The present invention relates to devices, systems, and processes useful as concrete molds, and more specifically to decorative concrete column molds.
A reinforced concrete column is a structural member designed to carry compressive loads for buildings and other structures. They are composed of concrete with an embedded steel frame to provide reinforcement; while less common, the steel frame is not used in some columns. The exterior surfaces of such columns are smooth and plain. Typically, concrete columns are made by positioning a form at the location where the concrete column is to be located, optionally with steel frame(s) therein, and an uncured wet concrete slurry is poured into hollow center of the form and permitted to set and cure over time. Once the concrete column has sufficiently set and cured at least to support its own weight, the form is removed from the exterior of the column.
In general terms, this disclosure relates to a mold that adds creative design elements to structural concrete columns. The creative design element(s) is (are) not added to the structural concrete form itself that creates the column (see above), but may be an additional component that is added to the interior of a column form, and thus is in direct contact with the concrete slurry when it is poured into the form. When the form and mold are removed from the column, after the concrete has set, the desired texture and design elements are left on the column's exterior surface as a permanent feature. This application describes an array of product options that can be utilized by architects, builders, and clients to add design elements to visible columns that would otherwise be bare.
Still other aspects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following detailed description of embodiments constructed in accordance therewith, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The invention of the present application will now be described in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments of the apparatus and method, given only by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring to the drawing figures, like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding elements throughout the several figures.
In general terms, this disclosure relates to a mold that adds creative design elements to structural concrete columns. The creative design element(s) is (are) not added to the structural concrete form itself that creates the column (see above), but may be an additional component that is added to the interior of a column form, and thus is in direct contact with the concrete slurry when it is poured into the form. When the form and mold are removed from the column, after the concrete has set, the desired texture and design elements are left on the column's exterior surface as a permanent feature. This application describes an array of product options that can be utilized by architects, builders, and clients to add design elements to visible columns that would otherwise be bare.
Typically, the molds will be used on reinforced concrete columns, although they can be used with other materials that are cast in a columnar form; molds as described herein can be used to add design elements to both load-bearing and non-load bearing columns.
The protrusions and recesses described herein can be all the same height/depth, or when more than one is included in a single mold 10, can have differing heights and/or depths. Furthermore, the heights/depths of any one protrusion/recess may alternatively be non-constant, so that the resulting feature formed in the concrete column CC has a non-constant depth/height. Furthermore, the forms 18 may take any of a variety of shapes, with hollow interiors (to thus create columns having the same shape) having cross-sectional shapes of a disk, oval, square, rectangle, triangle, and any other geometric or irregular shape.
While the invention has been described in detail with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes can be made, and equivalents employed, without departing from the scope of the invention. The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto, and their equivalents. The entirety of each of the aforementioned documents is incorporated by reference herein.
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to U.S. Provisional App. No. 62/787,420, filed 2 Jan. 2019, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
62787420 | Jan 2019 | US |