GB2248261A - Brickwork template - Google Patents

Abstract

A brickwork quoin template (10) comprises flanks defining a brickwork quoin. Each flank (11, 12) is made up of a series of guide members (14, 15, 16, 17) which define the heights of a number of brick courses and the positions of quoin bricks in these courses. The lowermost guide member (17) of each flank is clamped to an existing brick course after it has been adjusted so that the quoin defined is vertical. The bricks of the quoin can then be laid using the guide members as guides. <IMAGE>

Description

BRICKWORK TEMPLATE This invention relates to a template for building quoins in brickwork.

By "quoin" is meant any corner junction between intersecting lengths of brickwork. Apart from intersections between flat walls of bricks, quoin is also intended to cover such things as intersections at strengthening piers in brick walls, buttresses and columns, for example. The invention is also applicable to building quoins at the ends of walls, doors and window openings.

The skill required to build corners is normally considerably greater than that required to build out the usually flat brickwork between corners. Indeed, so great is the difference in the level of skill required for the two jobs that an experienced corner bricklayer may be able to command considerably more money for his labour than a bricklayer who is only competent in the construction of the flat portions in between. A similarly higher level of skill is required in the construction of strengthening piers in brick walls and buttresses. In all cases it is essential that the corners are kept true as the remaining brickwork has to be built to them. Thus, in the event that the corners are constructed out of true the error will be propagated through the entire wall or walls extending from that corner.

In general, the degree of skill required to build such corners, piers, buttresses, etc. tends to exclude the amateur from attempting all but the most basic structures without risking making fundamental mistakes.

These would have to be corrected by at least partially dismantling the structure and constructing the bad portion over again. In many cases this is enough to deter the amateur from attempting bricklaying at all.

Even for professionals corners and other quoins are very time consuming and, therefore, expensive.

According to the present invention there is provided a brickwork quoin template comprising at least two elongate guide members secured together towards respective ends thereof, the template, in use, being positionable to define the shape of a brickwork quoin each guide member having associated with it mounting means by which the template is mountable on brickwork in a quoin defining position.

Preferably, the length of at least one guide member is greater than the length of a brick of the brickwork. If this is the case, the or each guide member may be fastened to existing brickwork whilst allowing a new brick to be laid. Preferably the guide member is of substantial length - for example two, two and a half, three or more brick lengths.

The template may be clamped or otherwise secured to existing foundation bricks or brick courses subsequently built on foundations by the mounting means to allow both accurate and considerably easier corner bricklaying by following the shape of the template.

The shape of the corner, as defined by the shape of the template, may be sharp-edged, but it could also equally well be rounded.

The template may be provided with means for indicating the angle the template makes with respect to a known datum, for example, horizontal or vertical.

Conveniently these may consist of a plumb line or a spirit level. The indicating means may be provided to indicate the attitude of each guide member separately, such that one and then the other may be adjusted in order to ensure that the template is correctly positioned. Alternatively, the indicating means may comprise a spirit level, plumb line or the like indicating the verticality of the corner itself.

The mounting means may include arrangements by which the guide members are secured to the existing brickwork, for example, by clamps. The clamps may be separate devices, such as G-clamps, or they may be incorporated within the guide members. The clamping arrangement can be slackened off in order to allow the template to be adjusted, for example, to render both quoin defining faces vertical.

Preferably, the clamp has jaws arranged to hold the template against the brickwork. One jaw may comprise a resilient member of, for example, sprung steel. The one jaw may be part of a generally 'L' shaped member. A first limb of the L-shaped member is arranged to extend across the mortar region and be secured to the template and a second limb, angled with respect to the first, is arranged to engage the face of the existing brickwork. The first limb may be releasably coupled to a corresponding guide member of the template, in order that, once brickwork has been built up over the one jaw, the one jaw and template can be decoupled so that the template can be removed from the brickwork and the one jaw withdrawn by pulling on its second limb to draw the first limb out of the brickwork through the mortar.

Each guide member may include tensioning means which are operable by a suitable screw or other tensioning mechanism. In a preferred embodiment an overcentre pivot mechanism is used. This mechanism may include a lever connected to each guide member and arranged to pivot about an axis remote from the brickwork engaging face of the template. The one jaw of the clamp is then arranged pivotably to engage the lever about a different axis to create the overcentre action. The arrangement is such that, in one position of the lever, the clamp is in a releasing state and, in another position, the clamp is tensioned into a clamping state, holding the guide member against the wall. A removable pin may be provided at the coupling between the element and lever. The pin is removed to decouple the one jaw of the clamp from the lever.

