Sub-floor stump system

Abstract

A sub-floor stump system adapted for attachment of a stump (120) to ground or floor surfaces (1), the system including: (1) a column having a lower end (123) including (a) one or more downwardly depending tabs (126) and / or (b) at least one cut out profile 137 formed in a wall (124) of the column (120); and (2) a foot plate (133) including: (a) at least one slot (125) adapted to receive the downwardly depending tab (126) such that the column (120) cannot rotate about its longitudinal axis; and / or (b) at least one aperture adapted to receive a threaded shaft that, together with a complementary nut (136), is adapted to be trapped in the profile (137) such that the column (120) is restrained against axial movement along its longitudinal axis relative to the foot plate (133).

Description

[0001] SU B-FLOOR STU M P SYSTEM

[0002] FIELD OF INVENTION

[0003] This invention relates to a sub-floor stump system. More particularly, this invention relates to primarily metal and primarily preassembled sub-floor stump.

[0004] BACKGROUND ART

[0005] The following references to and descriptions of prior proposals or products are not intended to be, and are not to be construed as, statements or admissions of common general knowledge in the art. In particular, the following prior art discussion should not be assumed to relate to what is commonly or well known by the person skilled in the art, but to assist in the inventive process undertaken by the inventor(s) and in the understanding of the invention.

[0006] Sub-floor stump connections typically require welding to be installed beneath houses, this requires a major step up in infrastructure including a large generator and welding equipment, possible gas tanks and a lot more PPE. Furthermore welding requires specific technical skills often needed further inspection using testing equipment such as x-rays to guarantee a reliable and repeatable weld seam.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to ameliorate one or more of the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art or to at least provide a useful alternative thereto.

[0008] STATEMENT OF INVENTION

[0009] The invention according to one or more aspects is described herebelow and further defined in the independent claims. Some optional and / or preferred features of the invention are described herebelow and further defined in the dependent claims.

[0010] Accordingly, in one aspect of the invention there is provided:

[0011] A sub-floor stump system adapted for attachment of a stump to ground or floor surfaces, the system including: (1) a column having a lower end including (a) one or more downwardly depending tabs or protrusions and / or (b) at least one defined profile in the form of a gap in a wall of the column; and (2) a foot plate including: (a) at least one slot adapted to receive the one or more downwardly depending tabs or protrusions such that the column cannot rotate about its longitudinal axis; and / or (b) at least one aperture adapted to receive a threaded shaft that, together with a complementary nut, is adapted to be trapped in the profile such that the column is restrained against axial movement along its longitudinal axis relative to the foot plate.

[0012] In another aspect, the sub-floor stump is for installation on-site and comprises predominantly metal components, and is adapted for attachment to a foundation such as concrete and to a building floor component using complementary connection features that do not require welding.

[0013] The metal components are preferably adapted to attach the sub-floor stump to floor attachment components. The sub-floor stump may include a foundation column and a floor attachment. The foundation column preferably includes a foundation attachment.

[0014] Spring brackets

[0015] The sub-floor stump may include a spring bracket attachment. Preferably, the sub-floor stump includes multiple spring bracket attachments. The spring bracket attachments may include at least one interlocking joint formed from a cantilevered or otherwise biased protrusion that is adapted to be slotted into a slot or hole. The spring brackets may provide a primary structural load path from a floor to a foundation. The spring brackets may be adapted to be held in place with bolting, adhesive or rivet attachments. The spring brackets may be adapted to be forced against a bias of the spring brackets into an engaged position such that the protrusions are slotted into the holes or slots with tension.

[0016] Advantageously, the spring brackets may allow for faster assembly than without spring brackets due to their temporary holding strength being adapted to hold a sub-floor stump assembly together while fasteners are applied to form permanent joints between the foundation on the one hand and the floor on the other.

[0017] The spring brackets may be adapted to hold the assembly together while fasteners, such as bolts, adhesives or rivets, are used to lock the spring bracket joints in place. The spring brackets may be adapted to form a structural connection with the bolts, adhesives or rivets.

[0018] Preferably, the spring brackets include sheet metal. The sheet metal may be folded. The spring brackets may include multiple panels laser cut from sheet metal and, in completed form, being in the structural shape of bent sheet metal. The sheet metal is preferably galvanised, including light or fully galvanised. The sheet metal thickness may be 3 - 4mm, preferably 3.5mm thick.

