Abstract:
The invention resides in an alignment device able to align substantially vertical starter bars for a masonry block wall, the alignment device comprising a plurality of spacer arms spaced a predetermined distance from each other and a plurality of attachment members attached to respective spacer arms, the attachment members able to be operatively attached to the vertical starter bars.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates town alignment device. In particular, the invention relates to an alignment device for starter bars for masonry block walls. 
       BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The use of masonry blocks walls in construction is very popular. In order to construct a masonry block wall that has the necessary structural strength, the masonry block wall must be tied to an associated foundation or footing. When the foundation or footing for a masonry block wall is being prepared, reinforcing bars are placed in the footing. These reinforcement bars (known as starter bars) protrude from the concrete footing and are required to engage the masonry block wall. However, the starter bars are often not placed in the correct location in relation to the cavity in the masonry blocks of the masonry block wall. 
         [0003]    Misaligned starter bars are a huge problem for a block layer. The block layer is often unable to bend or adjust the incorrectly placed starter bars coming out from the concrete footing. Accordingly, the starter bars are not in their correct position and do not line up with the vertical reinforcing bars that are placed in the masonry block wall. The starter bars being out of position and not aligning with the vertical reinforcing bars in the masonry block wall during wall construction will result in the wall not meeting the structural capacity as detailed in the engineering specification for the wall. In a worst case scenario, the entire wall, including the footing, will need to be demolished and rebuilt at substantial cost. 
         [0004]    The majority of reinforced masonry block walls require starter bars (and vertical reinforcing bars) to be generally used at 400 mm intervals along the wall. The problem of misaligned starter bars is therefore a considerable inconvenience to the block layer because of the large number of starter bars in each wall construction. 
       OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is an object of the invention to overcome or at least alleviate one or more of the above disadvantages and/or provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In one form, although not necessarily the only or broadest form, the invention resides in an alignment device able to align substantially vertical starter bars for a masonry block wall, the alignment device comprising: 
         [0007]    a plurality of spacer arms spaced a predetermined distance from each other; and 
         [0008]    a plurality of attachment members attached to respective spacer arms, the attachment members able to be operatively attached to the vertical starter bars. 
         [0009]    Preferably there are at least three or more spacer arms. The spacer arms are normally equally spaced from each other. 
         [0010]    The spacer arms may be interconnected by at least one connector rail. Typically, there are two connector rails. 
         [0011]    The spacer arms may be removably attached to the at least one connector rail. Alternatively, the spacer arms may be integrally formed with the connector rail. 
         [0012]    Typically, the spacer arms are relatively linear. However, it should be appreciated that the spacer arms may be non-linear. 
         [0013]    Similarly, the at least one connector rail is relatively linear. However, it should be appreciated that the at least one connector rail could be non-linear. 
         [0014]    The attachment members are preferably in the form of a clip. However, other forms of attachment members may be suitable, such as clasp, buckle, catch, clamp, clench, clinch, fastening, grapple, hook, pin or a snap. 
         [0015]    The attachment members may be removably attached or fixed to respective spacer arms. 
         [0016]    One or more supports may form part of the alignment device to ensure that the spacer arms are held at a desired position. Typically, there are a plurality of supports. More preferable there are at least three supports. The supports may be connected or tied to a spacer arm and/or a connector rail. 
         [0017]    Each support may include a holder and at least one leg. The holder may operatively support the spacer arms. The holder may engage and/or position and/or align a spacer arm and/or a connecting rail. The holder may include holder members to engage and/or align a spacer arm or a connecting rail. 
         [0018]    The leg may be removably attached to the holder. The leg may be movable and/or adjustable with respect to the holder. However, it should be appreciated that the leg and holder may be fixed with respect to each other. Accordingly, the leg and holder may be integrally formed. 
