Patent US4574540A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4574540A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Structural support system for minimizing the effects of earthquakes on buildings and the like
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1983-10-17
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Granted: 1986-03-11
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Expires: 2003-10-17
Abstract
Abstract An improved building support system for minimizing the effects of strong seismic shocks to building structures transmitted through the earth to the foundation of the building structure, by laterally isolating the building base support structures from earth movements, comprising a first set of sliding bearing plates operably coupled to the base of the support columns of the building structure, a second set of sliding bearing plates fixedly mounted to the foundation and disposed in complementary sliding relationship to the first set of sliding bearing plates, a plurality of flexural members each fixedly coupled intermediately thereof to the support columns, and each flexural member being pivotally anchored at the ends thereof to a mounting post, each mounting post being moveably disposed along the longitudinal axis of the flexural members to which the mounting posts are secured and having a pair of apertures therein with bolts therethrough whereby said improved building support system provides a means for permitting system movement without failure of the support system.
Inventors
- 👤 Jgi-Jiang Shiau
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 06:35
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02D; E02D27/00; E02D27/32; E02D27/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
An improved building support system for minimizing the effects of strong seismic shocks to building structures having support columns transmitted through the earth to the foundation of the building structure, by laterally isolating the building base support structures from earth movements comprising: (a) a first set of sliding bearing plates operably coupled to the base of the support columns of the building structure; (b) a second set of sliding bearing plates fixedly mounted to the foundation and disposed in complementary sliding relationship to the first set of sliding bearing plates; (c) a plurality of flexural members each fixedly coupled intermediately thereof to the support columns; (d) a plurality of mounting posts pivotally coupled to the ends of each flexural member, and resting on the building foundation, each of said mounting posts being moveably disposed along the longitudinal axis of the flexural members to which the mounting posts are secured; (e) means for restricting the movement of said mounting posts to displacement along the longitudinal axis of said flexural member affixed thereto, whereby said improvement building support system provides a means for permitting system movement without failure of the support system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
190 words
An improved building support system for minimizing the effects of strong seismic shocks to building structures having support columns transmitted through the earth to the foundation of the building structure, by laterally isolating the building base support structures from earth movements comprising: (a) a first set of sliding bearing plates operably coupled to the base of the support columns of the building structure; (b) a second set of sliding bearing plates fixedly mounted to the foundation and disposed in complementary sliding relationship to the first set of sliding bearing plates; (c) a plurality of flexural members each fixedly coupled intermediately thereof to the support columns; (d) a plurality of mounting posts pivotally coupled to the ends of each flexural member, and resting on the building foundation, each of said mounting posts being moveably disposed along the longitudinal axis of the flexural members to which the mounting posts are secured; (e) means for restricting the movement of said mounting posts to displacement along the longitudinal axis of said flexural member affixed thereto, whereby said improvement building support system provides a means for permitting system movement without failure of the support system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The improved building support system of claim 1, wherein said first set of sliding bearing plates is weldably secured to the bottom of each of the support columns.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The improved building support system of claim 1, wherein said second of sliding bearing plates in fixedly mounted to the concrete foundation by a plurality of rods depending from the underside of said plate which are embedded in said concrete foundation and anchored therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The improved building support system of claim 1, wherein said first set of sliding bearing plates is smaller in area than said second set of sliding bearing plates.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
The improved building support system of claim 1 wherein said sliding bearing plates include: (a) a sliding bearing plate of metal material having a frictional surface value of up to or less than 0.1; (b) structural metal plate substantially coextensive with the sliding bearing plate of metal material, structural metal plate being fixedly secured to oneside of said sliding bearing plate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The improved building support system of claim 1 wherein said flexural members are formed of steel box material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The improved building support system of claim 1 wherein said flexural members are fixedly coupled mediately thereof to said support columns by welding.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
67 words
The improved building support system of claim 1 wherein said pivotal coupling of the flexural members includes: (a) flange means affixed to said mounting posts extending outwardly therefrom and having apertures therein; (b) flange means affixed to the ends of said flexural members extending outwardly therefrom and having apertures therein; and (c) means for pivotally coupling said mounting post flange means to said flexural members flange means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
61 words
The improved building support system of claim 8, wherein said means for pivotally coupling said mounting post flange means to said flexural members flange means is a threaded bolt operably disposed through said apertures in said flanges on said mounting posts and said flexural members and captively secured by means of a nut threadably adapted for securement to said threaded bolt.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improved building support system of claim 1, further comprising means for maintaining the building support columns in fixed, spaced apart relationship to one another.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
The improved building support system of claim 10 wherein said means for maintaining the building support columns in fixed, spaced apart relationship to one another includes a plurality of steel beams fixedly connected to said support columns and spanning the distance between said support columns.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
187 words
The improved building support system of claim 1 wherein said means for restricting the movement of said mounting posts to displacement along the longitudinal axis of said flexural member affixed thereto, comprising: (a) a plurality of threaded rod members, one end of which is embedded in the building foundation and one end of which is passed through the corresponding apertures in said base plate; (b) spacer means having apertures therethrough adapted to operably mate to the plurality of threaded rod members, said spacer means operably engaged so as to permit free movement of said sliding bearing plate secured to the bottom of said building structural support column; (c) capping plates having a plurality of apertures therethrough to mate with said rod members, said capping members being larger in size than said spacer means, whereby said sliding bearing base of said mounting post is restricted to movement only along the longitudinal axis of said flexural member attached to it; and (d) nuts for threadable engagement with said thread rod members to captively secure said base plate, spacer means and capping members in intimate fixed relationship to one another.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
148 words
The improved building support system of claim 1, further comprising end termination means for said flexural members, including: (a) a first steel plate capping the end of said flexural member and welded thereto; (b) a steel flange member one end of which is welded mediately of said first steel plate and having an aperture therethrough on said opposite, unwelded end forming a mounting flange; (c) a second steel plate, one end of which is welded to said first steel plate, and the opposite end is welded to the steel flange member; (d) a third steel plate, one of which is welded to the end of said first steel plate opposite the weldment between said second and first steel plates and the opposite end of which is welded to the side of said flange member weldment to said second steel plate to provide a rugged, durable pivotal attached means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-03-10 | 1989-09-09 | 1990-03-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-03-10 | 1993-09-09 | 1994-03-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-03-10 | 1997-09-09 | 1998-03-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |