MODULAR FOOTING FRAME

Abstract

A free floating modular concrete footing system uniformly secures concrete forms without the need to secure vertical rods into the soil. A rigid form of a predetermined length spans atop a desired footing width to capture and secure opposing panels creating the footing form. Panels capable of supporting a concrete or similar matrix, are aligned on edge to create the desired form. The lower edge of a first panel form is in contact with the soil surface while the upper edge resides within a first channel of a modular concrete footing device.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

The present application relates to and claims the benefit of priority to United States Provisional Patent Application No. 62/845,142 filed 8 May 2019 which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

Embodiments of the present invention relate, in general, to concrete footings for buildings and more particularly to a modular system for framing concrete footings.

Relevant Background

Footings are an important part of foundation construction. They are typically made of concrete with rebar or fiber reinforcement that has been poured into an excavated trench. Footings support the foundation of a structure and prevent the foundation from settling as they are subject to various loads. Footings are especially important in areas with troublesome soil.

Concrete footings exist to transfer the structural loads from the building (snow load, live load, dead load, wind load, earthquake load, etc.) to the Earth. Obviously, the foundations on a building are critical from a structural standpoint. Once the ground has been properly prepared and compacted, a frame or form is fashioned atop the surface of the excavated site in which reinforcement-bars are placed. The frame is typically comprised of wood or steel planks/panels that are fashioned into channels of various widths. The forms are typically held in place by long stakes against which the forms rest.

Concrete, or a similar matrix, is poured into the form with the weight of the matrix exerting a lateral force against the vertical rods. The forms and rods are carefully measured to adhere to local zoning requirements and subsequent inspections. For example, if a running footing must be no less than 16 inches wide, the forms must be carefully measured along the entire length to ensure compliance.

When soil is pliable, the placement of the forms and supporting rods can be a time-consuming process. Moreover, in ground that contains significant amount of rocks or similar obstructions, it is difficult to place the forms in the correct position to provide adequate support from the weight of the matrix. A system is needed by which forms can quickly be secured without the need to affix the form to the ground using a rod or similar vertical support. These and other deficiencies of the prior art are addressed by one or more embodiments of the present invention.

Additional advantages and novel features of this invention shall be set forth in part in the description that follows. The advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities, combinations, compositions, and methods particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A foundation footing framework engages a pair of footing panels constraining each to a predetermined orientation. Each frame includes a first channel and a second channel wherein the first channel is configured to accept a first panel and the second channel is configured to accept a second panel. Each panel includes an inner surface, an outer surface, an upper edge surface, and a panel width while each channel includes an inner flange, an upper member, and an outer flange. The outer flange of each channel is a planar surface that is in contiguous (adjacent) contact with the outer surface of a respective panel. The inner flange is displaced apart from the outer flange by the upper member of the channel which is equal to or less than the panel width. The inner flange is further oriented at an angle deviating away from the planar surface of the outer flange so as to engage the inner surface of the first panel, thereby securing the channel to the panel.

The frame also includes a joining member fixedly connected to each channel orientating the two channels, and thereby the associated two panels, to a predetermined orientation.

Other features of the present invention include, in one embodiment, that the joining member is fixedly connected to the outer flange of each channel and the planar surface of each channel are separated by a distance equal to the width of the footing. The channels and associated panels are substantially parallel and separated by the footing distance.

In another embodiment, the joining member further includes a first member and a second member, wherein the first member is adjustably coupled to the second member separating the first channel from the second channel by the footing distance and enabling the frame to accommodate a variety of footing widths. In yet another embodiment the outer flange of each channel includes a plurality of voids (holes) by which to secure channel and frame to its respective panel.

The joining member, in yet another embodiment, is fixedly connected to the upper member of each of the first channel and the second channel so that the predetermined orientation constrains the channels (and thereby panels) to be at a right angle to each other. In one instance the first channel, the second channel and the joining member remain apart from a surface on which the first panel and the second panel reside so that the panels can be free running through the frame. While in one embodiment the channels are aligned to a predetermined orientation of 90-degrees, in another embodiment the predetermined orientation is a 45-degree angle.

