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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The bracket assembly for lifting and supporting a foundation relates to L shaped foundation brackets in general and more specifically to improvements in the connections of the bracket to a pier for supporting a foundation. A unique aspect of the present bracket assembly is a removable gate and adjustable bolt that position the bracket assembly upon a pier to resist moment, translation, and rotation of a bracket.  
         [0002]     The bracket assembly transfers the weight, or load, supported by a foundation, or footing, to a pier, pile or deeper foundation. The bracket assembly commonly cradles a footing, or foundation wall, of a structure, or building, then transfers the load to a pile or pier that bears on bedrock or other load bearing strata beneath the existing foundation. The main concept of this invention is to support a settling foundation Prior art designs have previously supported failed or shallow footings.  
         [0003]     Piers made of concrete, reinforced concrete, timber, steel pipe, steel tubing, and solid steel bar bent into a helix have seen use at many sites to remedy failing foundations with varying success. The adequate transfer of the load from the foundation to the pier concerns contractors, engineers, and owners alike. Commonly, contractors place piers below a foundation by jack-hammering through a foundation, often through a basement floor. Piers directly below a foundation become impractical because of overhead height constraints and damage to an existing structure. To minimize risk, contractors excavate wider access holes lest, piers become too short. Short piers have proven cumbersome and time consuming for contractors and result in a pier of questionable flexural rigidity.  
         [0004]     The present art overcomes the limitations of the prior art where a need exists for a bracket to adequately transfer the foundation load to a pier located adjacent to a foundation. That is, the art of the present invention, a bracket assembly for lifting and supporting a foundation, fixes a bracket to a pier with minimal moment and rotation of the bracket when under load. As a key feature, the bracket assembly reduces the distance between the pier and the foundation to minimize the moment induced into the top of a pier by an eccentric load from the foundation. The moment imparts bending upon the pier where the pier has the lowest lateral support from adjacent soil and tends to rotate a bracket away from the corner of the foundation. The rotation educes the effective bearing area between the bracket and the foundation. The gap exposed by a rotated bracket gives the appearance of a weak connection.  
         [0005]     The difficulty in providing a bracket assembly is shown by prior art bracket designs that transferred a foundation load to a particular style of pier. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,120,163 to Holdeman et al., U.S. Pat. No. to 5,171,107 to Hamilton et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,246,311 to West et al. each describe a bracket for a specific style or size of a pier. Some prior bracket designs state a feature to accommodate different sizes and styles of piers but, only provide for partial front to rear engagement between the installed pier and a bracket. Typically, an installed pier has a clearance between the lower portions of the bracket and the front edge of a pier toward the foundation.  
         [0006]     In U.S. Pat. No. 6,079,905 to Ruiz et al. for example, the adjustable brackets only engage the upper portion of the bracket and the back edge of an installed pier farthest from the foundation. The prior art brackets provide little means of contact between the lower portion of the bracket and the front edge of a pier towards a foundation. Under typical loads without contact at both the lower front and the upper rear edges of the pier, the prior art brackets rotate about an axis perpendicular to the length of a pier. Rotation causes the foundation support portion of a bracket to disengage from a foundation opening a gap, thus reducing the effective load capacity of a bracket. Contractors and owners alike desire a bracket assembly adaptable for various shapes and sizes of piers and adjustable to prevent rotation and moment between a bracket and a pier. Thus, the present invention has the ability to fully support the foundation upon the bracket, to maintain such, and to prevent slippage between the bracket and the supported foundation.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     Accordingly, the present invention improves existing brackets so that the bracket accommodates stabilization and lifting piers of various sizes ranging from about one inch to about four inches in diameter and various shapes such as round, square, and polygonal. Simultaneously, the present invention provides engagement to limit rotation or shifting of the bracket with respect to an installed pier. A removable gate, or pin, feature allows the contractor to install the bracket upon the foundation either before or after placement of a pier. The present invention also allows a contractor to use multiple systems for placement of a pier such as rotational torque drive and direct resistance drive among others. The present invention maintains placement and orientation of a pier to resist rotation and slippage. Further, the present invention permits locating installation tools and components over the center of the piers to reduce induced bending moment at the junction of a pier and a bracket, particularly where the foundation rest thereon.  
         [0008]     A bracket assembly has a structural bearing angle member, a housing of two parallel plates, a pier guide, two load transfer plates, a locking bolt plate and two threaded support bolts, and a jack. This minimum configuration places the bracket assembly upon a pier directly below a failing, or settling, foundation in need of repair. A secondary component includes a lifting plate and a temporary jack coupling strap member and the secondary component can function with a pier offset from a foundation.  
         [0009]     In the present invention, the structural bearing angle member supports and lifts the foundation relative to the pier kept between two parallel plates. The pier guide provides a moveable stop on the front edge of the pier nearest the foundation. In addition, the pier guide also provides a pin to engage the rear edge of the pier to prevent the pier from shifting out of the bracket. Alternatively, the pier guide has a gate with a moveable plate or a tube shape. The moveable stop eliminates any gap, front to back, between the front edge of an installed pier and the lower portion of the bracket assembly.  
         [0010]     Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide contact and direct load transfer between the bracket and the front edge of piers having various shapes and sizes.  
         [0011]     It is a further object of the present invention to prevent shifting and rotation of the bracket with respect to a pier particularly when subjected to the weight of the foundation.  
         [0012]     It is a still further object of the present invention to eliminate movement of a bracket away from a foundation.  
         [0013]     It is an even still further object of the present invention to prevent disengagement of a bracket from the bottom of a foundation.  
