GB2171138A

GB2171138A - A support tool for a builder's line

Info

Publication number: GB2171138A
Application number: GB08503962A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Julian Beer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-02-15
Filing date: 1985-02-15
Publication date: 1986-08-20
Also published as: GB2171138B; GB8503962D0

Abstract

A support tool (11) for a builder's line (19), for use in setting building units such as bricks, blocks or the like, comprises a main body (12) having means, such as a projection (15) or spool (20) for attaching a builder's line (19) thereto, and means defining a first face of the tool in which is formed a groove (18) for receiving the line (19). At least one transverse arm (16, 17) extends substantially perpendicularly with respect to the plane defined by the said first face and in a position, with respect to the line attachment means (15, 18) such as to generate no turning moment when fitted abutting a corner of a regular building unit and a tension is applied along the line (19) joined thereto in a direction perpendicular to an edge of the said first face parallel to the corner of the building unit. Two such tools may be utilised, one at each end of a line, and "sprung" into position using the tension in the line (19) or the resilience of a resilient component or member incorporated in the tool. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A support tool for a builders line The present invention relates to a support tool for a builders line, for use in setting building units such as bricks, blocks or the like of regular outline.

Conventionally, masonry walls made from regular building units such as bricks or blocks, have been built with the aid of a guide chalk line stretched between two line pins forced between the joints of bricks or blocks previously set at the corners.

Traditional building techniques involve the raising of the brickwork or blockwork at the end or corners of a wall several courses higher than the main leaf.

Line pinsarethen drivenintothe mortarbetweenthe joints to ensure straightness of the leaf as the bricks or blocks are laid. Hereinafter in this specification the term "brick" will be understood to refer to any regular building unit, and to include blocks.

The disadvantages of conventional line pins lie in the fact that they have to be driven into the mortar between adjacent bricks in order to retain the chalk line wich serves as the guide for the course. This can result in previously set blocks being wedged apart, in the worst case, thereby weakening the masonry, or at the very least results in an unsightiy hole in each course which must be re-pointed in orderto ensure water tightness. The time taken to re-set the builders chalk line at each course is also considerable since the line pins have to be knocked out of their position prior to being re-introduced one course higher.

The present invention seeks to provide a tool for supporting a chalk line for building masonry walls with bricks, which will allow the above indicated disadvantages to be overcome, which will be quick and easy to use, durable, and which will not damage the mortar in use.

According to one aspect of the present invention, therefore, a support tool for a builders line, for use in setting building units such as bricks, blocks or the like, comprises a main body having means for attaching a builders line thereto and defining a first phase of the tool, and at least one transverse arm extending substantially perpendicularly with respect to the plane defined by the said first phase and in a position with respect to the line attachment means such as to generate no turning moment when fitted abutting a corner of a regular building unit and a tension applied, along a line joined thereto, in a direction perpendicular to an edge of the said first face parallel to the said corner of the building unit.

The precise shape of the tool may vary, within the above indicated constraints, but conveniently the main body is generally T-shape, having an elongate body with two aligned transverse limbs.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention there are two transverse arms each extending from a free end of a respective transverse limb substantially perpendicularly with respect to the plane defined by the said first face of the body.

The said first face of the main body conveniently has a groove for receiving the line such that the line can be held closely adjacent the masonry surface when the said first face is presed against it in order to ensure complete accuracy of setting the bricks.

Conveniently, the elongate body member extends beyond the transverse limbs to form a projection for receiving a spool of builders line. The spool may be informally wound around the projection or may be wound on a former fitted on the projection.

The support tool of the invention may be made using any conventional technology, for example it may be formed as a unitary moulding of plastics material or fabricated from folded or bent pressed sheet metal. Other materials and manufacturing techniques may be used, however, and the above examples are given without limitation.

The present invention also comprehends a support tool as defined hereinabove further provided with a spool for receiving a reel of builders chalk line, the spool being turnable about an axis perpendicular to the said first face of the main body such that the line can be drawn from the spool parallel to the said first face. In embodiments of the invention in which a groove is formed in the said first face the spool is preferably provided with an outlet guide in a surrounding cover such that the line drawn from the spool is aligned with the groove for transmission therealong upon withdrawal.

Such a spool may conveniently be resiliently biased or spring-loaded to take up the line so that tension is maintained on the line by the spring.

Friction brakes may.additionally be provided to clamp the spool in a selected angular orientation to prevent further line being withdrawn therefrom when a chosen amount has been withdrawn.

The present invention also comprehends a builders line assembly comprising two suport tools as defined hereinabove joined by a length of at least partly resilient line.

The tool of the present invention can be used to define the plane of masonry under construction utilising a method which can also be considered as another aspect of the present invention, and which comprises suspending a line between two line support tools as hereinbefore defined each of which is fitted to a corner of a masonry wall under construction such that the tension in the line retains the two tools in contact with the corner faces of the masonry. Raising the line to a new course is then a simple matter of sliding the tool from its initial position to its new position, perhaps drawing it away from the masonry sufficiently far to reduce the frictional contact. The same operation is performed at the other end of the line with the other tool, which is then released to allow the tension in the line to engage the tool against the masonry.Because bricks and blocks have very rough surfaces the frictional contact between the tools supporting the line and the masonry surfaces is very considerable and this can be increased by coating the tool in a suitable elastomeric material having a relatively soft, resilieot nature, such as PVC.

One embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wall under construction showing a tool formed as an embodiment of the present invention in position supporting a line; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the tool of the present invention; Figure 3 is a perspective view from the other side of the tool illustrated in Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a perspective view similar to Figure 3 illustrating an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Figures 1 to 3, the tool shown comprises a generally cruciform main body 11 having a man body member 12 from which project two transverse limbs 13, aligned with one another and lying in the plane defined by the body member 12. A projection 15, aligned with the main body portion 12 extends in the opposite direction from the two limbs 13, 14.

Extending perpendicularly with respect to the plane defined by the cruciform main body member are two parallel arms 16,17 which are integrally formed with the main body member. Extending along the inner face, that is the face directed in the same direction as the arms 16, 17, of the main body member 12 and the projection 15 is a groove 18 which receives a builders chalk line 19 as can be more clearly seen in Figure 3.

In this embodiment the tool is integrally formed from moulded plastics material although, as mentioned above, pressed sheet metal or other manufacturing techniques may be employed.

As can be seen in Figure 1, the tool is used to guide the construction of masonry by fitting the arms 16, 17 over a corner (when constructing masonry walls the corners are always built up several courses higher than the main leaf) and a similar tool fitted to the end of the chalk line 19 is positioned over a similar corner, the spare length of line 19 being wound around the projection 15 with the line being under sufficient tension to retain the arms 16, 17 in firm contact with the end face of the masonry wall. Such a tool causes no damage to the masonry as was previously the case with line pins, and can be easily and quickly moved from one course to another, and accurately positioned and adjusted so that the line is accurately in the correct position.

The dimensions of the arms 16, 17 are so chosen that the tool can be used in the air space between the two leaves of a cavity wall to serve as a guide for the construction of the inner leaf as well as the outer leaf. The presence of the groove 18 on the inner face of the main body portion 12 ensures that the line 19 is held closely against the face of the masonry leaf under construction to enable the building units to be set close to it and therefore with high precision.

The alternative embodiment illustrated in Figure 4 includes a spool 20 housed on an enlarged casing 21 in place of the projection 15. The spool 20 includes a coil spring (not shown) which serves to draw in the chalk line 19 when the tension on it is released. This makes it easier to coil the line when not in use and also serves to retain the tool in position when in use.

Afriction brake (again not illustrated) maybe provided on the spool to lock it angularly against rotation should circumstances arise where it is desired to put a greater tension on the line 19 than can be applied by the spring. In such circumstances the length of line drawn out will be slightly iess than the length of the wall, the friction brake will then be applied and then the line stretched to fit the arms 16, 17 over the end face of the wall with the line under tension to retain the tool in position.

It will be appreciated that the shape of the tool is symmetrical about the axis defined by the groove 18 so that it is not "handed" and exactly the same shape and configuration can be used at each end of the line without requiring any modification. In embodiments employing a spool 20, however, as illustrated in Figure 4, it is probable that the spool will only be provided on one end of the line and a tool such as that illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 will be provided at the other.

Claims

1. A support tool for a builder's line, for use in setting building units such as bricks blocks and the like, comprising a main body having means for attaching a builder's line thereto and defining a first face of the tool, and at least one transverse arm extending substantially perpendicularly with respect to the plane defined by the said first face and in a position with respect to the line attachment means such as to generate no turning moment when fitted abutting a corner of a regular building unit and a tension is applied, along a line joined thereto, in a direction parallel to the said first face perpendicular to the said corner of the building unit.

2. A support tool as claimed in Claim 1, in which the said main body is generaliyT-shaped, that is having an elongate body with two aligned transverse limbs.

3. A support tool as claimed in Claim 2, in which there are two transverse arms each extending from a free end of a respective transverse limb.

4. A support tool as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which the said first face of the main body has a groove for receiving the line.

5. A support tool as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 4, in which the elongate body member extends beyond the transverse limbs to form a projection for receiving a spool of the builder's line.

6. A support tool as claimed in any preceding Claim formed as a unitary moulding of plastics material.

7. A support tool as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5 formed of folded or bent pressed metal.

8. A support tool as claimed in any preceding Claim further provided with a spool for receiving a reel of builder's chalk line.

9. A support tool as claimed in Claim 8, in which the spool is resiliently biased to coil the line.

10. A support tool as claimed in Claim 8 or Claim 9 in which the spool is friction braked.

11. A support tool as claimed in any preceding Claim, in which at least that part of the tool which is used contacts the building unit is coated or covered with an elastomeric material or has elements of elastomeric material secured or attached thereto.

12.A builder's line assembly comprising two support tools as claimed in any of Claims 1 toll joined by a length of at least partly resilient line.

13. A method of supporting a builder's chalk line comprising attaching the line to a support tool having a main body portion which has a face which can be aligned with the line, and two transverse arms engageable over a corner of a building unit at the corner of a structure being built, which can be retained by frictional engagement and the tension of the line.

14. A support tool for a builder's line, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in,the accompanying drawings.

15.A method of supporting a builder's chalk line, substantially as hereinbefroe described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.