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CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/085,333, filed on Feb. 28, 2002 and published as U.S. Patent Publication No. U.S. 2003/0159381 A1 on Aug. 28, 2003, the disclosure of which is hereby explicitly incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to post-frame buildings, and, more particularly, to a column for use in the construction of a post-frame building.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     Typical post-frame buildings include a series of wooden columns set into the earth and positioned in a geometric configuration generally corresponding to the desired perimeter of a post-frame building. A distal end of each column is set into the earth, while a proximal end is affixed to a truss. Note that for the purposes of this document, the reference point with respect to the use of the words “distal,” and “proximal” is taken as the highest point on the post-frame building in question. The body of each column is joined to an adjacent column via a number of generally horizontally placed planks. Such a horizontal placed plank positioned adjacent the earth is generally referred to as a skirt board, while a horizontal plank joining adjacent columns positioned a distance from the earth is generally referred to as a girt. After the skirt board and girts are affixed to the columns, a siding member is attached to the skirt board and girts to define an exterior of the post-frame building. Similarly, adjacent trusses are joined together by wooden planks referred to as purlins. Generally, purlins are positioned substantially transverse to the trusses. A roofing member is affixed to the trusses via the purlin to form an exterior roof of the post-frame building.  
         [0006]     Typically, to construct a post-frame building, a series of holes are bored into the earth about the perimeter of the building. The depth of these holes can be, e.g., three to five feet, with adjacent holes being placed on, e.g. four to ten foot centers. After the holes are formed, a concrete pad is positioned in the distal most portion of the hole. Generally, the concrete pad comprises a precast concrete pad having a generally cylindrical shape. After each hole receives a concrete pad, a column is set into each hole and the holes are back-filled with, e.g., gravel to maintain the columns in a vertical orientation. Generally, either solid wood columns or laminated wood columns are utilized in post-frame construction. Laminated columns are typically formed of three or more 2×6&#39;s or 2×8&#39;s positioned side by side to form the column. Both the solid and laminated columns of the prior art which are set into the earth must be treated with a wood preservative to prevent degradation thereof due, e.g., to insect damage, and/or damage from the elements, e.g., moisture. Planting treated wood columns in the ground can, potentially, have an adverse impact on the environment.  
         [0007]     What is needed in the art is a column structure which provides excellent resistance to degradation of its mechanical properties from the exposure to the elements which accompanies its placement in the ground, while providing ease of workability to complete construction of the building above ground and which is environmentally friendly.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The present invention provides an improved column for use in the construction of a post-frame building. In accordance with the present invention, a two piece column is utilized in the construction of a post-frame building. The two piece column of the present invention generally comprises a foundation column for placement in the earth, with a proximal end thereof protruding from the earth. The proximal end of the foundation column includes a column bracket for joining the foundation column to a wooden column comprising the second portion of the two piece column of the present invention. The foundation column of the present invention comprises a precast concrete column body having a column bracket affixed to a proximal end thereof. The column bracket includes a plurality of apertures to facilitate affixation of the second portion of the two piece column structure thereto.  
         [0009]     In one exemplary embodiment, the column bracket is a generally U-shaped structure having a base with a pair of transverse depending arms extending therefrom. The depending arms of the column bracket are spaced to allow placement of a wooden column there between. The depending arms of the column bracket include a plurality of apertures through which a connector such as, e.g., a carriage bolt can be placed. In use, apertures corresponding to those formed in the depending arms of the column bracket will be formed in the wooden column comprising the second portion of the two piece column of the present invention. The wooden column will then be placed intermediate the depending arms of the column bracket with a carriage bolt traversing the apertures in the column bracket and the wooden column. A nut will then be placed in the distal end of the carriage bolt and securely tightened to affix the wooden column to the column bracket.  
         [0010]     In one exemplary embodiment, one or more reinforcing bar(s) is affixed to the base of the column bracket opposite the depending arms of the column bracket prior to casting the concrete foundation column. That is, the depending arms of the column bracket extend transversely from one face of the base of the column bracket, while the reinforcing bar(s) extends transversely from the opposite face of the base of the column bracket. Each reinforcing bar is welded to the base of the column bracket and provides the necessary tensile strength to the foundation column. The reinforcing bars described in the detailed description portion of this document comprise steel reinforcing bars, however, any suitable material for providing the requisite tensile strength to the concrete foundation columns disclosed herein may be utilized in accordance with the present invention. The reinforcing bars utilized in accordance with the present invention can be placed in differing configurations as will be further discussed in the detailed description portion of this document. Generally, a plurality of reinforcing bars will be utilized in accordance with the present invention, with the reinforcing bars substantially evenly spaced about a longitudinal axis of the foundation column.  
