Decorative column structure

Abstract

A decorative, lightweight column structure suited for interior decorative purposes includes a lightweight, decorative fiber support and thin, flat decorative segments secured to an outer surface of the support. A method of making includes providing a durable fiber support and fastening the decorative elements to the support in a particular decorative pattern array that also increases the strength of the structure.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This invention generally relates to building structure and more particularly to decorative column structure and a method of making.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Decorative column structure suitable for overcoming weight and expense problems are able to enhance the appearance of an interior room in a house or office. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,963,846, 4,606,167, and 5,325,652 disclose prior attempts to provide column structures.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0003] A lightweight decorative column structure particularly suited for interior use and method of making disclosed includes a round, hollow, lightweight support preferably of a rigid spiral wound fiber material and a covering of thin, flat decorative facing segments preferably of natural stone. A method of making includes coating the support with a waterproof paint, securing a wire mesh to the waterproofed exterior surface, filling the mesh with a cement material, applying thin natural stone facing segments to the cement material and after a selected time interval filling the spaces between facing segments with grout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] Details of this invention are described in connection with the accompanying drawings which like parts bear similar reference numerals in which:

[0005] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of decorative column structure with portions broken away to show interior construction embodying features of the present invention.

[0006] FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

[0007] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3-3—of FIG. 2.

[0008] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing two spaced column structures in a bathroom.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0009] Referring now to the drawings there is shown a decorative column structure 12 including a core or support 13 having a decorative pattern array of facing segments 15 affixed to an exterior surface of the support 13. The core shown is a tubular or cylindrical, hollow body preferably made of layers of paper fiber, spirally wound and laminated together with an adhesive. A conventional cylindrical tube used as an exterior form with concrete inside has been found suitable for this purpose and sold under the trademark SONOTUBE ®. typical tube is up to 10 feet in length, 8 to 18 inches in diameter and ¼ inch in thickness. This tube is rigid and free standing or self-supporting when in an upright position.

[0010] A preferred structure 12 has a waterproof layer 16 applied directly on the exterior surface, a layer of wire mesh 17 secured to the coated support as with staples or the like. A layer 18 of cement material such as latex modified cement (thinsett) is applied to the mesh and the facing segments are placed on the cement material which adheres them to the support when the layer 18 sets up. The support 13 is disposed upright on a base sheet 21 and the support 13 is secured to the base sheet 21 as by an adhesive 22 between the support and base sheet 21. The material of base sheet 21 may or may not match the facing segments 15.

[0011] The facing segments 15 preferably are a natural stone, flat, preferably a relatively thin thickness preferably ⅜ inches, a relatively narrow width preferably 1 and ¼-2 inches. The long facing segment preferably has a length of 12 inches. These facing segments are arranged in a pattern which alternate long 15a and short 15b with the long 15a offset lengthwise which contributes both to the decorative effect and the strength.

[0012] The method of making the column structure comprises the steps of providing a fibrous, spiral round rigid support 13 of a selected length and thickness, applying a waterproof on the outer surface of the support, fastening a wire mesh material on the outer coated surface as by staples, filling the mesh with a cement material, placing a plurality of long and short stone facing segments 15 to the cemented wire mesh to cover the wire surface leaving gaps between the segments, and after a time interval of about 15 to 20 hours grouting the gaps between the facing segments.

[0013] Referring now to FIG. 4 there is shown a typical interior room 31 in which two of the above described decorative column structures 12 are installed at spaced positions. The room 31 has a bathtub 32 with the column structures 12 supported on cylindrical based portions 33 along the side of the bathtub 32. The room has a back wall 34 and a floor 35 made of a material that matches the facing segments of the column structures 12.

[0014] Although the present invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example and that changes in details of structure may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

Claims

1. A decorative column structure comprising:

an elongated, fiber, tubular support of a preselected dimension, and

a patterned array of thin decorative facing segments rigidly secured to and covering an exterior surface of said support.

2. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support is made of layers of paper fibers, spirally wound and laminated with an adhesive.

3. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support with facing segments is disposed upright on a flat base and secured to said flat base.

4. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support is a hollow, cylindrical body that circumferentially extends a full 360 degrees.

5. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said facing segments are of natural stone.

6. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said array includes alternating, end to end long and short segments, said long segments being longitudinally offset from one another the length of each short segment to provide for decoration and increased strength.

7. The structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said facing segments are of natural stone selected from the group of marble, granite, limestone, travertine and slate.

8. The structure as set forth in claim 1 including a waterproof coating on the exterior surface of said support.

9. The structure as set forth in claim 1 including wire mesh fastened to the exterior of said support.

10. The structure as set forth in claim 1 including a cement material in the form of a latex modified cement covering said wire mesh.

11. The structure as set forth in claim 10, said facing segments being placed on said cement material prior to the setting of said cement material to a hard condition.

12. The structure as set forth in claim 6 wherein the shape of each long segment is rectangular.

13. The structure as set forth in claim 6 wherein the length of each long segment is 12 inches.

14. The structure as set forth in claim 6 wherein the width of each long segment is 1.5 to 2 inches.

15. The structure as set forth in claim 6 wherein the thickness of each long segment is ⅜ inches.

16. The structure as set forth in claim 6 wherein the shape of each short segment is square and the dimensions of each short segment are 1.5 inches by 1.5 inches.

17. A decorative column structure for interior use comprising:

an elongated, hollow cylindrical, lightweight, self-supporting fiber support of a preselected length and diameter, and

a patterned array of thin, narrow, flat natural stone decorative facing segments rigidly affixed to and entirely covering an exterior surface of said support, said array including alternating, end to end long and short segments, said long segments being longitudinally offset from one another the length of each short segment to provide for decoration and increased strength.

18. A decorative column structure for interior use comprising:

an elongated, hollow cylindrical, lightweight, self-supporting fiber support of a preselected length and diameter,

a patterned array of thin, narrow, flat natural stone decorative facing segments rigidly affixed to and entirely covering an exterior surface of said support, said array including alternating, end to end long and short segments, said long segments being longitudinally offset from one another the length of each short segment to provide for decoration and increased strength, and

a flat base of a material matching said facing segments, said support being disposed on said flat base and secured thereto.

19. A method of making a decorative column structure comprising:

providing an elongated, fiber tubular support of a preselected dimension, and

attaching a plurality of thin decorative facing segments to an exterior surface of said support in a patterned array.

20. A method of making a decorative column structure comprising the steps of:

providing a fiber, spiral wound, rigid, hollow cylindrical support of a selected length and thickness,

applying a waterproof liquid on an outer surface of said support,

fastening a wire mesh material at said outer surface of said support,

filling the mesh with a cement material,

attaching a plurality of stone facing segments to the cemented wire mesh to cover said outer surface leaving gaps between said segments, and

grouting said gaps between said facing segments.