A. B. Chance Company

Maynard L Holdeman

Ronnie J Hargrave

Richard E Thorsten

William G Edwards

A manually installed landscape foundation (20, 56) adapted for supporting a yard light (22) or similar device requiring connection to a utility line (47) such as an electrical cable or gas line is provided having a lowermost anchor shaft (24, 64) equipped with a load-bearing helix (28, 68) and a slotted, centrally apertured (34, 62) uppermost base plate (30, 58). The anchor shaft (24, 64) is coupled with the base plate (30, 58) so as to define an open clearance area (44, 70) beneath the base plate (30, 58) and aperture (34, 62). A manual driving implement (46, 72) is used for installation purposes, and includes a T-handle (48, 74) having an engagement plate (50, 76) equipped with depending driving lugs (52, 54, 80, 82). In one foundation (20), a bail (36) defining a central clearance area (44) is used to interconnect the anchor shaft (24) and base plate (30). Alternately, in another foundation (56), the anchor shaft (64) is directly coupled in an offset relation to a base plate (58), so as to define a clearance area (70). In the latter embodiment, the driver implement (72) has the T-handle (74) thereof offset relative to the engagement plate (76), and oriented so that the T-handle (74) and anchor shaft (64) are aligned when the driver (72) is operatively coupled with the foundation (56).

Hand-installed landscape foundation

Apparatus and a method is disclosed for stabilizing the foundation of an existing building structure which may or has experienced settlement or movement. A support for the foundation is provided that is adapted to be located at a position in underlying relationship to the foundation structure. A screw anchor having an anchor shaft and at least one helix thereon is driven into the ground adjacent the foundation support. An inverted U-shaped coupler adapted to be temporarily secured to the foundation support receives a jacking device therewithin extending between the top of the coupler and the foundation support so that upon positioning of the support in supporting relationship to the foundation and insertion of the anchor into the ground, the support may be connected to the anchor shaft, the jacking device positioned between the support and the coupler so that added force may be applied to the support and thereby the foundation while the support and foundation are carried by the screw anchor, the support then affixed to the screw anchor, and the jacking device thereafter removed from its position between the base member and the coupler.

Foundation underpinning bracket and jacking tool assembly

A combined foundation earth anchor and installation unit includes a cylindrical foundation support which is open at opposite ends and adapted to at least partially be embedded in the ground, an installation drive component removably positioned within the support and provided with an element extending longitudinally through the support and projecting outwardly from one end thereof, and a connector for releasably coupling the installation drive component to the support, so that upon rotational movement of the drive component, the support is rotated therewith. The installation drive component includes a drive helix on the end of the element which projects outwardly from one end of the support, so that upon application of a rotational force to the assembled foundation support and drive component, while a downward force is applied to such assembly, the drive helix causes the support and drive assembly to be pulled into the ground. The installation drive component element which extends outwardly from one end of the support has a guide structure which is engageable with the support for maintaining axial alignment between the support and the drive component during installation. The guide structure cooperates with the drive helix to cause the foundation and drive component assembly to be drawn into the ground during the application of rotational force to the support and drive component assembly. When the support has been driven into the ground to the desired level, the drive component may be disconnected from the support and removed by reverse rotation thereof, leaving the foundation support in the ground. A method of at least partially embedding an open-ended cylindrical earth anchor in the ground is also disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Centralia, MO, United States of America

Maynard L Holdeman