TOOL FOR DRYING STACKING BRICKS, TOOL ASSEMBLY COMPRISING SUCH A TOOL AS WELL AS A DRY STACKED WALL OF BRICKS COMPRISING THE TOOLS

Abstract

 Tool for dry stacking bricks, said bricks having longitudinally extending recesses at the bottom sides thereof, wherein said tool has an elongated shape and is arranged to carry at least two bricks, wherein said tool comprises several protrusions spaced at a distance from each other, in the longitudinal direction of the tool, which protrusions are arranged to protrude into the recess of the brick in order to, in use, retain that brick in any horizontal direction, at least one connection means at a longitudinal side of the tool, which connection means are arranged to connect the tool to a facade of a building, at least one upright projection at said longitudinal side of the tool for aligning, in a transverse direction of the tool, the at least two bricks which are to be placed on top of said protrusions of the tool.

Description

[0001] The present invention is related to the dry stacking of bricks. In the context of the present invention, a brick is an artificial rock, made from clay, for construing, amongst other, or for use in, pavements. The tool is especially of importance for hand-molded bricks, i.e. bricks that are formed by hand in a wooden mold box, for form bricks, i.e. bricks that are made in a mold box machine and, for example, have five sand coated sides and one cut off side, but also for extruded bricks, i.e. bricks that are being made by pressing clay in a long rectangular form which is subsequently cut to brick sizes.

[0002] One of the main differences between traditionally processing bricks and dry stacking bricks is related to the mortar joint between the bricks. For centuries now, bricks are being processed with mortar which is applied with a trowel. This accomplishes, for example, a mortar joint of between 10 - 13 mm between the brickwork. In the case of glued brickwork, a connection between the bricks is obtained using, for example, a fine-grained mortar, which is applied with a glue gun. Mortar is not used as a connection layer in the case of dry stacking bricks.

[0003] The traditional way to processing bricks entails certain drawbacks. First, the use of mortar harmfully effects the environment, in part because too much CO2 emission occurs during bricklaying. Second, processing the bricks in a traditional way is not sustainable. That is, traditionally processed bricks of building that are to be demolished can not be recycled. These bricks can merely be used as, for example, a foundation for a road or the like.

[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to improve the dry stacking of bricks in an efficient and sustainable manner.

[0005] The object is achieved, in a first aspect thereof, in a tool for dry stacking bricks, said bricks having longitudinally extending recesses at the bottom sides thereof, wherein said tool has an elongated shape and is arranged to carry at least two bricks, wherein said tool comprises:

• several protrusions spaced at a distance from each other, in the longitudinal direction of the tool, which protrusions are arranged to protrude into the recess of the brick in order to, in use, retain that brick in any horizontal direction;
• at least one connection means at a longitudinal side of the tool, which connection means are arranged to connect the tool to a facade of a building;
• at least one upright projection at said longitudinal side of the tool for aligning, in a transverse direction of the tool, the at least two bricks which are to be placed on top of said protrusions of the tool.

[0006] The advantage of the use of tools according to the present invention is that bricks can be dry stacked in a simple and efficient manner.

[0007] Retaining the bricks is accomplished, amongst other, by the cooperation between the recesses in the bricks and the protrusions of the tools. The bricks will stay aligned on the tools as the protrusions and the recesses closely fit together. Movement of the bricks in horizontal direction is thus prevented. The bricks are positioned at a predetermined position with respect to each other due to the cooperation of the recesses in the bricks and the protrusions of the tools.

[0008] Such recesses are, for example, frogs arranged in a brick.

[0009] The tools comprise connection means, at their longitudinal side, to connect the tools with a facade of the building. Because of this, the dry stacked wall will not fall over. It was the insight of the inventor that the connections between the tools and the facade of the building do not need to be very strong to cope with this force. Connection means in the form of a plastic clam, a hook connection, a screw connection, a nail or the like, is already sufficient for this purpose.