[0019] Advantageously, the sheet metal spring brackets may be formed cheaply due to manufacturing techniques including laser cutting and bending.

[0020] The spring brackets may be adapted to be formed from first laser cutting flat sheets of galvanized steel and bending said cut sheets into the spring brackets. Elongate sections of the spring brackets extending from corners or bends or straight edges of the spring bracket may form the cantilevered protrusions ("cantilevers"). The cantilevers may be legs or arms of L- shaped or channel-shaped brackets. The cantilevers may be adapted to flex and bend relative to other portions of the spring bracket to allow for easy attachment or fitment into slots or holes of the sub-floor stump.

[0021] Foot plate

[0022] The sub-floor stump may include the floor attachment. The floor attachment may include a foot plate. The foot plate may include a broad plate structural feature ("broad plate"). The broad plate may be adapted to be positioned or aligned horizontally. The broad plate may be adapted to be positioned or aligned parallel to a line tangential to the Earth's averaged surface. The broad plate may be adapted to be positioned or aligned so that its plane is perpendicular to the direction of gravity.

[0023] The foot plate may include guides extending from the broad plate at a non-vertical and nonhorizontal angle. The guides may extend at a diagonal angle relative to the broad plate. The guides may be adapted to receive and guide footing rods that may extend from the foundation. The guides may be arranged around a central aperture at a centre point of the broad plate. In plan, the broad plate may be circular or polygonal in shape. In plan, the broad plate may be hexagonal or octagonal in shape, with a guide placed on every second side of the six or eight-sided octagon. Preferably, in plan, the broad plate is octagonal in shape. Preferably the guides are each located on a flat side of a polygonal shape between corners of the broad plate.

[0024] The broad plate may include opposed long sides and opposed relatively shorter short sides. The broad plate in plan may be substantially rectangular. The broad plate may be substantially rectangular with bevelled corners and have a bi-symmetrical octagonal shape in plan view. The guides may be radially spaced from the centre point. The guides may be equally radially spaced from the centre point. The guides may be circumferentially equally spaced around a periphery of the broad plate. The guides may be inclined in a same clockwise or anticlockwise direction around the periphery. Opposing guides on opposed sides of the broad plate may be inclined in opposite directions, respectively clockwise or counter-clockwise.

[0025] Preferably the guides are unitarily formed or integrally formed with the broad plate cast, molded or welded to the broad plate. Preferably the guides are attached to an outer edge of the broad plate at the periphery. Preferably the guides are attached to the periphery whereby a base of each of the guides is partially attached to the broad plate and partially extends beyond a footprint of the broad plate.

[0026] The guides may comprise a mixture of one or more tubes and one or more protrusions. Preferably the guides comprise only tubes. Preferably the guides include a hollow centre for reception of the threaded rods. Preferably the guides are externally cylindrical in shape.

[0027] The broad plate may comprise a frame of members. The broad plate may comprise multiple portions formed in a single plane in one piece with each member lying the same plane.

[0028] Foundation

[0029] The foundation may include a concrete column extending downwards into the ground. The concrete column may include the footing rods set inside the foundation. The footing rods may be threaded. The foundation may be formed with the foot plate as a template for the orientation of the footing rods. The footing rods may be easily received in the guides for easy orientation, registration, location and / or positioning of the sub-floor stump.

[0030] Sheet metal

[0031] The sub-floor stump may comprise a main body. The main body may be made of metal. Preferably the main body is in the form of a column. The sub-floor stumpy may be formed from predominantly sheet metal. The main body preferably comprises sheet metal. The subfloor stump primarily, and the main body, may be in the structural form of bent sheet steel. The sub-floor stump may comprise between 65 - 95% by mass of sheet metal components. More preferably, the sub-floor stump comprises between 70- 90% by mass of sheet metal components. The sub-floor stump preferably comprises about 90% by mass of sheet metal components. Making the sub-floor stump predominantly from mass sheet metal source material advantageously reduces unit price based on materials and manufacturing costs.

[0032] The column may be circular or polygonal in cross-section. The column is preferably of constant cross-section throughout its length. The column is preferably square or rectangular in crosssection. The column is preferably formed from a single sheet of folded sheet metal

[0033] It will be appreciated that any of the features described herein can be used in any combination, and that the invention as described in respect of the second aspect may have the specific features referred to above in respect of the invention as described in respect of the first aspect.

