, and/or mount connector 110. Additionally, or alternatively, bearings 126 may be positioned between the mount connector 110 and the bracket 108 to aid in rotation and reduce the friction therebetween. In implementations that include one or more bearings 126, the upper surface of the seat 112 may include one or more channels 142 in which the one or more bearings 126 sit.

Continuing at FIGS. 7A and 7B, these figures illustrate a top plan view and a cross-sectional view along line F-F of a bracket 108 of a structural support apparatus 100, in accordance with an implementation of the present disclosure. Similar to the channels 142 in the upper surface of the seat 112, in some implementations, the lower surface of the bracket 108 may include one or more channels 128. As such, these channels 128 may be utilized for lubrication and/or the one or more bearings 126, as previously described with respect to the seat 112.

The one or more channels 128, 142 may be ring-shaped grooves (e.g., circular-shaped grooves) that provide smooth movement of the rolling elements (e.g., the bearings 126). Various implementations of channels 128, 142 are contemplated, including circular groove(s), linear groove(s), discrete aperture(s) or cutout(s), or the like. Cross-sections of the channels 128, 142 may be substantially in the shape of a circle, v-shaped, u-shaped, rectangular, uniform, non-uniform, or the like.

FIGS. 5A and 5C illustrate a perspective view, a side view, and a cross-sectional view of a base 104 of a structural support apparatus 100 along line D-D, in accordance with an implementation of the disclosure. In some implementations, the base 104 may include a receiver flange 132. In some implementations, the receiver flange 132 may be substantially circular in shape. In other implementations, the receiver flange 132 may be substantially rectangular, square, oval, triangular, hexagonal, any polygonal shape, uniform, non-uniform, or the like.

In some implementations, the receiver flange 132 may define a base aperture 134 for receiving the lower end of the rod 102. As such, in some implementations, the base aperture 134 may include a threaded portion for receiving a corresponding threaded portion of the rod 102. In this way, rotations of the rod 102 may cause the translation of the rod 102 in the longitudinal direction, allowing the receiver flange 132 to change longitudinal positions along the rod 102. Such translations may lead to the increase or decrease of the effective length of the structural support apparatus 100. Additionally, or alternatively, the rod 102, if it contains a threaded portion, may be secured to the base 104 via a threaded portion of another component of the base 104, such as the neck 136, as will be described in detail herein. In other implementations, the base aperture 134 may not include a threaded portion. Instead, the base aperture 134 may be at least a partial aperture (e.g., bore-hole, thru-hole, or the like) that allows the passage of the rod 102 while another component operatively coupled to the base 104 includes the threaded portion.

The receiver flange 132 may define an upper surface and a lower surface of the receiver flange 132. In some implementations, the receiver flange 132 is operatively coupled to the foundation 50, such as positioned within or to the foundation 50. In some embodiments the lower surface of the receiver flange 132 is flush with an upper surface of the foundation 50, such that the receiver flange 132 (and therefore the base 104) does not sink into or otherwise move relative the foundation 50 upon compressive forces being exerted on the structural support apparatus 100. In other implementations, the upper surface of the receiver flange 132 may be positioned flush with the upper surface of the foundation 50. In yet additional implementations, both the upper and lower surfaces may be positioned beneath the upper surface of the foundation 50, such that the receiver flange 132 is captured therein. However, it should be understood that the receiver flange 132 may be located at any position with respect to the foundation 50.

In some implementations, the base 104 may further include a neck 136. The neck 136 may be substantially cylindrical in shape (e.g., circular cross-section). In other implementations, the neck 136 may be substantially rectangular, square, oval, triangular, hexagonal, any polygonal shape, uniform, non-uniform, or the like. The neck 136 may also define the base aperture 134 extending from an upper portion of the neck 136 (e.g., adjacent the receiver flange 132, or the like) at least partially in the direction of a lower portion of the neck 136. The base aperture 134 within the neck 136 may be aligned with the base aperture 134 of the receiver flange 132, such that the lower end of the rod 102 is received by the base aperture 134 of the neck 136.

In some implementations, the portion of the base aperture 134 at the neck 136 may be substantially smooth, as to pass the lower end of the rod 102 therethrough in a slip-fit manner. In other implementations, the portion of the base aperture 134 at the neck 136 may include a threaded portion to engage with the threaded portion of the rod 102. Additionally, or alternatively, the portion of the base aperture 134 at the receiver flange 132 may be substantially smooth, as to pass the lower end of the rod 102 therethrough in a slip-fit manner and into the portion of the base aperture 134 at the neck 136 containing a threaded portion. In other implementations, the portion of the base aperture 134 at the receiver flange 132 may include a threaded portion to engage with the threaded portion of the rod 102, while the portion of the base aperture 134 at the neck 136 may also include a threaded portion to engage with the threaded portion of the rod 102. As such, the base aperture 134 may extend from the receiver flange 132 through at least a portion of the neck 136 (and in some implementations, all the way through the neck 136).

