Column base assembly

Claim 1

A column supporting assembly adapted to support a structural load bearing column or the like capable of withstanding vertical loads, shear forces and moment, said column supporting assembly comprising a flat relatively thick steel baseplate, said baseplate including a top, column supporting surface and a bottom surface, a plurality of steel reinforcing rods of substantial length rigidly connected in fixed position to said bottom surface and extending downwardly from said bottom surface substantially normal to said bottom surface of said baseplate, a concrete mass having a top surface area at least equal to the area of said baseplate surrounding said rods and extending Below the lower ends of said rods, a relatively thin compressible membrane positioned between the bottom surface of said baseplate and the top surface of said concrete mass whereby forces exerted on said column are transmitted through said baseplate to said rods and the membrane is compressed prior to the forces being exerted on said concrete and a substantial portion of the initial force that transfers through said baseplate is gradually dissipated to the supporting concrete adjacent said rods thereby avoiding a concentration of the initial force on the concrete immediately underlying said baseplate and said membrane being formed from substances having a property of being less compression resistant and greater elasticity than the supporting concrete upon which the membrane is positioned.