         [0011]     An anchor pin sleeve is secured to and positioned adjacent a distal end of the foundation column. The anchor pin sleeve of the present invention comprises a tubular member having opposite ends allowing access to a hollow interior thereof. In one exemplary embodiment, the anchor pin sleeve is positioned whereby a longitudinal axis thereof intersects a longitudinal axis of the foundation column, with the longitudinal axis of the anchor pin sleeve being substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the foundation column. For the purposes of this document, substantially transverse is utilized to describe an arrangement in which a pair of components are perpendicular one to another, or no more than 20° out of perpendicular, i.e., forming the angle of 70° to 110°.  
         [0012]     The hollow interior of the anchor pin sleeve is sized to accommodate a anchor pin positioned therein. A anchor pin in accordance with the present invention is a generally cylindrical member having a length greater than the length of the anchor pin sleeve. In one exemplary embodiment, the anchor pin comprises a length of ½″ steel reinforcing bar. While the anchor pin sleeve and anchor pin have been described as a hollow cylinder and a cylindrical member, respectively, these structures can have various cross-sectional geometries, including, e.g., elliptical geometries, oval geometries, or various polygonal geometries. Importantly, the exterior cross-sectional geometry of the anchor pin and the interior cross-sectional geometry of the anchor pin sleeve will be shaped whereby the anchor pin is able to traverse the interior of anchor pin sleeve.  
         [0013]     When constructing a post-frame building utilizing the foundation column of the present invention, a anchor pin is positioned in the anchor pin sleeve of the foundation column, with one or both ends of the anchor pin protruding from the anchor pin sleeve. The foundation column is then positioned within a hole in the earth and placed atop a concrete pad positioned in the distal portion of the hole. A flowable concrete mixture is placed in the hole to a depth whereby the protruding portion of the anchor pin is covered, thus forming a concrete collar about the distal end of the foundation column. The anchor pin and concrete collar of the present invention cooperate to resist vertical displacement of a foundation column of the present invention.  
         [0014]     The present invention advantageously provides a column for use in the construction of a post-frame building having a distal portion for setting into the earth which distal portion is formed of a material which is resistant to degradation of its mechanical properties from exposure to the elements and which is sufficiently strong to support a post-frame construction including the dead load of the building as well as environmental loads, e.g., wind and snow load experienced by the post-frame building. The column of the present invention further advantageously provides an above ground portion thereof formed of wood to facilitate shaping this portion of the column during construction of a post-frame building and, further, to facilitate affixation of additional components of the building including, e.g., trusses, girts, and skirt boards with the use of well known wooden fasteners such as nails and screws.  
         [0015]     A column in accordance with the present invention advantageously provides the requisite resistance to the elements, as well as the strength, and workability needed in the construction of post-frame buildings, without requiring the use of treated lumber to form the column. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]     The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a cutaway perspective view of a post-frame building in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a partial plan view of a post-frame building utilizing a column in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a foundation column in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment foundation column in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the column connector and reinforcing bar configuration utilized in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of a column bracket/reinforcing bar configuration in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 5  is a partial perspective view of the distal portion of the reinforcing bar utilized to construct a foundation column in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view of a foundation column of the present invention taken along lines  6 - 6 ′ of  FIG. 3A ;  
         [0025]      FIG. 7  is a partial plan view illustrating affixation of a wooden column to a column bracket of the present invention and further illustrating affixation of reinforcing bar to a distal portion of the base of a column bracket in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 8  is a top plan view of the wooden column/column bracket configuration of  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0027]      FIG. 9  is a bottom plan view thereof;  
         [0028]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a column bracket of the present invention. 
     
    
       [0029]     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the drawings represent embodiments of the present invention, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated in order to better illustrate and explain the present invention. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate embodiments of the invention, in one form, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0030]     A column constructed in accordance with the present invention is illustrated, e.g., in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a column of the present invention has a two piece construction including foundation column  26  and wooden column  24 . Foundation column  26  is set in the earth with a proximal end thereof protruding from the earth. Wooden column  24  is affixed to the proximal end of foundation column  26  and extends upwardly therefrom.  