The length of the neck 136 and/or the length of the receiver flange 132, and/or the length of the base aperture 134 may be selected based on the expected length of adjustment to the effective length of the structural support apparatus 100 (e.g., an adjustment length of 6 inches may require at least 6 inches of base aperture 134 to receive the rod 102), or a configuration length of the structural support apparatus 100 that is desired for packaging or transportation, and so forth. Typical lengths of the neck 136 and/or the receiver flange 132 and/or the base aperture 134 may be between 0.5-1.0 in., 1.0-3.0 in., 3.0-6.0 in., 6.0-8.0 in, 8.0-10.0 in, 10.0-12.0 in, 12.0-18.0 in, 18.0-24.0 in, 24.0.0-36.0 in, or the like, or may range between any combination of these ranges (or may range between, overlap, or fall outside of any of the values in these ranges). As such, the travel of the rod 102 may be able to travel any of these distances (or may be range between, overlap, or fall outside of any of these ranges).

In some implementations, the base 104 may include at least one projection extending outwardly from the base 104. In some implementations, the at least one projection may include at least one fin 138. The one or more projections (e.g., the one or more fins 138, or the like) may be provided to allow for improved encasement within the foundation 50 (e.g., a cementitious material forming the foundation) and/or to provide resistance against the undesired rotation of the base 104 during the adjustment to the structural support apparatus 100. Once the one or more projections (e.g., fins 138, or the like) are embedded within a foundation 50, the base 104 resists movement in any direction relative to the foundation 50, as a result of forces applied to the base 104 during use thereof being transferred to the foundation itself via the base 104 itself with or without the one or more projections thereof (e.g., the one or more faces of the fins 138, or the like).

While a quantity of four fins 138 are depicted in FIG. 5A, it shall be appreciated that similar functionality may be provided through use of more or fewer fins 138. For example, some implementations may only use one projection (e.g., one fin 138, or the like), while other implementations may use 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or any other suitable number of projections (e.g., fins 138, or the like) located in the same plane or in different planes along the base 104. Similarly, while the projections are illustrated in FIG. 5A as fins that are generally rectangular in shape, various other shapes of fins 138 are contemplated, including triangles, oval, rectangular, square, diamonds, circles, trapezoids, any other polygonal shape, uniform, non-uniform, or the like shape. Moreover, while the projections (e.g., fins 138, or the like) illustrated in FIG. 5A are depicted as extending from the neck 136 in a radial direction (i.e., normal to the outer surface of the neck 136), other implementations may include one or more projections (e.g., fins 138, or the like) angled relative to the outer surface of the neck 136. Additionally, or alternatively, while the projections (e.g., fins 138, or the like) in FIG. 5A are depicted as extending from the neck 136, one or more projections (e.g., fins 138, or the like) may be positioned on the receiver flange 132 and extending therefrom, either in a radial direction, angular direction, or in a longitudinal direction. As such, the one or more fins 138 may be located on any portion of the base 104.

Referring back now to FIG. 1, in some implementations, the structural support apparatus 100 may further include a stop 140 configured to restrict movement of the rod 102 with respect to the base 104. In some implementations, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the stop 140 may be a locknut containing internal threads corresponding to the threads of the rod 102 located at least at the lower end of the rod 102. As such, once an appropriate effective length of the structural support apparatus 100 has been implemented (e.g., the position of the rod 102 relative the base 104), the stop 140 may be rotated along its threads until the stop 140 sits adjacent the base 104. By doing so, unintentional longitudinal movement of the rod 102 is restricted (e.g., in the downward direction). It shall be appreciated that although the stop 140 in the illustrated implementation does not restrict movement of the rod 102 in the upward direction, such movement is generally of little concern, as compressive forces acting on the structural support apparatus 100 after installation naturally aid in restricting (e.g., reducing, preventing, or the like) movement in such a direction. Alternatively, movement of the rod 102 within the base 104 may be restricted by a threaded portion within the base 104 and/or by the stop 140.

While the stop 140 may be a locknut, other implementations are considered. For example, two locknuts may be implemented, one which is embedded within the base 104 and the second which is adjacent the receiver flange 132 of the base 104. Additionally, or alternatively, the stop 140 may be a different component, including, but not limited to, fasteners, such as screws extending through the rod 102 such as machine screws, or the like, bolts, rivets, pins, or the like, clamps, pins clips, snap rings, anchors, or the like.

