Masonry Column Guide

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to masonry guides for use in laying brick in general and more particular to the laying of brick columns.

2. General Background

Masonry guides have long been used to aid the mason in the proper alignment of successive courses of brick or block. A specific aspect of masonry deals with the construction of piers or columns. Such columns are used as support structures for frame construction, iron fences, decorative covering for structural members and the like. It is essential that courses of each successive layer of such columns be both plumb and level. Since in many cases the construction of brick or block columns is more decorative than functional, and time spent leveling and aligning the column simply adds cost to the construction process, it is therefore highly desirable that equipment be developed which will reduce labor cost. Efforts in this regard include such devices as those taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,457,649, 4,631,833, 4,866,851, 4,970,797, and 5,001,839. However, each of these patents teaches the necessity of attaching the guides in some manner to the structure being built or at least to a frame structure adjacent the brick work. When constructing a brick column, it is simply not practical to attach the coursing guide to the brick work and in some cases there is no adjacent frame structure available to which the guide may be attached. It is also essential that a brick column guide mechanism be erected and utilized as quickly as possible without the need to secure and align brackets and other such attachments to the lower courses before a guide mechanism can be employed. When erecting brick columns it is very time consuming to use strings and erect corner posts to ensure true vertical and horizontal coursing due to the very short runs in each direction. Therefore, there is a need to provide a brick coursing guide which can be easily erected by a brick layer, aligned independently of the building structure, adjusted incrementally from the first course to any reasonable height and adjusted incrementally for various size columns.

The invention as taught herein is a brick layer's guide for constructing brick columns in a rapid manner. The guide, being telescopic and constructed from aluminum or polymeric materials, is therefore both light weight and compact. The guide can be rapidly set up and easily adjusted, via telescopic legs, to obtain vertical plumb on virtually all terrain and in close confined spaces, such as under existing structures, or extended for tall columns. Adjustable guide frames are provided conforming to convenient size columns. However, other unusual size or shape frame guides may be provided or constructed for attachment to the column guide. A lower guide frame attached to a telescopic mast member is provided which maintains contact with the lower courses as they are set, thus increasing stability and insuring alignment of the course being laid based on previous courses. A rolling truck in frictional contact with the mast is provided which allows an upper frame or hoop attached thereto, surrounding the column being laid, to be moved easily, without binding, as each course is laid incrementally as measured along a scale attached to the mast. A second telescopic member is fitted to the upper end of the column guide's vertical mast which allows infinite adjustment for the temporary attachment of the second telescopic member to existing structures, such as under eves or to a structural support around which the brick column is being built, thereby, providing alternative or additional vertical support and plumb alignment to the guide's vertical mast. Utilizing the brick column guide allows the brick layer to reduce time and lay each course to exacting dimensions as rapidly as possible without stopping to relevel each course often stopping only to let the mortar dry sufficiently.

For a further understanding of the nature and objects of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are given like reference numerals, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isomeric view of the preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear isometric view of the preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a partial isometric cross section of a portion of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 taken along sight line 3--3;

FIG. 4 is a partial isometric cross section of preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a partial cross sectional plan view of the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 4 taken along sight line 5--5;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a front isometric view of the mast truck assembly;

FIG. 8 is rear isometric view of the mast truck assembly and a portion of the face plate with cut-away showing locking dog;

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the mast truck.

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of the preferred embodiment in use with a brick column;

FIG. 11 is a vertical side elevation view of the preferred embodiment shown attached to a support column; and

FIG. 12 is a vertical elevation view of the preferred embodiment shown attached to an existing structure adjacent a brick column.

