Building and construction apparatus and method

Abstract

A building and construction apparatus is provided for a foundation post for building and construction using composite materials. A post strengthening material may be cast within the composite material to form the foundation post. The building and construction apparatus may include a foundation post, plate bracket, and anchor. A method for a foundation post for building and construction using composite materials using the building and construction apparatus is also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A building and construction apparatus comprising:
 a foundation post extending from a foundation post first end to a foundation post second end being constructed using a composite material and comprising a post strengthening member substantially enclosed within the composite material;   a plate bracket operatively attached to the foundation post at the foundation post first end comprising:
 plate bracket bottom mounting panels by which the plate bracket is operatively attached to the foundation post, 
 plate bracket top mounting panels by which a framing beam is mountable to the plate bracket, and 
 a plate bracket interface located between and operatively attached to the plate bracket top mounting panels and the plate bracket bottom mounting panels; 
   an anchor mounted to the foundation post at the foundation post second end; and   wherein the foundation post is installed by locating the foundation post second end in a subterranean location with respect to a ground surface, the foundation post first end extending at least partially above the ground surface.   
     
     
         2 . The building and construction apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the post strengthening member extends within the composite material of the foundation post from about the foundation post first end to the foundation post second end. 
     
     
         3 . The building and construction apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the post strengthening member is cast into the composite material to form the foundation post. 
     
     
         4 . The building and construction apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the post strengthening member is a metal. 
     
     
         5 . The building and construction apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the post strengthening member is at least partially steel. 
     
     
         6 . The building and construction apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the composite material comprises at least 80% recycled materials. 
     
     
         7 . The building and construction apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the composite material comprises at least 95% recycled materials. 
     
     
         8 . The building and construction apparatus of  claim 1 :
 wherein the plate bracket top mounting panels are positioned to be substantially parallel;   wherein the plate bracket bottom mounting panels are positioned to be substantially parallel; and   wherein the plate bracket interface is substantially orthogonal to both the plate bracket mounting panels and the plate bracket bottom mounting panels.   
     
     
         9 . The building and construction apparatus of  claim 1 :
 wherein the plate bracket top mounting panels are welded to the plate bracket interface; and   wherein the plate bracket bottom mounting panels are welded to the plate bracket interface.   
     
     
         10 . The building and construction apparatus of  claim 1 :
 wherein the anchor further comprises:
 a first anchor portion removably installed to the foundation post, and 
 a second anchor portion extending from the first anchor portion with an angularly offset orientation with respect to the first anchor portion; and 
   wherein the foundation post with the anchor installed resists movement of the foundation post in the subterranean location.   
     
     
         11 . A building and construction apparatus comprising:
 a foundation post extending from a foundation post first end to a foundation post second end being constructed using a composite material and comprising a post strengthening member cast within the composite material;   an anchor removably mounted to the foundation post at the foundation post second end;   wherein the post strengthening member extends within the composite material of the foundation post from about the foundation post first end to the foundation post second end; and   wherein the foundation post is installed by inserting the foundation post second end into a subterranean location with respect to a ground surface, the foundation post first end at least partially extending above the ground surface.   
     
     
         12 . The building and construction apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a plate bracket operatively attached to the foundation post at the foundation post first end comprising:
 plate bracket bottom mounting panels by which the plate bracket is operatively attached to the foundation post; and   plate bracket top mounting panels by which a framing beam is mountable to the plate brackets.   
     
     
         13 . The building and construction apparatus of  claim 12 :
 wherein the plate bracket top mounting panels are positioned to be substantially parallel; and   wherein the plate bracket bottom mounting panels are positioned to be substantially parallel.   
     
     
         14 . The building and construction apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the composite material comprises at least 80% recycled materials. 
     
     
         15 . The building and construction apparatus of  claim 11 :
 wherein the anchor further comprises:   a first anchor portion to be attached to the foundation post, and   a second anchor portion extending from the first anchor portion having an angularly offset orientation with respect to the first anchor portion; and   wherein the foundation post with the anchor installed resists movement of the foundation post within the subterranean location.   
     
     
         16 . A method of installing a building and construction apparatus comprising:
 a) providing a foundation post extending from a foundation post first end to a foundation post second end and being constructed using a post strengthening member substantially enclosed within a composite material;   b) mounting an anchor to the foundation post at the foundation post second end;   c) locating the foundation post second end of the foundation post in a subterranean location with respect to a ground surface such that anchor is below the ground surface and the foundation post first end extends at least partially above the ground surface;   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 d) attaching a plate bracket to the foundation post at the foundation post first end, the plate bracket comprising:
 plate bracket bottom mounting panels by which the plate bracket is operatively attached to the foundation post, 
 plate bracket top mounting panels by which a framing beam is mountable to the plate bracket, and 
 a plate bracket interface located between and operatively attached to the plate bracket top mounting panels and the plate bracket bottom mounting panels 
   wherein the plate bracket top mounting panels are positioned to be substantially parallel;   wherein the plate bracket bottom mounting panels are positioned to be substantially parallel; and   wherein the plate bracket interface is substantially orthogonal to both the plate bracket mounting panels and the plate bracket bottom mounting panels.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein step (a) further comprises:
 casting the composite material about the post strengthening member from about the foundation post first end to the foundation post second end to form the foundation post.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 :
 wherein step (b) further comprises attaching a first anchor portion of the anchor to the foundation post to resist movement of the foundation post in the subterranean location;   wherein a second anchor portion of the anchor extends from the first anchor portion at an angularly offset orientation with respect to the first anchor portion; and   wherein the anchor being installed to the foundation post resists movement of the foundation post in the subterranean location.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the composite material comprises at least 80% recycled materials.