Systems and devices for collecting falling mortar

Abstract

Embodiments of the present application relate to systems, devices, and methods for collecting falling mortar. Generally, these systems and methods comprise a masonry wall and one or more mortar stoppers. A mortar stopper may comprise a longitudinally extending surface comprising an indicator that defines an inserting portion and a mortar collecting portion, both of which being integral to the mortar stopper. The inserting portion may be inserted into mortar spaces along a backside of the wall such that the mortar collecting portion extends from the backside of the wall. Thereby, the mortar collecting portion collects mortar falling from the mortar spaces of the backside of the wall. The indicator may be positioned along the longitudinally extending surface such that the indicator indicates an appropriate length of insertion of the inserting portion into the wall sufficient for the mortar stopper to support the mortar collecting portion and the falling mortar collected by the mortar collecting portion. Additional embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

1 . A system for collecting falling mortar, said system comprising a masonry wall and one or more mortar stoppers, wherein:
 said wall comprises a front side, a backside, and a plurality of mortar spaces between components forming said wall;   said mortar stopper comprises a longitudinally extending surface comprising an indicator defining an inserting portion and a mortar collecting portion of said mortar stopper;   said inserting and mortar collecting portions are integral to said mortar stopper;   said inserting portion is inserted into said mortar spaces along said backside of said wall;   said mortar collecting portion extends from said backside of said wall such that said mortar collecting portion collects said mortar as said mortar falls from said mortar spaces of said backside of said wall; and   said indicator is positioned along said longitudinally extending surface such that said indicator indicates an appropriate length of insertion of said inserting portion into said wall sufficient for said mortar stopper to support said mortar collecting portion and said falling mortar collected by said mortar collecting portion.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said longitudinally extending surface of said mortar stopper is a substantially flat surface such that said inserting and mortar collecting portions and said indicator are co-planar. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said indicator is a score line or other visual indicator. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said longitudinally extending surface of said mortar stopper is a curved surface. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said longitudinally extending surface of said mortar stopper is an angular surface such that said inserting and mortar collecting portions are in different planes of said angular surface. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said indicator is an apex of an angle in said angular surface of said mortar stopper. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said mortar stopper is configured such that said mortar stopper is interchangeably positionable along said backside of said wall. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said inserting and mortar collecting portions comprise a plurality of apertures. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said indicator is positioned along said longitudinally extending surface such that said indicator indicates an appropriate length of extension of said mortar collecting portion from said wall sufficient for said mortar stopper to collect said falling mortar. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said indicator comprises one or more projections that project from said longitudinally extending surface of said mortar stopper. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said projections of said indicator obstruct said mortar stopper from inserting into said wall beyond said indicator defining said inserting portion and said mortar collecting portion. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said projections of said indicator span said mortar space such that said projections obstruct said mortar from falling from said mortar space where said mortar stopper is installed. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said inserting portion is inserted into said mortar spaces any length sufficient for said inserting portion to adhere to said wall as said mortar in said mortar spaces cures and for said mortar stopper to support said mortar collecting portion and said falling mortar collected by said mortar collecting portion. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said inserting portion adheres to said wall as said mortar in said mortar spaces cures. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said longitudinally extending surface of said mortar stopper further comprises a plurality of grooves. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said inserting portion of said mortar stopper further comprises one or more extensions; and   said extensions define a height of said mortar space, wherein said height of said mortar space defines amount of said mortar to be placed in said mortar space.   
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein said extensions are configured to anchor said inserting portion in said mortar in said mortar spaces. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said mortar collecting portion comprises one or more extensions; and   said extensions confine at least a portion of said mortar collected by said mortar collecting portion to said mortar collecting portion.   
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said mortar stoppers are staggered along said backside of said wall above a ground surface such that said mortar stoppers collect said falling mortar and drain moisture to said ground surface from various areas of said backside of said wall. 
   
   
       20 . A system for collecting falling mortar, said system comprising a cinder block wall and one or more mortar stoppers, wherein:
 said wall comprises a plurality of cinder blocks and a plurality of mortar spaces between said cinder blocks forming said wall, wherein each of said cinder blocks comprise a top side, a bottom side, and an interior portion, said interior portion comprising one or more openings through said top and bottom sides of said cinder block;   said mortar stopper is installed on said top side of said cinder block such that said mortar stopper is positioned in said mortar space between said cinder blocks;   said mortar stopper comprises a substantially planar surface comprising a plurality of apertures and one or more vertically oriented spacing ribs;   said mortar stopper collects mortar as said mortar falls within said interior portions of said cinder blocks of said wall; and   said mortar stopper adheres to said wall as said mortar cures.   
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein:
 said spacing ribs guide said formation of said wall by defining a height of said mortar space, wherein said height of said mortar space defines amount of said mortar to be placed in said mortar space during said formation of said wall;   said spacing ribs further anchor said mortar stopper in said mortar in said mortar spaces; and   said spacing ribs extend from said substantially planar surface a sufficient amount to provide a substantial amount of structural rigidity to said mortar stopper sufficient for said mortar stopper to support said falling mortar collected by said mortar stopper without substantial deformation to said planar surface.   
   
   
       22 . A method comprising:
 providing a system for collecting falling mortar, said system comprising a masonry wall and one or more mortar stoppers, wherein:
 said wall comprises a front side, a backside, and a plurality of mortar spaces between components forming said wall; 
 said mortar stopper comprises a longitudinally extending surface comprising an indicator defining an inserting portion and a mortar collecting portion of said mortar stopper; 
 said inserting and mortar collecting portions are integral to said mortar stopper; and 
 said indicator is positioned along said longitudinally extending surface such that said indicator indicates an appropriate length of insertion of said inserting portion into said wall sufficient for said mortar stopper to support said 
 mortar collecting portion and said falling mortar collected by said mortar collecting portion; 
   inserting said inserting portion into said mortar spaces along said backside of said wall;   collecting with said mortar collecting portion that extends from said backside of said wall said mortar as said mortar falls from said mortar spaces; and   draining moisture from said backside of said wall and said mortar stoppers to a ground surface substantially free of said mortar.