Note : Les revendications sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A pre-fabricated outdoor column assembly,
comprising:
an elongate tubular member having at least one
inner wall, at least one outer wall, a first end and a
second end disposed opposite the first end, the at least
one outer wall having the appearance of masonry; and,
an insert having a first end and a second end, the
insert disposed inside the tubular member, the insert
disposed adjacent to the at least one inner wall of the
tubular member, the insert disposed in spaced apart
relation to the first and second ends of the tubular
member such that a first space between the insert and
the first end of the tubular member and a second space
between the insert and the second end of the tubular
member are formed, the insert having a opening sized to
receive a mounting post.
2. The pre-fabricated, outdoor column assembly of
Claim 1, wherein the tubular member further comprises an
opening for receiving a mailbox into the first space in
the tubular member.
3. The pre-fabricated, outdoor column assembly of
Claim 1, wherein the insert further comprises a raceway
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extending from the first end of the insert to the second
end of the insert such that a conduit extending from the
first space to the second space is capable of being
disposed through the raceway.
4. The pre-fabricated, outdoor column assembly of
Claim 1, wherein the opening in the insert is defined by
at least one first wall defining a first opening for
receiving the post and at least one second wall forming
a raceway disposed adjacent to the first wall such that
conduit can be run inside the insert along an outside
surface of the mounting post.
5. The pre-fabricated, outdoor column assembly of
Claim 1, wherein the at least one outer wall of the
tubular member is coated with an elastomeric hard shell
coating.
6. The pre-fabricated, outdoor column assembly of
Claim 5, wherein the hard shell coating comprises a
polyurea based coating.
7. The pre-fabricated, outdoor column assembly of
Claim 6, wherein the coating is applied by spraying.
8. The pre-fabricated, outdoor column assembly of
Claim 1, wherein the tubular member is formed by
rotocasting.
9. The pre-fabricated, outdoor column assembly of
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Claim 1, wherein the tubular member is formed by
molding.
10. The pre-fabricated, outdoor column assembly of
Claim 1, further comprising a cap having a light fixture
disposed therein, the cap capable of being attached to
the column assembly at the first end of the tubular
member.
11. The pre-fabricated, outdoor column assembly of
Claim 1, wherein the mounting post is an elongate
vertical post disposed in the ground.
12. The pre-fabricated, outdoor column assembly of
Claim 1, wherein the mounting post is an elongate
vertical post attached to a concrete surface.
13. The pre-fabricated, outdoor column assembly of
Claim 1, wherein the column assembly has an elongate
opening in the tubular member and has a corresponding
opening in the insert such that one end of signage is
capable of being attached to the mounting post.
14. The pre-fabricated, outdoor column assembly of
Claim 1, wherein the mounting post is a standard 4" X 4"
post.
15. The pre-fabricated, outdoor column assembly of
Claim 1, wherein the at least one outer wall has the
appearance of brick.
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16. The pre-fabricated, outdoor column assembly of
Claim 1, wherein the at least one outer wall has the
appearance of paneled stucco.
17. The pre-fabricated, outdoor column assembly of
Claim 1, wherein the at least one outer wall has the
appearance of stone.
18. The pre-fabricated, outdoor column assembly of
Claim 1, further comprising an illuminated house number
display disposed in the column assembly.
19. The pre-fabricated, outdoor column assembly of
Claim 1, further comprising an electrical outlet
disposed in the column assembly.
20. The pre-fabricated, outdoor column assembly of
Claim 1, wherein the tubular member is formed from four
walls joined at ninety degree, keyed corners.
21. The pre-fabricated, outdoor column assembly of
Claim 1, wherein the tubular member further comprises an
opening for receiving a newspaper box.
22. A pre-fabricated, outdoor column assembly,
comprising:
an elongate tubular member having at least one
inner wall, at least one outer wall, a first end, and a
second end disposed opposite the first end, the at least
one outer wall having the appearance of masonry, the at
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least one inner wall of the tubular member defining an
opening extending from the first end to the second end
of the tubular member;
an insert disposed inside the tubular member in
spaced apart relation to the first and second ends of
the tubular member such that a first space between the
insert and the first end of the tubular member and a
second space between the insert and the second end of
the tubular member are formed, the insert having a first
end and a second end, the insert having at least one
first inner wall defining an opening extending from the
first end to the second end, the opening sized to
receive a mounting post, the insert having at least one
second inner wall defining a raceway such that conduit
may be disposed through the insert from the first space
to the second space; and,
a cap sized to fit onto the first end of the
tubular member.
23. The pre-fabricated, outdoor column assembly of
Claim 22, wherein the tubular member further comprises
an opening for receiving a mailbox into the first space
in the tubular member.
24. The pre-fabricated, outdoor column assembly of
Claim 23, wherein the mailbox is attached to the top
surface of the mounting post.
25. The pre-fabricated, outdoor column assembly of
Claim 22, wherein the insert further comprises a raceway
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extending from the first end of the insert to the second
end of the insert such that a conduit extending from the
first space to the second space is capable of being
disposed through the raceway.
26. The pre-fabricated, outdoor column assembly of
Claim 22, wherein the opening in the insert is defined
by at least one first wall defining an opening for
receiving the post and at least one second wall forming
a raceway disposed adjacent to the first wall such that
conduit can be run inside the insert along an outside
surface of the mounting post.
27. The pre-fabricated, outdoor column assembly of
Claim 22, wherein the at least one outer wall of the
tubular member is coated with an elastomeric hard shell
coating.