Another aspect of the present invention is that the outer flange of each channel extends from the upper edge surface of the panel toward the lower edge surface of the panel covering more than 40% of the panel's outside surface as measured by the panel's height. Likewise, the channel, and thus, the outer flange of each panel extends along the upper edge surface of the panel by a distance greater than 30% of the panel height.

The features and advantages described in this disclosure and in the following detailed description are not all-inclusive. Many additional features and advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art in view of the drawings, specification, and claims hereof. Moreover, it should be noted that the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes and may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter; reference to the claims is necessary to determine such inventive subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The aforementioned and other features and objects of the present invention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent, and the invention itself will be best understood, by reference to the following description of one or more embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary footing framework utilizing one or more embodiments of the modular footing frame of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a modular footing frame having a 90-degree predetermined orientation as would be configured for an outside corner;

FIGS. 3A-B are side views of two embodiments of the channel formed by the outer flange, inner flange and upper member of the modular frame of the present invention;

FIG. 3C is a perspective view of the outer flange, inner flange and upper member of the channel of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a modular footing frame having a 90-degree predetermined orientation as would be configured for an inside corner;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a modular footing frame configured for a running footing;

FIG. 6 is a front view of one embodiment of a modular footing frame having a parallel predetermine orientation configured to span a footing; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a modular footing frame having a parallel predetermine orientation configured to adjust to a plurality of footing widths.

The Figures depict embodiments of the present invention for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following discussion that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the invention described herein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A free floating modular concrete footing system uniformly secures concrete forms without the need to drive vertical rods into the soil. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a rigid form of a predetermined orientation spans atop a desired footing to capture and secure opposing panels creating the footing form. In one version of the present invention, panels capable of supporting a concrete, or similar, matrix, are aligned on edge to create the desired footing. The lower edge of a first panel is in contact with the soil surface and the upper edge resides within a first channel of a modular concrete footing frame.

The modular concrete footing frame spans the width of the footing wherein a second channel accepts the upper edge of a second panel form, opposite the first panel form. A spanning structure or joining member of the modular concrete footing system is rigidly attached to each channel at a predetermined length (width of the footing in this embodiment). Using a plurality of modular concrete footing devices, a footing framework can be established quickly and efficiently without the need to secure the form with vertical rods to the underlying soil.

Embodiments of the present invention are hereafter described in detail with reference to the accompanying Figures. Although the invention has been described and illustrated with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the combination and arrangement of parts can be resorted to by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplary embodiments of the present invention as defined by the claims and their equivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Also, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness.

The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the invention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention are provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

By the term “substantially” it is meant that the recited characteristic, parameter, or value need not be achieved exactly, but that deviations or variations, including for example, tolerances, measurement error, measurement accuracy limitations and other factors known to those of skill in the art, may occur in amounts that do not preclude the effect the characteristic was intended to provide.

By the term “footing” it is mean the element of a structure which connects the structure to the ground, and transfers loads from the structure to the ground. Foundations are generally characterized as either shallow or deep. Foundation engineering is the application of soil mechanics and rock mechanics (Geotechnical engineering) in the design of foundation elements of structures.

Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. In the figures, the sizes of certain lines, layers, components, elements or features may be exaggerated for clarity.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a component surface” includes reference to one or more of such surfaces.

As used herein any reference to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular element, feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary, “or” refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or. For example, a condition A or B is satisfied by any one of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the specification and relevant art and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. Well-known functions or constructions may not be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity.

