Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
BACK~OUND OF THE INV~TXON
The present invention relates to a ba~e pla~e for
supporting and positioning a vertical wall panel of a buildin~
structure, and more par~icularly relates to the construction of
base pla~es to be used in conjunction with wall panels in
constructing, for example, demountable building structures.
The base plate according to the present invention has
been develo~ed for use in conju~ction with, for example, the
demountable porta~le re6ervoir structures described and
illustrated in my copending Canadian Patent Application Serial
No. 441,127~ ~iled November 14, 19B3. Such portable resevoir
structures may be erected and dismantled as required in remote
or frontier areas, and are readily trans~ortable to and
erectable in remote areas usin~ a minimum of manpower and
technical skill.
Demountable storage containers such as reservoirs, for
which the base plate of the present invention is particularly,
but not necessarily exclusively~ suited, ha~e previously u6ed
simple rail or angle iron supports for ~he bases of the walls
o~ these structures (e.g. see Green U.S. Patent No. 3,460,705
issued Augu6t 12, 1969 and Levens W.S. Patent No. 3,~19,079
issued June 25, 1974). More permanent types of supports have
been described and illustrated, for example in Rossit~o et al.
U.S. Patent No. 3,gl7,104 issued November 4, 1975 and ~Iolschlag
U.S. Patent No. 4,240,562 issued DecembeL 23, 1989.
- 1 ~
It is an object of ~he pre~ent invention to proviAe an
al~ernative suppoLt ~or t~e ba6es of such demountable
6~ructures, and one which will facilitate and simplify the
erection of such structures, in many cases sign;ficantly over
such prior art supports. It is a further object of the present
invention to provide a simple, quickly erec~ahle and knock-down
ba~e Eor demountable s~ruc~ures such as portable reservoirs.
the base compri~ing components which permit containerization
and/or palle~izing for easy and quick handling in
transporta~ion.
8UMM~RY OF T~ INV~NTION
According to the present invention there is provided a
base plate for supporting and positioning a ver~ical wall panel
of a structure, ~ plurality of such pla~es when in connected
position in a plane to form a ring. The base plate comprises
an elongated planar body with an upper planar surEace to
receive and support thereon a wall panel base and a lower
planar surface, parallel to the upper surface, to be supported
on a Elat supporting surface. Holder means are secured to the
upper ~urface of the body ~o receive and properly position the
ba~e oE the wall panel so that adjacent wall panels similarly
received and positioned on adjacent similar base plate6 in
connected position will be contiguous ~o the wall panel, and to
retain the wall panel therein against relative vertical or
sideways movement. Connector means are provided at the ends of
the body to releasably secure, in connected position~ the end~
of the body to cooperating ends oE the bodies of adjacent,
~imilar base plates. ~ase plates according to the presen~
inven~ion greatly facili~ate ~he construction of building
~truc~ures, reducing manpower and the technical skills required
in erecting such strucu~res.
In a preferred embodiment, the holder means comprises
a pair of spaced, upwardly projecting hooks, similarly
extending outwardly to provide receptacles for pins at the base
of the wall panel 60 that, during erection o~ the wall panels
on the base plate, the pins may be received in the receptacles
and the wall panels pivoted with respect thereto from
horizontal to vertical position on the base plate.
In u~e, the base plate according to the present
invention cooperate6 with a wall panel, the base of which is
provided wi~h means such a~ pins to be pivotally received in
the holder means of the base plate.
The base plata according to the present invention
admirably achieves the a~orementioned objects. The individual
plates are readily ~ransportable and, when in connected
position forming a ring, are readily adjustable ~o form a
regular, generally circular outline for proper positioning of
the vertical walls of ~he structure in a closed, circular
orientation.
These and other objects and advantages of ~he present
invention will become apparent upon reading the following
detailed description and upon referring to the drawings in
wh;ch:
FIGUR~ l is a perspec~ive ~iew of a series of base
;~ plates according to the present invention;
FIGURB 2 is an enlarged fragmentaly detail view in
perspective of cooperating ends of adjacen~ base plates and
corre6ponding wall panels supported thereon;
FIGURE 3 is a par~ial plan view of connected base
plates ~sr the reservoir structure and unconnected wall panels
ready to be moun~ed on the base plates.
While the inven~ion will be described in conjunction
with an example embodiment~ it will be unders~ood that i~ is
not intended to limi~ the invention to such embodiment. On the
contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives.
modifications and eguivalents as may be included within the
spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended
claims.
DETAILED DESCRIP~T ON OF THE DR~WINGS
In the drawings, similar features have been given
similar reference numerals.
: - 4 -
.,: ,
.
