GB2206618A - Spacer for building blocks - Google Patents

Abstract

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a spacer for bricks, stones or other building blocks comprising an elongate member having flat surfaces on opposite sides thereof and comprising a central longitudinal portion 10 having, at or adjacent opposite ends thereof, portions 11a, 11b of greater lateral extent than the longitudinal portion 10. The central 10 portion has intermediate local areas 13, 14 of widening. It is particularly preferred to use annular portions 11a, 11b, since the hollow central areas of the annuli provide keying with the mortar. The invention also includes a method of building up a wall and a wall built up by a method in accordance with the invention. <IMAGE>

Description

"Spacer for Building Blocks" This invention relates to a spacer for brickwork, stonework or other building blockwork, whereby the bricks, stones or other building blocks (hereinafter referred to as "building blocks") may be uniformly spaced apart.

In brick, stone or other walls or structures, the building blocks are held together by mortar which is applied in soft condition and, when set, is itself rigid to form a structural part of the wall, as well as providing adhesion between the building blocks.

The conventional process for building, as is well known, includes placing the building blocks onto a layer of soft mortar and tapping down to bring them into line with a subjacent course of building blocks. Levelling is carried out by eye or with a spirit level and traditionally strings or boards are used to enable levels to be maintained. Similarly, adjacent building blocks in a course are separated by a layer of mortar.

For higher accuracy, particularly for the less skilled, temporary spacers have been used to ensure correct alignment and spacing. These are fitted between successive courses of building blocks or between adjacent building blocks, and, when the mortar is partly set, they are removed. If the mortar has not sufficiently set, movement may occur or, if the spacers are left in place too long, they may be difficult to remove. The removal of a spacer also leaves a hole which has to be filled with further mortar in a subsequent pointing operation.

It is the object of the invention to provide a spacer for building blocks of a convenient kind, whereby accurate spacing may easily be achieved, even for those with less skill than professional builders.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a spacer for building blocks (as llereinbefore defined), the spacer comprising an elongate member having flat surfaces on opposite sides thereof and comprising a central longitudinal portion having, at or adjacent opposite ends thereof, portions of greater lateral extent than the longitudinal portion.

Preferably the central longitudinal portion is elongate and terminates in respective laterally extending portions, the opposite surfaces of all these portions defining the respective flat surfaces.

Conveniently, the centre portion is of relatively narrow width and the laterally extending portions are rectangular, being connected at their midregions to the respective ends of the centre portion.

Laterally extending portions of different shapes may be provided instead of the rectangular shapes.

It is particularly preferred to use annular portions, since the hollow central areas of the annuli provide keying with the mortar.

Also, the central portion may have intermediate local areas of widening.

The spacer is preferably formed by moulding in plastics.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of building up a wall comprising successive courses of building blocks (as hereinbefore defined) with mortar between the building blocks in the courses and between the courses themselves, in which spacers are introduced into the mortar between adjacent courses and/or between adjacent building blocks in the courses, the spacers being in accordance with the invention as set forth above.

The invention also embraces a wall built up by a method in accordance with the invention as set forth above.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a building block spacer in accordance with one form of the invention; and Figure 2 is a similar view of an alternative form of spacer in accordance with another form of the invention.

The spacer, which is preferably made from plastics material, may be produced by injection moulding or other suitable process. In each figure of drawing, the spacer has an elongate central portion 10, to the ends of which are integrally connected laterally extending portions 11 and 12 (or lla,12a). The central portion 10 is generally of rectangular cross-section, but there are two illtegral spaced cylindrical local enlargements 13, 14.

These have respective flat end surfaces which are coplanar with the top and bottom surfaces of the rectangular section of the centre portion 10. The enlargements 13, 14 serve a purpose in the moulding operation of the device.

As shown in figure 1, the two laterally extending portions 11, 12 are in the form of respective rectangular blocks defining upper and lower surfaces which are also coplanar with the upper and lower surfaces of the centre portion 10.

In one example, the spacer has a length of 7.5 centimetres and a width of 1.5 centimetres at the extremities of the laterally extending portions 11, 12.

The height of the device, spacer is represented by the distance apart of the upper and lower flat surfaces, is 1 centimetre or less, depending on the standard spacing required.

The spacer provides flat upper and lower surfaces which are of substantial extent both in longitudinal and in lateral directions.

Figure 2 shows an alternative form of spacer, in which the rectangular portions 11 and 12 are replaced by annular portions lia and 12a. The mode of use is similar, but it will be appreciated that the open centre portions llb and 12b of the annuli Ila and 12a provide improved keying into the mortar.

In use, the spacer, of either kind, is placed between building blocks to be assembled in the usual way using mortar and serves to space the building blocks at an accurate distance apart, represented by the thickness of the spacer. In using the spacers the procedure is to lay a layer of mortar on a lower building block in a position in which an superjacent building block is to be placed.

Before placing the superjacent building block two of the spacers are placed into the mortar and are bedded down on to the upper surface of the subjacent building block, although there is no strict need for an accurate positioning at this stage. It is usual for two of the spacers to be used to provide support for the superjacent building block at two spaced positions but the number of spacers used will depend upon the type and size of the building block being positioned. The superjacent building block is now placed on to the mortar layer and used to press down the spacers until there is substantially no mortar between the superjacent building block and the spacers and also between the lower block and the spacers. This will therefore represent the accurate position of the building blocks relatively to one another.

The shape and configuration of the spacers is such as to provide good lateral and longitudinal stability of the building blocks. In the case, for example, of a brick of standard size, it would be usual to place two of the spacers with one under each end of the brick to be supported. The spacers are laid transversely to the length of the brick and they will either span any frog or hole through the brick or will be positioned clear of these openings which are customarily provided in bricks.

The spacers can be used either for horizontal positioning of bricks, stones or other building blocks or for lateral spacing of them. In the latter case, the spacer would be positioned vertically at the end of a block or where a taller brick or block is used, two spacers may be embedded in mortar which is first applied to the vertical surface of one of the building blocks.

It is intended that the spacers should remain in place, and in the finished structure they are invisible, being totally enclosed by the building blocks and mortar.

It will be appreciated that injection mouldings or other simple mouldings can be very inexpensively produced, so the cost of the spacers is small.

Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (9)

1. A spacer for building blocks (as hereinbefore defined), the spacer comprisingan elongate member having flat surfaces on opposite sides thereof and comprising a central longitudinal portion having, at or adjacent opposite ends thereof, portions of greater lateral extent than the longitudinal portion.

2. A spacer according to claim 1, in which the central longitudinal portion is elongate and terminates in respective laterally extending portions, the opposite surfaces of all these portions defining the respective flat surfaces.

3. A spacer according to claim 2, in which the central portion is of relatively narrow width and the laterally extending portions are rectangular, being connected at their mid-regions to the respective ends of the centre portion.

4. A spacer according to claim 2, in which the laterally extending portions are annular.

5. A spacer according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, in which the central portion has intermediate local areas of widening.

6. A spacer according to any of the preceding claims, which is formed by moulding in plastics.

7. A spacer for building blocks, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A method of building up a wall comprising successive courses of building blocks (as hereinbefore defined) with mortar between the building blocks in the courses and between the courses themselves, in which spacers are introduced into the mortar between adjacent courses and/or between adjacent building blocks in the courses, the spacers being according to any of the preceding claims.

9. A wall built up by a method according to claim 8.