STRUCTURAL COLUMN WRAP ASSEMBLY
A wrap assembly for a structural column extending between a bottom support and an overhead support includes a pair of similar, mating, elongated, molded plastic shaft sections each section having an interior surface, an exterior surface, a pair of side edges extending between those surfaces and an integral flange projecting from the exterior surface at one end of that shaft section. The shaft sections are shaped and dimensioned so that when the sections are juxtaposed with their interior surfaces facing one another and their side edges in abutment, the sections form a substantially continuous tubular shaft with an integral fastening cleat, defined by the flanges, at one end of the shaft by which the shaft may be secured to one of the supports. An annular fastening cleat surrounds the other end of the shaft for fastening to the other support to fix the other end of the shaft. Mating molded plastic base and capitol sections surround the shaft sections adjacent to the flanges and cleat, respectively, to add decoration and to cover the fasteners.
This invention relates to support columns for residential and commercial structures. It relates especially to a column wrap assembly for providing added girth and an exterior finish to an otherwise unfinished support or structural column in a building.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONConventionally in order to wrap or cover a support or structural column, squaring blocks are fastened to the floor and overhead support around the column. These blocks function as internal nailing cleats to which wall-forming boards may be attached. These walls together form a tubular shaft that surrounds the column. Alternatively, internal blocks or cleats may be attached to those walls that constitute the column wrap such that the walls connect through the internal cleats to the structural column itself; see for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,912,901 and 5,335,471.
Those prior column wraps with internal nailing cleats are disadvantaged in that their installation is labor intensive, requiring the proper cutting, aligning and fastening of various separate squaring blocks or cleats. Also, when the wrap is connected directly to the associate column, the column must be more or less centered within the wrap. Accordingly, if the column is tilted slightly or out of alignment with adjacent columns, the wraps on those columns will likewise be tilted or out of alignment.
We are also aware of a prior column wrap comprising a longitudinally slit tube which may be sprung open and engaged around a support column; see U.S. Pat. No. 4,606,167. The lower end of that slit tube may be secured to the floor via a separate internal ring 18 which functions as a fastening cleat. The upper end of the tube is secured to a second internal mounting ring anchored to the structural column by brackets and a vertical stud is connected between the two rings and to the column by additional brackets. Thus, that patented assembly includes a multitude of separate parts. Also, the centered position of the shaft relative to the column can only be changed by changing the dimensions of the brackets. In addition, the installation of that wrap assembly is labor intensive in that it requires the measuring and attaching of many separate parts.
There is another post assembly disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication US2004/0025460 whose lower end may be fastened to the floor by a base plate. The base plate is separate from the outer shell or shaft of the wrap and also supports the structural post or column. That is, the lower ends of both the column and the shaft interfit with various upstanding projections on the base plate. Thus the relative position of the shaft and post is fixed.
All of the aforesaid existing wrap assemblies which are connected either directly or indirectly to the structural columns within those wraps must be centered on those columns or, if offset therefrom, the offsetting can only be accomplished with difficulty. Also, for the most part, they require assorted internal brackets, fasteners and struts to support the wraps. Consequently, they are costly to make and to install.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention aims to provide an improved structural column wrap assembly.
Another object of the invention is to provide a column wrap assembly which is completely independent of the column within.
A further object of the invention is to provide such an assembly which may be laterally offset in any direction from the column within.
A further object of the invention is to provide a structural column assembly which may have a variety of different cross-sectional shapes and external appearances.
A further object of the invention is to provide an assembly of this type which is relatively easy and inexpensive to make in quantity.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide such an assembly which may be installed easily in a minimum amount of time.
Other objects, will in part, be obvious and, will in part, appear hereinafter.
The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the following detailed description, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.
Briefly, the present column wrap assembly comprises a tubular shaft, preferably of a plastic material, which surrounds a structural column that extends between floor and overhead supports. The assembly includes a pair of similar mating shaft sections each of which has an integral exterior flange at one of its ends, usually the lower end. The opposite or upper ends of the shaft sections may be trimmed so that when the shaft sections are brought together or mated around the structural column, they form an essentially continuous tubular shaft which surrounds the column. The flanges at the lower ends of the shaft sections together form an annular fastening cleat for fastening the shaft to the floor. The opposite or upper end of the shaft may be fixed in place by mating external frame sections which are similar to the flanges, but which are separate from the shaft sections. When brought together around the upper end of the shaft and fastened to the overhead support, the frame sections form an annular fastening cleat which captures the upper end of the shaft.
Preferably, pairs of mating, decorative base sections and capitol sections may be engaged around the shaft sections adjacent to the lower and upper cleats, respectively, to provide decorative or architectural features and to conceal the fastener heads.
