Patent Publication Number: US-11649921-B1

Title: Mounting pad and method for deterring theft and securing outdoor equipment and appliances against high winds

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/667,967, that is not pending, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/454,597, filed Jun. 27, 2019, that is now U.S. Pat. No. 10,557,589, and which is continuation-in-part to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/875,359, filed Jan. 19, 2018, that is now U.S. Pat. No. 10,408,493, each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. This application is related to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/685,283 filed Aug. 24, 2017, in the name of Elliot M. Sting and Robert P. Scaringe and entitled “Mounting Pad And Method for Deterring Theft And Securing Air Conditioning Units Against High Winds,” that is now U.S. Pat. No. 10,559,742, and the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a support pad for outdoor equipment and appliances and installation method that not only raises the unit, equipment, or appliance to provide clearance from grade, as required by most building codes, but that also secures that unit, equipment, or appliance to prevent movement and tipping associated with hurricane force winds. 
     Typically, an equipment pad, like those used for AC condensing units and generators that provide temporary power solutions, is constructed of poured concrete formed in situ. This may be convenient when other concrete work is being performed on site, however, a typical or average installer would find mixing or purchasing concrete specifically for this small application to be impractical, time consuming, or expensive. A poured concrete pad also takes time to cure before heavy equipment can be placed on and fastened to it, further interrupting the installation process. 
     Prefabricated plastic and concrete pads are available as an alternative for transport and placement on site. Available plastic pads are typically lightweight and do not provide the required dead load to resist tipping due to high winds once equipment is mounted on the pad. Conventional hardware used to secure equipment to these relatively thin plastic pads may also be prone to pulling out of the plastic. Conversely, preformed solid concrete pads are heavy and difficult to handle. Other available pads are composed of a lightweight foam interior contained within a concrete shell, such as the “The Hurricane Pad™” manufactured by DiversiTech (Duluth, Ga.). As a result of their construction, these foam interior pads are prone to damage if dropped or mishandled. In many instances, foam-cored pads are too light to adequately secure an air conditioner in high winds. 
     A hurricane-wind rated equipment pad must be able to keep the equipment in place during high winds and also prevent the unit from toppling over or moving. The minimum necessary weight of the pad is dependent on the size and weight of the equipment and the wind speed. Hurricane-resistant equipment pads must survive wind speeds up to 180 mph, with the actual required wind speed dependent on the location. 
     As a demonstration, Table 1 below provides the minimum weight necessary for a 36 inch×36 inch pad to secure equipment of various sizes and weights. The wind load is calculated from the methods presented in American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Standard 7-16. The equipment and pad are assumed to be a rigid structure resting on flat ground in a moderately open area. The dimensions and weights of the equipment listed in Table 1 are based on commercially available outdoor units used in split air conditioning (AC) systems and are representative of equipment that could be mounted to such pads. Modern, high-efficiency, AC outdoor units have become much taller to allow greater heat exchanger area on the same footprint, which has exacerbated the wind-driven tipping issue. For example, in Table 1 the Required Pad Weight increases from 148 pounds for a 24×24×30-inch-high outdoor unit to 519 pounds for a 32×32×50-inch-high outdoor unit atop a 4 inch tall pad in a 150 mph wind zone. Building codes also require a minimum of a 2 inch border around the perimeter of any equipment, so that a 32 inch base is the largest unit size that can be placed on a 36 inch pad. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Required equipment pad weight to resist tipping. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 Unit Dimensions 
                 Required Pad Weight 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Width 
                 Length 
                 Height 
                 Weight 
                 150 mph  
                 180 mph  
               
               
                 (in) 
                 (in) 
                 (in) 
                 (lb) 
                 Wind (lb) 
                 Wind (lb) 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 24 
                 24 
                 30 
                 100 
                 148 
                 257 
               
               
                 24 
                 24 
                 35 
                 120 
                 206 
                 349 
               
               
                 26 
                 26 
                 30 
                 120 
                 149 
                 266 
               
               
                 26 
                 26 
                 35 
                 140 
                 213 
                 368 
               
               
                 28 
                 28 
                 30 
                 140 
                 149 
                 276 
               
               
                 28 
                 28 
                 35 
                 160 
                 219 
                 386 
               
               
                 28 
                 28 
                 40 
                 190 
                 292 
                 505 
               
