Patent ID: 7591110
Filing Date: 2009-09-22
Classification: E02D

Abstract:
1. A building foundation, comprising: a footing; a foundation wall supported by said footing, said foundation wall having a plurality of cells arranged so as to define aligned cell cavities at least some of which are filled in with grout, wherein at least some of said cells of the top row of cells of said foundation wall have a cross-sectional shape that is the same as at least some of said cells of a lower row of cells of said foundation wall, wherein said foundation wall has an interior surface that faces towards the interior of the building foundation and an exterior surface that faces away from the interior of the building foundation; a seismic strap at least partially located in at least one set of said aligned cell cavities filled in with grout, wherein said seismic strap is embedded in said footing; a sill supported by said foundation wall, wherein said seismic strap is attached to said sill; horizontally disposed rebar located in said footing; and vertically disposed rebar located in said set of aligned cell cavities filled in with grout in which said seismic strap is located, wherein all of said cells forming said set of said aligned cell cavities into which said vertically disposed rebar is located have the same size and cross-sectional shape extending along their lengths, wherein said vertically disposed rebar is a single continuous integral piece of rebar that extends from said footing to said top row of cells, wherein said vertically disposed rebar contacts said horizontally disposed rebar and is located in said top row of cells and is embedded in said grout in said top row of cells and does not extend above said top row of cells and is not attached to said sill; wherein said grout in said set of said aligned cell cavities that includes said seismic strap is located between said footing and said sill, wherein said grout is completely located within said set of aligned cell cavities that includes said vertical rebar such that said grout is not visible on said interior surface of said foundation wall and is not visible on said exterior surface of said foundation wall.