In building a structure, such as building, wall etc, by bricklaying, it is usual to begin with the corners or edges of the structure. Once the corners or the edges have been built up to at least a height of several courses of brick and mortar, a line can be strung between them and the intermediate brickwork then built up course by course relatively easily and quickly since the string line enables relatively easy alignment of the intermediate bricks and mortar. A course of bricks used herein means a height of one brick and accompanying bed of mortar. However, since the corners or edges will determine the quality of alignment of the brickwork, the corners or edges must be built carefully to ensure the thickness of the beds of mortar are correct and uniform and that the bricks are accurately laid level and plumb (vertical). A standard mortar bed thickness of 1 Omm is usually employed for brickwork. Therefore, with a 65mm high brick, a course of bricks should have a thickness of 75mm. The course thickness should be checked with a rule.

The horizontal and vertical alignment of the bricks must also be continually checked with a spirit level and any misalignment corrected by repeated tapping of the bricks until they are positioned level and plumb. This constitutes the conventional tap and measure method of laying bricks. Thus, the process involves continually stopping and starting.

Needless to say, the building of corners or edges as the basis for a structure is relatively very time consuming. In practice, speed and economy dictates that, a bricklayer will lay, for example, four courses of brickwork before stopping to check the thickness to see if it is the required 300mm (for four courses) and use a spirit level to check that the courses are level and plumb.

Typically, unless the bricklayer is highly skilled, the four courses of brickwork are under or over the specified 300mm height to some degree. The bricklayer must then compensate in the subsequently laid courses by making the beds of mortar more or less

thick than 1 Omm so that the average course height remains 75mm, otherwise the height of the final brickwork may be too tall or too short. From this, it can be seen that if the variation in course thickness is not compensated for, the final structure will be to tall or to short, and if it is compensated for then the mortar bed thickness will vary throughout the structure.

The invention aims to provides a tool to reduce the time and effort of bricklaying without corresponding loss of accuracy of alignment. Further aims will become apparent from the following description.

According to the invention there is provided a tool for bricklaying, the tool comprising : a base member, an upright member joined at its lower end to the base member and positioned at a right angle to the base member, the upright member having a gauge to indicate spacings for bricks and mortar.

Advantageously, the tool of the invention greatly cuts down the time needed to lay brickwork and enables brickwork to be accurately laid with less skill.

The base member and upright member preferably are both elongate members, as will become apparent.

The base member preferably comprises a substantially flat plate, and more preferably comprises an elongate substantially flat plate. The base member is preferably adapted to sit on an existing structure, e. g. a wall or floor slab. The base member may be adapted to receive ballast or anchor means to increase the stability of the tool in use.

The upright member preferably comprises a plate, and more preferably an elongate plate.

Preferably, the upright member is about as wide as the width of a brick.

Preferably, the base member and upright member have the same width.

In use, with the base member positioned horizontally level on a surface, the upright member, being arranged at a right angle thereto, will be positioned plumb. The horizontal alignment of the base member may be easily checked with a spirit level.

Alternatively or additionally, a spirit level can be used to check that the upright member is plumb. If any adjustment to plumb the upright member is needed, this may be done by raising the appropriate end of the base member. The ends of the base member may be raised by placing means of an appropriate thickness under the end to be raised. In the environment of a building site, an amount of mortar conveniently may be placed under the appropriate end of the base member. Alternatively, the base member may be provided with integral means to raise the ends thereof.

Preferably, the upright member is joined at its lower end to an end of the base member, so as to form substantially an L shape. In this way, the tool allows the brickwork to be built directly against the upright member. This makes the brick laying operation much easier since the bricklayer can be assured that the bricks are being laid plumb and, since the bricks are laid directly against the upright, it allows for easy visual checking of the bricks and mortar spacing against the gauge thereon. Moreover, building the brickwork directly against the upright member provides that the upright acts as a profile or template for the brickwork and further provides stability whilst the brickwork sets.

Preferably, the gauge comprises markings to show the spaces for the bricks and markings to show the spaces for the mortar. Additionally preferably, the markings are painted or printed on the surface of the upright member. Further preferably, the markings to show the spacing for the bricks is provided in one colour and the markings to show the spacing of the mortar are provided in different colour. For example, the markings to show the spacing of the bricks may be provided in a red colour and the markings to show the spacing of the mortar may be provided in a white colour. The markings may be provided in other ways, e. g. there may be physical markings on the upright member, such as scored marks or lines.

Preferably, the upright member is sufficiently high or long and has markings for a plurality of courses of brickwork. For example, the conventional height for a window is 1200mm, i. e. sixteen course of bricks and mortar based on the conventional course thickness of 75mm. Advantageously, the upright member may be provided at least 1200mm high so that it has space for markings for sixteen courses of brickwork.

Similarly, the conventional height for a door is 2100mm (twenty eight courses) and advantageously a tool according to the invention may be provided with an upright member at least 2100mm high such that it has space for the twenty eight courses of brickwork. Beneficially, using the invention it is possible to build quickly and accurately by building bricks up against the upright member to a sizeable height of brickwork without needing to stop to measure the spacing with a rule or check alignment of the brickwork with a spirit level and, moreover, the tool may remain stationary throughout the operation, i. e. there is no need to move it.