The second limb of the one jaw may comprise a scroll of resilient material providing resilient compressive clamping. The scrolling could have various forms, such as a generally planar spiral, but it is preferred, when the clamping element is 'L' shaped, that the scrolling comprises a 'U' shaped member attached to the first limb of the one jaw to provide a flexible brace, dimensioned and arranged so that, when the clamp is actuated, the force compresses the 'U' shaped member.

Alternatively, the template may be mounted on the existing brickwork by means of ledges extending laterally from the guide members to rest on the existing brickwork. These may also include a corner ledge at the junction between the guide members which rests on the corner of the existing brickwork. When supporting ledges are used, they may conveniently be mounted on adjustable mounting arrrangements, such as screw jacks which can be used to adjust their position relative to the corresponding guide member. An advantageous combination includes one ledge and a clamp on each flank constituted by each guide member. In this way, the attitute of the template can be adjusted accurately.

The ledge may include a portion which is movably attached to at least one guide member in order to provide adjustment. This may include spring means for biassing the ledge to a particular position. The spring ledge may be retained in a mortar region whilst building brickwork and then removed intact with the template before the mortar has set. Preferably, the ledge, comprises a generally 'L' shaped device having one portion extending outwardly for engaging the brickwork and another portion extending downwards in the form of a pivot, into a retaining recess in the guide member.

A face of each guide member may be provided with indicia representing the accurate spacing of bricks to be laid. The indicia may indicate the required height of a brick course and/or its horizontal alignment. The indicia are preferably constituted by markings to which the bricks can be aligned as they are laid. The marks may comprise lines, grooves or slots in the quoin defining face of the template guide members.

Preferably, the indicia comprise a series of parallel longitudinally extending slots between a plurality of guide members constituting one flank of the template.

Further slots or notches may be arranged to indicate the required position of a brick in a course.

When a plurality of guide members constitute each flank of the template, a plurality of brick courses can be laid without having to move the template from its position. The guide members may consist of battens positionable to extend horizontally as a guide for building a vertical corner. Each batten preferably has a vertical width corresponding to the height of a brick, such that the lie of the battens can be used as a guide for bricklaying.

Preferably, the template has a spine member which defines the angle of the corner. The spine member may be defined by the guide members or be an at least partially separate item extending laterally with respect to the guide members. The template may be arranged to be dismantlable or fold at the corner.

Clearly, bricks come in different dimensions according to which standard they are made. Thus, in certain applications it may be convenient to allow the spacing of battens to be adjustable in order that a single template can be adjusted to accommodate different brick heights. British Standards exist both for the sizes of bricks and their coursing. However, for most cases, adjustment is not required and the device can be made as a single solid piece. The template may work equally well with a plurality of sizes of brickwork and also where a structure of one size of brickwork meets that of another.

When constructing the corner, it will often be the case that excess mortar will flow from between two bricks. When each flank of the template is constructed with slots between guide members, the excess mortar will flow through the slots and not between the existing brickwork and a lower guide member which would otherwise disfigure the face of the wall. Furthermore, it is preferable that the guide members are constructed with vertical slots or recesses which not only indicate the longitudinal position of a brick in a course, but also allow excess mortar from a vertically disposed run of mortar to seep out in a similar manner.

The template may include attachment means for coupling a bricklayer's line or other brickwork level indicator to the template. The attachment means may be formed in or attached to the guide member. The attachment means may include a cleat or other fastening for a bricklayers line. A line may be run between cleats on templates at adjacent corners to provide a guide for the brickwork in between.

For a simple corner, the template is formed with two flanks defining the two sides. However, in the case of a pier, the template may consist of three flanks defining three sides of the pier projecting from the plane of the wall which it is being built to strengthen. Similarly, a column may be constructed using four or more flanks corresponding to the number of sides of the column being built.

The angle between any two flanks of guide members may be made adjustable so that a range of corner angles can be built using the same template. The angle may be infinitely variable between, for example, 0 degrees and 180 degrees, or the template may be arranged to define one of a predetermined set of angles, such as 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 degress. Most commonly, an angle of 90 degrees will be preferred for corners and piers.

When each flank of the template is defined by a plurality of guide members, they may be held in their relative positions by a stiffening framework.

The template could be moulded, cast or pressed from various materials. For example, it may comprise injection moulded plastics, an aluminium casting, a sheet steel pressing or wood.

The present invention also extends to a method of building a brickwork quoin, the method comprising the steps of positioning a template to define a brickwork quoin to be built, the template comprising guide faces defining the shape of the quoin, and laying a course or courses of bricks substantially parallel to the guide faces.

The invention may be carried out in various ways embodiments of which will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a brickwork template in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the template of Figure 1 attached to an existing brick corner; Figure 3 is a side elevation in the direction of the arrows 3-3 in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the template attached to the brickwork; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the template in position after the brickwork has been built-up; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the built-up brickwork of Figure 5 with the template removed; Figure 7 is a perspective part view of a modified template in accordance with the present invention;; Figure 8 is a view showing hidden detail in part, corresponding to Figure 7 and illustrating an example of a gauging instrument attached to the modified template; Figure 9 is a plan view showing detail of an example of clamp for use with the modified template of Figure 7; and Figure 10 is an elevational view in direction A-A of Figure 9, showing a portion of the clamp of Figure 9 in detail; The brickwork template 10 shown in the drawings is configured to assist in the construction of the corner piece between two brick walls 100, 101 which intersect one another at right angles. It will be understood that the invention also extends to corner pieces between brick or stone walls which may be joined by a curved corner and which may intersect at any given angle. The template 10 has first and second flanks 11, 12 which intersect at right angles at a joint 13.

Each flank 11, 12 comprises a series of guide arms in the form of battens 14, 15, 16, 17, defining a guide plane. The battens in each flank are progressively longer moving downwards from the top batten 14 to the bottom batten 17. Alternatively, the battens may be of equal length.

Each batten is positioned such that its upper face corresponds to the height of a brick course to be laid.

The battens are separated from adjacent ones by the width of a slot. The width of the slot is greater than or corresponds to the thickness of the horizontal mortar course between layers of bricks. The width of the slot is not critical, but it helps if it is equal to or wider than the mortar course. However, the faces of the battens are preferably deep enough to be able to indicate by comparison whether the faces of the bricks are in the correct orientation, e.g vertical.

The arrangement is held together by rear frame members 18 which extend outwardly from the topmost batten 14 to the lowermost batten 17. Each frame member 18 is secured to the battens in the associated flank in order to hold them in their relative positions. The battens and the frame members may be separate pieces made, for example, of wood. On the other hand, they may be constituted by a one-piede moulding or pressing of any suitable materials, such as a rigid plastics.

The template is arranged to be held against the external face of an existing course of bricks at the intersection between two walls. However, it is equally possible to locate the frame members 18 on the opposite sides of the flanks in order that the template is positionable against the internal face.

At the junction between the flanks of battens, the angle which the template makes is defined by a vertical spine member 21 to which the ends of the battens are attached.

In order to position the template for use, an arcuate corner ledge 19 is secured protruding inwardly from the top of the junction between the two lowermost battens 17 on each flank. The lower middle arms 16 are also provided with vertical notches 20 which have a width corresponding to the width of one of the vertical mortar courses to be set between bricks in the same layer.

The template is positioned by first locating the ledge 19 on top of the corner of the existing brickwork. By means of two spirit levels 22,23 mounted on the top battens, both the planar flanks 11,12 of the template are then made vertical by adjusting the template until the spirit levels indicate that the topmost battens are horizontal. The free end of the lowermost batten 17 of each flank is then clamped to the existing brickwork course by a G clamp 102 or 103.

For clarity, the spirit levels, which may in any event be detachable, are not shown in Figures 1, 4 and 5.

As shown in Figure 3, one spirit level 23 may first be levelled before tightening the clamp 102 to the flank 12. Thereafter the flank 11 may, to some extent, be rotated in the directions of the arrows A, Al to level the second spirit level 22 before clamping the flank 11 in position with the clamp 103.

It is also possible to clamp the template in position with the use of only one clamp. However, a more secure attachment is achieved by using one clamp on either flank as each serves to pull its respective flank up tight against the existing quoin.

