SLIDE-ON COLUMN CAPITAL, COLUMN ASSEMBLY, AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE THEREOF
A column capital includes a generally planar top surface; a generally cylindrical inner surface for receiving a column therein; and a outer decorative surface spaced away from the inner surface. The inner surface is sized to fit over a column and rest on a neck ring of the column. The capital may incorporate a cylindrical, abradable liner. A method for producing a column capital includes introducing casting material between a mold an liner, allowing the casting material to cure, and removing the casting material with the attached liner from the mold.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/626,170, filed Nov. 9, 2004.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates generally to decorative construction elements, and more particularly to capitals for being installed on building columns.
Columns, both structural and decorative, are common construction elements. Often these columns will include a decorative capital at an upper end thereof. Many of the designs of such capitals originated in ancient times and often include complex features, such as curves, scrolls, flowers, etc., which would be expensive to reproduce directly on a column (i.e. by carving). Furthermore, commercially-available columns are made in many different lengths. Therefore, capitals are usually made as a separate component, for example, by carving or molding. The separate capital is then attached to the top of the column.
In the prior art, capitals are typically attached by inserting a plug with a downwardly-extending post into the interior of the capital. The capital is then manually aligned with the column and attached thereto with screws or other fasteners. This process requires a substantial amount of time and skilled labor, and is therefore expensive.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a column capital which is simple to install.
It is another object of the invention to provide a column capital which accommodates manufacturing variations in the column to which it is attached.
These and other objects are met by the present invention, which according to one embodiment provides a column capital having a generally planar top surface; a generally cylindrical inner surface for receiving a column therein; a decorative outer surface spaced away from the inner surface; and a generally cylindrical liner which extends through the capital in a vertical direction and which defines the inner surface.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the liner is an abradable material.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the liner is paper.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the capital is made from a polymeric resin.
According to another embodiment of the invention, an absorbent filler is disposed in the resin.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the absorbent filler is selected from the group consisting of pecan shells, flour, and calcium carbonate.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the casting material consists essentially of a polyester resin and an absorbent filler.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the casting material consists essentially of, by volume, about 30% to about 70% polyester resin and about 30% to about 70% absorbent filler.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the capital is a solid casting.
According to another embodiment of the invention, an interior void is disposed between the liner and the outer surface.
According to another embodiment of the invention a column assembly includes a generally cylindrical column having an outer wall, an annular top rim, and a radially-extending neck ring encircling the outer wall, the neck ring spaced a predetermined distance from the top rim; and a capital. The capital includes a generally planar top surface; a outer decorative surface spaced away from the inner surface; and an annular lower rim which bears upon the neck ring to support the capital upon the neck ring and which receives the outer wall therein.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the column assembly further includes a generally cylindrical, abradable liner which extends through the capital in a vertical direction and which defines an inner surface which receives the outer wall.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the capital includes a generally cylindrical liner integrally cast therewith, the liner extending through the capital in a vertical direction and defining an inner surface which receives the outer wall.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the capital is made from two joined halves each including a portion of the liner and the outer surface.
According to another embodiment of the invention, a method of making a capital for a column includes providing a mold having a predetermined shape; placing a generally cylindrical liner into the mold; introducing a fluid casting material into the mold and around the liner; allowing the casting material to cure to form a solid; and removing the solid with the liner attached thereto from the mold.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe invention may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures in which:
Referring to the drawings wherein identical reference numerals denote the same elements throughout the various views,
The capital 10 is a decorative element which has a cylindrical inner surface 22 and a outer surface 24 that is formed into a desired decorative shape. A plug 26 of wood or other material is secured in the interior of the capital 10, and a cylindrical post 28 extends downward from the plug 26. A vent tube 30 extends through the post 28 and the plug 26, to relieve any differential pressure between the interior of the vent tube 30 and the outside environment.
The capital 10 is secured to the column 12 by first severing the portion of the column 12 above the neck ring 20 (see
The inner surface 118 of the capital 110 has an inside diameter “D1”. The diameter “D1” is selected to be generously larger than an outside diameter “D2” of the portion of column 12 above the neck ring 20 (see
The capital 110 may be constructed from any material which will retain the desired features. Examples of suitable materials include wood, plaster, stone, and plastics. The capital 110 may be formed by any known methods, for example machining a blank of material, cold casting, injection molding, rotational molding, and the like.
A cylindrical liner 122 may be disposed inside the capital 110 so that it defines the inner surface 118. The liner 122 may be made from an abradable material, that is a material which may be easily cut, machined away, or otherwise removed. This is helpful in cases where the column 12 is severely out-of round, as described in more detail below. In the illustrated example, the liner 122 is a formed paper tube with a wall thickness of about 2.4 mm ( 3/32 in.) to about 3.2 mm (⅛ in.)
