MASONRY SPACER TOOL AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME

Abstract

A masonry spacer tool that provides a specified separation between bricks mortared in a masonry construction. The masonry spacer tool includes at least two elongate forked prongs to support adjacent ends of a preceding brick and a subsequent brick in a masonry course. A handle end provides a suitable grip for extracting the spacing tool and has arms that provide support to the forked prongs to maintain their alignment during use.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to masonry, and more particularly to apparatus and methods of achieving a desired spacing for bricks and masonry construction.

In the masonry arts, when laying or placing bricks it is important that the bricks have a uniform spacing to ensure proper alignment and spacing of the course of bricks and the mortar utilized to set the bricks.

Historically, achieving the optimal spacing of a brick and a course of bricks was largely dependent on the skill and experience of the mason. More recently, spacers have been utilized. However, these spacers are generally disposable and may lack sufficient visual indicia for alignment of the spacer when placing a brick and a suitable means for removing the spacer once the brick has been mortared in place.

As can be seen, there is a need for an improved masonry spacer tool and method of suing the same.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a masonry spacer tool is disclosed. The masonry spacer tool includes an elongate forked member having a plurality of prongs disposed in a spaced apart relation at a first end of the elongate forked member. Each of the plurality of prongs having a vertical height corresponding to a specified spacing for a mortar binding composition for setting a plurality of bricks. A handle is disposed at a second end of the elongate forked member.

In some embodiments, the handle also includes a base member and a pair of arms extending from the base member. The arms are disposed at a width that is slightly greater than that of the elongate forked member. In some embodiments, the arms overlap a terminal end of the plurality of prongs.

In other embodiments, a weld joins the arms to a lateral aspect of the plurality of prongs. The spaced apart relation is such that a first prong is disposed to support a first brick and a second prong is disposed to support a second brick, when the second brick is positioned adjacent to the first brick.

The plurality of prongs may have a length corresponding to a width of a supported brick. Preferably, the length of the prongs is about 10 inches. Each of the prongs have a narrow thickness to facilitate extraction of the prongs from the mortar. The prongs may be formed of a metallic rod or a metallic plate.

In other aspects of the invention, a method of laying bricks with a mortar bonding composition is disclosed. The method includes laying a first course of bricks with the mortar bonding material. A masonry spacer tool is placed atop a subjacent brick in the first course of bricks. The masonry spacer tool includes an elongate forked member having a plurality of prongs disposed in a spaced apart relation at a first end of the elongate forked member. Each of the plurality of prongs has a vertical height corresponding to a specified spacing for the mortar bonding composition. A handle is disposed at a second end of the elongate forked member. The masonry spacer tool is placed supporting an end of a first brick on a first prong of the masonry spacer tool.

In subsequent method steps, a first end of a subsequent brick is supported on a second prong of the masonry spacer tool.

A second masonry spacer tool is placed atop the subjacent brick in the first course of bricks. A second end of the subsequent brick is supported on a first prong of the second masonry spacer tool. The mortar binding composition is applied between the each of the subjacent brick, the first brick, and the second brick.

The handle of the masonry spacer tool may be pulled from between the bricks when the mortar binding composition is at least partially cured.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a masonry spacer tool according to aspects of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the masonry spacer tool according to aspects of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the masonry spacer tool.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the masonry spacer tool in use in placement of a brick.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the masonry spacer tool in use to lay a course of bricks.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention.

Broadly, embodiments of the present invention provide a masonry spacer tool and a method of using the same. The masonry spacer tool is configured to ensure a proper spacing for a course of bricks, is readily removable, and provides visual indicia for proper placement and alignment of the spacer tool.

As seen in reference to the drawings of FIGS. 1-3, the masonry spacer tool 10 includes an elongate forked member having a vertical thickness T corresponding to a specified spacing for a mortar binding composition for setting the bricks. By way of non-limiting example, the vertical height H may be ⅜ of an inch to obtain a specified ⅜ inch mortar bond for a desired masonry construction. A first end of the spacer tool has at least two prongs 12 disposed in a forked configuration, wherein a first prong 12 supports a first brick 34 and a second prong 12 supports a second brick, or subsequent brick 36, positioned adjacent to the first brick 34. The prongs 12 are disposed in a spaced apart relation, having a width W, preferably about 3″, in order to provide a sufficient spacing so that the masonry spacing tool 10 need not be placed with precision between the first brick 34 and the second brick 36. Typically, the masonry spacing tool 10 is placed at a mid point of a subjacent brick 32 upon which each of the first brick 34 and the subsequent brick 36 are partially supported.

Preferably the prongs 12 have a length L of about 10″, permitting them to be placed across a width W of a conventional cinder block to provide support for the brick across its width W to prevent potential vertical misalignment of the brick. The length L of the prongs 12 also facilitates alignment and placement of the masonry spacer tool 10 by providing a visual indicia for the mason to square with a length l of the brick. The prongs 12 may also be provided with a narrow thickness T to facilitate extraction and minimize the amount of mortar tucking to close voids in the mortar after extraction.

