Support and skirting system for factory built structures

Abstract

A system for shirting and securely supporting a factory built building against lateral and vertical loads. Lateral loads experienced by the building can include those created by seismic activities, heavy winds, heavy snow and back-filling earth around the building. The system includes at least one footing, at least one support stand and at least one skirting panel. The footing contacts the ground and can be formed of a material such as concrete. The footing includes an elongated channel that securely receives a portion of the support stand and the skirting panel. The support stand includes a plurality of support members and a base. The support members that define the support stand each extend in a common vertical plane. The system allows the building to be easily and quickly assembled. The components are also aesthetically pleasing, while creating a protective and stable support system for the factory built building.

1 . A system for supporting a factory built building, said system comprising: 
 a footing having an elongated channel extending in a direction that is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of said footing;    a support stand including a plurality of support members and a base, said plurality of support members that define said support stand each extend in a common vertical plane; and    a skirting panel positioned within said elongated channel of said footing.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said base includes a first portion that extends within said channel of said footing, said first portion of said base being positioned between said skirting panel and a sidewall of the channel.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said elongated channel has a central longitudinal axis that is substantially parallel to and offset from the longitudinal axis of said footing such that the longitudinal axis of said channel is spaced from said longitudinal axis of said footing.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said channel comprises a base and first and second sidewalls extending upwardly away from said base of said channel, said sidewalls extending from said base of said channel such that said first sidewall is free of being parallel with said second sidewall.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said footing further comprises a slot extending within said footing, said slot has a longitudinal axis that extends at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said channel.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said longitudinal axis of said footing is equally spaced from first and second outer sidewalls of said footing; and wherein the longitudinal axis of said channel is spaced closer to said first outer sidewall than to said second outer sidewall.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6  further including a passage for receiving an anchoring rod, said passage extending through a portion of said footing from an outer surface of one of said sidewalls to the base of said footing.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein said passage has an opening extending along an outer surface of said first outer sidewall and an opening extending along said base of said footing.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said ends of said footing has a substantially trapezoidal shaped cross section.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said base of said support stand includes a first elongated portion positioned within said channel and a second elongated portion extending at an angle to said first portion and outside the channel of the footing.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein said support members converge toward each other along their length in a direction away from said base.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said support members include a first terminal end secured to said base of said support stand and a second terminal end secured to an apparatus that receives a member for connecting said support members to the building.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein said apparatus comprises a turnbuckle and said member for connecting said support members to said building includes a threaded member received within said turnbuckle.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein said turnbuckle is secured between said support members.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said support members are formed of an angle, channel or tubular shaped material.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said base of said support stand has a substantially L-shaped cross section, a substantially U-shaped cross section or a substantially T-shaped cross section.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16  wherein a portion of said T-shaped base extends along said support members and is secured to at least one of said support members.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said support stand includes only two support members.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said support stand includes only three support members.  
   
   
       20 . A system for supporting a factory built building, said system comprising: 
 a footing having an elongated channel extending in a direction that is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of said footing;    a support assembly comprising a plurality of support members and a base, said base having a portion received within said channel of said footing; and    a skirting panel positioned within said channel such that said portion of said base within said channel is positioned between said skirting panel and a sidewall of said channel.    
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 20  wherein said support assembly comprises a support stand including said support members, and wherein said support members defining said support stand extend within a common vertical plane.  
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 20  wherein said elongated channel has a central longitudinal axis that is substantially parallel to and offset from the longitudinal axis of said footing.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 20  wherein said channel comprises a base and a pair of sidewalls extending upwardly away from said base of said channel, said sidewalls extending from said base of said channel such that a first of said sidewalls is free of being parallel with a second of said sidewalls.  
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 20  wherein said footing further comprises a slot extending within said footing, said slot has a longitudinal axis that extends at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said channel.  
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 20  wherein said longitudinal axis of said footing is equally spaced from first and second outer sidewalls of said footing; and wherein the longitudinal axis of said channel is spaced closer to said first outer sidewall than to said second outer sidewall.  
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 25  further including a passage for receiving an anchoring rod, said passage extending through a portion of said footing from an outer surface of one of said sidewalls to the base of said footing.  
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 26  wherein said passage has an opening extending along an outer surface of said first outer sidewall and an opening extending along said base of said footing.  
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 20  wherein said support members converge toward each other along their length in a direction away from said base.  
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 20  wherein said support members include a first terminal end secured to said base of said support stand and a second terminal end secured to an apparatus that receives a member for connecting said support members to the building.  
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 29  wherein said apparatus comprises a turnbuckle and said member for connecting said support members to said building includes a threaded member received within said turnbuckle.  
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 20  wherein said support members are formed of an angle, channel or tubular shaped material.  
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 20  wherein said base of said support stand has a substantially L-shaped cross section, a substantially U-shaped cross section or a substantially T-shaped cross section.  
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 32  wherein a portion of said T-shaped base extends along said support members and is secured to at least one of said support members.  
   
   
       34 . The system of  claim 20  wherein said support assembly includes only two support members.  
   
   
       35 . The system of  claim 20  wherein said support assembly includes only three support members.