Foundation with lateral brace for manufactured home

A lateral brace assembly for a manufactured home having first and second elongate, horizontal, and parallel support beams, the first beam supported by an upright support pier, the pier supported by a ground support disposed on the ground beneath the pier for vertically supporting the first beam and for interaction with the ground for resisting lateral movement;

• the second beam having an upper lateral flange having free ends, an outer surface, and an inner surface, said lateral brace assembly comprising:
• an elongate and rigid lateral brace including:
• a bottom end pivotably supported by the ground support;
• and
• a top end;
• and
• a beam connector for attachment to the second beam, said beam connector comprising:
• a bracket including:
• means for pivotably attaching said top end of said lateral brace to said bracket;
• a traversing portion traversing the outer surface of the flange of the second beam including:
• a first end including:
• a slot including:
• a first side;
• a second side, and
• an end;
• said slot adapted for sliding over a free end of the flange such that said first side bears against the inner surface of the flange, said second side bears against the outer surface of the flange, and said end bears against the free end of the flange and upward and downward forces are transferred between said lateral brace and the flange;
• a second end;
• and
• retaining means connected to said second end of said traversing portion for retaining said second end to the other free end of the lateral flange including:
• bearing means for bearing against the other free end of the lateral flange.

A method for laterally bracing a manufactured home having first and second elongate, horizontal, parallel support disposed on the ground beneath the pier for vertically supporting the first beam and for interaction with the ground for resisting lateral movement, the second beam having an upper lateral flange having free ends, an outer surface, and an inner surface;

• with a lateral brace assembly including an elongate and rigid lateral brace including a bottom end, and a top end and a beam connector comprising a bracket including a traversing portion for traversing the outer surface of the flange of the second beam including a first end including a slot including a first side, a second side, and an end;
• the slot adapted for sliding over a free end of the flange such the first side bears against the inner surface of the flange, the second side bears against the outer surface of the flange, and the end bears against the free end of the flange and upward and downward forces are transferred between the lateral brace and the flange, a second end, and retaining means for retaining the second end to the other free end of the lateral flange including bearing means for bearing against the other free end of the lateral flange, said method comprising the steps of:
• pivotably attaching the bottom end of the lateral brace to the ground support;
• pivotably attaching the top end of the lateral brace to the bracket;
• sliding the slot of the bracket over a free end of the flange such that the first side bears against the inner surface of the flange, the second side bears against the outer surface of the flange, and the end bearings against a free end of the flange;
• and
• retaining the second end of the traversing portion to the other free end of the flange with the retaining means such that the bearing means bears against the other free end of the flange.