Structural column wrap assembly

Abstract

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.

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.