One-piece plastic z-based foundation for guardrails, solar panel arrays and other structures

Abstract

A one-piece plastic z-based foundation suitable for guardrails, ground based solar panel arrays and other structures includes a longitudinally extending main body; a rear flange extending at an angle from at least a longitudinal portion of the main body in a first direction at a rear edge of the main body; a front flange extending at an angle from a longitudinal portion of the main body in a direction opposite the first direction at a front edge of the main body; an integral offset spacing plate coupled to a front edge of the main body above the front flange and extending laterally forward of the front flange; and a mounting flange extending at an angle from at least a longitudinal portion of the offset spacing plate at a front edge of the offset spacing plate, wherein the mounting flange is configured for mounting of a guardrail or other structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A one-piece plastic foundation comprising:
 A main body extending the longitudinal length of the foundation from a top to a bottom of the foundation;   A rear flange extending at an angle from at least a longitudinal portion of the main body in a first direction at a rear edge of the main body;   A front flange extending at an angle from a longitudinal portion of the main body in a direction opposite the first direction at a front edge of the main body;   An integral offset spacing plate coupled to a front edge of the main body above the front flange and extending laterally forward of the front flange; and   A mounting flange extending at an angle from at least a longitudinal portion of the offset spacing plate at a front edge of the offset spacing plate.   
     
     
         2 . The one-piece plastic foundation according to  claim 1  wherein the rear flange and the front flange extend substantially perpendicular to the main body. 
     
     
         3 . The one-piece plastic foundation according to  claim 2  wherein the offset spacing plate is substantially co-planar with the main body. 
     
     
         4 . The one-piece plastic foundation according to  claim 3  wherein the mounting flange extends substantially perpendicular to the offset spacing plate and wherein the mounting flange is configured for mounting of a guardrail. 
     
     
         5 . The one-piece plastic foundation according to  claim 4  wherein the rear flange extends for the entire longitudinal length of the main body. 
     
     
         6 . The one-piece plastic foundation according to  claim 5  wherein the mounting flange extends for the entire longitudinal length of the offset plate. 
     
     
         7 . The one-piece plastic foundation according to  claim 6  wherein the bottom of the main body is beveled. 
     
     
         8 . The one-piece plastic foundation according to  claim 7  wherein the bottom of the main body is beveled in both a lateral direction of the main body and across a thickness of the main body. 
     
     
         9 . The one-piece plastic foundation according to  claim 7  wherein a bottom of the rear flange and the front flange are beveled. 
     
     
         10 . A one-piece plastic z-based foundation comprising:
 A main body extending the longitudinal length of the foundation from a top to a bottom of the foundation;   A rear flange extending from at least a longitudinal portion of the main body in a first direction at a rear edge of the main body;   A front flange extending at an angle from a longitudinal portion of the main body in a direction opposite the first direction at a front edge of the main body, wherein the front flange is substantially parallel to the rear flange;   An integral offset spacing plate coupled to a front edge of the main body above the front flange and extending laterally forward of the front flange; and   A mounting flange extending at an angle from at least a longitudinal portion of the offset spacing plate at a front edge of the offset spacing plate.   
     
     
         11 . A one-piece plastic z-based foundation comprising:
 A main body extending the longitudinal length of the foundation from a top to a bottom of the foundation;   A single rear flange extending at an angle from the main body in a first direction at a rear edge of the main body, wherein the single rear flange does not extend past the main body in the direction opposite the first direction; and A single front flange extending at an angle from the main body in the direction opposite the first direction at a front edge of the main body, wherein the single front flange does not extend past the main body in the first direction.   
     
     
         12 . The one-piece plastic foundation according to  claim 11  wherein the single rear flange and the single front flange extend substantially perpendicular to the main body. 
     
     
         13 . The one-piece plastic foundation according to  claim 12  further including an offset spacing plate substantially co-planar with the main body. 
     
     
         14 . The one-piece plastic foundation according to  claim 13  wherein a mounting flange extends substantially perpendicular to the offset spacing plate and wherein the mounting flange is configured for mounting of a guardrail. 
     
     
         15 . The one-piece plastic foundation according to  claim 14  wherein the single rear flange extends for the entire longitudinal length of the main body. 
     
     
         16 . The one-piece plastic foundation according to  claim 15  wherein the mounting flange extends for the entire longitudinal length of the offset plate. 
     
     
         17 . The one-piece plastic foundation according to  claim 16  wherein the bottom of the main body is beveled. 
     
     
         18 . The one-piece plastic foundation according to  claim 17  wherein the bottom of the main body is beveled in both a lateral direction of the main body and across a thickness of the main body. 
     
     
         19 . The one-piece plastic foundation according to  claim 17  wherein a bottom of the rear flange and the front flange are beveled. 
     
     
         20 . The one-piece plastic foundation according to  claim 11  wherein the bottom of the main body is beveled.