Abstract: A drain shield for a plant container prevents compaction of soil, maintain drainage and provide for aeration of the roots of the plant. The drain shield comprises a unitary molded disk with a plurality of cube-like supports which are circumferentially spaced near the perimeter of the disk. The supports are positioned inward from the outer edge of the disk creating an eave around the perimeter of the disk that overhangs the supports. When the disk is placed on the bottom of a plant container, the supports form a series of uniform passages that lead to an unobstructed inner space under the disk. The side walls of the supports, as they relate to each other and to the center of the disk, are tapered in such a way that the passages between adjacent supports becomes larger toward the center of the disk. The underside of the disk, and to the inward side of the supports, is concave, forming a dome.

Abstract: A column or other elongate molded part is molded using an elongate tubular mold having a closed end, an open end, and a flexible sidewall. After the column or other molded part is formed, it is extracted from the mold by pulling the column or other molded part axially through the open end of the mold. The column may be extracted using an expandable plug that is inserted into the interior of the column or other molded part through the open end of the mold. The expandable plug, if used, may be expanded to engage and seal against an inner surface of the elongate molded part. A pressurized gas is introduced into the interior of the elongate molded part through the plug to expand the mold before pulling the column through the open end of the mold.

Abstract: A production line for manufacturing molded columns comprises a plurality of molding machines, a conveyor configured to simultaneously convey the molding machines along a closed path from a pouring station to an unloading station and back to the pouring station along a closed path. The pouring station and the unloading station are disposed adjacent the closed path in spaced relation to each other. A molding material is poured into molds in the molding machines as the molding machines at the pouring station. The molding machines are actuated as the molding machines are being conveyed from the pouring station to the unloading station. At the unloading station, the molds are unloaded from the molding machines. The unloading station may include extraction equipment to extract the molded columns from the molds.

Abstract: A production line for manufacturing molded columns comprises a plurality of molding machines, a carousel to convey the molding machines along a closed path, a pouring station disposed adjacent the closed path, and an unloading station disposed adjacent the closed path generally opposite the pouring station. A molding material is poured into molds in the molding machines as the molding machines are conveyed past the pouring station. The molding machines are actuated as the molding machines are being conveyed from the pouring station to the unloading station. At the unloading station, the molding machines are stopped and the molds are unloaded from the molding machines. The unloading station may include extraction equipment to extract the molded columns from the molds.

Abstract: A column or other elongate molded part is molded using an elongate tubular mold having a closed end, an open end and a flexible sidewall. After the column or other molded part is formed, it is extracted from the mold by pulling the column or other molded part axially through the open end of the mold. The column may be extracted using an expandable plug or gripper that is inserted into the interior of the column or other molded part through the open end of the mold. The expandable plug or gripper is expanded to engage an inner surface of the elongate molded part.

Abstract: A column or other elongate molded part is molded using an elongate tubular mold having a closed end, an open end, and a flexible sidewall. After the column or other molded part is formed, it is extracted from the mold by pulling the column or other molded part axially through the open end of the mold. The column may be extracted using an expandable plug that is inserted into the interior of the column or other molded part through the open end of the mold. The expandable plug, if used, may be expanded to engage and seal against an inner surface of the elongate molded part. A pressurized gas is introduced into the interior of the elongate molded part through the plug to expand the mold before pulling the column through the open end of the mold.

Abstract: A column or other elongate molded part is molded using an elongate tubular mold having a closed end, an open end and a flexible sidewall. After the column or other molded part is formed, it is extracted from the mold by pulling the column or other molded part axially through the open end of the mold. The inner surface of the mold may comprise a recessed or protruding form to mold a protruding or sunken relief on or in an exterior surface of the molded part. The column may be extracted using an expandable plug that is inserted into the interior of the column or other molded part through the open end of the mold. The expandable plug is expanded to engage and seal against an inner surface of the elongate molded part. A pressurized gas is introduced into the interior of the elongate molded part through the plug to expand the mold before pulling the column through the open end of the mold.

Abstract: A column or other elongate molded part is molded using an elongate tubular mold having a closed end, an open end and a flexible sidewall. After the column or other molded part is formed, it is extracted from the mold by pulling the column or other molded part axially through the open end of the mold. The column may be extracted using an expandable plug or gripper that is inserted into the interior of the column or other molded part through the open end of the mold. The expandable plug or gripper is expanded to engage an inner surface of the elongate molded part.

Abstract: A column includes a shaft, a capital assembly, and a base assembly. The capital assembly has an indexing member that attaches to an overhead support. The indexing member aligns the capital, which in turn, vertically aligns the shaft. The base assembly includes a retaining ring that attaches to an underlying support surface. The retaining ring has a plurality of notches arranged to form a cross-hair with an intersection located at the center of the retaining ring. The column also includes an alignment mechanism configured to be suspended from a center of the indexing member. When being aligned, the alignment mechanism is suspended below the indexing member substantially over the center of the retaining ring.

