Slide-on column capital, column assembly, and method of manufacture thereof

Abstract

A column capital includes a generally planar top surface; a generally cylindrical inner surface for receiving a column therein; and a outer decorative surface spaced away from the inner surface. The inner surface is sized to fit over a column and rest on a neck ring of the column. The capital may incorporate a cylindrical, abradable liner. A method for producing a column capital includes introducing casting material between a mold an liner, allowing the casting material to cure, and removing the casting material with the attached liner from the mold.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 626,170, filed Nov. 9, 2004.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates generally to decorative construction elements, and more particularly to capitals for being installed on building columns. [0003] Columns, both structural and decorative, are common construction elements. Often these columns will include a decorative capital at an upper end thereof. Many of the designs of such capitals originated in ancient times and often include complex features, such as curves, scrolls, flowers, etc., which would be expensive to reproduce directly on a column (i.e. by carving). Furthermore, commercially-available columns are made in many different lengths. Therefore, capitals are usually made as a separate component, for example, by carving or molding. The separate capital is then attached to the top of the column. [0004] In the prior art, capitals are typical...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The invention provides a column capital that is easy to install and can accommodate manufacturing variations in the column. The column capital has a planar top surface, a cylindrical inner surface for receiving the column, a decorative outer surface, and a cylindrical liner that extends through the capital in a vertical direction and defines the inner surface. The liner can be abradable material or paper, and the column capital can be made from a polymeric resin with an absorbent filler like pecan shells, flour, or calcium carbonate. The column capital can be a solid casting or made from two joined halves each including a portion of the liner and the outer surface. The invention also provides a method of making the column capital by placing a cylindrical liner into a mold and introducing a fluid casting material into the mold."

Problems solved by technology

Many of the designs of such capitals originated in ancient times and often include complex features, such as curves, scrolls, flowers, etc., which would be expensive to reproduce directly on a column (i.e. by carving).

This process requires a substantial amount of time and skilled labor, and is therefore expensive.

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