Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02693251 2010-02-17
ADJUSTABLE PILLAR
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of pillars and pillars (collectively
herein
pillars) which are adapted for supporting the weight of a fence, gate or the
like, and in
particular to an adjustable pillar which, while being well adapted for bearing
the weight of a
fence panel, gate, or the like, is also adjustable to accommodate alignment
irregularities upon
the forming of the pillar foundation or otherwise upon mounting of the pillar
onto an uneven
surface so that the pillar's pillar box may be aligned vertically.
Background of the Invention
It is conventional that weight bearing pillars for supporting fence panels,
gates
or the like must not only be weight bearing structures but also well affixed
to the ground by a
foundation or like sub-structure or by mounting onto a base which is affixed
to the ground so
as to resist, especially in the case of gates, the bending moment imparted to
the pillar by the
cantilevered weight of the gate acting on the pillar so as to pull the pillar
out of vertical
alignment. The sub-structure supporting such pillars in order to resist the
bending moment is
often a foundation which is formed so as to be buried in the ground under the
pillar, for
example a foundation of poured concrete. In applicant's experience often the
pillar itself is
bolted down onto the concrete of the foundation so that, if the foundation is
mis-aligned, that
is for example if the top of the foundation footing is not horizontal, the
pillar when mounted
onto the foundation will not be vertical. Even relatively slight mis-alignment
from the
horizontal of the foundation footing will often cause visually perceptible mis-
alignment from
the vertical of the pillar due to the fact that the pillars are often quite
tall and narrow and thus a
small degree of off-set of the foundation footing from horizontal results in a
visually
perceptible mis-alignment of the pillars from the vertical. In the past,
correcting the alignment
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of the pillar which is to be mounted onto a somewhat non-horizontal foundation
provides
difficulties and is laborious for the installer of the pillar, who has to
employ shims or the like,
keeping in mind that the weight being born by the pillar is often substantial
and thus the shims
employed to bring the pillar to vertical must be capable of withstanding a
great load over the
lifetime of the pillar without shifting or breaking down.
In the prior art applicant is aware of United States Patent No. 5,197,248
which
issued to Kruse are March 30, 1993 for a Pre-Fabricated Column Assembly. Kruse
teaches
installing a gate column by boring a hole in the ground and filling the hole
with concrete to
form the footing. Pipes are inserted into the concrete footing before it sets.
Apertures are then
cut through the wall of the tube forming the column on diametrically opposite
sides of the tube
to correspond to locations of bores which extend through a support pillar
formed from the
pipes. The tube is placed over the support pillar to rest on the footing and a
threaded rod
passed laterally through the bore in the support pillar. Threaded nuts are
mounted onto the
ends of the rod to fasten the tube onto the support pillar.
Applicant is also aware of United States Patent No. 5,373,664 which issued to
Butler on December 20, 1994 for a Self-Contained Automatic Gate System. Butler
discloses
the construction of pillar footings by inserting a cardboard tube into a hole
dug in the ground,
positioning a plurality of vertical metal rods with spacers within the tube
and pouring concrete
into the tube leaving the upper threaded ends of the rods exposed. Once the
concrete is
hardened a bottom flange of the pillar is bolted to the rods to mount the gate
assembly onto the
footing. A metal collar may be provided about the top of the tube, with a
flared upper end of
the collar at ground level if the pillar is to be mounted below ground level.
The footing is thus
left exposed to the elements.
Applicant is also aware of United States Patent No. 7,191,573 which issued to
Newton on March 20, 2007 for a Structural Pre-Fabricated Column Pillar for
Securing to the
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Ground. Newton discloses a pre-fabricated column having rods which secure to
the bottom of
the column and a concrete form which is removably secured to the rods. A
central tube is
mounted in the column using support pans and is telescopically received within
a receiver tube
concreted into the eround. With the central tube mounted in the receiver tube,
concrete is
poured into the concrete form. Once the concrete cures, the form is removed
and the ends of
the rods plugged.
Summary of the Invention
In summary the adjustable pillar according to the present invention may be
characterized in one aspect as including a foundation structure and a hollow
pillar housing.
The foundation structure includes a base having a substantially vertical
plurality of rods
extending therethrough. The rods each have upper and lower ends. The lower
ends of the rods
extend downwardly from the base so as to form at least part of an anchor when
buried under
the base. The upper ends of the rods are threaded and extend upwardly from the
base.
The hollow pillar housing has upper and lower ends and defines a vertically
elongate cavity extending upwardly through the housing. The lower end of the
housing has a
lower-most open base end. The open base end forms an opening into the lower
end of the
cavity. The open base end and the lower end of the cavity are sized to receive
therein the
upper ends of the rods. The base is sized to fit substantially snugly
telescopically into the open
base end without the lower end of the housing engaging, so as to bear directly
down onto, the
base.