[0010] In the context of the present invention, the connection means are arranged to be connected with a facade of a building. These could be, for example, aluminium posts that provide for the reinforcement of the building, or aerated concrete blocks or an interior wall, or, for example, a vertically extending post which is arranged as a coupling element between the connection means and the yet existing forms of facades of a house.

[0011] The upright projections at the longitudinal side of the tool ensure that the bricks placed on top of the tool are aligned, in the transverse direction, with respect to each other. Such projections have the advantage that the bricks can be placed quickly as the bricks can be pushed against the upright projections.

[0012] It could be advantageous to limit the thickness of the tools as much as possible in order to restrict the mortar joint of the dry stacked bricks. This, amongst other, enables an aesthetically attractive appearance.

[0013] As described above, the present invention is related to the dry stacking of bricks, such as hand-molded bricks, form bricks or extruded bricks. Extruded bricks are, for example, bricks having a clean hexagonal form. Perforations could be present in an extruded brick which limit the use of material and the weight thereof, and enhance the drying process. The smooth surface of the brick can, for example using rollers, be provided with a texture.

[0014] All the above mentioned bricks are suitable to be used with a tool according to the present invention.

[0015] In an example, the shape of the protrusions is at least one of cone-shaped, ball-shaped, spherical-shaped, cylindrical and polygonal. This also comprises the half form variants, like a half cone-shape, a half spherical-shape, a half ball-shape, etc.

[0016] The advantage of, for example, a half cone shape is that the protrusions can simple protrude in the recesses. The alignment of the bricks with respect to the protrusions is less important due to this form. The close connection between the protrusions and the recesses is only accomplished when the bricks are completely placed over the protrusions such that, for example, the half cone shape completely protrudes into the brick.

[0017] In another example, the length of the protrusions corresponds with a length of the recess of the brick which extends in longitudinal direction. The length of the protrusions is, in the context of the present invention, the length in a longitudinal direction of the tool. A solid connection between the tool and the bricks placed thereon is provided by adjusting the form of the protrusions in such a way that the length thereof corresponds with the length of the recesses in the bricks.

[0018] In another example, the at least one upright projection is an upright edge which extends over a substantial part of the elongated tool.

[0019] The advantage hereof is amongst other related to the production process of such a tool. It is further possible that the upright edge is positioned at a distance from both end faces of the tool such that the end faces of the tool are suitable for carrying bricks placed on the tool in a traverse direction thereof.

[0020] In dry stacking bricks to form a wall you will need, according to the present invention, several tools placed next to each other in longitudinal direction, wherein each tool is able to carry, for example, two or three bricks. A wall of, for example, ten meters long is then provided by, for each layer bricks, placing fifteen to twenty tools next to each other. However, at the end of the wall a corner connection needs to be construed, such that another wall can be connected hereto in a perpendicular manner. It was the insight of the inventor that the tool can also be used at the end of a wall, in case the upright edge does not extend over the complete length of the elongated tool. By leaving room at both end faces of the tool, the tool is suitable to carry a brick in transverse direction. The room then needs to be equal to, or larger than, the width of a brick.

[0021] In another example, the tool comprises a guiding rail at the longitudinal side and extending in longitudinal direction, wherein the at least one connection means is connected to the guiding rail such that the at least one connection means is moveable along the longitudinal direction of the tool for aligning the at least one connection means with the facade of the building.

[0022] It was the insight of the inventor that it is desirable to have more freedom to move the connection means, such that it is made possible to connect the connection means with the facade of a building. The connection means can be moved along the length of the elongated tool, as the tools may comprise a guiding rail, such that the connection means can be aligned with the facade.

[0023] In an example, all protrusions of the tool protrude in a same direction.

[0024] It was the insight of the inventor that a sufficient rigid wall is provided when a tool is used of which the protrusions only extend to one side. This means that the protrusions for example protrude in the recesses of the bricks that are placed on top of the tool, but that there are no protrusions which protrude in bricks which are placed below the tool. This simplifies the production process of the tool.

