Site News  |   Monitor Keywords  |   Monitor Archive  |   Organizer  |   Account Info  |

Method and apparatus for mobile stem wall

Method and apparatus for mobile stem wall description/claims

This application is related to U.S. application Ser. No. 11/431,196, entitled “BUILDING TRANSPORT DEVICE”, filed May 9, 2006, and U.S. application Ser. No. 11/559,229, entitled “TRANSPORT DEVICE CAPABLE OF ADJUSTMENT TO MAINTAIN LOAD PLANARITY”, filed Nov. 13, 2006 the entire contents of both of which are herein incorporated by reference.

One foundation technique frequently used in home building is to construct a stem wall. A stem wall anchors a home firmly in the ground, working like roots to hold a house down and tie it into the ground below. Further, the stem wall, being positioned around the perimeter of the house, provides support for the exterior load bearing walls of the home. It should be noted the stem wall can also provide support for interior load bearing walls or any non-load bearing walls.

A stem wall is constructed in place at the home site. Typically, the stem wall is constructed of concrete masonry or cinder block reinforced with steel and concrete. The home site is excavated and compacted using new fill. Then, a footing trench is excavated around the footprint of the house. The footing size is typically 12 to 16 inches wide by 8 to 12 inches deep. The concrete footing is poured, typically with reinforcing steel extending up from the footing. Sometimes, when the concrete of the footing sets up, the first course of block is set in place.

A stem wall is typically three masonry courses high. Every set number of inches, which varies depending on code and the height of the wall, the blocks are fitted with steel rebar for reinforcement. Further, concrete is poured into the block cells. Once the three-course wall is in place, dirt is backfilled against the exterior of the stem wall.

The house can be placed on and attached to the stem wall, leaving a crawl space beneath the house. Alternatively, the interior of the stem wall can also be backfilled and compacted to serve as the base for a concrete slab.

If a slab is to be formed, typically the cells for the stem walls are filled with concrete at the same time the slab is poured, as one continuous pour. When the cells are filled for the wall, the slab is poured as the top layer or seal for the walls. The reinforcing steel or rebar extends above the wall and slab for the tie-in to the walls. Ties and anchor bolts are wet set in the concrete so that they are completely tied into the structure.

Stem walls formed in such a way provide a very stable foundation which protects from damage even in rising waters, seismic events, and high winds. However, it is desirable to improve the efficiency of forming stem walls.

In one embodiment, a stem wall is manufactured and then transported to the house site for placement. Preferably, the stem wall is manufactured within an enclosed facility; however, the stem wall can be manufactured outdoors or in any other suitable location. Further, the stem wall is preferably manufactured at a location which does not require transporting the stem wall via public roadways to the house site; however, the stem wall can be manufactured at a location for which transporting the stem wall to the house site via public roadways would be necessary or desirable.

In one embodiment, the stem wall is manufactured by pouring concrete into a mold. Tension cables (e.g., high strength steel tension cables or any other suitable type of tension cable) are positioned within the mold and are stressed after the concrete cures to provide increased tensile strength. It should be noted that other reinforcement devices (e.g., steel rebar or any other suitable reinforcing device) can also be positioned within the mold. In one embodiment, the stem wall is formed with one or more horizontal openings. Beams or pegs can be inserted through the horizontal openings to facilitate transportation of the stem wall to the house site.

In another embodiment, exterior face attachment points (e.g., exterior brackets, protrusions or any other suitable graspable structure) are attached to one or more exterior surfaces of the stem wall. The exterior face attachment points can be attached after concrete is poured into the mold or can be positioned with the mold such that the exterior face attachment points are formed as a continuous part of the stem wall.

In one embodiment, before the stem wall is transported to the house site, a house is built or placed on top of the stem wall. Preferably, the house is secured to the stem wall; however, the house is not required to be secured to the stem wall.

In one embodiment, the ground at the house site is excavated and compacted. The stem wall is then transported to and placed at the house site. Optionally, a trench or caisson can be dug and a footer or post formed on which the stem wall can be positioned; however, such an in-place footer or post is not required. Alternatively, the compacted ground can be excavated in parts to enable a bottom portion of the stem wall to be positioned within the excavated parts. In another embodiment, the stem wall is merely positioned on top of the ground. Once in place, the stem wall is preferably at least partly buried by backfilling.

Additional features and advantages are described herein, and will be apparent from, the following Detailed Description and the figures.

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of the process of placing a stem wall at a home site in accordance with one embodiment.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

• What Is a Patent?
• What Is a Trademark or Servicemark?
• What Is a Copyright?
• Patent Laws