Patent Application
20060236649
Columns have long been used in architecture for structural support, aesthetic qualities, and artistic purposes. A column body, base, plinth and capital form a complete column. The capital, base and plinth may be separately formed and assembled with the column body during the work of erecting a building. The complete assembly must be adequate to take the vertical load forces that may be applied. The capital forms the crowning member of the column and projects on each side as it rises to where its square top meets with the building or other load. An astragal, a semicircular molding surrounding the column body, is also used in the top portion of columns to provide an aesthetically pleasing transition from the column body to the capital.
Architecturally correct columns that include the above-mentioned components take on a number of different forms. Many columns are made from wood, steel, concrete, molded polymers, or filament-wound composite structures. In these columns, the astragal is either bonded directly onto the shaft or formed as part of the column body, such as by a mold. Unfortunately, these techniques do not allow columns to be efficiently stacked and/or stored because the astragal forms part of the column. Further, forming the astragal as part of the column adds extra operations in the manufacturing process, requires more material and expensive silicon molds, and increases the amount of laborers needed for production.
In one of many possible embodiments, an architectural capital includes an astragal formed at a base of the capital. In another embodiment, the capital is configured to be fastened to the top of a column body.
A second exemplary embodiment provides a method of making an architectural capital having an astragal formed on the capital.
The accompanying drawings illustrate various embodiments of the present apparatus and methods and are a part of the specification. The illustrated embodiments are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the apparatus and methods.
Throughout the drawings, identical reference numbers designate similar, but not necessarily identical, elements.
An exemplary system and method for implementing an architectural capital is disclosed herein. More specifically, a capital is disclosed that includes an astragal formed as part of the capital. Numerous specific details are set forth for purposes of explanation and to provide a thorough understanding of the present system and method for implementing the capital.
It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the present products and methods may be practiced without these specific details. Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. The appearance of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.
Referring now to
The present exemplary capital is a decorative piece configured to be fastened to the top of a column body, as shown in
The capital (110) is made by including the astragal on the capital rather than as part of the column body (130). In one embodiment the capital is made by including the shape of the astragal in a capital mold. The capital mold is filled with a mold material, such as polyurethane, polyester, fiberglass, concrete, plaster, or other moldable material that cures into a stable shape. After the mold material has cured, the mold is released, yielding a capital having an astragal formed at the base of the neck. In another embodiment, the capital is made by shaping the capital material to include an astragal. The capital material may include, but is not limited to, steel, aluminum and other metals; wood; concrete; glass fiber reinforced concrete; glass fiber reinforced gypsum; fiberglass; filament wound composites; marble, granite and other cast and pre-cast stone; synthetic stone; marble/resin composites and combinations thereof, or other materials known to those of skill in the art.
Referring now to
According to one exemplary embodiment illustrated in
In one embodiment, as shown in
In another exemplary embodiment the column body (230) of
Referring again to the exemplary embodiment of
The column (200) may also include a base (240) and/or plinth (250). The decorative base (240) the column (200) helps to define the order or style of the column (200). The base (240), along with the capital (210) and the column body (230), gives the column (200) its own distinctive character. The base (240) is typically round with various designs and moldings. The base (240) rests on the plinth (250), generally a square or rectangular block or slab with short legs (252). The plinth (250) provides an interface between the base (240) and the ground or floor, and can be designed to raise the column body (230) off the ground to allow air to circulate in the interior of the column (200). The base (240) and plinth (250) can be molded in one piece or may constitute separate pieces, but generally are formed independent of the column body (230).
According to one exemplary embodiment, the column (200) may be made by forming and assembling the above-mentioned components of the column (210). More specifically, according to one exemplary embodiment, the column body (230) is made by first drawing a fiber or bundle of fibers from a creel and directing it into a resin wet dip or drum bath system where the fibers are impregnated with the resin matrix. Upon exit from the resin bath system, the fibers are wound by filament winding equipment onto a mandrel having desired dimensions. Winding patterns that may be used include, but are not limited to, hoop, helical and polar windings, or combinations thereof. These windings can also be followed or preceded by circumferential windings. After completion of the filament winding process, the composite structure is then cured by removing it from the filament-winding machine and placing into an oven while remaining on the mandrel. After curing, the mandrel can be removed from the filament-wound column body. The structure of the filament-wound composite walls provides sufficient strength such that no additional, reinforcing core material is needed, although core material may be used if desired. The exterior surface of the filament-wound column body is then finished or filled with a decorative, paintable surface. When desired, the capital (210), a base (240), and a plinth (250) may be fastened to the column body (230) by any means known to those of skill in the art.
By forming the astragal as part of the capital, the neck does not require a custom radius in order to fit the astragal, and there is less neck build-up on the column. It also allows column bodies to be stacked on each other since there is no astragal on the column bodies that inhibits stacking. The column bodies can be stacked when they each include a taper that forms a smaller top end and a larger bottom end. These column bodies can be stacked by inserting a smaller top end of a column body in a larger bottom end of another column body.
The present exemplary apparatus and method form the astragal as part of the capital rather than as part of the column body, thereby providing several advantages. For example, the present system and method expedite the column manufacturing process by eliminating the extra step of making a separate astragal and bonding it to the column body. Further, the present system and method decrease the amount of materials and molds used in formation, resulting in increased cost savings. The present apparatus and method also use fewer laborers for the manufacturing process.
The preceding description is presented only to illustrate and describe embodiments of the present invention. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to any precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of the system and method be defined by the following claims.
