SELF-FASTENING SYSTEMS FOR SECURING ORNAMENTAL CAPITALS AND/OR BASES TO ARCHITECTURAL COLUMNS

Abstract

Self-fastening systems for securing ornamental capitals (and/or bases) to architectural columns include a plurality of spring retention members for frictionally retaining the capitals on the column shafts. If the body member of the capitals is made of a thermoplastic material with relatively thick (i.e., rigid) walls, the spring retention members may comprise a plurality of integral spring tabs for frictionally engaging the exterior wall surface of the column shafts. If the body member of the capitals is made of a thermoplastic material with relatively thin walls, the spring retention members may comprise spring clips on the uppermost end of the column shafts for frictionally engaging the uppermost end of a tubular inner wall portion of the capitals. If the body member of the capitals is made of a thermoset foam material, the spring retention members may comprise spring clips anchored to the body members for frictionally engaging the exterior wall surface of the column shafts.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to architectural columns and ornamental capitals and/or bases therefor and more particularly to self-fastening systems for securing the ornamental capitals and/or bases in place at the upper and/or lower ends of the columns.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Architectural columns prefabricated, for example, out of fiber reinforced polymer composites are commonly used to add style and elegance to a house or other building structures including porches, balconies, pool enclosures, decks, gazebos, courtyards and patios and the like. The advantage in using prefabricated architectural columns is that they are virtually maintenance-free and relatively light in weight, making them easy and economical to install without specialized labor or equipment. Such columns may be straight or tapered to make them architecturally correct, and may be made in a wide range of designs, sizes and shapes including round or square. Also ornamental capitals and bases of different designs and styles may be fabricated out of the same or different materials for use with the columns to add elegance and accents to the columns.

After the capitals and bases were placed over the columns and the columns were properly secured in place, heretofore the capitals and bases were attached to respective ceiling and floor support structures using suitable fasteners inserted through drilled holes in the capitals and bases. Not only is this time consuming, but the fastener holes have to be caulked afterwards and painted to match the color of the capitals and/or bases. Also once the capitals and bases are secured in place, it is difficult to center or reorient the capitals and bases on the columns if needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes these and other drawbacks of previous known capital and base fastening systems by providing self-fastening systems for securing the capitals and/or bases in place on the column shafts. The particular self-fastening system used will depend on the materials out of which the capitals and/or bases are made and the thickness of the materials used.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the self-fastening system comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced spring retention members for frictionally retaining the capitals and/or bases on the column shaft.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the spring retention members comprise spring clips that may be attached to the capitals and/or bases or to the column shafts.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, if the body member of the capitals and/or bases is made of a thermoset foam material, the spring retention members may comprise spring clips anchored to the body member.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, if the body member of the capitals and/or bases is made of a thermoplastic material, the spring retention members may comprise a plurality of circumferentially spaced spring tabs integral with the body member.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the body member of the capitals and/or bases may have an end wall containing an opening sized to closely slidably receive an end portion of the column shaft, and the spring tabs may have radially inwardly and axially inclined spring fingers in axially spaced relation from the opening that frictionally engage the exterior surface of the column shaft.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, if the body member of the capitals is made of a thermoplastic material, the body member may have an axially extending tubular inner wall portion containing a through passage for closely slidably receiving an upper end portion of the column shafts, and the uppermost end of the column shafts may have a plurality of circumferentially spaced spring clips attached thereto for frictionally engaging the uppermost end of the tubular inner wall portion of the capitals.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, each of the spring clips may have an axially downwardly and radially inwardly inclined spring finger adapted to receive an upper end portion of the tubular inner wall portion of the capitals between the exterior wall surface of the column shafts and the spring finger for frictionally retaining the capitals on the upper end portion of the column shafts.

These and other objects, advantages, features and aspects of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but several of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the annexed drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic fragmentary perspective view of an exemplary architectural column having an exemplary capital and exemplary base at the upper and lower ends of the column shaft.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic side elevation view of an upper end portion of a column shaft and a capital incorporating one form of self-fastening system of the present invention positioned for sliding over the upper end portion of the column shaft.