Abstract: A column or other elongate molded part is molded using an elongate tubular mold having a closed end, an open end and a flexible sidewall. After the column or other molded part is formed, it is extracted from the mold by pulling the column or other molded part axially through the open end of the mold. The inner surface of the mold may comprise a recessed or protruding form to mold a protruding or sunken relief on or in an exterior surface of the molded part. The column may be extracted using an expandable plug that is inserted into the interior of the column or other molded part through the open end of the mold. The expandable plug is expanded to engage and seal against an inner surface of the elongate molded part. A pressurized gas is introduced into the interior of the elongate molded part through the plug to expand the mold before pulling the column through the open end of the mold.

Abstract: A column includes a shaft, a capital assembly, and a base assembly. The capital assembly has an indexing member that attaches to an overhead support. The indexing member aligns the capital, which in turn, vertically aligns the shaft. The base assembly includes a retaining ring that attaches to an underlying support surface. The retaining ring has a plurality of notches arranged to form a cross-hair with an intersection located at the center of the retaining ring. The column also includes an alignment mechanism configured to be suspended from a center of the indexing member. When being aligned, the alignment mechanism is suspended below the indexing member substantially over the center of the retaining ring.

Abstract: A column includes a shaft, a capital assembly, and a base assembly. The capital assembly has an indexing member that attaches to an overhead support. The indexing member aligns the capital, which in turn, vertically aligns the shaft. The base assembly includes a retaining ring that attaches to an underlying support surface. The retaining ring has a plurality of notches arranged to form a cross-hair with an intersection located at the center of the retaining ring. The column also includes an alignment mechanism configured to be suspended from a center of the indexing member. When being aligned, the alignment mechanism is suspended below the indexing member substantially over the center of the retaining ring.

Abstract: A column assembly includes a shaft, a capital, an opening formed in the capital, and a retaining member. The capital has a lower surface and a substantially planar upper surface. The opening is sized to receive the shaft therethrough, and extends from the lower surface to the upper surface. A channel is formed in a surrounding wall of the opening. The length of the channel may, for instance, extend at least partially around the perimeter of the opening. Regardless, the retaining member advantageously holds the capital at a fixed vertical position along the shaft by engaging the channel and the shaft. The retaining member may be a resilient member (e.g., foam) that seats within the channel and frictionally engages the outer surface of the shaft. Alternatively, the retaining member may be a spring member that mounts onto the upper end of the shaft and engages the channel.

Abstract: A column assembly includes a shaft, a capital, an opening formed in the capital, and a retaining member. The capital has a lower surface and a substantially planar upper surface. The opening is sized to receive the shaft therethrough, and extends from the lower surface to the upper surface. A channel is formed in a surrounding wall of the opening. The length of the channel may, for instance, extend at least partially around the perimeter of the opening. Regardless, the retaining member advantageously holds the capital at a fixed vertical position along the shaft by engaging the channel and the shaft. The retaining member may be a resilient member (e.g., foam) that seats within the channel and frictionally engages the outer surface of the shaft. Alternatively, the retaining member may be a spring member that mounts onto the upper end of the shaft and engages the channel.

Abstract: A split column includes two half sections with locating features for aligning the half sections. A whole column is formed and then split into half sections. The locating features are formed on the inner surfaces of the half sections after the column is split into half sections.

Abstract: A column includes a shaft, a capital assembly, and a base assembly. The capital assembly has an indexing member that attaches to an overhead support. The indexing member aligns the capital, which in turn, vertically aligns the shaft. The base assembly includes a retaining ring that attaches to an underlying support surface. The retaining ring has a plurality of notches arranged to form a cross-hair with an intersection located at the center of the retaining ring. The column also includes an alignment mechanism configured to be suspended from a center of the indexing member. When being aligned, the alignment mechanism is suspended below the indexing member substantially over the center of the retaining ring.

Abstract: A split column includes two half sections with locating features for aligning the half sections. A whole column is formed and then split into half sections. The locating features are formed on the inner surfaces of the half sections after the column is split into half sections.

Abstract: A sanding apparatus for finishing an exterior surface of an elongated work piece includes a support structure, a belt-sander, and a mounting bracket to movably mount the belt-sander to the support structure. The bracket is attached to the belt-sander and includes a guide mechanism movably mounted to one or more guide rails of the support structure. The bracket also includes a hinge mechanism that permits the belt-sander to pivot between a first position where an abrasive surface of the belt-sander does not contact the exterior surface of the work piece, and a second position where the abrasive surface contacts the exterior surface of the work piece. In operation, a user moves the belt-sander along the guide rails while the abrasive surface contacts the exterior surface of the work piece to smooth the exterior surface of the work piece.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a member, such as a column. The invention comprises inner and outer molds that are spaced apart forming a cavity for receiving a viscous material for making the member. A core is inserted within the inner area of inner mold when the viscous material is initially disposed within the mold. Once the material attains a gelled state, an extraction member is inserted within the inner area. A vacuum is applied to the inner area that causes the flexible inner mold to separate from the material and conform to the extraction member allowing for removal.