Apparatus For Setting Objects

Abstract

In at least one embodiment, a panel comprises a body portion comprising a front side, a back side and a plurality of cavities. The front side comprises a plurality of face portions and cavity openings arranged on a first plane, and a plurality of guide members. Each guide member comprises a front edge arranged on a second plane, wherein the second plane is offset from the first plane. The guide members define a plurality of spaces of predetermined volume between said first plane and said second plane. A method comprises providing the panel, applying mortar to the panel in the predetermined volumes, skimming the mortar using the guide members to guide an edge to form metered mortar pans, and pressing objects into the mortar pans.

1 . A panel comprising:
 a body comprising a front side, a back side and a plurality of cavities;   said front side comprising:
 a plurality of face portions and cavity openings arranged on a first plane; and 
 a plurality of guide members, each guide member comprising a front edge arranged on a second plane, said second plane offset from said first plane; 
   wherein said guide members define a plurality of spaces of predetermined volume between said first plane and said second plane.   
     
     
         2 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein a distance across a cavity is greater than a distance across a cavity opening in communication with said cavity. 
     
     
         3 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein at least one cavity comprises a continuous cavity that extends continuously from a first edge of said panel to a second edge of said panel. 
     
     
         4 . The panel of  claim 3 , wherein a longitudinal axis of said continuous cavity is oriented perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of a guide member. 
     
     
         5 . The panel of  claim 3 , wherein a longitudinal axis of said continuous cavity is oriented parallel to a longitudinal axis of a guide member 
     
     
         6 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein said guide members are parallel to one another and equally spaced. 
     
     
         7 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein said back side comprises a continuous surface that extends across an area of said body. 
     
     
         8 . The panel of  claim 1 , said body comprising a plurality of elongate rails, each rail defining at least one of said face portions. 
     
     
         9 . The panel of  claim 8 , wherein a said rail comprises at least one flange and a stem portion. 
     
     
         10 . The panel of  claim 8 , wherein said rails are similar in size and shape, and are parallel to one another. 
     
     
         11 . The panel of  claim 10 , wherein a length of each rail is oriented parallel to a longitudinal axis of a said cavity. 
     
     
         12 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein a cross-sectional shape of said body is continuous along a length of said body. 
     
     
         13 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein said cavities are similar in size and shape, and extend parallel to one another. 
     
     
         14 . The panel of  claim 1 , said back side comprising a plurality of cavity openings. 
     
     
         15 . The panel of  claim 1 , formed by a pultrusion process. 
     
     
         16 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein a first edge of said panel and a second edge of said panel are configured to interlock. 
     
     
         17 . A panel comprising:
 a body comprising a front side, a back side and a plurality of cavities;   said front side comprising:
 a plurality of face portions and cavity openings arranged on a first plane; and 
 a plurality of elongate guide members, said guide members oriented parallel to one another, each guide member comprising a front edge arranged on a second plane, said second plane offset from and parallel to said first plane; 
   each cavity opening in communication with a said cavity, each cavity being larger than its cavity opening, a plurality of said cavities having a similar size and shape;   wherein said guide members define a plurality of spaces of predetermined volume between said first plane and said second plane.   
     
     
         18 . The panel of  claim 17 , said guide members integral with said body. 
     
     
         19 . The panel of  claim 17 , comprising at least one cavity that extends continuously from a first edge of said panel to a second edge. 
     
     
         20 . A method comprising:
 providing a support panel comprising face portions and raised guide members, said guide members defining predetermined spaces;   providing a curable material and filling at least one of said predetermined spaces with said curable material, thus forming at least one curable material pan; and   providing an object and pressing said object into said curable material pan.