Modular footing frame

Abstract

A free floating modular concrete footing system uniformly secures concrete forms without the need to secure vertical rods into the soil. A rigid form of a predetermined length spans atop a desired footing width to capture and secure opposing panels creating the footing form. Panels capable of supporting a concrete or similar matrix, are aligned on edge to create the desired form. The lower edge of a first panel form is in contact with the soil surface while the upper edge resides within a first channel of a modular concrete footing device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A foundation footing frame, comprising:
 a first channel configured to accept a first panel, the first panel having an inner surface, an outer surface, an upper edge surface and a first panel width, wherein the first channel includes an inner flange, an upper member and an outer flange and wherein the outer flange includes a planar surface in contiguous contact with the outer surface of the first panel and wherein the inner flange is displaced apart from the outer flange by the upper member equal to or less than the first panel width and is oriented at an angle deviating away from the planar surface of the outer flange so as to engage the inner surface of the first panel thereby securing the first channel to the first panel;   a second channel configured to accept a second panel, the second footing panel having an inner surface, an outer surface, an upper edge surface and a second panel width, wherein the second channel includes an inner flange, an upper member and an outer flange and wherein the outer flange includes a planar surface in contiguous contact with the outer surface of the second panel and wherein the inner flange is displaced apart from the outer flange by the upper member equal to or less than the second panel width and is oriented at an angle deviating away from the planar surface of the outer flange so as to engage inner surface of the second panel thereby securing the second channel to the second panel; and   a joining member fixedly connected to each of the first channel and the second channel orientating the first channel and the second channel, and thereby the first panel and the second panel, to a predetermined orientation.   
     
     
         2 . The foundation footing frame of  claim 1 , wherein the joining member is fixedly connected to the outer flange of each of the first channel and the second channel and wherein the planar surface of each of the first channel and the second channel are separated by a footing distance and are substantially parallel whereby the first panel and the second panel are thereby substantially parallel and separated by the footing distance. 
     
     
         3 . The foundation footing frame of  claim 2 , wherein the joining member further includes a first member and a second member and wherein the first member is adjustably coupled to the second member separating the first channel from the second channel by the footing distance. 
     
     
         4 . The foundation footing frame of  claim 1 , wherein the outer flange of each the first channel and the second channel includes a plurality of voids by which to secure the first channel and the second channel to the first panel and the second panel, respectively. 
     
     
         5 . The foundation footing frame of  claim 1 , wherein the joining member is fixedly connected to the upper member of each of the first channel and the second channel and wherein the predetermined orientation constrains the first channel and the second channel to be at a right angle to each other. 
     
     
         6 . The foundation footing frame of  claim 1 , wherein the first channel, the second channel and the joining member remain apart from a surface on which the first panel and the second panel reside. 
     
     
         7 . The foundation footing frame of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined orientation is a 90-degree angle. 
     
     
         8 . The foundation footing frame of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined orientation is a 45-degree angle. 
     
     
         9 . The foundation footing frame of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first footing panel and second footing panel include a lower edge surface and a panel height defined as a height distance between the upper edge surface and the lower edge surface, and wherein the outer flange of the first channel and the outer flange of the second channel extend from the upper edge surface of the first footing panel and the second footing panel, respectively toward the lower edge surface of the first footing panel and the second footing panel, respectively by a length greater than 40% of the panel height. 
     
     
         10 . The foundation footing frame of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first footing panel and second footing panel include a lower edge surface and panel height defined as a height distance between the upper edge surface and the lower edge surface, and wherein the outer flange of the first channel and the outer flange of the second channel extend along the upper edge surface of the first footing panel and the second footing panel, respectively by a length greater than 30% of the panel height. 
     
     
         11 . A foundation footing frame, comprising
 a pair of narrowing channels configured to secure within each channel a footing panel whereby each footing panel is constrained to a predetermined orientation for the formation of a foundation footing.   
     
     
         12 . The foundation footing frame of  claim 11 , wherein each footing panel includes an inner surface, an outer surface, an upper edge surface and a footing panel width wherein each of the pair of narrowing channels includes an inner flange, an upper member and an outer flange and wherein the outer flange includes a planar surface in contiguous contact with the outer surface of the footing panel and wherein the inner flange is displaced apart from the outer flange by the upper member equal to or less than the footing panel width and is oriented at an angle deviating away from the planar surface of the outer flange so as to engage the inner surface of the first panel thereby securing the first channel to the footing panel. 
     
     
         13 . The foundation footing frame of  claim 12 , wherein the outer flange of each the first channel and the second channel includes a plurality of voids by which to secure each of the narrowing channels to their respective footing panels, respectively. 
     
     
         14 . The foundation footing frame of  claim 11 , further comprising a joining member fixedly connected to each of the pair of narrowing channels orientating the narrowing channel, and thereby the footing panels to the predetermined orientation. 
     
     
         15 . The foundation footing frame of  claim 14 , wherein the joining member further includes a first member and a second member and wherein the first member is adjustably coupled to the second member separating the first channel from the second channel by a predetermined distance. 
     
     
         16 . The foundation footing frame of  claim 14 , wherein the joining member is fixedly connected to an upper member of each of the narrowing channels and wherein the predetermined orientation constrains the narrowing channels to be at a right angle to each other. 
     
     
         17 . The foundation footing frame of  claim 12 , wherein the narrowing channels and the joining member remain apart from a surface on which the footing panels reside. 
     
     
         18 . The foundation footing frame of  claim 11 , wherein the predetermined orientation is a 90-degree angle. 
     
     
         19 . The foundation footing frame of  claim 11 , wherein the predetermined orientation is a 45-degree angle. 
     
     
         20 . The foundation footing frame of  claim 12 , wherein each footing panel includes a lower edge surface and a panel height defined as a height distance between the upper edge surface and the lower edge surface, and wherein the outer flange of each of the pair of channels extends from the upper edge surface of each footing panel toward the lower edge surface of the footing panel by a length greater than 40% of the panel height. 
     
     
         21 . The foundation footing frame of  claim 12 , wherein each footing panel includes a lower edge surface and a panel height defined as a height distance between the upper edge surface and the lower edge surface, and wherein the outer flange of each of the pair of channels extends along the upper edge surface of the footing panel by a length greater than 30% of the panel height.