Ground anchor bracket for multiple wall braces

Abstract

A ground anchor assembly for supporting at least two wall braces includes an elongated anchor having a helical lower portion that is configured to engage a ground or floor surface upon rotation of the elongated anchor. A multi-connection bracket has a central portion with an opening that receives an upper portion of the elongated anchor and lateral portions extending from opposing sides of the central portion of the bracket. The lateral portions of the bracket are configured to each engage a lower end of a wall brace. A fastener is engaged with a hole in the upper portion of the elongated anchor when the bracket is positioned over the elongated anchor, such that a head of the fastener contacts the central portion of the bracket to secure the bracket to the elongated anchor.

1 . A ground anchor assembly for supporting at least two wall braces, said ground anchor assembly comprising:
 an elongated anchor comprising a lower portion with a helical shape that is configured to engage a ground surface;   a bracket comprising (i) a central portion with an opening that receives an upper portion of the elongated anchor and (ii) lateral portions extending from opposing sides of the central portion of the bracket, wherein the lateral portions of the bracket are configured to each engage a lower end of a wall brace; and   a fastener engaged at the upper portion of the elongated anchor and comprising a head that contacts the central portion of the bracket to secure the bracket to the elongated anchor.   
     
     
         2 . The ground anchor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener engages a hole in the upper portion of the elongated anchor and extends in general alignment with a longitudinal extent of the elongated anchor. 
     
     
         3 . The ground anchor assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the fastener includes a threaded engagement with the hole in the upper portion of the elongated anchor and is configured, upon rotation, to adjust a length of the ground anchor assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The ground anchor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the lower portion of the elongated anchor comprises a plurality of helical sections configured to engage into the ground at different vertical levels. 
     
     
         5 . The ground anchor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the lateral portions of the bracket each include a pair of arms that are configured to engage opposing sides of the lower end of one of the wall braces supported by the bracket. 
     
     
         6 . The ground anchor assembly of  claim 5 , wherein a connector extends between each the pair of arms for engaging the lower end of the wall brace disposed between the pair of arms. 
     
     
         7 . The ground anchor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the lateral portions of the bracket extend orthogonally from the central portion, and wherein the central portion comprises a substantially rectangular shaped housing with the opening extending centrally through the central portion of the bracket. 
     
     
         8 . A multi-connection bracket for a ground anchor that supports at least two wall braces, said multi-connection bracket comprising:
 an anchor portion having a plurality of walls surrounding an opening that extends generally linearly through the anchor portion, wherein the walls are configured to engage around an upper portion of an elongated ground anchor that is disposed in and extends longitudinally along the opening; and   at least two brace portions extending laterally from the anchor portion and each configured to engage a lower end of a wall brace, wherein each brace portion includes a hole configured to receive a fastener that engages the lower end of the wall brace.   
     
     
         9 . The multi-connection bracket of  claim 8 , wherein, when the anchor portion is engaged with the elongated ground anchor, a fastener extends longitudinally into the opening of the anchor portion and engages the upper portion of the elongated ground anchor. 
     
     
         10 . The multi-connection bracket of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of walls comprise an upper edge surface that is configured to engage a head of the fastener that is threadably coupled with the upper portion of the elongated ground anchor. 
     
     
         11 . The multi-connection bracket of  claim 8 , wherein the brace portions extend from opposing lateral sides of the anchor portion to generally evenly distribute loads from the engaged wall braces to the elongated ground anchor. 
     
     
         12 . The multi-connection bracket of  claim 8 , wherein the brace portions each include a pair of arms that extend laterally from the anchor portion and are configured to engage opposing sides of the lower ends of the wall braces. 
     
     
         13 . The multi-connection bracket of  claim 12 , wherein each arm of the pair of arms comprises a planar extension of a wall of the plurality of walls of the anchor portion. 
     
     
         14 . The multi-connection bracket of  claim 13 , wherein the anchor portion comprises a rectangular box shape having two opposing walls that are spaced equally from each other and have portions that extend laterally to provide the pair of arms of the brace portions. 
     
     
         15 . The multi-connection bracket of  claim 12 , wherein a connector extends between each the pair of arms for engaging the lower end of the wall brace disposed between the pair of arms. 
     
     
         16 . A method for supporting at least two wall braces at a single ground anchor, said method comprising:
 engaging a lower portion of a ground anchor into a ground surface upon rotation of the ground anchor, wherein the lower portion includes a helical shape;   disposing a bracket at an upper portion of the ground anchor, wherein the upper portion extends through an opening in an anchor portion of the bracket;   engaging a fastener with the upper portion of the ground anchor, wherein a head of the fastener contacts about the anchor portion of the bracket to secure the bracket to the ground anchor; and   attaching a lower end of two wall braces to brace portions of the bracket extending laterally from opposing sides of the anchor portion of the bracket.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the brace portions of the bracket each include a pair of arms that are configured for the respective lower end of the wall brace to be engaged between the pair of arms. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein a fastener extends between each the pair of arms for engaging the lower end of the wall brace disposed between the pair of arms. 
     
     
         19 . The multi-connection bracket of  claim 17 , wherein the anchor portion comprises a plurality of walls surrounding the opening that extends generally linearly through the anchor portion, and wherein each arm of the pair of arms comprises a planar extension of a wall of a plurality of walls of the anchor portion. 
     
     
         20 . The multi-connection bracket of  claim 17 , wherein the anchor portion comprises a rectangular box shape having two opposing walls that are spaced equally from each other and have portions that extend laterally to provide the pair of arms of the brace portions.