28. The pre-fabricated, outdoor column assembly of
Claim 27, wherein the hard shell coating comprises a
polyurea based coating.
29. The pre-fabricated, outdoor column assembly of
Claim 28, wherein the coating is applied by spraying.
30. The pre-fabricated, outdoor column assembly of
Claim 22, wherein the tubular member is formed by
rotocasting.
31. The pre-fabricated, outdoor column assembly of
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Claim 22, wherein the tubular member is formed by
molding.
32. The pre-fabricated, outdoor column assembly of
Claim 22, further comprising a cap having a light
fixture disposed therein.
33. The pre-fabricated, outdoor column assembly of
Claim 22, wherein the mounting post is an elongate
vertical post disposed in the ground.
34. The pre-fabricated, outdoor column assembly of
Claim 22, wherein the mounting post is an elongate
vertical post attached to a concrete surface.
35. The pre-fabricated, outdoor column assembly of
Claim 22, wherein the column assembly has an elongate
opening in the tubular member and has a corresponding
opening in the insert such that one end of signage is
capable of being attached to the mounting post.
36. The pre-fabricated, outdoor column assembly of
Claim 22, wherein the mounting post is a standard 4" X
4" post.
37. The pre-fabricated, outdoor column assembly of
Claim 22, wherein the at least one outer wall has the
appearance of brick.
38. The pre-fabricated, outdoor column assembly of
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Claim 22, wherein the at least one outer wall has the
appearance of paneled stucco.
39. The pre-fabricated, outdoor column assembly of
Claim 22, wherein the at least one outer wall has the
appearance of stone.
40. The pre-fabricated, outdoor column assembly of
Claim 22, further comprising an illuminated house number
display disposed in the column assembly.
41. The pre-fabricated, outdoor column assembly of
Claim 22, further comprising an electrical outlet
disposed in the column assembly.
42. The pre-fabricated, outdoor column assembly of
Claim 22, wherein the tubular member is formed from four
walls joined at ninety degree keyed corners.
43. The pre-fabricated, outdoor column assembly of
Claim 22, wherein the tubular member further comprises
an opening for receiving a newspaper box.
44. A method of constructing an outdoor column,
comprising:
providing an elongate tubular member having at
least one inner wall, at least one outer wall, a first
end and a second end disposed opposite the first end,
the at least one outer wall having the appearance of
masonry;
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providing an insert having a first end and a second
end and at least one inner wall defining an opening
extending from the first end to the second end;
attaching the insert inside the tubular member
adjacent to the at least one inner wall of the tubular
member, the insert disposed in spaced apart relation to
the first and second ends of the tubular member such
that a first space between the insert and the first end
of the tubular member and a second space between the
insert and the second end of the tubular member are
formed, the tubular member and insert forming a
prefabricated, outdoor column;
excavating a hole in the ground;
anchoring a vertical post to the hole;
placing the prefabricated, outdoor column over the
post such that the post is received by the opening in
the insert; and,
attaching the prefabricated, outdoor column to the
post.
45. The method of Claim 44, wherein the tubular member
further comprises an opening for receiving a mailbox
into the first space in the tubular member.
46. The method of Claim 45, wherein the mailbox is
attached to a top surface of the mounting post.
47. The method of Claim 44, wherein the insert further
comprises a raceway extending from the first end of the
insert to the second end of the insert such that a
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conduit extending from the first space to the second
space is capable of being disposed through the raceway.
48. The method of Claim 44, wherein the opening in the
insert is defined by at least one first wall defining an
opening for receiving the post and at least one second
wall forming a raceway disposed adjacent to the first
wall such that conduit can be run inside the insert
along an outside surface of the mounting post.
49. The method of Claim 44, wherein the at least one
outer wall of the tubular member is coated with an
elastomeric hard shell coating.
50. The method of Claim 49, wherein the hard shell
coating comprises a polyurea based coating.
51. The method of Claim 50, wherein the coating is
applied by spraying.
52. The method of Claim 44, wherein the tubular member
is formed by rotocasting.
53. The method of Claim 44, wherein the tubular member
is formed by molding.
54. The method of Claim 44, further comprising a cap
having a light fixture disposed therein, the cap capable
of being attached to the first end of the tubular
member.
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55. The method of Claim 44, wherein the mounting post
is an elongate vertical post disposed in the ground.
56. The method of Claim 44, wherein the mounting post
is an elongate vertical post attached to a concrete
surface.
57. The method of Claim 44, wherein the pre-fabricated
column has an elongate opening in the tubular member and
has a corresponding opening in the insert such that one
end of signage is capable of being attached to the
mounting post.
58. The method of Claim 44, wherein the mounting post
is a standard 4" × 4" post.
59. The method of Claim 44, wherein the at least one
outer wall has the appearance of brick.
60. The method of Claim 44, wherein the at least one
outer wall has the appearance of paneled stucco.
61. The method of Claim 44, wherein the at least one
outer wall has the appearance of stone.
62. The method of Claim 44, further comprising an
illuminated house number display disposed in the pre-
fabricated outdoor column assembly.
63. The method of Claim 44, further comprising an
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electrical outlet disposed in the pre-fabricated,
outdoor column assembly.
64. The method of Claim 44, wherein the tubular member
is formed from four walls joined at ninety degree keyed
corners.
65. The method of Claim 44, wherein the tubular member
further comprises an opening for receiving a newspaper
box.