A heap is a set with a certain ternary operation that is self-distributive (TSD) and exemplified by a group with the operation $(x,y,z)mapsto xy^{-1}z$. We introduce and investigate framed link invariants using heaps. In analogy with the knot group, we define the fundamental heap of framed links using group presentations. The fundamental heap is determined for some classes of links such as certain families of torus and pretzel links. We show that for these families of links there exist epimorphisms from fundamental heaps to Vinberg and Coxeter groups, implying that corresponding groups are infinite. A relation to the Wirtinger presentation is also described. The cocycle invariant is defined using ternary self-distributive (TSD) cohomology, by means of a state sum that uses ternary heap $2$-cocycles as weights. It is shown that the cohomology splits into two types, called degenerate and nondegenerate, and that the degenerate part is one dimensional. Subcomplexes are constructed based on group cosets, that allow computations of the nondegenerate part. We apply colorings inferred from fundamental heaps to compute cocycle invariants, and prove that the invariant values can be used to derive algebraic properties of the cohomology.
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