BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
The following detailed description of specific embodiments of the present application can be best understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where like structure is indicated with like reference numerals and in which:
FIG. 1 is an illustration of a cross-sectional view of a masonry wall and multiple embodiments of mortar stoppers in accordance with one embodiment of the present application.
FIG. 2 is an illustration of a cross-sectional view of a mortar stopper inserted into a masonry wall in accordance with one embodiment of the present application.
FIG. 3 is an illustration of a cross-sectional view of a mortar stopper inserted into a masonry wall in accordance with one embodiment of the present application.
FIG. 4 is an illustration of a cross-sectional view of a mortar stopper in accordance with one embodiment of the present application.
FIG. 5 is an illustration of a cross-sectional view of a mortar stopper in accordance with one embodiment of the present application.
FIG. 6 is an illustration of a cross-sectional view of a mortar stopper inserted into a masonry wall in accordance with one embodiment of the present application.
FIG. 7 is an illustration of a cross-sectional view of a mortar stopper inserted into a masonry wall in accordance with one embodiment of the present application.
FIG. 8 is an illustration of a cross-sectional view of a mortar stopper inserted into a masonry wall in accordance with one embodiment of the present application.
FIG. 9 is an illustration of a cross-sectional view of a mortar stopper inserted into a masonry wall in accordance with one embodiment of the present application.
FIG. 10 is an illustration of a view of a plurality of mortar stoppers staggered along a backside of a masonry wall in accordance with one embodiment of the present application.
FIG. 11 is an illustration of a cross-sectional view of a mortar stopper in accordance with one embodiment of the present application.
FIG. 12 is an illustration of a view of a mortar stopper installed in an interior portion of a cinder block in accordance with one embodiment of the present application.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring initially to FIG. 1, a system 10 for collecting mortar 20 falling from a masonry wall 12 generally comprises a masonry wall 12 and one or more mortar stoppers 26. As shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 6-9, the wall 12 generally comprises a front side 14, a backside 16, and a plurality of mortar spaces 18 between components forming the wall 12. Such components forming the masonry wall 12 may be, but are not limited to, bricks 22, brick veneer, or cinder blocks 54, or any combination thereof.
Embodiments of the mortar stopper 26 generally comprise a longitudinally extending surface 28, shown in FIGS. 1-9 and 11. This longitudinally extending surface 28 may comprise an indicator 30 that defines an inserting portion 32 and a mortar collecting portion 34. In one exemplary embodiment of the mortar stopper 26, shown in FIG. 4, the longitudinally extending surface 28 of the mortar stopper 26 may be a substantially flat surface such that the inserting and mortar collecting portions 32, 34 and the indicator 30 are co-planar. In this embodiment, the indicator 30 may be a score line or other visual indicator that defines the inserting portion 32 and the mortar collecting portion 34.
In another exemplary embodiment of the mortar stopper 26, shown in FIG. 5, the longitudinally extending surface 28 of the mortar stopper 26 may be a curved surface. The mortar stopper 26 may be installed in the wall 12 such that the curved surface faces up or down in relation to the backside 16 of the wall 12.
In yet another exemplary embodiment of the mortar stopper 26, shown in FIG. 1, the longitudinally extending surface 28 of the mortar stopper 26 may be an angular surface such that the inserting and mortar collecting portions 32, 34 are in different planes of the angular surface. In this embodiment, the indicator 30 may be an apex of an angle in the angular surface of the mortar stopper 26. Generally, the mortar stopper 26 may be installed such that the angular surface directs the mortar collecting portion 34 in an upward direction in relation to the backside 16 of the wall 12, as shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 6. It is contemplated, however, that the mortar stopper 26 may be installed such that the angular surface directs the mortar collecting portion 34 in a downward direction, as shown in FIGS. 7-9.