Turning to FIG. 8, it shall be appreciated that a plurality of structural support apparatuses 100 may form the basis of a structural support system 10. A structure 20, such as a building, home, deck, or the like, may include one or more structural members 30 for which the structural support apparatuses 100 provide support. Furthermore, a foundation 50 for the structure 20 may be provided thereunder. For example, in some implementations the foundation 50 may be a continuous foundation support such as a cementitious slab, a mat footing, a combined footing, a stem wall footing, an individual footing, or the like. Additionally, or alternatively, the foundation 50 may include a plurality of foundation supports having pile foundations, pier and beam foundations, pad foundations, grillage foundations, isolated footings, or the like. In some embodiments, the foundation 50 may include form tubes that are filled with concrete and hardened into footings 52, and in which the structural support apparatuses 100 are embedded, as illustrated in FIG. 8.

As such, one or more structural support apparatuses 100 may be assembled to the one or more structural members 30 of the structure 20. In some implementations, the one or more structural support apparatuses 100 may be assembled to the structural members 30 prior to construction of the structure 20. In other implementations, the one or more structural support apparatuses 100 may be assembled to the structural members 30 as a retrofit system to correct structural issues in the structure 20.

In some implementations, the foundation 50 (e.g., foundation supports, continuous foundation, or the like) may be in-place under the structure 20 prior to the assembling of the one or more structural support apparatuses 100 to the one or more structural members 30. In other implementations, the foundation 50 (e.g., foundation supports, continuous foundation, or the like) may be installed (e.g., poured, placed, or the like) during the assembling of the one or more structural support apparatuses 100, for example, to capture the one or more bases 104 within the foundation 50.

In some implementations, the plurality of structural support apparatuses 100 may be individually adjusted during or after installation of the structure 20 to aid in leveling the structure 20 and/or in restricting (e.g., resisting, preventing, or the like) the settling of the structure 20. In doing so, the effective length of the structural support apparatuses 100 may be increased or decreased (for example, via rotation of the cap 114 or otherwise) sufficient to apply a desired upward force onto the structural member(s) 30 for upward movement and/or to allow the downward movement to level the structural members 30 during construction to maintain the desired positioning of the structural member(s) 30. Additionally, or alternatively, the plurality of structural support apparatuses 100 may be individually adjusted after the settling of the structure to remediate the impact of the settling on the structural member(s) 30 of the structure 20.

In some implementations, the plurality of structural support apparatuses 100 may be assembled to the foundation 50, then subsequently assembled to the structural member(s) 20 (e.g., via brackets 108). In other implementations, the plurality of structural support apparatuses 100 may be assembled to the structural member(s) 30, then subsequently assembled to the foundation 50.

In any such implementations, the structural support apparatuses 100, once assembled to or positioned adjacent the structural member(s) 30 and the foundation 50, may be adjusted by rotating the rod 102 with respect to the bracket 108 without removing the bracket 108 from the structural member(s) 30, as will be described in further detail with respect to the process of FIG. 9.

FIG. 9 illustrates a process for installing, and/or utilizing, the structural support system 10 (e.g., the plurality of structural support apparatuses 100) to aid in restricting, mitigating, or reversing structural damage to a structure 20 and/or leveling the structure 20. As illustrated in block 310 of FIG. 9, the base 104 of the structural support apparatuses 100 are operatively coupled to a foundation 50. For example, at least a portion of the base 104 is inserted into a cementitious material before it hardens. Alternatively, the base 104 is connected to a hardened cementitious material using one or more connectors (e.g., clamps, fasteners, such as anchor bolts, or the like). It should be understood that the base 104 may be assembled to the foundation 50 as the structure 20 is being built or as a retrofit installation for a previously built structure 20.

Block 320 of FIG. 9 illustrates that the mount assembly 106 is installed to a structural member 30. For example, the mount connector 110 may be operatively coupled to the seat 112 and/or rod 102 before the bracket 108 is installed. Alternatively, the mount connector 110 may be operatively coupled to the bracket 108, and the bracket 108 is installed before operatively coupling the mount connector 110 to the seat 112 and/or rod 102. Regardless of when the mount assembly 106 is operatively coupled to the rod 102, the bracket 108 is installed to the structural member 30 of the structure 20. For example, the bracket 108 of the mount assembly 106 is installed to the structural member through the use of the bracket support connectors 130 (e.g., fasteners, and/or other like connectors), as previously described herein. Moreover, as previously described herein, lubricate may be added between the surface of the seat 112 that contacts the surface of the bracket 108. As such, the rod 102 and seat 112 are able to rotate with respect to the installed bracket 108, as previously discussed herein.