         [0014]     These and other objects may become more apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the invention as described herein, and upon undertaking a study of the description of its preferred embodiment, when viewed in conjunction with the drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]      FIG. 1  shows an isometric view of a foundation in distress;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  shows a side view of the prior art bracket that tends to shift off a foundation and deflect a pier;  
         [0017]      FIG. 3A  illustrates a side view of the preferred embodiment of the bracket assembly constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and with jacking mechanism in operation;  
         [0018]      FIG. 3B  illustrates a back view of the bracket assembly with jacking mechanism in operation, where extension of the jack lifts the bracket closer to the top of the pier;  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  describes the forces upon of the bracket assembly with improvements to counteract the moment applied to the pier and bracket assembly;  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  shows an isometric view of the preferred embodiment of the bracket assembly with a pin in slots and an adjustable bolt perpendicular to the pin to contain a pier;  
         [0021]      FIG. 6  shows a side view of the preferred embodiment of the bracket assembly with a pin in a slots and an adjustable bolt;  
         [0022]      FIG. 7  describes a bottom view of the preferred embodiment of the bracket assembly where the pin and the adjustable bolt prevent translation and rotation of the pier;  
         [0023]      FIG. 8  shows an isometric view of a second embodiment of the bracket assembly with a reinforced tube and an adjustable bolt to bias against a pier;  
         [0024]      FIG. 9  shows a side view of the second embodiment of the bracket assembly with a reinforced tube and an adjustable bolt;  
         [0025]      FIG. 10  describes a bottom view of the second embodiment of the bracket assembly where the tube and an adjustable bolt prevent translation of the pier;  
         [0026]      FIG. 11  shows an isometric view of a third embodiment of the bracket assembly with a moveable plate and an adjustable bolt to receive a pier;  
         [0027]      FIG. 12  shows an isometric view reversed of  FIG. 11  of the third embodiment of the bracket assembly where a second adjusting bolt advances the moveable plate;  
         [0028]      FIG. 13  shows a side view of the third embodiment of the bracket assembly where the second adjusting bolt secures to a fixed gate;  
         [0029]      FIG. 14  describes a top view of the third embodiment of the bracket assembly where the moveable plate and bolt contact the pier at two points and prevent translation and rotation of the pier;  
         [0030]      FIG. 15  shows an isometric view of a fourth embodiment of the bracket assembly with a gate in a slotted connection and an adjustable bolt perpendicular to the gate to contain a pier;  
         [0031]      FIG. 16  shows a side view of the fourth embodiment of the bracket assembly with a gate in a slotted connection and an adjustable bolt; and,  
         [0032]      FIG. 17  describes a bottom view of the fourth embodiment of the bracket assembly where the gate and the adjustable bolt prevent translation and rotation of the pier. 
     
    
       [0033]     The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various figures.  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0034]     The present art overcomes the prior art limitations by providing a bracket assembly that lifts and supports a foundation with adjustable lifting and pier positioning hardware, that transfers foundation loads to piers of various shapes and sizes, and that does not induce rotation of the bracket upon a pier. Turning to  FIG. 1 , soil settles in the vicinity of a foundation  2 . A foundation  2  extends beneath the ground surface  110 , one or more stories, at least ten feet, and supports a structure above the foundation  2 . After enough settlement, a foundation  2  will move out of alignment and likely crack  111  then leak. To remedy a distressed, or settling, foundation  2 , building owners and contractors have turned to piers  3  like in the prior art shown in  FIG. 2 . A pier  3  extends from the foundation  2  to bedrock or has sufficient length of embedment to resist foundation loads. The pier  3  has a generally linear shape with a shank. The shank may have a helical shape to increase load capacity. Piers  3  have a variety of cross sections ranging from square to polygonal in both hollow and solid forms. In the prior art, the pier  3  is located away and at an angle from the foundation to permit installation of the pier  3 . In  FIGS. 1-14 , the pier  3  will have a square cross section though the present invention  1  will accommodate other shapes. Also in  FIGS. 1-14 , front refers to the direction towards and location nearest the foundation  2  and upper or top refers to the direction and location above a pier  3 . Opposite the shank, a prior art bracket rests near the top of the pier  3 . The prior art bracket has a generally L shape reinforced for multiple ton loads. The prior art bracket bears a portion of the weight of the foundation load as it contacts the foundation  2 . Due to soil conditions and installation methods, the prior art bracket creates an angle between the bracket and the foundation. The foundation has a tendency to slip off the prior art bracket and the pier  3  tends to deflect as the prior art bracket rotates.  
         [0035]     Moving to  FIG. 3A , a secondary component  100  atop the pier  3  forces the bracket assembly  1  to approach the foundation  2  and bear foundation loads. In the present invention  1 , the pier  3  is installed adjacent and close to the foundation  2 . The bracket assembly  1  installs upon a pier  3  in close quarters at a bottom corner of a foundation  2 . The secondary component  100  has a jack  101  upon a locking plate  102  upon the pier  3 . Cranking of the jack  101  extends the cylinder  103  to a header  104  and raises the header  104 . The header  104  has straps  105  upon either end (not shown) that reach to the bracket assembly  1 . Raising the header  104  raises the bracket assembly  1  and supports the foundation  2 .  
         [0036]     Turning to  FIG. 3B  a back view of the secondary component  100  illustrates the bracket assembly  1  in operation. Upon the top of a pier  3 , a locking plate  102  rests, generally centered. A jack  101  rests upon the locking plate  102  and the cylinder  103  of the jack  101  extends upward to a header plate  106 . The header plate  106  is generally rectangular. The header plate  106  transmits the force from the cylinder  103  over a broader area of the header  104 . The generally rectangular header  104  spans the width of the bracket assembly  1  and has two opposite ends. At each header end, a strap  105  joins the header  104  with a strap pin  107  for a connection. The strap  105  has a generally thin rectangular cross section like typical flat bar stock, much greater length than the width of the header  104 , and multiple spaced holes (not shown) along its length to accommodate different initial heights between the locking plate  102  and the header  104  prior to cranking the jack  101 .  
