Support assembly for a building structure

Abstract

A first support assembly for supporting a building structure includes: a pile adapted to be anchored into a ground surface; a first bracket extending from the pile in a first lateral direction; a second bracket extending from the pile in a second lateral direction substantially perpendicular to the first lateral direction; a top surface for receiving a beam; a first attachment member for connecting the first bracket to a first beam supported by a second support assembly in the first lateral direction; and a second attachment member for connecting the second bracket to a second beam supported by a third support assembly in the second lateral direction. A method is also described.

1 . A pile assembly for supporting a building structure having first and second beams extending in a first direction, the pile assembly comprising:
 a pile adapted to be anchored into a ground surface, the pile having a lower end to be inserted in the ground and a top end protruding outside the ground when the pile is installed;   a pile head mounted to the top end of the pile, the pile head supporting a portion of the first beam of the building structure thereon and comprising:
 at least one bracket mounted to the pile head and extending in the first direction, the at least one bracket extending in the first direction being adapted to secure a first attachment member for connecting the at least one bracket extending in the first direction to the first beam; and 
 a least one bracket mounted to the pile head and extending in a second direction, the second direction being substantially perpendicular to the first direction, the at least one bracket extending in the second direction being adapted to secure a second attachment member for connecting the at least one bracket extending in the second direction to the second beam of the building structure. 
   
     
     
         2 . The pile assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pile head further comprises a platform having a surface for receiving at least one vertical support member thereon, the vertical member supporting the portion of the first beam of the building structure thereon. 
     
     
         3 . The pile assembly of claim  0 , wherein the at least one bracket extending in the first direction is mounted to the platform. 
     
     
         4 . The pile assembly of claim  0 , wherein the at least one bracket extending in the second direction is mounted to the platform. 
     
     
         5 . The pile assembly of claim  0 , further comprising at least one vertical support member supported by the top surface of the platform, the at least one vertical support member having the top surface for receiving the beam of the building structure thereon. 
     
     
         6 . The pile assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one vertical support member includes at least one cement block. 
     
     
         7 . The pile assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one vertical support member includes at least one metal tube. 
     
     
         8 . The pile assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pile is a helical pile. 
     
     
         9 . The pile assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first direction is a longitudinal direction and the second direction is a lateral direction. 
     
     
         10 . A support assembly for supporting a building structure including first and second beams extending in a first direction, the support assembly comprising:
 a plurality of pile assemblies comprising at least one pile assembly supporting the first beam and one pile assembly supporting the second beam, each pile assembly comprising:
 a pile adapted to be anchored into a ground surface, the pile having a lower end to be inserted in the ground and a top end protruding outside the ground when the pile is installed; 
 a pile head mounted to the top end of the pile, the pile head supporting a portion of the first beam of the building structure thereon and comprising:
 at least one bracket mounted to the pile head and extending in the first direction, the at least one bracket extending in the first direction being adapted to secure a first attachment member for connecting the at least one bracket extending in the first direction to the first beam; and 
 a least one bracket mounted to the pile head and extending in a second direction, the second direction being substantially perpendicular to the first direction, the at least one bracket extending in the second direction being adapted to secure a second attachment member for connecting the at least one bracket extending in the second direction to the second beam of the building structure; 
 
   a plurality of attachment members comprising:
 a first attachment member for connecting the at least one bracket extending in the first direction to first beam; and 
 a second attachment member for connecting the at least one bracket extending in the second direction to the second beam. 
   
     
     
         11 . The support assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the pile head further comprises a platform having a surface for receiving at least one vertical support member thereon, the vertical member supporting the portion of the first beam of the building structure thereon. 
     
     
         12 . The support assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one bracket extending in the first direction is mounted to the platform. 
     
     
         13 . The support assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one bracket extending in the second direction is mounted to the platform. 
     
     
         14 . The support assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising at least one vertical support member supported by the top surface of the platform, the at least one vertical support member having the top surface for receiving the beam of the building structure thereon. 
     
     
         15 . The support assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one vertical support member includes at least one cement block. 
     
     
         16 . The support assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one vertical support member includes at least one metal tube. 
     