[0034] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] The invention may be better understood from the following non-limiting description of preferred embodiments, in which:

[0036] Figure 1 is a side view of the sub-floor stump according to a first embodiment of the invention.

[0037] Figure 2 is a front view of the sub-floor stump with a rear attachment bracket according to the first embodiment of the invention.

[0038] Figures 3a-h are spring brackets forming a sub-floor stump assembly according to the first embodiment of the invention.

[0039] Figure 3i is a foundation attachment according to the first, second or third embodiment of the invention.

[0040] Figures 4a-b is a sub-floor stump according to a second embodiment of the invention.

[0041] Figures 4c-f are unassembled components of the sub-floor stump according to the second embodiment of the invention.

[0042] Figures 5a-b is a sub-floor stump according to a third embodiment of the invention.

[0043] Figures 5c-j are unassembled components of the sub-floor stump according to a third embodiment of the invention.

[0044] Figures 6a-c are front, right and rear views respectively of a support of a foundation column of either the first, second, third or fourth embodiment of the invention.

[0045] Figures 7a-c are isometric, top and side views respectively of a foundation attachment according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.

[0046] Figure 8 is a perspective view of an assembled base plate with bolted attachments according to the second embodiment of the invention.

[0047] Figure 9a and 9b are perspective upper and lower views of the sub-floor stump with bolted attachments according to the second embodiment of the invention.

[0048] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0049] Preferred features of the present invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it is to be understood that the features illustrated in and described with reference to the drawings are not to be construed as limiting on the scope of the invention. In describing the various embodiments of the invention, like features will be referred to using like references, with references for features of each embodiment generally preceded by 1, 2, 3, or followed by a Roman numeric sequence, such as i, ii, iii, etc. or an alphabetical sequence such as a, b, c, relative to the corresponding feature of the first embodiment.

[0050] The following description apply to any of the first to fourth embodiments of the invention.

[0051] A sub-floor stump 10,110,210 including predominantly metal components and not requiring welding or fasteners for installation on-site. The sub-floor stump 10,110,210 adapted for attachment to a foundation 1 such as concrete.

[0052] The sub-floor stump may include a foundation column 20 mounted to a floor attachment in the form of a broad plate 30,300. The broad plate 30,300 may be provided in different forms to suit different ground or floor surfaces, such as penetrable soil or gravel, or concrete or rock. The broad plate 300 shown in Figs. 3d and 3h is suitable for mounting to flat, hard, surfaces wherein 4 peripheral slot holes 338 are adapted to receive bolts. The long slot nature of the holes 338 permits limited adjustability of position of the broad plate 300 relative to the floor or other hard surface. The upstanding tags 339 are insertable in corresponding slot apertures 5a,b,ai,bi found in the column-mounting brackets 5,5i of Figs. 3a-3b.

[0053] The drawings show a sub-floor stump system adapted for attachment of a stump 120 to ground or floor surfaces 1, the system including: (1) a column having a lower end 123 including (a) one or more downwardly depending tabs 126 and / or (b) at least one cut out profile 137 formed in a wall 124 of the column 120; and (2) a foot plate 133 including: (a) at least one slot 125 adapted to receive the downwardly depending tab 126 such that the column 120 cannot rotate about its longitudinal axis; and / or (b) at least one aperture adapted to receive a threaded shaft that, together with a complementary nut 136, is adapted to be trapped in the profile 137 such that the column 120 is restrained against axial movement along its longitudinal axis relative to the foot plate 133.

[0054] Spring brackets

[0055] The sub-floor stump 10,110,210 includes multiple spring bracket attachments 2a-b.

[0056] Fig. 3a shows the bracket 5i in folded state ready for use. Fig. 3g shows the bracket 5i in unfolded or blank state. Similarly, Fig. 3c shows the bracket 5 in folded state ready for use. Fig. 3b shows the bracket 5 in unfolded or blank state. Fig. 3f shows a beam supporting bracket 2a in folded state ready for use. Fig. 3e shows the bracket 5 in unfolded or blank state. The vertical beam spring bracket 5 shown in figures 3a-c is adapted to receive vertical beams 52.