         [0037]     The straps  105  descend towards the bracket assembly  1  and terminate in U shaped devises  108 . Two sections of material joined to an end of the strap  105  form the clevis  108 . In the preferred embodiment, the strap  105  and the clevis  108  are made of flat steel. Each section of the clevis  108  has a central hole that aligns over a hole in the load transfer plates  12  of the bracket assembly  1 . The load transfer plates  12  are parallel to the clevis and fit between the clevis sections  108 . A strap pin  107  secures the clevis to the load transfer plates  12 . Perpendicular to the load transfer plate  12 , a bottom plate  13  (not shown in this view) upon the bracket assembly  1  has a centered hole to receive a support bolt  109  secured by a nut beneath the bottom plate  13 . The support bolt  109  extends from the bottom plate  13  through the locking plate  102  to another nut connection. Perpendicular to the load transfer plates  12  and the bottom plates  13  the back plates  14  extend from the load transfer plates  12  to the centrally located plates  16 . Between the plates  16 , a pin  19 , see  FIG. 5 , restrains the pier  3  from moving front to back within the bracket assembly  1 . The secondary component  100  is symmetrical with straps  105  and devises  108  upon both sides of a bracket assembly  1 .  
         [0038]     Cranking the jack  101  raises the header  104  which pulls up the devises  108 , load transfer plates  12 , and bottom plates  13 . When the bracket assembly  1  reaches its final position and the foundation  2  has become level and repaired, the nuts are advanced upon the support bolts  109  to close upon the bottom plates  13 . The contractor then removes the secondary component  100  and fills in the excavation upon a bracket assembly  1 .  
         [0039]     Back to  FIG. 4 , while cranking the jack  101 , the bracket assembly  1  withstands a portion of the foundation load, W and the corresponding reaction force, P. The foundation load and the reaction force are spaced apart a distance, d. Though in balance, the foundation load and the reaction force cause a moment upon the bracket assembly  1 . The moment and resulting couple force tend to rotate the bracket assembly  1  away from the underside of the foundation  2 , forming an angle. In this view, the bracket assembly  1  has a housing  5  for the pier  3  such as a pair of plates  16 , generally rectangular in shape with two ends: a first end denoting the lower end and a second opposite end denoting the upper end. The first end  6  has a generally quarter circle or arcuate shape and the opposite second end  7  has a horizontal, flat, or squared shape. The first end  6  denotes the bottom of the bracket assembly  1 . A bearing member  8  such as an angle attaches to the plate  16 , centered upon the spaced apart plates  16 . Opposite the bearing angle  8 , a pier guide spans between the plates  16  at the back of the bracket assembly  1 . The pier guide and the bearing angle  8  co-operate to minimize translation of the bracket assembly  1  upon the pier  3 . Beneath the bearing angle  8 , an adjusting bolt  15  has a longitudinal axis parallel to a leg of the bearing angle  8 . The adjusting bolt  15  is centered between the plates  16  and proximate to the first ends  6  of the plates  16 . The adjusting bolt  15  passes between the plates  16  and contacts the pier  3 . The adjusting bolt  15  and the pier guide co-operate to minimize moment applied to the top of the pier  3  and rotation of the bracket assembly  1 .  
         [0040]     The preferred embodiment of the bracket assembly  1  appears in  FIG. 5 . The bracket assembly  1  begins with a housing  5  of two parallel and spaced apart plates  16 . A plate  16  has a generally rectangular shape with two ends. The first end  6  has a quarter circle or arcuate shape when viewed from the side of the bracket assembly  1  and the opposite second end  7  has a horizontal or square shape denoting the top of the bracket assembly  1 . A bearing angle  8  spans across the plates  16  in an L shaped cross section with the vertex of the L shape generally at the center of the present invention. Centered beneath the bearing angle  8 , a gusset  9  depends to a lower plate  18 . The gusset  9  has a planar shape generally triangular and parallel to the plates  16 . The gusset  9  joins, often by welding, to the bearing angle  8 , the lower plate  18 , and the angle  10 . The lower plate  18  spans between the plates  16  beneath the bearing angle  8  to the first ends  6 . Beneath the gusset  9 , an angle  10  is provided to stiffen the lower plate  18 . The angle  10  has a generally L shaped cross section with the vertex of the L shape towards the center of the present invention. The angle  10  generally parallels the bearing angle  8 . A means to receive a bolt  11 , such as a nut centered upon the angle  10 , receives an adjusting bolt  15 . The adjusting bolt  15  is threaded and has a head. To stabilize the bracket assembly  1  upon the pier  3 , the adjusting bolt  15  threads through the nut and passes through both the angle  10  and the lower plate  18  generally centered between the plates  16 . The adjusting bolt contacts the pier  3  (not shown).  
         [0041]     Spaced apart from and parallel to the plates  16 , a pair of load transfer plates  12  extends perpendicular to the bearing angle  8  at the sides of the bracket assembly  1 . The load transfer plates  12  have holes generally in the center to receive a pin  107  from the strap  105 . Spanning across the plates  16  near the second end  7  and the load transfer plates  12 , reinforcing means  14  stiffen the bracket assembly  1  such as back plates  14  parallel to the bearing angle  8 . Perpendicular to the bearing angle  8 , the load transfer plates  12 , and the back plates  14 , the bottom plates  13  (see  FIG. 7 ) permit passage of the support bolts  109  and secure nuts to lift the bracket assembly  1  during use as described in  FIG. 3B .  