     
         17 . The support assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the first beam has a first end and a second end, and the first attachment member connects the at least one bracket extending in the first direction to the first beam at an intermediate location situated between the first and second ends of the first beam. 
     
     
         18 . The support assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the support assembly further comprises a clamp assembly provided on the first beam at the intermediate location, the first attachment member connecting the at least one bracket extending in the first direction to the clamp assembly. 
     
     
         19 . The support assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the support assembly further comprises a grasping member provided on the second beam, the second attachment member connecting that at least one bracket extending in the second direction to the grasping member provided on the second beam. 
     
     
         20 . The support assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the second beam is an I-beam having a top flange and a lower flange and the grasping member comprises a J-hook, the J-hook grasping one of the top flange and the lower flange of the I-beam. 
     
     
         21 . The support assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the J-hook grasps the top flange of the I-beam. 
     
     
         22 . The support assembly of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the piles is a helical pile. 
     
     
         23 . The support assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the first direction is a longitudinal direction and the second direction is a lateral direction. 
     
     
         24 . A method of assembling a support assembly for supporting a building structure including first and second beams extending in a first direction, the method comprising:
 installing a first pile into a ground surface;   placing a first pile head on a top of the first pile to provide a first pile assembly, the first pile head including a platform, at least one bracket extending in a first direction and at least one bracket extending in a second direction, the second direction being substantially perpendicular to the first direction;   installing a second pile into the ground surface in a location spaced apart from the first pile, in the second direction;   placing a second pile head on a top of the second pile to provide a second pile assembly, the second pile head including a platform, at least one bracket extending in a first direction and at least one bracket extending in a second direction;   positioning the first beam onto the first pile assembly and the second beam onto the second pile assembly;   fastening the at least one bracket extending in the first direction of the first pile assembly to the first beam; and   fastening the at least one bracket extending in the second direction of the first pile assembly to the second beam supported by the second pile assembly.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising connecting the first bracket to a first bracket of the second support assembly. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , the method further comprising:
 providing at least one vertical support member on the platform of at least one of the first and second pile assemblies, the at least one vertical support member having a top surface for receiving thereon one of the first and second beams.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein fastening the at least one bracket extending in the first direction of the first pile to the first beam comprises fastening the at least one bracket extending in the first direction of the first pile to an intermediate location on the first beam, the intermediate point being located between a first end of the first beam and a second end of the first beam. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the method further comprises:
 providing a clamp member;   securing the clamp member to the first beam, at the intermediate location;   connecting the first connecting member to the at least one bracket extending in the first direction of the first pile assembly and to the clamp member.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein at least one of the piles is a helical pile. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the first direction is a longitudinal direction and the second direction is a lateral direction. 
     
     
         31 . A support assembly for supporting a building structure having a first beam and a second beam, the support assembly comprising:
 a first pile assembly adapted to be anchored into a ground surface, the first pile assembly having a top surface for receiving the first beam;   a second pile assembly adapted to be anchored into a ground surface; and   an attachment member for connecting the first beam to the second pile assembly.   
     
     
         32 . The support assembly of  claim 31 , wherein the attachment member is one of a metal strap and a threaded rod. 
     
     
         33 . The support assembly of  claim 31 , wherein the first pile assembly comprises a helical pile. 
     
     
         34 . The support assembly of  claim 31 , wherein the second pile assembly has a top surface for receiving the second beam thereon. 
     
     
         35 . The support assembly of  claim 31 , wherein the second pile assembly is an auxiliary pile assembly. 
     
     
         36 . The support assembly of  claim 35 , wherein the auxiliary pile assembly is anchored into the ground surface at an angle relative to the first pile assembly. 
     
     
         37 . The first support assembly of  claim 36 , wherein the angle is approximately 45 degrees. 
     
     
         38 . A support assembly for supporting a building structure, the support assembly comprising:
 a first pile assembly adapted to be anchored into a ground surface, the first pile assembly having a first top surface for receiving a first beam extending in a first direction;   a second pile assembly adapted to be anchored into the ground surface, the second pile assembly having a second top surface for receiving a second beam oriented parallel to the first beam and extending in the first direction;   at least one auxiliary pile assembly;   a third beam oriented transversely to the first beam and the second beam, the third beam being supported by the first beam and the second beam; and   at least one attachment member for connecting the third beam to the least one auxiliary pile assembly.   
     
