GB2179088A - Support for building reference line - Google Patents

Abstract

A support for a builders reference line for use between line end supports, consists of a plate having; a straight edge 3 which is placed across and normal to the top course of a wall; an arm 4 extending downwardly and normal to one end of the straight edge providing a surface for engagement with one face of the wall; and a second arm 20 extending downwardly from the other end of the straight edge and pivotally mounted on the plate for engagement with the other face of the wall, the arm being urged into contact with the face by resilient means acting between the plate and the arm. A vertically adjustable reference line supporting element 10 extends upwardly of the straight edge along a line parallel to and in the same vertical plane as the surface of first mentioned arm. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Support for building reference line The present invention relates to a device for supporting a building reference line at a point between the reference line end supports.

Building reference lines are used by bricklayers to ensure that a course of bricks is horizontal and/or parallel to the course immediately below or follow a required line relative to the lower course. Reference lines have to be supported at each end at the required height above the preceding course. One method of providing such support is described in my copending patent application No. 8506800.

However, since the distance between the two end supports for a building reference line may be as much as 10 metres, there is a tendency for the line to sag in the middle and/or for the middle portion to be moved out of true by cross winds. To counteract this tendency a bricklayer may use a variety of different methods to support the reference line at one or more points between the end supports. For example, he may cause the line to take a wrap around a pin extending from the wall and retained on a brick, layed and levelled on the lower course to ensure that the pin (or other supports means) and therefore the reference line is at the correct level.

I have now developed a device which is effective for supporting a reference line between its end without the necessity for laying a supporting brick or other structure.

My device comprises a body having a straight edge for engagement with the upper surface of a brick included in a wall course, the straight edge extending normally to the said course; a first means extending downwardly of one end of said straight edge and including a surface for engagement with one face of the said brick; second means extending downwardly from the opposite end of the said edge and including means to engage the opposite face of the brick whereby the body is clamped against the brick to prevent movement of the body in directions transverse to the wall course; and third means extending upwardly of the body perpendicularly to the said edge and positioned in a predetermined relationship to said first means surface, said third means including a building reference line engaging element positioned vertically above the said first means surface and at the level of the next course of bricks whereby the reference line, when engaged by the said element, is supported against vertical or transverse movement.

The said surface of the said first means is preferably flat, and normal to the said edge and to the building reference line.

It is preferable that the said second means or the means to engage the said face of the brick be adjustable in a direction parallel to the said straight edge in order to provide that the body is held firmly onto the brick with the surface of the first said member engaging the face wall thereof. Any suitable form of adjustment may be used, conveniently, however, the said second means may be pivotally secured to the body and urged inwardly, i.e., towards the first means, by suitable resilient means such as a spring whereby a portion of the said means engages the wall of the brick and ensures that the said first means engages the front face of the brick irrespective of the brick thickness.

It is further preferable that the said third means is adjustable vertically to allow the device to be used with bricks of different heights; the reference line engaging element is conveniently a slot formed in the top of the said means to maintain the reference line vertically above the surface of the said first means that engages the front face of the brick.

In this specification the term "brick" or "brickwork" includes any type of block structure used in building work, for example, standard house bricks, breeze, concrete or insulating blocks and reconstituted stone blocks.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a front view of the device of the present invention.

The body 1 is in the form of a plate in the form of an open E the arms of the E lying on either side of a course of bricks 2 when in use. The rear portion of the E provides a straight edge 3 for engagement with the upper surface of a brick 2 in a wall course. One arm of the E is formed by a flat surface 4 at right angles to straight edge 3 for engagement with the front face 5 of the brick. The plate 1 has a thickness equal to the thickness of mortar between two adjacent bricks in a course.

A portion of the plate 1 vertically above surface 4 is cut away to provide a shoulder 7 parallel to edge 3. A passageway 8 of round section is formed in the plate extending parallel to the surface 4 of the plate from shoulder 7 and having its axis 9 on a line extending vertically upwardly from surface 4. A reference line supporting element 10 having the same section as passageway 8 slidingly engages in said passageway and extends above shoulder 7. A reference line engaging slot 11 is formed in the upper edge of member 10.