FIG. 3 is a transverse section through the capital of FIG. 2, taken on the plane of the line 3-3 thereof.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged schematic side elevation view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the capital slid down over the upper end of the column shaft and the upper end of the column shaft secured to a ceiling support structure.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged schematic side elevation view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the capital raised up on the column shaft flush with the bottom surface of the ceiling support structure.

FIG. 6 is a further enlarged fragmentary section through the capital of FIG. 6.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged schematic side elevation view of a capital that has been modified for retention by another form of self-fastening system of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a transverse section through the capital of FIG. 7, taken on the plane of the line 8-8 thereof.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged schematic side elevation view showing the capital of FIGS. 7 and 8 slid down over the upper end portion of a column shaft to which such other form of self-fastening system is attached.

FIG. 10 is a further enlarged schematic side elevation view of one of a plurality of spring clips that comprise the self-fastening system shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a schematic end elevation view of the spring clip of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged schematic side elevation view similar to FIG. 9 but showing the capital raised up on the column shaft flush with the bottom surface of a ceiling support structure.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary section through the capital of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged schematic side elevation view of the upper end portion of a column shaft and a capital in vertically spaced relation therefrom similar to FIG. 2 but incorporating another form of self-fastening system of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a transverse section through the capital of FIG. 7, taken on the plane of the line 15-15.

FIG. 16 is a further enlarged schematic top plan view of one of a plurality of spring clips that comprise the self-fastening system shown in FIGS. 4 and 15.

FIG. 17 is a schematic side elevation view of the spring clip of FIG. 16 as seen from the left-hand side thereof.

FIG. 18 is a schematic end elevation view of the spring clip of FIG. 16.

FIG. 19 is a schematic side elevation view similar to FIG. 14 but showing the capital slid down below the upper end of the column shaft and the upper end of the column shaft secured to a ceiling support structure.

FIG. 20 is a schematic side elevation view similar to FIG. 19 but showing the capital raised up on the column shaft flush with the bottom surface of the ceiling support structure.

FIG. 21 is an enlarged fragmentary section through the capital of FIG. 20.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and initially to FIG. 1, there is shown an exemplary prefabricated architectural column 1 having an exemplary capital 2 and exemplary base 3 at respective upper and lower ends of the column shaft 4. The particular column shown in FIG. 1 is an unfluted tapered round column. However, columns may be made in a wide range of designs, sizes and shapes, including tapered and non-tapered round or square columns, and may be fluted or unfluted as desired. Likewise, the capitals and/or bases may be of different designs and styles to add elegance and accents to the columns, and may be prefabricated out of the same or different materials as the columns as desired.

In accordance with the present invention, the capitals 2 (and/or bases 3) may be retained on column shafts by self-fastening systems that frictionally hold the capitals (and/or bases) in place centered on the column shafts. This eliminates the need for having to drill holes through the capitals (and/or bases) for receipt of suitable fasteners and thereafter caulk and paint the fastener holes to match the color of the capitals (and/or bases).

The particular self-fastening system of the present invention may vary depending on the materials from which the body members of the capitals (and/or bases) are made and the wall thicknesses thereof. For simplification, the different self-fastening systems of the present invention are specifically shown and described herein for securing capitals in place. However, it is to be understood that substantially the same self-fastening systems may also be used to secure bases in place made of substantially the same materials as the capitals if desired.

For example, where the body member 6 of the capitals 2 is molded of a suitable thermoplastic material with relatively thick (i.e., rigid) walls 7, the self-fastening system 8 may comprise a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially extending spring tabs 9 integrally molded with the body member around an opening 10 in the lower end wall 11 of the body member sized to closely slidably receive the upper end portion 12 of the column shaft 4 as schematically shown in FIGS. 2-6.

The lower end portions of the spring tabs 9 may be supported against outward flexing by angled reinforcing webs 15 integral with the back side of the tabs and the body member around the opening. At upper end portions of the spring tabs 9 are radially inwardly and axially upwardly inclined spring fingers 16 that frictionally engage the exterior wall surface 17 of the upper end portion 12 of the column shaft as schematically shown in FIGS. 4-6. Three or more such spring tabs 9 are desirably provided substantially uniformly spaced around the inner diameter of the opening 10 to help self-center the capital 2 on the column shaft.