[0025] In another example, the tool is arranged for dry stacking bricks having recesses extending in a longitudinal direction of the bricks, wherein said recesses are located at a bottom side and a top side of the bricks, wherein the protrusions, in use, protrude upwards as well as downwards, such that the protrusions are arranged to protrude in the recesses located in the bottom side and the top side of the bricks for maintaining the bricks in horizontal direction.

[0026] Here, the positions of the protrusions extending upwards and downwards could be such that, in use, bricks are being stacked in half bond.

[0027] In another example, the tool comprises supporting strips which extend in transversal direction, said supporting strips being arranged to support bricks placed on the tool.

[0028] The protrusions then mainly serve for retaining the bricks in horizontal direction and the supporting strips serve for carrying the weight of the bricks.

[0029] In a specific example, the tool is arranged for carrying three bricks.

[0030] It was the insight of the inventor that there are size differences of the bricks, in their longitudinal direction, and that there thus also are size differences in the recesses present in the bricks. In the case a tool is provided which is arranged for carrying several bricks, for example more than ten, it could be that, due to these size difference, the aligning of the recesses in the bricks and the protrusions is no longer possible. In the case that the tool is made suitable for carrying three bricks, it will always be possible to align the recesses of these three bricks with the protrusions, as the size differences are not so large that a substantial difference in length arises when using three bricks.

[0031] In an example, the tool is made of a plastic, for example an PME material.

[0032] In a further example, the protrusions are deformable to account for deviations in the recesses of the bricks.

[0033] In a second aspect, the invention provides in a tool assembly, comprising:

• at least one tool according to any of the previous claims, and
• an, in use, vertically extending post arranged to be connected to the connection means.

[0034] Different aspects applicable in the examples of the tool according to the present invention, including the advantageous thereof, correspond to aspects which are applicable for the tool assembly as well as a dry stacked wall, according to the invention as described above.

[0035] In an example, the, in use, vertically extending post comprises a bonding rail along a substantial part of its vertical length to which the connection means can engage, i.e. connect.

[0036] In a third aspect, the invention provides for a dry stacked wall of bricks comprising a plurality of tools according to any of the examples as provided above.

[0037] In a fourth aspect, the invention provides for a dry stacked wall of bricks comprising at least one tool assembly according to any of the examples provided above.

[0038] In a fifth aspect, the invention provides for a method for dry stacking a wall of bricks, comprising the repeating and subsequent steps of:

• placing a first row of bricks, which bricks comprise recesses extending in longitudinal direction of said bricks;
• placing, on said bricks, a first row of horizontally oriented tools according to any of the previous examples, wherein the protrusions of the tool protrude in the recesses of the bricks.

[0039] The naming of the various aspects of the tool and the method according to the invention is not to be interpreted literally. With the chosen nomenclature, it is merely intended to express the underlying idea behind the aspect in a concise manner.

[0040] The invention will no be elucidated along the enclosed figures, which merely serve to illustrate the invention by way of an example, and are not to be used for limiting the invention.

Figure 1 shows, schematically, a top view of a part of a tool according to the present invention.

Figure 2 shows, schematically, another example of a dry stacked wall according to the present invention.

Figure 3 shows, schematically, an example of a connection means according to the present invention.

[0041] Figure 1 shows a tool 1 for dry stacking bricks 8 having extending recesses at a bottom side thereof and extending in longitudinal direction of the bricks. These recesses may be identical per brick 8, but could also deviate from each other. In the case of bricks 8 having different recesses, attention should be paid to the protrusions 4, i.e. the protrusions 4 are to engage in the recesses of the bricks 8.

[0042] The tool 1 is elongated of shape, that is the tool 1 extends in a longitudinal direction 9 such that a length of the tool 1 is substantially larger than the width of the tool 1. The width of the tool 1 is measured in the transverse direction 3 of the tool 1.

[0043] Several protrusions 4 are provided at a distance from each other and are provided in longitudinal direction 9 of the tool, are arranged to protrude in the recesses of the bricks 8 such that the bricks, in use, are retained by the tool via their protrusions. The bricks 8 are positioned and clammed such that the bricks 8 do not or minimally move in horizontal direction.

