US2897929A - Pillars or columns - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 4, 1959 P. c. LINDMAN PILLARS OR COLUMNS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 11, 1953 INVENTOR Philip 6. Lindman ATTORNEY Aug. 4, 1959 Filed Sept. 11. 1953 P. C. LINDMAN PILLARS OR COLUMNS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 10

INVENTOR Philip C. Lindman BY M ATTORNEY United States Patent PILLARS OR COLUlVINS Philip C. Lindman, Dallas County, Tex., assignor to Dallas Iron and Wire Works, Inc., Dallas, Tex., a corporation of Texas Application September 11, 1953, Serial No. 379,499

3 Claims. (Cl. 189-38) This invention relates to pillars or columns.

One object of the invention is to provide a new and improved pillar or cohunn for buildings and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved pillar or column having tubular standards, and which is decorative.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved pillar or column, of the type described, having means for firmly securing and bracing the lower ends of the tubular standards.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved pillar or column having a bracing frame for firmly securing the lower end of the pillar to a fixed structure such as a floor slab.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved pillar or column, of the type described, having a bracing frame which is particularly adapted to have decorative or ornamental members secured thereto and to form a part thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a prefabricated pillar or column which may be easily assembled at the site of installation.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the reading of the following description of devices constructed in accordance with the invention and reference to the accompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pillar or column constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the lower portion of the pillar shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of one of the bracing plates of the bracing frame of the pillars shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figures 4 and 5 are side views of modified forms of the pillar shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of another modified form of the pillar having two tubular members or standards;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a further modified form of the pillar having three tubular standards;

Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional view showing a bracing plate for a pillar having four tubular standards;

Figure 9 is a side view of a cap for the tops of the tubular standards; and,

Figure 10 is a bottom view of the cap shown in Figure 9.

Referring now particularly to Figures 1, 2, 3, 9 and 10 of the drawing, the reference numeral designates a pillar or coltunn having a tubular standard 21, which may be employed to support a roof or other overhanging structure. The upper end of the pillar may be inserted in a cap 22 having outwardly extending opposed lugs 23 having notches 24 through which screws or bolts (not shown) may extend to rigidly secure the cap to the roof or other overhanging structure. The cap has an annulus 25 which telescopes over the upper end portion of the ice standard and an internal flange 26 which abuts the upper end of the standard.

The lower end of the standard should be rigidly se cured to a floor slab 27 or other fixed structure. Moreover, it is desirable that the standard be braced intermediate its ends against lateral movement, since connection of only the upper and lower ends of the tubular standard to the fixed structure may not result in an adequately strong pillar or column structure. It is also frequently desirable that the column should be decorative or ornamental, as well as reinforced.

The lower end of the tubular standard 21 is secured to the floor slab 27 by a bracing frame 28 which includes upper and lower bracing plates 29 and 30, respectively, which are of identical construction. Each bracing plate has a horizontal portion 31 provided with a central boss 32 and a peripheral dependent flange 33. The horizontal portion 31 of each bracing plate is provided with a central aperture 34 which extends through the boss 32.

The tubular standard is adapted to extend through the aperture 34, and it will be seen that the sides of the aperture fit very snugly against the standard to limit pivotal movement of the standard relative to the plates. The bosses 32 serve to provide a maximum area of contact between the standards and the bracing plates and also serve to reinforce or strengthen the bracing plates. In addition, as will hereinafter be explained, the bosses also provide means for holding scrolls or other decorative members, in place between pairs of plates and prevents rotative movement of such decorative members. It will also be apparent that the lower end of the standard rests upon the floor slab 27 and that the lower bracing plate engages or abuts it at a level above the lower end.

The horizontal portions are also provided with apertures 35 at the four corners thereof through which bolts or screws 36 may be inserted to engage in threaded bores in the upper and lower ends of four corner posts 37 to rigidly secure the corner posts 37 to the bracing plates. It will be seen that the corner posts 37 extend between the upper and lower bracing posts, their lower ends resting on the lower bracing plate and their upper ends supporting the upper bracing plate.

