Foundation, method of constructing same and parts useable therein

A foundation of pre-engineered buildings comprising:

• footings at spaced-apart locations along a perimeter corresponding to the perimeter of the building to be erected;
• light weight precast reinforced concrete grade beams extending between adjacent footings with the ends of each grade beam bearing on adjacent footings whereby adjacent grade beams each have one end on the same footing;
• a generally U-shaped form made of light weight material on each footing, each of said forms including a pair of generally parallel side walls and a connecting wall, the free ends of said side walls being formed with flap means for securing said forms to said grade beams and the bottom edges of at least some of said walls being formed with flap means for securing said forms to said footings, fastener means securing each of said forms to their associated footings and to at least one of said grade beams on said associated footings;
• a concrete pier in each of said forms secured to said footing and securing said grade beams in an upright position;
• and
• an anchor bolt embedded in said concrete pier including a threaded portion extending above said pier for retaining a frame member on said pier.

A method of constructing a foundation for a pre-engineered building, the method comprising:

• providing footings at spaced-apart locations along a perimeter corresponding to the perimeter of the building to be erected;
• setting light weight precast reinforced concrete grade beams between said footings with the ends of each grade beam bearing on adjacent footings;
• at least one end of each of said grade beams being formed with a channel configuration and wherein at least some of said beams are set on said footings such that a keyway is formed between adjacent ends of said some of said grade beams, other of said grade beams being set on said footing at a right angle to each other and being interlocked with each other, one of said other of said grade beams being formed with a keyway slot;
• positioning a generally U-shaped form made of light weight material on each footing and securing said forms to their associated footing and to at least one grade beam on said associated footing;
• some of said forms being positioned on and secured to said footings on which said some of said grade beams are set such that the free ends of said forms are on each side of said keyways so that wet concrete can flow into said keyways, other of said forms being positioned on and secured to said footings on which said other of said grade beams are set such that the free ends of said forms are on each side of said keyway slots so that wet concrete can flow into said keyway slots;
• placing a yoke across the top of each form and suspending an anchor bolt in each yoke so that a portion of said anchor bolt extends above said form;
• and
• placing wet concrete into each of said forms to provide a pier securing said grade beam on said associated footing when said concrete hardens.

A method of constructing a foundation for a pre-engineered building, the method comprising;

• providing footings at spaced-apart locations along a perimeter corresponding to the perimeter of the building to be erected;
• setting light weight precast reinforced concrete grade beams between said footings with the ends of each grade beam bearing on adjacent footings;
• some of said grade beams being set on said footings at a right angle to each other and being interlocked with each other, one of said some of said grade beams being formed with a keyway slot;
• positioning a generally U-shaped form made of light weight material on each footing and securing said forms to their associated footing and to at least one grade beam on said associated footing;
• said forms being positioned on and secured to said footings on which said some of said grade beams are set such that the free ends of said forms are on each side of said keyway slots so that wet concrete can flow into said keyway slots;
• placing a yoke across the top of each form and suspending an anchor bolt in each yoke so that a portion of said anchor bolt extends into said form and a threaded portion of said bolt extends above said form;
• and
• placing wet concrete into each of said forms to provide a pier securing said grade beam on said associated footing when said concrete hardens.

A foundation of pre-engineered buildings comprising:

• footings at spaced-apart locations along a perimeter corresponding to the perimeter of the building to be erected;
• light weight precast reinforced concrete grade beams extending between adjacent footings with the ends of each grade beam bearing on adjacent footings whereby adjacent grade beams each have one end on the same footing;
• a generally U-shaped form made of light weight material on each footing, said forms being secured to their associated footing and to at least one of said grade beams on said associated footing;
• a concrete pier in each of said forms secured to said footing and securing said grade beams in an upright position;
• an anchor bolt embedded in said concrete pier including a threaded portion extending above said pier for retaining a framing member on said pier;
• at least one end of each of said grade beams being formed with a channel configuration, at least some of said grade beams extending in a straight line relative to each other with adjacent ends of said some of said grade beams including said channel configuration whereby a keyway is formed, said forms being positioned such that said concrete piers in said forms extend into said keyway, other of said grade beams extending at a right angle to each other, said other of said grade beams being interlocked with each other, and one of said other of said grade beams being formed with a keyway slot, said forms being positioned such that said concrete piers in said forms extend into said keyway slots.

A foundation of pre-engineered buildings comprising:

• footings at spaced-apart locations along a perimeter corresponding to the perimeter of the building to be erected;
• light weight precast reinforced concrete grade beams extending between adjacent footings with the ends of each grade beam bearing on adjacent footings whereby adjacent grade beams each have one end on the same footing;
• a concrete pier in each of said forms secured to said footing and securing said grade beams in an upright position;
• and
• an anchor bolt embedded in said concrete pier including a threaded portion extending above said pier for retaining a framing member on said pier;
• some of said grade beams extending at a right angle to each other, said some of said grade beams being interlocked with each other, and one of said some of said grade beams being formed with a keyway slot, said forms being positioned such that said concrete piers in said forms extend into said keyway slots.

A foundation of pre-engineered buildings comprising:

• footings at spaced-apart locations along a perimeter corresponding to the perimeter of the building to be erected;
• light weight precast reinforced concrete grade beams extending between adjacent footings with the ends of each grade beam bearing on adjacent footings whereby adjacent grade beams each have one end on the same footing;
• a generally U-shaped form made of light weight material on each footing, said forms being secured to their associated footing and to at least one of said grade beams on said associated footing;
• a concrete pier in each of said forms secured to said footing and securing said grade beams in an upright position;
• and
• an anchor bolt embedded in said concrete pier including a threaded portion extending above said pier for retaining a framing member on said pier;
• said forms being made of cardboard having a strength to withstand about 450 psi and including a pair of generally parallel side walls and a connecting wall, the free ends of said side walls being formed with flaps for securing said form to said grade beams, the bottom edges of said walls and said connecting wall being formed with flaps for securing said forms to said footings.