US3039195A - Adjustable masonry line block - Google Patents

Description

June 19, 1962 A. J. LITTY ADJUSTABLE MASONRY LINE BLOCK Filed Dec. 3, 1958 FIG. I

INVENTOR.

ANTHONY J. LITTY BY United States Patent 0."

Filed Dec. 3, 1958, Ser. No. 777,917 1 Claim. (Cl. 33-85) This invention relates to masons line holders whereby a line used as a guide in laying brick and building blocks is retained taut, and in particular a pair of clamps, each including a pair of sections slidably connected to provide a bar and with each section having a depending flange at the end with a thumb screw threaded in the flange of one section to provide a C-clamp and in which line retaining means is provided on the flange of the other section, whereby with a pair of the holders clamped in position on previously laid end bricks or blocks a line extended between the holders is retained in tension as intermediate bricks or blocks are laid.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a masons line holder that is formed to be clamped in position on the upper edge of a wall, and that is readily adjustable to walls of different thicknesses.

Various types of supports have been provided for lines used as guides to facilitate laying brick and building blocks and substantially all of such supports are adjustable for walls of different sizes; however, in the most common of such supports adjusting screws are provided in the ends, and where one wall is six inches wide and another twelve inches wide the adjusting screws are not sufficient, and when supports are formed with two L-shaped elements slidably connected by screws or bolts it is necessary to hold the elements tight against the sides of, the bricks or blocks with one hand as the screws or bolts are tightened with the other. Such devices, therefore, are not universally used.

With this thought in mind this invention contemplates a clamp including two L-shaped elements with a tongue of one element slidably mounted in a socket of the other element and secured in adjusted positions in the socket by a thumb screw and in which extended ends of both elements are provided with depending flanges that grip side surfaces of bricks or blocks for securing a masons line in position on a wall.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide a masons line supporting clamp that is readily adjusted to walls of different sizes and that is rigidly clamped in position on a wall.

Another object of the invention is to provide a masons line holder that is readily secured in position on bricks or blocks of a wall.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a holder for a masons line which is rigidly clamped in position so that the line does not become slack in use.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a masons line holder in which the holder is first clamped to a brick or block and after being secured in position a line is attached thereto.

A further object of the invention is to provide a line block that is secured in position on a wall without Wrenches, screw drivers or other tools.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a masons line holder or line block that is readily adjustable to walls of different thicknesses and that is clamped in position by a thumb screw in which the device is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies an elongated plate having a socket on one side and a flange extended from the opposite end, a bar slidable in the socket and having a flange on the extended end, a thumb screw threaded in the socket and positioned to grip the bar therein, a thumb screw threaded Patented June 19, 1 962 in the flange of the bar and positioned to clamp the holder on a brick, block, or wall, and a pair of diverging rods on the face of the flange of the plate for holding an end of a line.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view showing the im-' proved line block or masons line holder.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view illustrating the masons line holder as used upon a cement or cinder block wall.

While one embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the above-referred-to drawings, it is to be understood that they are merely for the purpose of illustration, and that various changes in construction may be resorted'to in the course of manufacture in order that the invention may be utilized to the best advantage according to circumstances which may arise, without in any manner departing from the spirit and intention of the device, which is to be limited only in accordance with the appended claims. And while there is stated the primary field of utility of the invention, it remains obvious that it may be employed in any other capacity wherein it may be found applicable.

In the accompanying drawings and in the following specification the same reference characters are used to designate the same parts and elements throughout, and in which the numeral 10 refers to the invention in its entirety, numeral 12 indicating a flat bar or plate having a block '14 on one end and a flange 16 depending from the opposite end, numeral 18 indicating a tongue or square bar slid-able in a socket 2G in the block 14 and having a flange 22 depending from the extended end, numeral 24 an adjusting screw for clamping the device upon a brick, block, or wall, numeral 26 a thumb screw threaded in the block 14 and positioned to engage the bar 18 for securing the elements in adjusted positions, numeral 28 a spacer secured to the inner surface of the flange 16 and spaced downwardly from the upper end to provide a groove 30 for receiving a line 32, and numerals 34 and 36 ends of a rod 38 secured to the outer surface of the flange 16 to provide means for tying a line to the flange.

The adjusting screw 24 is threaded in the flange 22., and the inner end is provided with a friction washer 40 that is positioned to grip the surface of a wall or block with the parts positioned as shown in FIGURE 2. The outer end of the adjusting screw 24 is provided with a bar 42 to facilitate turning the screw. The thumb screw 26 is also provided with a bar 44 to facilitate gripping the screw for locking the parts in adjusted positions.

The spacer 28 is formed by a plate, the thickness of which is slightly more than the diameter of a masons line, and the plate is secured to the inner surface of the flange 16 by welding or the like. The rod 38 is also secured to the outer surface of the flange by welding or the like.

Operation With the parts assembled as illustrated and described the holder is positioned on the upper edge, of a wall, or on bricks, blocks, or the like previously placed on ends of a wall and with the flanges adjusted to be extended over a wall as shown in the drawing, the screw 26 is actuated to grip the bar 18 and the screw 24 actuated to clamp the device on the wall. With the line holder clamped in position a line is threaded through the groove 30 at the upper end of the spacer 28 and the end of the line is secured to the bar or rod 38.

The line holder is rigidly clamped in position whereby the line remains taut continuously as bricks or bloc-ks are laid on the wall. The device is readily removed and positioned on an upper layer as construction of a wall progresses.

From the foregoing specification it will become apparent that the invention disclosed will adequately accomplish the functions for which it has been designed and in an economical manner, and that its simplicity, accuracy, and ease of operation are such as to provide a relatively inexpensive device, considering what it will accomplish, and that it will -find an important place in the art to which it appertains when once placed on the market.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the description in connection with the drawings. Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Changes in shape, size, and arrangement of details and parts such as come within the purview of the invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

Having now described the invention that which is claimed to be new and desired to be procured by Letters Patent is:

In a masonry line holder, the combination which comprises a flat bar of rigid construction having a block integral with and extended upwardly from one end and having an integral flange depending from the opposite end, the flange being positioned to engage the surface of a wall with the flat bar resting upon the upper surface of the wall, said block being substantially square in crosssection and having an opening therein of similar configuration contiguous with the upper surface of said flat bar, a second bar substantially square in cross-section of rigid construction and having a depending flange integral with one end extended through the opening of the block, said second bar being positioned in contactual sliding relation with said flat bar whereby the depending flange on said second bar is parallel to the surface of the wall upon the upper surface of which the flat bar is positioned, an adjusting screw threaded in the flange depending from an end of said second bar, a thumb screw threaded in the upper portion of the block and positioned to engage and clamp said second bar in the block, a spacer positioned on the inner surface of the flange depending from the flat bar, the upper edge of the spacer being spaced downwardly from the under surface of the flat bar providing a line receiving groove at the intersection of the flat bar and flange depending therefrom, and a rod having outwardly extended ends providing means for tying a masons line to the holder extended from the outer surface of the flange depending from said flat bar.

Cordier Oct. 15, 1957

Images