The tool, preferably, further comprises a brace or support. More preferably the brace or support is positioned generally diagonally between the base member and upright member to support the upright member and provide strength to the tool. For example, the brace or support means may comprise a elongate member joined at one end to a position on the base member and joined at its other end to a position on the upright member. Preferably, the brace or support is joined to the base member and upright member at positions on the edges thereof.

The components of the tool are preferably constructed of metal and more preferably of lightweight metal such that the tool is strong yet light. A preferred embodiment is constructed of lightweight aluminium. However, the tool may be constructed of other materials or combinations of materials, e. g. steel, wood etc.

The base and upright members may be welded together. Alternatively, the base and upright members may be joined by a hinged joint, such that, advantageously, the tool

may be folded for ease of package, storage or transport. In such a case, where a brace is present, the brace may be suitably hingedly joined to the base and upright members and/or have a further hinged joint positioned intermediate its ends.

In use, the tool of the invention may be positioned in use on an existing wall or floor slab at an location wherever there is to be a break or opening in the wall or structure. Such locations include door openings, window openings, movement or expansion joints, or free standing piers. The tool is stood with the base member resting on the e. g. existing wall or floor slab such that the upright member is plumb. The tool may be finely adjusted to plumb the upright member as described. The upright member thereby provides a profile for the subsequent laying of bricks. Bricks may then be laid directly against the upright member. The gauge provided on the upright acts as a guide to the bricklayer to ensure that the spacing of the brickwork is accurate. Moreover, building directly against the plumb upright ensures that the brickwork is also aligned accurately.

An embodiment of the invention will now be illustrated, by way of example, with reference to: Figure 1 which shows a tool according to the invention; and Figure 2 which shows a tool according to the invention in use.

Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a tool (1) for assisting in bricklaying. The tool (1) is constructed of lightweight aluminium. The tool (1) comprises a base plate (2) and an upright (4) which is connected at its lower end to the base plate (2) at the forward end thereof by a hinged joint. The base and upright members may thereby be folded and packed flat for storage etc. The upright (4) is positioned at a right angle to the base plate (2). A hinged brace (8) is provided which is connected to the base plate (2) at a position (10) on the edge thereof and is connected to the upright (4) also at an edge position thereof (not visible). The brace (8) comprises a longer, lower portion (8) which is connected to the base plate (2) and positioned diagonally with respect to the base plate

(2) and upright (4) and a shorter, upper portion (8) which is connected to the upright (4) and positioned horizontally, i. e. substantially parallel to the base plate (2). The connection of the lower portion (8) and the upper portion (811) forms an elbow (9) where there is provided a hinge joint to allow the brace to be folded with the base and upright members for storage etc. as described above. In the position shown, the brace (8) is locked into its open position to rigidly support the upright member (4). The upright (4) is provided with a gauge (6) which comprises markings to indicate the spacing of both the bricks and mortar. The gauge (6) comprises markings (12) of narrower width to indicate the spacing of the mortar and markers of wider spacing (14) to indicate the spacing of the bricks. As a further useful visual aid the narrow markings (12) are coloured white and the wider markings (14) are coloured red. The upright (4) is 1200mm high and thus provides markings for sixteen courses of brickwork 75mm high. That is, the upright (4) has sixteen narrow markings (12), each 10mm high, spaced apart by sixteen markings (14) each 65mm high. The width, w, of the upright is 100mm, the width of a brick. The base plate (2) is 600mm in length and 100mm wide. The upright (4) is provided with a top plate (16) which is the same width, i. e. 100mm, as the upright (4) and is 75mm long.

The flat top plate (16) may fit under a lintel, for example, where the tool (1) is being used in a doorway or window opening. The top plate (16) is provided with an aperture (18) through which may be hung a plumb bob (not shown) which can be aligned with marking (20) on the base plate (2) for vertical alignment of the upright (4). However, in many cases it will be more convenient to plumb the upright (4) using a spirit level.

Referring to Figure 2, the tool (1) is shown in use. The base plate (2) is positioned on an existing wall (30) and is ballasted by placing a building block (32) thereon. The upright (4) is positioned plumb by using a spirit level and placing an appropriate amount of mortar under the appropriate end of the base plate (2) if any vertical adjustment of the upright (4) is required. The plumb upright (4) thereby provides a template for building against and provides a profile for an opening of a door or window in this case. The bricks (34) are then laid directly against the upright (4) with the thickness of mortar being easily aligned against the narrow markings (12) on the upright (4) and the bricks

being easily aligned with the wide markings (14) on the upright (4). Thus, the bricklayer is provided with an easy means of alignment by virtue of upright (4) and an easy to use visual guide by means of markings (12) and (14) on the upright (4) to achieve accurate spacing of the brickwork. Thereby, the bricklayer is able to quickly and accurately lay the bricks (34) to make up the edge of the door or window opening without having to continually stop to tap and measure in the conventional way.

Although a specific embodiment has been to illustrate the invention, it will be appreciated that variations can be used whilst still falling within the scope of the invention.