Earthquake resistant building foundation

Abstract

An earthquake resistant building foundation includes a receptacle having a number of apertures each for slidably receiving a shaft, one or more spring members disposed below the receptacle for cushioning a vertical force, and a number of spring members engaged with the shafts for lateral cushioning purposes. A number of lateral cushioning devices are attached to the shafts and each has a casing secured to the shaft, a cover slidably engaged onto the casing, and one or more spring members engaged between the casing and the cover for cushioning between the casing and the cover and for forming a two-stage compressing or cushioning structure.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates to an earthquake resistant building foundation, and more particularly to an earthquake resistant building foundation including an improved structure for resisting both up and down or vertical forces and sidewise or lateral forces.[0003]2. Description of the Prior Art[0004]Typical earthquake resistant buildings each comprise a number of foundations each including a number of spring members for resisting the up and down or vertical forces and the sidewise or lateral forces and for resiliently cushioning and restraining the horizontal movements of the building.[0005]For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,517,778 to Nicolai discloses one of the typical earthquake proof building with an improved foundation comprising a number of spherical support members mounted thereon to support the structure. However, the spherical support members may not be used to effectively reduce or cushion the sidewise or lateral...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an earthquake resistant building foundation including an improved structure for resisting both up and down or vertical forces and sidewise or lateral forces.

[0009]In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided an earthquake resistant building foundation comprising a receptacle including a space formed therein and including a number of apertures formed in an outer peripheral portion thereof and communicating with the space of the receptacle, at least one first spring member disposed below the receptacle for applying a spring biasing force against the receptacle and for cushioning a vertical force that may be applied to the receptacle, a number of shafts slidably received in the apertures of the receptacle and movable into and out of the space of the receptacle, a number of second spring members disposed in the space of the receptacle and engaged with the shafts respectively for applying a spring biasing force against the shafts and for lateral cushioning purposes, and a number of lateral cushioning devices attached to the shafts for allowing the second spring member to apply a spring biasing force against the shaft and the lateral cushioning device, the lateral cushioning devices each including a casing secured to the shaft, a cover slidably engaged onto the casing, and at least one third spring member engaged between the casing and the cover for applying a spring biasing force between the casing and the cover and for forming a two-stage compressing or cushioning structure to suitably provide a cushioning effect.

Problems solved by technology

However, the spherical support members may not be used to effectively reduce or cushion the sidewise or lateral forces.

However, similarly, the spherical support members also may not be used to effectively reduce or cushion the sidewise or lateral forces for the buildings.

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