It will be also understood that when an element is referred to as being “on,” “attached” to, “connected” to, “coupled” with, “contacting”, “mounted” etc., another element, it can be directly on, attached to, connected to, coupled with or contacting the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being, for example, “directly on,” “directly attached” to, “directly connected” to, “directly coupled” with or “directly contacting” another element, there are no intervening elements present. It will also be appreciated by those of skill in the art that references to a structure or feature that is disposed “adjacent” another feature may have portions that overlap or underlie the adjacent feature.

Spatially relative terms, such as “under,” “below,” “lower,” “over,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of a device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if a device in the figures is inverted, elements described as “under” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “over” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “under” can encompass both an orientation of “over” and “under”. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. Similarly, the terms “upwardly,” “downwardly,” “vertical,” “horizontal” and the like are used herein for the purpose of explanation only unless specifically indicated otherwise.

A modular, free-standing, foundation footing frame captures and secures footing panels to a predetermined orientation and spacing. A pair of constricting channels each engage an upper edge of a respective footing panel. The channels, in one embodiment of the present invention are affixed to a joining member that constrains each channel, and thereby the footing panel, to a predetermined orientation and/or width.

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary framework of footing panels and modular, free-standing, footing frames according to one embodiment of the present invention. A footing framework 100 is created by placing a plurality of footing panels 102 on edge in a certain configuration based on the design of a particular structure. Each panel includes an inner surface 101, and outer surface 105, an upper edge surface 104 and a panel width 108. In the example shown in FIG. 1 a L-shaped footing is fashioned on top of a platform and adjacent to a wall 103. Four footing panels 102 are used to create the framework held in position by four modular, free-standing, footing frames of the present invention. The L-shape framework is comprised of an inner 90-degree corner 110, an outer 90-degree corner 120 and two span footing frames 130. Each modular, free-standing, footing frames includes a pair of constricting or narrowing channels that each engage the upper edge of the footing panel. The lower edge of the footing panel, as shown, resides on the ground or underlying substructure. Note that none of the modular free-standing, footing frames engages the underlying grounds/substructure. The present invention secures the footing panels in a predetermined orientation without having to bind the frame to the ground.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an outside corner 120 modular footing frame, according to one embodiment of the present invention. The corner device includes a pair of planar surfaces or outer flanges 210 oriented at a 90-degree angle by a joining member 260. The two planar surfaces are displaced away 230 from two lines defining the intersection 220 of the planar surfaces of the footing panel what would form interface between the concrete matrix and the panel by the width of a footing panel. In the embodiment shown each panel surface includes a plurality of voids (holes) 250 though which fastening devices such as nails and the like, can be inserted to assure that the frame maintains its engagement with the footing panel. For example, if the footing panels are plywood or a similar wood-like material, nails or similar fasteners can traverse the panel through the holes in the planar surface to rigidly attach the frame to the form panels.

With additional reference to FIGS. 3A-3C, each planar surface of the frame shown in FIG. 2 represents an outer flange 210 of a channel. The channel is comprised of the outer flange, an inner flange 310 and an upper or top member 330. The upper member or top member of the channel equates to or is less than the edge width of the footing panels. In one embodiment, the inner flange 310 diverts away from a line 340 parallel to the outer flange 210 by a predetermined number of degrees 345. In one embodiment the inner flange is 5 degrees beyond parallel while in other embodiments the inner flange diverts by 10 or more degrees from line parallel with the outer flange. One of reasonable skill in the relevant art will appreciate that other angles of diversion are contemplated and are within the scope of the present invention. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 23A the inner flange 310 is planar with a linear divergence from a parallel origination with the outer flange. In another embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 3B, the inner flange 310 diverts from width of the footing panel 102 at the juncture between the upper member 330 and the inner flange 310 in a curvilinear 360 fashion with an initial divergence 370 of 1 degree increasing to 10 or more degrees of divergence 380 as distance away from the juncture increases.

