GB2245928A

GB2245928A - Pointing tool

Info

Publication number: GB2245928A
Application number: GB9015434A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Frank Leonard Jarvis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-07-13
Filing date: 1990-07-13
Publication date: 1992-01-15
Anticipated expiration: 2010-07-13
Also published as: GB2245928B; GB9015434D0; DE4122865A1

Abstract

A pointing tool comprises a platform (2) having a working surface for supporting a supply of mortar. A generally planar upstanding wall (6) extends along one boundary of the platform (2). The included angle between the wall (6) and platform (2) is an obtuse angle. A handle (4) extends downwardly from the underside of the platform. <IMAGE>

Description

2!2. 19 2 a f 5 POINTING TOOLS The present invention relates to pointing

tools for pointing the mortar on brickwork.

Pointing brickwork is a slow labour intensive task and because the pointing is so important to the aesthetic appearance of brickwork it needs to be carried out by a skilled craftsman if an attractive effect is to be achieved.

Generally speakihg pointing is carried out by the builder using a hawk in one hand and on which there is a supply.of mortar, and a pointing trowel in the other hand. Because the pointing trowel is small the mortar has to be supplied in small amounts from the hawk to the gap between two rows of bricks. Once the gap is filled the trowel needs to be run along the mortar to give a smooth finish. Where weather edge pointing is required, the outer face of the mortar layer needs to slope outwardly and downwardly from between the two layers of bricks and finished to provide a small but regular overhang over the lower layer of bricks. Many movements of the pointing trowel is required to achive this and great care needs to be taken to ensure that none of the mortar splatters or falls on the exposed face of the brickwork so as to leave unsightly marks or stains.

It is an object to provide an improved pointing tool.

According to the present invention there is provided a pointing tool comprising a platform having working surface for supporting a supply of mortar, generally planar upstanding wall extending along one boundary of the platform in which the included angle between the wall and platform is an acute angle and a handle rigid with the platform on a side of said platform opposite said working surface.

t 1 0 4072 2- Advantageously said obtruse angle is in the range of from 950 to 115 but preferably in the range of from 100 to 110.

The height of said wall is advantageously greater than 5 cm, but preferably in the range of from 5 cm to 8 cm.

The length of said wall is preferably equal to the length of two brickd or substantially 43 cm.

The upper edge of the wall is preferably less than 2.

mm thick.

The working surface of the platform is advantageously rectangular having the same length as that of the wall and having a breadth in the range of from 15 cm to 20 cm.

The platform and wall may be of sheet metal preferably aluminium.

In a modification the platform may be of plastics material and the wall of sheet metal which has been bonded or mechanically secured to the platform. Instead the wall may also be of plastics.

In a further modification the wall may be of plastics material with a metal insert running along the upper edge of the wall.

A pointing tool embodying the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the pointing tool; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the tool of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a front elevatio n of the tool when applied to brickwork; and Figure 4 is a side elevation of the tool and brickwork of Figure 3.

1 4072 0 5 The pointing tool shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a planar rectangular platform 2 having a working surface on its upper side and a downwardly depending support handle 4 on its underside.

An inclined wall 6 runs along one edge of the platform 2. The platform 2 and the wall 6 are formed from a sheet of aluminium which has been bent upwardly along a line exteiding parallel to one edge and spaced approximately one quarter of the length of the two adjacent s.ides to the edge, away from the edge. The included angle 0 between the wall 6 and the platform 2 is obtuse and is preferably 105 but it can vary over the range of from 95' to 115.

The thickness of the sheet is preferably less than,2.5mm and the height of the wall 6 can vary from 5 em to 8 em.

In a modification the sheet may be of steel instead of aluminium.

In yet another modification the platform 2 may be of molded plastics material and the handle 4 be also of plastics and integral therewith. The wall 6 may be of sheet metal bonded or mechanically secured to the platform 2. Instead the wall may be of plastics material with a lip or strip of steel embeded or mechanically secured to the upper end of the wall.

The length of the wall 6 is preferably equal to that of two bricks i.e. about 43 em.

In operation (see Figures 3 and 4) mortar is mixed and a supply 8 is deposited on the platform 2. The tool is then offered up to the brickwork to be pointed so that the upper lip bears against the upper extremity of the lower of two courses of bricks to be pointed. This now allows mortar to be readily trowelled into the space between the two courses i.

4072 0 5 without the possibility of any mortar falling onto the face of the brickwork below. Also the slope of the wall 6 provides a guide for achieving an identical downward and outward slope for the mortar deposited between the two courses while at the same time leaving the slight overhang 16 (see Fig. 4) of mortar required for weather edging once the tool is pulled away from the brickwork.

The extent of the overhang will be determined by the thickness of the wall 6 and as recited hereinbefore this is 2.5 mm or less.

The area of the platform is preferably rectangular having one side of 43 em and the other side of 15 em or more but preferably less than 20 em.

The pointing tool can also be used as a plastering hawk which is particularly useful for Doit-yourself exponents. When applying plaster to a vertical surface the hawk is urged against the vertical surface and a plastering float is used to push plaster across the platform 4 and up the wall 6. Because the wall 6 is inclined there is little or no build up of plaster on the vertical surface immediately above the wall as would otherwise be the case using a hawk without a wall 6. Also when the tool is drawn away from the vertical surface,the wall 6 prevents slipage of any plaster remaining on the tool over the edge and onto the floor.

1 q ( 4072 5-

Claims

1. A pointing tool comprising a platform having a working surface for supporting a supply of mortar, a generally planar upstanding wall extending along one boundary of the platform in which the included angle between the wall and platform is an obtuse angle and a handle rigid with the platform on a side of said platform opposite said working surface.

2. A tool according to Claim 1, wherein the said obtuse angle is in the range of from 100 to 1100.

A tool according to Claim 1, wherein said obtuse angle is in the range of from 95' to 115.

4. A tool according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the height of said wall is greater than 5 em.

5. A tool according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the height of said wall is in the range of from 5 em to 8 em.

6. A tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the length of said wall is equal to the length of two bricks or substantially 43 em.

7. A tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the upper edge of the wall is preferably less than 2. mm thick.

8. A tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the working surface of the platform is rectangular having the same length as that of the wall and having a breadth in the range of from 15 em to 20 era.

9. A tool according to any preceding claim, wherein the platform and wall are of sheet metal.

10. A tool according to Claim 9, wherein said metal is of aluminium.

1 ( 4072 6 A tool according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein said platform is of plastics material and the wall is of sheet metal which has been bonded or mechanically secured to the platform.

12. A tool according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein said wall is of plastics.

13. A tool according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein said wLll is of plastics material with a metal insert running along the upper edge of the wall.

14. A point ing tool substantially a hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Published 1991 at 7be Patent Office. Concept liouse. Cardiff Road, Newport. Gwent NP9 I RH. Further copies may be obtained from I S Newport. NP1 7HZ. Printed by Multiplex techniques lid. St Mary Crav- Kent.

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