Architectural capital having an astragal formed thereon

Abstract

An architectural capital has an astragal formed on the capital, the capital configured for use in an architectural column.

1 . A capital, comprising an astragal formed at a base of said capital.  
   
   
       2 . The capital of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an abacus;    an echinus; and    a neck;    wherein said astragal is formed at a base of said neck.    
   
   
       3 . The capital of  claim 1 , comprising: 
 a hollow opening in the shape of a cross-section of a column body;    said opening configured to allow said column body to extend through said capital until a top surface of said column body is flush with a top surface of said capital.    
   
   
       4 . The capital of  claim 1 , wherein said capital is configured to be fastened to a column body.  
   
   
       5 . The capital of  claim 4 , wherein said column body comprises a filament-wound column body.  
   
   
       6 . The capital of  claim 4 , wherein said column body comprises one of a metal, a polymer, wood, concrete, stone, cement, or fiberglass.  
   
   
       7 . A column, comprising: 
 a column body; and    a capital having an astragal formed on said capital.    
   
   
       8 . The column of  claim 7 , wherein said column body comprises a filament-wound column body.  
   
   
       9 . The column of  claim 7 , wherein said column body comprises one of a metal, a polymer, wood, concrete, stone, cement, or fiberglass.  
   
   
       10 . The column of  claim 7 , wherein said capital comprises: 
 an abacus;    an echinus;    and a neck;    wherein said astragal is formed at said neck.    
   
   
       11 . The column of  claim 7 , further comprising one of a base, a plinth or a combination thereof.  
   
   
       12 . The column of  claim 7 , wherein said column body comprises a plurality of filament-wound layers.  
   
   
       13 . The column of  claim 7 , wherein said column body further comprises a fiber-reinforced bonding agent.  
   
   
       14 . The column of  claim 7 , wherein said column body comprises an outer surface.  
   
   
       15 . The column of  claim 14 , wherein said outer surface is fluted.  
   
   
       16 . The column of  claim 7 , wherein said astragal comprises one of a bead motif or a bead-and-reel motif.  
   
   
       17 . The column of  claim 7 , wherein said capital comprises: 
 a hollow opening corresponding to the shape of a cross-section of said column body;    said opening configured to allow said column body to extend through said capital until a top surface of said column body is flush with a top surface of said capital.    
   
   
       18 . A method of making a capital, comprising: 
 inserting a mold material in a capital mold, said capital mold comprising an astragal shape; and    curing said mold material.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said mold material comprises a thermoset polymer.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said capital mold further comprises an abacus shape, an echinus shape, and a neck shape.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said capital mold further comprises: 
 a hollow opening associated with a cross-section of said column body;    said opening configured to allow said column body to extend through said capital until a top surface of said column body is flush with a top surface of said capital.    
   
   
       22 . A method of manufacturing a column, comprising: 
 making a column body; and    forming a capital with an astragal formed on said capital.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising fastening said capital to said column-body.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said column body comprises a filament-wound column body.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said column body comprises one of a metal, a polymer, wood, concrete, stone, cement, or fiberglass.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said capital comprises one of wood, metal, concrete, fiberglass, plaster, a polymer, or a composite.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said forming a capital comprises inserting a mold material into a capital mold, said capital mold including an astragal shape.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said mold material comprises a thermoset polymer.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said capital mold further comprises an abacus shape, an echinus shape, and a neck shape.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said capital mold further comprises: 
 a hollow opening associated with a cross-section of said column body;    said opening configured to allow said column body to extend through said capital until a top surface of said column body is flush with a top surface of said capital.    
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising forming one of a base or a plinth.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising adding a surface to said column body.  
   
   
       33 . A method of stacking a plurality of columns, comprising: 
 forming a capital for each column of said plurality of columns;    forming a column body for each column of said plurality of columns;    forming an astragal on each capital; and    stacking said column bodies.    
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein each of said column bodies comprises a filament-wound column body.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein each of said column bodies comprise a taper forming a smaller top end and a larger bottom end; 
 wherein said column bodies are stacked by inserting a smaller top end of a first column body in a larger bottom end of a second column body.