Foundation Floor System and Associated Transport Apparatus
A foundation floor system and associated transport apparatus for use in combination with a transport vehicle and an on-site foundation includes a frame, the frame including opposing I-beams each having an upper flange; a plurality of bar joists each extending perpendicularly between the opposing I-beams; each of the plurality of bar joists being in parallel alignment relative to each other and having first and second ends secured to corresponding ones of the opposing I-beams; first and second tube beams each being located interiorly adjacent to a respective one of the opposing I-beams beneath the upper flange, each of the first and second tube beams surrounding an end channel; and wherein the frame forms a surface that is sized and configured for receipt of a building structure; and a transport apparatus that is configured for transporting the frame thereon, and the transport apparatus including a tongue adapter and an axle adapter.
Latest Shipps Group, LLC Patents:
This application claims priority to and incorporates entirely by reference U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/441,521 filed on Jan. 2, 2017.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the InventionThis invention relates to a system for coupling with a vehicle and including a transport apparatus and a foundation floor system for minimizing the height of a structure's frame during transport and, as a result, increasing the design height of the finalized structure.
Background of the Related ArtThe U.S. Department of Transportation mandates that the maximum allowable height for a vehicle, trailer, or other transported structure be 13′ 6″ (4.1148 meters) above the road surface. This height limitation is a primary reason that a typical mobile home or park model R.V. has a low-pitched roof in relation to structures that are entirely built on-site.
A typical construction of mobile homes and park model RVs generally utilizes long structural steel beams, across which the floor joists are installed perpendicular to these beams. Finally, the floor decking is installed and the floor system is complete. This system can be anywhere from 16″ to 22″ in thickness. Then, in order to be transported, a set of axles is installed under the center of the frame, which raises the floor to a height of 36″ to 42″ above the road surface for transport. The resulting “Design Height” for the structure above the floor is thereby limited to 10′ to 10′-6″, causing the structure to have a relatively “squatty” appearance, which limits design options.
Traditional mobile home construction is very stringent on the weight of materials used in their construction. This translates downward to the required strength of the frame to support these loads. The goal of typical mobile home construction is ultimately to be at a reduced cost and weight as compared to other construction methods. Keeping weight to a minimum allows for the use of less expensive steel for the foundation frame. The result of this type of construction is that the frame will be somewhat “flexible”. Moreover, tiny homes are traditionally built on an “equipment hauler” variety of trailer frame. These trailers are used to move heavy equipment like tractors, cars or other motor vehicles, and are individually rated for their maximum load, as mandated by several factors including the capacity of the steel in the frame, as well as the capacity and quantity of the axles under the trailer.
Lastly, traditional mobile frames are transported on a series of axles fastened to the underside of their frame. This adds height to the system, reducing the design height for the finalized home structure. Similarly, the tongue hitch of a mobile home is bolted to the underside of the frame, raising the front end of the unit off of the ground.
In view of the problems associated with presently available frame and associated transport systems, there is a need for a system for minimizing the height of a structure's frame, wherein the frame remains close to the ground or road surface during transport, and increasing the design height of the finalized structure.
Attempts have been made to overcome comparable problems, but such attempts, while useful for their intended purposes, have not provided an entirely suitable solution. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,681,535 to Batchelor discloses a mobile home transport dolly for connection with a lower support frame of a mobile home transported by the transport dolly, wherein the transport dolly includes an upper frame, a plurality of spaced apart load bearing transport wheels attached by a suspension system affixed to a lower aft end of the upper frame, at least one vertical spacing frame member affixed beneath a forward end of the upper frame, and a plurality of spaced apart coupling extensions affixed to the at least one vertical spacing frame member and extending forwardly therefrom, and attachment means securing the coupling extensions to an aft end of the mobile home lower support frame.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with one form of the present invention, there is provided a foundation floor system and associated transport apparatus for use in combination with a transport vehicle and an on-site foundation, the foundation floor system including a frame, the frame including opposing I-beams having a height of approximately twelve (12) inches and each of the opposing I-beams having an upper flange and a lower flange; a plurality of bar joists each extending perpendicularly between the opposing I-beams and having a plurality of web members extending therebetween; each of the plurality of bar joists being in parallel alignment relative to each other and having first and second ends secured to corresponding ones of the opposing I-beams; opposing header beams each extending between corresponding ends of the opposing I-beams; first and second tube beams each being located interiorly adjacent to a respective one of the opposing I-beams beneath the upper flange, each of the first and second tube beams surrounding an end channel; and wherein the frame forms a surface that is sized and configured for receipt of a building structure; first and second outriggers each being selectively securable to a respective one of the opposing I-beams for increasing the width of the surface; a saddle that is structured and disposed for connecting the frame to the on-site foundation, wherein the saddle includes a plurality of connecting members extending downwards from a base, and the base including a clamp for securing the lower flange of a respective one of the opposing I-beams; and a transport apparatus that is configured for transporting the frame thereon, the transport apparatus including a plurality of partitioned beams each being sized and configured for snuggly engaging the end channel of the first and second tube beams for supporting the frame during transport to the on-site foundation.