         [0031]     Alternative embodiments of foundation column  26  are illustrated in  FIGS. 3-6 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , one embodiment of foundation column  26  includes precast concrete column body  44  having a substantially consistent cross-sectional area with anchor pin sleeve  46  positioned adjacent a distal end of precast concrete column body  44  and column bracket  34  positioned adjacent a proximal end of precast concrete column body  44 . Anchor pin sleeve  46  comprises a hollow cylindrical member sized to accommodate anchor pin  32  ( FIG. 2 ). In one exemplary embodiment, anchor pin sleeve  46  is a ⅝″ inner diameter sleeve.  
         [0032]     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3, 3A ,  4 , and  4 A, as well as  FIGS. 7-10 , column bracket  34  is generally U-shaped with depending arms  56  extending from base  54 . Depending arms  56  are substantially perpendicular to base  54  and are spaced whereby column  24  may be positioned intermediate depending arms  56 . Column bracket is formed of steel, e.g., ⅛″ to ½″ steel and can be formed in a variety of ways, including, e.g., creating a pair of substantially 90° bends in a planar piece of stock material using a bending brake press or other suitable metal bending apparatus, welding a pair of L-shaped brackets one to the other, or welding together three discrete pieces comprising the two depending arms  56  and base  54  of column bracket  34 .  
         [0033]     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 7 , wood column  24  comprises a laminated column formed of three discrete wood planks  52 . In alternative embodiments, wood column  24  comprises a solid wood column. Column bracket  34  in accordance with the present invention can be formed in various sizes to accommodate varying wooden columns  24  of differing sizes and construction, including, e.g., solid wooden columns and laminated wooden columns. In one embodiment, the inner faces of depending arms  56  will be separated by a distance equal to the width of the desired wood column  24  plus ⅛″ to ½″ to facilitate placement of wood column  24  intermediate depending arms  56  and adjacent to base  54 .  
         [0034]      FIG. 4  illustrates one configuration of reinforcing bars  42  with respect to column bracket  34 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , reinforcing bars  42  are substantially evenly spaced about base  54  of column bracket  34 . As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , reinforcing bars  42  are affixed to base  54  of column bracket  34  via welds  50 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 7 , reinforcing bars  42  are placed in abutting relationship with a distal face of base  54  and are welded thereto. Various alternative methods of affixing reinforcing bars  42  to base  54  of column bracket  34  may be utilized in accordance with the present invention, including, e.g., forming apertures in base  54  to accommodate placement of reinforcing bars  42  therethrough and subsequently welding reinforcing bars  42  to both faces of base  54 .  
         [0035]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , reinforcing bar spacers  40  are utilized to maintain the spaced relationship of reinforcing bars  42 . Reinforcing bar spacers  40  are affixed to adjacent reinforcing bars via, e.g., welds and maintain the relative position of reinforcing bars  42  along the length thereof. Reinforcing bar spacers  40  illustrated in  FIG. 5  have a length whereby a portion of reinforcing bar spacer  40  extends past at least one reinforcing bar  42 . In alternative embodiments, reinforcing bar spacers  40  maintain the spaced relationship of reinforcing bars  42  and do not extend beyond reinforcing bars  42 . In one exemplary embodiment, reinforcing bar spacers  40  are substantially transversely positioned with respect to reinforcing bars  42 . In one embodiment, reinforcing bar spacers  40  are L-shaped. In this embodiment, only two spacers  40  are required.  
         [0036]      FIG. 4A  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the reinforcing bar/column bracket configuration of a foundation column of the present invention. As illustrated in  FIG. 4A , a pair of U-shaped reinforcing bars  42   a  are affixed to the distal face of base  54  of column bracket  34 . In this configuration, U-shaped reinforcing bars  42   a  have sufficient structural rigidity to substantially maintain the space apart relationship of the upright portions thereof, i.e., the “arms” of U-shaped reinforcing bars  42   a.    
