Patent Publication Number: US-6219981-B1

Title: Lightweight support pier

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a support pier for blocking mobile homes and other similar structures. 
     2. Background of the Prior Art 
     In setting up a mobile home, a manufactured building or other similar structures and objects, the structure must be blocked and supported. One simple method employed for blocking the structure is to use a plurality of concrete blocks stacked up on top of each other. As each concrete block has a limited footprint, each block stack has a limited weight capacity with respect to the ground. Therefore, in order to support modern structures, wherein several thousand pounds must typically be supported, two or more side by side block stacks must be established. Not only is a series of concrete block stacks aesthetically unpleasant, the need to bring a large number of concrete blocks to the job sight is expensive and labor intensive. Additionally, a relatively high concrete block stack may tend to be unstable under various loads and environmental conditions. 
     In order to overcome the problems of using only concrete blocks to support a structure various devices have been proposed. Such devices, although working with varying degrees of efficiency, tend to be difficult to use and maintain and are unduly heavy ad bulky. 
     Therefore, there is a need in the art for a structure support pier that addresses the above-stated problems in the art. Such a device must be capable of supporting several thousand pounds and must not be an eye sore. Such a device must be relatively lightweight and easy to transport, assemble and use. Ideally, such a device will be relatively inexpensive to manufacture and maintain. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The structure support pier of the present invention addresses the aforementioned needs in the art. The current invention provides a pier that is capable of supporting several thousand pounds and various types of structures and objects. The structure support pier is aesthetically pleasing. The device is relatively lightweight and easy to transport, assemble, and use and is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and maintain. 
     The structure support pier of the present invention is comprised of a base having a top surface, a bottom surface, and an outer edge. A first flange extends upwardly from the top surface and has an inner surface and an outer surface. A shell member having an open bottom with an outer periphery, a top with at least one side wall extending between the bottom and the top, the top having an upper surface and a lower surface, the shell member being positioned on the top surface such that the outer periphery of the bottom abuts against the inner surface of the first flange with the lower surface facing the top surface. The cross section of the top of the shell member is less than the cross section of the bottom of the shell member. A support pad is positioned on the top surface of the base and within the outer periphery of the bottom of the shell member. A support member has a first end positioned on the support pad of the base and a second end abutting the lower surface. The support member may be a honeycomb structure, a plurality of tubular members, or other similar structures. If the support member is a honeycomb structure, the support pad may have a plurality of slits disposed therein such that the honeycomb structure is disposed within the slits. If the support member is a plurality of tubular members, a plurality of depressions can be located within the support pad with each tubular member disposed within a respective one of the plurality of depressions and a similar support pad can be positioned over the opposing end of the tubular members. A second flange may extend upwardly from the top surface and is positioned between the outer edge and the first flange while a third flange may extend upwardly from the upper surface of the shell member. Each of the second flange, the third flange and the base may have any opening therein for releasing any moisture trapped by the respective flange. Concrete may be pumped into the shell member. 
     The structure support pier of the present invention is easy to assemble and disassemble, and several shell members can be stacked within one another for easy transportation of several devices of the present invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the structure support pier of the present invention using a honeycomb support structure. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded view of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the structure support pier of the present invention using a tubular member support structure. 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded view of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 is an environmental view of the structure support pier supporting a structure. 
     FIG. 6 is an environmental view of the structure support pier supporting a structure and utilizing a concrete block riser. 
     FIG. 7 is an environmental view of the structure support pier supporting a structure with concrete pumped into the shell member and the shell member subsequently removed. 
    