               
                 30 
                 30 
                 30 
                 160 
                 149 
                 285 
               
               
                 30 
                 30 
                 35 
                 190 
                 216 
                 395 
               
               
                 30 
                 30 
                 40 
                 220 
                 297 
                 524 
               
               
                 30 
                 30 
                 45 
                 240 
                 400 
                 682 
               
               
                 32 
                 32 
                 35 
                 220 
                 213 
                 403 
               
               
                 32 
                 32 
                 40 
                 250 
                 301 
                 543 
               
               
                 32 
                 32 
                 45 
                 280 
                 403 
                 703 
               
               
                 32 
                 32 
                 50 
                 310 
                 519 
                 883 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Table 1 makes clear that a concrete pad would need to be quite heavy to prevent tipping due to the moment caused by wind, making it very difficult to carry one into place at the installation site. 
     One known approach proposed the use of a hollow pad with a hollow interior chamber filled with sand, other granular materials, or water so as to achieve the necessary weight required to prevent the pad from tipping in hurricane-strength winds. With water, the pad was not intended to be completely filled so that in colder climates, the expansion of water as it freezes would not deform or damage the pad. Even if such a pad were completely filled with water and the height was increased to 6 inches, for certain tall outdoor equipment, the water alone would not provide sufficient weight to keep the pad in place in the highest possible wind zones, such as the 180 mph region of south Florida. The weight of the pad can be further increased with use of higher density fill materials such as sand, which is known in the art. At least one central support has also been proposed to prevent sagging, but that would limit the ability of a granular material, like sand, to completely fill the hollow core, reducing the fill volume and therefore the weight of the filled pad. If the central support is large, it can significantly reduce the volume of fill material available for weighing the pad down. 
     One object of our invention is to provide an easily-transportable, lightweight, rugged, and low-cost equipment mounting pad and installation method that, once located and leveled on site, can be secured to prevent theft and tipping, even in high wind loads. Our novel equipment pad can be configured as a hollow plastic shell that can be rotationally molded to reduce cost and minimize weight. If the pad is formed by conventional rotational molding, the molded pad will typically be formed from one of a variety of thermoformed plastics. The currently preferred embodiment uses a linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) to form a rigid structure with uniform wall thickness. However, any thermoform-capable material such as low-density polyethylene (LDPE), medium density polyethylene (MDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), cross linked polyethylene (XLPE), nylon, polypropylene, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) are acceptable alternatives. While the currently preferred material wall thickness for the pad is 0.2 inches throughout the pad, alternative embodiments can use material thicknesses from 0.1 inches to 0.75 inches with, if desired to reduce costs, non-uniform wall thickness by using well known shielding on the rotational mold to adjust cooling times and thereby obtain non-uniform wall thicknesses. For example, the side-walls could be 0.1 inches, the top load bearing surface 0.5 inches, and the bottom ground facing surface 0.2 inches. As pointed out herein, the adjustable securing slots in the pad provide support from deflection and can allow the load bearing surfaces to be thinner as well. 
     The empty shell, which contains a gelling formulation of known composition according to our invention, can be filled with water and sealed once at the installation site. The gel/solidus formed inside the pad will be used to prevent weight loss, even if the leak-tight seal is compromised. Additionally, if a super absorbent polymer (SAP), including but not limited to sodium polyacrylate, sodium polycarbonate, polyacrylamide copolymers, ethylene maleic anhydride, carboxymethylcellulose, polyvinyl alcohol copolymers, or polyethylene oxide, is used in the gelling compound formulation, then the resulting mixture will not expand upon freezing, thereby allowing the pad to be completely filled with water, avoiding the need for an expansion void space. Filling the interior volume completely also allows the gelled mixture to provide support to the pad, serving to prevent deformation and remove the need for any dedicated internal support structure. 
