Slab-embedded precision height-and-tilt-adjustable plinth anchoring for a column base

Abstract

Precision-adjustable, plinth structure for anchoring the base of a building-frame column to a poured concrete slab including (a) a first load-reaction structure embeddable in a pre-cured (i.e., wet, and not yet fully cured) pour of concrete which will cure/harden to form such a slab, (b) a second load-reaction structure disposed above the first load-reaction structure, anchorable to the base of a column, and including at least one depending retention element which extends downwardly toward the first load-reaction structure so as to be embeddable in the same still-wet concrete pour, and (c) adjustable, differential, load-reaction-interaction structure load-transmissively and operatively interposed the first and second load-reaction structures, and offering plural, laterally spaced adjusters which are manipulable from above selectively to shift the two load-reaction structures relative to one another in both elevational and tilting senses. The methodology of the invention includes (a) placing a precision, position-adjustable plinth in an intended slab zone, (b) pouring concrete into that zone so as effectively to engage the placed plinth, (c) adjusting, as desired, the position of the plinth in three-dimensional space before full curing of the poured concrete, and (d) locking the adjusted position of the plinth through curing of the poured concrete.

1 . Precision-adjustable, plinth structure for anchoring the base of an elongate, upright building-frame column to a poured concrete slab comprising 
 a first load-reaction structure embeddable in a pour of wet and flowable concrete which will cure to form such a slab,    a second load-reaction structure disposed above said first load-reaction structure, anchorable to the base of a column, and including at least one depending retention element which extends downwardly toward the first load-reaction structure so as to be embeddable in the same concrete pour, and    adjustable, differential, load-reaction-interaction structure load-transmissively and operatively interposed said first and second load-reaction structures, and offering plural, laterally spaced adjusters which are manipulable from above selectively to shift said first and second load-reaction structures relative to one another in both elevational and tilting relative motions.    
   
   
       2 . The plinth structure of  claim 1 , wherein said adjusters take the form of screw-adjustable devices.  
   
   
       3 . The plinth structure of  claim 2 , wherein said first and second load-reaction structures have substantially aligned central axes will also become substantially aligned with the long axis of the column whose base becomes anchored to said first load-reaction structure, and wherein said adjusters are four in number, and are distributed substantially equally angularly about said axes.  
   
   
       4 . The plinth structure of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second load-reaction structures take to form of plates, and said adjusters take the form of screw-adjustable devices.  
   
   
       5 . The plinth structure of  claim 1 , wherein said adjusters are designed for manipulation during curing of such a wet and flowable pour of concrete, thus to enable adjustment relative motions during pour curing.  
   
   
       6 . A method for providing, in relation to a poured concrete slab, a precision-leveled support for receiving, for anchoring purposes, the base of an elongate, upright, building-frame column, said method comprising 
 placing a precision, position-adjustable plinth in an intended slab zone,    pouring concrete into that zone so as effectively to engage the placed plinth,    adjusting, as desired, the position of the plinth in three-dimensional space before full curing of the poured concrete, and    locking the adjusted position of the plinth through curing of the poured concrete.    
   
   
       7 . A method for providing, in relation to a poured concrete slab, a precision-leveled support for receiving, for anchoring purposes, the base of an elongate, upright, building-frame column, said method comprising 
 placing an adjustable plinth structure in a predetermined slab zone which opens to, and extends beneath, the intended upper plane of a slab region which is to be filled with poured and curable concrete, where the plinth structure includes a base, a plinth spaced above the base possessing a planar, upper plinth surface, and at least one depending element which extends downwardly from the plinth toward the base, and precision adjustment mechanism operative interconnecting the base and the plinth, which mechanism is operable from above to produce precision translational and angular motion between the plinth and the base,    following the pouring of concrete into the slab region and the slab zone, and before full curing of such poured concrete, operating the adjustment mechanism so as to achieve selected, precision, adjusted leveling of the plinth's upper plinth surface, and    then capturing the plinth's so-adjusted condition through trapping of the plinth's at least one depending element via locked engagement of that element with cured concrete.    
   
   
       8 . A method for providing, in relation to a poured concrete slab, a precision-leveled support for receiving, for anchoring purposes, the base of an elongate, upright, building-frame column, said method comprising 
 placing a column base mount in a region where concrete is to be poured to create a slab for supporting a building frame,    after concrete has been poured into this region, and before the poured concrete cures to hardness, manipulating the mount to adjust its position in space to receive the base of a column, and    capturing, via concrete curing, the mount in its adjusted-to position.