BUILDERS PROFILING TOOL

Abstract

A corner block for supporting a builder's line mounted between posts is described, the corner block comprising a body for receiving the builder's line in use; a pair of gripping members, each gripping member having a gripping face engageable with surfaces of one of the posts in use; and a magnet mounted in the body so as to be associated with at least one of the pair of gripping faces, wherein the magnet has a magnetic force sufficient to attract it to the material of the post to which the gripping faces are applied in use.

Claims

1. A corner block for supporting a builder's line mounted between posts, the corner block comprising: a body for receiving the builder's line in use; a pair of gripping members, each gripping member having a gripping face engageable with surfaces of one of the posts in use; and a magnet mounted in the body so as to be associated with at least one of the pair of gripping faces, wherein the magnet has a magnetic force sufficient to attract it to the material of the post to which the gripping faces are applied in use.

2. The corner block according to claim 1, wherein the magnet has a pull force of at least about 4 kg.

3. The corner block according to claim 2, wherein the magnet is a super magnet.

4. The corner block according to claim 3, wherein the magnet is a rare earth magnet such as a Neodymium magnet.

5. The corner block according to claim 1, wherein the magnet is associated with both of the pair of gripping faces.

6. The corner block according to claim 1, wherein the magnet is associated with only one of the gripping faces in the pair.

7. The corner block according to claim 1, wherein there is more than one magnet in the corner block.

8. The corner block according to claim 7, wherein the pair of gripping faces comprises a first gripping face and a second gripping face, and wherein a first magnet is arranged in a first housing arranged behind the first gripping face and a second magnet spaced from the first magnet is arranged in a second housing also arranged behind the first gripping face.

9. The corner block according to claim 1, wherein the body of the corner block comprises two intersecting substantially flat pieces of material forming a cross.

10. The corner block according to claim 9, wherein two arms of the cross form the gripping members of the body.

11. The corner block according to claim 10, wherein the mounting for the magnet in the body is formed by a shelf arranged under one of the arms of the cross.

12. The corner block according to claim 11, wherein the magnet is sealed into the body of the corner block.

13. The corner block according to claim 9, wherein the cross is reinforced by one or more fins.

14. The corner block according to claim 13, wherein the fins comprise at least a first reinforcing outer fin which forms an outer surface of the corner block body and a second reinforcing outer fin which forms the opposing outer surface of the corner block body.

15. The corner block according to claim 15, wherein an intermediate reinforcing fin is provided along the axis of the body intermediate the first outer fin and the second outer fin.

16. The corner block according to claim 1, wherein the gripping members are spaced at 90 degrees so the corner block has an L-shaped body.

17. The corner block according to claim 1, wherein the pair of gripping faces comprises a first gripping face and a second gripping face and wherein the surface of the first gripping face differs from the surface of the second gripping face.

18. The corner block according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the gripping faces can have a cut-out portion on the surface of the face to reduce the amount of material contact with the post.

19. The corner block according to claim 1, wherein there are notches in the body of the corner block for a tight interference fit of the line into the notch.

20. A method comprising using the corner block according to claim 1 to mount a builder's line between a pair of posts.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0032] Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which are not drawn to scale and which are exemplary only and in which:

[0033] FIG. 1 is a background art corner block in position where the string extends between at least three posts (only two posts can be seen).

[0034] FIG. 2 is a different view of the corner block of FIG. 1.

[0035] FIG. 3 is a background art corner block in position where the string terminates at that post.

[0036] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a corner block according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0037] FIG. 5 is a front view of the corner block of FIG. 4.

[0038] FIG. 6 is a perspective plan view of the corner block of FIG. 4.

[0039] FIG. 7 is a side view of the corner block of FIG. 4.

[0040] FIG. 8 is the same side view as FIG. 7, but the cross is shown in schematic for illustration purposes.

[0041] FIG. 9 is an embodiment of the corner block without the reinforcing fins.

[0042] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a corner block.

[0043] FIG. 11 is a rear view of the embodiment of FIG. 10.

[0044] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a corner block.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] In prior arrangements as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the string 14 of the builder's line 14 can be held taut between two corner blocks 10, 10 mounted at spaced apart locations. Corner blocks 10, 10 can provide a convenient means of securely attaching the string 14 into position. Each corner block 10, 10 can be mounted on a post 12, 12 at the required level for the building process. When laying bricks 20, for example, the builder's line 14 might be required at the upper level of the next layer of bricks. To hold the string 14 in place, the string 14 is wrapped as shown around a first corner block 10 including through notches in the block 10 which receive the string and hold it in place relative to the block body. The string 14 can then be pulled over to the other of the corner blocks 10 where it is similarly wrapped around the block's body 10 to hold it in place.