[0044] At the longitudinal side 7 of the tool 1 are one or more connection means present, with which the tool 1 is to be connected to a façade of a building. An example of such a connection means is shown in figure 3.

[0045] A connection means could, for example, be connected to a end 10 of the longitudinal side 7, wherein the end comprises, for example, a thickening. The connection means can then be connected by clamming it around the thickening.

[0046] Tool 1 further comprises at least one at the same longitudinal side 7 of the tool upright projection 6 for aligning the bricks 8 which are placed over the protrusions 4 in transverse direction 3 of the tool 1. Such an aligning is accomplished, for example, by placing the bricks 8 against the upright projection 6.

[0047] In the present example, the upright projection 6 is an upright edge which extends over a substantial part of the elongated tool 1. The upright edge 6 does not extend to both end faces of the elongated tool 1, but stays from the end faces at a certain distance 2. This has the advantage that a brick 8 can also be placed on the tool in transverse direction 3, at the end face thereon. As such it is possible to construe a corner.

[0048] The upright edge is, generally, between 5-30 mm high, preferably between 15-25 mm high. The thickness of the tool itself is preferably between 5-30 mm, even more preferably between 5-20 mm.

[0049] In the present example the protrusions 4 are arranged as half balls which protrude in the recesses of the bricks 8. The advantage of a half ball is that the placement of the brick 8 over the protrusions 4 is made easy. A half ball has a guiding mechanism with which the placement of the brick over the protrusions is made easier.

[0050] To simplify the production process of the tools 1 it could be chosen to point all the protrusions for the same direction. It was the insight of the inventor that a sufficient rigid connection is that herewith are sufficient rigid connection is established, although each brick, in principle, is only retained from one side.

[0051] In the present example, there are supporting strips 5 present, in transverse direction, for supporting bricks 8 placed on the tool 1. These supporting strips 5 could have, for example, a larger thickness than the remainder of the tool 1, such that the bricks 8 rest on the supporting strips 5.

[0052] Figure 2 shows schematically an example of a dry stacked wall 103 of bricks 8 according to the present invention. Here, several layers of bricks 8 are shown, wherein between each layer of bricks several tools 1 are present. In the present example the protrusions 4 extend, in use, downwardly, such that the brick placed at the bottom side of the tool 1 is being retained.

[0053] The protrusions 4 extend in the recesses 103 of the brick wherein the recesses 103 extend over a substantial part of the brick in a longitudinal direction thereof.

[0054] The connection means are then connection with a façade 103 of a building. In the present example, the connection means are first connected to an intermediate part 102, which intermediate part 102 is subsequently connected or clicked onto the façade 103 of the building. This has the advantage that already existing facades 103 of a building are made suitable for dry stacking of bricks 8 according to the present invention.

[0055] Figure 3 shows schematically an example of a connection means 201 according to the present invention.

[0056] As mentioned before, the connection means is arranged to connect the tool 1 with a façade 103 of a building, possibly via a intermediate part 102. Such a connection means 201 could have different embodiments to accomplish such an effect. A connection means could, for example, be arranged as a hook, an anchor, a wire, a cord or something similar. The present example only shows one of the several embodiments of such a connection means.

[0057] The shown connection means 201 has an opening 202 at a bottom side thereof, which opening can be shoved on the thickening 10 at the longitudinal side 7 of the tool. The legs of the opening 202 provide clams over the thickening, which forms are rigid coupling between the tool 1 and the connection means. The thickening 10 is thus a guiding rail according to the present invention. With such a specific embodiment it is possible to move the connection means 201 along the longitudinal direction 9 of the tool 1, such that the connection means 201 can be aligned with the façade 103, or the intermediate part 102, of a building.