It is further contemplated by the present application that the mortar stopper 26 may be interchangeably positioned along the backside 16 of the wall 12 in a variety of manners. One example is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 where the mortar stopper 26 may be turned around such that the inserting and mortar collecting portions 32, 34 may be interchangeably positioned on the backside 16 of the wall 12. More particularly, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the mortar collecting portion 34 in FIG. 2 becomes the inserting portion 32 in FIG. 3 and, likewise, the inserting portion 32 in FIG. 2 becomes the mortar collecting portion 34 in FIG. 3. Another example illustrating the interchangeability of the position of the mortar stopper 26 is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Here, the mortar stopper 26 may be flipped upside-down such that the upwardly directed mortar collecting portion 34 in FIG. 6 becomes downwardly directed in FIG. 7.
Following insertion of the inserting portion 32 into the mortar spaces 18, the mortar collecting portion 34 may extend from the backside 16 of the wall 12. Thereby, the mortar collecting portion 34 may collect mortar 20 falling from the mortar spaces 18 of the backside 16 of the wall 12.
Generally, both the inserting portion 32 and the mortar collecting portion 34 are integral to the mortar stopper 26. As used herein, “integral” may mean that the inserting and mortar collecting portions 32, 34 of the mortar stopper 26 are of one substantially continuous piece. As shown in FIG. 1, the inserting portion 32 generally is inserted into the mortar spaces 18 along the backside 16 of the wall 12. This inserting portion 32 may be inserted into the mortar spaces 18 any length sufficient for the inserting portion 32 to adhere to the wall 12 as the mortar 20 in the mortar spaces 18 cures and for the mortar stopper 26 to support the mortar collecting portion 34 and the falling mortar 20 collected by the mortar collecting portion 34. As shown in FIG. 2, the inserting portion 32 may be longer in length in relation to the mortar collecting portion 34 so as to provide a stronger adhesion of the mortar stopper 26 in the mortar spaces 18 of the backside 16 of the wall 12. Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the mortar collecting portion 34 may be longer in length in relation to the inserting portion 32 so as to enable the mortar stopper 26 to collect a greater amount of mortar 20 falling from the mortar spaces 18 of the backside 16 of the wall 12. As another alternative, as also shown in FIG. 1, the inserting and mortar collecting portions 34, 32 may be substantially the same in length so as to provide the mortar stopper 26 with a sufficient amount of adhesion to the mortar spaces 18 of the backside 16 of the wall and with sufficient ability to collect mortar 20 falling from the mortar spaces 18 of the backside 16 of the wall 12.
The inserting portion 32 or the mortar collecting portion 34, or both, may comprise a plurality of apertures 36. These apertures 36, shown in FIG. 11, may be provided in a variety of shapes and dimensions, such as, but not limited to, circular, triangular, star, and/or diamond, or any combinations thereof. In one exemplary embodiment of a mortar stopper 26, both the inserting portion 32 and the mortar collecting portion 34 comprise a plurality of apertures 36 provided in the same shape. In another exemplary embodiment of the mortar stopper 26, both the inserting portion 32 and the mortar collecting portion 34 comprise a plurality of apertures 36, but the apertures 36 are provided in different shapes.
Generally, apertures 36 in the inserting portion 32 are provided for uncured mortar 20 to pass there-through. Thus, these apertures 36 in the inserting portion 32 enable uncured mortar 20 to pass there-through when the inserting portion 32 is inserted into the mortar spaces 18 of the wall 12 so as to aid in the adhesion of the mortar stopper 26 to the wall 12. More particularly, as uncured mortar 20 cures, the mortar 20 passing through the apertures 36 in the inserting portion 32 further anchors the inserting portion 32 into the mortar spaces 18. Meanwhile, generally, apertures 36 in the mortar collecting portion 34 are provided for draining moisture collected on the mortar collecting portion 34. This moisture may then proceed from the backside 16 of the wall 12 and the mortar stoppers 26 to the ground surface 24 where the moisture may be absorbed by the ground surface 24 or otherwise drained from behind the backside 16 of the wall 12.
The indicator 30 of the mortar stopper 26 generally is positioned along the longitudinally extending surface 28 such that the indicator 30 generally indicates an appropriate length of insertion of the inserting portion 32 into the wall 12. This length of insertion generally is sufficient for the mortar stopper 26 to support the mortar collecting portion 34 and the falling mortar 20 collected by the mortar collecting portion 34. Further, this position of the indicator 30 along the longitudinally extending surface 28 generally indicates an appropriate length of extension of the mortar collecting portion 34 from the wall 12 that is sufficient for the mortar stopper 26 to collect falling mortar 20.
