AU2023201890A1 - A mortar tray stand - Google Patents

Abstract

A mortar tray stand comprises a stem having a free distal end insertable within a scaffolding leg and a proximal end defining a support for a mortar tray. 8 X*4 Figure Figur 2~j

Description

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A mortar tray stand

Field of the Invention

[0001] This invention relates generally to mortar tray stands. More particularly, this invention relates to a mortar tray stand suitable for use at elevated heights.

Background of the Invention

[0002] A mortar tray (sometimes referred to as a "mud board") is used to hold mortar, plastering material and the like for application during construction.

[0003] Mortar tray stands may be used to hold the mortar tray at a convenient height to reduce or eliminate back strain from repeated bending. Conventional mortar tray stands may comprise generally rectangular wire frames or even folding frames.

[0004] For bricklaying or plastering at elevated heights, scaffolding may be erected to define an elevated work platform from which a wall or the like may be conveniently laid or plastered.

[0005] However, taking a conventional mortar tray stand onto an elevated work platform is dangerous as the stand and relatively heavy laden mortar tray may fall off an edge of the elevated work platform. Furthermore, placing a conventional mortar tray stand clutters the relatively small surface area available of the elevated work platform.

[0006] The present invention seeks to provide a way which will overcome or substantially ameliorate at least some of the deficiencies of the prior art, or to at least provide an alternative.

[0007] It is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the information forms part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

Summary of the Disclosure

[0008] There is provided herein a mortar tray stand comprising a stem having a free distal end and a proximal end defining a support for a mortar tray.

[0009] The free distal end is insertable within a scaffolding leg so that the stand may

conveniently support a mortar tray at an ergonomic height without cluttering the

elevated work platform. Furthermore, the present mortar tray stand cannot be

accidentally kicked or bumped off an edge of the elevated work platform like

conventional freestanding mortar tray stands securely held within the scaffolding leg.

[0010]The support may comprise a radial arrangement of arms extending

perpendicularly from the proximal end of the stem, thereby adequately supporting a

mortar tray against flexing.

[0011] The stem may comprise a series of height adjustment apertures and a retaining

clip to adjust the vertical offset of the support surface with respect to the scaffolding.

The sizing of the stem and the offset of the apertures provided herein may support

the mortar tray at a relatively ergonomic height with respect to conventional

scaffolding arrangements.

[0012] In embodiments, the stem of the stand comprises a square cross-section and

which is sized to fit within the upper opening of a cylindrical scaffold leg. The stem

may comprise 30 x 30 mm square tubing which would fit within a commercially

available scaffolding tube having an internal diameter of approximately 45 mm.

[0013] Whereas the rim of the scaffolding tube may sometimes be indented, and which

would therefore inhibit insertion of a circular stem therein, the square cross-section

of the stem presents only four contact edges which engage the interior surface of the

scaffolding tube. As such, even if the rim of the scaffolding tube is indented, the stem

may be rotated to find the rotational orientation at which the distal end of the stem is

able to fit into the scaffolding tube.

[0014] In embodiments, the stand may comprise a base support for use as a

standalone mortar tray support without scaffolding.

[0015] Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present

invention, preferred embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of

example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0017] Figure 1 shows a mortar tray stand in accordance with an embodiment;

[0018] Figure 2 shows a support base in accordance with an embodiment;

[0019] Figure 3 shows a height adjusting clip spring in accordance with an

embodiment;

[0020] Figure 4 illustrates use of the mortar tray stand with conventional scaffolding;

and

[0021] Figures 5 - 7 show a further embodiment of the stand wherein the stem

comprises a square cross-section and which is sized to fit within the upper opening

of a cylindrical scaffold leg.

Description of Embodiments

[0022] A mortar tray stand 100 comprises a stem 101 having a free distal end 102

insertable within a scaffolding leg 103 and a proximal end 104 defining a support 105

for a mortar tray 106.

[0023] The support 105 may comprise a plurality of arms 106 extending out from the

proximal end 104.

[0024] The arms 106 may define a generally planar support surface. Furthermore, the

arms may demarcate a square of approximately 580 cm 2 .

[0025] The arms 106 may comprise a quadrant of arms 106 each offset at 90 from

adjacent arms 106.

[0026] Furthermore, each arm 106 may be generally triangular, narrowing towards a

distal end thereof, having an upper edge 107 particular to a longitudinal axis of the

stem 101 and a lower edge 108 angled with respect to the longitudinal axis.

[0027] The stem 101 may comprise a plurality of height adjustment apertures 109.

[0028] The apertures 109 may be equidistantly spaced. In the embodiment shown,

the apertures 109 comprise three apertures spaced at 10 cm apart.

[0029] Furthermore, the apertures 109 may be spaced away from the distal end 102

by a distance greater than space therebetween. Specifically, the apertures 109 may

be spaced 20 cm from the distal end 102 of the stem 101.

[0030] The stand 100 may further comprise a clip spring 110 insertable within one of

the apertures 109 to adjust the vertical offset of the stem 101 with respect to the

scaffolding leg 103.

[0031] The clip spring 110 may comprise an insertion portion 111 and a clip portion

112 sprung generally parallel the insertion portion 110. Theinsertion portion 111 goes

through one of the apertures 109 and the clip portion 112 engages a side of the stem

101. The clip portion 112 may have a curved section 113 which fits round the outside

of the stem 101.