         [0042]     Returning to the plates  16  near the second end  7 , the plates  16  have slots  17  generally along the length of the pier  3 . Serving as a pier guide, a pin  19  rests within the slots  17  of the two plates  16 . A slot  17  has a somewhat vertical orientation, rounded bottom, and a mouth wider than the diameter of a pin  19 . The slot  17  tilts towards the rear of the present invention  1 . As the present invention  1  advances upward, the slots  17  bind the pin  19  against the pier  3 . Alternatively, the slots  17  have a generally L shape to contain the pin  19  upon the pier  3 . The pin  19  has a generally cylindrical shape and may or may not be threaded for securement by nuts. The pin  19  co-operates with the bearing angle  8  to secure the pier  3  from moving front to back within the bracket assembly  1 .  
         [0043]     Turning to  FIG. 6 , a plate  16  has a generally rectangular shape with the first end  6  shaped as a quarter circle or other arcuate form and the opposite second end  7  generally square cut or horizontal. The second end  7  has a slot  17  proximate to the back for receiving the pin  19 . The plate  16  is perpendicular to and between the bearing angle  8  and the back plate  14 . The vertex of the bearing angle  8  is generally at the midpoint of the plate  16 . A lower plate  18  spans across the plates  16  co-planar with one leg of the bearing angle  8 . An angle  10  joins the lower plate  18  proximate to the second end  7  of the plate  16  and parallels the bearing angle  8 . A nut  20  attached to the angle  10  admits the adjusting bolt  15 . The adjusting bolt  15  has a head upon one end and opposite the head, the adjusting bolt  15  contacts the pier  3  (not shown). The gusset  9  has a truncated triangular plate shape and extends from the angle  10  to a leg of the bearing angle  8 . The gusset  9  is generally centered between the plates  16  and joined to the bearing angle  8 , the lower plate  18 , and the angle  10 , often by welding. Opposite the bearing angle  8 , a back plate spans between a plate  16  and a load transfer plate  12  (not shown) near the first end  6 .  
         [0044]     Rotating to  FIG. 7 , the bracket assembly  1  has a symmetric construction that contains a pier  3  between the pin  19  and the adjusting bolt  15 . The cylindrical pin  19  spans between the parallel and spaced apart plates  16  here shown on edge. Back plates  14  join perpendicular to the plates  16  and towards the top of the present invention  1 . Load transfer plates  12  join perpendicular to the back plates  14  and parallel and spaced apart to the plates  16 . The bearing angle  8  joins to both the load transfer plates  12  and the plates  16 . Bottom plates  13  then join between the load transfer plates  12  and the plates  16 , and the back plates  14  and the bearing angle  8 . The bottom plates  13  have a generally centered hole to admit a support bolt  109  (not shown but see  FIG. 3B ).  
         [0045]     The bearing angle  8  has a generally centered gusset  9  here shown on edge. The gusset  9  extends down and away from the bearing angle  8  to the angle  10 . The angle  10  has an L shaped cross section with one leg of the angle  10  joining the gusset  9  and the other leg of the angle  10  joining the lower plate  18 . The lower plate  18  spans across the plates  16  beneath the bearing angle  8 . The lower plate  18  and the other leg of the angle  10  have coaxial holes to admit the adjusting bolt  15 . A nut  20  secures the adjusting bolt  15  to the bracket assembly  1 . The adjusting bolt  15  and pin  19  in contact with the pier  3  minimize front to back movement and rotation of the bracket assembly  1  upon the top of the pier  3 .  
         [0046]     A second embodiment of the bracket assembly  1  appears in  FIG. 8 . The bracket assembly  1  begins with a hollow tube  25 , generally square in cross section and oriented upright. Serving as a pier guide, the tube  25  fits the shape of the top of a pier  3 . Those skilled in the art will recognize that a variety of shapes can be used in addition to the square shape of the tube  25  described. A bearing angle  8  spans across the tube  25  in an L shape cross section with the vertex of the L shape generally at the center of the present invention  1 . The bearing angle  8  contacts the front of the tube  25 . Centered beneath the bearing angle  8 , a gusset  9  hangs downwards and joins to the front of the tube  25  as well. The gusset  9  has a planar shape generally triangular and perpendicular to a leg of the bearing angle  8  and to the tube  25 . Beneath the gusset  9 , an angle  10  spans the width of the tube  25 . As before, the gusset  9  welds or joins to the bearing angle  8 , the lower plate  18 , and the angle  10 . The angle  10  has an L shaped cross section with the vertex of the L shape towards the center of the present invention  1 . The angle  10  generally parallels the bearing angle  8 . A threaded hole  11  centered upon the angle  10  receives an adjusting bolt  15 . The adjusting bolt  15  is threaded and has a head. To stabilize the bracket assembly  1  upon the pier  3 , the adjusting bolt  15  threads through the hole  11 , passes into the tube  25 , and contacts the center of the pier  3  (not shown).  
         [0047]     Spaced apart from and parallel to the tube  25 , a pair of load transfer plates  12  extends perpendicular to the bearing angle  8  at the sides of the bracket assembly  1 . The load transfer plates  12  have holes generally in the center to receive a pin  19  from the strap  105 . Spanning across the tube  25  for the width of the bearing angle  8 , reinforcing angles  14 , or angle shaped members, parallel the bearing angle  8 . The reinforcing angles  14  have an L shaped cross section with the vertex of the L at the corners of the load transfer plates  12 . The reinforcing angles  14  are perpendicular to and join the load transfer plates  12  and join the back surface of the tube  25  opposite the bearing angle  8 . The reinforcing angles  14  are spaced apart from each other. Perpendicular to the bearing angle  8 , the load transfer plates  12 , and the reinforcing angles  14 , bottom plates  13  (see  FIG. 10 ) permit passage of the support bolts  109  and secure nuts to lift the bracket assembly  1  during use as described in  FIG. 3B .  
