GB2455721A

GB2455721A - Mortarboard

Info

Publication number: GB2455721A
Application number: GB0724582A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nicholas Smedley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-12-18
Filing date: 2007-12-18
Publication date: 2009-06-24
Anticipated expiration: 2027-12-18
Also published as: GB2455721B; GB0724582D0

Abstract

A mortarboard 11 comprises a planar member with first and second sides 16, 17, with a rim R projecting above the first side and extending partially around the periphery of the board. There is a locating means on the second side of the mortarboard for location upon a support. Preferably the rim is integral with the mortarboard. The mortarboard may include a means for demountably retaining a work tool on the board. The mortarboard is made of plastic and does not absorb moisture from a mortar mix M placed upon its surface, as a conventional plywood mortarboard may.

Description

I

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a working board particularly but not exdusively for use in the construction industry.

BACKGROUND ART

Many building projects require the provision of mortar at a location where bricks or blocks or whatever are being used typically to build a wall. The quantity of mortar needed is governed by the amount an operative requires for the number of bricks that can be laid in the time available. Mortar hardens in a relatively short period and when ambient conditions are such as to lead to rapid drying of a mass of mortar being used it will be desirable to user a relatively small mass of mortar with subsequent regular supplies of a fresh mass.

Conventionally the mortar is deposited on a working board in the vicinity of a brick layer who is to use the mortar whether by the bricklayer or an assistant who draws freshly mixed mortar from a nearby location and delivers it to the bricklayer's board *.

and supplies other bricklayers in the vicinity. **.S * .

* Conventionally working boards are of wood typically rough cut from a sheet of thick *:*. ply. The cut board is located on a pile of assembled bricks or blocks in the vicinity of * the operative involved and at a height convenient for their use. A suitable amount of mortar is then deposited on the board. The board being of wood absorbs moisture drawn from the mortar which means that mortar in the vicinity of the board surface tends to be drier than that in the mains mass of mortar on the board. In working with the mortar the operative tends to mix the mortar mass so that consistency of the mass is maintained constant. it is also known to wet the board prior to depositing mortar on it so that the tendency of the board to absorb moisture from the mortar deposited on it is reduced.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a working board comprising a planar member having a first side, a second side and a periphery characterised in that the board is of plastics material; a rim projects above the first side and extends part way, but not the whole way, around the periphery; locating means on the second side for locating the board on a support so as to resist displacement of the board relative to the support. Typically the rim is integral with the board.

According to a first preferred version of the present invention the locating means comprises at least one recess in the second side adapted for engagement with a corresponding projection associated with the support.

According to a second preferred version of the present invention the locating means *.*..* comprises at least one projection in the second side adapted for engagement with a corresponding recess associated with the support. S... S...

20 According to a third preferred version of the present invention or of any of the * preceding preferred versions thereof the board serves to define at least one hole *:*. extending through the board from the first to the second side. S..

According to a fourth preferred version of the present invention or of any of the preceding preferred versions thereof the board includes means for demountably retaining a working item on the board.

Bm DEscmFnoN oi DRAwINcs An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings of a working board of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view from above and to the left hand side; Figure 2 is a perspective view from beneath and from the right hand side; and Figure 3 is an end elevation in direction of anow F in Figure 1.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The drawings variously show a planar working board 11 which a one piece fabrication of a plastics material. The board has a periphery made up of edges 12,13,14,15; a first side 16, a second side 17. The first side 12 has an integral rim R projecting upwardly from edge 12 (as shown in Figure 1) and partway along edges 13 and 15. However the rim R does not extend the whole way around the periphery. That is to say edge 14 and front sections 13A, 15A of, respectively, edges 13,15, have no rim.

Second side 17 of the board 11 (Figure 3) is provided with two recesses respectively recess 18 and 19 whereby the board 11 canbeseatedonasupportsoastoresist lateral displacement of the board 11 relative to the support. A typical support would be two spaced apart vertical stacks of conventional blocks. The recesses 18 and 19 are formed with internal dimensions (for example Land W) which are slightly * .* larger than the outside dimensions of the block so that each recess 18,19 is received by, S..

and locates the board 11 on, an uppermost block in each stack * . .,,n *A Betweentherecessesl8,l9theboardllisprovidedwithintegralribbing20-24with *:*. acentral boss 25. The ribbingand boss serve tostiffen the board 11 whenbearinga * mass M of mortar as shown in outline. S..

To make use of the located board 11 mass M of mortar is deposited on first side 16.

The rim R serves to prevent mortar and/or unmixed water from falling off the board 11 over edge 12 and from part way along edges 13,15. A brick layer draws a trowel full of mortar from the mass M to use in laying blocks in a conventional manner. The rim R further serves to prevent displacement of the mortar mass M when the bricldayer periodically mixes the diminishing mass of mortar remaining on the board 11 to maintain consistency in the remaining mass.

Once the mortar mass M has been used up the board 11 is replenished with mortar. At the end of a work period the board 11 is readily cleaned for storage and/or subsequent re-use.

The board being of plastics material (in this case polyethylene ? with additives) does not absorb moisture as a board of wood does. In addition the board 11, being a moulding, is smooth edged surfaced and edged so facilitating handling and cleaning and avoiding hazards to a user presented by rough edges of a wood board.

In an alternative embodiment the board is pierced by at least one hole to enable free Jwater to drain from the board. -In another alternative the board is provided with integral means so that the board can be hung up with its working surfaces vertical for example to dry, during a period of s.. non-use orin order to retain a gauge or other unit which a bricklayer may choose * ..

to use in the course of working. S... S...

* *. : o INDuSrRIAL. APPLICABILIrY * The present invention provides a board offering substantial advantages over existing * : * * means for supporting working material at a location. S..

S

Claims

I A working board comprising a planar member having a first side, a second side and a periphery characterised in that the board is of plastics material; a rim projecting above the first side and extending part way around the periphery; locating means on the second side for locating the board on a support so as to resist displacement of the board relative to the support 2 A working board as daimed in Claim 1 wherein the rim is integral with the board.

3 A working board as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the locating means comprises at least one recess in the second side adapted for engagement with a corresponding projection associated with the support * ** * * S :.:: 4 A working board as claimed inClaimi or Claim2wherein the locating means ***S comprises at least one projection in the second side adapted for engagement S...

:20 with a corresponding recess associated with the support. I..

A working board as claimed in any precedingclaim wherein the board serves to * . define at least one hole extending through the board from the first to the second S.. side.

6 A working board as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the board includes means for demountably retaining a working item on the board.

7 A working board as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

CD

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1 A working board comprising a planar member having a first side, a second side and a periphery characterised in that: the board is of plastics material; a rim projecting above the first side and extending part way around the periphery; locating means on the second side for locating the board on a support so as to resist displacement of the board relative to the support. * I.

2 A working board as claimed in Claim I wherein the rim is integral with the * SI.

* * 1.. ar *5SS * S I

3 A working board as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the locating means comprises at least one recess in the second side adapted for engagement with a * S..

corresponding projection associated with the support.

* SSt*P * I 4 A working board as claimed in Claimi or Claim 2 wherein the locating means comprises at least one projection in the second side adapted for engagement with a corresponding recess associated with the support..

A working board as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the board serves to define at least one hole extending through the board from the first to the second side.

6 A working board as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the board includes means for demountably retaining a working item on the board.

7 A working board as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.