Footing plates

Abstract

A footing plate (10) including a planar web (12) through or from which a plurality of tubes (14) pass, the tubes (14) being adjacent to the edges of the planar web (12) and being disposed at angles to the planar web (12), none of the angles being 90°, the tubes (14) being sized to permit the passage therethrough of pins (18) for fixing into underlying ground, the upper face of the planar web (12) optionally being provided with a plurality of holes to accept bolts for retaining means to receiving a post, pole or upright structural beam, the planar web (12) also being provided with a downwardly extending flange (16) from at least one of the edges of the planar web (12).

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A footing plate comprising:
 a planar web, and   a first tube, a second tube and a third tube, each of the tubes passing through the planar web or extending downwardly from the planar web, each of the tubes arranged at the corner of a polygon circuiting the planar web, each of the tubes having a central longitudinal axis,   wherein each of the central longitudinal axes are inclined to the planar web so as to extend only over or under an area of the planar web on or outside the polygon line.   
     
     
         10 . The footing plate of  claim 9 , wherein the central longitudinal axis of the first tube is in a vertical plane that is non-parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the second tube, or the central longitudinal axis of the first tube is in a vertical plane that is non-parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the third tube, or the central longitudinal axis of the second tube is in a vertical plane that is non-parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the third tube. 
     
     
         11 . The footing plate of  claim 9  comprising a fourth tube passing through the planar web or extending downwardly from the planar web and having a central longitudinal axis, the fourth tube arranged at the corner of a polygon circuiting the planar web formed with the first, second and third tubes;
 wherein each of the central longitudinal axes of the first, second, third and fourth tubes are inclined to the planar web so as to extend only over or under an area of the planar web on or outside the polygon line. 
 
     
     
         12 . The footing plate of  claim 9 , comprising a flange extending downwardly from the planar web. 
     
     
         13 . The footing plate of  claim 12 , wherein the flange extends about most or all of the periphery of the planar web. 
     
     
         14 . The footing plate of  claim 13 , wherein the flange is substantially planar. 
     
     
         15 . The footing plate of  claim 9 , wherein the underside of the planar web is provided with a plurality of ribs for strengthening said planar web, and at least one of the plurality of ribs is joined to at least one of the downwardly extending flanges, at least one the rib intersecting with another rib in a transverse manner so as to provide rectangular spaces for receiving ground material. 
     
     
         16 . The footing plate of  claim 10 , wherein the polygon has two straight sides which are parallel to each other, each straight side having a tube disposed thereon, and wherein the central longitudinal axes of the tubes are at opposite angles. 
     
     
         17 . The footing plate of  claim 11 , wherein the polygon has two opposing corners, each of the two opposing corners having a tube disposed thereon, and wherein the tubes are disposed at opposite angles. 
     
     
         18 . The footing plate of  claim 15 , wherein an upper face of the planar web is provided with a plurality of threaded holes to accept bolts, and one of the plurality of holes is a threaded hole and at least one of the plurality of ribs intersects with one of the plurality of threaded holes. 
     
     
         19 . An in-ground footing plate installation comprising a footing plate, the footing plate comprising:
 a planar web,   a first tube, a second tube and a third tube, each of the tubes passing through the planar web or extending downwardly from the planar web, each of the tubes arranged at the corner of a polygon circuiting the planar web, each of the tubes having a central longitudinal axis, wherein each of the central longitudinal axes are inclined to the planar web so as to extend only over or under an area of the planar web on or outside the polygon line, and   a flange extending downwardly from the planar web,   
       and wherein the flange extends into the ground. 
     
     
         20 . The installation of  claim 19 , wherein the planar web of the footing plate is disposed level with or below the surface of the ground 
     
     
         21 . The installation of  claim 19 , wherein the central longitudinal axis of the first tube is in a vertical plane that is non-parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the second tube, or the central longitudinal axis of the first tube is in a vertical plane that is non-parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the third tube, or the central longitudinal axis of the second tube is in a vertical plane that is non-parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the third tube. 
     
     
         22 . The installation of  claim 19 , wherein the flange extends about most or all of the periphery of the planar web. 
     
     
         23 . The installation of  claim 19 , wherein the flange functions so as to contain a volume of ground beneath the planar web. 
     
     
         24 . The installation of  claim 23 , wherein the contained volume of ground beneath the planar web contacts the underside of the planar web so as to resist sinking of the footing into the ground. 
     
     
         25 . The installation of  claim 23 , wherein the tubes contact the volume of ground beneath the planar web so as to resist movement of the footing plate. 
     
     
         26 . The installation of  claim 19 , wherein the flange comprises a face which is substantially planar. 
     
     
         27 . The installation of  claim 26 , wherein the substantially planar face of the flange is contacted by the ground. 
     
     
         28 . The installation of  claim 26 , wherein the substantially planar face is configured so as to (i) confer a resistance to the rotation of the footing plate about an axis perpendicular to the planar web or (ii) confer a resistance to lateral movement of the footing plate.