[0057] The column mounting brackets 5,5i combine to form a square recess into which an end of a square hollow section column 20b may be received. The first bracket element 5 of Fig. 3c is nestable complementary element 5i, each rotated 90 degrees relative to the other, so that their respective slot apertures 5a, ai and 5b, bi are registered or aligned.

[0058] The spring bracket attachments 2a-b include at least one interlocking joint 3a-b formed from upstanding protrusions or tags 4a-b that are adapted to be slotted into the slot or holes 5a,ai,b,bi. The tags 4a, b are sprung biased so that, when they enter the slots 5a,ai,b,bi they do so under tension, and are in part held in place by the spring bias. The brackets 2 extending normal to the brackets 2a, as shown in Fig. 2a, are adapted to receive the ends of normally extending box beams, also mounted to the post struct of sub-floor stump 10,110,210.

[0059] The spring brackets 2a-b allow for faster assembly than without spring brackets 2a-b due to their temporary holding strength being adapted to hold a sub-floor stump assembly 10,110,210 a together. This may be permanent and sufficient to achieve a strong structure. Alternatively, fasteners may be added to the connections 6a-b while even stronger permanent joints 6a-b are formed. However, preferably, no fasteners are required.

[0060] The spring brackets 2a-b may be adapted to hold the assembly 10,110,210 a together while bolts 11, adhesives or rivets are used to lock the spring bracket joints in place. The spring brackets 2a-b may be adapted to form a structural connection together with the bolts, adhesives or rivets. The spring brackets may be adapted to slot into place through use of manual force by an installer. Such force may include compressing or gently hammering (with a wooden or rubber mallet) the spring brackets 2a-b to flex the protrusions 4a-b into the slots or holes 5a,ai,b,bi.

[0061] The inventive sub-floor system may include multiple laser cut sheet metal components like those shown in Figs. 3a -3h, 4c - 4fh and 5c - 5j in the structural shape of bent sheet metal. The laser cutting process provides an oxidation protection over a cut surface.

[0062] The sheet metal spring brackets 2a-b are be formed cheaply due to laser cutting and bending manufacturing techniques, as opposed to casting or welding techniques.

[0063] The multiple laser cut sheet metal components are adapted to be formed from first laser cutting flat sheets of galvanized steel and bending said cut sheets, for example into the spring brackets 2a, b.

[0064] Elongate sections 7a-b of the spring brackets 2a-b extending from corners or bends 8a-b or straight edges of the spring bracket 2a-b may form arms 7a-b of the bracket 2a, b, the arms bridged by an intermediate perpendicularly aligned rear wall 7c. The arms 7a-b are adapted to flex and bend relative to other portions of a spring bracket 2a-b to allow for easy attachment or fitment into slots or holes 5a,ai,b,bi. of the sub-floor stump 10,110,210.

[0065] The first and second embodiments assembled with beams 50 are shown in figures 10 - lib. Beams 50 are slotted in between and through the elongate sections 7a-b of the spring brackets 2a-b. Vertical beams 52 are adapted to be inserted into the vertical beam spring bracket 5 shown in figure 10. The vertical spring bracket 5 is adapted to be slotted over the protrusions 4a-b of the Spring brackets 2a-b.

[0066] Foot plate

[0067] The sub-floor stump 10,110,210 includes the floor attachment 30,130. The floor attachment 30,130 includes a foot plate 33,133. The foot plate 33 includes a structural feature in the form of a broad plate 34,134 having an octagonal shape in plan view. The broad plate 34,134 is adapted to be positioned or aligned in a horizontal orientation. The foot plate 33,133 includes guides in the form of hollow tubes 35,135 that extend from a periphery of the broad plate 34,134 at a non-vertical and non-horizontal, or in other words diagonal, angle, relative to a horizontal plane of the broad plate 34,134. The tubes 35,135 are adapted to receive and guide footing rods extending into the ground or other penetrable subsurface. The rods 35a may be micropiles and may be 300 -1000mm long. The rods 35a are typically hammered into the subsurface until their upper tip is just proud or flush with the top of the guide 35,135 using a jackhammer or manual means of similar effect.

