Form for aligning masonry materials

Abstract

An alignment tool, for aligning masonry structures, includes at least one pair of upright guides arranged on one side of the alignment tool for centering masonry materials such as blocks or bricks. In a first embodiment for use with laying bricks, other uprights are provided on an opposite sides of the alignment tool for aligning a center of a brick over or under a mortar joint and an additional pair of uprights are provided on one end of the alignment tool. In a second embodiment, an upright is provided along a central rib of the alignment tool for insertion into a hole in a brick. Method steps for using the tool are also disclosed.

1 . A process for creating a masonry structure comprising:
 providing a first plurality of alignment devices, each alignment device comprising:
 a central support member having two ends, a upper face, a lower face, a front face, a back face and a center arranged midway between the two ends; 
 a pair of spacing blocks extending from one end of the support member, the spacing blocks being easily separated from the central support member; 
 a pair of lateral projections extending from the front face of the central support member, each lateral projection having an upper face, a lower face, a front end and a back end, the back end of each lateral projection in contact with the front face of the central support member; 
 an upright extending from the front end of each lateral projection to form a vertical member that aligns front faces of stacked bricks, said upright having a front face, a back face, an upper end, a lower end, and a center arranged midway between the upper end and the lower end, said back face of the upright being intersected at substantially the center by a respective lateral projection; and, 
 an alignment post extending from one of either the upper face or the lower face of the central support member; 
   pouring a foundation;   allowing said foundation to cure;   spreading an adhesive on a top surface of the foundation;   laying a first course of masonry materials;   securing a second plurality of alignment devices to a top surface of the first course of masonry materials;   aligning and laying a second course of masonry materials atop the second plurality of alignment device; and   thereafter laying additional courses of masonry materials and securing additional alignment devices to a top surface of each additional course of masonry material except the final course.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said spreading an adhesive includes spreading mortar. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising aligning an alignment device by inserting a vertical alignment tool into a center core of a brick. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising aligning an alignment device by inserting a vertical alignment tool into a mortar joint between adjacent bricks. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising removing a portion of one of the alignment devices. 
   
   
       6 . A form for aligning masonry materials comprising:
 a central support member having two ends, an upper face, a lower face, a front face, a rear face and a center arranged midway between the two ends;   a pair of spacing blocks extending from one end of the support member, the spacing blocks being easily separated from the central support member;   a pair of lateral projections extending from the front face of the central support member, each lateral projection having an upper face, a lower face, a front end and a back end, the back end of each lateral projection in contact with the front face of the central support member;   an upright extending from the front end of each lateral projection to form a vertical member that aligns front faces of stacked bricks, said upright having a front face, a back face, an upper end, a lower end, and a center arranged midway between the upper end and the lower end, said back face of the upright being intersected at substantially the center by a respective lateral projection; and,   an alignment post extending from one of either the upper face or the lower face of the central support member.   
   
   
       7 . The form of  claim 6  further comprising an additional alignment post extending from a face of the central support member opposite the alignment post. 
   
   
       8 . The form of  claim 6  further comprising a hoop fastener extending from the rear face of the central support member. 
   
   
       9 . The form of  claim 6  further comprising spacing blocks having one of an upper face that extends upwards through a plane created by the upper face of the central support member or that extends downward through a plane created by the lower face of the central support member. 
   
   
       10 . The form of  claim 6  further comprising one or more snap-off zones arranged between the central support member and one or more selected from a list consisting of the spacing blocks, the lateral projection, the center of the central support member, the alignment post and the uprights. 
   
   
       11 . The form of  claim 6  wherein said form comprises lightweight molded or extruded plastic or composite material selected from a group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyurethanes, polyvinyl chloride, thermoset resins, polyethylene terephthalate, high density polyethylene, and other mixed resins and having a roughened exterior surface. 
   
   
       12 . The form of  claim 6  comprising metal. 
   
   
       13 . The form of  claim 6  further comprising a t-shaped end arranged at an end of the central support member and to which the spacing blocks are attached. 
   
   
       14 . An alignment device that arranges individual bricks that comprise a masonry structure, said alignment device comprising:
 a central support member having a t-shaped end, an upper face upon which at least a portion of a bottom surface of a brick rests, a lower face, a front face, a rear face;   end extensions fixed to the t-shaped end of the central support member for providing an appropriate width of a mortar joint between adjacent bricks;   an internal vertical aligner extends from one of either the upper face or the lower face of the central support member to cause the center of an upper brick to be centered over the mortar joint between adjacent bricks in a course laid below;   a pair of external surface aligners extending from the front face of the central support member to align front faces of bricks; and,   a hoop fastener extending from the rear face of the central support member to fasten the masonry structure to a building.   
   
   
       15 . The alignment device of  claim 14  further comprising an additional internal vertical aligner extending from a face of the central support member opposite the alignment post. 
   
   
       16 . The alignment device of  claim 14  wherein the end extensions fixed to the t-shaped end of the central support member comprise spacing blocks having one of an upper face that extends upwards through a plane created by the upper face of the central support member or that extends downward through a plane created by the lower face of the central support member. 
   
   
       17 . The alignment device of  claim 14  further comprising one or more snap-off zones arranged between the central support member and one or more selected from a list consisting the t-shaped end, the end extensions, the internal vertical aligner, the pair of external surface aligners, and the hoop fastener. 
   
   
       18 . The alignment device of  claim 14  wherein the alignment device comprises metal. 
   
   
       19 . The alignment device of  claim 14  further comprising a second pair of external surface aligners extending from the rear face of the central support member to align back faces of bricks. 
   
   
       20 . The alignment device of  claim 19  wherein one of the second pair of external surface aligners includes a perpendicular extension having graduated marks thereon.