         [0019]    In another form, the invention resides in a method of aligning substantially vertical starter bars for a masonry block wall; the method including the steps of: 
         [0020]    locating a plurality of starter bars at a desired position, each starter bar having at least one attachment member; and 
         [0021]    attaching the vertical starter bars to at least some of the attachment members to align the vertical starter bars. 
         [0022]    The method may further include one or more of the steps of: 
         [0023]    connecting the starter bars to a at least one connection rail; 
         [0024]      16 . operatively supporting the starter bars with a support. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0025]    An embodiment, by way of example only, will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0026]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an alignment device being used to support a series of starter bars according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 2  is a side sectional view of an alignment device according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an alignment device as shown in  FIG. 1  according to an embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0029]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an alignment device incorporating a different spacer arm. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0030]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show an alignment device  10  that is used to hold a series of starter bars  5  in a desired position in order to ensure the starter bars  5  are positioned correctly within a proposed masonry wall. The alignment device  10  includes a series of spacer arms  20 , an associated series of attachment members  30 , two connection rails  40  and a number of supports  50 . 
         [0031]    The spacer arms  20  are used to space starter bars  5  at the correct distance from each other. The spacer arms  20 , shown in more detail in  FIG. 3 , are made from injection moulded plastic. However, it should be appreciated that the spacer arms  20  may be made using other suitable materials. The spacer arms  20  are elongate and rectangular in transverse cross section. However, it should be appreciated that the spacer arms  20  may be of a variety of other transverse cross sections including round, elliptical, square or the like shape. A snap-in clasp  21  is located at each of the ends of each of the spacer arms  20  to connect the spacer arms  20  to respective connection rails  40 . The spacer arms  20  may be made of various lengths to suit masonry walls of different sizes. 
         [0032]    The attachment members  30  are used to hold respective starter bars  5 . The attachment members  30  are removably attached to the spacer arms  20 . A person skilled in the art would appreciate that various known forms of removable attachment of the attachment members to the spacer arms may be used. For example, the attachment members may be threaded with a corresponding threaded hole provided in the spacer arm. Alternatively, the attachment members may be snap locked into corresponding holes provided in the spacer arm  20 . This enables attachment members  30  of different sizes to be attached to the spacer arms  20  as shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 . However, it should be appreciated that the attachment members  30  may be integrally formed with the spacer arms  20 . 
         [0033]    The position of the attachment members  30  may be varied according with structural requirements of a masonry wall. For example, the attachment members  30  shown in  FIG. 3  are located centrally on the spacer arms  20  whilst the attachment members  30 , shown in  FIG. 4 , is located toward one end of the spacer arm  20 . It should be appreciated that the number of attachment members  30  and the position of the attachment members  30  may be varied on the spacer arms  20  depending on requirements. For example, a spacer arm  20  may have two attachment members  30 , one attachment member  30  having a position as shown in  FIG. 3  and one attachment member  30  as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0034]    The attachment members  30 , shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , are in the form of C-shaped clips. The clips are resilient so that a starter bar  5  can be held by the clip. The C-shaped clips may be of different sizes to cater for different sized starter bars  5 . It should be appreciated that other forms of attachment members  30  may be used instead of the C-shaped clips to hold the starter bars  5 . 
         [0035]    The connection rails  40  are used to hold the spacer arms  20 . The connection rails  40  are in the form of a C-section  41 . Holes  42  are located through and spaced equally along the length of the C-section  41 . The holes  42  are used for location of respective snap-in clasps  21  of the spacer arms  20 . As an alternative, it should be appreciated that the spacer arms  20  and the connection rails  40  may be permanently fastened to each other. Both the connection rails  40  are of a continuous length. However, it should be appreciated that the connection rails  40  may be formed from sections which are fitted together to form the connection rail  40 . A person skilled in the art would readily appreciate how sections are connected together. Further, it should be appreciated that the connection rails may be shaped differently. 