The divergent nature of the inner flange 310 creates a constricting channel. Each channel narrows from its opening 385 to the top of the channel 395 so as to securely attach to the upper edge of the footing panel in a predetermined orientation. The length of the channel 390 and exaggerated depth 350 of the outer flange constrains the footing panel to accept the predetermined orientation of the frame. In the example shown in FIG. 2 (with additional reference to FIG. 1) the frame constrains two footing panels to form an outside 90-degree angle. The constricting design of the channel further enables the frame to be easily released upon solidification of the footing matrix. A parallel channel, (no divergence of the inner flange) is unforgiving to the inevitable swelling of the footing panels upon introduction of the footing matrix. The narrowing/constricting design of the present invention secures the footing panels during pouring of the matrix and facilitates removal of the frames once the matrix has solidified.

The upper members 330 of each channel in the footing frame of the present invention are further connected, in one embodiment, by an orthogonal planar component or cross member (also referred to herein as the joining member) 260. In some of the embodiments shown in the attached figures, the connecting orthogonal panel is a triangular flat plate that is affixed to each exterior planar surface of the upper member by way of a weld. As one of reasonable skill in the relevant art will appreciate other mechanisms can be used to secure and reinforce the channels to a predetermined orientation.

The outer flange 210 of the free-floating modular footing frame of the present invention is substantially larger than the inner flange 310. The inner flange 310 is designed to engage the width of the footing panel 102 within the channel but not to interfere or interact with the footing matrix. The outer flange 210 supports and constrains the footing panel 102 to a prescribed, predetermined orientation. Footing panels are typically long and rectangular in shape. The length of a footing panel may vary but the footing panel height, as defined by the distance between the upper edge surface 104 and the lower edge surface 112, is typically 12, 18, 24 or 36 inches. The outer flange 210 of the free-floating modular footing frame of the present invention extends down from the upper edge surface 104 of the panel toward the lower surface edge 112 a distance sufficient to prevent the footing panel 102 from bowing outward due to the weight of the matrix. In one embodiment of the present invention the outer flange 210 of each channel extends 350 down 40% or more of the panel height 111. In other embodiments of the present invention the flange extends down 50% or more of the panel height 111. Similarly, the channel extends long the upper edge surface 104 for a distance as it engages the inner and outer surface of the footing panel. In one embodiment of the present invention the outer flange 210 of each channel extends along 390 the upper edge surface 104 of a footing panel 102 by greater than 30% of the panel height 111. For example, if a panel height is 24 inches the channel length would be, in one embodiment, approximately 7 inches long and would extend down from the upper edge surface 9.6 inches.

In another embodiment of the present invention exterior planar surface of the outer flange further includes a cylinder 118 affixed vertically along the exterior of the planar surface through which a vertical rod can be passed. The vertical rod can be used to further secure the corner modular concrete footing device to the surrounding environment.

As with the free-floating modular footing frame for an exterior corner 120 shown in FIG. 2, an interior corner 110 free-floating modular footing frame shown in FIG. 4 is similarly fashioned with each channel configured to accept the edge of footing panels oriented towards the exterior of the corner. The open nature of the channels enables the footing panel to extend beyond the prescribed length of the footing framework with the corresponding panel abutting to the panel within the modular footing frame and not constrained by the joining member 260. The interior corner 110 also includes two constricting or narrowing channels formed with an outer flange 210, an upper member 330 and an inner flange 310. In this instance, edges of the outer flange join at a vertical juncture 410 mimicking the meeting of the footing panels. The juncture adds rigidity to the frame and in some embodiments eliminates the need for a joining member 260. In other embodiments and as shown in FIG. 4 an orthogonal planar component or joining member is affixed to the upper member of each channel. The plate adds additional strength to maintain the predetermined orientation, in this case a 90-degree angle.

In other embodiments the predetermined orientation of the channels can vary based on the desired footing framework. For example, the predetermined orientation embodied by the frame can be an inside or outside 45-degree or 30-degree angle. One of reasonable skill in the relevant art will appreciate that the free-floating modular footing frame can accommodate a variety of angles.

