Structural support assemblies and methods for installing same

Abstract

A pier assembly for supporting a structure includes a guide member having a base plate and a plurality of tubular guides extending from the base plate. In addition, the base plate includes a plurality of through holes and each tubular guide includes a through passage aligned with one of the through holes of the base plate. Further, the pier assembly includes a plurality of elongate members. Each elongate member extends through one through hole in the base plate and the through passage of the corresponding tubular guide.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pier assembly for supporting a structure, the pier assembly comprising:
 a guide member including a base plate and a plurality of tubular guides extending from the base plate, wherein the base plate has a central axis and includes a plurality of through holes, and wherein each tubular guide includes a through passage aligned with one of the through holes of the base plate;   a plurality of elongate members, wherein each elongate member extends through one through hole in the base plate and the through passage of the corresponding tubular guide.   
     
     
         2 . The pier assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each elongate member has a length-to-width ratio greater than 10. 
     
     
         3 . The pier assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each elongate member has a length-to-width ratio greater than 100. 
     
     
         4 . The pier assembly of  claim 2 , wherein each elongate member has a width or diameter less than or equal to 1.0 in. 
     
     
         5 . The pier assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the base plate has an upper planar surface and a lower planar surface oriented parallel to the upper planar surface, wherein the central axis of the base plate is oriented perpendicular to the upper planar surface;
 wherein each tubular guide has a central axis oriented parallel to the central axis of the base plate.   
     
     
         6 . The pier assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the base plate has an upper planar surface and a lower planar surface oriented parallel to the upper planar surface, wherein the central axis of the base plate is oriented perpendicular to the upper planar surface;
 wherein one or more of the tubular guides has a central axis oriented at an acute angle relative to the central axis of the base plate in a front view or a side view of the guide member.   
     
     
         7 . The pier assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover plate disposed on top of the base plate and covering the through holes in the base plate. 
     
     
         8 . The pier assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each elongate member comprises rebar. 
     
     
         9 . The pier assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the base plate has a rectangular outer profile in top view. 
     
     
         10 . The pier assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of elongate members are oriented parallel to each other. 
     
     
         11 . The pier assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of elongate members form a bell arrangement that expands radially outward relative to the central axis of the guide member moving downward from the guide member. 
     
     
         12 . A method for installing a pier for supporting a structure, the method comprising:
 (a) seating a guide member against the ground, wherein the guide member includes a base plate, a first tubular guide extending downward from the base plate, and a second tubular guide extending downward from the base plate;   (b) bending a first elongate member extending through the base plate and the first tubular guide after (a), wherein the first elongate member has a lower end inserted into the ground and an upper end coupled to a driver above the ground;   (c) actuating the driver during (b) to (i) advance the first elongate member through the base plate and the tubular guide and (ii) advance the lower end of the first elongate member through the ground;   (d) bending a second elongate member extending through the base plate and the second tubular guide after (c), wherein the second elongate member has a lower end inserted into the ground and an upper end coupled to the driver above the ground; and   (e) actuating the driver during (d) to (i) advance the second elongate member through the base plate and the tubular guide and (ii) advance the lower end of the second elongate member through the ground.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein each elongate member has a length-to-width ratio greater than 10, and wherein each elongate member has a width less than or equal to 1.0 in. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein each elongate member has a length-to-width ratio greater than 30. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first guide is oriented parallel to the second guide. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first tubular guide has a central axis and the second tubular guide has a central axis oriented at an acute angle relative to the central axis of the first tubular guide in front or side view of the guide member. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 (f) seating a cover plate on the base plate after (e);   (g) placing a jack on the cover plate after (f);   (h) lifting the structure with the jack after (g); and   (i) installing a plurality of supports between the cover plate and the structure;   (j) lowering the jack after (i) to transfer a weight of the structure from the jack to the plurality of supports.