A weight bearing member is mounted to the lower end of the housing in the
lower end of the cavity. The weight bearing member has apertures formed
therein positioned
for mating registry with the upper ends of the rods so as to journal the upper
ends of the rods
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through the apertures in the weight bearing member when the housing is mounted
over the
base so as to the telescope the base into the lower end of the housing.
Threaded couplers are provided which cooperate with the weight bearing
member and are threadably mountable onto the threaded upper ends of the rods.
The couplers
are selectively positionable along the threaded upper ends of the rods so as
to selectively
position the weight bearing member along the upper ends of the rods. By doing
so the angular
relation between the base and the pillar housing is selectively adjustable so
that the pillar
housing is positionable into a vertical orientation when the rods are not
vertical.
In one embodiment the rods are rebar and the base is a form, for example a
box form. Advantageously the plurality of rods includes at least four rods,
and the weight
bearing member is a flange extending substantially horizontally around the
inner
circumference of the cavity. The cavity may be substantially rectangular in a
horizontal plane.
The apertures in the flange may include at least four apertures, positioned
into opposite corners
of the flange so as to cooperate with the four rods which extend up along the
corresponding
four corners of the box form.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 is, in perspective view, one embodiment of the adjustable pillar of
the
present invention with a gate mounted thereto.
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along a vertical plane vertically
bisecting the pillar of Figure 1.
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Figure 3 is, in partially exploded partially cut-away perspective view, the
foundation and pillar box of the adjustable pillar of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is, in partially exploded view, the modular pillar and gate of Figure
1
mounted by hinges according to a further embodiment,
Figure 4a is a sectional view along line 4a ¨ 4a in Figure 4.
Figure 5 is the view of Figure 2 showing an alternative embodiment of
adjustable foundation according to one aspect of the present invention.
Figure 6 is the view of Figure 5 showing a further alternative embodiment of
the adjustable foundation.
Figure 7 is a sectional view horizontally through pillar box 10 so as to
expose
in plan view a semi-automatic gate opener mounted within the pillar box and
cooperating with
the gate by means of a pair of scissoring linkage arms.
Figure 8 is the gate opener of Figure 7 with the gate in a position
perpendicular
to the position of the gate in Figure 7.
Detailed Description of Embodiments of the Invention
The modular pillar according to the present invention has a hollow housing or
pillar box 10 which is vertically elongate and generally rectangular on side.
Pillar box 10 has
rectangular openings, namely upper and lower openings 10a and 10b
respectively. Openings
10a and 10h may be rectangular and may be defined by sides 10c.
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A circumferentially extending rigid flange or shelf 12 is formed
circumferentially around the entire inner circumference of the cavity within
pillar box 10. In
one embodiment flange 12 is spaced upwardly from the lower opening 10b by
approximately
one quarter of the vertical length of pillar box 10. Apertures 12a are formed
in the four
corners of flange 12.
A foundation 14 may in one embodiment be provided which includes a frame
of, for example, four vertically orientated rods 16 mounted to so as to extend
vertically upward
from a square base frame 18. Frame 18 may also for example be constructed of
rods which
have been cut to length and welded together at the corners. The lower most
ends of rods 16
are also welded at the corners of base frame 18. Base frame 18 is sized so
that, when rods 16
extend vertically upwards therefrom, the upper threaded ends 16a align with,
so as to be
joumalled through apertures 12a in flange 12.
Ends 16a of rods 16 extend upwardly through a box form or base 20. Base 20
provides a box-like form around rods 16. Base 20 is sized so that it may nest
within opening
10b so as to vertically telescope relative to the lower or base end of pillar
box 10.
= During installation of the embodiment of Figure 2, the ground 22 is
excavated
and base frame 18 and the lower portions of rods 16, below threaded ends 16a
are lowered into
the excavation. Rods 16 provide a reinforced footing when encased in concrete
poured into
the excavation. Base 20 is placed over threaded ends 16a. Threaded ends 16a
are snugly
bracketed in the corresponding corners 20a of base 20, and are thereby
maintained in their
vertical alignment above base frame 18.
With base 20 resting down onto the upper surface 24a of concrete 24 (or down
onto ground 22 if concrete 24 has been covered over), lower threaded nuts 26a
are threaded
down onto threaded ends 16a and positioned at approximately the desired
elevation of flange
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12, that is, the elevation which corresponds to the desired spacing A of the
lower most edge
10d of pillar box 10 above ground level. With lower nuts 26a in their desired
position on
threaded ends 16a (or at least in their approximate position), pillar box 10
is lowered down
onto threaded ends 16a so as to journal threaded ends 16a through apertures
12a in flange 12.
Flange 12 rests down against lower nuts 26a. Flange 12 may be supported by
vertical ribs or
bracket 12b.
Access panel 28 on the lower end of pillar box 10 is opened if not already
open
= to as to provide access to the upper and lower sides of flange 12. Lower
nuts 26a are adjusted
on threaded ends 16a until the desired spacing A is achieved and pillar box 10
is vertical.