         [0037]     In various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, reinforcing bar is positioned within a foundation column in a configuration in which the reinforcing bar will add tensile strength to every face of the foundation column. In practice, adding tensile strength to the face of a foundation column adjacent the building siding is of the greatest importance, as wind load on the side of a post-frame building can place a significant force on the foundation column, tending to flex a proximal end of the foundation column toward the interior of the building in question. Because reinforcing bar is positioned to add tensile strength to every face of the foundation column, an installer need not be concerned with the proper rotational configuration of a foundation post of the present invention to ensure that reinforcing bar is positioned adjacent the face of the foundation column adjacent the building siding. Generally, a sufficient amount of reinforcing bar to withstand at least an 80 mph wind force is utilized in a foundation column of the present invention.  
         [0038]     In construction, reinforcing bars  42  or  42   a  will be positioned within a mold along with anchor pin sleeve  46 . A concrete mixture is then poured into the mold and sets to form a complete foundation column  26  or  26   a  ( FIGS. 3, 3A ). Generally, foundation columns  26 ,  26   a  comprise 4000-8500 psi precast concrete columns. Foundation column  26   a  of  FIG. 3A  includes bevels  62 , while foundation column  26  illustrated in  FIG. 3  has four substantially continuous sides. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , foundation column  26   a  includes a pair of bevels  62  on opposing sides thereof. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , bevel  62  terminate in a base b which is substantially parallel to the face of foundation column  26   a  in which bevel  62  is formed. In one exemplary embodiment, base b is 1 to 2 inches long and depth d is ¾-1½ inches. Referring to  FIG. 3A , the dimensions of an exemplary foundation columns  26   a  are as follows: depth (D) of about 5½-7½ inches, width (W) of about 4⅝-6⅛ inches, height of column body  44  (H 1 ) of about 5 feet, and height of column bracket  34  (H 2 ) of about 12-24 inches. Exemplary foundation columns  26  are formed of similar dimensions.  
         [0039]      FIGS. 7-9  illustrate affixation of wooden column  24  to column bracket  34 . As illustrated, e.g., in  FIG. 10 , column bracket  34  includes four apertures  48  through which a fastener may be placed. As illustrated in  FIGS. 7-9 , one appropriate fastener utilized to affix wooden column  24  to column bracket  34  comprises carriage bolt  58  and nut  60 . As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , a pair of apertures are formed through wooden column  24  whereby carriage bolt  58  traverses a first aperture  48  in column bracket  34 , thereafter traverses an aperture in wooden column  24 , and finally traverses a second aperture  48  in column bracket  34 . Nut  60  is thereafter secured to carriage bolt  58  to secure wooden column  24  to column bracket  34 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 7-10 , a pair of carriage bolts  58  and nuts  60  are utilized to affix wooden column  24  to column bracket  34 . In one exemplary embodiment, apertures  48  are 9/16″ apertures and carriage bolts  56  are ½″ carriage bolts.  
         [0040]     To construct post-frame building  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a series of holes in the earth are made about the perimeter of building  10  to accommodate concrete pads  28  and foundation columns  26 . Concrete pads  28  are positioned in the distal most region of these holes and foundation columns  26 , with anchor pins  32  positioned through anchor pin sleeves  46  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 3 ) are positioned within the holes and placed atop concrete pads  28 . Foundation columns  26  are generally positioned with depending arms  56  of column bracket  34  substantially perpendicular to a plane in which siding member  14  will be positioned. With foundation columns  26  substantially vertically positioned, concrete collars  30  are poured. The holes are thereafter back-filled to maintain the vertical position of foundation columns  26 . Columns  24  are affixed to column brackets  34  as described hereinabove and skirt board  22 , girts  20 , trusses  16 , purlins  18 , siding member  14 , and roofing member  12  are assembled to complete the construction of building  10 . Fastening mechanisms including, e.g., screws and nails may be utilized to affix various wooden members of post-frame building  10  as well as siding member  14  and roofing member  12 .  
         [0041]     While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within know or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.

Summary:
A column for use in post-frame construction having a two piece construction in which a first or foundation column portion of the column is set into the earth with a proximal end thereof protruding from the earth. The proximal end of the foundation column includes a column bracket for joining the foundation column to a wooden column comprising the second portion of the two piece column of the present invention. The foundation column of the present invention comprises a precast concrete column. The foundation column of the present invention advantageously resists degradation of its mechanical properties due to environmental influences while providing the necessary strength to support a post-frame building, including, e.g., the environmental loads received by the building. The wood column comprising the second portion of the two piece column of the present invention advantageously provides ease of workability to complete construction of a post-frame building.