[0058] At a top side of the connection means 201 comprises the connection means 201 several legs 203, which legs 203 are a single clam form, which legs 203 form a single clam. These legs can be shaft over a upright edge provided at the façade 103 or at the intermediate part 103, such that a rigid connection is made between the connection means 201 and the façade 103 or the intermediate part 103.

[0059] This specific example has the advantage that the connection means 201 along the complete vertical length of the tool 102, or the façade 103, can be connected, such that no specific aligning of the connection means 201 in vertical direction is mandatory. The present invention is not limited to the examples as described above in cooperation with the different figures. To examine the scope of the invention the following claims are relevant.

Claims

1. Tool for dry stacking bricks, said bricks having longitudinally extending recesses at the bottom sides thereof, wherein said tool has an elongated shape and is arranged to carry at least two bricks, wherein said tool comprises:

- several protrusions spaced at a distance from each other, in the longitudinal direction of the tool, which protrusions are arranged to protrude into the recess of the brick in order to, in use, retain that brick in any horizontal direction;

- at least one connection means at a longitudinal side of the tool, which connection means are arranged to connect the tool to a facade of a building;

- at least one upright projection at said longitudinal side of the tool for aligning, in a transverse direction of the tool, the at least two bricks which are to be placed on top of said protrusions of the tool.

2. Tool according to claim 1, wherein a shape of the protrusions is at least one of cone-shaped, ball-shaped, spherical-shaped, cylindrical and polygonal.

3. Tool according to any of the previous claims, wherein a length of the protrusions corresponds with a length of the recess of the brick which extends in longitudinal direction.

4. Tool according to any of the previous claims, wherein the at least one upright projection is an upright edge which extends over a substantial part of the elongated tool.

5. Tool according to claim 4, wherein the upright edge is located at a distance from both end faces of the tool such that the end faces of the tool are suitable for carrying of bricks which are placed on the tool in traverse direction.

6. Tool according to any of the previous claims, wherein the tool comprises a guiding rail at the longitudinal side and extending in longitudinal direction, wherein the at least one connection means is connected to the guiding rail such that the at least one connection means is moveable along the longitudinal direction of the tool for aligning the at least one connection means with the facade of the building.

7. Tool according to any of the previous claims, wherein all protrusions of the tool protrude in a same direction.

8. Tool according to any of the claims 1 - 6, wherein the tool is arranged for dry stacking bricks having recesses extending in a longitudinal direction of the bricks, wherein said recesses are located at a bottom side and a top side of the bricks, wherein the protrusions, in use, protrude upwards as well as downwards, such that the protrusions are arranged to protrude in the recesses located in the bottom side and the top side of the bricks for maintaining the bricks in horizontal direction.

9. Tool according to claim 8, wherein positions of the protrusions extending upwards and downwards are such that, in use, bricks are being stacked in half bond.

10. Tool according to any of the previous claims, wherein the tool comprises supporting strips which extend in transversal direction, said supporting strips being arranged to support bricks placed on the tool.

11. Tool according to any of the previous claims, wherein the tool is arranged for carrying three bricks.

12. Tool according to any of the previous claims, wherein the tool is manufactured from a plastic.

13. Tool according to any of the previous claims, wherein the protrusions are deformable to account for deviations in the recesses of the bricks.

14. Tool assembly, comprising:

- at least one tool according to any of the previous claims, and

- an, in use, vertically extending post arranged to be connected to the connection means.

15. Tool assembly according to claim 14, wherein the, in use, vertically extending post comprises a bonding rail along a substantial part of its vertical length to which the connection means can engage.

16. Dry stacked wall of bricks comprising a plurality of tools according to any of the claims 1 - 13.

17. Dry stacked wall of bricks comprising at least one tool assembly according to claim 14 or 15.

18. Method for dry stacking a wall of bricks, comprising the repeating and subsequent steps of:

- placing a first row of bricks, which bricks comprise recesses extending in longitudinal direction of said bricks;

- placing, on said bricks, a first row of horizontally oriented tools according to any of the claims 1 - 13, wherein the protrusions of the tool protrude in the recesses of the bricks.

Drawing