Construction of an arch

Abstract

A frame for retaining one or more masonry slips is provided. The one or more masonry slips each have at least two slots formed on at least two sides thereof. The frame includes a supporting structure including a back plate, and is configured to house two or more masonry slips, and two or more face rails positioned on the back plate of the supporting structure. Each face rail is configured to house at least one masonry sup, and includes a projection directed away from the back plate of the supporting structure, and a retaining element positioned at the end of the projection so that the retaining element is approximately parallel to the back plate of the supporting structure, and the retaining element is configured to be positioned within one of the two slots formed on the sides of the masonry slip.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A frame for retaining one or more masonry slips, the one or more masonry slips each having at least two slots formed on at least two sides thereof, respectively, the frame comprising:
 a supporting structure comprising a back plate, wherein the supporting structure is configured to house two or more masonry slips;   two or more face rails positioned on the back plate of the supporting structure, wherein each face rail is configured to house at least one masonry slip, each face rail comprising a projection directed away from the back plate of the supporting structure, and a retaining element positioned at the end of the projection and so that the retaining element is approximately parallel to the back plate of the supporting structure, wherein the retaining element is configured to be positioned within one of the two slots formed on the sides of the masonry slip.   
     
     
         27 . The frame of  claim 26 , further comprising a spacer element configured to be positioned within a slot of a first masonry slip housed by the first face rail, and within a slot of a second masonry slip housed by the second face rail, so that the spacer element maintains a set gap between the first masonry slip and the second masonry slip. 
     
     
         28 . The frame of  claim 26 , wherein the supporting structure comprises an underside plate on an underside of the supporting structure beneath the back plate. 
     
     
         29 . The frame of  claim 26 , further comprising two or more soffit rails positioned on an underside plate of the supporting structure, wherein each soffit rail comprises two projections extending away from the underside plate of the supporting structure spaced apart from each other, each soffit rail further comprising a retaining element extending from the end of each projection so that the retaining elements are substantially parallel to the underside plate of the supporting structure, the first and second retaining elements extending towards each other so that each can fit within a slot of a masonry slip so that the masonry slip is held by the soffit rail. 
     
     
         30 . The frame of  claim 27 , wherein the spacer element comprises a clip like structure comprising a central body portion and two arms extending from either side of the body portion, the arms extending towards the centre of the body portion and towards each other, and wherein central body portion of the spacer element is substantially flat. 
     
     
         31 . The frame of  claim 27 , wherein the spacer element comprising a washer like structure, and wherein the spacer element comprises a central body with two projections, and a first projection of the two projections emanates from a proximal end of the central body upwards, and a second projection of the two projections emanates from a distal end of the central body downwards, and wherein the projections are rounded and atraumatic. 
     
     
         32 . The frame of  claim 26 , wherein the supporting structure is a curved supporting structure, and wherein the curved supporting structure forms an arch. 
     
     
         33 . The frame of  claim 27 , wherein the frame comprises a second spacer element positioned between the first masonry slip and the second masonry slip, and wherein the first spacer element is positioned above the second spacer element. 
     
     
         34 . The frame of  claim 33 , wherein the first spacer element is substantially the same size as the second spacer element, and wherein the first spacer element is larger than the second spacer element so that when the masonry slips are fitted the gap between the masonry slips is larger at the top than the bottom of the join between the first and second masonry slips, and wherein the masonry slips are L-shaped. 
     
     
         35 . The frame of  claim 26 , the frame comprising a weight bearing support sheet; and/or
 wherein the frame is constructed from steel; and/or   wherein the supporting structure is a lintel structure.   
     
     
         36 . The frame of  claim 27 , wherein the spacer element either:
 is configured to be disposed between a first face rail and a second face rail, or wherein the spacer element forms part of a first face rail.   
     
     
         37 . The frame of  claim 26 , wherein each face rail extends approximately perpendicularly away from the back plate; and/or
 wherein the retaining element extends approximately perpendicularly to the projection.   
     
     
         38 . An archway comprising:
 a frame for retaining one or more masonry slips, the one or more masonry slips each having at least two slots formed on at least two sides thereof, the frame comprising:   a supporting structure comprising a back plate, wherein the supporting structure is configured to house two or more masonry slips;   two or more face rails positioned on the back plate of the supporting structure, wherein each face rail is configured to house at least one masonry slip, each face rail comprising a projection directed away from the back plate of the supporting structure, and a retaining element positioned at the end of the projection and so that the retaining element is approximately parallel to the back plate of the supporting structure, and wherein the retaining element is configured to be positioned within one of the two slots formed on the sides of the masonry slip.   
     
     
         39 . A building comprising:
 a frame for retaining one or more masonry slips, the one or more masonry slips each having at least two slots formed on at least two sides thereof, respectively, the frame comprising:   a supporting structure comprising a back plate, wherein the supporting structure is configured to house two or more masonry slips;   two or more face rails positioned on the back plate of the supporting structure, wherein each face rail is configured to house at least one masonry slip, each face rail comprising a projection directed away from the back plate of the supporting structure, and further comprising a retaining element positioned at the end of the projection and so that the retaining element is approximately parallel to the back plate of the supporting structure, and wherein the retaining element is configured to be positioned within one of the two slots formed on the sides of the masonry slip.   
     
     
         40 . The building of  claim 39 , comprising an archway formed from the frame. 
     
     
         41 . A method of assembling the frame of  claim 26 , the method of assembly comprising the steps of:
 fabricating a supporting structure comprising a back plate and at least two face rails;   installing a first masonry slip into a first face rail by rotating the first masonry slip so that the first masonry slip passes via the projection of the first face rail;   installing a second masonry slip into the second face rail by rotating the second masonry slip so that it passes via the projection of the second face rail;   wherein the slot on the side of each masonry slip is positioned level with the retaining element of the corresponding face rail parallel to the back plate;   positioning the retaining elements within the corresponding slot on the side of the corresponding masonry slip.   
     
     
         42 . The method of assembly of  claim 41 , further comprising the steps of:
 inserting a first spacer element into the side of the masonry slip, while allowing enough room for the adjacent masonry slip to subsequently be installed;   wherein once the adjacent masonry slip is installed rotating the spacer element so that the spacer element is in contact with both the first and the second masonry slips, preventing the masonry slips form being rotated in the opposite direction to which they were installed.   
     
     
         43 . The method of assembly of  claim 41 , wherein the spacer elements are washers, and further comprising the steps of:
 fixing the spacer elements to the back plate, wherein the backing plate comprises pre-cut holts in locations aligned with centres of joints between adjacent masonry slips.   
     
     
         44 . The method of assembly of  claim 41 , further comprising fabricating an underside plate as part of the supporting structure, and welding soffit rails to the underside plate of the supporting structure. 
     
     
         45 . The method of assembly of  claim 41 , wherein supporting structure is curved, and/or wherein the supporting structure is a lintel, and/or wherein the supporting structure is formed from stainless steel.