A second end of the spacer tool 10 has a reinforcing handle 15. The handle 15 may have a same thickness as the first end of the spacer tool 10. The handle 15 has a width W that is slightly greater than that of the elongate forked member 12. Arms 18 of the handle 15 extend from a base member 16. In some embodiments, the arms 18 overlap a terminal portion 14 of the prongs 12 proximal to the second end of the elongate forked member. The arms 18 are joined to an outer edge of the prongs 12 to provide support for the prongs 12 to maintain their parallel alignment and resist being bent outwardly or inwardly during use. The handle 15 is defined by the spacing between the base member 16 and the terminal portion 14 of the elongate forked member.

The masonry spacer tool 10 may be readily formed from an elongate metal rod or plate of the desired thickness. The rod may be bent at the second end to define the first and second prongs 12 of the fork. The reinforcing handle 15 may be similarly formed by a bent rod and the arms 18 may be joined to the terminal ends of the prongs 12 by one or more welds, bands, or clamps 20 at the lateral aspects of the prongs 12 and arms 18. The masonry spacer tool 10 may be powder coated or painted to limit the corrosive effects of the mortar on the metals and to facilitate removal of the spacer tool from between the masonry and the joining mortar.

Alternatively, the masonry spacer tool 10 may be molded of high strength plastics, nylon, or other durable and corrosion resistant materials that limit adherence of the mortar to an outer surface of the spacer tool 10. In this case, the arms 18 may be joined along the lateral aspects of the prongs 12 or be aligned coaxially therewith as an extension from the terminal portion 14.

As seen in reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the spacer tool 10 is placed atop an upper surface of a subjacent brick 32 in a lower course of bricks. An end of a first brick 34 is placed on top of the first prong 12 of the upper course of bricks. A second spacer tool 10′ is placed on top of a subsequent brick 32′ in the lower course of bricks. A subsequent brick 36 is placed so that a first end of the subsequent brick 36 is placed upon the second prong 12 of the initially placed fork 10 and a second end of the subsequent brick 36 is placed upon the first prong 12 of the second spacer tool 10′.

As will be appreciated, the joining mortar would be applied for adhering the bricks according to conventional mortar application techniques. After the mortar has had an opportunity to at least partially cure, the masonry spacer tool 10 may be grasped by the handle 16 and removed from the masonry construction. If necessary, the masonry spacer tools 10 may be rinsed or cleaned of any adhering mortar and collected for use in a subsequent masonry construction.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth herein.

Claims

1. A masonry spacer tool, comprising: an elongate forked member having a plurality of prongs disposed in a spaced apart relation at a first end of the elongate forked member, each of the plurality of prongs having a vertical height corresponding to a specified spacing for a mortar binding composition for setting a plurality of bricks; anda handle disposed at a second end of the elongate forked member.

2. The masonry spacer tool of claim 1, the handle further comprising: a base member and a pair of arms extending from the base member, the arms disposed at a width that is slightly greater than that of the elongate forked member.

3. The masonry spacer tool of claim 2, wherein the arms overlap a terminal end of the plurality of prongs.

4. The masonry spacer tool of claim 3, further comprising: a weld joining the arms to a lateral aspect of the plurality of prongs.

5. The masonry spacer tool of claim 1 wherein a first prong is disposed to support a first brick and a second prong is disposed to support a second brick, when the second brick is positioned adjacent to the first brick.

6. The masonry spacer tool of claim 1, wherein the plurality of prongs have a length corresponding a width a supported brick.

7. The masonry spacer tool of claim, 6 wherein the length of the prongs is about 10 inches.

8. The masonry spacer tool of claim 1, wherein the prongs have a narrow thickness to facilitate extraction of the prongs from the mortar.

9. The masonry spacer tool of claim 1, wherein the prongs are formed of one of a metallic rod or a metallic plate.

10. A method of laying bricks with a mortar bonding composition, comprising: laying a first course of bricks with the mortar bonding material;placing a masonry spacer tool atop a subjacent brick in the first course of bricks, the masonry spacer tool comprising: an elongate forked member having a plurality of prongs disposed in a spaced apart relation at a first end of the elongate forked member, each of the plurality of prongs having a vertical height corresponding to a specified spacing for the mortar bonding composition; anda handle disposed at a second end of the elongate forked member;supporting an end of a first brick on a first prong of the masonry spacer tool.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising: supporting a first end of a subsequent brick on a second prong of the masonry spacer tool.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: placing a second masonry spacer tool atop the subjacent brick in the first course of bricks; andsupporting a second end of the subsequent brick on a first prong of the second masonry spacer tool.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising: applying the mortar binding composition between the each of the subjacent brick, the first brick, and the second brick.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: pulling the handle of the masonry spacer tool when the mortar binding composition is at least partially cured.