Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
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; positioning a light weight generally U-shaped form having a pair of parallel legs, a transverse leg and flap means on each footing and securing said flap means to at least one grade beam and its associated footing whereby said form is secured to at least one grade beam and said associated footing; 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.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
170 words
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; positioning a light weight generally U-shaped form having a pair of parallel legs, a transverse leg and flap means on each footing and securing said flap means to at least one grade beam and its associated footing whereby said form is secured to at least one grade beam and said associated footing; 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.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
98 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one end of each of said grade beams is formed with a channel configuration and wherein at least some of said grade beams are set on said footings such that a keyway is formed between adjacent ends of said some of said grade beams, 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 said wet concrete flows into said keyways.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
91 words
A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein other of said grade beams are set on said footings at a right angle to each other and are interlocked with each other, one of said other of said grade beams being formed with a keyway slot, 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 said wet concrete flows into said keyway slots.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
91 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein some of said grade beams are set on said footings at a right angle to each other and are interlocked with each other, one of said some of said grade beams being formed with a keyway slot, 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 said wet concrete flows into said keyway slots.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the step of providing temporary supports at the ends of said grade beams after said grade beams are set in place.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said forms are cardboard having the strength to withstand 450 psi against its lower edge adjacent said footings.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said yoke is formed of a disposable material and includes a slot, said yoke being placed on said form with said slot spanning opposite walls of said form.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
198 words
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.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
198 words
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.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A foundation in accordance with claim 8 including a yoke of disposable material extending across the top of each of said forms for retaining said anchor bolts in position before said concrete piers are formed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
75 words
A foundation in accordance with claim 8 wherein at least one end of each of said grade beams is 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.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
64 words
A foundation in accordance with claim 10 wherein other of said grade beams extend 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.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
64 words
A foundation in accordance with claim 8 wherein some of said grade beams extend 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.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
A foundation in accordance with claim 8 wherein said grade beams include exterior walls and internal stiffener walls defining cavities therein, said walls being formed of glass fiber reinforced concrete and said cavities being filled with a light weight insulation material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
A foundation in accordance with claim 8 wherein said forms are made of cardboard having a strength to withstand about 450 psi.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
144 words
A grade beam comprising exterior walls including generally parallel top and bottom walls and generally parallel inner and outer walls, said exterior walls forming a closed generally hollow structure, internal stiffener walls formed within said generally hollow structure, said exterior walls and said internal stiffener walls forming a plurality of separate cavities within said generally hollow structure, said exterior walls and said internal stiffener walls being made of concrete reinforced with glass fiber rovings and said cavities being filled with a light weight insulation material, said exterior walls including a pair of end walls located at opposite ends of said generally hollow structure, at least one of said end walls being formed with a channel configuration, a pair of ribs formed on said inner wall, each of said ribs being adjacent an end wall and extending from said top wall to said bottom wall.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
144 words
A grade beam comprising exterior walls including generally parallel top and bottom walls and generally parallel inner and outer walls, said exterior walls forming a closed generally hollow structure, internal stiffener walls formed within said generally hollow structure, said exterior walls and said internal stiffener walls forming a plurality of separate cavities within said generally hollow structure, said exterior walls and said internal stiffener walls being made of concrete reinforced with glass fiber rovings and said cavities being filled with a light weight insulation material, said exterior walls including a pair of end walls located at opposite ends of said generally hollow structure, at least one of said end walls being formed with a channel configuration, a pair of ribs formed on said inner wall, each of said ribs being adjacent an end wall and extending from said top wall to said bottom wall.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
A grade beam in accordance with claim 15 wherein both of said end walls are formed with said channel configuration.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
A grade beam in accordance with claim 15 wherein the other of said end walls is formed with interlocking means for interlocking engagement with another grade beam.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
A grade beam in accordance with claim 15 wherein an interlocking means is formed adjacent the other of said end walls and wherein a keyway is formed adjacent said interlocking means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
A grade beam in accordance with claim 15 wherein said channel is formed by a pair of generally parallel walls and a connecting wall, one of said pair of parallel channel walls being shorter than the other.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
A grade beam in accordance with claim 19 wherein said ribs are formed adjacent said shorter one of said pair of generally parallel channel walls.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
A grade beam in accordance with claim 15 wherein said internal stiffener walls include first walls extending generally parallel to said top and bottom walls and second walls extending generally parallel to said end walls.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
A grade beam in accordance with claim 15 wherein said insulation material is polystyrene.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
315 words
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.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
315 words
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.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
233 words
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.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
233 words
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.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
258 words
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.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
258 words
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.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
159 words
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.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
159 words
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.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
203 words
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.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
203 words
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.