One example of such a configuration is a running modular footing frame 510 that aligns two adjacent footing panels in the same manner as the corner devices forming a running footing. In this instance the predetermined orientation is 180 degrees. A flat running planar frame 510 of the present invention as can be seen in FIG. 5 aligns or forms the two channels into a single continuous channel. By doing so the continuous channel accepts edges of two adjacent footing panels. Using several running modular concrete footing devices, a running footing framework can be framed using a plurality of footing panels and running modular frames.

In a running footing, as described above, framed by two panels and joined by the running module footing frame of the present invention, the weight of the matrix (concrete) within the footing will exert an expanding force directed outward on the panel. The majority of the expansive force is experienced at the juncture of the ground the footing panel and the current state of the art is to place steel rods vertically into the ground on the outside of the panels to provide them support against the outward force until the concrete solidifies. The interface of the footing panel with the ground also provides resistance to the lateral force and indeed panels do not generally traverse laterally at the juncture of the ground and panel but lean or bow outward from the ground upward. The present invention addresses this adverse effect by spanning the footing framework with a free-floating modular footing frame in which the predetermined orientation of the two channels are parallel to match the two footing panels yet set at a predetermined span distance so as to match the width of the footing framework.

According to one embodiment of the present invention a modular free-floating footing frame, shown in FIG. 6, spans the width of the footing. A first channel 610 receives the upper edge of a first footing panel while a second channel 620 accepts the upper edge of a second footing panel, opposite the first footing panel. A joining member 260 is rigidly attached to the first channel 610 and the second channel 620 at a predetermined length. Using a plurality of modular free-floating footing frames, a running footing form can be established quickly and efficiently without the need to secure the form with vertical rods nor with the fear that the upper portion of the footing panel with expand laterally.

The modular free-floating footing frame described above for a spanning footing can also, in another embodiment of the present invention, be adjustable as illustrated in FIG. 7. While most footings are a standard width, there are occasions in which a custom width is required. The present invention includes an embodiment in which the spanning structure or joining member 260 is rigidly adjustable to a plurality of predetermined footing widths. For example, the joining member may be quickly adjustable to 16, 24, 30 and 36 inches (or other combinations as would be applicable to local building codes). In one embodiment the joining member is comprised of a first member 710 and second member 720. The first member 710 is rigidly affixed to the first channel 610 (outer flange) and oriented above and at a 90-degree angle from the first channel and directed toward the inner flange. A second member 720 is rigidly affixed to the second channel 620 (outer flange) and oriented above and at a 90-degree angle from the second channel 620 and directed toward its inner flange. The first member 710 and the second member 720 are configured to overlap and be fixedly secured to one another through a plurality of traverse pins 730, bolts or similar mechanisms. A friction device or clamping tool can also be incorporated. By doing so the joining member connects the first channel to the second channel as it spans the footing framework, holding the top edges of the footing panels at a predetermined orientation and distance.

The modular footing frames, combined with footing panels of an accommodating width, form a system by which a footing framework can be quickly formed. Moreover, upon the concrete solidifying, the forms can be quickly removed and reused. The predetermined widths and angles of the modular free-floating footing frames aid in providing footings that are code compliant without the need to carefully measure the footings after the forms have been set. Similarly, the angles are pre-established enabling workers to use the devices to quickly lay out forms and then validate their position rather than creating a footing structure anew, measuring the angle and then re-crafting the form to correct deviations for each engagement.

These and other implementation methodologies for forming a foundation using the modular footing frames of the present invention can be successfully accomplished by artisans of reasonable skill in the relevant art. These implementation methodologies and the specifics of their application within the context of the present invention will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art in light of this specification.

