Universal pole foundation with instant cap

• US 10,633,818 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2018
• Issued: 04/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Exposure Illumination Architects Inc.
• Original Assignee: Daniel S. Spiro
• Inventors: Spiro, Daniel S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maestri, Patrick J
• Application Number:
  US16/200,927
• Publication Number:
  US 20190093304A1
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 2300/00 Materials
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 2600/00 Miscellaneous
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 27/42 Foundations for poles, masts or chimneys sockets or holders for poles or masts per se E04H12/22
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/2215 driven into the ground ground anchors E02D5/80
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/2269 in a socket
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/2284 Means for adjusting the orientation of the post or pole
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 12/2292 Holders used for protection, repair or reinforcement of the post or pole E04H12/2276 takes precedence

Abstract

An instant cap (“I-Cap”) for a pole foundation and an all-in-one universal pole foundation are provided. The I-Cap is a just-in-time manufactured device located at the foundation'"'"'s top, filling the gap between the pole foundation cavity'"'"'s inner wall and the pole. The I-Cap transfers lateral pole forces to the foundation wall while providing pole cavity moisture protection as well as protection from pole uplift and rotation forces. Both the pole and the foundation are manufactured to precision. The all-in-one universal pole foundation can be manufactured just-in-time having information at hand about the pole shaft dimensions specified. The pole rests on either a flat or tapered structure at the bottom of the pole cavity with a through opening to enable moisture to evacuate the cavity. The pole is secured to the foundation using at least one through bolts.

Claims

1. A pre-fabricated pole foundation for a pole without a base plate comprising:

a pole cavity with a tapered structure located at bottom center of the pole cavity;

at least one bore in a cavity wall horizontal of the foundation'"'"'s vertical axis, the at least one bore aligned with a bore located in a multi-functional cap;

the multi-functional cap extending between an exterior surface of the pole and pole cavity interior walls at proximity to a top of the pole cavity wherein, the cap retains a plurality of pole cross-sections and materials wherein, at least one through bolt radially aligned with the pole'"'"'s vertical center is inserted through the exterior of the foundations'"'"' cavity wall to engage a multi-functional enclosure and the pole against rotation and uplift forces.

2. The pre-fabricated pole foundation of claim 1, wherein said cap is coupled with the tapered structure to provide pole plumbing.

3. The pre-fabricated pole foundation of claim 1, wherein said cap has a through bore radially aligned with the pole center and can be threaded to engage a bolt.

4. The pre-fabricated pole foundation of claim 1, wherein the bolt is configured to be torqued through a threaded opening in the pole cavity wall of the foundation.

5. The pre-fabricated pole foundation of claim 1, wherein the multi-functional cap is fabricated as a single, monolithic member or a plurality of interlocking members.

6. The pre-fabricated pole foundation of claim 1, wherein the structure is constructed of at least one volumetric enclosure and/or cellular structure.

7. The pre-fabricated pole foundation of claim 1, wherein said cap retains sealing material inside a recess to prevent moisture travel between the cap and the pole into the pole cavity of the foundation.

8. The pre-fabricated pole foundation of claim 6, wherein the cellular structure and/or the volumetric enclosure in the foundation retains gas, fluid or solids.

9. The pre-fabricated pole foundation of claim 1, wherein the pre-fabricated opening in an exterior wall of the foundation retains at least one power, data or power and data enclosures.

10. The pre-fabricated pole foundation of claim 1, wherein the foundation is fabricated of non-corrosive materials inert to minerals and pollutants.

11. The pre-fabricated pole foundation of claim 1, wherein the foundation is assembled using a plurality of keyed components joined mechanically.

12. A pre-fabricated pole foundation for a pole without a base plate comprising:

a body formed of cellular structure enclosure, volumetric enclosure or cellular structure and volumetric enclosure; and

a pole cavity configured to receive the pole, wherein;

the pole cavity is fabricated to form a clearance between a face of a wall of the pole cavity and an outer surface of the pole when the pole is inserted within the pole cavity;

sealing material is retained inside a recess at a pole cavity aperture of the foundation;

the pole cavity is adaptable to retain a plurality of pole cross-sectional profiles without the use of forms or molds; and

the foundation is configured to receive the pole secured by a bolt.

13. The pre-fabricated pole foundation of claim 12, wherein the bolt is configured to be inserted through an exterior of a wall of the foundation to secure the pole to the foundation.

14. The pre-fabricated pole foundation of claim 12, wherein the cellular structure and/or the volumetric enclosure in the foundation retains gas, fluid or solids.

15. The pre-fabricated pole foundation of claim 12, wherein a pre-fabricated opening in an exterior wall of the foundation retains at least one power, data or power and data enclosures.

16. The pre-fabricated pole foundation of claim 12, wherein bores in the foundation wall are threaded.

17. The pre-fabricated pole foundation of claim 12, wherein the foundation is fabricated of non-corrosive materials inert to minerals and pollutants.

18. The pre-fabricated pole foundation of claim 12, wherein the foundation is assembled using a plurality of keyed components joined mechanically.

19. A pole foundation comprising:

a foundation structure comprising a pole cavity with a tapered structure located at a bottom center of the pole cavity;

at least one bore in a cavity wall substantially horizontal of a vertical axis of the foundation; and

a multi-functional pole foundation cap having at least one bore aligned with the at least one bore located in the cavity wall, wherein the pole foundation is configured to receive a tapered or non-tapered pole and wherein;

at least one bolt is externally inserted into the at least one bore in the pole foundation cavity wall and mechanically couples the multi-functional cap to the pole foundation cavity wall or is configured to mechanically couple the pole and the multi-functional cap to the pole foundation cavity wall; and

the engaged multi-functional cap is configured to perform at least one of a) resistance to pole uplift, b) resistance to pole rotation, c) resistance to moisture entry into the pole cavity, d) align the pole with foundation, or e) architecturally detail a connection of the pole to the foundation.

20. The pole foundation of claim 19, further comprising at least one wireway and an enclosure for electrical devices, mechanical devices or electro-mechanical devices within the cavity wall of the pole cavity.