GB2360448A

GB2360448A - Fold down mortar table attachable to scaffolding poles via clamps

Info

Publication number: GB2360448A
Application number: GB0107062A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Dearlove
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-03-21
Filing date: 2001-03-21
Publication date: 2001-09-26
Anticipated expiration: 2021-03-21
Also published as: GB0107062D0; GB2360448B

Abstract

A fold down table , whose top 2 might be used for carrying mortar and which may feature clamps 24 for attachment to scaffolding poles, comprises a support means 14 which allows the top to be moved between a generally vertical storage position and a generally horizontal usage position. The table may improve safety when mounted to a scaffolding rig, presenting a minimal obstruction in the stowed position. It may further alleviate back strain in a user by being mountable on scaffolding poles above floor level.

Description

2360448 A MORTAR TABLE This invention relates to a mortar table of the

kind used by bricklayers to store mortar.

The mortar used for laying bricks or blocks is generally mixed in large amounts, and held as a main supply of which smaller amounts are taken as a local supply to work from. Bricklayers are known to make makeshift mortar tables comprising a board resting upon a plurality of blocks. Such makeshift tables are inconvenient for a number of reasons. The tables may be difficult and time consuming to set up and move. They restrict walkways in which they are placed, which is especially inconvenient and may be dangerous when mounted on scaffolding. Further, such makeshift tables are generally too low, which can be injurious to the bricklayer's back. Thus, such makeshift tables can be unsafe and dangerous.

One known table shown in GB 1 349 418, is adjustable in height, and has tripod legs. Such legs provide obstructions to passageways in which the table is situated and such a table is hard to level if the surface on which it is mounted is not itself level.

According to the invention there is provided a mortar table comprising a sheet-like member providing a surface for holding mortar, mounted on a support means allowing the member to be moved between a storage position in which the surface is roughly vertical and an operational position in which the surface is roughly horizontal, the support means holding the member in the operational position.

2 Such a table is advantageous because it provides a convenient structure on which mortar can be held but which can be moved to the stored position when not in use. The stored position is convenient because it prevents the table becoming an obstruction.

Preferably the support means is provided with attachment means adapted to attach the support means to another structure. Such attachment means are advantageous in allowing the table to be secured, thus providing a secure platform for mortar storage.

Conveniently the attachment means are clamps, which may be adapted to clamp onto scaffold poles. Such scaffold clamps are beneficial because they allow the table to be clamped to scaffolding, a common structure around brickwork. The table may be positioned at any position on the scaffolding which is preferably close to where the bricklayer is working, allowing the bricklayer to maintain a convenient supply of mortar. Further, the clamps allow the table to be positioned out of walkways and therefore help to prevent obstructions and also provide a secure platform which may be harder to disturb than prior art mortar tables. It is also possible to locate the table at a more convenient height for a bricklayer, so helping to prevent back problems for the bricklayer. A convenient location for the table may be on a hand rail that is often provided on scaffolding.

The support means comprises at least a first support for the sheet-like member. It may comprise first and second supports, each of which provides support for the sheet-like member when in the operational position.

3 The first support may comprise an elongate member having an engagement means that engages the sheet-like member and holds it in the operational position. Thus, a secure location is provided for the sheetlike member.

The engagement means may be by way of male protrusions on one of the sheet-like member and the support means, adapted to engage in female receivers on the other of the sheet-like member and the support means. Preferably, male protrusions on the sheet-like member engage in female receivers on the support means. Alternatively, the male protrusions may be provided on the support means and the female receivers on the sheetlike member.

It will be appreciated that the sheet-like member has a back edge which in the operational position is adjacent the support means. The sheet-like member also has side edges and the support means is preferably configured so that it has side portions adjacent the side edges of the sheet like member when in the operational position. Preferably, the engagement means is provided on the side portions of the support means.

Such a structure provides a first support wherein there is an engagement between the side edges of the sheet-like member and the support means.

The engagement means may be adapted to come into engagement when the sheet-like member is in the operational position and may not be in engagement when the sheet-like member is in the storage position. The female receivers may comprise open-ended slots adapted to receive the male protrusions. Such slots allow the male protrusions to be readily brought into and out of engagement.

4 In normal circumstances the first support, comprising an elongate member clamped to scaffold poles, provides adequate support for the sheet-like member in the operational position. If further support is needed, a second support is provided. The second support may comprise a support arm, extending between a leg of the support means and the sheetlike member.

The support arm may be hingedly attached to the support means, and to the sheet-like member.

Further the support arm may comprise a plurality of sections adapted to move relatively to one another. Such an arrangement is convenient because it can allow the member to be moved between the stored and operational positions readily and allow the support arm to be stored 15 easily.