The bracing plates are also provided with apertures 38 at each side. Bolts 39 extend through the apertures 38 of the upper bracing plate to rigidly secure ornamental members, such as the scrolls 40, above and to the upper bracing plate and also to secure to the upper bracing plate the upper ends of elongate ornamental members 41, which extend between the upper and lower bracing plates between adjacent corner posts 37. The members 41 may, of course, be scrolls or castings, and it will be noted that the edges of the boss on the upper surface of the lower bracing plate engage the sides of the lower end of the ornamental member to prevent rotative movement of the ornamental member, while the depending flange 33 of the upper bracing plate likewise prevents rotative movement of the upper end of the decorative member.

Anchor bolts or screws 42 rigidly secured in the floor slab 27, or other fixed structure, extend upwardly through the apertures 38 of the lower bracing plate and through suitable apertures in the lower ends of the ornamental members 41 so that the lower ends of the ornamental members may be rigidly secured to the lower bracing plate, and the lower bracing plate is so rigidly secured to the fixed structure by the cap nuts 43 on the upper ends of the anchor screws.

It will thus be seen that the standard 21 is rigidly and firmly held in an upright position by a bracing frame 28 which includes a pair of bracing plates 29 and 30 held in vertically spaced relation by four corner posts 37, or by ornamental members 41, if the posts are omitted. It will also be seen that the bracing plates are provided with apertures 34 through which the standard extends, and that the apertures are of substantially the same dimensions as the standard so that the bracing plates are disposed in planes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the standard.

It will also be apparent that the bracing plates are of dished form having dependent flanges 33, the flanges holding the horizontal portion 31 of the lower bracing plate above the slab 27 to which it is rigidly secured, thereby facilitating the fastening of the corner posts to the lower bracing plate since room is provided for the heads of these screws. The dependent flange of the upper bracing plate serves to conceal the lower ends of the bolts 39. It will be understood that the flanges also serve to reinforce or strengthen the bracing plates.

It will also be apparent that the bosses and flanges on the bracing plates provide means for holding the ornamental members or scrolls 40 and 41 against rotation relative to the bracing plates. It will further be apparent that the pillar or column may be easily assembled at the site of installation, since all components therefor are connected by screws or bolts. The tubular structure 21 may be cut to size at the site by means of a hack saw.

It will also be seen that the column or pillar can be easily removed merely by unscrewing the cap nuts 43 and sliding the bracing frame upwardly on the structure after the cap 22 has been freed from the overhead fixed struc ture.

In Figure 4 is shown a modified form of the column or pillar illustrated in Figures 1 to 3. The pillar 44 includes a tubular standard 45 having a bracing frame 46 composed of a plurality of sections joined together to be the same length as the standard. The bracing frame 46 includes upper, lower and intermediate bracing plates 47, 48 and 49, respectively, of the same construction as the plates 29 and 30 of the form just described, and the upper plate is secured to the upper fixed structure by anchor screws 47a while the lower plate is secured to the lower fixed structure by anchor screws 49a. The bracing frame includes corner posts 51 and ornamental members or scrolls 52 fastened to the plates in the manner described in connection with the pillar shown in Figures 1 and 2. It will thus be apparent that the bracing frame of the pillar may be of the same length as the standard.

In Figure is shown another modified form of the pillar, wherein scroll connecting plates 53 are provided which have suitable apertures through which the posts 54 and the standard 55 may extend. Upper and lower scrolls 56 and 57, respectively, may be secured to the connecting plate by bolts 58. The connecting plates may be advantageously enlarged in bracing frames of substantial length both for aesthetic reasons and also as additional bracing elements.

In Figure 6 another modified form of column or pillar is shown, wherein two parallel standards 59 and 60 are employed. In this case, the bracing plates 61 are each provided with two spaced apertures through which the standards extend. These bracing plates may also be connected by means of corner posts 62 or other ornamental members which are secured to the bracing plates by bolts or screws 63 in the manner already described.

In Figure 7 still another form of column or pillar is illustrated, wherein three standards 64, 65 and 66 are used. In this case the bracing plates 67 are substantially L-shaped and are provided with three spaced apertures through which the standards extend. These bracing plates may, of course, be provided with corner posts 68 or other ornamental members. The pillar construction shown in Figure 7 may be used where the pillar stands at a corner of a porch or veranda.

