A foundation system

Abstract

A foundation system 10 is provided which is suitable for hand-installation or for installation using only lightweight tools. There is a foundation body 12 including an upper plate 16a having a plurali

Description

The present invention relates to a foundation system for providing footing for structural components of buildings. The invention further relates to a method of creating a foundation for a structure, to a method of manufacturing a foundation body, and to a foundation body suitable for use in the foundation system. In the construction industry, common structural components such as posts, poles, or beams require anchoring in place so that they can support additional structures. This can require a significant cost in labour and materials, especially when constructing large buildings. A common approach is to dig deep holes to insert structural components such as poles into, and then fill the hole with concrete to secure the structural components in place. This approach is time consuming and expensive in material costs, as well as damaging to the local area due to the large amounts of excavation required. A more suitable option for hand installation involves the driving of metal tubes into the ground to anchor a structure to which poles, posts, or beams can then be affixed. Using metal tubes as ground anchors can be problematic, since the metal tubes can rotate, leading to greater stress on the fastening means for fastening these metal tubes to the structure. The present invention seeks to provide a solution which obviates or overcomes the above-mentioned deficiencies, by providing a foundation system that requires less excavating and materials and does not require the use of heavy or substantial machinery, leading to reduced labour and material costs. According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a foundation system suitable for hand-installation or for installation using only lightweight equipment, the foundation system comprising: a foundation body including: an upper plate having a plurality of upper receiving slots; a lower plate parallel or substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the upper plate, the lower plate having a plurality of lower receiving slots; and a connection element rigidly interconnecting the upper plate and lower plate; a plurality of ground anchors, each of the plurality of ground anchors having at least in part an angular cross section; each of the plurality of upper receiving slots and each of the plurality of lower receiving slots being dimensioned to receive a said one of the plurality of ground anchors therethrough; and the plurality of upper receiving slots being offset relative to the plurality of lower receiving slots to form a plurality of pairs of receiving slots each defining a non-orthogonal receiver relative to a plane of the lower plate for a said one of the plurality of ground anchors to in-use extend therethrough to anchor the foundation body. Existing foundation systems often require heavy machinery to install, and those that are hand-installable have a litany of issues such as difficulty securely fastening ground anchors to a foundation body. The present invention provides a foundation system that is quick and easy to install substantially by hand or using lightweight tools, such as a jackhammer or manual hammer. Optionally, the upper plate, the lower plate, and the connection element may define an open region within the foundation body to permit access to at least one body internal portion of the foundation body. This has the advantage of allowing hand or tool access to the internal portions of the foundation body. This provides the user the ability to perform actions such as threading a bolt through an external portion of the foundation and attaching a nut to the body internal end of the bolt. Preferably, the connection element may comprise a plurality of connecting plates between the upper plate and the lower plate. Connecting plates can be easily manufactured and easily attached to the upper and lower plates by welding or otherwise, providing a secure and rigid connection. Each of the plurality of connecting plates may be connected to an upper-plate perimeter of the upper plate and a lower-plate perimeter of the lower plate. Connecting the connecting plates to the upper and lower plate in this manner provides a secure connection around the perimeters of the upper and lower plates and allows for easy access to both the exterior and interior portions of the connecting plates, which is useful if is desired to fasten the ground anchors directly to the connecting plates. Optionally, each of the plurality of connecting plates may have an upper edge having a width equal to a length of a primary edge of the upper plate and a lower edge having a width equal to a length of a primary edge of the lower plate. This allows the connecting plate to be connected to the upper plate across the entire length of a primary edge of the upper plate, and connected to the lower plate across the entire length of a primary edge of the lower plate, providing a very secure connection between the connecting plate and the upper and lower plates. Preferably, each of the plurality of connecting plates may have a central portion between the upper edge and the lower edge, the central portion having, at least in part, a width less than the upper width and less than the lower width. This has the advantage that even where adjacent connecting plates are adjacent, the openings defined on the foundation body created by the disparity between the width of the central portion relative to the upper and lower widths will allow for access into the open region of the foundation body. Optionally, each