GB2362420A

GB2362420A - Bricklaying gauge

Info

Publication number: GB2362420A
Application number: GB0002111A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nigel Anthony Thornhill; Dale Edward Ayris
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-01-31
Filing date: 2000-01-31
Publication date: 2001-11-21
Anticipated expiration: 2020-01-31
Also published as: GB2362420B; GB0002111D0

Abstract

The bricklaying gauge, primarily for use on roof gables and the like, comprises a first elongate element 4 provided with a number of fixing holes 5 spaced along its length. A second elongate element 6 is perpendicular to and slidably mounted at one end of the first element and has an attachment means at one end to which string 12 may be secured. The second element is also provided with spaced anchorage points along its length which are selectively co-operable with locking means on the first element so as to hold the attachment means at one of a number of predetermined distances from the first element. In use, two or more of the gauges are secured to rafters 1 so that their respective second elements extend downwards and perpendicular to the end rafter with a length of string extending between their two respective attachment means.

Description

2362420 BRICKLAYING GAUGE

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a bricklaying gauge for use in the construction of a ga ble end of a building Background to the Invention

In the construction of gable ends for pitched roofs on buildings, it is normal practice to use the roof timbers, and in particular the rafters, as a guide for alignment of the bricks and/or blocks. Where the gable end is to be plain brick- or block-work, the bricks or blocks are simply laid horizontally, with those at each end of each row being shaped to clefine the sloping edge of the gable. To provide a guide string defining the line of the sloping edge is simply a matter of nailing a piece of lath to the upper surfaces of two or more rafters at the top and bottom of the sloping edge, and running the guide string between the laths across the undersides thereof.

However, it may be desired to lay one or more courses of bricks along the sloping edge to provide a neater and more decorative finish to the gable end, and it will therefore be necessary first to provide a guide string which is spaced inwardly of the roof line by exactly the right distance to allow for one or more brick courses, with cor responding mortar bed, to be laid such that the upper surface of the brick course, or of the upper course, aligns precisely with the roof line as defined by the upper surfaces of the rafters. It is also necessary to permit the string to be repositioned when one angled course is complete to permit the next to be laid. While the final course can be laid to a string supported by laths nailed to the rafters, as hereinbefore described, the spacing of the line inwardly/downwardly of this is more difficult to achieve, and is usually accom plished by nailing additional pieces of wood to the ends of the laths extending normally to the roof line, and measuring carefully along the pieces of wood to mark the locations for attachment of the string. The positioning and marking of the wooden gauges re quires care and is therefore time-consuming. If insufficient care is taken - and this may be difficult when working on scaffolding at roof level - the appearance of the gable may be unsatisfactory. In addition, because the gauges are usually made of scrap wood, they are typically discarded at the end of the job, requiring fresh ones to be made at the next gable end, incurring further delays.

Summary of the Invention

According to the invention, there is provided a bricklaying gauge for use on roof gables and the like, comprising an elongate first member provided with a plurality of fixing holes therethrough spaced along the length thereof, and a second member slidably mounted at one end of the first member in such a manner as to extend perpen dicularly thereto, the second member having at one end thereof attachment means for removably attaching a string thereto and spaced anchorage points along the second member selectively co-operable with locking means on or in the first member to hold the attachment means at a selected one of a plurality of predetermined distances from the first member.

The invention also provides apparatus for use in bricklaying along a surface ex tending obliquely to the horizontal, comprising a spaced-apart pair of bricklaying gauges according to the invention, and a string stretched from the attachment means on one gauge to the attachment means on the other gauge.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second member is in the form of a rod, for example of circular section, passing through a correspon dingly-sh aped ap erture through the first member. The anchorage points may comprise holes extending transversely through the second member at pre-determined intervals, the first member having a corresponding hole intersecting with the aperture, a locking pin or the like be ing inserted through the hole in the first member and through a selected hole in the second member to secure the second member against further movement relative to the first member until the pin is removed again. The locking pin may be a bolt, secured, for example, by a wing nut, a spring-loaded pin, or other readily-removable and insertable locking means which is retained in position in use.

The first member is suitably of a length sufficient to span at least two rafters, the fixing holes being dimensioned to receive roofing nails and spaced at intervals such that, regardless of the exact spacing of the rafters one from another, the fixing holes align such that the first member can be nailed temporarily to two rafters to hold it against movement. Typically, the second member will be dimensioned so as to permit up to three courses of bricks to be laid along the oblique surface, but it will be appreciated that it may be dimensionedfor more or fewer courses. The anchorage points may be 9 0 1 1 1 Z spaced to allow for different sizes of brick. For example, bricks may be made in metric and Imperial sizes, and different second members may be provided, to be interchanged according to the bricks being used. Alternatively, it may be possible to provide alternative anchorage points for the different size standards on the same second member, but in this case means will be needed to ensure that the correct anchorage points are seiected, for example by providing the transverse holes of one standard extending in a different direction to those of the other standard, with a clear indicator showing which setisin use.

The gauge may be formed from metal, for example aluminium or an alloy thereof for lightness and strength, or of a rigid but non-brittle plastics material.