In accordance with another form of the present invention, there is provided a foundation floor system and associated transport apparatus for use in combination with a transport vehicle and an on-site foundation, the foundation floor system including a frame, the frame including opposing I-beams each having an upper flange; a plurality of bar joists each extending perpendicularly between the opposing I-beams; each of the plurality of bar joists being in parallel alignment relative to each other and having first and second ends secured to corresponding ones of the opposing I-beams; first and second tube beams each being located interiorly adjacent to a respective one of the opposing I-beams beneath the upper flange, each of the first and second tube beams surrounding an end channel; and wherein the frame forms a surface that is sized and configured for receipt of a building structure; a saddle that is structured and disposed for connecting the frame to the on-site foundation, wherein the saddle includes a plurality of connecting members extending downwards from a base, and the base including a clamp for securing the lower flange of a respective one of the opposing I-beams; and a transport apparatus that is configured for transporting the frame thereon, the transport apparatus including a plurality of partitioned beams each being sized and configured for snuggly engaging the end channel of the first and second tube beams for supporting the frame during transport.
In accordance with another form of the present invention, there is provided a foundation floor system and associated transport apparatus for use in combination with a transport vehicle and an on-site foundation, the foundation floor system including a frame, the frame including opposing I-beams each having an upper flange; a plurality of bar joists each extending perpendicularly between the opposing I-beams; each of the plurality of bar joists being in parallel alignment relative to each other and having first and second ends secured to corresponding ones of the opposing I-beams; first and second tube beams each being located interiorly adjacent to a respective one of the opposing I-beams beneath the upper flange, each of the first and second tube beams surrounding an end channel; and wherein the frame forms a surface that is sized and configured for receipt of a building structure.
For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTSReferring to the several views of the drawings, the foundation frame system and transport apparatus of the present invention for use in combination with a vehicle 100 is shown and are generally indicated as 10 and 40, respectively.
Referring initially to
Still referring to
Referring now to
Referring now to
The tongue adapter 41 may be designed to connect to a typical semi-truck's fifth wheel plate. The fifth wheel connection is considerably stronger than a typical “bumper pull” connection generally used by a typical mobile or modular home frame moving truck. Moreover, the fifth wheel connection is forward of the rear axles which greatly improves the turning radius and maneuverability of the frame. The axle adapter's axle is positioned so as to be behind the frame 11 as opposed to under the frame, which is generally the case. This configuration prevents the frame 11 from being raised above an axle and tires as would be the traditional position.
While the present invention has been shown and described in accordance with several preferred and practical embodiments, it is recognized that departures from the instant disclosure are contemplated within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A foundation floor system and associated transport apparatus for use in combination with a building structure, a transport vehicle and an on-site foundation, said foundation floor system comprising:
- a frame comprising:
- opposing I-beams having a height of approximately twelve (12) inches and each of said opposing I-beams having an upper flange and a lower flange;
- a plurality of bar joists each extending perpendicularly between said opposing I-beams and having a plurality of web members extending therebetween;
- each of said plurality of bar joists being in parallel alignment relative to each other and having first and second ends secured to corresponding ones of said opposing I-beams;
- opposing header beams each extending between corresponding ends of said opposing I-beams;
- first and second tube beams each being located interiorly adjacent to a respective one of said opposing I-beams beneath said upper flange, and each of said first and second tube beams surrounding an end channel; and
- wherein said frame forms a surface that is sized and configured for receipt of the building structure;
- first and second outriggers each being selectively securable to a respective one of said opposing I-beams for increasing the width of the surface;
- a saddle that is structured and disposed for connecting said frame to the on-site foundation, wherein said saddle includes a plurality of connecting members extending from a base, and the base including a clamp for securing the lower flange of a respective one of said opposing I-beams; and
- a transport apparatus that is configured for transporting said frame thereon, and said transport apparatus including a tongue adapter and an axle adapter each including fork members being sized and configured for snuggly engaging opposing ends of the end channel of said first and second tube beams for supporting said frame during transport to the on-site foundation.