         [0048]     Turning to  FIG. 9 , a tube  25  has a generally rectangular shape with a first end  6  having the adjusting bolt  15  and a second end  7  opposite the first end  6 . The first and the second ends  6 ,  7  have a horizontal or square cut on a plane perpendicular to the length of the tube  25 . The vertex of the bearing angle  8  is generally at the midpoint of the tube  25 . The angle  10  joins the tube  25  proximate to the first end  6  of the tube  25  and parallels the bearing angle  8 . A threaded hole  11  centered upon the angle  10  admits the adjusting bolt  15 . The adjusting bolt  15  has a head upon one end and opposite the head, the adjusting bolt  15  contacts the pier  3  (not shown). The gusset  9  has a truncated triangular plate shape and extends from the angle  10  to a leg of the bearing angle  8 . The gusset  9  is generally centered upon the tube  25  and perpendicular to the tube  25 . Welding joins the gusset  9  to the lower plate  18 , the angle  10 , and the bearing angle  8 . Opposite the bearing angle  8 , two reinforcing angles  14  span between the load transfer plates  12  (not shown) and the tube  25  near the second end  7 . The reinforcing angles  14  form a generally split C shape with the vertices of the reinforcing angles towards the tube  25  and in the upper half of the tube  25 .  
         [0049]     Rotating to  FIG. 10 , the bracket assembly  1  has a symmetric construction that contains the pier  3  within the tube  25  and the adjusting bolt  15 . The tube  25  has a shape to fit the top of a square pier  3 . Reinforcing angles  14  join perpendicular to the tube  25  and towards the top half of the present invention  1 . Load transfer plates  12  join perpendicular to the reinforcing angles  14  and parallel and spaced apart from the tube  25 . The bearing angle  8  joins to both the load transfer plates  12  and the tube  25 . Bottom plates  13  then join to the load transfer plates  12  and the tube  25 , and the reinforcing angles  14  and the bearing angle  8 . The bottom plates  13  have a generally centered hole to admit a support bolt  109  (not shown here but see  FIG. 3B ).  
         [0050]     The bearing angle  8  has a generally centered gusset  9  here shown on edge. The gusset  9  extends down and away from the bearing angle  8  to the angle  10 . The angle  10  has an L shaped cross section with one leg of the angle  10  joining the gusset  9  and the other leg of the angle  10  joining the tube. The bearing angle  8 , the lower plate  18 , and the angle  10  weld to the gusset  9 . The angle  10  spans across the tube  25  beneath the bearing angle  8 . The other leg of the angle  10  has a threaded hole  11  to admit the adjusting bolt  15 . The adjusting bolt  15  in contact with the pier  3  minimizes front to back movement of the pier  3  within the tube  25  and rotation of the bracket assembly  1  upon the pier  3 .  
         [0051]     A third embodiment of the bracket assembly  1  appears in  FIG. 11 . The bracket assembly  1  begins with two parallel and spaced apart plates  16 . A plate  16  has a generally rectangular shape with two ends. The first end  6  has a quarter circle or arcuate shape when viewed from the side of the bracket assembly  1  and the opposite second end  7  has a horizontal or square shape denoting the top of the bracket assembly  1 . A bearing angle  8  spans across the plates  16  in an L shaped cross section with the vertex of the L shape generally at the center of the present invention. Centered beneath the bearing angle  8 , a gusset  9  depends to a lower plate  18 . The gusset  9  has a planar shape generally triangular and parallel to the plates  16 . The lower plate  18  spans between the plates  16  beneath the bearing angle  8  to the first ends  6 . Beneath the gusset  9 , an angle  10  spans across the lower plate  18 . The gusset  9  joins by welding to the bearing angle  8 , the lower plate  18 , and the angle  10 . The angle  10  has a generally L shaped cross section with the vertex of the L shape towards the center of the present invention  1 . The angle  10  generally parallels the bearing angle  8 . A nut  20  centered upon the angle  10  receives a first adjusting bolt  15 . The first adjusting bolt  15  is threaded and has a head. To stabilize the bracket assembly  1  upon the pier  3 , the first adjusting bolt  15  threads through the nut  20  and passes through both the angle  10  and the lower plate  18  generally centered between the plates  16 . The first adjusting bolt  15  contacts the pier  3  (not shown).  
         [0052]     Spaced apart from and parallel to the plates  16 , a pair of load transfer plates  12  extends perpendicular to the bearing angle  8  at the sides of the bracket assembly  1 . The load transfer plates  12  have holes generally in the center to receive a pin  107  from the strap  105 . Spanning across the plates  16  near the second end  7  and the load transfer plates  12 , back plates  14  parallel the bearing angle  8 . Perpendicular to the bearing angle  8 , the load transfer plates  12 , and the back plates  14 , the bottom plates  13  (see  FIG. 14 ) permit passage of the support bolts  109  and secure nuts to lift the bracket assembly  1  during use as described in  FIG. 3B .  
         [0053]     Returning to the plates  16  near the second end  7 , the plates  16  have slots  17  generally vertical in the direction of the pier  3  and proximate to the back plates  14 . Serving as the pier guide, a gate  21  rests within the slots  17  of the two plates  16 . The gate  21  has a flat rectangular shape with two collinear opposed ears  22  that extend through the generally vertical slots  17  and beyond the plates  16  towards the load transfer plates  12 . Ahead of the gate  21  towards the front, a moveable plate  24  has a rectangular shape to fit within the plates  16  and two collinear opposed ears  22  to rest upon the top edge of the plates  16 . The moveable plate  24  advances from the gate  21  towards the pier  3 . The moveable plate  24  co-operates with the bearing angle  8  to secure the pier  3  from moving front to back within the bracket assembly  1 .  