In Figure 8 is shown still another form of the column or pillar wherein the bracing plates 69 are provided with four apertures through which four posts 70, 71, 72, and 73 extend.

It is believed manifest that the tubular standards may be of other configurations than cylindrical; for example, square, polygonal or oval.

It will now be seen that several dilferent forms of columns or pillars have been illustrated and described each of which includes at least one standard and a bracing frame which includes vertically spaced flanged bracing plates connected together by corner posts or other ornamental members, the standard extending through registering apertures in the bracing plates. It will also be seen that the lower bracing plate is anchored to a lower fixed structure to rigidly secure the lower end of the standard thereto and that the upper end of the standard may be secured to an upper fixed structure either by a cap 22 or by an upper bracing plate rigidly secured to such upper fixed structure. It will further be noted that the bosses and flanges on the bracing plates provide means for preventing rotation of the ornamental members about their longitudinal axes, whereby such members are positively held in the desired ornamental or decorative position between the bracing plates.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, and changes may be made in the constructions illustrated, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A pillar including: at least one vertical support standard adapted to extend between an upper fixed structure and a lower fixed structure; and a bracing frame comprising a lower bracing plate adapted to be anchored to said lower fixed structure, an upper bracing plate, said plates having registering apertures through which said standard extends, said apertures of said plates being of substantially the same size as said standard, and a plurality of laterally separate vertical members spaced from and about said standard and between said upper and lower bracing plates, said vertical members having flat vertical surfaces, each of said bracing plates comprising a horizontal portion and a continuous integral peripheral flange extending substantially vertically from said horizontal portion, the flange of the lower bracing plate being adapted to rest on said lower fixed structure, each of said bracing plates having a boss extending in the opposite direction to its flange, said aperture extending through said boss, said boss of each bracing plate having a plurality of rectilinear side faces extending substantially vertically upon the horizontal portion of said plate and spaced uniformly from the peripheral edge of said plate and engaged with the flat vertical surfaces of said vertical members to prevent rotative movement of said vertical members about their vertical axes.

2. A pillar including: at least one vertical support standard adapted to extend between an upper fixed structure and a lower fixed structure; and a bracing frame comprising a lower bracing plate adapted to be anchored to said lower fixed structure, an upper bracing plate, said plates having registering apertures through which said standard extends, said apertures of said plates being of substantially the same size as said standard, and a plurality of laterally separate vertical members spaced from and about said standard and between said upper and lower bracing plates, said vertical members having flat vertical surfaces, each of said bracing plates comprising a horizontal portion and a continuous integral peripheral flange extending substantially vertically from said horizontal portion, the flange of the lower bracing plate being I adapted to rest on said lower fixed structure, each of 5 to prevent rotative movement of said vertical members about their vertical axes.

3. A pillar including: at least one vertical support standard adapted to extend between an upper fixed structure and a lower fixed structure; and a bracing frame comprising a lower bracing plate adapted to be anchored to said lower fixed structure, an upper bracing plate, said plates having registering apertures through which said standard extends, said apertures of said plates being of substantially the same size as said standard, and a plurality of laterally separate vertical members spaced from and about said standard and between said upper and lower bracing plates, said vertical members having flat vertical surfaces, each of said bracing pl'ates comprising a horizontal portion and a continuous integral peripheral flange extending substantially vertically from said horizontal portion, the flange of the lower bracing plate being adapted to rest on said lower fixed structure, each of said plates having a boss extending in the opposite direction to its flange, said boss having a plurality of rectilinear side faces extending substantially vertically from the horizontal portion of said bracing plate and spaced uniformly from the peripheral edge of said plate, said aperture extending through said boss; said vertical members including posts and ornamental scrolls connected to said bracing plates, each of said scrolls being disposed between a pair of adjacent posts, the rectilinear side faces of said boss of said lower bracing plates and said flange of said upper bracing plate engaged with the flat vertical surfaces of said vertical members to prevent rotative movement of said vertical members about their vertical axes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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