Structural support and stabilization assemblies and methods for installing same

Abstract

A pier assembly for supporting a structure has a vertically oriented central axis and includes a plurality of horizontally spaced apart elongate members disposed in the ground and arranged about the central axis. Each elongate members directly contacts the ground. Each elongate member has a length-to-width ratio greater than 10.0.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pier assembly for supporting a structure, the pier assembly having a vertically oriented central axis and comprising:
 a plurality of horizontally spaced apart elongate members disposed in the ground and arranged about the central axis of the pier assembly, wherein each elongate member directly contacts the ground; and   wherein each elongate member has a length-to-width ratio greater than 10.0.   
     
     
         2 . The pier assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each elongate member extends through or from a hole disposed beneath the structure into the ground, wherein an upper end of each elongate member is positioned at a bottom of the hole. 
     
     
         3 . The pier assembly of  claim 2 , wherein each elongate member has a width or diameter less than or equal to 1.0 in. 
     
     
         4 . The pier assembly of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the elongate members is oriented at an acute angle relative to the central axis of the pier assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The pier assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of elongate members is oriented parallel to the central axis of the pier assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The pier assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a concrete cylinder disposed on an upper end of each elongate member, wherein a lower surface of the concrete cylinder directly engages the upper ends of the elongate members. 
     
     
         7 . The pier assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the concrete cylinder is coaxially aligned with the central axis of the pier assembly and at least a portion of the concrete cylinder extends below a bottom surface of the hole. 
     
     
         8 . The pier assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover plate disposed on top of the elongate members, wherein the cover plate directly engages an upper end of each elongate member; and
 a support positioned between the cover plate and the structure.   
     
     
         9 . The pier assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each elongate member comprises rebar. 
     
     
         10 . A pier assembly for resisting lateral movement of a structure, the pier assembly comprising:
 a plurality of horizontally spaced elongate members positioned laterally adjacent to the structure;   wherein each elongate member extends downward from the structure into the ground and each elongate member directly contacts the ground;   where an upper end of each elongate member is fixably coupled to an outer periphery of the structure; and   wherein each elongate member has a length-to-width ratio greater than 10.0.   
     
     
         11 . The pier assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the upper end of each elongate member is fixably coupled to the structure with a bracket. 
     
     
         12 . The pier assembly of  claim 11 , wherein each bracket comprises a metal plate fixably attached to the structure and the upper end of the corresponding elongate member, wherein the metal plate is encased in epoxy or concrete. 
     
     
         13 . The pier assembly of  claim 10 , wherein an upper end of each elongate member is disposed in a plane oriented parallel to the outer periphery of the structure. 
     
     
         14 . The pier assembly of  claim 10 , wherein each elongate member is vertically oriented. 
     
     
         15 . A method for installing a pier coupled to a structure, the method comprising:
 (a) bending a first elongate member having a lower end inserted into the ground and an upper end coupled to a driver;   (b) actuating the driver to advance the lower end into and through the ground during (a);   (c) bending a second elongate member having a lower end inserted into the ground and an upper end coupled to the driver after (b); and   (d) actuating the driver to advance the lower end of the second elongate member into and through the ground during (c);   wherein each elongate member has a length-to-width ratio greater than 10.0.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein each elongate member has a width less than or equal to 1.0 in. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first elongate member is oriented at an acute angle relative to the second elongate member after (b) and (d). 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 (e) positioning a cover plate on top of the first elongate member and the second elongate member after (d);   (f) placing a jack on the cover plate after (e);   (g) lifting the structure with the jack after (e); and   (h) installing a support between the cover plate and the structure.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 (e) coupling the first elongate member and the second elongate member to an outer periphery of the structure.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 (e) placing a cylinder into abutting contact with the first elongate member and the second elongate member after (d);   (f) placing a jack between the structure and the cylinder;   (g) pressing the cylinder beneath the ground with the jack after (f); and   (h) installing a support between the cylinder and the structure.