         [0054]      FIG. 12  illustrates the advancement of the moveable plate  24  from the gate  21  to the pier  3 . The gate  21  has a centered threaded hole that admits a second adjusting bolt  23 . The second adjusting bolt  23  has a head on one end and threads upon the shank opposite the head. The second adjusting bolt  23  enters the hole upon the gate  21  and advances through the gate  21  and contacts the moveable plate  24 . The second adjusting bolt  23  bears generally upon the center of the moveable plate  24 . In use, the gate  21  drops into the slots  17  of each plate  16  and the moveable plate  24  drops into the gap between the two plates  16  proximate to the pier  3 . Turning of the second adjusting bolt  23  advances and retracts the moveable plate  24 , from the gate  21  and the top of the pier  3 .  
         [0055]     Turning to  FIG. 13 , a plate  16  has a generally rectangular shape with the first end  6  shaped as a quarter circle or other arcuate form and the opposite second end  7  generally square cut or horizontal. The second end  7  has a slot  17  proximate to the back for receiving the gate  21 . The gate  21  drops into the slot  17  and the second adjusting bolt  23  advances through a threaded hole in the gate  21 . The moveable plate  24  drops in between the plates  16  with ears  22  of the moveable plate  24  resting upon the top edges of the plates  16 . The second adjusting bolt  23  then advances from the gate  21  to press the moveable plate  24  firmly against a pier  3  (not shown). The plate  16  is perpendicular to and between the bearing angle  8  and the back plate  14 . The vertex of the bearing angle  8  is generally at the midpoint of the plate  16 . A lower plate  18  spans the plates  16  co-planar with one leg of the bearing angle  8 . A angle  10  joins the lower plate  18  proximate to the second end  7  of the plates  16  and parallels the bearing angle  8 . A nut  21  attached to the angle  10  admits the first adjusting bolt  15 . The first adjusting bolt  15  has a head upon one end and opposite the head, the first adjusting bolt  15  contacts the pier  3  (not shown). The gusset  9  has a truncated triangular plate shape and extends from the angle  10  to a leg of the bearing angle  8 . The gusset  9  is generally centered between the plates  16 , and welded to the lower plate  18 , the bearing angle  8  and the angle  10 . Opposite the bearing angle  8 , a back plate  14  spans between a plate  16  and a load transfer plate  12  (not shown) near the first end  6 .  
         [0056]     Rotating to  FIG. 14 , the bracket assembly  1  has a symmetric construction that contains a pier  3  between the moveable plate  24  and the first adjusting bolt  15 . The plate like gate  21  spans between the parallel and offset plates  16  here shown on edge. The moveable plate  24  advances between the plates  16  under the action of the second adjusting bolt  23 . Back plates  14  join perpendicular to the plates  16  and towards the top of the present invention  1 . Load transfer plates  12  join perpendicular to the back plates  14  and parallel and spaced apart to the plates  16 . The bearing angle  8  joins to both of the load transfer plates  12  and the plates  16 . Bottom plates  13  then join between the load transfer plates  12  and the plates  16 , and the back plates  14  and the bearing angle  8 . The bottom plates  13  have a generally centered hole to admit a support bolt  109  (not shown, but see  FIG. 3B ).  
         [0057]     The bearing angle  8  has a generally centered gusset  9  here shown on edge. The gusset  9  extends down and away from the bearing angle  8  to the angle  10 . The angle  10  has an L shaped cross section with one leg of the angle  10  joining the gusset  9  and the other leg of the angle  10  joining the lower plate  18 . The lower plate  18  here shown on edge spans across the plates  16  beneath the bearing angle  8 . By welding, the gusset  9  joins to the bearing angle  8 , angle  10 , and the lower plate  18 . The lower plate  18  and the other leg of the angle  10  have coaxial holes to admit the first adjusting bolt  15 . A nut secures the first adjusting bolt  15  to the bracket assembly  1 . The first adjusting bolt  15  in contact with the pier  3  minimizes front to back movement of the pier  3  and rotation of the bracket assembly  1  upon the top of the pier  3 .  
         [0058]     The fourth embodiment of the bracket assembly  1  appears in  FIG. 15 . The bracket assembly  1  begins with two parallel and spaced apart plates  16  as in  FIG. 5 . A plate  16  has a generally rectangular shape with two ends. The first end  6  has a quarter circle or arcuate shape when viewed from the side of the bracket assembly  1  and the opposite second end  7  has a horizontal or square shape denoting the top of the bracket assembly  1 . A bearing angle  8  spans across the plates  16  in an L shaped cross section with the vertex of the L shape generally at the center of the present invention  1 . Centered beneath the bearing angle  8 , a gusset  9  depends to a lower plate  18 . The gusset  9  has a planar shape generally triangular and parallel to the plates  16 . The lower plate  18  spans between the plates  16  beneath the bearing angle  8  to the first ends  6 . Beneath the gusset  9 , a angle  10  spans the lower plate  18 . The angle  10  has a generally L shaped cross section with the vertex of the L shape towards the center of the present invention  1 . The angle  10  generally parallels the bearing angle  8  and joins by welding to the bearing angle  8 , the lower plate  18 , and the angle  10 . A means to receive a bolt  11 , such as a nut  20  centered upon the angle  10 , receives an adjusting bolt  15 . The adjusting bolt  15  is threaded and has a head. To stabilize the bracket assembly  1  upon the pier  3 , the adjusting bolt  15  threads through the nut  20  and passes through both the angle  10  and the lower plate  18  generally centered between the plates  16 . The adjusting bolt  15  contacts the pier  3  (not shown).  
