Column bracket assembly and related methods and structures

1. A column bracket assembly for adjustably securing an elongate supporting element between a base and a structure to be supported, the column bracket assembly comprising at least one brace bracket selected from the group consisting of:

i) a bottom brace bracket comprising a bracket body pivotally coupled to a base plate, the bracket body comprising a rear wall and a pair of sidewalls extending from opposing sides of the rear wall to collectively define a 3-sided channel configured to receive a first end portion of the elongate support element, the bracket body further comprising a support shelf at least partially enclosing one end of the channel and configured to abut a first end of the elongate support element when disposed within the channel, the base plate being adapted to be releasably secured to the base; and

ii) a top brace bracket comprising a mounting body pivotally coupled to a header bracket, the mounting body comprising a rear wall and a pair of sidewalls extending from opposing sides of the rear wall to collectively define a 3-sided channel configured to receive a second end portion the elongate support element, the mounting body further comprising a support shelf at least partially enclosing one end of the channel and configured to abut a second end of the support element when disposed within the channel, the header bracket being adapted to be releasably secured to the structure to be supported;

wherein the base plate comprises a central through-hole configured to receive a fastener adapted to secure the base plate to the base.

2. The column bracket assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bracket body and the base plate of the bottom brace bracket each comprise a pair of bracket tabs, and each bracket tab defines a pivot pin hole, and wherein the bottom brace bracket comprises a pivot pin securable disposed within the pivot pin holes of the bracket tabs to form a pivotal connection between the bracket body and the base plate.

3. The column bracket assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bracket body further comprises a cross brace mounting bracket adapted to be pivotally coupled to a cross brace bracket configured to be coupled to an end portion of a cross brace.

4. The column bracket assembly of claim 3 , further comprising a cross brace pivotally coupled to the cross brace mounting bracket via the cross brace bracket.

5. The column bracket assembly of claim 1 , wherein the base plate defines at least one peripheral alignment slot.

6. The column bracket assembly of claim 5 , wherein the base plate defines a series of peripheral alignment slots disposed about an outer portion of the base plate.

7. The column bracket assembly of claim 1 , wherein the mounting body and the header bracket of the top brace bracket each comprise a pair of bracket tabs, and each bracket tab defines a pivot pin hole, and wherein the top brace bracket comprises a pivot pin securable disposed within the pivot pin holes of the bracket tabs to form a pivotal connection between the mounting body and the header bracket.

8. The column bracket assembly of claim 1 , wherein the mounting body further comprises a cross brace mounting bracket adapted to be pivotally coupled to a cross brace bracket configured to be coupled to an end portion of a cross brace.

9. The column bracket assembly of claim 8 , further comprising a cross brace pivotally coupled to the cross brace mounting bracket via the cross brace bracket.

10. The column bracket assembly of claim 1 , further comprising the elongate support element, wherein the elongate support element comprises a wooden column.

11. A supported structure comprising the column bracket assembly of claim 1 .

12. A method of supporting a structure with the column bracket assembly of claim 1 , said method comprising:

i) fastening the base plate to a surface of a base, thereby coupling the bottom brace bracket to the base; and securing a first end portion of an elongate support element within the channel of the bracket body; and/or

ii) fastening the header bracket to an underside surface of the structure, thereby coupling the top brace bracket to the structure; and securing a second end portion of the elongate support element within the channel of the mounting body;

thereby installing the column bracket assembly in a load-bearing fashion between the structure and the base and supporting the structure.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the surface of the base and the underside surface of the structure are not parallel to one another.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the structure comprises a compromised foundation support system such that the method is further defined as a method of supporting a damaged structure with the column bracket assembly.

15. A supported structure prepared by the method of claim 12 .

16. The supported structure of claim 15 , wherein the base is further defined as a footing, and wherein the underside surface of the structure is further defined as the bottom face of a support beam.

17. The supported structure of claim 16 , wherein the structure is further defined as a house.

18. The supported structure of claim 16 , wherein the structure is further defined as a water tower pool comprising a water barrel secured atop an elevated platform supported by the support beam.

19. A column bracket assembly for adjustably securing an elongate supporting element between a base and a structure to be supported, the column bracket assembly comprising at least one brace bracket selected from the group consisting of:

i) a bottom brace bracket comprising a bracket body pivotally coupled to a base plate, the bracket body comprising a rear wall and a pair of sidewalls extending from opposing sides of the rear wall to collectively define a 3-sided channel configured to receive a first end portion of the elongate support element, the bracket body further comprising a support shelf at least partially enclosing one end of the channel and configured to abut a first end of the elongate support element when disposed within the channel, the base plate being adapted to be releasably secured to the base; and

ii) a top brace bracket comprising a mounting body pivotally coupled to a header bracket, the mounting body comprising a rear wall and a pair of sidewalls extending from opposing sides of the rear wall to collectively define a 3-sided channel configured to receive a second end portion the elongate support element, the mounting body further comprising a support shelf at least partially enclosing one end of the channel and configured to abut a second end of the support element when disposed within the channel, the header bracket being adapted to be releasably secured to the structure to be supported;

wherein the bracket body further comprises a cross brace mounting bracket adapted to be pivotally coupled to a cross brace bracket configured to be coupled to an end portion of a cross brace.

20. The column bracket assembly of claim 19 , further comprising a cross brace pivotally coupled to the cross brace mounting bracket via the cross brace bracket.

