Modified jersey barrier foundation system

Abstract

A foundation system utilizes conventional construction barriers, such as Jersey barriers, or the like, to form a foundation stem wall. Various modifications are made to the construction barriers to permit their use in both on frame and off frame construction. The foundation system of the present invention may also be used for conventional construction, including stud wall construction and block home construction. Generally, an on frame construction technique is used for modular or metal structures where the metal frame remains on the bottom of the walls. This permits, for example, the re-addition of a tongue, axles, wheels, and the like, to allow the building to be moved if desired. With off frame construction, the modular sections of the building are lifted off the frame and attached to, for example, a stem wall via connectors, straps, or the like.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A foundation system designed for on frame modular structures and conventional metal buildings comprising:
 a plurality of construction barriers disposed to retain a structure thereupon; and   a plurality of metal plates attached to a top portion of at least a subset of the plurality of construction barriers, wherein   each of the plurality of constructions barriers are formed as a single unit from solid concrete.   
     
     
         2 . The on frame foundation system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of metal plates include one or more anchor bolts embedded into the plurality of construction barriers and attached to the metal plate. 
     
     
         3 . The on frame foundation system of  claim 1 , wherein a corner of the foundation system is formed from two of the plurality of construction barriers cut at an angle, wherein a corner metal plate covers a joint formed by the two construction barriers. 
     
     
         4 . The on frame foundation system of  claim 3 , wherein the corner metal plate includes at least a first anchor and a second anchor, where the first anchor is embedded into one of the two construction barriers and the second anchor is embedded into the other of the two construction barriers, wherein each of the first and second anchors are attached to the corner metal plate. 
     
     
         5 . The on frame foundation system of  claim 1 , further comprising a ventilation opening formed through at least one of the plurality of construction barriers. 
     
     
         6 . An off frame foundation system comprising:
 a plurality of construction barriers disposed to retain a structure thereupon; and   a plurality of tie down straps embedded into and extending from a top portion of each of the plurality of construction barriers, wherein   each of the plurality of constructions barriers are formed as a single unit from solid concrete.   
     
     
         7 . The off frame foundation system of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of tie down straps extend from rebar extending longitudinally through each of the plurality of construction barriers. 
     
     
         8 . The off frame foundation system of  claim 6 , further comprising a ventilation opening formed through at least one of the plurality of construction barriers. 
     
     
         9 . A method for building a stem wall for a foundation of a structure, comprising:
 placing a plurality of construction barriers so that a top surface of the construction barriers defines at least an outer periphery of the structure;   connecting a bottom member of the structure to the plurality of construction barriers via a plurality of interconnection members, wherein   each of the plurality of constructions barriers are formed as a single unit from solid concrete, and   the plurality of interconnection members includes one of a plurality of tie down straps extending from the top surface or a plurality of metal plates attached to the top surface.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the bottom member of the structure is a metal frame and the plurality of interconnection members are metal plates. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising attaching the metal plates to the plurality of construction barriers via one or more anchor bolts. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the bottom member of the structure is a frame of the structure and the plurality of interconnection members are tie down straps. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising providing ventilation under the structure via one or more openings formed in one or more of the plurality of construction barriers.