The bottom battens 17 of each flank are each formed with a vertical recess 24 having a width which takes up a majority of the length of the batten 17 as illustrated in Figure 4. The recesses 24 provide clearance between the existing brickwork and the bottom battens 17 of the template. The purpose of this recess is to allow any excess mortar to fall away from the brickwork and to allow for any irregularities thus ensuring a proper three point fixing by means of the corner and the land 26 at the free end of each bottom batten.

Figure 4 shows that the bottom battens 17 are positioned alongside the sides of the existing top course of bricks, whilst the three battens above each bottom batten 17 are positioned above the existing brickwork ready for new bricks to be laid as indicated by the lie of the battens.

In Figure 5 the brickwork has been built-up alongside the template in a staggered arrangement alongside the three pairs of battens 14,15,16 of each flank. The top brick 200 is positioned against the pair of top battens 14 by pushing into the junction between the flanks to define the vertical extension of the corner of the quoin. If bricks of a size in accordance with which the template is made are used, this will also align the exposed end face 201 of the brick with the end face 202 of the top batten 14. The next layer down consists of two bricks in the corner.

One brick is arranged with its end face 203 aligned with an end face 204 of the corresponding upper middle batten 15 of the second flank 12. The brick opposite the first flank 11 which defines the edge of the corner is positioned so that it is up against the junction of the template. This will align the end face 205 of a suitable brick with the end face 206 of the corresponding topmost batten 14 of the first flank 11.

In the next layer down of new bricks, the outermost brick opposite the second flank 12 is aligned with an end face 207 of a corresponding lower middle batten 16 and the outermost brick on the first flank 11, has its end face 208 aligned with the vertical notch 20 in the lower middle batten 16. Of course, the partially obscured brick in the corner at the level is also aligned with the junction of the template to provide an accurate corner.

In Figure 6 a tingle plate 300 and bricklayers line 301 is held against the formed corner piece to align further bricks to make up the flat wall 100 or 101 extending from the corner. The brickwork structure could, for example, be a rectangle and the four corner pieces would then each be built-up by joining the line 301 between adjacent corner pieces constructed in accordance with the invention. Normally, after laying bricks all around to a common height, the-template can be used again to build-up each corner piece to a new height and thereby the process can be repeated to build up the brickwork further. In this regard the invention is substantially complementary to existing bricklaying practice but makes the otherwise skilled job of contructing the quoins considerably easier.

Figures 7 to 10 illustrate a modified embodiment of the template of Figures 1 to 6.

Figures 7 and 8 show part of a batten 400, corresponding to one of the battens 14, 15, 16, 17 of Figures 1 to 6. The batten 400 is provided with a cleat 401 and is formed with a guide groove 402. The cleat 401 is located on the face opposite the brick engaging face 403 of the batten 400. The groove 402 includes a longitudinally extending guide recess 404, adjacent the brick engaging face 403, and a lateral slot 406 in the guide member. The cleat 401 and the groove 402 are arranged so that a bricklayer's line 405 can be fastened to the cleat, to pass along the recess 404 at the level of a brick course to be laid. In the event that two templates are used on adjacent corners the line 405 can be connected between respective cleats to provide a continuous line to which the bricklayer can work between corners.

As shown in Figure 9, this modified embodiment of the template includes a pair of overcentre clamps 410 which each includes a lever 411 pivotably connected to each of the longest lowermost battens 400 of the template by a hinge 412. Each clamp includes a clamping element 413 which is arranged to be releasably coupled to its lever 411 by means of a removable peg 414. Each clamping element is in the form of a sprung member made up of a first portion 416, of uniform lateral section, arranged to extend laterally across a brick course, and a second portion 417 comprising a 'U' shaped sprung member 418 attached at one upper end to the first portion 416 of the element. Rotation of the lever 411 about its pivot moves the position of the pivot of the clamp element 413 further away from the brickwork. This tensions the U-shaped member as it engages the face of the brickwork opposite the guide member and holds the guide member firmly in position.

It will be appreciated that the spring serves to accomodate variations in brick sizes. Any spring arrangement could be used and could be incorporated in the lever, the guide member or any related item so that the resilient clamping is effected.