     In the event the filled equipment pad, according to our invention, did to provide sufficient weight to prevent tipping in the highest wind conditions, anchors can be screwed into the ground to add additional tipping resistance. 
     Our novel equipment mounting pad will be secured, in one way, to the outdoor unit through easily adjustable securing straps that are installed into specially designed slots through the top of the pad. The securing straps are adjustable within the slots, able to rotate and slide inwards and outwards, to accommodate various sizes and shapes of equipment. These straps are cinched down to the pad and fastened to the unit to firmly secure the unit to the pad, preventing rocking, excessive vibration, and tipping. Additionally, extra slots and slots at various slot angles can be made available for use without departing from the scope of our invention. These slots also provide structural strength to the pad. 
     Our novel equipment mounting pad will be secured, in another way, to the outdoor unit, equipment, or appliance through the inclusion of receivers that are installed in the mounting pad. Fasteners are then passed through mounting points on the outdoor unit and fasten into the inserts that are installed in the mounting pad. 
     The equipment pad of our invention also contains a structure for anchoring the pad to the underlying support, whether soil, concrete, or other. Mount holes positioned near the perimeter of pad allow for the use of ground anchors or concrete fasteners and are positioned such that they can be installed with the unit in place. As stated earlier, anchoring the pad provides additional wind resistance, when needed, by holding the pad to the ground further preventing tipping or sliding of the unit and pad assembly. 
     The equipment pad of our invention contains a means for stacking multiple pads on top of one another and keeping them from sliding or shifting during storage and transportation. A protrusion on each corner or the sides of the equipment pad mates with a corresponding recess in the bottom of a pad placed on top of the former. 
     Equipment theft will be deterred due to the combined weight of the pad and the equipment, and if used, the lifting strength of the anchors installed into the underlying support. Moreover, our invention contemplates that the equipment can be connected to the pad with known types of anti-theft fasteners, such as one-way machine or sheet metal screws or those with unique heads that can only be removed with special tools. An anti-theft cable can also be installed. Similar to the securing straps, the anti-theft cable can connect to the pad using one of the unused slots. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and further features, objects, and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIG.  1    is an isometric view of a currently preferred embodiment of the equipment support pad and securing system according to the present invention. 
         FIG.  2    is an isometric view of the equipment pad shown in  FIG.  1   , with a generalized equipment model secured to the pad. 
         FIG.  3    is a side sectional view of the currently preferred embodiment of the equipment pad shown in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  4    is a top view of the equipment pad shown in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  5    is a bottom view of the equipment pad shown in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  6    is an isometric view of a currently preferred embodiment of the securing strap assembly. 
         FIG.  7    is a side sectional view of the securing strap assembly as it is being inserted into a slot of the equipment pad. 
         FIG.  8    is a side sectional view of the securing strap assembly installed into and cinched down to the equipment pad. 
         FIG.  9    is a side view of one contemplated ground anchor for the equipment pad of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  10    is an isometric view of another embodiment of the equipment pad invention. 
         FIG.  11    is a top view of the embodiment of the equipment pad invention shown in  FIG.  10   . 
         FIG.  12    is an isometric view of depicting the bottom of the embodiment of the equipment pad invention shown in  FIG.  10   . 
         FIG.  13    is a side view of the embodiment of the equipment pad invention shown in  FIG.  10   . 
         FIG.  14    is another side view of the embodiment of the equipment pad invention shown in  FIG.  10   . 
         FIG.  15    is a bottom view of the embodiment of the equipment pad invention shown in  FIG.  10   . 
         FIG.  16    is a cut plane view of the embodiment of the equipment pad invention shown in  FIG.  10   . 
         FIG.  17    is a cross-sectional view along the cross-section line Y-Y of the embodiment of the equipment pad invention shown in  FIG.  10   . 
         FIG.  18    is a cross-sectional view along the cross-section line AA-AA of the embodiment of the equipment pad invention shown in  FIG.  10   . 
         FIG.  19    is an isometric view of the equipment pad invention shown in  FIG.  10   , with the placement of a generalized equipment model on the equipment pad. 
