Bricklaying device

Abstract

A building block spacer ( 14 ) comprises a mat ( 16 ) having a plurality of spacer elements ( 18 ) provided thereon. The spacer is laid on a course of bricks ( 12 ), mortar is poured on top and a further course is then laid on the mortar. The spacers ( 18 ) ensure consistent and even spacing between courses of brickwork.

1 . A building block spacer for spacing building blocks in conjunction with bonding material, the spacer comprising a mat having first and second dimensions and a plurality of spacer elements provided thereon at intervals, in which the spacer elements are configured to be enveloped in bonding material in both dimensions.  
     
     
         2 . A spacer as claimed in  claim 1  in which the mat is elongate in the first dimension and the spacer elements are provided at intervals in the first dimension.  
     
     
         3 . A spacer as claimed in  claim 2  in which the spacer elements comprise ridges.  
     
     
         4 . A spacer as claimed in  claim 3  in which the ridges have a triangular cross-section.  
     
     
         5 . A spacer as claimed in  claim 2  in which the spacer elements are provided at intervals in the second dimension.  
     
     
         6 . A spacer as claimed in  claim 5  in which the spacer elements are generally symmetrical in the first and second dimensions.  
     
     
         7 . A spacer as claimed in  claim 6  in which the spacer elements are cuboidal.  
     
     
         8 . A spacer as claimed in  claim 5  in which the spacer elements are elongate in the first dimension.  
     
     
         9 - 10 . (canceled)  
     
     
         11 . A building block spacer for spacing building blocks in conjunction with bonding material, the spacer comprising an elongate mat and plurality of spacer elements provided thereon at intervals in which the spacer elements are spaced apart less than the width of a standard brick in a direction transverse to the elongate direction.  
     
     
         12 . A spacer as claimed in  claim 11  in which the spacer elements are spaced by a distance in the range of 75-85 mm.  
     
     
         13 . A building block structure comprising a plurality of building blocks bonded by bonding material in which a spacer comprising a mat and a plurality of spacer elements provided thereon is embedded in the bonding material.  
     
     
         14 . The building block structure of  claim 13 , wherein the spacer comprises a spacer for spacing building blocks in conjunction with bonding material, the spacer comprising a mat having a first and second dimensions and a plurality of spacer elements provided thereon at intervals, in which the spacer elements are configured to be enveloped in bonding material in both dimensions.  
     
     
         15 . (canceled)  
     
     
         16 . The building block structure of  claim 14 , wherein the mat is elongate in the first dimension and the spacer elements are provided at intervals in the first dimension.  
     
     
         17 . The building block structure of  claim 16 , wherein the spacer elements comprise ridges.  
     
     
         18 . The building block structure of  claim 17 , wherein the ridges have a triangular cross-section.  
     
     
         19 . The building block structure of  claim 16 , wherein the spacer elements are provided at intervals in the second dimension.  
     
     
         20 . The building block structure of  claim 19 , wherein the spacer elements are generally symmetrical in the first and second dimensions.  
     
     
         21 . The building block structure of  claim 20 , wherein the spacer elements are cuboidal.  
     
     
         22 . The building block structure of  claim 20 , wherein the spacer elements are cylindrical.  
     
     
         23 . The building block structure of  claim 20 , wherein the spacer elements are elongate in the first dimension.  
     
     
         24 . A method of laying building blocks comprising laying a first course of building blocks having a course boundary, laying thereon a spacer comprising a mat having a plurality of spacer elements, the plurality of spacer elements being laid within the course boundary, laying a layer of bonding material on the spacer, laying a second course of building blocks and removing excess bonding material beyond the course boundary.  
     
     
         25 . A spacer as claimed in  claim 6  in which the spacer elements are cylindrical.