BRICKLAYERS PILLAR BUILDER

Abstract

A jig arrangement and method of using a jig arrangement for assisting a bricklayer in constructing a brick pillar or column in which the jig has two main subassemblies. The first of the subassemblies comprises four corner members alternately arranged with four side elements to form a square which can be adjusted in size to the size of the cross-section of the pillar for use in forming a perfect square from the base layer of bricks by defining the boundary of the square of bricks by simply locating the bricks within the square frame. The second subassembly is adjustable length extension members which are fitted to the square frame by adjustable legs at each corner for forming the boundary of the sides of the pillar as successive layers of bricks are layed. A second square frame is located at or towards the top of the extension members to form an open parallelepiped framework which is used to form a perfectly square pillar by the bricklayer laying bricks on top of the base layer within the open framework until the height of the pillar has been attained.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of one form of the adjustable guide frame in the form of a square forming part of the jig arrangement of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top side perspective view of one form of the jig arrangement of the present invention showing two adjustable squares guide frames at the upper and lower ends of the jig separated by four spaced apart extension members.

FIG. 3 is a top side perspective view of one form of a wall having a brick pillar at either end formed within respective jigs located at either end of the wall.

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of a modified configuration of the jig of the present invention for forming two spaced apart pillars prior to forming an infill panel between the pillars.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the line holder shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the magnetic bubble level of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIG. 1 there is shown one embodiment of the adjustable guide frame forming a lower part in use of the jig of the present invention, generally denoted as 2, in the form of an adjustable square guide frame, generally denoted as 10. In the form illustrated, the guide frame 10, which in one form can be regarded as a lower guide frame, includes four corner members 12, each corner member 12 having a pair of arms 14, 16 fixedly arranged substantially perpendicularly to each other to extend outwardly from each other substantially at right angles. One form of corner member 12 is hollow and is preferably made of a square section hollow tube. Apertures are located at selected spaced apart locations in the walls of the square section tubular corner member 12 for receiving therein a suitable fastener. In one form the fastener is a threaded bolt having an enlarged hexagonal head 18.

The adjustable square guide frame 10 includes four side members 20 located intermediate the four corner members 12 so as to form the square. In one form, the side member 20 is a tube, preferably a square section tube and more preferably having external dimensions of a smaller size than the internal dimensions of the arms 14,16 of hollow corner member 12 so that the side members 20 can be received in the hollow arms 14,16 to connect the side members and corner members. Therefore, when the four corner members 12 and four side members 20 are alternately arranged with respect to each other in a continuous loop they form a square or rectangle. As the ends of the side elements are received telescopically within the arms, moving the corner members 12 closer together or further apart on side members 20 alters the size of the guide frame to correspond to the cross-sectional dimensions of the brick pillar. When the guide frame 10 is at the required size the fasteners are tightened within the corresponding apertures to maintain the guide frame in the desired position.

With particular reference to FIG. 2, another part of the jig 2 of the present invention will now be described. This other part can be regarded as an upper part. This upper part in use of the jig 2 includes a tubular leg portion 30 which is adjustably attached to the inner side of the corner member 12, preferably to the apex of the corner member where the two side arms 14,16 join forming a right angle so that leg 30 is supported on two sides by the arms 14,16 which assist in maintaining the legs in position. The leg 30 is oriented so that it extends perpendicularly from the arm of the corner member, preferably extending vertically upwards from the arm when the guide frame 10 is horizontal. Preferably, the leg has a square section.

The other part of the upper part of jig 2 also includes one or more extension members 32. The extension members are usually identical and can be used interchangeably. One extension member will now be described. The extension member 32 is also preferably of a square section shape having internal dimensions slightly larger than the external dimensions of leg 30 so that leg 30 can be received within extension member 32 in order to attach the extension member to the corner member 12 and hence to the guide frame.

Typically, there are four extension members mounted over four leg portions located at each of the internal corners of the guide frame.

Suitable fasteners, such as for example, threaded bolts are received through threaded apertures or bores located at selected locations along side arms 14,16, legs 30 and extension member 32, to allow the size and shape of the guide frame 10 and jig 2 to be adjusted and maintained to suit the size and shape of the brick pillar being constructed.

Extension member 32 can have any suitable shape, cross-section, configuration, or be of any suitable type. In one form, the extension member has an elongate groove, channel, slot 34 or similar extending lengthwise along the extension member 32. Slot 34 forms a track for receiving therein a line holder 36 which in use can travel along track 34.

In one form, line holder 36 as shown more particularly in FIG. 5, comprises a shaft 38 located within a spring 40 for outwardly biasing the line holder. Line holder 36 has a knob 42 for gripping to push shaft 38 against the bias of spring 40 to retract the line holder into slot 34 by releasing a slider or similar, thereby allowing the line holder to move axially along extension member 32 to adjust the position of a string line attached to the line holder. A pointer 44 is provided on one side of the line holder 36 to show the approximate position for the string line.

