GB2334783A - Builder's tool - Google Patents

Abstract

The application describes a bricklayers' tool comprising four arms, 10,12,14,16, each arm being connected to others thereby to define a quadrilateral, at least two of the connections being adjustable thereby to permit at least one arm to be adjusted relative to the remaining arms. Preferably, at least three of the connections are adjustable thereby to permit adjustment of two arms. More preferably, all four connections are adjustable, allowing free adjustment of all arms relative to each other. It is particularly preferred if the adjustment is of both translation and rotation of the respective arm relative to the others. Clearly, adjustment of translation only allows marking of bricks as to the length to be cut off, whilst rotation additionally allows marking of bricks to a trapezoidal shape. A suitable manner of providing adjustment of connections is for the respective arms to be connected by nut and bolt, 18, 20, arrangements, the bolt sliding in an elongate slot 10a, 12a etc formed in one or more of the arms concerned. The nuts are preferably wing nuts to aid tightening and unlocking.

Description

BUILDERS' TOOL The present invention relates to a builders' tool. The tool is particularly useful for cutting bricks.

It is common during the construction of a building or the like for the builder to have to cut bricks to a non-standard size. For example if the length of the wall is not a simple multiple of a standard size then suitably shortened bricks will need to be incorporated into the structure. More seriously, architectural features such as archways and circular patterns for example in patios require the use of a large number of bricks each cut to an identical trapezoidal shape.

The standard way of cutting a brick to a non-standard shape is to measure where the new edge of the brick intersects with existing edges, to rule a line corresponding to the new edge, and to cut the brick to shape using a bolster and hammer. Where a large number of bricks need to be cut to the same identical shape, as in the examples above, this process is. time consuming and repetitive.

The present invention therefore seeks to provide a straightforward; means of marking out bricks prior to cutting.

The present invention therefore provides a bricklayers' tool comprising four arms, each arm being connected to others thereby to define a quadrilateral, at least two of the connections being adjustable thereby to permit at least one arm to be adjusted relative to the remaining arms.

Preferably, at least three of the connections are adjustable thereby to permit adjustment of two arms. More preferably, all four connections are adjustable, allowing free adjustment of all arms relative to each other.

It is particularly preferred if the adjustment is of both translation and rotation of the respective arm relative to the others. Clearly, adjustment of translation only allows marking of bricks as to the length to be cut off, whilst rotation additionally allows marking of bricks to a trapezoidal shape.

A suitable manner of providing adjustment of connections is for the respective arms to be connected by nut and bolt arrangements, the bolt sliding in an elongate slot formed in one or more of the arms concerned.

The nuts are preferably wing nuts to aid tightening and unlocking.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying Figures, in which; Figures 1 and 2 show a plan and side view respectively of a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 shows a plan view of a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 shows a plan view of a third embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 5 shows a plan view of a forth embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the first embodiment of the present invention comprises a set of four arms, 10, 12, 14 and 1 6. Arms 10 and 1 2 are slightly longer than a standard brick size, whilst arms 14 and 16 are approximately 1 Y2 times the width of a standard brick. The arms are formed from simple plate material, which can be metallic, for example steel or aluminium, or plastics for example ABS. A suitable width for the arms is 10 mm and a suitable thickness is 4 mm. Each arm is formed with a longitudinal slot 1 0a, 12a, 1 4a and 1 6a respectively. Arm 10 is then connected to arms 14 and 1 6 via a bolt such as that shown at 1 8 which passes through slots 1 Oa and 1 4a and is secured by a wing nut 20. Arm 1 2 is likewise connected to arms 14 and 16, such that the four arms define a quadrilateral, arms 10 and 1 2 being on opposed sides of the quadrilateral as are arms 1 4 and 1 6. As shown in Figure 1, the arms have been set mutually parallel so as to form a parallelogram. However, the ability of the bolts 1 8 to move along the slots 1 0a, 1 2a, 1 4a and 1 6a combined with the ability of adjacent arms to rotate relatively means that the structure as a whole can assume any quadrilateral structure within the limits of the slot lengths.