[0068] The foot platel33 is attached to the foundation column 120 as shown in Figures 8 - 9b with bolts 136. The bolts 136 are counter sunk into the underside of the foot plate 33,133 as best shown in Fig. 9a and are nested in cut out profiles 137 that correspond to the side profile of the bolt 136. This bolts 136 have nuts that are snugly nested in the profile 137 such that the nut cannot be rotated from having its flat abutting an inner edge of the profile 137 to the nut having a corner pass the inner edge of the profile 137. In a lower end 123 of the foot stump 20 includes the profiles in the form of 4 grooves 137, each adapted to receive a bolt 136 in four sides 124a-d of the foundation column 120. These descriptions of structural features of the second embodiment of the invention also describe the first and third embodiment of the invention.

[0069] The bolts 136 are trapped in the profiles 137 and strongly anchor the base 123 on the broad plate 133.

[0070] In Figs. 7a - c, there is shown an elongate foot plate 433 adapted to support stumps having columns identical to columns 20,120. Columns 20,120 have downwardly depending peripheral tabs 126 that are adapted to be inserted into slots or recesses 425 to assist initially locating the lower end 123 on and in the foot plate 433. The same principle applies to the foot plates 33,133,233 - the stump column 20,120,220 is located via its tabs 436 in the slots 425 of the footplate 433, prior to inserting the countersink bolts 136 through the underside of the foot plate 433, and a flange nut is located on the bolt shaft whereby to be trapped in the profiles 437 as the countersunk bolt head is tightened. The location of adjacent stumps close together by using the foot plate 433 is advantageous where stumps are required close together, for example either side of a firewall 500.

[0071] The one or more slots 425 may be arranged in pairs, one either side of each bolt hole 427 in the foot plate 433. For example, where there are 4 bolts 136 per stump column 20,120,220, there will be 8 slots 425 for each stump column, with the stump column including a pair of spaced corresponding tabs 126 depending from each wall of the stump column 20,120,220. The engagement of the tabs 126 in the slots provides strong resistance against torsional forces, whereas the trapped bolts in the profiles 137 provide great tensile strength axially for the stump column 20,120,220 relative to the foot plate 422.

[0072] Sheet metal

[0073] The sub-floor stump 10,110,210 is formed from predominantly sheet metal in the structural form of bent sheet steel. The sub-floor stump 10,110,210 is formed from 90% by mass sheet metal components.

[0074] Throughout the specification and claims the word "comprise" and its derivatives are intended to have an inclusive rather than exclusive meaning unless the contrary is expressly stated or the context requires otherwise. That is, the word "comprise" and its derivatives will be taken to indicate the inclusion of not only the listed components, steps or features that it directly references, but also other components, steps or features not specifically listed, unless the contrary is expressly stated or the context requires otherwise.

[0075] In the present specification, terms such as "apparatus", "means", "device" and "member" may refer to singular or plural items and are terms intended to refer to a set of properties, functions or characteristics performed by one or more items or components having one or more parts. It is envisaged that where an "apparatus", "means", "device" or "member" or similar term is described as being a unitary object, then a functionally equivalent object having multiple components is considered to fall within the scope of the term, and similarly, where an "apparatus", "assembly", "means", "device" or "member" is described as having multiple components, a functionally equivalent but unitary object is also considered to fall within the scope of the term, unless the contrary is expressly stated or the context requires otherwise.

[0076] In the present specification, the phrase "and / or" refers to severally or any combination of the features. For example, the phrase "feature 1, feature 2 and / or feature 3" includes within its scope any one of the following combinations: Feature 1 or feature 2 or feature 3; feature 1 and feature 2 or feature 3; feature 1 or feature 2 and feature 3; feature 1 and feature 3 or feature 2; feature 1 and feature 2 and feature 3.

[0077] The meaning of descriptive, precise or absolute terms such as "flexed", "normal", "parallel", "horizontal", "vertical" or "fully" includes the preceding qualifier "substantially or almost", unless the context or contrary is expressly indicated.

[0078] Qualifying relative terms, such as "relatively", "sufficiently", "near", "almost" or "substantially", may be taken to indicate a variation in an absolute value of between 09and 10,110,2109or between 0% and 10,110,210 %, relative to the absolute value. For example, "near horizontal" may be taken to mean any orientation between 09and 10,110,2109relative to the horizontal.

[0079] Where the word "for" is used to qualify a use or application of an object term, the word "for" is only limiting in the sense that the device or component should be "suitable for" that use or application.