         FIG.  20    is an isometric view of the equipment pad invention shown in  FIG.  10   , with a generalized equipment model secured on to the equipment pad. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Referring now to  FIG.  1   , an equipment securing system  100 , is shown where a hollow equipment pad  1  of approximately square or rectangular configuration (and which can have rounded corners rather than the illustrated right angle corners) has twelve securing slots  11  that can accommodate a desired number of securing strap assemblies  12 . In a currently preferred embodiment, the strap assemblies  12  can be slid inwardly and outwardly, and can also be rotated tangentially to the equipment  2  ( FIG.  2   ) and thereby conform to a wide variety of outdoor equipment types, sizes, and shapes. The slots may have a recess  6  ( FIG.  5   ) to allow an associated retaining washer  13  of the securing strap assembly  12  ( FIG.  6   ) to slide inwardly or outwardly without being restrained by the ground  10  the pad has been placed against. Protrusions  19  on the top side of the pad  1  and corresponding recesses  20  on the bottom of the pad  1  facilitate keeping pads in place when stacked for storage and transportation. 
     The currently preferred embodiment can also contain one or more optional securing anchors  9  (four are shown in  FIG.  1   ) that are secured into the ground through by-pass holes  7  having recesses  8  at the pad&#39;s upper surface so that the anchors  9 , one embodiment of which is shown in  FIG.  8   , can be screwed into the ground after the pad has been located and leveled. The adjustable strap slots  11  will also serve as central supporting structures eliminating the need for additional dedicated additional supporting structures which would increase cost and reduce fill volume. Once the pad  1  is filled completely with water (i.e., filled before the equipment  2  is located on the pad), the pad will also be supported by the interior fill volume, again eliminating the need for dedicated internal support structures. The filling port  5  for the pad  1  is located outside the footprint of the equipment  2  ( FIG.  2   ) which in the currently preferred embodiment is located near a corner of the pad  1 . 
       FIG.  2   . is an isometric view of the equipment pad  1  of  FIG.  1   , with equipment  2  secured to the top of the pad  1  using the securing strap assemblies  12 . The equipment  2  is sized so that there is at least 2 inches of the pad  1  around the exterior that is not covered, as may be required by building codes. As shown, the anchors  9  and fill port  5  shown in  FIG.  1    are completely exposed after the unit  2  has been installed. This is done to allow these items to be installed and accessible later after the equipment has been installed, if, say, a building inspector should decide anchors are necessary or an installer initially forgot to fill the pad or install the necessary anchors. 
       FIG.  3    is a side sectional view of the equipment pad  1  and shows that the equipment pad has a hollow interior region  3  that will be filled with water and sealed when installed. The hollow region  3  will also contain a super absorbent polymer material  4  that will combine with the water and form a gel or solidus media filling the interior volume  3  to prevent leakage if the seal integrity is compromised. As noted already, additional dedicated support structures are not necessary to prevent sagging. It will be understood, of course, that the gelled completely filled interior volume and the slots  11  for the securing straps  12  both provide support to eliminate sagging. 
       FIG.  4    is a top view of the equipment pad  1  showing the holes  7  for the anchors  9 , twelve slots  11  for the straps  12  that are used to secure the equipment  2  to the pad  1  and prevent any movement of the equipment on the pad. The holes  7  have a recess  8  so that the anchors  9 , once installed, will be recessed into the surface of the pad allowing the equipment  2  to sit flat on the pad. 
       FIG.  5    is a bottom view of the equipment pad  1 . The recesses  6  surrounding the base of the slots  11  provide space for the retaining washers  13  of the securing strap assemblies  12  or optional anti-theft cables to be adjusted, that is slid along the length of the slot, without resistance from the ground  10  which could potentially impede motion. In addition, when the rectangular washer and carriage bolt assembly are dropped into the slot  11 , the recess allows room for the rectangular washer to reorient itself so that it becomes parallel and form-locked to the base of the slot, preventing its removal as the carriage bolt  15  is tightened. The slot  11  also prevents the rectangular washer  13  and carriage bolt  15  from rotating, allowing the nut  16  of the securing strap assembly  12  to be tightened, thereby securely cinching it to the equipment pad  1 . As already stated, these slots  11  also act as support structures to prevent deflection of the pad due to the weight of the equipment  2 , such as an outdoor AC condensing unit, that is secured to the equipment pad  1 . 