The gauge of the invention is simple and convenient to install and use, while en suring maximum accuracy of gauging and aligning the oblique brick courses for best possible appearance.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the drawings, which illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the invention:

Figure 1 is a general view of one end of a roof of a building with a pair of the gauges in use; and Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of one end of one of the gauges shown in Figure 1.

Detailed Description of the Illustrated Embodiment

A portion of a pitched roof under construction is shown in Figure 1. Three common rafters 1 extend between a wall plate 2 and a ridge board 3. It will be appre ciated that the full roof structure will consist of further rafters, on both sides of the ridge board. In the construction of a brick gable end, the brickwork (and inner block work) will be laid in the conventional manner using the line of the roof as defined by the upper surfaces of the rafters as a guide. Where the cut edge of the brickwork is to be finished off with one or more courses of bricks laid along the oblique edge so formed. it is necessary to provide a guide line spaced downwardly and inwardly of the roof line, and this may be done using the gauges of the invention.

Each gauge consists of a flat aluminium bar 4 provided with a plurality of fixing holes 5 therethrough along its length. The fixing holes 5 permit nails to be driven is through the bar 4 and into at least two adjacent rafters 1 to hold the gauge in the desired position. A cylindrical aluminium rod 6 is a sliding fit through a hole 7 in the end of the bar 4, and is held therein by means of a bolt 8 which passes through a hole 9 in the side of the bar 4 and through one of a number of spaced holes 10 through the rod 6, a wing nut 11 being used to secure the bolt in position. A string or line 12 is secured to the free end of each rod 6, as hereinafter described, and is stretched between them to provide the guide for aligning the cut edge of the horizontal brickwork at the correct distance in and below the roof line. When the oblique brick courses are to be laid, the bolts 8 are temporarily removed to allow the rods to be slid upwardly until the next hole 10 is aligned with the hole 9 in the bar, whereupon the bolts are reinserted and fixed.

The distances between the holes 10 in the bar are arranged to correspond to the desired brick course height, which is the height of the brick added to the mortar bed thickness. The location at the end of the rod for the line is positioned precisely in relation to the positions of the holes 10 to ensure that the distance of the string or line from the roof line is an exact multiple of (or equal to) the brick course height, for example 75mm.

The end of the rod 6, as may be seen more clearly from Figure 2, is provided with a pair of intersecting slots 13 to facilitate temporary securing of the line, and a notch 14 in the side of the rod to receive and guide the line as it extends to the other gauge. The notch 14 is positioned in relation to the holes 10 so that the line is accurately located as described.herein before.

A groove 15 is formed in the underside of the bar 4 adjacent to the rod to receive the line when the final course of bricks is laid. The groove 15 is dimensioned so that the line lies precisely along the roof line represented by the upper surfaces of the rafters and the underside of the bars 4.

Claims

1 A bricklaying gauge for use on roof gables and the like, comprising an elongate first member provided with a plurality of fixing holes therethrough spaced along the length thereof, and a second member slidably mounted at one end of the first member in such a manner as to extend perpendicularly thereto, the second member having at one end thereof attachment means for removably attaching a string thereto and spaced anchorage points along the second member selectively co- operable with locking means on or in the first member to hold the attachment means at a selected one of a plurality of predetermined distances from the first member.

2. A bricklaying gauge according to Claim 1, wherein the second member is in the form of a rod, for example of circular section, passing through a correspond ingly-shaped aperture through the first member.

3. A bricklaying gauge according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the anchorage points comprise holes extending transversely through the second member at pre determined intervals, the first member having a corresponding hole intersecting with the aperture, a locking pin or the like being inserted through the hole in the first mem ber.and through a selected hole in the second member to secure the second member against further movement relative to the first member until the pin is removed again.

4. A bricklaying gauge according to Claim 3, wherein the locking pin is a bolt, secured, for example, by a wing nut, a spring-loaded pin, or other readily removable and insertable locking means.

5. A bricklaying gauge according to any preceding claim, wherein the first member is of a length sufficient to span at least two rafters, the fixing holes being di mensioned to receive roofing nails and spaced at intervals such that, regardless of the exact spacing of the rafters one from another, the fixing holes align such that the first member can be nailed temporarily to two rafters to hold it against movement.

6. A bricklaying gauge according to any preceding claim, wherein the sec ond member is dimensioned so as to permit up to three courses of bricks to be laid along the oblique surface.

7. A bricklaying gauge according to any preceding claim, wherein the anchorage points are spaced to allow for different sizes of brick.

8. A bricklaying gauge according to Claim 7, wherein the second member is removable to permit the fitting of alternative second members having anchorage 5 points spaced for different types of brick.

9. A bricklaying gauge according to Claim 7, wherein the second member is provided with more than one set of transverse holes, the spacings in each set corresponding to different standard sizes of brick.

10. A bricklaying gauge according to Claim 9, wherein the holes in one set 10 extend at an angle to the holes in the or each other set.

11. A bricklaying gauge, substantially as described with reference to, or as shown in, the drawings.

12. Apparatus for use in bricklaying along a surface extending obliquely to the horizontal, comprising a spaced-apart pair of bricklaying gauges according to any preceding claim, and a string stretched from the attachment means on one gauge to the attachment means on the other gauge.