[0080] In the present specification, the term "integral" means formed of one body in a single process. In particular, the term "integrally formed" means formed of the one body without postforming attachment of separately formed component parts. That is, "integrally formed" and the similar term "unitarily formed" mean formed in a single forming process and do not include post-forming attachment of component parts by means of fastener or other component fixing substances or methods.

[0081] Orientational terms used in the specification and claims such as vertical, horizontal, top, bottom, upper and lower are to be interpreted as relational and are based on the premise that the component, item, article, apparatus, device or instrument will usually be considered in a particular orientation, which will usually be apparent from the context.

[0082] In the present specification, the term "integral" means formed of one body in a single process. In particular, the term "integrally formed" means formed of the one body without postforming attachment of separately formed component parts. That is, "integrally formed" and the similar term "unitarily formed" mean formed in a single forming process and do not include post-forming attachment of component parts by means of fastener or other component fixing substances or methods.

[0083] The articles "a" and "an" are used herein to refer to one or to more than one (i.e. to at least one) of the grammatical object of the article. By way of example, "an element" means one element or more than one element.

[0084] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many modifications and variations may be made to the methods of the invention described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The features and components of each of the embodiments of the invention described in the detailed description and / or depicted in the accompanying drawings may be interchangeable as required, with regard to functional equivalency and compatibility. A feature or component described with reference to one but not all embodiments, if functionally and dimensionally compatible as an addition with another embodiment herein described, or substitutable with a corresponding feature or component of that other embodiment in relation to which it has not been expressly described, should be read as a potential addition or substitution to that other embodiment and as being within the scope of the invention. Furthermore, in considering a feature or component that is described in relation a particular embodiment but may be omitted from the embodiment without losing the functionality characterising the invention and without departing from the scope of the invention, unless the context and expressions used in describing the embodiment imputes that the feature or component is essential to the invention as broadly described, the omittable feature or component may be read as not being included in the embodiment.

Claims

Claims:

1. A sub-floor stump system comprising predominantly metal components and not requiring welding for installation on-site, the sub-floor stump system adapted for attachment of a stump to ground or floor surfaces, such as penetrable soil or gravel, or concrete or rock, wherein the system includes: a column having a lower end including one or more downwardly depending tabs or protrusions and / or at least one cut out profile formed in a wall of the column; a foot plate including: at least one slot adapted to receive the downwardly depending protrusion or tab such that the column cannot rotate about its longitudinal axis; and / or at least one aperture adapted to receive a threaded shaft that, together with a complementary nut, is adapted to be trapped in the profile such that the column is restrained against axial movement along its longitudinal axis relative to the foot plate.

2. The sub-floor stump system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the sub-floor stump system includes, at an upper end of the stump column, a height-adjustable mechanism.

3. The sub-floor stump system as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the height-adjustable mechanism includes a threaded shaft threadably inserted in a nut, wherein the nut is suspended in a locked height position relative to the stump column and the shaft and a bolt head or complementary nut of the threaded shaft are adapted to change height by rotation relative to the suspended nut.

4. The sub-floor stump system as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the system includes a spring bracket mounted on or supported by the bolt head or the complementary nut.

5. The sub-floor stump system as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the spring bracket includes at least one upstanding protrusion adapted to be received by a hole or slot in a support bracket.

6. The sub-floor stump system as claimed in Claim 4 or 5, wherein the spring bracket provides a primary structural load path from a floor of a building or other built structure to a foundation.

7. The sub-floor stump system as claimed in Claim 5 or 6, wherein the spring bracket is adapted to be forced against a bias of an arm of the spring bracket bearing the protrusion such that the protrusion is slotted into the hole or slot with tension.

8. The sub-floor stump system as claimed in any one of Claims 5 - 7 , wherein the support bracket comprises walls defining a rectangular-shaped recess and is adapted to receive a post in axial alignment with the stump column.

9. The sub-floor stump system as claimed in any one of Claims 4 - 8, wherein the spring bracket is adapted to receive a beam extending normal or perpendicular to the stump column.

10. The sub-floor stump system as claimed in any one of the previous claims, wherein the footing plate includes guides on its periphery to receive micro piles for anchoring the foot plate on a non-concrete surface.

Images