"Assembly device for bricks" Technical field of the invention;

The object of present invention is a dry-assembly of bricks. In -particular, the present invention is advantageously applied to the assembly of bricks, glass and/or concrete-and-glass for the construction, for example, of inner and outer partition walls or other interior decor solutions. State of the art: As well known, in the process of formation of said walls, use is made of bricks which are piled up and kept steadily connected with each other by means of suitable glues and/or cement mortars. By way of example, a wide use is made of cement mortars which are interposed between one brick and another to ensure a stable positioning thereof.

Unfortunately, the formation of the walls as above indicated is a complex, time-consuming and costly operation. It is in fact unavoidable to provide for a glueing material and specialized personnel for laying the bricks .

Moreover, it is to be noted that the formation of the walls in the known manner does not ensure an optimal quality, especially in the do-it-yourself field.

This is particularly true when making walls with glass bricks.

Such bricks, in fact, remain in view and let defects to be seen _/ so that their finishing degree is essential.

Description of the invention:

In this context, the technical task of the present invention is to propose a brick-assembly device which is free from the above said drawbacks, easy to install and cost-effective.

In particular, the object of the present invention is to propose a brick-assembly device allowing a faster and simpler connection for making walls and partitions. A further object of the present invention is to propose a brick-assembly device capable of limiting or avoiding the need for glueing material and/or specialized personnel upon the laying stage. Still another object of the present invention is to propose a device able to form walls with greater accuracy and, consequently, with improved appearance characteristics .

According to the present invention, the technical task and the specified objects are achieved by a brick-assembly device having the technical

characteristics set forth in one or more of the attached claims .

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear more evident by the indicative and, thus, non-limiting description of a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment of an assembly device as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a device according to the present invention in a full assembled configuration;

- Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the brick-assembly device of Fig. 1 in a partially assembled configuration;

- Fig. 3 is a first perspective view of a detail of the brick-assembly device of Fig. 1;

- Fig. 4 is a second perspective view of the detail of Fig. 3;

- Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a wall made by- means of the brick-assembly device of Fig. 1; and - Fig. 6 is a view in section along line VI-VI of

Fig. 5.

With reference to the attached figures, numeral 1 indicates in the whole a brick-assembly device according to the present invention. The device 1 comprises a plurality of coupling

elements 2 able to be associated with a brick 3 and linked to each other to envelop the same brick 3. In other words, the coupling elements 2 are linked to each other in succession so as to steadily envelop the brick 3.

In the illustrated example, reference is made to a glass brick 3 of substantially square shape. In this context, therefore, the device 1 comprises four coupling elements 2, equal to each other, each of which abuts onto a respective side face 3a of brick 3.

The present invention, however, is also easily applicable when using bricks of different shape, size and/or type. Consequently, the device 1 comprises a number of coupling elements 2 at least equal to the number of side faces 3a of the brick 3., Moreover, to each side face 3a of brick 3 two or more coupling elements 2 can be associated. Again, the coupling elements 2 may be of different shapes and/or sizes so as to be applicable to different types of bricks 3.

In any case, each coupling element 2 exhibits a shape, in plan view, which is substantially rectangular and extends along a longitudinal axis

"A" .

Two wings 4 extend along opposite sides of each coupling element 2 along the longitudinal axis "A". Such wings -4 lay into abutment on corresponding shoulders 5 of brick 3 disposed along opposite sides of the lateral faces 3a.

Each coupling element 2 comprises linking means 6 to allow a mutual fastening of all the coupling elements 2. In other words, the coupling elements 2 are loop-wise linked to each other in series by the linking means 6.

The linking means 6 are formed in correspondence of a first end 2a and a second end 2b of the same coupling element 2.

More specifically, the linking means 6 comprise a first portion 7 disposed in correspondence of the first end 2a of each coupling element 2 and a second portion 8 disposed in correspondence of the second end 2b of each coupling element 2.

In use, the first portion 7 of each coupling element 2 is associated with the second portion 8 of the adjacent coupling element 2, so that the linked coupling elements 2 result hinged to each other. In greater detail, the first portion 7 comprises at

least one appendix 9, which extends parallel from the first end 2a of the coupling element 2 to the longitudinal axis "A", and a pivot 10 linked to the appendix 9. • In particular, the pivot 10 develops, starting from the appendix 9, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis "A" .