of the plurality of connecting plates may be or substantially be Z-shaped. In this case, the central portion of the connecting plates could have an angle relative to the upper edge which is equal to an in-use angle of the non-orthogonal receivers, allowing the central portion to run parallel to the in-use ground anchors. This means that the ground anchors can easily be fastened to the connecting plates at any point along the length of the central portion. In one preferable arrangement, at least one major surface of each of the plurality of connecting plates may be flat. Each of the plurality of connecting plates having a flat surface makes it easier to fasten the ground anchors to the connecting plates with bolts or otherwise, if so desired. Optionally, the ground anchors may be in use connected to the connecting plates. Having the connecting plates connected to the ground anchors in use allows the connecting plates to provide support to the ground anchors, increasing stability. Preferably, the foundation system may further comprise a fastening means for fastening the plurality of ground anchors to the foundation body. This provides a more secure connection between the foundation body and the ground anchors, better anchoring the foundation body. Optionally, the fastening means may comprise a nut and bolt fastener. This is a quick and easy means of fastening the ground anchors to the foundation body and may be easily accomplished substantially by hand or with a tool, utilising the open region of the foundation body. Preferably, the connection element may comprise a central tubular member interconnecting the upper plate and the lower plate. This is a simple and secure means to connect the upper and lower plates, as the central tubular member can be easily attached by welding or other means. Optionally, an area of the upper plate may be equal to an area of the lower plate. This makes it easier to align the upper and lower plates and allows the upper and lower plates to be connected vertically from their perimeters by the connecting plates. Optionally, each of the plurality of upper receiving slots may be positioned at a perimeter of the upper plate, and each of the plurality of lower receiving slots is positioned at a perimeter of the lower plate. In this case, the upper receiving slots and lower receiving slots can be cut directly from the upper-plate perimeter and lower-plate perimeter respectively, proving a fast and easy method of producing upper and lower plates. Preferably, the foundation body may further comprise a retaining means for affixing an upper structure thereto. This allows an upper structure to be easily affixed to the foundation body. Optionally, the non-orthogonal receivers are positioned at an angle of between 5° and 45° with respect to an in-use vertical axis. This range of angles for non-orthogonal receivers means that in-use ground anchors are at a suitable angle to securely anchor the foundation body. The foundation body and the ground anchors may be provided in the form of a kit of parts. This allows the foundation system to be transported as parts and then assembled on location. According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided method of creating a foundation fora structure, the method comprising the steps of: a] providing a foundation system in accordance with the firstaspect of the invention; b] placing the foundation body in a desired location for a foundation for a structure; c] inserting the ground anchors through the non-orthogonal receivers to anchor the foundation body into the ground; and d] interconnecting the ground anchors and foundation body. Existing methods of creating a foundation often require heavy machinery, and those that are possible substantially by hand have a litany of issues such as difficulty securely fastening ground anchors to a foundation body. The present invention provides a faster and easier method of creating a foundation for a structure, which is possible by hand. Preferably, step d] may comprise installing a fastener to interconnect the ground anchors and foundation body manually or with a hand tool. Installing a fastener provides a more secure connection between the ground anchors and the foundation body, better anchoring the foundation body. According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a foundation body, the method comprising the steps of: a] providing an upper plate having a plurality of upper receiving slots dimensioned to receive a ground anchor therethrough; b] providing a lower plate having a plurality of lower receiving slots dimensioned to receive a ground anchor therethrough, the plurality of upper receiving slots being offset relative to the plurality of lower receiving slots; and c] rigidly interconnecting the upper plate and lower plate in a parallel or substantially parallel and spaced apart relationship using a connection element, such that the plurality of upper receiving slots and the plurality of lower receiving slots form a plurality of pairs of receiving slots each defining a non-orthogonal receiver relative to a plane of the lower plate for receiving a ground anchor therethrough. According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a foundation body for a foundation system, the foundation body comprising: an upper plate having a plurality of upper receiving slots; a lower plate parallel or substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the upper plate, the lower plate having a plurality of lower receiving slots; and a connection element rigidly interconnecting the upper plate and lower plate; each of the plurality of upper receiving slots and each of the plurality of lower receiving slots being dimensioned to receive