GB2251648A - A bricklayer's tool - Google Patents

Abstract

A bricklayer's tool consists of a spirit level 1 and a right-angled limb 8 for marking the position 12 of the perpendicular joints in high quality brickwork. This tool saves 10% to 15% of the bricklayer's time. The limb may be releasably clamped to the level to allow it to be used at different angles, but has a datum position where it is perpendicular. <IMAGE>

Description

BRICKLAYER'S TOOL This invention relates to a bricklayer's tool, particularly for improving the accuracy of bricklaying.

When building a brick wall it is conventional practice to first construct the corners and then stretch a horizontal line from one corner to the other in order to obtain a horizontal guide against which the course work can be kept level. Each course is laid under the line and as one course is laid on top of the other, the line is raised course by course.

The perpendicular joints between the bricks of a course should ideally be exactly vertically above those of the next but one course beneath it and frequently this is judged by the eye of the bricklayer. However ideally good face work should have the perpendiculars (or 'perpsl as they are called) checked and a vertical spirit level is used for this purpose. Conventionally this is carried out every four bricks along the course and the precise positions for the joints of the course being laid is marked with a pencil on the brick face of the course just completed. In this way the bricklayer can ensure that the perps are kept accurate as construction proceeds.

However the use of an upright spirit level is inconvenient and time consuming and this results either in inaccurate brickwork, because the bricklayer does not bother to check the perps, or in more expensive brickwork because the accurate checking using an upright spirit level is time consuming.

It is an object of the present invention to enable the perps to be kept accurate in a more efficient way.

According to the present invention a bricklayer's tool comprises a spirit level adapted for resting on a horizontal course of bricks and a limb projecting at right angles to the level so that with the level resting on the course of bricks, the limb will extend vertically down the face of the brickwork at least to the arris in the course immediately beneath so that with the limb aligned with a vertical joint in the course beneath the correct position for the vertical joint in the course about to be laid can be marked on the course of bricks, the spirit level being of such a size and shape that it can be comfortably held on the course by one hand between the thumb and ball on one side and at least

fingers on the other side while leaving the bubble housing clearly visible to the bricklayer.

Preferably the limb is long enough to just reach the arris of the fourth course down so that the marks for the vertical joints to be laid can each be derived from the two vertical joints directly beneath. This tends to be more accurate and quicker to lay the next course accurately, than if the limb only reaches the top of the second course down.

Preferably the projecting limb is integral with a side face which is riveted to a side of the level.

In order that the invention can be more clearly understood reference will now be made to the accompanying drawing which shows in Figure 1 a perspective view of a bricklayer's tool according to an embodiment of the invention on a brick wall during construction, Figure 2 shows an alternativeuse of the tool, and Figure 3 shows a modification to the tool of Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawing the bricklayer's tool comprises a level 1 incorporating a conventional bubble housing 2 visible through a transparent window 3. The horizontal position of the level is achieved when the bubble 4 sits exactly between the markers 5 on the housing 2.

Secured to one side 6 of the level 1 is a T-shaped stainless steel member comprising a side face 7 and limb 8.extending perpendicular from the underneath surface of the spirit level ] Face 7 is riveted at 13, 14 and 15 to the side of the level.

The edges of the limb 8 are parallel and the limb 8. is centrally disposed between the ends of the spirit level.

In the drawing the tool is shown resting on a course of bricks 9A with the edge 8A of limb 8 aligned with the perpendicular joints 10 and 11 of the second and fourth courses down, 9B and 9D, respectively. The bricklayer makes a faint pencil mark 12 on the course 9 to indicate where the vertical joint in the course about to be laid should be.

The pencil marks 12 are marked for every alternate perp along the course, as this is found to be sufficient to enable accurate brickwork to be laid.

The bricklayer holds the tool by the handle - like part 1A of the level which is of a size and shape that fits comfortably in the palm of his left 1: hand between his thumbfand thumb balll(thenar eminence)

on one side.

and/three or four fingers/on the other side. His hand is shown incline

Similarly the opposite part 1B would be held by the right hand of a left-handed bricklayer who would naturally use the opposite edge 8B of the limb 8t to do his marking with his left hand.In either case, as can be seen, the bubble housing 2 is left clearly visible to the bricklayer so that he can make any slight adjustment to position the limb 8 precisely vertical, as will be indicated by the bubble in the bubble housing, while he makes his mark.