It should be understood that multiple structural support apparatuses 100 may be installed to one or more structural members 30 and/or foundation(s) 50 of the structure 20, as described with respect to blocks 310 and 320. As further illustrated in block 330 of FIG. 9, the one or more structural support apparatuses 100 may be adjusted in order to adjust the positioning of the one or more structural members 30. For example, the one or more structural support apparatuses 100 may be adjusted to move the structural members 30 as the structure 20 is being installed in order to locate the structural members 30 in the correct positions before building the remaining portions of the structure 20. In other embodiments, the structural support apparatuses 100 may be adjusted to adjust the structure 20 in the event of a retrofit installation to a structure 20 that has structural issues. Regardless, the structural support apparatuses 100 may be manually and/or automatically (e.g., electrically, mechanically, pneumatically, hydraulicly, or the like) adjusted one or more at a time. In some embodiments, jacks (e.g., electrical, mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, or the like) may be used to position the structural members 30 and/or structure 20 as the structural support apparatuses 100 are being installed and/or adjusted.

Block 340 of FIG. 9 further illustrates that the structure 20 may be monitored over time (e.g., using sensors, by manual inspection, combinations thereof, or the like). The one or more structural support apparatuses 100 may be further adjusted over time in order correct any movement of the structure 20 in the future, as illustrated in block 350 of FIG. 9. Block 360 further illustrates that blocks 340 and 350 are repeated over time.

The embodiments of the present disclosure provide improvements over traditional structural support apparatuses. Floor joists, flooring beams, and various flooring structures often encounter drooping and sagging caused by shifting foundations. ground movement, and/or building materials due to natural phenomena (e.g., weather, water, earthquakes, tornados, other natural disasters, insects, animal damage, or the like), defects in the building materials, defects in the design and/or assembly of the structure, or the like. Over time, these structural elements can also undergo permanent deformation due to continual loading. The ramifications of sagging or shifting floor structures are significant, potentially leading to compromised safety, structural damage, and increased maintenance costs. Thus, maintaining a level and stable foundation is important for the overall integrity of buildings and structures. Moreover, natural forces that arise from factors such as wind may create differences in air pressure between the underside of structures and the surrounding environment, leading to uplift forces that may cause structural damage or instability. The dynamic nature of foundation shifts may require adjustments to the structure. Although some existing apparatuses offer support to flooring structures, these apparatuses must be entirely decoupled from the floor joists and other structural members they are meant to support in order to facilitate adjustments to new positions and heights. This process can be time-consuming and labor-intensive. The present invention, as previously described herein, allows for improved adjustability of the support structure apparatuses 100 without having to remove the bracket 108 and/or bracket support connectors 130 thereof, and moreover, still couples the bracket 108 to the rod 102 and/or seat 112 in order to restrict loading, such as uplift loading (e.g., through the mount connector 110 connecting the bracket 108 to the rod 102 and/or seat 112).

While the invention described herein is generally discussed as allowing the rod 102 to rotate with respect to at least a portion of the mount assembly 106, such as to allow for adjustment of the support structure apparatus 100 without the need to remove the bracket 108 from the structural member 30, it should be understood that in some configurations, portions of the support structure 100, such as the base 104, may be utilized with traditional supports that require the detachment of the bracket 108 from the structural member 30 of the structure 20. As such, it shall be appreciated that various other means for coupling the mount assembly 106 to the upper end of the rod 102 are contemplated, each of which may secure the mount assembly 106 to the rod 102, while either preventing rotation of the mount assembly 106 relative to the rod or allowing such rotation depending on the configuration of the support structure.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. It will be further understood that terms used herein should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of this specification and the relevant art and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the disclosure. For example, words such as “upper,” “lower,” “left,” “right,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” “upward,” and “downward” merely describe the configuration shown in the figures. The referenced components may be oriented in an orientation other than that shown in the drawings and the terminology, therefore, should be understood as encompassing such variations unless specified otherwise.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected,” “coupled,” or “operatively coupled” to another element, the elements can be formed integrally with each other, or may be formed separately and put together. Furthermore, “connected,” “coupled,” or “operatively coupled” to can mean the element is directly connected, coupled, or operatively coupled to the other element, or intervening elements may be present between the elements. Furthermore, “connected,” “coupled,” or operatively coupled” may mean that the elements are detachable from each other, or that they are permanently coupled together.

While certain exemplary implementations have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such implementations are merely illustrative of and not restrictive on the broad disclosure, and that this disclosure is not limited to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, since various other changes, combinations, omissions, modifications and substitutions, in addition to those set forth in the above paragraphs, are possible. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations, modifications, and combinations of the just described implementations can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the disclosure may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.