The amount of friction exerted by all of the spring fingers 16 against the column shaft must be sufficient to support the weight of the capital and any vibrations that the capital and column shaft may be subjected to. Such frictional force may be controlled by the type of thermoplastic material used to make the capitals (for example some thermoplastic materials have greater elasticity), the thickness and width of the spring fingers 16, the length of the spring fingers, the angle of attack of the spring fingers against the column shaft, and the amount of contact surface of the spring fingers against the column shaft.

If the column is a standard tapered column 1 with a neck ring 18 in axial spaced relation from the upper end of the column shaft, when the capital 2 is initially inserted over the top of the column shaft, the capital may be slid down into contact with the neck ring 18. This should provide sufficient clearance space above the capital to allow L-shaped brackets 19 (or other suitable attachment means) to be attached to the upper end of the column shaft, and after the column is set in place and the load is applied, to allow attachment of the brackets 19 to a suitable ceiling or roof support structure such as a support beam 20 as shown in FIG. 4. When the capital is in this lowermost position, the low point of contact 25 of the spring fingers 16 with the column shaft is desirably above the lower end wall 11 of the capital when in the fully raised position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. This has the benefit that if any of the plastic material of the spring fingers should rub off on the column shaft during sliding of the capital down and then back up along the column shaft, the plastic will not be visible when the capital is in the fully raised position flush up against the bottom side of the horizontal support structure 20 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

If the column is a non-tapered column that does not have a neck ring, the capital could be moved further down the column shaft below the visible line of contact of the spring fingers with the column shaft, so care should be taken to avoid that if possible.

Providing similar spring tabs on the base 3 (but that extend downwardly around the opening 30 in the upper end wall 31) has the further advantage that the spring tabs will allow the base to be slid up high enough on the column shaft and frictionally hold the base in place when fastening the bottom of the column shaft to the floor structure. Previously, shims had to be inserted between the inner diameter of the base and the exterior wall surface 17 of the column shaft to wedge the base in the raised position when fastening the bottom of the column to the floor structure.

Another advantage in using the spring tab self-fastening system 8 shown in FIGS. 2-6 is that the spring tabs 9 will allow limited turning of the capital (and/or base) in opposite directions relative to the column shaft to align the capital (and/or base) as need be as long as the spring tabs are sufficiently offset relative to the mounting brackets 19 so the mounting brackets don't interfere with such turning. One way to insure that is to mold the spring tabs relatively close to the corners of the capital (and/or base) if four spring tabs are provided.

If the capitals are molded out of a thermoplastic material, but with relatively thin walls to make the capitals less costly, integrally molded spring tabs 9 of the type previously described could not effectively be used as the self-fastening system, since the spring tabs would not be able to exert enough spring force against the column shaft to frictionally hold the capitals in place without distorting the capitals. In lieu of that, an axially upwardly extending tubular inner wall portion 35 may be integrally molded to the lower end wall 36 of the body member 37 of the capital 38 around the bottom opening 39 therein as schematically shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

Tubular inner wall portion 35 desirably extends substantially all the way up to the uppermost edge of the capital 38 and provides a through passage 40 for close sliding of the capital over the upper end portion 12 of the column shaft 4. After the capital 38 has been placed over the upper end portion of the column shaft and slid downwardly therealong into engagement with the neck ring 18, a self-fastening system 41 that comprises a plurality of spring retention members in the nature of spring clips 42 may be attached to the uppermost end of the column shaft in circumferentially spaced relation from each other as schematically shown in FIG. 9.

As best seen in FIGS. 10 and 11, each spring clip 42 is desirably generally U-shape and has a pair of laterally spaced, axially downwardly and oppositely inwardly extending spring fingers 43, 44 for frictionally gripping opposite wall surfaces of the uppermost end of the column shaft when inserted thereover so the spring clips stay in place during column installation. Radially inwardly and axially upwardly extending barbs 45, 46 may be provided on each of the spring fingers for resisting pull off of the spring clips from the uppermost end of the column shaft during positioning of the column.

Once the column has been set in place under a beam or other suitable ceiling or roof support structure 20 that has been raised slightly to enable the column to be positioned thereunder and then lowered onto the upper end of the column shaft, the spring clips 42 will be retained in place by the load acting on the top of the column shaft.