         [0059]     Spaced apart from and parallel to the plates  16 , a pair of load transfer plates  12  extends perpendicular to the bearing angle  8  at the sides of the bracket assembly  1 . The load transfer plates  12  have holes generally in the center to receive a pin  107  from the strap  105 . Spanning across the plates  16  near the second end  7  and the load transfer plates  12 , reinforcing means  14  stiffen the bracket assembly  1 , such as back plates  14 , parallel to the bearing angle  8 . Perpendicular to the bearing angle  8 , the load transfer plates  12 , and the back plates  14 , the bottom plates  13  (see  FIG. 17 ) permit passage of the support bolts  109  and secure nuts to lift the bracket assembly  1  during use as described in  FIG. 3B .  
         [0060]     Returning to the plates  16  near the second end  7 , the plates  16  have slots  17  generally parallel to the length of the pier  3  and proximate towards the back plates  14 . Serving as a pier guide, a gate  21  having ears  22  rests within the slots  17  of the two plates  16 . The slots  17  have a generally vertical orientation, and a generally rectangular shape. The gate  21  has a generally rectangular shape with two opposite and collinear ears  22 . The ears  22  rest upon and extend beyond the slots  17  towards the load transfer plates  12 . The gate  21  co-operates with the bearing angle  8  to secure the pier  3  from moving front to back within the bracket assembly  1 .  
         [0061]     Turning to  FIG. 16 , a plate  16  has a generally rectangular shape with the first end  6  shaped as a quarter circle or arcuate form and the opposite second end  7  generally square cut or horizontal. The second end  7  has a slot  17  proximate to the back for receiving the gate  21 . The plate  16  is perpendicular to and between the bearing angle  8  and the back plate  14 . The vertex of the bearing angle  8  is generally at the midpoint of the plate  16 . A lower plate  18  spans across the plates  16  co-planar with one leg of the bearing angle  8 . An angle  10  joins the lower plate  18  proximate to the second end  7  of the plate  16  and parallels the bearing angle  8 . A nut  20  attached to the angle  10  admits the adjusting bolt  15 . The adjusting bolt  15  has a head upon one end and opposite the head, the adjusting bolt  15  contacts the pier  3  (not shown). The gusset  9  has a truncated triangular plate shape and extends from the angle  10  to a leg of the bearing angle  8 . The gusset  9  is generally centered between the plates  16  and welds to the bearing angle  8 , the angle  10 , and the lower plate  18 . Opposite the bearing angle  8 , a back plate  14  spans between a plate  16  and a load transfer plate  12  (not shown) near the first end  6 .  
         [0062]     Rotating to  FIG. 17 , the bracket assembly  1  has a symmetric construction that contains the pier  3  between the gate  21  and the adjusting bolt  15 . The rectangular gate  21  spans between the parallel and spaced apart plates  16  here shown on edge. Back plates  14  join perpendicular to the plates  16  and towards the top of the present invention  1 . Load transfer plates  12  join perpendicular to the back plates  14  and parallel and spaced apart to the plates  16 . The bearing angle  8  joins to both the load transfer plates  12  and the plates  16 . Bottom plates  13  then join between the load transfer plates  12  and the plates  16 , and the back plates  14  and the bearing angle  8 . The bottom plates  13  have a generally centered hole to admit a support bolt  109  (not shown, but see  FIG. 3B ).  
         [0063]     The bearing angle  8  has a generally centered gusset  9  here shown on edge. The gusset  9  extends down and away from the bearing angle  8  to the angle  10 . The angle  10  has an L shaped cross section with one leg of the angle  10  joining the gusset  9  and the other leg of the angle  10  joining the lower plate  18 . The lower plate  18  spans across the plates  16  beneath the bearing angle  8 . The lower plate  18  and the other leg of the angle  10  have coaxial holes to admit the adjusting bolt  15 . A nut  20  secures the adjusting bolt  15  to the bracket assembly  1 . The adjusting bolt  15  and the gate  21  in contact with the pier  3  minimize front to back movement and rotation of the bracket assembly  1  upon the top of the pier  3 .  
         [0064]     To utilize the present art, a person holds the plates  16  parallel and spaced apart. The person then welds the bearing angle  8  to the plates  16  with the vertex of the bearing angle  8  towards the center of the invention. Beneath the bearing angle  8 , a person welds the lower plate  18  to the plates  16  and the angle  10  to is the lower plate  18 . The gusset  9  is then welded perpendicular to a leg of the bearing angle  8  and to the angle  10 . Next, the person welds the load transfer plates  12  perpendicular to the ends of the bearing angle  8  and parallel to the plates  16 , the back plates  14  upon the plates  16  and the load transfer plates  12 , and the bottom plates  13  between the bearing angle  8 , the back plates  14 , the load transfer plates  12  and the plates  16 . With the bracket assembly  1  assembled, a contractor places the preferred embodiment upon a pier  3  as described in  FIG. 2 . The contractor locates the top of the pier  3  between the plates  16  and at the top edge of the plates  16 . With the bracket assembly  1  resting on the top of a pier  3 , the contractor places the pin  19  in the slots  17  and then advances the adjusting bolt  15  snug against the pier  3 . When using the adjusting bolt  15 , the bracket assembly  1  has a proper fit upon the pier  3  when one leg of the bearing angle  8  is parallel to the face of the foundation  2  and the other leg of the bearing angle  8  is beneath and parallel to the foundation  2 . After properly fit, the bracket assembly  1  is jacked following  FIGS. 3A &amp; 3B  to repair a foundation  2 .  