5~
Turning to FIGURE 1 there is shown a base plate 2
having an elongated, rec~angular body 3. The body has an upper
planar surface 4 to receive and support thereon the base of the
wall panel 14, and a lower planar surface 6, parallel to upper
surface ~, ~his lower surface 6 to be supported on a fla~
supporting surface as will be described in more datail
hereinafter.
Upwardly extending from upper surface 6 are a pair of
spaced hook bracke~s B. While shown as being made from fla~
mateLial, these hooks may alternatively be made Erom
appropriate round wire stock. Hook brackets 8 provide
outwardly oriented receptacles for pin~ lO extending outwardly
a~d sideways from bar 12 secured to the base on one side of
wall panel 14 as can be seen in FIGURE 2. ~ook brackets ~
receive eins lO for pivotal movement of wall panel 14 between
approximately horiæontal position and vertical position
supported on base plate 2, pins lO and bar 12 cooperating with
these hooks to properly position the wall panel 1~ on base
plate Z so that, when it i8 in vertical position, adjacen~ wall
panels which are similarly received and positioned on adjacen~
si~ilar base plates, when the base plates are connected ~as
will be described hereinafter) will be contiguous. As well,
relative movemen~ sideways of wall panel 14 with respec~ ~o
base plate 2 and relative ve~tical movement of the wall panel
with respect ~o the base plate will be restric~ed by hools
brackets 8,
-- 5 --
~ t the ends of recta~gular pla~e body 3 are provided
connector plates 16, one end o~ connector pla~e 16 being bolted
by a pair of bolts 1~ to base pla~e 2. and the other end of
connector plate 16 being bol~ed by a single bol~ 2G to an
adjacent, similar base plate 2 (FI~U~ES 1 and Z). In practice,
connector plates 16 are bolted by bolts 1~ to corresponding
ends of bas~ plates 2, preferably prior to delivery to the
construction site. This facilitates tha joining of base plates
2 since then only the other end of connec~or plate 16 must be
bolted by bol~ 20, ~o an adjacent base plate 2. Connector
plate 16 i6 preferably of elonga~ed shape as shown, to bridge a
gap between adjacen~ base plates 2 formed when the base plates
a~e laid out in circular outline. A hole 22 is provided in the
middle of that connector plate, ov~r this gap, to receive an
anchor pin or bolt.
In actual pract;ce, a site of appropriate sur~ace area
to receive the s~ructure is first clearad and levelled. In
some a~plications or where soil conditions dictate, tha base
plates and suppor~ing walls may be erec~ed on a prepared
concrete base curb. In other cases, they may be located on
compacted earth. Where a circular structure i~ to be erected,
the wall base plates 2 are laid down in circular fashion
; measuring out from the proposed center of that s~ructure a
~ imilar distance, (FIGURE 3). The plates are joined by
connector plates 16. The intended size of the structure
dictate~ ~he number of base plates 2 ~o be used. The platas
-- 6 --
can be shif~ed on the surface until a comple~ed regular circle
is achieved. Anchor rods as required are then in6talled
through ancho~ holes 22 in connector plates lS.
Wall panels 14 are brought to the site and laid out
like spokes of a wheel (FI~URE 3). ~rom this position two men
can elevate each panel, engaging pins lO on bar 12 a~ ~he base
of the wall panels 1~ into the receptacles of hook bracket~ 9
on base plates 2. The first wal]. panel 14 can be held in place
by two workmen or tied in position, for example, by ropes. The
second panel can then be erected an~ appropriately connected to
the first panel, c~re being taken -that ~he edges of the pane~s
are con~iguous.
It will be unders~ood that, using the base plate and
wall panel construction according to the present invention, a
structure having wall~ of regular circular con~truction may be
readily erected by a small number of labourers, using few
tools, and requiring lit~le in the way o~ technical skills.
The base plate construction according to the present inven~ion
lends itself readily to con~ainerization and quick erection and
dismantling of the wall panels of the structure.
It will be further understood that, while the
invention has been described in associate with circular wall
structuLes, the base plate may be readily adap~ed ~o the
erection of structures having 1a~ sided outlines, such a~
rectangulaI wall structures.
Thus it is apparent that ~here has been p.rovided in
accordance with ~he invention a base pla~e for demountable
vertical wall panels that fully satisfies the ob jectsO aims and
advantages set forth above. While the invention ha8 been
described in conjunc~ion with specific embodiments ~hereof, it
is evident that many alternatives. modifications and variations
will be apparent ~o tho~e skilled in ~he art in light of -the
foregoing descriptionn. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace
all such al~ernative~, modi~ications and variations as ~all
within ~he spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.