In one embodiment the sections of the support arm are telescopically connected. Such telescopic connection provides a compact and robust manner in which to connect the sections of the arm.

The sections of the support arm may be tubular and are preferably square section. Alternatively, the sections could have other sections such as circular, rectangular, etc.

In another embodiment the sections of the support arm are hingedly connected to one another. In such an embodiment it is convenient that at least one of the sections of the support arm is a 'U' channel. This is advantageous because it allows the U channel member to receive other support arm sections therein, making for a more compact arm when in the stored position. However the support arm sections could be of box section or any other appropriate section.

A clip may be provided on the support adapted to receive the support arm when in the stored position. This may help to prevent the support arm from being damaged.

A location means may be provided in association with the sheet-like member and adapted to engage the support arm. This helps to provide secure location of the support arm and may provide a more rigid structure. The location means may be a male or female adapted to engage a complementary means on the support arm.

Conveniently, a frame may be provided around an edge region of the sheet-like member. Such a frame helps to provide support for the member. Further, the frame may extend across a central region of the sheet-like member, again helping to provide support.

A lifting handle may be provided making the table more convenient to carry when not attached to another structure.

The under-surface (opposite the working surface on which mortar is adapted to be stored in the operational position) may be adapted to carry advertising material. This is convenient because, as will be appreciated, mortar will be placed on the working side which will deface any advertising material.

The table may be arranged such that the under-surface is visible when the sheet-like member is in the stored position. This is advantageous because it will allow any advertising material to be seen.

6 There now follows by way of example only a detailed description of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:

Figure 1 is an end elevation of a mortar table in an operational position; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the mortar table partially moved to the operational position; Figure 3 is a side elevation of the mortar table in the operational position; and Figure 4 is an end elevation of the mortar table in a stored is position.

The mortar table comprises a sheet-like member in the form of a flat board 2 hingedly attached to a support 4 and moveable between storage and operational positions. As can be seen most clearly in Figure 4 a tubular frame 6 is provided around a perimeter region of the board to provide support therefor. The frame 6 also has a cross-member 8 passing underneath a central region of the board 2.

The support 4 comprises a T-shaped metal structure with an upright leg and a cross-member 40. When viewed from above (as is best seen in Figure 4) the cross-member 40 of the T comprises an elongate portion along a back edge portion of the board 2 together with a relatively short portions 42, 44 bent at roughly 900 to the elongate portion that pass around side edges of the board 2 when it is in the operational position.

7 The short portions of the cross- member can be seen in side elevation in Figures 2 and 3.

Each short portion of the cross-member 42, 44 has an elongate slot 46 therein. Each slot 46 receives a hinge pin 48 that is attached to a region of the back edge of the board 2 thus forming hinges allowing the board 2 to be rotated relative to the support 4. The slot 46 is longer than the hinge pin 48 thus allowing the hinge pin 48 to move lengthways along the slot 46 as well as to rotate within the slot 46.

Further, each short portion of the cross-member 42, 44 has, toward a top edge thereof, a small vertically-orientated open-ended slot 50 therein that is adapted to receive a support pin 52 mounted on the frame 6.

Attachment means in the form of clamps 22, 24 are provided at end regions of the cross-member of the T-shaped support 4, on an opposite face from the short portions of the cross-member 40. The clamps 22, 24 are adapted to engage roughly horizontal scaffold poles and are arranged such that when they are unfastened they fall to their closed condition so as to aid fastening.

The upright leg of the "T" is long enough to engage a lower horizontal scaffold pole for stability. A lifting handle 26 is provided a top region of the upright of the T-shaped support 4, allowing a user to carry the mortar table more easily.

A support arm 14 is provided to support the board 2. The support arm comprises first and second 16, 18 members of roughly equal length and square cross section. The second member 18 is telescopically received within the first member 16 (although the opposite arrangement could be 8 used). A locking means is provided which comprises a depressable member mounted on one of the members that is received in a hole in the other. A user depresses the member in order to release it from the hole.

The first member 16 is hingedly mounted at its end opposite the second member 18, at a bottom region of the upright leg of the support 4. The free end of the second member 18 is adapted to engage a location means 20 provided at an edge region of the underside of the board 2. 10 In use, the mortar table is clamped, using the clamps 22, 24, to a roughly horizontal scaffold pole, so that cross-member 40 of the support 4 (and consequently the board in the operational position) is roughly horizontal. A user lifts the board 2 so that it is at roughly 90' to the upright of the T15 shaped support 4 and pulls the board so that hinge pin 48 is toward a front end of the slot 46 (that is, furthest away from the clamps 22, 24). When the hinge pins 48 are in this position relative to the slot 46 the support pins 52 are able to pass around end regions of the short portion of the cross member. Thus, the user continues to lift the board 2 so that the 20 support pins 52 pass around the short portion in the manner described. When the support pins 52 are clear of the short portion the user pushes the board 2 such that the hinge pins 48 move to the opposite end of the slots 46 (that is, the end nearest the clamps 22, 24). This movement of the hinge pins 48 aligns the support pins 52 with the vertically -orientated 25 slot 50. The board 2 is then lowered so that the support pins 52 engage the vertically -orientated slot 50 such that the board is supported in the operational position. The user then extends the support arm 14 so that the second member 18 engages the location means 20. The board 2 is then supported in this 9 roughly horizontal position and provides a flat surface on which mortar can be stored.