a ground anchor therethrough; and the plurality of upper receiving slots being offset relative to the plurality of lower receiving slots to form a plurality of pairs of receiving slots each defining a non-orthogonal receiver relative to a plane of the lower plate for receiving a ground anchor. According to a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided a foundation system suitable for hand-installation or for installation using only lightweight equipment comprising: a foundation structure including: a first structure component having a plurality of first receiving apertures; a second structure component spaced apart from the first structure component, the second structure component having a plurality of second receiving apertures; and a connection element rigidly interconnecting the first structure component and second structure component; a plurality of ground anchors, each of the plurality of ground anchors having at least in part an angular cross section; each of the plurality of first receiving apertures and each of the plurality of second receiving apertures being dimensioned to receive a said one of the plurality of ground anchors therethrough; and the plurality of first receiving apertures being offset relative to the plurality of second receiving apertures to form a plurality of pairs of receiving apertures each defining a non-orthogonal receiver relative to a plane of the lower plate for a said one of the plurality of ground anchors to in-use extend therethrough to anchor the foundation housing. According to a sixth aspect of the invention, there is provided a foundation system suitable for hand-installation or for installation using only lightweight equipment, the foundation system comprising: a foundation body including: an upper plate having a plurality of upper receiving slots; a lower plate parallel or substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the upper plate, the lower plate having a plurality of lower receiving slots; and a connection element rigidly interconnecting the upper plate and lower plate; a plurality of ground anchors; each of the plurality of upper receiving slots and each of the plurality of lower receiving slots being dimensioned to receive a said one of the plurality of ground anchors therethrough; wherein the upper plate, the lower plate, and the connection element define an open region within the foundation body to permit access to at least one body internal portion of the foundation body. Existing foundation systems often require heavy machinery to install, and those that are hand-installable have a litany of issues such as difficulty securely fastening ground anchors to a foundation body. The present invention provides a foundation system that is quick and easy to install even by hand, with or without simple or lightweight tools, in part due to the ability of the user to perform actions such as threading a bolt through an external portion of the foundation and attaching a nut to the body internal end of the bolt, utilizing the open region within the foundation body. According to a seventh aspect of the invention, there is provided a foundation system suitable for hand-installation or for installation using only lightweight equipment comprising: a foundation housing including: a first housing component having a plurality of first receiving apertures; a second housing component spaced apart from the first housing component, the second housing component having a plurality of second receiving apertures; and a plurality of connecting plates perimetrically interconnecting the first and second housing components; a plurality of ground anchors; wherein the ground anchors are in-use directly connected to the connecting plates. The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a lower perspective view of a first embodiment of a foundation system in accordance with the first aspect of the invention; Figure 2 shows a top-down view of an upper plate of the foundation system of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a top-down view of a lower plate of the foundation system of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a side view of one of a plurality of flat connecting plates forming part of the connection element of the foundation system of Figure 1; Figure 5 shows a side view of a central tubular member forming part of the connection element of the foundation system of Figure 1; Figure 6 shows a side view of a ground anchor of the foundation system of Figure 1; Figure 7 shows a side view of the foundation system of Figure 1, wherein the central tubular member is not present and a retaining means for affixing a structural component is included; and Figure 8 shows a side view of a second embodiment of a foundation system in accordance with the first aspect of the invention. The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Referring to Figure 1, there is indicated an embodiment of a foundation system, referenced globally at 10. The foundation system comprises a foundation body 12 and a plurality of ground anchors 14 connected thereto. The foundation body 12 includes an upper plate 16a, a lower plate 16b and a connection element which interconnects the upper plate 16a and the lower plate 16b. The upper plate 16a, lower plate 16b, and connection element together define an open region 18 within the foundation body 12, which advantageously allows hand or tool access to internal portions of the foundation body 12. The foundation body 12 thus forms a foundation structure for the foundation system 10, with the upper and lower plates 16a, 16b respectively forming first and second structure components. In the depicted embodiment, the connection element comprises a plurality of connecting plates 20 and a central tubular member 22. The flat connecting plates 20 are welded or otherwise connected to an upper-plate perimeter and to a lower-plate perimeter, so as to rigidly interconnect the upper plate 16a and the lower plate 16b. It is conceivable, for instance, that the connecting plates 20 could be bolted to the upper and lower plates 16a, 16b. The central tubular member 22 also interconnects the upper plate 16a and the lower plate 16b, and may be positioned at a centre of the upper plate 16a and a centre of the lower plate 16b, so as to extend in an in-use vertical direction. In the embodiment shown, the central tubular member 22 extends above the upper plate 16a. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, depicting the upper plate 16a and the lower plate 16b respectively, the upper plate 16a includes a plurality of upper receiving slots 26a, or apertures, and the lower plate 16b includes a plurality of lower receiving slots 26b, or apertures, which are dimensioned to receive a said one of the plurality of ground anchors 14. The upper receiving slots 26a are offset relative to the lower receiving slots 26b, forming pairs of receiving slots that each define a non-orthogonal receiver relative to a plane of the lower plate 16b, which a said one of the plurality of ground anchors 14 can be inserted through to anchor the foundation body 12 into the ground. In the specific embodiment shown, the offset is created by a perimetric shift of the position of the lower receiving slots 26b relative to the upper receiving slots 26a, and a shift dimension 28 is indicated in Figure 3. Altering the shift dimension will alter the angle of the non-orthogonal receiver. The offset of the upper receiving slots 26a relative to the lower receiving slots 26b thus defines an in-use angle of each of the plurality of ground anchors 14 to the plane of the lower plate 16b. Preferably, this angle is between 5° and 45° with respect to an in-use vertical axis of the foundation system 10. In the embodiment shown, the upper receiving slots 26a are at the upper-plate perimeter and the lower receiving slots 26b are at the lower-plate perimeter, to advantageously allow the plurality of connecting plates 20 to contact and support the plurality of ground anchors 14 once installed. The upper plate 16a and the lower plate 16b may have substantially a polygonal shape such as a triangular shape, a truncated triangular shape, or a substantially hexagonal shape. Other geometric shapes may be feasible. It is preferred that the upper and lower plates 16a, 16b have a degree of rotational symmetry which is compatible with the number of intended ground anchors 14 to be used. The three-fold symmetry of the embodiment shown thus lends itself towards the truncated triangular shape used. It is preferred that the areas of the upper and lower plates 16a, 16b are equal, ignoring any apertures therein for engaging with other components. Each of the primary edges 30a, 30b of the upper-plate and lower-plate perimeters has a length 32a, 32b which is equal to that of the other primary edges 30a, 30b. The primary edges 30a, 30b are here defined as those for engagement with the connecting plates 20. The upper and lower receiving slots 26a, 26b are thus formed in or adjacent to the primary edges 30a, 30b of the upper and lower plates 16a, 16b, respectively. Each of the upper and lower plates 16a, 16b is preferably formed from a rigid material, typically steel. The upper and lower plates 16a, 16b each also include a central receiving aperture 34a, 34b for receiving the central tubular member 22. Evidently, if the central tubular member 22 were directly welded to one or other of the upper and lower plates 16a, 16b, no central receiving aperture would be required. Equally, the connection element may not include a central tubular member 22, in which case, no central receiving apertures will be necessary. A said one of the plurality of connecting plates 20 of Figure 1 is shown in Figure 4. In the embodiment depicted, each of the plurality of connecting plates 20 has an upper edge 36 with an upper width 38 equal to the length 32a of a primary edge 30a of the upperplate perimeter, and a lower edge 40 with a lower width 42 equal to the length 32b of a primary edge 30b of the lower-plate perimeter. The upper and lower width 38, 42 are preferably identical. In assembling the foundation body 12, the upper edge of each of the plurality of connecting plates 20 may be welded or otherwise connected to a corresponding primary edge 30a of the upper plate 16a, and the lower edge of each of the plurality of connecting plates 20 may be welded or otherwise connected to a corresponding primary edge 30b of the lower plate 16b. Each of the plurality of the connecting plates 20 has a central portion 44 which may, as in the embodiment shown, have a width 46 which is less than the upper width 38 and less than the upper width 42. Even where adjacent connecting plates 20 are provided, the openings defined on the foundation body 12 created by the disparity between the width 46 of the central portion 44 relative to the upper and lower widths 38, 42 will allow for access into the open region 18 of the foundation body 12. In the embodiment depicted, each of the plurality of connecting plates 20 is or is substantially ‘Z’-shaped, or has a slanted T-shape. Other shapes may be feasible, including but not limited to an hourglass type of shape. In this case, the central portion 44 may be at an angle 48 relative to the upper edge which is equal to an in-use angle of non-orthogonal receivers for the plurality of ground anchors 14. Of course, connecting plates 20 having a uniform width could also be provided, in which case, the plates 