     
         39 . The support assembly of  claim 38 , wherein the at least one attachment member comprises one of a metal strap and a threaded rod. 
     
     
         40 . A support assembly for supporting a building structure, the support assembly comprising:
 a first pile assembly adapted to be anchored into a ground surface, the first pile assembly having a first top surface for receiving a first beam extending in a first direction;   a second pile assembly adapted to be anchored into the ground surface, the second pile assembly having a second top surface for receiving a second beam oriented parallel to the first beam and extending in the first direction;   a third beam oriented transversely to the first beam and the second beam, the third beam being supported by the first beam and the second beam;   at least one attachment member for connecting the third beam to at least one of the first pile assembly and the second pile assembly.   
     
     
         41 . The support assembly of  claim 40 , wherein the at least one attachment member comprises:
 a first attachment member for connecting the third beam to the first pile assembly; and   a second attachment member for connecting the third beam to the second pile assembly.   
     
     
         42 . The support assembly of  claim 41 , wherein each of the at least one attachment member comprises one of a metal strap and a threaded rod. 
     
     
         43 . A method of assembling a support assembly for supporting a building structure, the method comprising:
 installing a first pile into a ground surface;   placing a platform on a top of the pile to obtain a first pile assembly, the platform having a top surface;   placing a beam on the top surface of the first pile assembly;   fastening an attachment member to the beam; and   fastening the attachment member to the support assembly.   
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein fastening the attachment member to the support assembly comprises fastening the attachment member to the pile. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein fastening the attachment member to the support assembly comprises fastening the attachment member to an auxiliary pile. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the first pile comprises a helical pile. 
     
     
         47 . A support assembly for a manufactured home, the manufactured home comprising at least one beam, the support assembly comprising:
 a pile assembly having a longitudinal axis and a head; and   a connector having first and second ends, the first end of the connector being fastened to the head of the pile assembly such that the connector is substantially coaxial with the pile assembly, the second end of the connector being connectable to the at least one beam of the manufactured home,   such that the pile assembly and the connector stabilize the home in tension and in compression in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the pile assembly.   
     
     
         48 . The support assembly of  claim 47 , wherein the pile assembly comprises a helical pile. 
     
     
         49 . The support assembly of  claim 47 , wherein the connector is a threaded metal rod. 
     
     
         50 . The support assembly of  claim 47 , wherein the support assembly stabilizes the manufactured home against a lateral stress exerted on the manufactured home. 
     
     
         51 . The support assembly of  claim 47 , wherein the at least one beam of the manufactured home is an I-beam oriented transversely to a longitudinal axis of the manufactured home. 
     
     
         52 . The support assembly of  claim 47 , wherein the at least one beam of the manufactured home is an I-beam oriented parallel to a longitudinal axis of the manufactured home. 
     
     
         53 . The support assembly of  claim 47 , wherein the connector is connectable to the at least one beam of the manufactured home via a bracket provided on the at least one beam of the manufactured home. 
     
     
         54 . A manufactured home, comprising:
 at least one beam extending transversely to a longitudinal axis of the manufactured home; and   a bracket affixed to an end of the at least one beam, the bracket including an anchor structure for anchoring the manufactured home to the ground.   
     
     
         55 . The manufactured home of  claim 54 , wherein the anchoring structure comprises at least one of a reel attachment for attaching at least one metal strap thereto and an attachment point for attaching a bracket thereto. 
     
     
         56 . The manufactured home of  claim 55 , wherein the at least one reel attachment comprises a first reel attachment for attaching a first metal strap thereto, and a second reel attachment for attaching a second metal strap thereto. 
     
     
         57 . A method of assembling a support assembly for supporting a building structure, the method comprising:
 installing a first pile assembly into a ground surface;   installing an auxiliary pile into the ground surface;   placing a first beam of the building structure on a top of the first pile assembly;   fastening a rod to the auxiliary pile; and   fastening the rod to the first beam of the building structure.