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 - 21 . (canceled) 
   
   
       22 . A column assembly for positioning between a bottom support and an overhead support, said column assembly comprising:
 a structural column extending between said bottom support and said overhead support; and   a wrap assembly disposed around said structural column and extending between said bottom support and said overhead support, wherein said wrap assembly includes:
 mating, elongated shaft sections, each section having an interior surface, an exterior surface, and side edges extending between said interior and exterior surfaces, said shaft sections are juxtaposed with their interior surfaces facing one another and their side edges in abutment to form a continuous shaft having first and second ends, wherein the first end of the shaft and the second end of the shaft are secured to said bottom and overhead supports to fix the position of the shaft relative to the structural column, wherein the shaft sections are dimensioned such that said interior surfaces are spaced apart from the structural column to allow the continuous shaft to be adjusted to a variety of different positions relative to the structural column within the continuous shaft before the position of the continuous shaft is fixed. 
   
   
   
       23 . The assembly of  claim 22  wherein the first end of the continuous shaft includes an integrally formed fastening cleat that is attached to one of the bottom support and the overhead support to secure the first end of the continuous shaft to the bottom support or the overhead support. 
   
   
       24 . The assembly defined in  claim 23  wherein the shaft and integrally formed fastening cleat are molded from a weatherproof plastic material. 
   
   
       25 . The assembly defined in  claim 22  wherein said shaft sections are shaped to form a shaft with a rectangular cross-section. 
   
   
       26 . A method of installing column wrap assemblies around structural columns extending between a bottom support and an overhead support comprising:
 placing shaft portions of a first column wrap assembly around a first structural column;   securing the shaft portions of the first column wrap assembly together to form a first shaft around the first structural column with a space between an interior of the first shaft and an exterior of the first structural column;   adjusting the position of the first shaft with respect to the first structural column such that the first shaft is vertical;   securing an upper end of the first shaft to the overhead support and a lower end of the first shaft to the bottom support to secure the position of the first shaft with respect to the first structural column;   placing shaft portions of a second column wrap assembly around a second structural column;   securing the shaft portions of the second column wrap assembly together to form a second shaft around the second structural column with a space between an interior of the second shaft and an exterior of the second structural column;   adjusting the position of the second shaft with respect to the second structural column such that the second shaft is vertical and the second shaft is in horizontal alignment with said first shaft;   securing an upper end of the second shaft to the overhead support and a lower end of the second shaft to the bottom support to secure the position of the second shaft with respect to the second structural column.   
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 25  wherein one of the upper and lower ends of the first shaft includes and intergrally formed cleat that is secured to the corresponding overhead support or bottom support. 
   
   
       28 . A row column assemblies comprising:
 a row of structural columns that extend between a bottom support and an overhead support, wherein said row of structural columns are out of horizontal alignment;   a row of wrap assemblies disposed around said structural columns of said row of structural columns, wherein each wrap assembly extends between said bottom support and said overhead support, wherein each said said wrap assembly includes:
 mating, elongated shaft sections, each section having an interior surface, an exterior surface, and side edges extending between said interior and exterior surfaces, said shaft sections are juxtaposed with their interior surfaces facing one another and their side edges in abutment to form a continuous shaft having first and second ends, wherein the first end of the shaft and the second end of the shaft are secured to said bottom and overhead supports to fix the position of the shaft relative to the structural column, wherein the shaft sections are dimensioned such that said interior surfaces are spacable apart from the structural column to allow the continuous shaft to be adjusted to a variety of different positions relative to the structural column within the continuous shaft before the position of the continuous shaft is fixed; 
   whererein the positions of the continuous shafts are fixed such that the wrap assemblies of the row of wrap assemblies are in horizontal alignment.   
   
   
       29 . The row column assemblies of  claim 28  wherein the first end of each continuous shaft includes an integrally formed fastening cleat that is attached to one of the bottom support and the overhead support to secure the first end of each continuous shaft to the bottom support or the overhead support. 
   
   
       30 . The assembly defined in  claim 29  wherein the shaft and integrally formed fastening cleat are molded from a weatherproof plastic material. 
   
   
       31 . The assembly defined in  claim 28  wherein said shaft sections are shaped to form a shaft with a rectangular cross-section.