Line Guide

Abstract

A line guide (1) having: a body (3) having a base (5), and a pair of opposing sides (7,9); a pair of jaws (39,41), extending below the base (5), on opposite sides (7,9) of the body (3), wherein the jaws (39,41) have a closed position in which the jaws (39,41) have a first spacing, and an open position in which the jaws (39,41) have a second spacing, wider than the first spacing; means for indexing the jaws (39,41) between the open and closed positions; means for adjusting the first spacing; and a channel (19) extending parallel to the sides (7,9) of the body (3) and arranged to receive a line, and to hold the line above the base (5) of the body (3).

1 . A line guide having:
 a body having a base, and a pair of opposing sides;   a pair of jaws, extending below the base, on opposite sides of the body, wherein the jaws have a closed position in which the jaws have a first spacing, and an open position in which the jaws have a second spacing, wider than the first spacing;
 wherein the jaws are indexable between the first spacing and the second spacing; and 
 the first spacing is adjustable; and 
   a channel extending parallel to the sides of the body and arranged to receive a line, and to hold the line above the base of the body.   
     
     
         2 . The line guide of  claim 1 , wherein, when in the closed position, the jaws are arranged to, in use, grip a previously laid course of masonry units with sufficient force to prevent removal of the line guide, but insufficient force that movement of the line guide moves the first course of masonry units; and wherein, in use, the line sets the level for the course of masonry units to be laid on top of the previously laid course. 
     
     
         3 . The line guide of  claim 1 , wherein the jaws are resiliently biased to the second spacing. 
     
     
         4 . The line guide of  claim 1 , including a spacing actuator to adjust the first spacing, wherein the spacing actuator allows for coarse and fine adjustment of the first spacing. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The line guide of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical height of the channel relative to the base of the body is adjustable. 
     
     
         8 . The line guide of  claim 1 , including two or more jaws on each side of the body, extending below the body, wherein each jaw extends a portion of the length of the body. 
     
     
         9 . The line guide of  claim 8 , wherein each jaw is removable or retractable independently of the other jaw or jaws, such that it does not extend below the body in a stowed position. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The line guide of  claim 1 , wherein the channel is formed in a projection extending from a side of the body, wherein the projection is arranged to move vertically with respect to the body, to adjust the height of the channel. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The line guide of  claim 1 , wherein the spacing of the channel from the body is adjustable in a direction perpendicular to the sides of the body. 
     
     
         14 . The line guide of  claim 1 , wherein the body is the length of a masonry unit. 
     
     
         15 . The line guide of  claim 1 , where the length of the body is extendable. 
     
     
         16 . The line guide of  claim 1 , including an anchor point for fixing a first end of a line, the anchor point comprising a ratchet mechanism for tightening and releasing the line. 
     
     
         17 . The line guide of  claim 1 , including a handle for carrying the guide, wherein the handle is formed in an indent in a top surface of the body, such that the handle is flush with or below the top surface. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The line guide of  claim 1 , wherein the base includes a resiliently deformable material on the surface arranged to contact the first course of masonry units. 
     
     
         20 . The line guide of  claim 1 , including a spacer pin, the spacer pin arranged to project from the base of the body in order to enable horizontal positioning of the line guide relative to vertical mortar gaps in a course of masonry units the line guide is secured to, in use. 
     
     
         21 . The line guide of  claim 1 , including one or more distance gauges, the distance gauges arranged to project from one or both ends of the body, to enable spacing of the line guide relative to horizontally adjacent, wherein at least one of the distance gauges is level with a base of the channel. 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . The line guide of  claim 1 , wherein each jaw comprises a gripping surface extending below the base of the body, and facing the opposite side of the body; and wherein the jaws include a resiliently deformable material on the gripping surface. 
     
     
         24 . The line guide of  claim 1 , wherein each jaw comprises a gripping surface extending below the base of the body, and facing the opposite side of the body; and wherein at least a portion of a side of the body is flush with the gripping surface. 
     
     
         25 . The line guide of  claim 1 , including a plumb guide, extending beyond the body, below or adjacent the body. 
     
     
         26 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A method of laying a wall including laying a first course of masonry units, and for each subsequent course:
 clamping a line guide as claimed in any preceding claim on top of the preceding course of masonry units, at a first end the wall;   extending a line from the line guide, to a second end of the wall, and fixing the line at the second end of the wall, such that the line is level;   laying a course of masonry units on top of the preceding course, adjacent the line guide;   removing the line guide from the preceding course of masonry units; and   laying a masonry unit in the gap formed by removing the line guide.