To move the board into the storage position, in which the board is maintained in the more convenient vertical position, a user collapses the support arm by telescoping the first and second members together and clipping them behind a clip 28. The board 2 is then moved vertically so that the support pins 52 are removed from the vertically-orientated slots 50, pulled forward so that the support pins 52 are able to pass around the short portions of the cross member and lowered to a roughly vertical storage position.

In a modification (not shown) the upright leg of the T-shaped support 4 and the support arm 14 are omitted. This is acceptable for normal use, where the extra support provided by the support arm is not essential. The support 4 then simply comprises the elongate cross member 40, with its end portions 42, 44. The cross member 40 is clamped to the scaffolding poles, as before, by the clamps 22, 24, so that the board 2 will be supported in the operational position. The construction and operation, in particular the movement of the board 2 between the storage and operational positions, is otherwise the same as that described in relation to Figures 1 to 4.

When in the storage position advertising material provided on an underside of the board 2 can be seen, and therefore, it is convenient to clamp the table to scaffolding in such a manner that the advertising is clearly viewable when the board 2 is stored. The advertising material may comprise artwork provided directly on the underside of the sheet-like member or may comprise posters, or the like, attached to the underside.

The invention may therefore provide a method of using a mortar table as an advertising medium.

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Claims

1 A mortar table comprising a sheet-like member providing a surface for holding mortar, mounted on a support means allowing the member to be moved between a storage position in which the surface is roughly vertical and an operational position in which the surface is roughly horizontal, the support means holding the member in the operational position.

2. A mortar table as claimed in claim 1, in which the support means is provided with attachment means adapted to attach the support means to another structure.

3. A mortar table as claimed in claim 2, in which the attachment means are clamps.

4. A mortar table as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the support means comprises at least a first support for the sheet-like 20 member.

5. A mortar table as claimed in claim 4, in which the support means comprises first and second supports for the sheet-like member.

6. A mortar table as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, in which the first support comprises an elongate member having an engagement means that engages the sheet-like member and holds it in the operational position.

7. A mortar table as claimed in claim 6, in which the engagement 30 means comprises male protrusions on one of the sheet-like member and 12 the support means, adapted to engage in female receivers on the other of the sheet-like member and the support means.

8. A mortar table as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the sheet-like member has a back edge adjacent the support means in the operational position, and side edges to which side portions of the support means are adjacent in the operational position.

9. A mortar table as claimed in claim 8 and either of claims 6 or 7, in which the engagement means is provided on the side portions of the support means.

10. A mortar table as claimed in any of claims 6 to 9, in which the engagement means is adapted to come into engagement when the sheet- like member is in the operational position and is not engaged when the sheet-like member is in the storage position.

11. A mortar table as claimed in any of claims 7 to 10, in which the female receivers comprise open-ended slots adapted to receive the male protrusions.

12. A mortar table as claimed in any of claims 5 to 11, in which the second support comprises a support arm, extending between a leg of the support means and the sheet-like member.

13. A mortar table as claimed in claim 12, in which the support arm is hingedly attached to the support means, and to the sheet-like member.

13

14. A mortar table as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13, in which the support arm comprises a plurality of sections adapted to move relatively to one another.

15. A mortar table as claimed in claim 14, in which the sections of the support arm are telescopically connected.

16. A mortar table as claimed in claim 14, in which the sections of the support arm are hingedly connected.

17. A mortar table as claimed in any of claims 14 to 16, in which the sections of the support arm are tubular.

18. A mortar table as claimed in any of claims 14 to 16, in which the 15 sections of the support arm are of channel section.

19. A mortar table as claimed in any of claims 12 to 18, in which a clip provided on the support means is adapted to receive the support arm in the stored position.

20. A mortar table as claimed in any of claims 12 to 19, in which a location means is provided in association with the sheet-like member and adapted to engage the support arm.

21. A mortar table as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a frame is provided at least round an edge region of the sheet-like member.

22. A mortar table as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a lifting handle is provided.

14

23. A mortar table substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.