To use the device, measurements are made on the first brick and checked carefully. The brick is then cut to size in the normal manner. The device is then laid over the brick with the wing nuts loosened and the arms positioned adjacent the newly cut edges. The wing nuts 20 are then tightened, fixing the tool into the intended shape.

The tool is then lifted from the first brick and applied to an uncut brick. The tool is positioned over the brick in the same relative position and a marking implement such as a pencil is used to mark the necessary cuts on the surface of the brick. The brick can then be cut in the normal way.

Successive bricks can then be cut without adjustment of the tool, ensuring that all bricks are cut in a uniform manner.

It will be noted that arm 1 4 lies beneath arms 10 and 12, whilst arm 1 6 lies above. This is to enable arm 1 4 to be abutted against an edge of the brick, allowing arm 1 6 to rest on the top surface thereof allowing easy marking. This provides a more accurate positioning of the tool relative to the uncut brick. For other circumstances, such as cutting the long edge of a brick to an angle, the nuts and bolts holding arm 16 in place could be released entirely, and the device reassembled with arm 1 6 beneath arms 10 and 1 2. If desired, for such a situation arm 1 6 could be beneath arm 1 2 as per arm 14, and arm 10 beneath both arms 1 4 and 1 6. Further possibilities will be apparent to the skilled reader.

Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.

According to this embodiment, arms 10 and 14 are fixed relative to each other, for example by welding in the case of metallic material, as shown, or by forming the two arms as a single item, particularly in the case of plastics materials. Slots 10a and 14a are correspondingly shortened as the likely range of movement within the slots is correspondingly decreased. This embodiment is less adaptable than that of Figures 1 and 2, but can provide for most operations.

Figure 4 shows a third embodiment of the invention, in which the three arms 10, 14 and 12 are all fixed in the outline of a standard brick.

Thus, only arm 16 can be adjusted within slots 1 Oa and 1 2a. Such a device is less preferred since only the length and end face angle of a brick can be adjusted. However, the device is somewhat simpler to use and may be appropriate for straight forward bricklaying jobs.

Figure 5 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention, generally similar to the third embodiment but in which the slot 1 6a has been eliminated in favour of a pair of holes through which pass the respective bolts. Thus, arm 1 6 only can be adjusted, and then only as to the length of the brick. This embodiment is therefore the least functional, but does permit simple adjustment of brick length. Such adjustment is frequently needed at the ends of walls.

It will be apparent to the skilled reader that many variations can be made to the above described embodiments, without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the specific material of the devices is of relatively minor importance so long as it is robust and resilient such as to withstand normal use on a building site. Equally, the exact form of the nuts and bolts is not important so long as the connection is releasable where relevant.

It is likely to be useful if the arms carry a graduated scale alongside the slots, calibrated for example in standard units or in fractions of standard brick dimensions, or both.

It is not of course essential that nuts and bolts are provided. An alternative fixing could be employed in which the arms are connected via a frictional fit which still allows them to be disturbed if that friction is overcome, the friction then serving to hold the arms in place during use.

Claims (8)

1. CLAIMS 1. A bricklayer's tool comprising four arms, each arm being connected to others thereby to define a quadrilateral, at least two of the connections being adjustable thereby to permit at least one arm to be adjusted relative to the remaining arms.
2. 2. A bricklayer's tool according to claim 1 in which at least three of the connections are adjustable thereby to permit adjustment of two arms.
3. 3. A bricklayer's tool according to claim 1 in which all four connections are adjustable, allowing free adjustment of all arms relative to each other.
4. 4. A bricklayer's tool according to any preceding claim in which adjustment is of both translation and rotation of the respective arm relative to the others.
5. 5. A bricklayer's tool according to any preceding claim in which adjustment is enabled by nut and bolt arrangements.
6. 6. A bricklayer's tool according to claim 5 in which the bolt slides in an elongate slot formed in one or more of the arms concerned.
7. 7. A bricklayer's tool according to claim 5 or claim 6 in which the nuts are wing nuts.
8. 8. A bricklayer's tool substantially as herein described with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying figures.