Abstract: A one-piece, unitary, elongate, tubular light pole. The elongate light pole defines a central axis and is constructed from a filament-wound composite of fiber-reinforced bonding agent and has a wall thickness of less than ¾ inch, and preferably ? inch. The pole is configured and adapted to support a lighting structure thereon without failure of the composite, such that a twenty-foot section of the pole is capable of withstanding a lateral load transverse of the axis of at least 300 pounds without failure of the composite.

Abstract: A one-piece, unitary, elongate, tubular light pole. The elongate light pole defines a central axis and is constructed from a filament-wound composite of fiber-reinforced bonding agent and has a wall thickness of less than ¾ inch, and preferably ⅜ inch. The pole is configured and adapted to support a lighting structure thereon without failure of the composite, such that a twenty-foot section of the pole is capable of withstanding a lateral load transverse of the axis of at least 300 pounds without failure of the composite.

Abstract: A one-piece, unitary, elongate, tubular light pole. The elongate light pole defines a central axis and is constructed from a filament-wound composite of fiber-reinforced bonding agent and has a wall thickness of less than ¾ inch, and preferably ⅜ inch. The pole is configured and adapted to support a lighting structure thereon without failure of the composite, such that a twenty-foot section of the pole is capable of withstanding a lateral load transverse of the axis of at least 300 pounds without failure of the composite.

Abstract: A one-piece, unitary, elongate, tubular light pole. The elongate light pole defines a central axis and is constructed from a filament-wound composite of fiber-reinforced bonding agent and has a wall thickness of less than ¾ inch, and preferably ⅜ inch. The pole is configured and adapted to support a lighting structure, thereon without failure of the composite, such that a twenty-foot section of the pole is capable of withstanding a lateral load transverse of the axis of at least 300 pounds without failure of the composite.

Abstract: A one-piece unitary composite tubular support column. The tubular column includes relatively thin and strong sidewalls, capable of withstanding axial load distributions of at least 6,000 psi without failure of the composite. An embodiment includes a neck piece for mounting telescopically into an upper open end of the composite tubular support column.

Abstract: A method for facilitating removal of a mandrel in the manufacture of hollow composite structures. A mandrel of substantially constant diameter is selected having a composition and coefficient of thermal expansion sufficient to enable it to expand when subjected to an elevated temperature. The mandrel is preheated to at least a predetermined minimum elevated temperature to thereby expand the mandrel radially outwardly. Composite material is wound around the mandrel while the mandrel has a temperature of at least the predetermined minimum elevated temperature. The composite material is then cured using any suitable curing technique. When the composite material has been cured, the mandrel is cooled to contract the mandrel radially inwardly, and the mandrel is removed from the composite material. This method of manufacture and removal is so effective that mandrels of constant diameter have been removed by hand from composite tubes of thirty feet in length.

Abstract: A neck piece for mounting upon a composite tubular support column. A high-strength plastic neck body includes an insertable portion and a contacting face extending radially outward from the insertable portion. The insertable portion is configured and dimensioned for telescopic insertion into the upper open-end of the composite support column. The radially-extending contacting face abuts against the upper open-end face of the column in end-to-end contact sufficient to enable axial load transfer between the neck body and the thin walls of the plastic support column.

Abstract: A traditional architectural column support. A one-piece unitary column body is hollow and tubular, and is comprised of a fiber-reinforced low-grade polyester system. The column body tapers radially inwardly from the lower third of the body to the upper end thereof in the manner of traditional architectural design. The tubular walls of the column body are exceptionally thin and capable of resisting significant architectural axial load distributions.