The modified template retains the ledge 19 of the embodiment of Figures 1 to 6, but, in addition, each lowermost batten 400 includes a sprung ledge spaced from the ledge 19. Each sprung ledge comprises a generally 'L' shaped pin received in a bore in the guide member. The pin is pivotable about a vertical axis of the bore and biassed to a position in which it is held against the guide member by a spring. In this position the ledge is arranged to maintain its associated guide member level with the top of an existing brick on which it is mounted. When the template is removed from wet brickwork the sprung ledges, over which brickwork has now been laid, hold the associated guide member in place while allowing it to be moved substantially without it disturbing the brickwork to which it was clamped.

To use the modified template, it is first positioned on top of the existing brickwork with the corner ledge 19 on the corner defined by the existing brick and the two sprung ledges resting on the respective walls 100. The spirit levels 22, 23 can then be used to measure and adjust the position of the template, to be vertical, against or with the action of the biassing springs before actuating the overcentre levers 411 to clamp to lock the template in position.

The brickwork quoin is thereafter built up against the template. The bricklayer's line 405 can be used to align the flat brickwork. When the quoin is sufficiently built up, the two clamp levers 411 can be rotated about the hinge 412 so that the 'U' shaped member 418 is no longer under clamping tension, the clamping element taking up the position 413 shown in dotted lines in Figure 9. At that stage an axial movement of the peg 414 decouples the lever 411 and clamping element 413 to permit removal of the template from the quoin.

If desired, brickwork could be laid directly on top of the clamping elements 413 of the template whilst in position, and the clamping elements could thereafter be removed by pulling on the 'U' shaped member 418 to effect removal through the mortar region of the brickwork.

It will be appreciated that the template can be constructed to be mounted against the inner instead of the outer face of the brickwork to define the quoin illustrated herein.

Claims (22)

CLAIMS:

1. A brickwork quoin template comprising at least two elongate members secured together towards respective ends thereof, the template, in use, being positionable to define the shape of a brickwork quoin, each guide member having associated with it mounting means by which the template is mountable on brickwork in a quoin defining position.

2. A template as claimed in claim 1 in which the at least two elongate members are longer than the length of a brick.

3. A template as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which pluralities of guide members together define a flank of the template, respective members from each flank being secured together.

4. A template as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 in which each member is dimensioned and/or positioned to constitute a guide for a brick course.

5. A template as claimed in any preceding claim including means for indicating the orientation of the template with respect to a predetermined datum.

6. A template as claimed in claim 5 in which the indicating means are a spirit level or plumb line.

7. A template as claimed in any preceding claim in which the mounting means include clamping means arranged to clamp the guide members to an existing brick course.

8. A template as claimed in any preceding claim in which the mounting means include at least one ledge projecting from at least one guide member by which the template is mountable on an existing brick course.

9. A template as claimed in claim 8 in which the position of the ledge is adjustable in relation to its associated guide member.

10. A template as claimed in claim 9 in which biassing means bias the ledge to a position level with the top surface of the associated guide member.

11. A template as claimed in claim 9 or 10 in which the ledge is movable between a retracted position and a brick course mounting position.

12. A template as claimed in any preceding claim in which an inner surface of the guide members is provided with indicia indicating the spacing of bricks.

13. A template as claimed in claim 8 including a ledge projecting from the internal corner defined by the template.

14. A template as claimed in claim 7 in which the clamping means comprise a resilient jaw having a shank and a brick course engaging portion, the brick course engaging portion being arranged to engage the side of a brick remote from that against which, in use, the template is mounted, the shank being adapted for securement to the guide member.

15. A template as claimed in claim 14 in which the lateral section of the shank is uniform.

16. A template as claimed in claim 15 in which the shank of the jaw is secured to an overcentre including a lever acting about a first pivot, the lever being attached to the guide member by means of a second pivot, the overcentre being movable about the first pivot between jaw tensioning and releasing positions.

17. A template as claimed in claim 16 in which the shank is releasable from the guide member.

18. A template as claimed in claim 17 in which the second pivot comprises a removable pin.

19. A method of building a brickwork quoin, the method comprising the steps of positioning a template to define a brickwork quoin to be built, the template comprising guide faces defining the shape of the quoin and laying a course or courses of bricks substantially parallel to the guide faces.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19 in which the template is as claimed in any of claims 1 to 18.

21. A template substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 6 or 7 to 10 of the accompanying drawings.

22. A method of building a brickwork quoin substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 6 or 7 to 10 of the accompanying drawings.