Supporting pier with tie-down

Claim 2

A hold-down support for a building comprising: a. a foundation having upwardly projecting tension members; b. a pier supported by the foundation and having a downwardly projecting tension member secured to the pier; c. a building connected to the pier and supported by the pier; d. and a coupling engaging the foundation tension member and the pier tension member to secure the pier to the foundation and thereby act as a tie-down for the building.

Claim 3

In combination with a foundation having an upwardly projecting tension member, a pier comprising: a. a base; b. at least three posts secured to the base and having their bottom ends spaced from each other; c. a bearing plate secured to the top of the posts to form a tier top assembly; d. and a downwardly extending tension member secured to the pier top assembly, and a coupling connected the two tension members together, whereby the foundation tension member and the pier tension member are joined by the coupling to compress the pier to the foundation, said spacing of the bottom ends of the posts permitting access to the coupling area.

Claim 4

In combination with a foundation having an upwardly projecting tension member, a pier comprising: a. a base; b. at least three posts secured to the base and having their bottom ends spaced from each other; c. a bearing plate secured to the top of the posts to form a tier top assembly; d. and a downwardly extending tension member secured to the pier top assembly, and a coupling connected the two tension members together, whereby the foundation tension member and the pier tension member are joined by the coupling to compress the pier to the foundation, said spacing of the bottom ends of the posts permitting access to the coupling area.

Claim 5

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the foundation tension member is threaded on at least its upper end, the pier tension member is threaded on at least its lower end, and the coupling is a turnbuckle, whereby the pier may be compressed against the foundation to thereby resist vertical and horizontal loads.

Claim 6

For supporting a structure on a foundation having an upwardly projecting threaded tension member, a pier comprising: a. a base; b. at least three posts secured to the base and having their bottom ends spaced from each other in a base shape; c. a bearing plate secured to the top of the posts to form a pier top assembly; d. and a single downwardly extending tension member that is stationary with respect to the pier top assembly and secured to the pier top assembly, extending toward the inside of the base shape and having its lower end threaded, whereby the foundation tension member and the pier tension member may be joined by a threaded coupling to hold the pier to the foundation by a compressive force, said spacing of the bottom ends of the posts permitting access to the coupling area.

Claim 7

For supporting a structure on a foundation having an upwardly projecting threaded tension member, a pier comprising: a. a base; b. at least three posts secured to the base and having their bottom ends spaced from each other in a base shape; c. a bearing plate secured to the top of the posts to form a pier top assembly; d. and a single downwardly extending tension member that is stationary with respect to the pier top assembly and secured to the pier top assembly, extending toward the inside of the base shape and having its lower end threaded, whereby the foundation tension member and the pier tension member may be joined by a threaded coupling to hold the pier to the foundation by a compressive force, said spacing of the bottom ends of the posts permitting access to the coupling area.