Of course, the column wrap assembly may have various cross-sectional shapes. For example, the shaft sections may have L-shaped or semi-circular cross-sections so that two such sections form a shaft with a rectangular or circular cross-section. Also, the pair of similar shaft sections may be shaped and dimensioned so that when mated around a support column they form a tapered shaft. In that event, the corresponding frame, base and capitol sections should be shaped and dimensioned to fit that particular shaft.
An important advantage of the present construction over prior comparable column wraps is that the present assembly is completely independent of the column which it surrounds enabling it to be placed in various positions with respect to that column. This allows the assembly to be made vertical even though the structural column within is not. Also, a row such wraps can be aligned perfectly, even though the columns within may be out of alignment. Yet, even with these advantages, the present assembly is relatively easy and inexpensive to make and, since it is composed of a minimum number of parts, it is easy to install even by relatively inexperienced personnel.
For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:
Referring to the drawing,
Referring to
In order to add decorative features to shaft 12 and to conceal the heads of fasteners F, assembly 10 may include a tubular base 18 which surrounds shaft 12 adjacent to cleat 14. For the same reasons, the assembly may also include a tubular capitol 20 which surrounds shaft 12 adjacent to cleat 16.
Preferably, all of the major components of assembly 10 are molded of a suitable, strong, impact, weather and UV-resistant plastic material such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
Referring to
In any event, each shaft section 22a, 22b has an integral flange 24 extending or projecting from its exterior surface at the lower end of the shaft section. Also, each such section has a pair of side edges 26a and 26b extending the length of the section including its integral flange 24. Preferably, these edges have mitered surfaces as shown so that when the two half sections 22a, 22b are juxtaposed around a common longitudinal axis A (
If desired, longitudinal keys 28a and keyways 28b may be provided in the side edges 26a and 26b, respectively, to maintain the mating edges of the two shaft sections in alignment along the entire length of the shaft.
Referring to
Like the shaft sections, the base sections 30a, 30b have longitudinal side edges 32a and 32b which preferably have mitered surfaces and mating keys and keyways SO that when the two sections 30a and 30b are brought together around shaft 12 so that their side edges are in abutment as shown in
The capitol 20 shown in
The remaining major component of assembly 10, namely the upper fastening cleat 16, may comprise a pair of similar frame sections 40a and 40b whose shape and dimensions may be comparable to those of the flanges 24 of the shaft sections 22a, 22b. The inside perimeter of sections 40a, 40b should correspond to the outside perimeter of the upper ends of the shaft sections 22a, 22b. Also, the opposite ends 42a, 42b of sections 40a, 40b should have mitered surfaces so that when those two sections are brought together around the upper end of shaft 12 with their ends in abutment as shown in
Although we have just described the upper fastening cleat 16 as comprising two similar frame sections 40a and 40b, that cleat could be molded as a single ring which may be slid onto the upper end of shaft 12 before the shaft is swung to its vertical position. Then, once the shaft is oriented vertically, that ring may be raised into position 10 against the overhead support O and fastened thereto by fasteners F.
If desired, during the molding process, fastener holes may be formed in the flanges 24 and frame sections 40a and 40b as shown at 50 in
In order to install assembly 10, the distance between support S and the overhead support O is measured and the upper ends of the shaft sections 22a, 22b are cut off as needed so that the length of the two sections corresponds to that dimension. Then the two sections are positioned around column C so that the side edges 26a, 26b of the two sections are butted as shown in
Next, adhesive may be applied to the side edges and/or the inside surfaces of the base sections 30a and 30b so that when those sections are brought together around the lower end of shaft 12, they form a sleeve-like base 18 which covers the heads of the fasteners F that were driven through the lower cleat 14. In a similar manner, after applying adhesive as above, the two sections 36a and 36b comprising capitol 20 may be positioned around the upper end segment of shaft 12 and the opposing side edges 38a and 38b brought into abutment so that the sections form a continuous sleeve-like capitol which surrounds shaft 12 and covers the heads of the fasteners F in cleat 16.
It is a feature of this invention that the column wrap assembly 10 is completely independent of the column C within that assembly. In other words, it requires no internal squaring blocks, brackets or other attachments to the column. This allows the assembly 10 to be located at a variety of different positions relative to the column within the wrap assembly. In other words, as shown in
Even with the advantages discussed above, the wrap assembly 10 is easy and inexpensive to make because it is composed substantially entirely of molded plastic parts. Also, those parts are easy to assemble so that a given column can be wrapped or sheathed in a minimum amount of time even by relatively unskilled workers. Since the components of the assembly are of a plastic material, the column wrap should last a long time and require minimum maintenance.
It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained. Also, since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
It is also understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention described herein.