If the column is provided with a neck ring 18, the neck ring will keep the capital from sliding all the way down the column shaft during setting of the column in place and attaching the upper end of the column to a suitable ceiling structure. If the column is not provided with a neck ring, suitable shims (not shown) may be inserted between the exterior surface of the column shaft and inner diameter of the capital to prevent the capital from sliding all the way down the column shaft.

Once the column is properly secured in place, the capital 30 may be slid upwardly along the column shaft to force the upper end portion 50 of the tubular inner wall portion 35 of the capital between the exterior wall surface 17 of the column shaft 4 and the spring finger 44 of each of the spring clips 42 overlying the exterior wall surface to frictionally retain the capital on the upper end portion of the column shaft in flush engagement with the ceiling structure as best seen in FIG. 13.

Any number of spring clips 42 may be used to provide the spring force needed to hold the capitals 38 in place. However, preferably at least three substantially equally spaced spring clips are used to help self-center the capitals on the column shafts. Also both of the spring fingers 43 and 44 desirably have oppositely outwardly angled outer end portions 51 and 52 to facilitate insertion of the upper end portion 50 of the tubular inner wall 35 of the capital between the exterior wall portion of the column shaft and one of the spring fingers regardless of the orientation of the spring clips when snapped over the upper end of the column shaft.

If two L-shaped mounting brackets 19 (see FIGS. 4-6) are used to attach the top of the column shaft of FIGS. 9, 12 and 13 to the ceiling support structure, two diametrically spaced slots 53 are desirably provided in the upper end 50 of the tubular inner wall portion 35 of the capital (one of which is shown in FIG. 8) to accommodate the mounting brackets.

If the capitals (and/or bases) are made out of a thermoset foam material such as polyurethane foam, it would not be practical to integrally mold spring tabs or a tubular inner wall portion to the capitals for engagement by spring clips on the uppermost end of the column shaft in the manner previously described because of the more rigid, brittle nature of thermoset foam material. In lieu of that, another self-fastening system 55 of the present invention may be provided for thermoset foam capitals that comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced spring retention members in the nature of spring clips 57. These spring clips 57 are shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 attached to the body member 58 of a thermoset foam capital 59 in axially spaced relation from the opening 60 in the lower end wall 61 of the body member through which the upper end portion 12 of the column shaft 4 is closely slidably received for frictionally engaging the exterior wall surface 17 of the upper end portion of the column shaft as best seen in FIG. 21. The number of spring clips 57 used to hold the capitals in place may be varied depending on the holding force of each spring clip. However, at least three substantially equally spaced spring clips are desirably used to help self-center the capitals on the column shafts.

As seen in FIGS. 16-18 and 21, each spring clip 57 may be of a bayonet type including a relatively flat side wall 62 for substantial flat engagement with an inner wall 63 of the body member 58 of the capital and a pointed tine 64 extending outwardly from the side wall 62 intermediate the ends thereof having one or more barbs 65 thereon that may be embedded into the inner wall 63 for anchoring the spring clips to the body member 58. A spring finger 70 may be inclined radially inwardly and axially upwardly from a lower end portion of the side wall 62 of each spring clip for frictionally engaging the exterior wall surface of the column shaft. These spring clips will frictionally retain the capital in place in substantially flush engagement with a ceiling structure 20 as schematically shown in FIGS. 20 and 21 after the column shaft has been set in place and the top and bottom ends of the column shaft have been secured to the ceiling and floor structures in the manner previously described. If L-shaped brackets 19 are used to attach the upper end of the column shaft to the ceiling structure, the spring clips 57 will permit the capital to be rotated in either direction relative to the column shaft to accommodate the mounting brackets between the spring clips prior to raising the capital from the lower position shown in FIG. 19 to the upper position shown in FIGS. 20 and 21 after the column shaft has been properly secured in place.

Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to certain embodiments, it is obvious that equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of the specification. In particular, with regard to various functions performed by the above-described components, the terms (including any reference to a “means”) used to describe such components are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any component which performs the specified function of the described component (e.g., that is functionally equivalent) even through not structurally equivalent to the disclosed component which performs the function of the herein illustrated exemplary embodiments of the invention. In addition, while a particular feature of the invention may have been disclosed with respect to only one embodiment, such feature may be combined with one or more other features as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application.