In addition to the above described embodiments of the mortar stopper 26 where the indicator 30 may be a score line or other visual indicator or an apex of an angle of the longitudinally extending surface 28, the indicator 30 may comprise one or more projections 40, as shown in FIGS. 2-3, 6-7, and 11. These projections generally project from the position of the indicator along the longitudinally extending surface 28 of the mortar stopper 26. As shown in FIGS. 2-3 and 6-7, these projections 40 may obstruct the mortar stopper 26 from inserting into the mortar spaces 18 of the wall 12 beyond the indicator 30 that defines the inserting portion 32 and the mortar collecting portion 34. Further shown in FIGS. 2-3 and 6-7, is that the projections 40 may span the mortar spaces 18 such that the projections 40 obstruct mortar 20 from falling from the mortar spaces 18 where the mortar stopper 26 is installed.
As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the inserting portion may further comprise one or more extensions 42. These extensions 42 may define a height of the mortar spaces 18, wherein the height of the mortar spaces 18 generally defines the amount of mortar 20 placed in the mortar spaces 18. Thus, the extensions 42 may serve as a guide to a builder of a masonry wall 12 in standardizing an amount of mortar 20 to be placed in the mortar spaces 18. Further, these extensions 42 may further anchor the inserting portion 32 in the mortar 20 in the mortar spaces 18.
In addition, as shown FIG. 9, the mortar collecting portion 34 may further comprise one or more extensions 42 . These extensions 42 may confine at least a portion of the mortar 20 collected by the mortar collecting portion 34 to the mortar collecting portion 34. Thus, these extensions 42 may preclude the falling of substantial mortar 20 from the mortar collecting portion 34 to a ground surface 24.
As shown in FIG. 10, to further preclude the falling of mortar 20 from the backside 16 of the wall 12 and from the mortar collecting portion 34 to a ground surface 24, the mortar stoppers 26 may be staggered along the backside 16 of the wall 12 above the ground surface 24. The staggering of the mortar stoppers 26 along the backside 16 of the wall 12 may be achieved in a variety of ways. For example, but not by way of limitation, the mortar stoppers 26 may be arranged systematically along the backside 16 of the wall 12 such that a mortar stopper 26 comprising a shorter mortar collecting portion 34 extending from the wall 12 is seconded by another mortar stopper 26 comprising a longer mortar collecting portion 34 having a lower position on the backside 16 of the wall 12 that is closer to the ground surface 24. The staggering of the mortar stoppers 26 enable the mortar stoppers 26 to collect falling mortar 20 and drain moisture to the ground surface 24 from various areas of the backside 16 of the wall 12. [0033] As shown in FIG. 11, the mortar stopper 26 may further comprise a plurality of grooves 38. These grooves 38 may be externally exposed on the longitudinally extending surface 28 such that the inserting portion 32, the mortar collecting portion 34, or projections 40 of the mortar stopper 26, or any combination thereof, comprise a grooved surface. The grooves 38 aid in the adhesion of the mortar stopper 26 to the wall 12 with the insertion of the inserting portion 32 into the mortar space 18. More particularly, the grooves 38 provide a greater surface area to the inserting portion 32 such that a greater amount of mortar 20 may cure about the inserting portion 32 when inserted into the mortar spaces 18. The grooves 38 also aid in the passing of moisture past the mortar collecting portion 34. Generally, the grooves 38 are parallel with each other and with the wall 12. This parallel orientation of the grooves 38 serves to channel moisture away from the wall 12. More particularly, the grooves 38 may channel moisture over peripheral ends of the mortar collecting portion 34 or to apertures 36 in the mortar collecting portion 34 such that the moisture may pass there-through, or both. Further, the grooves 38 generally strengthen the profile of the mortar stopper 26 such that mortar stopper 26 may bear the weight of a greater amount of mortar 20 collected on the mortar collecting portion 34.