[0046] FIGS. 4 to 7 show a corner block 110 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The corner block is made from polyurethane. A corner block 110 for supporting builder's line 114 (not shown) is mounted on post 112. In this embodiment, the body of the corner block 110 comprises two intersecting substantially flat pieces that together substantially form a cross (the cross is marked onto the Figure for illustration purposes). The cross is also shown for illustration purposes in side view in FIG. 8. Two arms of the cross A, B can form the gripping members 125 of the body of the block. The cross can be reinforced by one or more fins 120, 122, 124. In this embodiment, the cross is reinforced by a first reinforcing outer fin 120 which forms an outer surface of the corner block body 110. An intermediate reinforcing fin 124 is provided along the axis of the body 110. For additional reinforcement, the intermediate reinforcing fin comprises two layers 124, 124 with a space therebetween. A second reinforcing outer fin 122 is provided to form the opposing outer surface of the corner block body 110.

[0047] The gripping members 125, 125 are spaced apart from one another at 90 degrees, so, the corner block 110 has an L-shaped body. The gripping members 125, 125 can be brought towards the post 112 and then the gripping faces are applied onto the post surfaces. The gripping faces 126, 126 of the gripping members 125, 125 engage with two surfaces of the post. Where a post 112 has sides a, b, c and d, as shown in FIG. 7, the gripping faces 126, 126 can engage with surfaces a and b of the post 112. The surface of the first gripping face 126 can differ from the surface of the second gripping face 126 as can be seen in e.g. FIG. 6. The face 126 of gripping member 125 has cut-out portions on the surface to reduce the amount of material contact with the post 112. Gripping face 126 of gripping member 125 does not have this feature in this embodiment and instead it has a smooth flat face.

[0048] In order to attach the builder's line to the corner block 110, there can be notches 116 in the body of the corner block for a tight interference fit of the line into each notch. The line can further be wrapped around the body 110 of the corner block to further secure it to the block prior to securing the lose end in the notch. There can be notches 116 in each of the reinforcing fins provided as shown in FIG. 4. The notches 116 can align in use to provide a passageway along which the string can be passed.

[0049] A magnet 128 is mounted in the body of the corner block 110. The magnet is a rare earth super magnet formed from neodymium, iron and boron (NdFeB). The magnet provides the corner block 110 with 4.3 kg of pull force. The corner block 110 has two magnets 128, 128. Each magnet is in its own housing 130, 130. A first magnet 128 is arranged in a first housing 130 arranged behind the first gripping face 126 in gripping member 125. A second magnet 128 is arranged in a second housing 130 behind the first gripping face 126 but spaced from the first magnet 128. The housing 130, 130 is formed by providing a shelf under the gripping face 126. Each magnet 128, 128 can be slipped onto the shelf and then the opening to the shelf can be sealed (not shown sealed). In FIG. 7, the housing for the magnet has been sealed.

[0050] FIG. 9 is an alternative embodiment of the corner block without the reinforcing fins. The body of the corner block 210 still houses the magnet 228 and the gripping members extend around post 212, but the fins are not provided. A perspective view of a block according to this embodiment is shown in FIG. 10 and a rear view in FIG. 11. The magnet 228 could be arranged as described in relation to the embodiment of described above. Alternatively, the magnet could be housed as shown in housing 230 which is a cut out defined in the back of gripping member 236. There can be a cover over the magnet 228 (not shown). An alternative embodiment is shown in FIG. 12. The corner block 310 of FIG. 12 has one very small gripping face 326, so the magnet is optionally located behind gripping face 326 in housing 330.

[0051] It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

[0052] In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the disclosure, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word comprise or variations such as comprises or comprising is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0053] Any promises made in the present description should be understood to relate to some embodiments of the present disclosure and are not intended to be promises made about the present disclosure as a whole. Where there are promises that are deemed to apply to all embodiments of the present disclosure, the applicant/patentee reserves the right to later delete them from the description and does not rely on these promises for the acceptance or subsequent grant of a patent in any country.

[0054] The above-described embodiments of the present disclosure are merely possible examples of implementations set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the disclosure. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.