An upper guide frame 10, similar to lower guide frame 10, also comprising four corner members 12 and four side members 20 is located at or towards the upper end of the four upright extension members 32 in use so as to complete the jig 2 for defining the size and shape of the brick pillar which can be built within the confines of the jig 2 as will be described later.

The upright extension members 32 are arranged to extend to about the height of the pillar being built. However, it is to be noted that there is some flexibility in the length of the extension member as compared to the height of the pillar.

With particular reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, when building a fence, generally denoted as 50, with a brick pillar 52,54 at either end, two jig arrangements 2 are used, one located at either end of the wall to form the respective pillars 52,54 at each end.

Alternatively, a modified version of the jig arrangement 2 of the present invention can be used to form a brick pillar 52,54 or similar, as shown more particularly in FIG. 4, in which the guide frame is not a fully enclosed guide frame in the form of a continuous loop surrounding the brick pillar but rather is a partial frame extending around one or two sides only of the pillar as shown in FIG. 4. This modified form allows the fence to be constructed simultaneously with the pillars rather than after the pillars have been completed and the guide frames removed from the respective pillars which is necessary if jig 2 shown in FIG. 2 is used as an aid to assist the bricklayer to build the pillars.

In use of the present invention when it is desired to build a brick pillar or similar the site of the pillar is selected and the guide frame 10 assembled from four corner members 12 and four side members 20 to form a square or rectangle for defining the external dimensions of the brick pillar. The guide frame is located on the surface of the ground or on a concrete slab or other suitable foundations to form an outline of the base layer of bricks. If necessary the frame will need to be levelled such as by providing shims or similar between the existing uneven ground level and the under surface of the guide frame or by providing an in-fill underneath one or more parts of the frame so that it is level and horizontal. The guide frame can then be used to form the base layer or first course of bricks.

Optionally, one or more of the corner members 12 is provided with a level as shown in FIG. 6, such as for example, a spirit level or a magnetic bubble level 60 to ensure that the frame is level and horizontal. The presence of the magnetic bubble level allows the guide frame to be quickly levelled prior to use in guiding the building of the pillar.

The four legs 30 are then mounted to the internal corners of the four corner members 12 of the guide frame 10 to project upwardly from the corners of the guide frame to define the corner edges of the brick pillar as it is being constructed.

The upright extension members 32 are then located on the four upwardly projecting legs 30. Upper guide frame 10 is then located around the four upper ends of the upright extensions 32 to form an essentially open framework or jig of a generally parallelepiped shape as shown more particularly in FIG. 2. The first course of bricks 62 is then layed between the lower guide frame 10 using the guide frame or an optional string line or mason's line arranged between the frame of the upright members or a combination of both. The next layer of bricks 64 is then formed between the upright extension members 32 on top of the base layer 62 perfectly in alignment with the base layer and defined within the boundaries of the jig 2.

The next layer of bricks 66 is formed on the second layer 64 also in accordance with the shape and profile of the pillar as defined between the extension members and the guide frame. The laying of courses of bricks one upon the other is repeated until the pillar is complete. Each successive layer is then formed on the existing layer until the brick pillar is formed.

By using the guide frame 10 to form the first layer of bricks 62 into a perfect square or similar, each successive layer 64, 66 of bricks is aligned with the first layer 62 by the extension members 32 so as to form successive perfect squares of bricks one on top of the other all the way up until the required height of the pillar is attained.

Modifications of the present invention include the use of an optional magnetic level bubble 60 that can be placed on each of the four corner members 12 forming the guide frame 10 to make it easy to level the guide frame 10 when plumbing the upright extensions.

A further modification includes an optional line holder 36 which makes it easy to use a string line whilst laying bricks, particularly bricks in a single layer which overcomes the need to use a level at each brick to ensure that it is aligned.

In one embodiment the legs 30 are adjustable to extend lower than the level of the guide frame 10 to engage the uneven ground surface located beneath the frame. By adjusting each leg 30 in turn the jig 2 can be supported whilst the frame remains level.

Once the pillar 52, 54 has been formed and is complete, the jig arrangement 2 of the present invention can be loosened and dismantled, and the individual component pieces cleaned ready for reuse in building another brick pillar.