Referring FIG. 12, another embodiment of the present application relates to a system 44 for collecting falling mortar 20 wherein the system 44 generally comprises a cinder block wall and one or more mortar stoppers 46. The cinder block wall generally comprises a plurality of cinder blocks 54 and a plurality of mortar spaces between the cinder blocks 54 forming the wall. Each of the cinder blocks 54 comprise a top side 56, a bottom side, and an interior portion 58. This interior portion 58 generally comprises one or more openings through the top 56 and bottom sides of the cinder block 54. Mortar 20 generally is placed on mortar spaces around these openings on the top side 56 of each cinder block 54.
Generally, the mortar stopper 46, shown in FIG. 12, is installed on the top side 56 of a cinder block 54 such that the mortar stopper 46 is positioned in the mortar space between cinder blocks 54. The mortar stopper 46 positioned in the mortar spaces between the cinder blocks 54 may collect mortar 20 as it falls within the interior portions 58 of the cinder blocks 54 forming the wall. The mortar stopper may adhere to the top side 56 of the wall as the mortar 20 in the mortar spaces cures, thereby anchoring the mortar stopper 46 in its position. This mortar stopper 46 generally comprises a substantially planar surface 48. The substantially planar surface 48 may comprise a plurality of apertures 52 and one or more vertically oriented spacing ribs 50. These spacing ribs 50 may define a height of the mortar spaces, wherein the height of the mortar spaces generally defines the amount of mortar 20 placed in the mortar spaces. Thus, the spacing ribs 50 may serve as a guide to a builder of a cinder block wall in standardizing an amount of mortar 20 to be placed in the mortar spaces. Further, these spacing ribs 50 may further anchor the mortar stopper 46 in the mortar 20 in the mortar spaces. In addition, the spacing ribs 50 may extend from the substantially planar surface 48 a sufficient amount to provide a substantial amount of structural rigidity to the mortar stopper 46 sufficient for the mortar stopper 46 to support the falling mortar 20 collected by the mortar stopper 46 without substantial deformation to the planar surface 48.
Another embodiment of the present application relates to a method generally comprising providing a system 10 for collecting falling mortar 20. This system generally comprises a masonry wall 12 and one or more mortar stoppers 26. The wall 12 may comprise a front side 14, a backside 16, and a plurality of mortar spaces 18 between components forming the wall 12. The mortar stopper 26 generally comprises a longitudinally extending surface 28 that may comprise an indicator 30 defining an inserting portion 32 and a mortar collecting portion 34 of the mortar stopper 26. These inserting and mortar collecting portions 32, 34 generally are integral to the mortar stopper 26. The indicator 30 generally is positioned along the longitudinally extending surface 28 such that the indicator indicates an appropriate length of insertion of the inserting portion 32 into the wall 12 sufficient for the mortar stopper 26 to support the mortar collecting portion 34 and the falling mortar 20 collected by the mortar collecting portion 34. The method generally further comprises inserting the inserting portion 32 into the mortar spaces 18 along the backside 16 of the wall 12 and collecting with the mortar collecting portion 34 that extends from the backside 16 of the wall 12 the mortar 20 as the mortar 20 falls from the mortar spaces 18. The method may further comprise draining moisture from the backside 16 of the wall 12 and the mortar stoppers 26 to a ground surface 24 that is substantially free of mortar 20.
It is noted that terms like “generally” and “exemplary,” are not utilized herein to limit the scope of the claimed invention or to imply that certain features are critical, essential, or even important to the structure or function of the claimed invention. Rather, these terms are merely intended to highlight features that may or may not be utilized in a particular embodiment of the present application.
For the purposes of describing and defining the present application it is noted that the term “substantially” is utilized herein to represent the inherent degree of uncertainty that may be attributed to any quantitative comparison, value, measurement, or other representation. The term “substantially” is also utilized herein to represent the degree by which a quantitative representation may vary from a stated reference without resulting in a change in the basic function of the subject matter at issue.
Having described embodiments of the application in detail, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the embodiments of the application defined in the appended claims.
Patent Application
20070251171