    
     Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings, it is seen that the structure support pier of the present invention, generally denoted by reference numeral  10 , is comprised of a base  12  having a top surface  14 , a bottom surface  16 , and an outer edge  18 . A first flange  20  extends upwardly from the top surface  14  and has an inner surface  22  and an outer surface  24 . A shell member  26  has an open bottom  28  with an outer periphery  30 , a top  32  and at least one side wall  34  extending between the bottom  28  and the top  32 . The top  32  has an upper surface and a lower surface. The shell member  26  is positioned on the top surface  14  of the base  12  such that the outer periphery  30  of the bottom  28  abuts against the inner surface  22  of the first flange  20  with the lower surface of the top  32  of the shell member  26  facing the top surface  14  of the base  12 . The cross section of the top  32  of the shell member  26  is less than the cross section of the bottom  28  of the shell member  26  so that the side wall  34  of the shell member  26  tapers outwardly in extending from the top  32  to the bottom  28 . 
     A support pad  36  is positioned on the top surface  14  of the base  12  and within the outer periphery  30  of the bottom  28  of the shell member  26 . The support pad  36  may be integrally formed with the base  12  or can be a separate item. A support member, having reference number  38  generally, has a first end  40  positioned on the support pad  36  of the base  12  and a second end  42  abutting the lower surface of the top  32 , either directly or via a second support pad  36 . As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the support member  38  may be a honeycomb structure  44 . As such the support pad  36  has a plurality of slits  46  disposed therein such that the honeycomb structure is disposed within the slits  44 , the slits  44  dimensioned such that the honeycomb structure  44  fits relatively snugly within the slits  46 . 
     Alternately, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the support member  38  may be a plurality of tubular members  48 . As such, a plurality of depressions  50  can be located within the support pad  36  with each tubular member  48  disposed within a respective one of the plurality of depressions  50 , the depressions  50  dimensioned such that each tubular member  48  fits relatively snugly within its respective depression  50 . Each tubular member  50  may be connected to one or more other tubular members  50  or each may be independent of the other tubular member  50 . 
     A second flange  52  may extend upwardly from the top surface  14  and is positioned between the outer edge  18  and the first flange  20 . An opening  54  is located within the second flange  52 , within the base  12 , or both in order to allow any moisture trapped between the first flange  20  and the second flange  52  to escape. 
     A third flange  56  extends upwardly from the top  32  of the shell member  26 . An opening  58  is located within the third flange  56  to allow any moisture trapped by the third flange  56 . 
     The various components of the structure support pier  10  of the present invention can be made from any appropriate material such as high strength (ABS etc.,) plastic, rubber, recycled polymaterials, high strength carbons, metal, aluminum, etc., or any combination thereof. 
     In order to use the structure-support pier  10  of the present invention, the base  12  is placed on the ground whereat the mobile home M or other similar structure is to be supported. If used, the support pad  36  is placed on the top surface  14  of the base  12  within the first flange  20 . The support member  38  is placed onto the support pad  36  and is received within the slits  46  or depressions  50  as appropriate. If desired, a second support pad  36  is placed on the second end  42  of the support member  38 . The shell member  26  is placed onto the top surface  14  of the base  12  such that the outer periphery  30  of the shell member  26  abuts against the inner surface  22  of the first flange  20 . The structure support pier  10  is now ready to receive a load M. The load of the supported structure M that is placed onto the top  32  of the shell member  26  or on the third flange  56  extending upwardly from the top  32 . The load of the supported structure M is transferred the base  12  via the shell member  26  and the support member  38 . The multiple cell configuration of the support member  38  and the side wall  34  extending outwardly from the top  32  to the bottom  28  of the shell member  26  help diffuse the load throughout the entire surface of the base  12 . This allows a relatively concentrated load to be placed onto the top  32  of the shell member  26  to be spread out across the relatively larger base  12 . If needed, one or more concrete blocks C or other similar devices can be placed between the shell member  26  and the structure M being supported to act as a riser. 
     If desired, after the device  10  is assembled, concrete  60  can be pumped into the shell member  26  through an appropriate opening (not illustrated) in order to add further load bearing capacity to the device  10 . If further desired, the shell member  26  can be used to act as a form, with the shell member  26  removed after the concrete  60  has been poured. In such an embodiment, the structure M to be supported will rest directly on the concrete  60 , as illustrated in FIG.  7 . 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to an embodiment thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.