Support-to-structure interface devices and methods for supporting a structure

Abstract

Support-to-structure interface devices and methods for supporting a structure are disclosed. The interface devices include mounting surfaces having relative orientations that can be varied to accommodate misalignments in mating surfaces between a support, for example, a column, and a structure, for example, an overhead beam. The interface devices include a top assembly adapted to engage a structure and a bottom assembly adapted to engage a support, where the top assembly and the bottom assembly have radiused bearing surfaces that allow the assemblies to vary their relative orientations to address any misalignment between a support and a structure. The top assembly and the bottom assembly may be connected by a tether, for example, a tether mounted to tether plates. Though uniquely adapted for highly loaded bridge and overpass construction, aspects of the invention can be adapted for use in a broad range of applications requiring engagement of misaligned supports and structures.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.