The position of member 10 in passageway 8 is determined by the action of rod 12 located in a corresponding passageway formed from the side of plate 1 parallel to the surface thereof and at right angles to passageway 8, whereby the end of rod 12 can be caused to apply pressure to member 10 and cause it to frictionally engage the opposite wall of passageway 8 to maintain slot 11 formed in the portion of member 10 extending above shoulder 7 at any desired height above the straight edge 3. Rod 12 is urged against member 10 by means of nut 13, lock nut 14 carried on a screw-threaded portion 15 of rod 12 and located in an aperture 16 formed in plate 1.In order to prevent rod 12 turning under the action of the nut and lock nut, end portion 17 of rod 12 has a square cross section and locates in a correspondingly shaped portion of the passageway 8 whereby movement of the rod is restricted to a direction normal to member 10.

The other arm of the open E comprises a member 20 pivotaly mounted in plate 1 for movement towards and away from rear face 6 of brick 2 and including a face portion 21 for engagement with face 6. Member 20 includes a neck portion 22 extending from the main body and attached to a circular element 23 which is pivotal about an axis 26. A portion of plate 1 immediately behind member 20 is cut away to provide an elongate aperture 27 having an opening 28 formed in wall 29 of plate 1 which opening is defined by arcuate portions 24 and 25 having their centres on axis 26 of element 23 the radius of arcs 24 and 25 being greater than the radius of element 23 by an amount permitting pivotal movement of element 23 within aperture 28.

Wall 29a at opening 28 is cut away to allow for pivotal movement of member 20 away from brick 2. A tension spring 30 has one end 32 attached to the end of aperture 27 remote from opening 28 and the other end attached to a bracket 31 located on element 23 of member 20 such that the tension spring 30 urges face 21 of member 20 towards face 6 of brick 2. For protection of the moving parts, and also to retain element 23 of member 20 between arcuate portions 24 and 25 of openings 28, plates 33 are secured to either side of plate 1 by rivets 34.

An opening 35 is formed in plate 1 to provide a convenient carrying handle.

In use, after the building reference line has been placed in position to provide a guide for the next course of bricks in building a wall, for example, member 20 of the device is swung away from edge 3 to the maximum extent and the device placed over a brick of the previous course such that edge 3 contacts the upper edge of the brick and surface 4 engages the front face 5 of the brick. Member 20 is then released and pivots inwardly under the action of tension spring 30 to cause face 21 to engage rear face 6 of brick 2 thereby effectively clamping the device on brick 2 at right angles to the brickwork course. The device is positioned on brick 2 such that when the next course of brick builds up it will lie in the gap between two bricks which can be filled with mortar after removal of the device on completion of the course.

The height of member 10 is adjusted such that the building reference line can be located in slots 11 and supported to maintain the line horizontal between both ends. The reference line is then held against sideways movements due to wind or vertical movement resulting from "sagging" of the line under its own weight.

Because the height of member 10 can be adjusted the device can be used with a variety of bricks or blocks of different heights.

Pivotal mounting of member 20 permits the device to be used with bricks of different thicknesses conveniently, for example, bricks between 3 inches (7.6 cm) and 4z inches (11.4 cm) thick.

Although the device is intended primarily for supporting horizontal building reference lines it may, of course, be used to support a reference line which is not horizontal but which is required to guide the upper edge of a sloping wall.

Claims (8)

1. A device for supporting a builders reference line comprising a body having a straight edge for engagement with the upper surface of a brick included in a wall course, the straight edge extending normally to the said course; a first means extending downwardly of one end of said straight edge and including a surface for engagement with one face of the said brick; second means extending downwardly from the opposite end of the said edge and including means to engage the opposite face of the brick whereby the body is clamped against the brick to prevent movement of the body in directions transverse to the wall course; and third means extending upwardly of the body perpendicularly to the said edge and positioned in a predetermined relationship to said first means surface, said third means including a building reference line engaging element positioned vertically above the said first means surface and at the level of the next course of bricks whereby the reference line, when engaged by the said element, is supported against vertical or transverse movement.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said first means provides a flat surface extending normally to said straight edge and the building reference line.

3. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said second means is adjustable in a direction parallel to said straight edge and normal to the wall course to retain the body firmly on the brick with the said first member surface engaging the said one face thereof.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein said second means is pivotally secured to the body and urged inwardly against the said wall face by resilient means acting between the body and the said second means whereby a portion of said means engages said opposite face of the brick whereby said first means engages the one face irrespective of the brick thickness.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein said resilient means is a tension spring.

6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said third means is adjustable vertically to permit the device to be used with bricks of different depths.

7. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a reference line engaging element is a slot formed in the top of the said third means whereby the reference line is positioned vertically above the surface of the said first means that engages the said one face of the brick.

8. A device for supporting a builders reference line substantially as herein described with reference to the drawing.