[0032] The stem 101 is preferably cylindrical so as to suit correspondingly cylindrical

scaffolding legs 103.

[0033]The stem 101 may have an outer diameter of approximately 40 mm.

Furthermore, the stem 101 may have a height of approximately 800 mm.

[0034] In embodiments, the stand 100 may further comprise a base support 114

comprising a central post 115 held upright by a base support 116. The base support

114 may similarly comprise a quadrant of arms 117 extending perpendicularly from

the post 115. The arms 117 may have the same size of the arms 106 of the upper

support 105 and may similarly define an area of approximately 580cm . 2

[0035]As opposed to inserting the stem 101 into the scaffolding leg 103, the stem

102 may alternatively be supported by the base support 114 by inserting the distal

end 102 of the stem 101 over or within the post 115.

[0036] Figures 5 - 7 show a further embodiment of the stand 100 wherein the stem

101 (or at least a distal end 102 thereof) comprises a square cross-section and which

is sized to fit within an upper opening 124 of a cylindrical scaffold leg 103.

[0037]With reference to Figure 7 the stem 101 may comprise 30 x 30 mm square

tubing which would fit within a commercially available cylindrical scaffolding leg 103

having an internal diameter of approximately 45 mm.

[0038] Whereas the rim 125 of the scaffolding tube 103 may sometimes be deformed,

the square cross-section of the stem 101 presents only four contact edges 122 which

engage the interior surface 121 of the scaffolding tube 103. As such, even if the rim

125 of the scaffolding tube 103 is indented, the stem 101 may be rotated to find the rotational orientation at which the distal end 102 of the stem 101 is able to fit into the scaffolding tube 103.

[0039] Utilisation of the stand 100 may comprise erecting scaffolding 118 adjacent a

wall under construction and laying planks 119 thereacross to define an elevated work

platform. Free bricks may be stacked on the work platform.

[0040] The stem 101 of the stand 100 may be inserted into one of the scaffolding legs

103 and the height thereof set by inserting the clip spring 110 into one of the apertures

109.

[0041] A mortar tray 106 having mortar, plastering material or the like may then be

placed atop the support 105, to thereby hold the mortar tray 106 at a convenient

elevated height above the elevated work platform and without taking up space on the

elevated work platform.

[0042] The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific

nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will

be apparent to one skilled in the art that specific details are not required in order to

practise the invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of

the invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not

intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed as

obviously many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above

teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the

principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others

skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various

modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the

following claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention.

[0043] The term "approximately" or similar as used herein should be construed as

being within 10% of the value stated unless otherwise indicated.

Claims (22)

1. Claims 1. A mortar tray stand comprising a stem having a free distal end insertable

   within a scaffolding leg and a proximal end defining a support for a mortar tray.
2. 2. The stand as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support comprises a plurality of

   arms extending out from the proximal end.
3. 3. The stand as claimed in claim 2, wherein the arms define a generally planar

   support surface.
4. 4. The stand as claimed in claim 3, wherein the arms demarcate a square of

   approximately 580 cm 2 .
5. 5. The stand as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arms comprise a quadrant of

   arms.
6. 6. The stand as claimed in claim 1, wherein each arm is triangular, narrows

   towards a distal end thereof, and has an upper edge perpendicular to a longitudinal

   axis of the stem and a lower edge angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the

   stem.
7. 7. The stand as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stem comprises a plurality of

   height adjustment apertures.
8. 8. The stand as claimed in claim 7, wherein the apertures comprise equidistantly

   spaced apertures spaced away from a distal end by a distance greater than space

   therebetween.
9. 9. The stand as claimed in claim 8, wherein the equidistantly spaced apertures

   are spaced 10 cm apart.
10. 10. The stand as claimed in claim 9, wherein the apertures are spaced 20 cm from

    the distal end of the stem.
11. 11. The stand as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a clip spring insertable

    within one of the apertures to adjust the vertical offset of the stem with respect to the

    scaffolding leg.
12. 12. The stand as claimed in claim 11, wherein the clip spring comprises an

    insertion portion and a clip portion sprung generally parallel the insertion portion and wherein the insertion portion go through one of the apertures and wherein the clip portion engages a side of the stem.
13. 13. The stand as claimed in claim 12, wherein the clip portion has a curves section

    which goes around the side of the stem.
14. 14. The stand as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stem is cylindrical.
15. 15. The stand as claimed in claim 14, wherein the stem has an outer diameter of

    approximately 40 mm.
16. 16. The stand as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stem has a height of

    approximately 800 mm.
17. 17. The stand as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a base support comprising

    a central post held upright by a base support and wherein the stem can releasably

    engage the post.
18. 18. The stand as claimed in claim 17, wherein the base support comprises a

    quadrant of arms extending perpendicularly from the post.
19. 19. The stand as claimed in claim 17, wherein the stem comprises a square cross

    section which is sized to fit within the upper opening of a circular scaffold leg.
20. 20. The stand as claimed in claim 17, wherein the square cross-section is 30 x 30

    mm.
21. 21. A method of supporting a mortar tray using the stand as claimed in claim 1, the

    method comprising inserting the stem into a scaffolding leg and resting a mortar tray

    across the support.
22. 22. A method as claimed in claim 19, further comprising the stand as claimed in

    claim 11, the method further comprising inserting the clip spring in one of the

    apertures to adjust the vertical offset of the stem with respect to the scaffolding leg.

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