Another use of the jig 2 of the present invention is a jig for use in constructing an infill panel wall as shown more particularly in FIG. 4. In this application the component pieces of the jig arrangement can be pulled apart and refixed together to assist in constructing an infill panel brick wall in between two spaced apart pillars 52, 54 which have been previously constructed. The adjustable guide frame 10 is modified from the normal in use configuration in the form of a square for surrounding the brick pillar into an ingenious clamp ‘C’ shaped for attaching to one full side and two part sides of the brick pillar as shown in FIG. 4. A string line 70 can be attached to blocks 72 provided on extension members 32 to provide a level for building up successive courses of bricks to form the infill panel wall.

In another application of the present invention a full fence comprising pillars and infill panel can be constructed at the same time. By simply adding extension members onto the uprights the bricklayer is able to string a line for the pillars and infill panel at the same time which allows the wall to be constructed simultaneously with the pillars.

ADVANTAGES OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Advantages of the present invention include that the jig arrangement can be disassembled and reassembled in different configurations to suit the particular pillar or wall or fence being constructed in order to build the infill panel walls in between the pillars and also to build a complete fence comprising pillars and infill panel walls at the same time by simply adding four extension members to the frame.

The present invention allows many different operations to be performed, such as for example, to lay a perfect base square of bricks of the desired size, to build a perfect pillar of the desired size, to build an infill panel wall between two existing pillars, to build the pillars and infill panel walls simultaneously, to reduce strain on the back while building, to enable the use of a spring loaded line holder to form a spring line to assist in construction of the pillar, or fence or both. The components can be assembled in a number of different ways so that a single jig only is required to build a wide variety of pillars and/or fences and/or walls depending upon their sizes and shapes so that only one set of components of the jig is required.

The jig arrangement of the present invention can be sold in packs, separately or in pieces.

The components forming the jig of the present invention can be easily removed and cleaned and then placed in the next position to frame the next base.

Using the jig of the present invention allows the construction of a brick pillar to occur more quickly since the jig defines the position where the bricks will be located to achieve a ‘squared’ pillar.

The use of the jig allows less experienced bricklayers to construct good quality pillars since the jig can be used by the bricklayer to position the bricks.

The described arrangement has been advanced by explanation and many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention which includes every novel feature and novel combination of features herein disclosed.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. It is understood that the invention includes all such variations and modifications which fall within the spirit and scope.

Claims

1. A modular jig arrangement to provide assistance in the formation of a construction of a prearranged shape having a lower portion comprising a first corner member having a first profile for use in forming at least one part of one corner of the construction in accordance with the first profile, said first corner member extending in at least one first direction corresponding to one of the directions in which the at least one part of the corner is required to extend, and the second corner member having a first profile for use in forming at least one part of a second corner of the construction in accordance with the first profile, second corner member extending in at least another first direction corresponding to another of the directions in which the second corner is required to extend, wherein the at least one first direction is arranged to extend either substantially perpendicularly to or in the opposite direction to the at least another first direction thereby allowing the two corner members to be joined together either directly or indirectly to form at least a part of the modular jig for joining the lower portion of the construction.

2. A modular jig arrangement according to claim 1 to provide assistance in the formation of a masonry construction of a pre-arranged shape having at least two sections, in which the first section is a lower portion and the second section includes one or more upper portions located on the lower portion wherein the upper portions are required to be located in alignment with lower portion, said jig arrangement comprising at least one corner member having a first profile for use in forming at least one part of one corner of the lower portion of the construction in accordance with the first profile, said corner member extending in at least one first direction corresponding to one of the directions in which the at least one part of the one corner is required to extend, at least one leg member capable of being adjustably connected to the at least one corner member to extend from the corner member in a second direction, the second direction being a different direction to the at least one first direction of the corner and said second direction being associated with one of the directions required of a part of the upper portion of the construction, and at least one extension member capable of being adjustably connected to the leg member so as to be capable of extending from the corner member in alignment with the leg member in the second direction to form part of a second profile to assist in forming the upper portion of the construction in accordance with the second profile, wherein when the upper portion is formed in accordance with the second profile, the upper portion is aligned with the lower portion of the construction so that the second section of the construction is aligned with the first section of the construction thereby forming the construction into the form of the prearranged shape.

3. A modular jig arrangement according to claim 2 to provide assistance in the formation of a masonry construction of individual brick and/or blocks in the form of a pillar having a pre-arranged shape including at least two sections in which the first section is a lower portion and the second section includes one or more upper portions located on the lower portion wherein the upper portions are required to be located in alignment with the lower portion to form the pillar, said jig arrangement comprising at least one corner member having two arms arranged in a first profile formed by the two arms for use in forming at least one part of one corner of the lower portion of the construction in accordance with the first profile, said arms of the corner member extending in two different first directions corresponding to the two directions in which the at least one part of the one corner of the lower profile of the construction is required to extend in order to form the lower portion of the construction,at least one leg member capable of being adjustably connected to one of the arms of the corner member to extend from the corner member in a second direction, the second direction being a different direction to the two directions in which the two arms of the corner member extend and said second direction being associated with one of the directions required of a part of the upper portion of the construction when forming the construction,and at least one extension member capable of being adjustably connected to the leg member so as to be capable of being positioned to extend from one of the arms of the corner member in alignment with the leg member in the second direction to form part of a second profile to assist in forming the upper portion of the construction in accordance with the second profile,wherein when the upper portion of the construction is formed in accordance with the second profile the upper portion is aligned with the lower portion of the construction so that the second section of the construction is aligned with the first section of the construction thereby forming the construction into the form of the pre-arranged shape.

