Free-standing load support system

A load support system, comprising:

• an elongate support member having a first diameter and a first end and a second end, wherein the elongate support member includes, toward the first end, a first portion for direct earth burial and further includes, toward the second end, a second portion to which the load can be coupled, wherein the first portion has a first length;
• a lateral support having a second diameter greater than the first diameter and a second length less than the first length, wherein the lateral support has a substantially cylindrical curved outer wall and is mounted about the first portion of the elongate support member to form a hollow interior annular volume between the substantially cylindrical curved outer wall of the lateral support and the elongate support member, said hollow interior annular volume being chosen to select an embedment depth corresponding to a given installation torque;
• and
• a helix formed at least partially about an exterior surface of the substantially cylindrical curved outer wall of the lateral support;
• wherein:
• the second portion of the elongate support member includes a plurality of sets of load mounting features at respective differing distances from the second end, such that a load can be coupled to the elongate support member at one of the plurality of sets of load mounting features to substantially achieve a desired clearance height for the load despite variability in the embedment depth;
• and
• the substantially cylindrical curved outer wall of the lateral support has a first opening formed therethrough at a first location relative to a long axis of the elongate support member and the elongate support member includes a second opening formed therein at a different second location relative to the long axis of the elongate support member, such that a range of embedment depths of the first portion of the elongate support member is supported.

A load support system, comprising:

• an elongate support member having a first diameter and a first end and a second end, wherein the elongate support member includes, toward the first end, a first portion for direct earth burial and further includes, toward the second end, a second portion to which the load can be coupled, wherein the first portion has a first length, and wherein the second portion of the elongate support member includes a plurality of sets of load mounting features at respective differing distances from the second end, such that a load can be coupled to the elongate support member at one of the plurality of sets of load mounting features to substantially achieve a desired clearance height for the load despite variability in the embedment depth;
• a lateral support having a second diameter greater than the first diameter and a second length less than the first length, wherein the lateral support has a substantially cylindrical curved outer wall and is mounted about the first portion of the elongate support member to form a hollow interior annular volume between the substantially cylindrical curved outer wall of the lateral support and the elongate support member, said hollow interior annular volume being chosen to select an embedment depth corresponding to a given installation torque;
• a helix formed at least partially about an exterior surface of the substantially cylindrical curved outer wall of the lateral support;
• and
• a pedestal for coupling the load to the elongate support member, wherein:
• the pedestal includes an elongate tube received within the elongate support member;
• the pedestal is coupled to said one of the plurality of sets of load mounting features;
• the second portion of the elongate support member includes a mounting hole;
• and
• the elongate tube of the pedestal has an exterior surface and an interior surface, a plurality of spacers distributed along the elongate tube that protrude from the exterior surface of the tube, a plurality of holes through the spacers and the tube, and a respective one of a plurality of threaded nuts fixedly attached to the interior surface of the tube at each of the plurality of holes.

A load support system, comprising:

• an elongate support member including a sidewall having a mounting hole therein;
• a pedestal for coupling a load to the elongate support member, wherein the pedestal includes an elongate tube received within the elongate support member;
• wherein the elongate tube has an exterior surface and an interior surface, a plurality of spacers distributed along the elongate tube that protrude from the exterior surface of the tube, a plurality of holes through the spacers and the elongate tube, and a respective one of a plurality of threaded nuts fixedly attached to the interior surface of the elongate tube at each of the plurality of holes;
• and
• a bolt extending through the mounting hole in the elongate support member, extending through a hole of a spacer among the plurality of spacers, and threadedly engaging a threaded nut among the plurality of threaded nuts.

A method of installing a load support system, the method comprising:

• providing a load support system, including:
• an elongate support member having a first diameter and a first end and a second end, wherein the elongate support member includes, toward the first end, a first portion for direct earth burial and further includes, toward the second end, a second portion to which the load can be coupled, wherein the first portion has a first length;
• a lateral support having a second diameter greater than the first diameter and a second length less than the first length, wherein the lateral support has a substantially cylindrical curved outer wall and is mounted about the first portion of the elongate support member;
• a helix formed at least partially about an exterior surface of the substantially cylindrical curved outer wall of the lateral support;
• wherein the substantially cylindrical curved outer wall of the lateral support has a first opening formed therethrough at a first location relative to a long axis of the elongate support member and the elongate support member includes a second opening formed therein at a different second location relative to the long axis of the elongate support member, such that a range of embedment depths of the first portion of the elongate support member is supported;
• forming a bore in the earth having a diameter less than that of the lateral support;
• and
• placing the first end of the elongate support member in the bore and rotationally installing the first portion of the elongate support member and the lateral support in the earth.