BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for leveling a building during construction or any time after construction or occupancy of the building.

BACKGROUND OF THE RELATED ART

Some buildings are constructed on a pier and beam foundation. Concrete footers and/or piers are embedded in the soil and extend upward to support a number of beams every few feet along the length of each beam. The building is then constructed on the beams which support the building above the ground. A crawl space is created under the building allowing access to the beams and other utilities run under the building. Pier and beam foundations may be used in both residential and commercial buildings. For example, a residential home may be built with a pier and beam foundation.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Some embodiments provide a bracket comprising a base plate, first and second upstanding plates integrally formed with the base plate and extending perpendicular to the base plate, a first gusset plate formed between the base plate and an outward-facing surface of the first upstanding plate, and a first hole in the base plate adjacent the first gusset plate, wherein the first gusset plate is perpendicular to both the base plate and the first upstanding plate, and wherein the first upstanding plate is parallel to the second upstanding plate. A U-channel is formed by an inward-facing surface of the first upstanding plate, an inward-facing surface of the second upstanding plate, and an upward facing surface of the base plate, wherein the U-channel has and first and second open ends and an open top opposite the upward facing surface of the base plate, and wherein the U-channel has a uniform width that is sized to receive a structural beam supported on the upward facing surface of the base plate and flush between the inward-facing surfaces of the first and second upstanding plates.

Some embodiments provide a bracket comprising a base plate, first and second upstanding plates integrally formed with the base plate and extending perpendicular to the base plate, as well as third and fourth upstanding plates integrally formed with the base plate and extending perpendicular to the base plate. The first upstanding plate is parallel to the second upstanding plate, wherein a first U-channel is formed by an inward-facing surface of the first upstanding plate, an inward-facing surface of the second upstanding plate, and an upward facing surface of the base plate, wherein the first U-channel has first and second open ends and an open top opposite the upward facing surface of the base plate, and wherein the first U-channel has a uniform width that is sized to receive a first structural beam supported on the upward facing surface of the base plate and flush between the inward-facing surfaces of the first and second upstanding plates. The third upstanding plate is parallel to the fourth upstanding plate, wherein a second U-channel is formed by an inward-facing surface of the third upstanding plate, an inward-facing surface of the fourth upstanding plate, and the upward facing surface of the base plate, wherein the second U-channel has an open top opposite the upward facing surface of the base plate and first and second open ends, and wherein the second U-channel has a uniform width that is sized to receive a second structural beam supported on the upward facing surface of the base plate and flush between the inward-facing surfaces of the third and fourth upstanding plates. The bracket further comprises a first hole in the base plate between the first U-channel and the second U-channel.

Some embodiments provide a structure for supporting a beam comprising a concrete footer or pier, and an anchor bolt having a first end securely embedded within the concrete footer or pier and a second end extending upward from the concrete footer or pier, wherein the second end has threads for coupling with a leveling nut and a top nut. The structure further comprises a bracket according to one of the disclosed embodiments of a bracket. For example, the bracket may comprise a base plate, and first and second upstanding plates integrally formed with the base plate and extending perpendicular to the base plate, wherein the first upstanding plate is parallel to the second upstanding plate, wherein a U-channel is formed by an inward-facing surface of the first upstanding plate, an inward-facing surface of the second upstanding plate, and an upward facing surface of the base plate, wherein the U-channel has an open top opposite the upward facing surface of the base plate and first and second open ends, and wherein the U-channel has a uniform width that is sized to receive a structural beam supported on the upward facing surface of the base plate and flush between the inward-facing surfaces of the first and second upstanding plates. The bracket may further comprise a first gusset plate formed between the base plate and an outward-facing surface of the first upstanding plate, wherein the first gusset plate is perpendicular to both the base plate and the first upstanding plate. A first hole may be disposed in the base plate outside the U-channel and adjacent the first gusset plate, wherein the second end of the anchor bolt extends through the first hole in the base plate, and wherein the leveling nut is threaded onto the second end of the anchor bolt below the base plate and the top nut is threaded onto the second end of the anchor bolt above the base plate. The structure may also comprise a block disposed between the concrete footer or pier and the base plate, wherein the block is positioned in contact with the base plate directly under the U-channel.

Some embodiments provide a building comprising a concrete structure including one or more footer and one or more pier. A plurality of anchor bolts extend from the concrete structure, where each anchor bolt has a first end securely embedded within the concrete structure and a second end extending upward from the concrete structure, wherein the second end has threads for coupling with a leveling nut and a top nut. The building further comprises a plurality of brackets, each bracket being coupled to one or more of the anchor bolts, and a plurality of beams, each beam being secured by two or more of the brackets. A floor, walls and a roof are supported by the plurality of beams. The plurality of brackets may include brackets selected from any one or more of the disclosed embodiments of a bracket. For example, the bracket may comprise a base plate, and first and second upstanding plates integrally formed with the base plate and extending perpendicular to the base plate, wherein the first upstanding plate is parallel to the second upstanding plate, wherein a U-channel is formed by an inward-facing surface of the first upstanding plate, an inward-facing surface of the second upstanding plate, and an upward facing surface of the base plate, wherein the U-channel has an open top opposite the upward facing surface of the base plate and first and second open ends, and wherein the U-channel has a uniform width that is sized to receive a structural beam supported on the upward facing surface of the base plate and flush between the inward-facing surfaces of the first and second upstanding plates. The bracket may further comprise a first gusset plate formed between the base plate and an outward-facing surface of the first upstanding plate, wherein the first gusset plate is perpendicular to both the base plate and the first upstanding plate. A first hole may be disposed in the base plate outside the U-channel and adjacent the first gusset plate, wherein the second end of the anchor bolt extends through the first hole in the base plate, and wherein the leveling nut is threaded onto the second end of the anchor bolt below the base plate and the top nut is threaded onto the second end of the anchor bolt above the base plate. The building may also comprise a plurality of blocks, each block being disposed between the concrete structure and the base plate of one of the brackets and in contact with the base plate directly under the U-channel.

Some embodiments provide a method of leveling a building comprising identifying a portion of a building that requires a change of elevation to achieve a level condition, identifying a bracket that is secured to a beam under the identified portion of the building, wherein a block that is disposed between a concrete structure and the identified bracket supports the beam at a first elevation. The identified bracket comprises a base plate, and first and second upstanding plates integrally formed with the base plate and extending perpendicular to the base plate, wherein the first upstanding plate is parallel to the second upstanding plate, wherein a U-channel is formed by an inward-facing surface of the first upstanding plate, an inward-facing surface of the second upstanding plate, and an upward facing surface of the base plate, wherein the U-channel has an open top opposite the upward facing surface of the base plate and first and second open ends, and wherein the U-channel has a uniform width that is sized to receive a structural beam supported on the upward facing surface of the base plate and flush between the inward-facing surfaces of the first and second upstanding plates. The bracket further comprises a first hole in the base plate outside the U-channel, wherein the second end of the anchor bolt extends through the first hole in the base plate, and wherein the leveling nut is threaded onto the second end of the anchor bolt below the base plate and the top nut is threaded onto the second end of the anchor bolt above the base plate. The method further comprises, for each anchor bolt extending through the base plate of the identified bracket, adjusting an elevation of the beam supported by the identified bracket by: loosening a top nut on the anchor bolt, turning a leveling nut on the anchor bolt to raise the identified bracket and the beam supported by the identified bracket, disposing a second block under the identified bracket to support the beam at a second elevation, turning the leveling nut to lower the identified bracket and the beam supported by the identified bracket until the weight of the beam is supported by the second block, and tightening the top nut on the anchor bolt.

