Apparatus and method for a temporary spread footing

Abstract

An apparatus and method for providing a temporary spread footing for suppporting a variety of different vertically extending structures. The apparatus includes a frame with a top and bottom. The frame can have a substantial space or void in between the top and bottom into which weights or devices can be placed. A connection on top of the base removably connects to the structure to be supported. Outriggers could also be used to substantially increase the overturning moment resistance of the base. The outriggers can be removable or retractable so that for transportation, the base has minimum dimensions. The method includes pre-determining the needed weight and overturning moment resistance for a particular application and transporting the base to the site and thereafter adding weight and adjusting outriggers to match the pre-determined needed overturning moment resistance.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A portable base for supporting structures that extend substantial vertical distances comprising: 
 a framework;    the framework including a bottom and a top;    the top including a connection to which a said structure is removably attachable; and    the bottom and top defining a space therebetween into which can be placed one or more removable devices.    
     
     
         2 . The base of  claim 1  wherein the framework is at least several feet wide by several feet deep by several feet tall.  
     
     
         3 . The base of  claim 2  wherein the framework width, depth and height fit within semi-trailer dimensions.  
     
     
         4 . The base of  claim 1  wherein the framework comprises tubular members.  
     
     
         5 . The base of  claim 1  further comprising a bottom including a mount for a weight, and a removable weight of at least several hundreds of pounds removably attachable to the mount.  
     
     
         6 . The base of  claim 1  further comprising an elongated pole having a lower end removably.  
     
     
         7 . The base of  claim 1  further comprising a scaffold having a lower end removably connected to the connection.  
     
     
         8 . The base of  claim 1  further comprising one or more weights removably attached to the frame in the space.  
     
     
         9 . The base of  claim 1  further comprising a power generator removably positioned in the space.  
     
     
         10 . The base of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of outriggers extendible outwardly of the base.  
     
     
         11 . A portable spread footing comprising: 
 a framework;    the framework including a bottom and a top;    the top including a connection to which a said structure is removably attachable;    a plurality of outriggers extendible from the base outwardly.    
     
     
         12 . The footing of  claim 11  wherein each outrigger comprises an arm having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end connected to the framework, the arm being expandable between a first position where the distal end of the arm is nearest the framework and a second position where the distal end of the arm is farthest from the framework.  
     
     
         13 . The footing of  claim 12  wherein each outrigger includes a foot at or near the distal end of the arm, and an adjustment component on the arm to adjust the position of the foot relative to the arm.  
     
     
         14 . The footing of  claim 11  wherein the framework is at least several feet wide, deep and tall.  
     
     
         15 . The footing of  claim 11  wherein the bottom and top define a space therebetween into which can be placed one or more removable devices.  
     
     
         16 . The footing of  claim 15  further comprising a bottom including a mount for a weight, and one or more weights removably mounted on the framework at one or more of the bottom of the framework and the space between the bottom and top of the framework.  
     
     
         17 . The footing of  claim 11  wherein the framework bottom has a bottom-most plane, and outriggers have distal ends which are adjustable to extend below the bottom-most plane.  
     
     
         18 . The footing of  claim 11  wherein the mount supports an elongated pole.  
     
     
         19 . The footing of  claim 18  wherein the pole supports one or more light fixtures.  
     
     
         20 . The footing of  claim 11  wherein the top of the framework has similar perimeter dimensions to the bottom of the framework.  
     
     
         21 . The footing of  claim 20  wherein the top of the framework supports a structure having a lower end of similar perimeter dimensions to the top of the framework.  
     
     
         22 . The footing of  claim 21  wherein the structure is a truss.  
     
     
         23 . The footing of  claim 21  wherein the structure is a scaffold.  
     
     
         24 . A moveable, portable light for wide area lighting comprising: 
 an elongated pole having upper and lower ends;    one or more lights mounted on the pole;    electrical leads operatively connected to each light;    a base having a top, bottom, and sides defining perimeter dimensions of the base;    a receiver positioned at or near the top of the base to which the lower end of the pole is releasably attachable;    outriggers mounted on the base having distal ends which are adjustable relative to the base.    
     
     
         25 . The light of  claim 24  wherein the pole is at least several tens of feet long.  
     
     
         26 . The light of  claim 24  wherein the light are high intensity, high power wide area lighting fixtures.  
     
     
         27 . The light of  claim 26  wherein the lighting fixtures comprise arc lamps in reflectors.  
     
     
         28 . The light of  claim 24  wherein the base has at least one substantially open area between the top and bottom.  
     
     
         29 . The light of  claim 28  further comprising one or more removable weights placeable into tho space.  
     
     
         30 . The light of  claim 28  further comprising electrical devices removable placeable into the space.  
     
     
         31 . The light of  claim 30  wherein the electrical devices include one or more of an electrical power generator, an electrical ballast; an electrical switch; an electrical control.  
     
     
         32 . The light of  claim 24  wherein the perimeter dimensions of the base fit within a conventional semi-trailer.  
     
     
         33 . The light of  claim 24  wherein the perimeter dimensions of the base are less than approximately 12′ by 12′ by 12′.  
     
     
         34 . The light of  claim 24  wherein the base weighs less than approximately 3,000 lbs.  
     
     
         35 . The light of  claim 29  wherein the total of the light is approximately 8,500 lbs. maximum.  
     
     
         36 . The light of  claim 24  wherein the base comprises a framework of tubular members, the bottom of the base comprising tubular members generally in a first plane, the top of the base comprising tubular members generally in a second plane generally parallel to the first plane, and the sides comprising tubular members connecting the top and bottom of the base.  
     
     
         37 . The light of  claim 36  wherein the framework is substantially open.  
     
     
         38 . The light of  claim 36  wherein the outriggers telescope from tubular members mounted on the frame work.  
     
     
         39 . The light of  claim 24  wherein the receiver comprises a stub fixed to the top of the base over which a structure can be slip-fit.  
     
     
         40 . The light of  claim 39  wherein the receiver comprises brackets into which a plate attached to a structure can be fit and retained.  
     
     
         41 . The light of  claim 39  wherein the receiver includes locking members.  
     
     
         42 . A method of providing a portable footing for supporting a substantial vertical structure comprising: 
 constructing a base frame having a top, bottom, and sides with a substantial opening between the top and bottom and including extendible outriggers;    transporting the base frame to a site;    determining the needed resistance to overturning moment for the vertical structure;    adding removable weight to the base frame and extending the outriggers based on the determining step;    installing the vertical structure to the top of the base frame.    
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42  further comprising adding an additional component to the base frame.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43  wherein the additional component is an electrical generator.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 42  where in the determining step includes consideration of height, weight, and wind load of the  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 42  wherein the vertical structure is a pole.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46  wherein the pole supports one or more light fixtures.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 42  wherein the vertical structure is a scaffold.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 42  wherein the vertical structure is a truss.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 42  wherein the vertical structure is a tower.  
     
     
         51 . A system for elevating a structure comprising: 
 a base including a frame having a substantially open space within its perimeter;    a mount to which a vertical member can be connected, adjustable outriggers mounted on and extendible from the perimeter to the base.    
     
     
         52 . The system of claim  51  including one or more weights adopted to be mountable to the base.