2. The foundation floor system and associated transport apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of connecting members comprises a plurality of prongs.
3. A foundation floor system and associated transport apparatus for use in combination with a building structure, a transport vehicle and an on-site foundation, said foundation floor system comprising:
- a frame comprising:
- opposing I-beams having an upper flange and a lower flange;
- a plurality of bar joists each extending perpendicularly between said opposing I-beams and having a plurality of web members extending therebetween;
- each of said plurality of bar joists being in parallel alignment relative to each other and having first and second ends secured to corresponding ones of said opposing I-beams;
- opposing header beams each extending between corresponding ends of said opposing I-beams;
- first and second tube beams each being located interiorly adjacent to a respective one of said opposing I-beams beneath said upper flange, and each of said first and second tube beams surrounding an end channel; and
- wherein said frame forms a surface that is sized and configured for receipt of the building structure;
- a saddle that is structured and disposed for connecting said frame to the on-site foundation, wherein said saddle includes a plurality of connecting members extending from a base, and the base including a clamp for securing the lower flange of a respective one of said opposing I-beams; and
- a transport apparatus that is configured for transporting said frame thereon, and said transport apparatus including a tongue adapter and an axle adapter each including fork members being sized and configured for snuggly engaging opposing ends of the end channel of said first and second tube beams for supporting said frame during transport to the on-site foundation.
4. The foundation floor system and associated transport apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein said plurality of connecting members comprises a plurality of prongs.
5. The foundation floor system and associated transport apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein each of said opposing I-beams have a height of approximately twelve inches.
6. The foundation floor system and associated transport apparatus as recited in claim 3 further comprising first and second outriggers each being selectively securable to a respective one of said opposing I-beams for increasing the width of the surface.
7. A foundation floor system and associated transport apparatus for use in combination with a building structure, a transport vehicle and an on-site foundation, said foundation floor system comprising:
- a frame comprising: opposing I-beams having an upper flange and a lower flange; a plurality of bar joists each extending perpendicularly between said opposing I-beams and having a plurality of web members extending therebetween; each of said plurality of bar joists having first and second ends secured to corresponding ones of said opposing I-beams; opposing header beams each extending between corresponding ends of said opposing I-beams; first and second tube beams each being located interiorly adjacent to a respective one of said opposing I-beams beneath said upper flange, and each of said first and second tube beams surrounding an end channel; and wherein said frame forms a surface that is sized and configured for receipt of the building structure; and
- a transport apparatus that is configured for transporting said frame thereon, and said transport apparatus including a tongue adapter and an axle adapter each including fork members being sized and configured for snuggly engaging opposing ends of the end channel of said first and second tube beams for supporting said frame during transport to the on-site foundation.
8. The foundation floor system and associated transport apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein each of said opposing I-beams have a height of approximately twelve inches.
9. The foundation floor system and associated transport apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein each of said plurality of bar joists being in parallel alignment relative to each other.
10. The foundation floor system and associated transport apparatus as recited in claim 7 further comprising a saddle that is structured and disposed for connecting said frame to the on-site foundation, wherein said saddle includes a plurality of connecting members extending from a base, and the base including a clamp for securing the lower flange of a respective one of said opposing I-beams.
11. The foundation floor system and associated transport apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said plurality of connecting members comprises a plurality of prongs.
12. The foundation floor system and associated transport apparatus as recited in claim 7 further comprising first and second outriggers each being selectively securable to a respective one of said opposing I-beams for increasing the width of the surface.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 2, 2018
Publication Date: Jul 5, 2018
Applicant: Shipps Group, LLC (Gulf Shores, AL)
Inventor: Peter Erickson Shipps (Gulf Shore, AL)
Application Number: 15/860,290