Perimeter wall support system for a manufactured home

Abstract

A perimeter wall support system is disclosed for supporting a perimeter wall section of a manufactured home. The perimeter support system comprises an auxiliary support pier assembly disposed adjacent a perimeter wall having an auxiliary pier support pad with a support pier supported thereon, and at least one elongated strut extending between the auxiliary support pad and the perimeter wall section. At least one anchor coupling affixes a lower end of the strut to the auxiliary support pad. A connector member is carried by an upper end of the strut for securing the strut to the wall section. A longitudinally adjustable mechanism is operable for adjusting the effective length of the strut between the floor structure and the auxiliary support pad in finite increments.

1 . A perimeter wall support system for providing additional support to a perimeter wall section of a manufactured home needing auxiliary support wherein the manufactured home is supported by a foundation system having a plurality of vertical foundation pier assemblies disposed at predetermined locations relative to a longitudinal axis of the home supporting an I-beam of the manufactured home, each foundation pier assembly having a ground footing, and at least one elongated brace connected between the manufactured home and the ground footing of the pier, wherein the perimeter support system comprises:
 an auxiliary support pier assembly disposed adjacent a perimeter wall of the manufactured home for additional support;   the auxiliary support pier assembly having an auxiliary pier support pad with a support pier supported thereon;   at least one elongated strut extending between the auxiliary support pad and a perimeter wall section of the manufactured home to be supported;   at least one anchor coupling for affixing a lower end of the strut to the auxiliary support pad;   the anchor coupling including a first part affixed to the strut, and a second part affixed to the auxiliary support pad being coupled with the first part;   a connector member carried by an upper end of the strut for securing the strut to support the perimeter wall section; and   a longitudinally adjustable mechanism being operable for adjusting the effective length of the strut between the floor structure and the auxiliary support pad in finite increments;   whereby the auxiliary support pier provides additional support for the wall section containing an architectural feature or other heavy wall structure.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the second part is pivotally connected to the first part so that the inclination of the strut may be adjusted. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the longitudinal adjustment mechanism is included in the coupling. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a threaded rod carried by the strut threadably mated with a threaded opening formed in the second part for relative rotation. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the manufactured home includes a floor structure supporting the wall section, including a plurality of floor joists running transverse to the longitudinal axis of the manufactured home, flooring, and a floor plate running transverse to the floor joists in the wall section being supported, wherein the perimeter wall support system includes the upper end of strut being affixed to at least one of the floor structure by the connector member. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the connector member includes an angle tab intersecting the strut wherein the tab is adapted for connection to the floor structure. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the connector member tab includes a pair of flush legs formed by a flattened end section of the strut, and a flexible joint formed between the tab and the strut being operable to provide a degree of rotation of the strut relative to the tab so that the inclination may be changed for proper alignment and connection of the tab and strut to the support structure. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the pair of legs includes a major leg and a minor leg having a shorter length than the major leg, the major and minor legs being flattened to form the tab whereby the tab may be attached to the floor structure, and the angle of inclination may be changed to provide for proper alignment and attachment to the anchor coupling on the pad. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the second part of the anchor coupling is operable to rotate in a horizontal plane on the pad to adjust the position of the strut. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the manufactured home includes a floor structure including a plurality of floor joists running transverse to the longitudinal axis of the manufactured home and a floor plate transversely spanning the floor joists in the wall section being supported, and wherein the perimeter wall support system includes the upper end of strut being affixed to the floor structure by the connector member. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the connector member includes an angle bar having first and second intersecting legs wherein the first leg is for connecting to the strut and the second leg is for connection to the floor structure. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the auxiliary support pier assembly is inset from said perimeter wall section underneath the mobile home, and includes a pair of struts connected between the inset auxiliary support pad and the perimeter wall section wherein a first strut extends from the support plate upwardly and outwardly to a first location of the wall section, a second strut extends from the support pad upwardly and outwardly to a second location of the wall section, and the first and second struts diverging from the support pad to the wall section. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  including a first and second auxiliary support assemblies, each support assembly having at least one strut extending from the auxiliary support pad to the supported wall section. 
     
     
         14 . A perimeter wall support system for supporting a wall section of a manufactured home wherein the wall section contains auxiliary wall structure such as one of a sliding glass door, picture window, bay window, and the like, comprising:
 an auxiliary support pier assembly inset from the perimeter wall section including an auxiliary support pad for supporting an auxiliary support pier wherein a top of the support pier supports a portion of the manufactured home;   a pair of elongated struts being operable to extend outwardly and upwardly from the auxiliary support pad to the perimeter wall section to be supported;   an anchor coupling being operable for fixing a lower end of the struts to the auxiliary support plate including a first part affixed to the strut and a second part affixed to the auxiliary support pad;   an incremental longitudinal adjustment mechanism included in the anchor coupling being operable to incrementally adjust the effective length of the strut between the support pad and a connector member carried by an upper end of the strut for connecting the strut to the perimeter wall section.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the second part is pivotally connected to the first part so that the inclination of the strut may be adjusted. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the longitudinal adjustment mechanism is included in the coupling. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the manufactured home includes a floor structure supporting the wall section, including a plurality of floor joists running transverse to the longitudinal axis of the manufactured home, flooring, and a floor plate running transverse to the floor joists in the wall section being supported, wherein the perimeter wall support system includes the upper end of strut being affixed to at least one of the floor structure by the connector member. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the connector member includes an angle tab intersecting the strut wherein the tab is adapted for connection to the floor structure. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the connector member tab includes a pair of flush legs formed by a flattened end section of the strut, and a flexible joint formed between the tab and the strut being operable to provide a degree of rotation of the strut relative to the tab so that the inclination may be changed for proper alignment and connection of the tab and strut to the support structure. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the second part of the anchor coupling is operable to rotate in a horizontal plane on the pad to adjust the position of the strut. 
     
     
         21 . A perimeter wall support system for providing additional support to a wall section of a manufactured home containing additional wall structure or architectural feature, wherein the manufactured home is supported by a foundation system having a plurality of vertical foundation piers disposed at predetermined locations relative to a longitudinal axis of the home, each foundation pier having a ground base, and at least one elongated brace connected between the manufactured home and the ground base of the pier,:
 a method of reinforcing and supporting the perimeter wall section including:   placing a vertical support pier at a location inward of the perimeter wall section with a base of the pier supported on the ground;   placing at least one longitudinal adjustment strip between the base providing at least one strip extending upwardly and outwardly from the base to the perimeter wall section;   adjusting the length of the strap incrementally using an incremental adjustment mechanism carried by the strap;   adjusting the strap incrementally to a desired location on the wall section; and   attaching an upper end of the strap to the wall section.