The brick column guide 10 shown first in FIG. 1 is comprised of several assemblies and weldments, the first being a vertical column or mast comprised of a channel member 12 and a lower foot or stabilizer angle bar 14 transversely attached perpendicularly via screws 13 seen in FIG. 6 to the channel member's lower end. The second assembly 20 comprises a box tube 16 having an interior dimension capable of receiving the channel member 12 in a telescopic manner, a mast face or guide plate 18 having a steel rule 19 with incremental indicia thereon, the face plate being attached via screw 15 to an exterior face of the box tube 16 as shown in FIG. 6, and a lower extendible guide assembly 30 transversely attached perpendicularly to the lower end of the face plate 18. The lower guide assembly 30 is adjustably fitted to the first and or second and subsequent courses of bricks in the column and is moved upwards only as needed to extend the mast length via the lower telescopic member 12, thus maintaining a stable column guide for the vertical mast 20. The third assembly is a vertical stabilizer 40 comprised of a weldment 42 and three telescopically adjustable legs 44 pivotally attached to the weldment 42 by bolts and wing nuts 46, 48 as best seen in FIG. 5. The weldment 42 is attached to the inner wall of the channel 12 by screws 49, at least one of which extends beyond the channel 12 and contacts the inner wall of the box tube 12, thus when tightened exerts a force between the channel 12 and the box tube 16, thereby securely positioning the box tube 15 relative to the channel 12. It should also be noted that the box tube 16 is provided with a slot 22 seen in FIG. 2 and 4, and an opening 24 to allow insertion of the weldment or connection arm 42 and its attachment, to be connected to the channel 12. The slot allows longitudinal movement of the weldment 42 relative to the box tube 16. The adjustable legs 44, seen in FIGS. 1-6, best seen in FIG. 6, further comprise upper and lower telescopic members 44a, 44b. Both leg telescopic members 44a, 44b are fitted with eyelet tangs 44c, 44d at ends opposite their telescopic portion. However, the eyelet tang 44d at the end of lower member 44b is bent at approximately 45 degrees. Earth spikes or long nails (not shown) may be used to anchor the lower member 44b via its eyelet tang 44d to the earth. Each of the leg telescopic members 44a, 44b have a plurality of holes 44 provided therein and a pin 44f for penetrating both members, thus retaining the upper member 44a relative to the lower member 44b. The telescopic legs 44 provide vertical stabilization for the mast 20 and control vertical plumb in two planes. The lower guide assembly 30 comprises a plate 32 and support bar 34 as best seen in FIG. 6, the bar 34 being attached to a plate 32 for bolting to the face plate 18 with screws, 35 left and right guide bars or arms 36, 38 are incrementally secured to the support bar 34 with screws 39 which may be inserted through a plurality of holes, thus allowing the left and right guide bars 36, 38 to be extended horizontally. The left and right guide bars 36, 38 further comprise horizontal guide bars 37, having vertical tangs 40. The horizontal guide bars 40 being attached at right angles to the left and right guide bars 36, 38. The fourth assembly 50, first seen in FIG. 1, is comprised of an extendible frame or hoop 50 and a mast truck assembly 60. The extendible frame assembly 50 attaches to the mast truck assembly 60 and is comprised of a main support bar 52 attached to corner bars 54, seen in FIG. 6, via screw 57 which are connected by spacer bars 56. Spacer bars 56 attach each of the corner bars 54 in an incremental manner so as to allow for a close peripheral fit for various size brick columns 51 as shown in FIG. 10. The frame 50 therefore provides a peripheral guide for each course as it is laid. The mast truck assembly 60, best seen in FIG. 7-9, includes a base plate 62 having a pair of eyelet tabs extending perpendicularly thereto, four grooved roller bearing assemblies 66 extending perpendicular to the base plate 62, two roller type bearing assemblies attached perpendicularly to the eyelet tabs 64 and a tensioner assembly 69. The tensioner assembly comprises a shaft portion 69a having a foot plate 69b, a spring 69c and a knob 69d. The tensioner shaft 69a passes through the spring 69c and the base plate 62, as seen in FIG. 9, and threadably engages the knob 69d, thus maintaining a spring force on the foot plate 69b which in turn applies tension between the base plate 62 and the face plate 18 as seen in FIGS. 7 and 8. As further seen in FIGS. 7, 8, and disassembled in FIG. 9, the grooved roller assemblies 66 are configured to engage the edges of the face plate 18. Roller bearings 68 further engage the side of face plate 18 opposite the side adjacent the truck base plate 62, thus capturing the face plate 18 in a secure manner while allowing the mast truck assembly 60 and the extendible frame assembly 50 to roll vertically relative to the mast assembly 20. Infinite adjustment of the truck assembly 60 and its associated frame guide 50 along the brick column 51, as shown in FIG. 10, is obtained by pulling the knob 69d, thus releasing tension between the mast truck and the face plate 18. A non-skid material may be applied to the foot plate 69 to help increase friction between the foot plate 69 and the faceplate 18. An alternate method of locking the mast truck to the face plate is to provide a resilient member 100 extending through the mast truck base plate 68 adjacent one of the grooved rollers 66 as seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, thus, by wedging the resilient member between the grooved roller and the edge of the face plate, a scotch lock is achieved. As seen in FIG. 9, the truck base plate assembly 60 comprises the mast truck base plate 62 to which is attached the frame support bar 52 by screws 52a, four grooved roller assemblies 66 and two roller type bearing assemblies 68 and the tensioner assembly 69. Each grooved roller assembly 66 is comprised of a spindle 70 passing through the base plate 62, a flanged sleeve 72, slidable on the spindle 70, a grooved roller 74, an inner bushing 76 pressed into the grooved roller rotatable upon the flanged sleeve 72, and a nut 78 threadable upon said spindle 70. The roller assembly 68 is assembled similarly to the grooved roller assembly 66, except that the roller 80 is not grooved. The final assembly 90 is an ancillary adjustable frame bar for attachment to an existing vertical support column 100, around which the brick column is being built as seen in FIG. 11 or an existing structure 102 as shown in FIG. 12, which may be located adjacent the brick column 51 under construction utilizing the brick column guide 10 disclosed herein. As seen in FIGS. 1-3, this assembly comprises a channel member 92 which is telescoped within the upper portion of the box tube assemble 20 and telescopically adjustable via set screw 93 seen in FIG. 6, the channel member 92 having a perpendicular receptive channel 94 at one end for receiving a slidable flat bar 96. The flat bar 96 further includes a perpendicular portion 98, thus forming a t-bar, the cross bar having holes therein for allowing fasteners to pass into the existing structure 100, 102. The flat bar 96 is retained and positioned relative to the receptive channel 94 via a wing bolt 99 threaded into channel member 92 located below the slidable flat bar 96. Because many varying and different embodiments may be made within the scope of the inventive concept herein taught and because many modifications may be made in the embodiments herein detailed in accordance with the descriptive requirement of the law, it is to be understood that the details herein are to be interpreted as illustrative and not intended to limit the invention.