Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Openwork; e.g. – truss – trellis – grille – screen – frame – or... – Spacer-positioner; e.g. – rebar chair
Reexamination Certificate
2001-08-13
2003-10-07
Friedman, Carl D. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Openwork; e.g., truss, trellis, grille, screen, frame, or...
Spacer-positioner; e.g., rebar chair
C052S649800, C052S649700, C052S649600, C052S432000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06629393
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to brick, block, and masonry construction, and more particularly to a horizontal tie for placement between courses of concrete block, for spacing the adjacent courses evenly. The tie or “ladder” of the present invention includes a series of vertically disposed spacer elements formed integrally with the elongate elements parallel to the masonry courses, with these spacer elements defining the gap between courses and thus providing a consistent thickness for the mortar bond layer between vertically adjacent courses.
2. Description of the Related Art
The construction of walls and similar structures from a series of concrete blocks, bricks, or other elements, requires great skill and technique to achieve perfectly level horizontal courses with consistent spacing between elements in each row or course. Accordingly, the cost of such work is not inexpensive, considering the highly skilled labor generally involved. As a result, many amateurs will economize by attempting such work in home construction projects and the like, with the results generally not as satisfactory as those achieved by professionals.
One of the major reasons for the lack of uniform rows or courses in such brick and block construction, is the difficulty in achieving a constant thickness for the mortar joint between vertically adjacent brick or block courses. The lack of a straight, uniform joint between courses, greatly detracts from the finished appearance of a masonry structure and is perhaps the most obvious sign of imperfection in such a structure, even though the structure may be otherwise sound.
Another problem with masonry construction is the relative weakness of the mortar joints in comparison to the strength of the individual brick or concrete block elements themselves. When a masonry wall is damaged, it is quite often the mortar joints which fail, with the individual brick or block elements remaining intact. As a result, most building codes require some form of reinforcement between courses, or perhaps installed vertically in the spaces within the blocks in concrete block construction. Accordingly, the development and use of various forms of reinforcing members constructed of wire rod, flat sheet elements, or other suitable material, is well known in the art. These devices are commonly known as “ladders,” due to their two elongate parallel elements which run along each side of the mortar joint, and the series of crossmembers which tie the parallel elements together. However, these rod and sheet elements are generally considerably thinner than the mortar joint between adjacent horizontal courses in a masonry structure, and do nothing to provide accurate spacing between adjacent courses in such a wall.
Accordingly, a need will be seen for an improved masonry reinforcing tie for use in brick and block masonry structures, but which is particularly well adapted for use in concrete block wall construction. The present reinforcing tie is formed of wire rod, with two elongate elements spaced apart to lie just within the outer edges of the mortar joint between vertically adjacent courses of blocks. The two elongate elements are tied together by a series of spaced apart lateral elements which span the distance between the two elongate elements, i.e., just slightly shorter than the span of the mortar joint. Each of the elongate elements includes a series of spaced apart, vertically disposed spacer elements, which extend out of the plane of the elongate elements a distance equal to the thickness of the mortar joint to be applied.
The present invention is used by applying mortar to the top of a previously completed course of blocks (or to the footing upon which the blocks are to be placed), with the present reinforcing tie then placed into the mortar, with the spacing elements oriented either upwardly or downwardly. The next course of blocks is then set in place atop the fresh mortar and reinforcing tie and tamped into place against the underlying reinforcing tie or spacer elements thereof, to press the tie downwardly into the fresh mortar. The present reinforcing tie thus defines an accurate mortar joint thickness, resulting in an attractively finished wall.
A discussion of the related art of which the present inventor is aware, and its differences and distinctions from the present invention, is provided below.
U.S. Pat. No. 903,000 issued on Nov. 3, 1908 to Stephen Priest, Jr., titled “Wall Tie,” describes a reinforcing tie having two longitudinal wires with a series of lateral wires extending therebetween. The lateral wires are twisted together and further twisted about the longitudinal wires, to tie the assembly together. The maximum thickness of the twisted wires is only equal to twice the wire diameter, which is clearly less than the thickness of the mortar joint. The Priest, Jr. tie thus cannot be used to space adjacent masonry courses from one another. It is further noted that as the twisted wires extend substantially the entire length of the longitudinal wire components, that the essentially constant thickness of the twisted pairs would result in separating the mortar on each side of the wire members, thus weakening the joint.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,899,312 issued on Feb. 28, 1933 to Lee Cochran, titled “Burial Vault,” describes a construction having a sheet metal case overlaid with reinforcing wire mesh and concrete. The multiple strands of the mesh include a series of U-shaped bends which extend generally normal to the plane defined by the mesh. The spacer elements are welded to the sheet metal case of the assembly, with the mesh being applied to both sides of the metal case. The assembly is then coated with concrete. However, the metal mesh of the Cochran vault does nothing to space one solid element from another, or to define the thickness of the concrete overlay of the metal case, whereas the present reinforcing tie is adapted for use between adjacent masonry courses and defines the distance and mortar thickness therebetween.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,300,181 issued on Oct. 27, 1942 to Harold L. Spaight, titled “Means For Constructing Buildings,” describes a masonry tie comprising two elongate wire or rod members with a series of alternating, generally diagonal lateral members therebetween. The Spaight tie cannot serve to evenly space vertically adjacent masonry courses, as no vertical spacer elements are provided by Spaight.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,929,238 issued on Mar. 22, 1960 to Karl H. Kaye, titled “Masonry Joint Mesh-Strip,” describes an essentially conventional ladder-type reinforcing tie, having a pair of parallel longitudinal wire rod members connected by a series of lateral members welded therebetween. Kaye provides additional grip for his tie by forming serrations along the upper and lower sides of the longitudinal members in order to better grip the mortar. However, Kaye does not provide any spacer elements extending from the plane of his tie for evenly spacing adjacent courses of masonry, as provided by the present masonry reinforcing tie invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,059,380 issued on Oct. 23, 1962 to Henry T. Holsman, titled “Block Wall Reinforcement,” describes a tie system having two parallel wires along each block edge, with each longitudinal wire pair joined by a sinusoidal transverse wire. Additional diagonal ties are also provided. However, the maximum thickness of the Holsman tie assembly is no more than two wire diameters and does not extend across the entire thickness of the mortar joint between courses to space those courses from one another, as is clearly shown in
FIG. 4
of the Holsman patent.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,183,628 issued on May 18, 1965 to William G. Smith, titled “Masonry Wall Reinforcing Means,” describes a reinforcing tie in which the longitudinal members are embossed with a series of grooves or depressions. These grooves perform substantially the same function as that of the serrations of the Kaye '238 U.S. Patent discussed further above, i.e., providing a better grip between the reinforcing tie an
Friedman Carl D.
Thissell Jennifer I.
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