Simulated Stone or Brick Column and Method of Fabricating Same
AssigneeArc Technologies, Inc.
InventorsWilliam Stephen Oram, Weldin Wayne Oram, JR.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A simulated stone or brick column is fabricated by a method that involves providing a hollow closed mold that has an inner face in the form of a reverse image of the desired stone or brick surface. A liquid casting material is introduced into the mold and in the mold is rotated about two perpendicular axes so that the casting material coats the inner face of the mold and results in the formation of a hollow column having the external appearance of the desired stone or brick surface. The casting material forms a molded column that has a texture and contour that simulate a stone or brick surface. A mailbox and newspaper tube can be installed in the column.
Claims18
A method of fabricating a simulated stone or brick column, comprising the steps of:
- providing a hollow closed mold having a peripheral side wall and opposite end plates, with at least the peripheral side wall having an inner face formed as a reverse image of a stone or brick surface;
- introducing a liquid casting material into the mold, the liquid casting material comprising a polymer resin component blended with a catalyst component and having a filler component distributed throughout the liquid casting material, wherein the catalyst component is added to a mixture of the polymer resin and filler components just prior to introducing the liquid casting material into the mold, and wherein the casting material is free of any fibrous reinforcing material;
- rotating the mold about two different axes to cause the liquid casting material to coat the inner face of the side wall and the opposite end plates of the mold;
- allowing the liquid casting material to cure and harden;
- and
- opening the mold and removing the resulting molded column therefrom, wherein the resulting molded column comprises a peripheral side wall and upper and bottom end walls, with at least the peripheral side wall of the molded column having an exterior surface in the form of a positive image of the stone or brick surface.
A simulated stone or brick column, comprising:
- a rotary-cast member having a peripheral side wall and opposite end walls surrounding a hollow interior of said member, an exterior surface of at least the peripheral side wall having a realistic look and texture of stone or brick, the hollow member being formed of an initially liquid casting material comprising a polymer resin component blended with a catalyst component and having a filler component distributed throughout the liquid casting material, wherein the filler component includes at least microballoons, and wherein the casting material is free of any fibrous reinforcing material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.