         [0065]     To use the second embodiment, a person welds the bearing angle  8  to the tube  25  with the vertex of the bearing angle  8  towards the center of the invention. Beneath the bearing angle  8 , a person welds the angle  10  to the tube. The gusset  9  is then welded perpendicular to a leg of the bearing angle  8  and to the angle  10 . Next, the person welds the load transfer plates  12  perpendicular to the ends of the bearing angle  8  and parallel to the tube, the reinforcing angles  14  upon the tube and the load transfer plates  12 , and the bottom plates  13  between the bearing angle  8 , the reinforcing angles  14 , the load transfer plates  12  and the tube  25 . With the bracket assembly  1  assembled, a contractor places the tube  25  over the top of a similarly shaped pier  3  as described in  FIG. 2 . The contractor locates the top of the pier  3  inside the tube  25  and at the top edge of the tube  25 . With the bracket assembly  1  resting on the top of a pier  3 , the contractor advances the adjusting bolt  15  snug against the pier  3 . When using the adjusting bolt  15 , the bracket assembly  1  has a proper fit upon the pier  3  when one leg of the bearing angle  8  is parallel to the face of the foundation  2  and the other leg of the bearing angle  8  is beneath and parallel to the foundation  2 . After properly fit, the bracket assembly  1  is jacked following  FIGS. 3A &amp; 3B  to repair a foundation  2 .  
         [0066]     To utilize the third embodiment, a person holds the plates  16  parallel and spaced apart. The person then welds the bearing angle  8  to the plates  16  with the vertex of the bearing angle  8  towards the center of the invention. Beneath the bearing angle  8 , a person welds the lower plate  18  to the plates  16  and the angle  10  to the lower plate  18 . The gusset  9  is then welded perpendicular to a leg of the bearing angle  8  and to the angle  10 . Next, the person welds the load transfer plates  12  perpendicular to the ends of the bearing angle  8  and parallel to the plates  16 , the back plates  14  upon the plates  16  and the load transfer plates  12 , and the bottom plates  13  between the bearing angle  8 , the back plates  14 , the load transfer plates  12  and the plates  16 . With the bracket assembly  1  assembled, a contractor places the preferred embodiment upon a pier  3  as described in  FIG. 2 . The contractor locates the top of the pier  3  between the plates  16  and at the top edge of the plates  16 . With the bracket assembly  1  resting on the top of a pier  3 , the contractor places the gate  21  in the slots  17  and the moveable plate  24  between the gate  21  and the bearing angle  8  upon the top edges of the plates  16 . The contractor then advances the first adjusting bolt  15  snug against the pier  3  and the second adjusting bolt  23  snug against the moveable plate  24 . As before when using the first and second adjusting bolts  15 ,  23 , the bracket assembly  1  has a proper fit upon the pier  3  when one leg of the bearing angle  8  is parallel to the face of the foundation  2  and the other leg of the bearing angle  8  is beneath and parallel to the foundation  2 . After properly fit, the bracket assembly  1  is jacked following  FIGS. 3A &amp; 3B  to repair a foundation  2 .  
         [0067]     For the fourth embodiment, a person holds the plates  16  parallel and spaced apart. The person then welds the bearing angle  8  to the plates  16  with the vertex of the bearing angle  8  towards the center of the invention. Beneath the bearing angle  8 , a person welds the lower plate  18  to the plates  16  and the angle  10  to the lower plate  18 . The gusset  9  is then welded perpendicular to a leg of the bearing angle  8  and to the angle  10 . Next, the person welds the load transfer plates  12  perpendicular to the ends of the bearing angle  8  and parallel to the plates  16 , the back plates  14  upon the plates  16  and the load transfer plates  12 , and the bottom plates  13  between the bearing angle  8 , the back plates  14 , the load transfer plates  12  and the plates  16 . With the bracket assembly  1  assembled, a contractor places the preferred embodiment upon a pier  3  as described in  FIG. 2 . The contractor locates the top of the pier  3  between the plates  16  and at the top edge of the plates  16 . With the bracket assembly  1  resting on the top of a pier  3 , the contractor places the gate  21  within the plates  16  and the ears  22  in the slots  17  and then advances the adjusting bolt  15  snug against the pier  3 . When using the adjusting bolt  15 , the bracket assembly  1  has a proper fit upon the pier  3  when one leg of the bearing angle  8  is parallel to the face of the foundation  2  and the other leg of the bearing angle  8  is beneath and parallel to the foundation  2 . After properly fit, the bracket assembly  1  is jacked following  FIGS. 3A &amp; 3B  to repair a foundation  2 .  
         [0068]     From the aforementioned description, a bracket assembly for lifting and supporting a foundation has been described. The bracket assembly is uniquely capable of decreasing moment upon a bracket with an adjusting bolt. The bracket assembly and its various components may be manufactured from many materials including but not limited to structural steel sections, welded steel plates, polymers, high density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, nylon, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, their alloys, and composites.

Summary:
A bracket assembly rests upon a pier set adjacent to a foundation and a secondary component elevates the bracket assembly. The bracket provides adjustable engagement to limit rotation of the bracket with respect to an installed pier. The bracket assembly has an housing, a bearing member, load transfer plates, reinforcing means, and an adjusting bolt beneath the bearing member. The housing is either two parallel plates or a tube. In the plates embodiment, two slots receive either a pin, a gate alone, or a gate with a moveable plate. In the tube embodiment, the pier fits snugly within the tube. Further, the bracket permits locating tools over the piers to reduce induced bending moment at the junction of the pier and the bracket. The bracket assembly stabilizes and lifts piers.