that are disposed in the grade beam and a plurality of horizontally extending reinforcing bars extend through openings in the flanges application_number US 6772287 A description referring to fig1 and 2 of the drawings the reference numeral 10 refers in general to the foundation system of the present invention which consists essentially of a concrete slab 12 formed in a rectangular configuration and having a grade beam 14 extending around the margins thereof the grade beam 14 is formed essentially of concrete and can be formed integrally with the slab 12 alternatively the grade beam 14 can be formed separately from the slab 12 in which case a joint j fig2 would be formed at the interface between the grade beam and the slab the upper surface of the grade beam 14 is coextensive with the upper surface of the slab 12 and the grade beam has a height or thickness greater than that of the slab a plurality of vertical steel pilings 16 extend from the grade beam 14 and into the ground and are spaced at pre determined intervals such as nine feet a sleeve 18 extends over the upper end portion of each piling 16 and has a top cap or cover 18a which rests on the upper end of the piling as shown in fig2 and 3 a pair of ears or flanges 20a and 20b extend from diametrically opposite portions of each sleeve 18 and are connected thereto in any conventional manner a pair of vertically spaced through openings are provided through each flange 20a and 20b for reasons to be described four horizontally extending steel bars 22a 22b 22c and 22d are provided in the grade beam.