# US 12,222,138 B2 · Free-standing load support system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,222,138 B2 - Document ID: US12222138B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/729,879 - Filed: 2022-04-26 - Published: 2022-11-24 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2021-05-24 - Assignees: Helical Solar Solutions, LLC - Applicants: Helical Solar Solutions, LLC - Inventors: James Mckinion; Keith Becker - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12222138B2 ## CPC - F24S 25/12: using posts in combination with upper profiles - E01F 9/685: Subsoil means, e.g. foundations - E04H 12/2223: {by screwing} - E04H 12/2253: {Mounting poles or posts to the holder (E04H12/2284 takes precedence; break-away mountings E01F9/631)} - F24S 25/617: Elements driven into the ground, e.g. anchor-piles; Foundations for supporting elements; Connectors for connecting supporting structures to the ground or to flat horizontal surfaces - E02D 5/54: Piles with prefabricated supports or anchoring parts; Anchoring piles {(E02D5/44 takes precedence; ground anchors E02D5/80; anchored foundations E02D27/50)} - E02D 5/56: Screw piles {(placing piles by screwing down E02D7/22)} - E02D 27/42: Foundations for poles, masts or chimneys {(sockets or holders for poles or masts per se E04H12/22)} - F24S: SOLAR HEAT COLLECTORS; SOLAR HEAT SYSTEMS (for producing mechanical power from solar energy F03G6/00) - E01F: ADDITIONAL WORK, SUCH AS EQUIPPING ROADS OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PLATFORMS, HELICOPTER LANDING STAGES, SIGNS, SNOW FENCES, OR THE LIKE - E04H: BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL (foundations E02D) - E02D: FOUNDATIONS; EXCAVATIONS; EMBANKMENTS (specially adapted for hydraulic engineering E02B); UNDERGROUND OR UNDERWATER STRUCTURES {(tunnels, tunnelling, mining E21)} ## Abstract A load support system includes an elongate support member having a first diameter and first and second ends. 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. The system additionally includes a lateral support having a second diameter greater than the first diameter and a second length less than a first length of the first portion. The lateral support is mounted about the first portion of the elongate support member. The lateral support includes a first opening formed therein at a first location relative to a long axis of the elongate support member and a second opening formed therein at a different second location relative to the long axis in order to support a range of embedment depths. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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; a helix formed at least partially about an exterior surface of the substantially cylindrical curved outer wall of the lateral support; and 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The load support system of claim 1, and further comprising a pedestal for coupling the load to the elongate support member, wherein the pedestal includes an elongate tube received within the elongate support member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The load support system of claim 2, wherein: the second portion of the elongate support member includes a mounting hole; 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. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The load support system of claim 1, wherein: the elongate support includes a series of holes along the second portion for receiving removable steps; and the load support system further includes at least one removable step configured to be inserted in one of the series of holes and removably coupled to the elongate support. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The load support system of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the elongate support member has multiple sets of load mounting holes formed therein, such that a range of embedment depths of the first portion of the elongate support member is supported. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The load support system of claim 1, wherein an interior volume of the lateral support is selected to determine an embedment depth of the first portion of the elongate support member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The load support system of claim 1, wherein: the lateral support includes a top cap coupling the substantially cylindrical curved outer wall of the lateral support to the elongate support member; and the lateral support encloses a substantially hollow annular interior volume between the substantially cylindrical curved outer wall and the elongate support member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The load support system of claim 1, wherein: the substantially cylindrical curved outer wall of the lateral support has opposing first and second ends, wherein the first end of the substantially cylindrical curved outer wall is closer to the first end of the elongate support member, and wherein the second end of the substantially cylindrical curved outer wall is closer to the second end of the elongate support member; and the helix is formed about the exterior surface proximate to the second end of the substantially cylindrical curved outer wall. ### Claim 9 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. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The load support system of claim 9, wherein: the elongate support includes a series of holes along the second portion for receiving removable steps; and the load support system further includes at least one removable step configured to be inserted in one of the series of holes and removably coupled to the elongate support. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The load support system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of sets of load mounting features includes multiple sets of load mounting holes. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The load support system of claim 9, wherein the lateral support includes a top cap coupling the substantially cylindrical curved outer wall of the lateral support to the elongate support member. ### Claim 13 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. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The load support system of claim 13, wherein: the elongate support includes a series of holes along the second portion for receiving removable steps; and the load support system further includes at least one removable step configured to be inserted in one of the series of holes and removably coupled to the elongate support. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The load support system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of sets of load mounting features includes multiple sets of load mounting holes. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The load support system of claim 13, wherein the lateral support includes a top cap coupling the substantially cylindrical curved outer wall of the lateral support to the elongate support member. ### Claim 17 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. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The load support system of claim 17, further comprising a load coupled to the pedestal. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The load support system of claim 17, wherein the spacer is configured to be deformed by contact with the elongate support member due to a compressive force applied by the bolt and threaded nut. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) A system, comprising: a load support system in accordance with claim 1; and a load coupled to the load support system. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, wherein the load includes at least one solar panel. ### Claim 22 (depends on 9) A system, comprising: a load support system in accordance with claim 9; and a load coupled to the load support system. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The system of claim 22, wherein the load includes at least one solar panel. ### Claim 24 (depends on 13) A system, comprising: a load support system in accordance with claim 13; and a load coupled to the load support system. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The system of claim 24, wherein the load includes at least one solar panel. ### Claim 26 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. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26, further comprising stopping rotational installation of the first portion of the elongate support member based on spoils filling a volume of the lateral support. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26, wherein: the rotationally installing includes rotationally installing until at least one of the first and second openings is below a surface of the earth by at least a predetermined distance.