21. A column bracket assembly for adjustably securing an elongate supporting element between a base and a structure to be supported, the column bracket assembly comprising at least one brace bracket selected from the group consisting of:

i) a bottom brace bracket comprising a bracket body pivotally coupled to a base plate, the bracket body comprising a rear wall and a pair of sidewalls extending from opposing sides of the rear wall to collectively define a 3-sided channel configured to receive a first end portion of the elongate support element, the bracket body further comprising a support shelf at least partially enclosing one end of the channel and configured to abut a first end of the elongate support element when disposed within the channel, the base plate being adapted to be releasably secured to the base; and

ii) a top brace bracket comprising a mounting body pivotally coupled to a header bracket, the mounting body comprising a rear wall and a pair of sidewalls extending from opposing sides of the rear wall to collectively define a 3-sided channel configured to receive a second end portion the elongate support element, the mounting body further comprising a support shelf at least partially enclosing one end of the channel and configured to abut a second end of the support element when disposed within the channel, the header bracket being adapted to be releasably secured to the structure to be supported;

wherein the base plate defines at least one peripheral alignment slot.

22. The column bracket assembly of claim 21 , wherein the base plate defines a series of peripheral alignment slots disposed about an outer portion of the base plate.

23. A column bracket assembly for adjustably securing an elongate supporting element between a base and a structure to be supported, the column bracket assembly comprising at least one brace bracket selected from the group consisting of:

i) a bottom brace bracket comprising a bracket body pivotally coupled to a base plate, the bracket body comprising a rear wall and a pair of sidewalls extending from opposing sides of the rear wall to collectively define a 3-sided channel configured to receive a first end portion of the elongate support element, the bracket body further comprising a support shelf at least partially enclosing one end of the channel and configured to abut a first end of the elongate support element when disposed within the channel, the base plate being adapted to be releasably secured to the base; and

ii) a top brace bracket comprising a mounting body pivotally coupled to a header bracket, the mounting body comprising a rear wall and a pair of sidewalls extending from opposing sides of the rear wall to collectively define a 3-sided channel configured to receive a second end portion the elongate support element, the mounting body further comprising a support shelf at least partially enclosing one end of the channel and configured to abut a second end of the support element when disposed within the channel, the header bracket being adapted to be releasably secured to the structure to be supported;

wherein the mounting body further comprises a cross brace mounting bracket adapted to be pivotally coupled to a cross brace bracket configured to be coupled to an end portion of a cross brace.

24. The column bracket assembly of claim 23 , further comprising a cross brace pivotally coupled to the cross brace mounting bracket via the cross brace bracket.

25. A method of supporting a damaged structure with a column bracket assembly, with the column bracket assembly comprising at least one brace bracket selected from the group consisting of:

i) a bottom brace bracket comprising a bracket body pivotally coupled to a base plate, the bracket body comprising a rear wall and a pair of sidewalls extending from opposing sides of the rear wall to collectively define a 3-sided channel configured to receive a first end portion of the elongate support element, the bracket body further comprising a support shelf at least partially enclosing one end of the channel and configured to abut a first end of the elongate support element when disposed within the channel, the base plate being adapted to be releasably secured to the base; and

ii) a top brace bracket comprising a mounting body pivotally coupled to a header bracket, the mounting body comprising a rear wall and a pair of sidewalls extending from opposing sides of the rear wall to collectively define a 3-sided channel configured to receive a second end portion the elongate support element, the mounting body further comprising a support shelf at least partially enclosing one end of the channel and configured to abut a second end of the support element when disposed within the channel, the header bracket being adapted to be releasably secured to the damaged structure to be supported;

said method comprising:

fastening the base plate to a surface of a base, thereby coupling the bottom brace bracket to the base;

fastening the header bracket to an underside surface of the damaged structure, thereby coupling the top brace bracket to the damaged structure;

securing a first end portion of an elongate support element within the channel of the bracket body; and

securing a second end portion of the elongate support element within the channel of the mounting body, thereby installing the column bracket assembly in a load-bearing fashion between the damaged structure and the base and supporting the damaged structure;

wherein the damaged structure comprises a compromised foundation support system.

26. A supported structure prepared by a method of supporting a structure with a column bracket assembly, with the column bracket assembly comprising at least one brace bracket selected from the group consisting of:

i) a bottom brace bracket comprising a bracket body pivotally coupled to a base plate, the bracket body comprising a rear wall and a pair of sidewalls extending from opposing sides of the rear wall to collectively define a 3-sided channel configured to receive a first end portion of the elongate support element, the bracket body further comprising a support shelf at least partially enclosing one end of the channel and configured to abut a first end of the elongate support element when disposed within the channel, the base plate being adapted to be releasably secured to the base; and

ii) a top brace bracket comprising a mounting body pivotally coupled to a header bracket, the mounting body comprising a rear wall and a pair of sidewalls extending from opposing sides of the rear wall to collectively define a 3-sided channel configured to receive a second end portion the elongate support element, the mounting body further comprising a support shelf at least partially enclosing one end of the channel and configured to abut a second end of the support element when disposed within the channel, the header bracket being adapted to be releasably secured to the structure to be supported;

said method comprising:

fastening the base plate to a surface of a base, thereby coupling the bottom brace bracket to the base;

fastening the header bracket to an underside surface of the structure, thereby coupling the top brace bracket to the structure;

securing a first end portion of an elongate support element within the channel of the bracket body; and

securing a second end portion of the elongate support element within the channel of the mounting body, thereby installing the column bracket assembly in a load-bearing fashion between the structure and the base and supporting the structure.

27. The supported structure of claim 26 , wherein the base is further defined as a footing, and wherein the underside surface of the structure is further defined as the bottom face of a support beam.

28. The supported structure of claim 27 , wherein the structure is further defined as a house.

29. The supported structure of claim 27 , wherein the structure is further defined as a water tower pool comprising a water barrel secured atop an elevated platform supported by the support beam.