20 may not necessarily have a width equal to the lengths 32a, 32b of the primary edges 30a, 30b of the upper and lower edges 16a, 16b. Each of the plurality of connecting plates 20 preferably contains at least one fastenerreceiving aperture 52 to receive a bolt or similar connector which enable connection of the foundation body 12 and ground anchors 14. In the depicted embodiment, two said fastener-receiving apertures 52 are provided, and thus a modicum of adjustability is provided so that inaccurate insertion of the ground anchors 14 can be accommodated. The main surfaces of the plurality of connecting plates 20 are preferably flat to enable easy connection of nut-and-bolt type fasteners therewith. Figure 5 shows the central tubular member 22 of Figure 1. As the upper plate 16a has no retaining means with which to affix an upper structure, a suitable retaining means is provided on an upper flange 52 of the central tubular member 22. The retaining means here comprises a plurality of screw-threaded receivers 54 into which screw-threaded connectors can be engaged. In-use, a cylindrical main portion 56 of the central tubular member 22 spans the upper and lower plates 16a, 16b, and may be welded in place, whilst the upper flange 52 is seated on top of the upper plate 16a so that the retaining means is accessible. Figure 6 shows a said one of the plurality of ground anchors 14 of Figure 1. Each of the plurality of ground anchors 14 may as depicted have a pointed end 58, to assist with ground insertion. The ground anchor preferably has a uniform width, being formed from a prefabricated steel angle section. Each of the plurality of ground anchors 14 preferably includes a complementary fastener-receiving aperture 60 to receive a bolt or similar connector for engagement with the foundation body 12. Two said complementary fastener-receiving apertures 60 are here provided, and thus a total of three potential connection configurations is possible: complete overlap of the fastener-receiving apertures 52 and complementary fastener-receiving apertures 60; overlap of a lower said fastener-receiving aperture 52 and an upper complementary fastener-receiving aperture 60; and overlap of an upper said fastener-receiving aperture 52 and a lower complementary fastener-receiving aperture 60. The foundation system 10 is shown in more detail from the side in Figure 7, in which a plurality of bolts 62 is shown interconnecting the foundation body 12 and plurality of ground anchors 14. The bolts 62 thus form a fastening means for interconnecting foundation body 12 and plurality of ground anchors 14, when used with counterpart nuts. As can be seen, the interior of the foundation body 12 is accessible between the plurality of connection plates, so that a user can manually connect both parts of the fastening means. An alternative retaining means is shown, which, rather than being connected directly to a central tubular member 22, are connected to apertures present in the upper plate 16a. The retaining means here is formed as upstanding bolts 64. In use, the foundation system 10 may be installed in situ. This may, for example, involve first excavating a hole larger than the foundation body 12, then placing the foundation body 12 into the hole. It will be apparent that the foundation system 10 could be installed at ground level, however. The plurality of ground anchors 14 may then be inserted into the non-orthogonal receivers, first through the upper receiving slots 26a and then through the lower receiving slots 26b. This may be accomplished by hand by hammering the plurality of ground anchors 14 or through use of lightweight machinery such as hammers or jackhammers. The ground anchors 14 can then be fastened to the foundation body 12, for example by using a nut and bolt fastener. As noted above, the open region 18 of the foundation body 12 enables this to be performed manually. Optionally, cement or concrete may then be poured into the hole to further secure the foundation system 10. A second embodiment of the foundation system 110 is shown in Figure 8. Identical or similar reference numerals will be used to refer to identical or similar components, and further detailed description is omitted for brevity. The foundation system 110 here has a hexagonal foundation body 112, thus having sixfold rotational symmetry, and is engagable with six ground anchors 114. Only one fastener-receiving aperture is provided on each connecting plate. The retaining means here is shown extending upwardly from the upper flange 52 of the central tubular member 122, and is constructed to support a mounting plate 166 from which subsequent structures can be mounted. The foundation body 112 is otherwise constructionally similar to that of the first embodiment, though the six ground anchors 114 necessitate that the six connecting plates 120 are adjacent to one another. The reduced widths of the central portions of the connecting plates 120 enable access for the fastening means; indicative fasteners are shown. The present invention therefore allows for construction to be achieved from a foundation system, in which the ground anchors can be more easily engaged with the main foundation body. The words ‘comprises / comprising’ and the words ‘having / including’ when used herein with reference to the present invention are used to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components, or groups thereof. It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in 5 any suitable sub-combination. The embodiments described above are provided by way of examples only, and various other modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the field without departing from the scope of the invention as defined herein.