In one exemplary manufacturing process, the capital is formed by introducing fluid casting material into a permanent mold and allowing it to cure through an exothermic reaction. It has been found that using a casting material with a filler, especially an absorbent filler that takes up the base resin, results in a finished product which is easy to machine, relatively lightweight, and which has good surface finish and the ability to “hold” delicate, sharp decorative features without crumbling. Examples of suitable absorbent fillers include ground pecan shells, flour, and calcium carbonate (often referred to as “marble dust”). Any base resin which is compatible with the filler may be used, for example polyester or polyurethane resins. One exemplary casting material composition includes about 30% to about 70% by volume percent polyester resin, about 30% to about 70% by volume absorbent filler, and a quantity of a catalyst effective to promote an exothermic reaction, for example about 1.25% by volume methyl-ethyl-ketone (MEK) peroxide.
Although it is possible to produce the capital 110 as a fully solid casting and then to machine away material to form the inner surface 118, this is time-consuming and wasteful of material. Accordingly, the casting process may be carried out in such a way that a central opening 124 (see
The configuration shown in
The foregoing has described a column capital. While specific embodiments of the present invention have been described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications thereto can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, Accordingly, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention and the best mode for practicing the invention are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose of limitation, the invention being defined by the claims.
Claims
1. A column capital, comprising:
- a generally planar top surface;
- a generally cylindrical inner surface for receiving a column therein;
- a decorative outer surface spaced away from said inner surface; and
- a generally cylindrical liner which extends through said capital in a vertical direction and which defines said inner surface.
2. The column capital of claim 1 wherein said liner comprises an abradable material.
3. The column capital of claim 1 wherein said liner comprises paper.
4. The column capital of claim 1 wherein said capital comprises a polymeric resin.
5. The column capital of claim 4 wherein an absorbent filler is disposed in said resin.
6. The column capital of claim 5 wherein said absorbent filler is selected from the group consisting of pecan shells, flour, and calcium carbonate.
7. The column capital of claim 4 wherein said casting material consists essentially of a polyester resin and an absorbent filler.
8. The column capital of claim 7 wherein said casting material consists essentially of, by volume, about 30% to about 70% polyester resin and about 30% to about 70% absorbent filler.
9. The column capital of claim 1 wherein said capital is a solid casting.
10. The column capital of claim 1 wherein an interior void is disposed between said liner and said outer surface.
11. A column assembly, comprising:
- a generally cylindrical column having an outer wall, an annular top rim, and a radially-extending neck ring encircling said outer wall, said neck ring spaced a predetermined distance from said top rim; and
- a capital, comprising:
- a generally planar top surface;
- an outer decorative surface spaced away from said inner surface; and
- an annular lower rim which bears upon said neck ring to support said capital upon said neck ring and which receives said outer wall therein.
12. The column assembly of claim 11 further comprising a generally cylindrical, abradable liner which extends through said capital in a vertical direction and which defines an inner surface which receives said outer wall.
13. The column assembly of claim 11 wherein said capital includes a generally cylindrical liner integrally cast therewith, said liner extending through said capital in a vertical direction and defining an inner surface which receives said outer wall.
14. The column assembly of claim 13 wherein said capital comprises two joined halves each including a portion of said liner and said outer surface.
15. A method of making a capital for a column, comprising:
- providing a mold having a predetermined shape;
- placing a generally cylindrical liner into said mold;
- introducing a fluid casting material into said mold and around said liner;
- allowing said casting material to cure to form a solid; and
- removing said solid with the liner attached thereto from said mold.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein said liner comprises an abradable material.
17. The method of claim 15 wherein said liner comprises paper.
18. The method of claim 15 wherein said capital comprises a polymeric resin.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein an absorbent filler is disposed in said resin.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein said absorbent filler is selected from the group consisting of pecan shells, flour, and calcium carbonate.
21. The method of claim 18 wherein said casting material consists essentially of a polyester resin and an absorbent filler.
22. The method of claim 21 wherein said casting material consists essentially of, by volume, about 30% to about 70% polyester resin and about 30% to about 70% absorbent filler.
23. The method of claim 15 wherein said capital includes a hollow void between said liner and said outer surface.
24. The method of making a capital of claim 15 wherein a filler material is disposed in said void.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 24, 2005
Publication Date: Jun 1, 2006
Inventors: Matthew Tarleton (Monroe, NC), Arthur Tarleton (Matthews, NC), Arthur Tarleton (Charlotte, NC)
Application Number: 10/907,236
International Classification: E04H 12/00 (20060101);