Structural column assembly and methods of use

Abstract

A structural column assembly and methods of use are described. The assembly comprises a column bracket adapted to secure a structural column to a structure. The column bracket comprises a vertical member and a horizonal member, the vertical member further defining an L-shaped aperture with a first point located along a horizontal portion of the aperture and a second point along a vertical portion of the aperture. A bolt may be traversed through the aperture and the structural column at the first point, permitting the structural column to be pivoted about the first point from a horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation. The structural column may then be traversed to align the bolt with the second point of the aperture, thereby retaining the structural column into the vertical orientation. The assembly may further comprise a foundation column for preventing uplift of the column bracket and structural column after installation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A column bracket for securing a structural column to a structure, the column bracket comprising:
 at least one vertical member adapted to secure the column bracket to the structural column, the at least one vertical member defining a primary aperture adapted to receive a fastener secured to the structural column, the primary aperture having:
 a horizontal portion defining a first point at which the fastener may be position within the primary aperture and about which the structural column may be pivoted from a horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation, and 
 a vertical portion extending downwardly from the horizontal portion, the vertical portion defining a second point at which the fastener may be positioned within the primary aperture to retain the structural column in the vertical orientation, and 
   at least one horizontal member adapted to secure the column bracket to the structure,   wherein the fastener may be traversed from the first point to the second point to retain the structural column in the vertical orientation and wherein the column bracket may be secured to the structural column and the structure, thereby securing the structural column to the structure.   
     
     
         2 . The column bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one vertical member is joined to the at least one horizontal member. 
     
     
         3 . The column bracket of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one vertical member and the at least one horizontal member are integral. 
     
     
         4 . The column bracket of  claim 2 , where in the at least one vertical member and the at least one horizontal member are joined by welding. 
     
     
         5 . The column bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the column bracket comprises two vertical members oriented parallel to each other and positioned in a spaced-apart manner to receive the structural column therebetween. 
     
     
         6 . The column bracket of  claim 5 , wherein the two vertical members are joined to each other by the at least one horizontal member extending between the two vertical members. 
     
     
         7 . The column bracket of  claim 6 , wherein the two vertical members are joined to each other by two horizontal members extending between the two vertical members, the two horizontal members being stacked on top of each other and secured to each other. 
     
     
         8 . The column bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one vertical member and the at least one horizontal member are aligned with each other by an alignment means comprising a tab-and-slot system. 
     
     
         9 . The column bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one vertical member and the at least one horizontal member are aligned with each other by an alignment means comprising at least one lateral stabilizer extending between the at least one vertical member and the at least one horizontal member. 
     
     
         10 . The column bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one vertical member defines a plurality of secondary apertures adapted to receive fasteners for securing the at least one vertical member to the structural column in the vertical orientation. 
     
     
         11 . The column bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one horizontal member defines a plurality of apertures adapted to receive fasteners for securing the at least one horizontal member to the structure. 
     
     
         12 . The column bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one horizontal member comprises at least one anchor extending downwardly from the at least one horizontal member, the at least one anchor adapted to secure the column bracket to the structure. 
     
     
         13 . A structural column assembly for securing a structural column to a structure and preventing movement of the structure relative a substrate, the structural column assembly comprising:
 at least one column bracket having:
 at least one vertical member adapted to secure the column bracket to the structural column, the at least one vertical member defining a primary aperture adapted to receive a fastener secured to the structural column, the primary aperture having:
 a horizontal portion defining a first point at which the fastener may be position within the primary aperture and about which the structural column may be pivoted from a horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation, and 
 a vertical portion extending downwardly from the horizontal portion, the vertical portion defining a second point at which the fastener may be positioned within the primary aperture to retain the structural column in the vertical orientation, and 
 
 at least one horizontal member joined to the at least one vertical member, the at least one horizontal member adapted to secure the column bracket to the structure, and 
   at least one foundation column having a top portion joined to the at least one column bracket and a bottom portion adapted to be embedded within the substrate,   wherein the fastener may be translated from the first point to the second point to retain the structural column in the vertical orientation, wherein the column bracket may be secured to the structural column and the structure, thereby securing the structural column to the structure, and wherein the at least one foundation column may be embedded within the substrate to prevent movement of the structure relative a substrate.   
     
     
         14 . The structural column assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the bottom portion of the foundation column has at least one flange extending outwardly from the bottom portion for engaging the substrate and adapted to preventing upwards or downwards movement of the foundation column relative the substrate. 
     
     
         15 . The structural column assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the flange has a greater cross-section compared to a main body of the foundation column. 
     
     
         16 . The structural column assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the flange has a lesser or equal cross-section compared to a main body of the foundation column and the bottom portion of the main body is tapered inwardly towards the flange. 
     
     
         17 . The structural column assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the foundation column further comprises a bracket forming a plurality of apertures adapted to receive fasteners for securing the foundation column to the structure. 
     
     
         18 . The structural column assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the foundation column further comprises at least one side fin extending radially outwardly from the foundation column. 
     
     
         19 . A method of using a structural column bracket assembly to secure a structural column to a structure, the method comprising:
 providing a structural column,   providing a fastener adapted to be secured to the structural column,   providing at least one column bracket having:
 at least one vertical member adapted to secure the column bracket to the structural column, the at least one vertical member defining a primary aperture adapted to receive the fastener, the primary aperture having:
 a horizontal portion defining a first point at which the fastener may be position within the primary aperture and about which the structural column may be pivoted from a horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation, and 
 a vertical portion extending downwardly from the horizontal portion, the vertical portion defining a second point at which the fastener may be positioned within the primary aperture to retain the structural column in the vertical orientation, and 
 
 at least one horizontal member joined to the at least one vertical member, the at least one horizontal member adapted to secure the column bracket to the structure, 
   positioning the structural column relative the structural column bracket such that the first point of the primary aperture is aligned with the structural column,   traversing the fastener through the first point of the primary aperture and securing the fastener to the structural column,   pivoting the structural column about the first point into a vertical orientation,   translating the fastener and the structural column from the first point of the aperture to the second point of the aperture of the structural column bracket and allowing the structural column to be retained in the vertical orientation, and   securing the vertical portion of the column bracket to the structural column and securing the horizontal portion of the column bracket to the structure,   wherein the structural column is secured to the structure.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the method further comprises:
 providing at least one foundation column for preventing movement of the structure relative a substrate, the at least one foundation column having a top portion joined to the at least one column bracket and a bottom portion adapted to be embedded within the substrate,   joining the column bracket to the top portion, and   embedding the bottom portion within the substrate.