Claims

1. A foundation system suitable for hand-installation or for installation using only lightweight equipment, the foundation system comprising:a foundation body including:an upper plate having a plurality of upper receiving slots;a lower plate parallel or substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the upper plate, the lower plate having a plurality of lower receiving slots; anda connection element rigidly interconnecting the upper plate and lower plate;a plurality of ground anchors, each of the plurality of ground anchors having at least in part an angular cross section;each of the plurality of upper receiving slots and each of the plurality of lower receiving slots being dimensioned to receive a said one of the plurality of ground anchors therethrough; andthe plurality of upper receiving slots being offset relative to the plurality of lower receiving slots to form a plurality of pairs of receiving slots each defining a non-orthogonal receiver relative to a plane of the lower plate for a said one of the plurality of ground anchors to in-use extend therethrough to anchor the foundation body.

2. The foundation system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper plate, the lower plate, and the connection element define an open region within the foundation body to permit access to at least one body internal portion of the foundation body.

3. The foundation system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the connection element comprises a plurality of connecting plates between the upper plate and the lower plate.

4. The foundation system as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of connecting plates is connected to an upper-plate perimeter of the upper plate and a lower-plate perimeter of the lower plate.

5. The foundation system as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of connecting plates has an upper edge having a width equal to a length of a primary edge of the upper plate and a lower edge having a width equal to a length of a primary edge of the lower plate.

6. The foundation system as claimed in claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of connecting plates has a central portion between the upper edge and the lower edge, the central portion having, at least in part, a width less than the upper width and less than the lower width.

7. The foundation system as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein each of the plurality of connecting plates is, or is substantially, Z-shaped.

8. The foundation system as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein at least one major surface of each of the plurality of connecting plates is flat.

9. The foundation system as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein the ground anchors are in use connected to the connecting plates.

10. The foundation system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a fastening means for fastening the plurality of ground anchors to the foundation body.

11. The foundation system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the fastening means comprises a nut and bolt fastener.

12. The foundation system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connection element comprises a central tubular member interconnecting the upper plate and the lower plate.

13. The foundation system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein an area of the upper plate is equal to an area of the lower plate.

14. The foundation system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the plurality of upper receiving slots is positioned at a perimeter of the upper plate, and each of the plurality of lower receiving slots is positioned at a perimeter of the lower plate.

15. The foundation system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, where the foundation body further comprises a retaining means for affixing an upper structure thereto.

16. The foundation system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the non-orthogonal receivers are positioned at an angle of between 5° and 45° with respect to an in-use vertical axis.

17. The foundation system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the foundation body and the ground anchors are provided in the form of a kit of parts.

18. A method of creating a foundation for a structure, the method comprising the steps of:a] providing a foundation system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims;b] placing the foundation body in a desired location for a foundation for a structure;c] inserting the ground anchors through the non-orthogonal receivers to anchor the foundation body into the ground; andd] interconnecting the ground anchors and foundation body.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein step d] comprises installing a fastener to interconnect the ground anchors and foundation body manually or with a hand tool.

20. A method of manufacturing a foundation body, the method comprising the steps of:a] providing an upper plate having a plurality of upper receiving slots dimensioned to receive a ground anchor therethrough;b] providing a lower plate having a plurality of lower receiving slots dimensioned to receive a ground anchor therethrough, the plurality of upper receiving slots being offset relative to the plurality of lower receiving slots; andc] rigidly interconnecting the upper plate and lower plate in a parallel or substantially parallel and spaced apart relationship using a connection element, such that the plurality of upper receiving slots and the plurality of lower receiving slots form a plurality of pairs of receiving slots each defining a non-orthogonalreceiver relative to a plane of the lower plate for receiving a ground anchor therethrough.

21. A foundation body for a foundation system, the foundation body comprising:an upper plate having a plurality of upper receiving slots;5 a lower plate parallel or substantially parallel to and spaced apart from theupper plate, the lower plate having a plurality of lower receiving slots; anda connection element rigidly interconnecting the upper plate and lower plate;each of the plurality of upper receiving slots and each of the plurality of10 lower receiving slots being dimensioned to receive a ground anchortherethrough; andthe plurality of upper receiving slots being offset relative to the plurality of lower receiving slots to form a plurality of pairs of receiving slots each defining a non-orthogonal receiver relative to a plane of the lower plate for receiving a15 ground anchor.

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