       FIG.  6    shows a currently preferred embodiment of one of the adjustable securing strap assemblies  12 .  FIG.  7    is a sectioned view detailing its installation into the pad  1 . In this configuration, a carriage bolt  15  will be inserted into a slotted retaining washer  13 , the slot of which will allow the retaining washer  13  to be angled with respect to the carriage bolt  15 . The retaining washer  13  slot geometry also prevents the square neck of the carriage bolt  15  from rotating upon tightening. Additionally, the assembly is comprised of a securing bracket  14  and a nut  16 . The retaining washer  13  of the securing strap  12  will be angled and inserted into the desired slot  11  from the top of the pad and slid inward towards the equipment  2  being secured until the bracket  14  meets the equipment  2 . The retaining washer  13  will itself not rotate within the slot recess  6  once fully inserted. The single carriage bolt  15  used for cinching down the strap assembly  12  allows the securing bracket  14  to rotate allowing it to lay flat (be tangent) against the surface of the equipment  2  regardless of shape.  FIG.  8    is a sectioned view detailing the final installment of the securing strap assembly  12 . The securing bracket  14  will rest atop the equipment pad  1  and the nut  16  will be tightened to cinch the bracket  14  to the equipment pad  2 . The securing bracket  14  will be secured to the equipment  2  using the appropriate quantity, size, and style of metal fasteners  18 . Known types of anti-theft fasteners can also be used to secure the straps  12  to the equipment  2 . 
       FIG.  9    is an embodiment of the securing anchor  9  shown in  FIG.  1   . This anchor is screwed into the ground to further secure the pad  1  to the underlying ground ( 10  in  FIG.  1   ). 
     Referring now to  FIG.  10   , there is shown another embodiment of the equipment securing system  100 . This embodiment includes a top surface  110 . The top surface  110  has a plurality of top openings  120 . The top openings  120  are chamfered so as to promote strength around each opening  120 . Proximate the center of the system  100  is a center cavity  130 . This center cavity  130  can be sized to accommodate any hardware or tooling that may assist in securing a piece of equipment  400  to the system  100 , see e.g.,  FIGS.  19  and  20   . 
     Side surfaces  112  surround the top surface  110  and connect the bottom surface  115  to the top surface to form an internal hollow region  135 . On the sides of the top surface  110  and the edges of side surfaces  112  protrusions  150  are positioned. Each protrusion  150  has surfaces  155 . One protrusion  150  contains fill port  160 ; however, the invention is not limited to having fill port  160  on solely one protrusion  150 . Further, the invention is not limited to having a pair of protrusions  150  or the protrusions  150  being located proximate the centerline as shown in  FIG.  10    of the equipment pad system  100 . The protrusion could also be located on the corners of the top surface as depicted in  FIG.  1   , for example. The fill port  160  can be located on more than one protrusion  150  or on the top surface  110 . The fill port  160  permits fluids to be deposited into the internal hollow region  135  between the top surface and bottom surface, see  FIGS.  17  and  18   . This internal hollow region  135  can also contain a super absorbent polymer material (not shown) that will combine with the water and form a gel or solidus media filling the interior hollow region  135  to prevent leakage if the seal integrity is compromised. The gel or solidus media would add additional weight to the equipment securing system  100  to prevent the attached unit, equipment, or appliance from toppling in high-winds when securing to the system  100 . 
     Positioned on the top surface is a plurality of receivers  140 . The receivers  140  are positioned on the top surface to act as points to secure a piece of equipment  400  (see  FIG.  19   ), for example, a standby generator that is used when electric power from a utility or the like to a facility or dwelling is unavailable. Thus, for example, the standby generator can be attached, anchored, or secured to the equipment securing system  100  using attachment points, mounting holes or openings, or the like usually found in the base of the standby generator. For example, see  FIG.  19   , reference numeral  455 . 
     Receivers  140  can be grouped into patterns. Each pattern aligns with the attachment points, shown as mounting holes or openings  455 , in the base  450  of a piece of equipment  400 . As an example, as shown in  FIG.  19   , a pattern of four receivers  140  are aligned with openings  455  in the base  450  of the piece of equipment  400 . The patterns that the receivers  140  can be grouped in should not be limited to patterns of four. For example, a pattern of three receivers  140  could be used to align with openings in a base  450  of the piece of equipment  400 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  11   , numerous patterns for the receivers  140  could be devised to align with an array openings  455  of bases  450  belong to different pieces of equipment  500 . As previously stated, a pattern of three receivers  140  could be used. While  FIG.  19    shows a quadrilateral pattern of receivers  140  having a rectangular aspect, other aspects encompass the invention. For example, a trapezoidal or square pattern of receivers  140  is within the scope of the invention. 