Upper threaded nuts 26b are then threaded down onto threaded ends 16a so as to
sandwich
flange 12 between upper nuts 26b and lower nuts 26a. Flange 12, and thus
pillar box 10, is
thereby locked into place, vertically telescoped over base 20. The threaded
ends 16a of rods
16, flange 12 and nuts 26a, 26b are protected from the weather by their
location inside pillar
box 10 and base 20.
In one embodiment, base 20 provides a form for pouring a concrete base or
footing, in which case base 20 may be made of sheet metal which may be removed
exposing
the concrete footing. The concrete footing provides a rigid base supporting
rods 16 and in
particular supporting threaded ends 16a. In other embodiments, base 20 may
itself be a rigid
base, that is, is not replaced by a poured concrete footing.
In one embodiment, rods 16 are formed of so-called rebar, as is base frame 18.
Threaded ends 16a are formed on the upper ends of the rebar so to accept nuts
26a and 26b in
threaded mating thereon. The sides 10c of pillar box 10 may be made of sheet
metal, as also
may be access panels 28.
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With pillar box 10 mounted onto foundation 14, and with foundation 14
encased in concrete 24 and entrenched in an excavation 22a in ground 22 pillar
box 10 is well
adapted to resist the bending moments acting on the pillar box as a result of
gates 30 being
hung from one side of pillar box 10 by gate hinges 32. Gate hinges 32 may be
selectively
actuable hinges which may be selectively actuated so as to open gates 30 by
meAns of
actuators such as gate openers 52 housed within pillar box 10.
Hinges 32 may be mounted to pillar box 10 by various means. For example in
the embodiment of Figure 1, hinges 32 are rigidly mounted onto mounting plates
34 by means
of bolts 36 mounted through adjustment slots 38. In the embodiment of Figure
4, hinges 32
are mounted into channel 38 by means of slide plates 32a sliding along channel
38 while
engaged under opposed facing retaining flanges 38a. Bolts 32b frictionally
engage within
channel 38 when hinges 32 are positioned at their desired height along channel
38.
In the embodiment of Figure 5, threaded rods or bolts 40 are used to anchor a
base plate 42 down onto a rigid surface such as a concrete slab 44. Box 20 is
mounted down
onto base plate 42. Threaded rods 46 are mounted to base plate 42 and extend
vertically
upwardly from base plate 42 through box 20 so as to be mounted to flange 12
through
apertures 12a by means of upper and lower nuts 26b and 26a respectively as
described above.
As in the embodiment of Figure 2, flange 12 may have vertical reinforcing ribs
or plates 48
mounted thereunder.
In the embodiment of Figure 6, rods 46 are mounted down onto an underground
supporting structure 50 buried in ground 22 or in slab 44. Supporting
alternative 50 may be
cross bars, rebar, plates etc. formed to extend laterally from the lower ends
of rods 46 into the
surrounding earth or slab to stabilize rods 46 when engaged with flange 12 by
means of
threaded couplers 26a and 26b, although other forms of couplers would also
work (collectively
referred to herein as threaded couplers).
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As seen in Figures 7 and 8, a semi-automatic gate opener 52 may be mounted
within pillar box 10 so as to cooperate with gate 30 for semi-automatic
opening of gate 30. As
seen in Figure7, with gate 30 at substantially a perpendicular orientation
relative to its position
shown in dotted outline, linkage arms 54a and 54b are pivoted so as to rotate
the inner end 54c
in direction B about hinge pin or shaft 56. Linkage arm 54b is pivotably
mounted at its distal
end 54d to linkage arm 54a, itself pivotally mounted at hinge 54e to gate 30.
Stop 58a arrests
rotation of end 54c in direction B as end 54c is rotated under the resilient
urging , in tension, of
spring 60.
In Figure 8 gate 30 is perpendicular to the position of gate 30 in Figure 7.
Angle alpha (a) formed between linkage arms 54a and 54b is acute in Figure 7
and obtuse in
Figure 8. In Figure 8 end 54c of linkage arm 54b has been rotated in a
direction opposite to
direction B so as to engage against stop 58b. This compresses compression
spring 62 and
elongates tension spring 60. Hydraulic decelerator 64 may be provided adjacent
stop 58a so as
to decelerate end 54c prior to end 54c engaging against stop 58a under the
urging of spring 60.
As also seen in Figure 8, with end 54c of linkage arm 54b rotated against stop
58b, actuator 66 may be selectively actuated so as to swing roller lock 68 on
the end of spring
arm 70 in direction C. This engages roller lock 68 behind end 54c thereby
locking end 54c
against stop 58b. When it is desired to release the lock so as to allow
tension spring 60 to
rotate linkage arm 54b in direction B, to thereby rotate gate 30 in direction
D, actuator 66 is
retracted thereby pulling roller lock 68 clear of end 54c, that is, into the
position illustrated in
Figure 7. Linkage arm 54b is then to swing in direction B.
The scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance
defined by the following claims.
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