Claims

1. An ornamental capital for architectural columns comprising a body member having a through passage for receiving an upper end portion of an architectural column shaft, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced spring retention members inside the body member surrounding the through passage for frictionally retaining the capital on the upper end portion of the column shaft.

2. The capital of claim 1 wherein the spring retention members comprise spring clips attached to the body member.

3. The capital of claim 2 wherein the spring clips are anchored to the body member.

4. The capital of claim 2 wherein each of the spring clips includes a radially inwardly and axially upwardly inclined spring finger that frictionally engages an exterior wall surface of the upper end portion of the column shaft when the capital is placed thereover.

5. The capital of claim 4 wherein the body member is made of a thermoset foam material.

6. The capital of claim 5 wherein the thermoset foam material is polyurethane.

7. The capital of claim 1 wherein the body member is made of a thermoplastic material, and the spring retention members comprise a plurality of circumferentially spaced spring tabs integral with the body member.

8. The capital of claim 7 wherein each of the spring tabs has a radially inwardly and axially upwardly inclined spring finger for frictionally engaging an exterior wall surface of the upper end portion of the column shaft.

9. The capital of claim 8 wherein the body member has a lower end wall containing an opening to the through passage sized to closely slidably receive the upper end portion of the column shaft, and the spring finger of each of the spring tabs has an upper end portion in axially upwardly spaced relation from the opening in the lower end wall that frictionally engages the exterior wall surface of the upper end portion of the column shaft to self center the capital on the column shaft.

10. In combination, an architectural column having a column shaft and an ornamental capital adapted to be slidably received over an upper end portion of the column shaft, the capital comprising a body member having a through passage for receipt of the upper end portion of the column shaft, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced spring retention members inside the body member surrounding the through passage for frictionally retaining the capital on the upper end portion of the column shaft.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein the spring retention members comprise spring clips attached to the body member.

12. The combination of claim 11 wherein each of the spring clips includes a radially inwardly and axially upwardly inclined spring finger that frictionally engages an exterior wall surface of the upper end portion of the column shaft when the capital is placed thereover.

13. The combination of claim 12 wherein the body member is made of a thermoset foam material.

14. The combination of claim 10 wherein the body member is made of a thermoplastic material, and the spring retention members comprise a plurality of circumferentially spaced spring tabs integral with the body member, the spring tabs extending radially inwardly and axially upwardly into frictional engagement with an exterior wall surface of the upper end portion of the column shaft when the capital is placed thereover.

15. The combination of claim 10 wherein the body member has a lower end wall containing an opening to the through passage sized to closely slidably receive the upper end portion of the column shaft, and the spring retention members have upper end portions in axially upwardly spaced relation from the opening in the lower end wall that frictionally engage the exterior wall surface of the upper end portion of the column shaft to self center the capital on the column shaft.

16. In combination, an architectural column having a column shaft and an ornamental capital, the capital comprising a thermoplastic body member having an axially extending tubular inner wall portion providing a through passage for closely slidably receiving an upper end portion of the column shaft, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced spring clips attached to an uppermost end of the column shaft, each of the spring clips having an axially downwardly extending spring finger adapted to receive an upper end portion of the tubular inner wall portion of the capital between an exterior wall surface of the column shaft and the spring finger for frictionally retaining the capital on the upper end portion of the column shaft.

17. The combination of claim 16 wherein the uppermost end of the column shaft is tubular, and each of the spring clips is snap fitted over the uppermost end of the column shaft.

18. The combination of claim 17 wherein each of the spring clips has a pair of laterally spaced, axially downwardly extending spring fingers for frictionally gripping an interior wall surface of the uppermost end of the column shaft and the upper end portion of the tubular inner wall portion of the capital when inserted between an exterior wall surface of the column shaft and the spring finger overlying the exterior wall surface.

19. The combination of claim 18 wherein the spring fingers have oppositely outwardly angled outer end portions.

20. The combination of claim 18 wherein each of the spring fingers has radially inwardly and axially upwardly extending barbs for resisting pull off of the spring clips from the uppermost end of the column shaft and removal of the upper end portion of the tubular inner end portion of the capital when inserted between the exterior wall surface of the column shaft and the spring finger overlying the exterior wall surface.