       FIG.  12    illustratively depicts the bottom surface  115  of the equipment securing system  110 . On the edges of the bottom surface  115  are recesses  170  have walls  175 . The walls  175  of the recesses  170  are sized to accommodate the surfaces  155  of the protrusions  150 . Such an accommodation facilitates keeping a plurality of systems  110  in place when stacked for storage and transportation. As with the protrusions  150 , the recesses  170  are not limited to a pair of recesses. Additionally, the recesses  170  are not limited to being located proximate a centerline of the bottom surface  115 . The recesses  170  could also be located at the corners of the bottom surface  115  to match corresponding protrusions  150  at the top surface  110 , as similarly shown in  FIG.  1   . Bottom openings  125  are located in bottom surface  115  and the edges of bottom openings  125  are chamfered to promote strength around each opening. 
     As best shown in  FIG.  15   , there is a relationship between the top openings  120  and the bottom openings  125 . The bottom openings are larger in relation to the top openings  120 . However, this relationship should not being considered as limiting the invention to the bottom openings  125  being larger than the top openings  120 . Other relationships, such as both openings being equal size, are contemplated and fall within the scope of the invention. 
     As shown in  FIG.  16   , sectional view Y-Y bisects the equipment securing system  100 .  FIG.  17    shows the cross-sectional view of sectional Y-Y. As shown in  FIG.  17   , the top surface  110  and bottom surface  115  are connected by a plurality of supporting structures that are illustratively reference by reference numerals  180 ,  190 ,  200 ,  210 ,  220 ,  230 . These supporting structures prevent deflection of the top surface  110  due to the weight of equipment  400  that would set on the equipment securing system  100 . Due to the differing diameters of top openings  120  and bottom openings  125  each of the supporting structures  180 ,  190 ,  200 ,  210 ,  220 ,  230  has the shape of a frustum of a cone having a corresponding volume  240 ,  250 ,  260 ,  270 ,  280  as illustrated in  FIG.  18    that depicts the cross-sectional view of the equipment securing system taken along cross-sectional AA-AA. Center post  300  is shaped similar to supporting structures  180 ,  190 ,  200 ,  210 ,  220 ,  230 , except for the center cavity  130  being sized to accommodate tools, hardware, or fasteners being stored in the cavity prior to a piece of equipment  400  being installed on equipment securing system  100 . Center volume  310  corresponds to volumes  240 ,  250 ,  260 ,  270 ,  280  to the point where the base of center cavity  130  begins, then the volume expands to accommodate the tools, hardware, or fasteners being stored in the cavity  130  prior to installation of a piece of equipment  400  being installed on the equipment securing system  100 . Of course, the invention contemplates other geometrical shapes for the supporting structures and corresponding volumes that would be dependent on the different shapes for the top and bottom openings. 
       FIG.  19    shows an exemplary piece of equipment  400  set on equipment securing system  100 . The base  450  of the equipment  400  has opening  455  for fastener devices  500  to pass through and engage the receivers  140 . Fastener devices  500  can be any type that are known to those in the art, e.g., threaded fasteners (bolts, screws, studs), friction-fit fasteners, rivet-type fasteners, nails, pins, and dowels. The receivers  140  are formed to compliment the many types of fastener devices known in the art, for example, the receivers could have internal threads (further described below) that mate with external thread fasteners. Receivers  140  could be provided with inserts  145 . The inner surface of the inserts  145  could have appropriately mating internal threads for fastener devices  500 . For example, the internal threads could be bolt, screw, or stud threads. Additionally, receivers  140  could be formed to accept “thread-forming,” self-tapping, or thread-cutting fasteners, such as for example, thread forming screws or sheet metal screws. Likewise, the inserts  145  could be formed to accept “thread-forming,” self-tapping, or thread-cutting fasteners. In addition, both receivers  140  and inserts  145 , individually or in combination, could be formed to accept non-threaded fasteners, such as keys, pins, retaining rings, snap rings, rivets, or the like. Alternatively, both receivers  140  and inserts  145 , individually or in combination, could be formed as an anchoring system incorporated into the equipment securing system  100  by known techniques. For example, the receivers  140  and/or inserts  145  could be part of a grouted anchor, a flexible anchor, a boxed anchor, expansion shield anchor, expanding anchor, expanding pug anchor, adhesive anchor, and nails. 
       FIG.  20    shows an exemplary piece of equipment secured to the equipment securing system  100  using fastener device  500 . 
     While we have shown and described our invention above, it should be understood that the same is susceptible to changes and modifications that will now be apparent to one skilled in the art. Therefore, we do not intend to be limited to the details shown and described herein but contemplate that all such changes and modifications will be covered to the extent encompassed by the appended claims.