         [0036]    The supports  50 , shown in detail in  FIG. 2 , are used to support the connection rails  40  and accordingly the spacer arms  20 . Each support  50  is formed from a holder  60  and a leg  70 . The holder  60  includes two holding members  61  which engage and support the connection rails  40 . The holder members  61  are adjustable to align the spacer arms  20  and connection rails  40  above a trench to represent the location of the wall to be built. It should be appreciated that the holder  60  may be modified to engage and support the spacer arms  20 . 
         [0037]    The leg  70  is located at one end of the holder  60  and has a pointed end  71  for digging into the ground. The leg  70  is movable with respect to the holder  60 . 
         [0038]    In order to correctly align a series of starter bars  5 , the first step is to locate each pointed end  71  of the leg  70  of the supports  50  within the ground and away from and adjacent to (but not within) a trench for forming a concrete footing. The holders  60  of the supports  50  are then moved with respect to the leg  70  to locate the holders  60  at a desired height and desired horizontal location representing the exact position of the block wall to be built. Next, the attachment members  30  are selected depending on the diameter of the starter bars  5 . The spacer arms  20  are also selected depending on requirements of the masonry wall such as positioning requirements of the starter bar  5  and the size of the blocks. 
         [0039]    The attachment members  30  and the spacer arms  20  are joined together (if required). Subsequently, the spacer arms  20  are inserted into the holes of the connection rails  40  to form a “ladder” arrangement. The spacer arms  20  are held to the connection rails  40  using the snap-in clasps  21 . 
         [0040]    Once the starter arms  20  and connection rails  40  are joined together, the connection rails  40  are placed within holders  60  of the supports  50 . The starter bars  5  are then attached to the attachment members  30  to hold the starter bars  5  in their desired location. When the starter bars  5  are set plumb, a base of the starter bar  5  can be tied off to a reinforcing cage in the footing. Accordingly, the footing can then be laid ensuring the starter bars  5  are in the correct location with respect to the masonry wall to be built. 
         [0041]    There are considerable advantages in using the alignment device  10  to install the starter bars  5  in a precise location when forming the footing, when pouring the concrete for the footing and when building the masonry block wall on the top of the footing. The advantages include: 
         [0042]    1. Reducing the time taken to set out and accurately tie the starter bars  5  to the reinforcing cage in the footing trench and maintaining the starter bars  5  in vertical alignment. 
         [0043]    2. Allowing one person to easily tie the starter bars  5  in the correct location in the footing trench and thereby ensuring the starter bars  5  will be in the correct location in the masonry blocks when the blocks are laid. 
         [0044]    3. Providing the correct location for the starter bars  5  for both centrally located and non-centrally located reinforcing steel applications, being typical specifications for reinforced masonry block walls. 
         [0045]    4. Ensuring the starter bars  5  are rigidly and securely positioned by the combination of tying the starter bar  5  to the reinforcing cage in the trench and clipping the starter bar  5  to the alignment device  10  at about 500 mm above ground level. This two point connection provides the additional security that ensures the starter bar  5  does not move out of place even during the pouring of the concrete for the footing. 
         [0046]    5. Providing a simple and effective means of setting and maintaining the starter bars  5  in a vertical position to ensure they line up adjacent to the vertically placed reinforcing steel in the masonry block wall. 
         [0047]    6. Providing the longitudinal set out of the starter bars  5  at 400 mm centres for the length of the wall or at the centres specified in the engineering specification. 
         [0048]    7. Assisting in the containment of the entire reinforcing steel grid of the foundation. 
         [0049]    In this specification, the terms “comprise”, “comprises”, comprising” or similar terms are intended to mean a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a system, method or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include those elements solely, but may well include other elements not listed. 
         [0050]    It should be appreciated that various other changes and modifications may be made to the invention described without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, the alignment device could be manufactured in one piece flat lengths of extruded plastic with the connection rails and spacers arms being integrally formed. The lengths have sufficient strength to adequately support the starter bars above ground level while being flexible enough to be rolled up for convenience between jobs. Accordingly, the starter bars in this instance will be tied to spacer arms using wire as the attachment members.