In practice the modular frames of the present invention are used in the early stages of laying a foundation for a structure. Such a process begins with compacting the underlying earth or structure on which the foundation will rest. Once the ground in compacted an outline of the foundation, as established by engineers, is identified. Footing panes are then placed in line with the foundation guides and connected in the designed predetermined orientations using the modular footing frames of the present invention. The lower edge of each footing panel is seated in the ground or underlying surface with the upper edge held in place by a plurality of modular free-floating footing frames. With the footing structure established, reinforcement bars are added in the interior of the foundation and, thereafter, concrete is poured within the form. After the concrete solidifies the modular concrete footing devices and panel forms are removed revealing the foundation.

One of ordinary skill in the relevant art will appreciate that the modular frames of the present invention can be fabricated with a variety of material. In one embodiment the channels and joining member are fabricated from hardened steel plates. The steel channels are generally formed form flat-rolled steel formed to the required shapes using machine presses and the like. In other embodiments the frames can be cast steel or similar material. While steel provides an excellent strength to weight to cost tradeoff other material that can provide similar rigidity and strength suitable to withstand the forces of the matrix against the footing panels are contemplated and within the scope of the present invention. Indeed, it is contemplated that a composite material may provide a light weight, durable alternative to a steel fabricated frames with minimal weight constraints.

The footing panels described herein and used in conjunction with the modular frames are rigid panels of varied height, width and length. In one embodiment the panels are comprised of a multiple ply plywood encased by a water-resistant barrier. In one instance the panel is an eleven (11) layer plywood in which the grains of the plywood are offset to provide for increased planar consistency, rigidity and tolerance to moisture penetration. The wood further is minimally compressible yet accepting within the narrowing channels of the present invention. In one embodiment the panel width is 1⅛ inches wide while in other embodiments the width may be thicker or thinner depending on the size of the footing.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the combination and arrangement of parts can be resorted to by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Particularly, it is recognized that the teachings of the foregoing disclosure will suggest other modifications to those persons skilled in the relevant art. Such modifications may involve other features that are already known per se and which may be used instead of or in addition to features already described herein. Although claims have been formulated in this application to particular combinations of features, it should be understood that the scope of the disclosure herein also includes any novel feature or any novel combination of features disclosed either explicitly or implicitly or any generalization or modification thereof which would be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art, whether or not such relates to the same invention as presently claimed in any claim and whether or not it mitigates any or all of the same technical problems as confronted by the present invention. The Applicant hereby reserves the right to formulate new claims to such features and/or combinations of such features during the prosecution of the present application or of any further application derived therefrom.

Claims

1. A foundation footing frame, comprising:

a first channel configured to accept a first panel, the first panel having an inner surface, an outer surface, an upper edge surface and a first panel width, wherein the first channel includes an inner flange, an upper member and an outer flange and wherein the outer flange includes a planar surface in contiguous contact with the outer surface of the first panel and wherein the inner flange is displaced apart from the outer flange by the upper member equal to or less than the first panel width and is oriented at an angle deviating away from the planar surface of the outer flange so as to engage the inner surface of the first panel thereby securing the first channel to the first panel;

a second channel configured to accept a second panel, the second footing panel having an inner surface, an outer surface, an upper edge surface and a second panel width, wherein the second channel includes an inner flange, an upper member and an outer flange and wherein the outer flange includes a planar surface in contiguous contact with the outer surface of the second panel and wherein the inner flange is displaced apart from the outer flange by the upper member equal to or less than the second panel width and is oriented at an angle deviating away from the planar surface of the outer flange so as to engage inner surface of the second panel thereby securing the second channel to the second panel; and

a joining member fixedly connected to each of the first channel and the second channel orientating the first channel and the second channel, and thereby the first panel and the second panel, to a predetermined orientation.

2. The foundation footing frame of claim 1, wherein the joining member is fixedly connected to the outer flange of each of the first channel and the second channel and wherein the planar surface of each of the first channel and the second channel are separated by a footing distance and are substantially parallel whereby the first panel and the second panel are thereby substantially parallel and separated by the footing distance.

3. The foundation footing frame of claim 2, wherein the joining member further includes a first member and a second member and wherein the first member is adjustably coupled to the second member separating the first channel from the second channel by the footing distance.