The tool can be easily slid along the course of bricks 9A in either direction just using one hand to move the tool along and to adjust the level of the tool as the marks are made.

If the bricks are accurately made then it may not be necessary to use the bubble in the spirit level to ensure that the limb 8 is vertical when marking the mark 12 on the course 9A, because the course 9A will almost certainly be horizontal. However the course 9A may not be level, and if the bricks are for example handmade and therefore do not have true sides and edges, then it is necessary to adjust the tool so that the bubble indicates precise horizontal alignment of the spirit level and hence precise vertical alignment of the limb, so that any inaccuracy in the bricks will not upset the true alignment of the vertical joints.

The tool is also useful in laying bricks on edge, called 'soldiers', and in the embodiment shown in Figure 2 the limb 8 is long enough to extend the full length of a standard brick plus the bed joint, namely 225mm.

When using the tool to lay 'soldiers', which is shown schematically in Figure 2, the spirit level is rested upon the last brick 16 to be laid and will stay there without being held while the bricklayer taps the brick 16 to adjust it to ensure it is vertical by viewing the bubble in the spirit level. In this way the course of soldiers will have accurate vertical joints. Although not shown in Figure 2 there would be a horizontal string lined up with the top edges of the soldier bricks.

Although in the embodiment described the T-shaped part comprising the side face 7 and the limb 8 is made of metal, particularly stainless steel, it could alternatively be made of a durable plastics material and could for example be moulded in one piece with the body 1A, 1B of the spirit level.

In a further embodiment, Figure 3, the limb 8 could be moveably connected to the level 1, as by a stud and wing nut 17, instead of being fixed, so that it could also be used at an angle to the level for e.g. scribing cuts in bricks. This is shown schematically in Figure 3, and it would then be highly desirable that an arrangement of cooperating rib and groove in the level and the limb be provided to ensure that when the tool is again used for its prime purpose, the rib and groove will locate the limb exactly at right angles to the level. So, with the nut tight, it is not possible to accidentally dislodge the limb from its right angle.

In the embodiments described the length of the level 1 is 215mm which is the length of a standard brick. The level 1 could be shorter than this but if it is much longer it becomes cumbersome for the bricklayer to use and to carry in his tool bag, except the Figure 3 embodiment.

The width of the spirit level in this embodiment is 22mm. If it is much thinner than 22mm, particularly the bottom of the level, it becomes more difficult to use because it is likely to slip off the edge of the brickwork.

I judge the minimum sensible thickness to be about 15mm. It could of course be thicker, for example 50mm thick, although it is considered there would be little advantage in having it any thicker than that, particularly the main body part lA because it will become more difficult to hold.

I judge this tool will make a significant saving in time for laying high-quality brickwork, probably somewhere in the region of 10-15%. For a bricklayer on piecework this represents a large potential increase in his earnings.

Claims (5)

What I claim is:

1. A bricklayer's tool comprising a spirit level adapted for resting on a horizontal course of bricks and a limb projecting at right angles to the level so that with the level resting on the course of bricks, the limb will extend vertically down the face of the brickwork at least to the arris in the course immediately beneath so that with the limb aligned with a vertical joint in the course beneath the correct position for the vertical joint in the course about to be laid can be marked on the course of bricks, the spirit level being of such a size and shape that it can be comfortably held on the course by one hand

between the thumb and ball on one side and at least three fingers on the other side while leaving the bubble housing clearly visible to the bricklayer.

2. A tool as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the limb is about 225 mum long from the bottom of the level.

3. A tool as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the bottom of the level which can rest on the course of bricks has a width in the range 15mm to 50mm.

4. A tool as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the spirit level has a bubble housing located directly above the limb.

5. A tool as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the limb extends from a position midwav between the ends of the spirit level.

b. A tool substantiaMl as herein before described with reference to and as illustrated in the figures of the accompanying drawing.