4. A modular jig arrangement according to claim 2 in which the at least one leg member facilitates location of the extension member with respect to the corner member to enable the extension member to adopt the second profile to form the second section in alignment with the first section extending in the second direction.

5. A modular jig arrangement according to claim 2 in which the second profile formed by the extension member extends from the corner member in the second direction to a length which is at least as great as the combined length of the upper portions of the construction forming the second section to allow all of the upper portions to be formed in alignment with the lower portion in accordance with the second profile.

6. A modular jig arrangement according to claim 2 in which the at least one corner member associated with the lower portion of the construction is connected to one end of the extension member by the at least one leg member and a second at least one corner member associated with the upper portion of the construction is connected to the other end of the extension member wherein the leg member is adjustable so that the extension member is located substantially perpendicularly to the corner member.

7. A modular jig arrangement according to claim 2 in which the second profile comprises two, three, four or more individual extension members interconnected together at one end by two, three, four or more interconnected corner members and at the other end by two, three, four or more second corner members interconnected together in which the first profile formed by the first corner member corresponds to the profile of the second corner members thereby allowing the construction to be formed from the lower portion associated with corner members to the upper portions associated with the second corner members in accordance with the second profile formed by the extension members.

8. A modular jig arrangement according to claim 1 for use in constructing a brick pillar having two sections in which the first section is a lower portion including the base layer of bricks or first layer of bricks and a second section including one or more upper portions which are the second and successive layers of bricks located one upon the other which are laid upon the base layer or first layer to form the brick pillar.

9. A modular jig arrangement according to claim 1 in which the corner member is provided with two arms arranged to extend outwardly at right angles to each other to form the first profile.

10. A modular jig arrangement according to claim 1 in which the first profile includes the two sides of the first layer of bricks extending to form the sides of the pillar in the horizontal directions corresponding to the width and length of the pillar.

11. A modular jig arrangement according to claim 1 in which the extension member is arranged to extend substantially perpendicularly to the plane containing the corner members.

12. A modular jig arrangement according to claim 1 in which the extension member is an upright member defining the second profile which corresponds to the height of the brick pillar and conforms to the shape of the first layer of bricks defining the side dimensions of the pillar.

13. A modular jig arrangement according to claim 1 in which the corner members are connected to side elements telescopically received within two adjacent corner members for altering the length of the sides of the brick pillar.

14. A modular jig arrangement according to claim 1 in which the guide frame further comprises a marker, ruler, or indicator for use in determining the size of the brick pillar being constructed.

15. A modular jig arrangement according to claim 1 in which the guide frame is provided with a level indicator, such as for example a spirit level, a magnetic bubble level or similar to ensure that the guide frame is level and horizontal in use.

16. A modular jig arrangement according to claim 1 in which the extension member is provided with a track for receiving an adjustable line holder which is movable along the length of the extension member within the track to adjust the position of a string line to correspond to the layer of bricks being layed.

17. A modular jig arrangement according to claim 1 in which the leg portions are adjustable to extend below the plane of the guide frame to accommodate location of the guide frame on uneven ground in a level condition enabling the first layer of bricks to be formed.

18. A modular jig arrangement according to claim 1 in which the line holder is movable between an at rest position for maintaining the position of the line holder with respect to the extension member and a movable position in which the line holder is retracted to allow the line holder to travel along the track provided in the extension member to adjust the position of the string line in accordance with the course of bricks to be layed.

19. A modular jig arrangement according to claim 18 in which the line holder is biased to adapt the at rest position by a suitable biasing element, preferably a string.

20. A method of constructing a masonry construction having a predetermined shape from individual masonry pieces comprising the steps of forming a frame guide comprising corner members alternately arranged with side members,adjusting the guide frame in accordance with the dimensions of the masonry construction,locating the frame guide at a location where the masonry construction is to be constructed,attaching extension members to the corner members to form a jig arrangement in which the extension members extend outwardly from the plane containing the corner members and side members,forming a first layer or base course of masonry pieces within the guide frame,using the extension members to accurately position the first layer and subsequent layers of masonry pieces in alignment with the first layer thereby forming the masonry construction having the predetermined shape.