Claims
1. A column wrap assembly for a structural column extending between a bottom support and an overhead support, said assembly comprising
- a pair of mating, elongated shaft sections, each section having an interior surface, an exterior surface, a pair of side edges extending between said surfaces and an integral flange projecting from said exterior surface at one end of the corresponding shaft section, said shaft sections being shaped and dimensioned so that when the sections are juxtaposed with their interior surfaces facing one another and their side edges in abutment, the sections form a substantially continuous shaft with an integral fastening cleat defined by said flanges at said one end of the shaft by which the shaft may be secured to one of said supports, and
- a fastening cleat surrounding the other end of the shaft but separate therefrom for fastening to the other of said supports to fix the position of the other end of the shaft.
2. The assembly defined in claim 1 wherein the side edges of the shaft sections have mitered surfaces.
3. The assembly defined in claim 2 wherein the abutting side edges of the shaft sections define interfitting longitudinal keys and keyways, respectively, for fixing the relative position of said shaft sections.
4. The assembly defined in claim 1 wherein each shaft section with its integral flange and fastening cleat are molded of a relatively rigid weatherproof plastic material.
5. The assembly defined in claim 4 wherein said plastic material is polyvinyl chloride.
6. The assembly defined in claim 1 wherein said shaft sections are shaped to form a shaft with a rectangular cross-section.
7. The assembly defined in claim 1 wherein said shaft sections are shaped to form a shaft with a circular cross-section.
8. The assembly defined in claim 1 wherein said shaft sections are shaped to form a shaft which is tapered from end to end.
9. The assembly defined in claim 1 wherein the fastening cleat is a single annular ring with a plurality of fastener holes therethrough.
10. The assembly defined in claim 1 wherein the fastening cleat is composed of two frame sections shaped to fit snugly around the upper end of the shaft, each frame section having first and second ends adapted to mate with the opposing ends of the other frame section.
11. The assembly defined in claim 1 and further including a pair of similar mating base sections, each base section having an exterior base surface, an interior base surface and side edges extending between those base surfaces, said base sections being shaped and dimensioned so when the base sections are engaged around the shaft sections adjacent to said flanges with their side edges in abutment, the base sections form a substantially continuous base that surrounds the shaft sections and partially covers said flanges, and
- means for securing the base sections to the shaft sections.
12. The assembly defined in claim 11 and further including a pair of mating capitol sections, each capitol section having an exterior surface, an interior surface and side edges extending between those capitol surfaces, said capitol sections being shaped and dimensioned so when the capitol sections are engaged around the shaft sections adjacent to said fastening cleat with their side edges in abutment, the capitol sections form a substantially continuous capitol which surrounds the shaft sections and partially covers said fastening cleat, and
- means for securing the capitol sections to the shaft sections.
13. The assembly defined in claim 12 wherein said base and capitol sections are molded of a relatively rigid weatherproof plastic material.
14. The assembly defined in claim 13 wherein said plastic material is polyvinyl chloride.
15. The assembly defined in claim 12 wherein the abutting edges of said base and capitol sections have mitered surfaces.
16. The assembly defined in claim 15 wherein said mitered surfaces define interfitting longitudinal keys and keyways.
17. A column wrap assembly in the nature of a kit comprising
- a pair of mating, elongated, shaft sections, each shaft section having side edges and an integral exterior flange at one end of the shaft section, said shaft sections being adapted for juxtaposition around a common longitudinal axis with their opposite edges in abutment to form a shaft with a fastening cleat formed by said flanges at one end of the shaft;
- a pair of mating frame sections each frame section having first and second ends, said frame sections being shaped and dimensioned to fit snugly around the other ends of the shaft sections when so juxtaposed, with the opposing ends of the frame sections in abutment to surround the other ends of the shaft sections;
- a pair of mating base sections, each base section having side edges, said base sections being shaped and dimensioned to fit snugly around the shaft sections when so juxtaposed adjacent to said flanges with the opposing edges of the base sections in abutment to form a base around the shaft sections, and
- a pair mating capitol sections, each capitol section having side edges, said capitol sections being shaped and dimensioned to fit snugly around the shaft sections when so juxtaposed adjacent to said other ends thereof with the opposing edges of the capitol sections in abutment to form a capitol around the shaft sections.
18. The assembly defined in claim 17 wherein the side edges of the shaft sections, the base sections and the capitol sections have mitered surfaces.
19. The assembly defined in claim 18 wherein said mitered surfaces define keys or keyways.
20. The assembly defined in claim 19 wherein all of said sections are molded of a weather-resistant plastic material.
21. The assembly defined in claim 20 wherein said flanges and said frame sections are formed with a plurality fastener holes therein.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 16, 2007
Publication Date: Aug 21, 2008
Inventor: Steve Roth (Archbold, OH)
Application Number: 11/676,024
International Classification: E04C 3/30 (20060101); E04C 3/32 (20060101); E04C 3/36 (20060101);