4. The foundation footing frame of claim 1, wherein the outer flange of each the first channel and the second channel includes a plurality of voids by which to secure the first channel and the second channel to the first panel and the second panel, respectively.

5. The foundation footing frame of claim 1, wherein the joining member is fixedly connected to the upper member of each of the first channel and the second channel and wherein the predetermined orientation constrains the first channel and the second channel to be at a right angle to each other.

6. The foundation footing frame of claim 1, wherein the first channel, the second channel and the joining member remain apart from a surface on which the first panel and the second panel reside.

7. The foundation footing frame of claim 1, wherein the predetermined orientation is a 90-degree angle.

8. The foundation footing frame of claim 1, wherein the predetermined orientation is a 45-degree angle.

9. The foundation footing frame of claim 1, wherein each of the first footing panel and second footing panel include a lower edge surface and a panel height defined as a height distance between the upper edge surface and the lower edge surface, and wherein the outer flange of the first channel and the outer flange of the second channel extend from the upper edge surface of the first footing panel and the second footing panel, respectively toward the lower edge surface of the first footing panel and the second footing panel, respectively by a length greater than 40% of the panel height.

10. The foundation footing frame of claim 1, wherein each of the first footing panel and second footing panel include a lower edge surface and panel height defined as a height distance between the upper edge surface and the lower edge surface, and wherein the outer flange of the first channel and the outer flange of the second channel extend along the upper edge surface of the first footing panel and the second footing panel, respectively by a length greater than 30% of the panel height.

11. A foundation footing frame, comprising

a pair of narrowing channels configured to secure within each channel a footing panel whereby each footing panel is constrained to a predetermined orientation for the formation of a foundation footing.

12. The foundation footing frame of claim 11, wherein each footing panel includes an inner surface, an outer surface, an upper edge surface and a footing panel width wherein each of the pair of narrowing channels includes an inner flange, an upper member and an outer flange and wherein the outer flange includes a planar surface in contiguous contact with the outer surface of the footing panel and wherein the inner flange is displaced apart from the outer flange by the upper member equal to or less than the footing panel width and is oriented at an angle deviating away from the planar surface of the outer flange so as to engage the inner surface of the first panel thereby securing the first channel to the footing panel.

13. The foundation footing frame of claim 12, wherein the outer flange of each the first channel and the second channel includes a plurality of voids by which to secure each of the narrowing channels to their respective footing panels, respectively.

14. The foundation footing frame of claim 11, further comprising a joining member fixedly connected to each of the pair of narrowing channels orientating the narrowing channel, and thereby the footing panels to the predetermined orientation.

15. The foundation footing frame of claim 14, wherein the joining member further includes a first member and a second member and wherein the first member is adjustably coupled to the second member separating the first channel from the second channel by a predetermined distance.

16. The foundation footing frame of claim 14, wherein the joining member is fixedly connected to an upper member of each of the narrowing channels and wherein the predetermined orientation constrains the narrowing channels to be at a right angle to each other.

17. The foundation footing frame of claim 12, wherein the narrowing channels and the joining member remain apart from a surface on which the footing panels reside.

18. The foundation footing frame of claim 11, wherein the predetermined orientation is a 90-degree angle.

19. The foundation footing frame of claim 11, wherein the predetermined orientation is a 45-degree angle.

20. The foundation footing frame of claim 12, wherein each footing panel includes a lower edge surface and a panel height defined as a height distance between the upper edge surface and the lower edge surface, and wherein the outer flange of each of the pair of channels extends from the upper edge surface of each footing panel toward the lower edge surface of the footing panel by a length greater than 40% of the panel height.

21. The foundation footing frame of claim 12, wherein each footing panel includes a lower edge surface and a panel height defined as a height distance between the upper edge surface and the lower edge surface, and wherein the outer flange of each of the pair of channels extends along the upper edge surface of the footing panel by a length greater than 30% of the panel height.