Correspondingly, the second portion 8 comprises a tab 11 which develops parallel from the second end 2b of each coupling element 2 to the longitudinal axis "A". The tab 11 exhibits a hole 12 which receives a pivot 10 belonging to the first portion 7 of an adjacent coupling element 2. With reference to the described and illustrated embodiment, the first portion 7 comprises two appendixes 9 which develop parallel to each other and a pivot 10 disposed on each appendix 9. The pivots 10 develop perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis "A" and away from each other. Correspondingly, the second portion 8 comprises two tabs 11, parallel to one another, each exhibiting two holes 12 coaxial to one another, each hole being formed on a respective tab 11. In use, the first portion 7 of each coupling element 2 is moved close to the second portion 8 of an

adjacent coupling element 2, so as to locate the two appendixes 9 between the tabs 11, and to insert by pressure the pivots 10 of the first portion 7 into the holes 12-. In this way a link is provided capable of pivoting between each coupling element 2 and the adjacent one in order to envelop the device 1 around the brick 3.

The fastening of the device 1 onto the brick 3 is made by loop-wise joining all the coupling elements 2.

The device 1 also comprises connection members 13 disposed on each coupling element 2 for steadily associating the device 1 with at least one additional device 1 in order to form a wall (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) . The connection members 13 are disposed on a surface 2c of each coupling element 2 opposite to brick 3, and comprise at least one ridge 14 and at least one corresponding cavity 15. In use, the ridge 14 of the device 1 can be fixed by a restrained joint into the corresponding cavity 15 of an additional device 1 so as to form a stable coupling between said devices and, therefore, between the bricks 3.

More specifically, the connection members 13 comprise a relief 16a; 16b extending straight and parallel to the longitudinal axis "A" and disposed on the surface

2c of the coupling element 2 opposite to brick 3. The extended relief 16a; 16b defines the said ridge 14. Moreover, the connection members 13 exhibit a corresponding slot 17a; 17b which develops parallel to the longitudinal axis "A" and defines the said cavity 15.

With reference to the described embodiment, the connection members 13 comprise a first 16a and second 16b extended reliefs, and a first 17a and second 17b slots, respectively aligned with the first 16a and second 16b extended reliefs.

The first relief 16a is side-by-side and parallel to the second slots 17b, while the second relief 16b is side-by-side and parallel to the first slot 17a. In use, when the device 1 is associated with the additional device 1, the first relief 16 of the device 1 is inserted by a restrained joint into the first slot 17a of the additional device 1, while the second relief 16 is inserted by a restrained joint into the second slot 17b.

By coupling a plurality of devices 1 engaged to respective bricks 3 as above described, it is thus possible to construct a partition wall without any- glueing material (Fig. 5). It is also possible to provide the wall with elements

(not shown in the attached figures) in order to stiffen the same wall.

By way of example, the stiffening elements are steel rods used to. provide a reinforcement for the wall. To this end, each coupling element 2 exhibits at least a longitudinal recess 18 formed in the surface 2c of the coupling element 2 opposite to the brick 3. Such recess 18 defines, at least in part, a seat for receiving 19 the stiffening element (Figs. 3 and 6) . More specifically, each coupling element 2 has a pair of recesses 18 parallel to each other and located at a position opposite to the longitudinal axis "A". When the device 1 is coupled with the additional device 1, the pair of recesses 18 of one device 1 is made to face the pair of recesses 18 of the other device 1 so as to define two parallel seats 19 for receiving respective stiffening elements. It is to be noted that when the wall is in the process of formation, the seats 19 are defined both horizontally and vertically. Consequently, the stiffening elements can be disposed in both directions .

Besides, each coupling element 2 exhibits a slit 20 extending midway and parallel to the longitudinal axis "A" (Figs. 2 and 4) . The slit 20 is formed in a

surface 2d of the coupling element 2 facing the side face 3a of brick 3.

Said slit 20 allows advantageously an efficient application • of a glueing material between each coupling element 2 and the brick 3. In fact, a thin layer of glueing material may be applied to improve the stability of the wall under formation.

In one embodiment (not shown) , each brick exhibits a central rib on the side faces thereof. In this case, such rib is received into the slit 20 to allow centered coupling between the device 1 and the brick.

The invention achieves the proposed objects and important advantages.

In fact, the brick-assembly device according to the present invention allows linking a plurality of bricks for making a wall without the binding use of a specific glueing material and, in particular, of cement mortars.

In fact, the linking takes place by means of a simple joint and can be carried out also by personnel non specifically trained for the laying of bricks.

Consequently, the brick-assembly device allows the formation of a wall in a way significantly simpler and faster. Moreover, the assembling of the bricks results

considerably more accurate inasmuch as the distance between one brick and the next is not determined by the amount of used mortar but only by the rigid arrangement of the coupling elements. Accordingly, a wall made-ready by using a device according to the present invention exhibits gaps which are all equal to each other between the bricks, with consequent more attractive appearance.

The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof but it is understood that equivalent modifications may be made without departing from the scope of protection granted to the present invention for industrial patent.