Improved mortar board

Abstract

A mortar board comprises a mortar or mud receiving surface formable between a flat planar formation and a concave surface formation when loaded with mortar. The mortar receiving surface comprises a t

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to an improved mortar board, commonly known in the industry as a spot board, of the type used in the construction industry. BACKGROUND Mortar boards, also known as spot boards, are used in the construction industry and are typically a square, or rectangular, relatively flat board, having a mortar loading surface on which mortar is loaded. The mortar board is a well-known and commonly used tool for facilitating and efficiently carrying and applying mortar to bricks or stone. Known mortar boards are typically made from wood or rigid plastics. Wooden mortar boards are disadvantaged in that they absorb fluid from the loaded mortar. This absorption of fluid from the loaded mortar causes the loaded mortar to dry out prematurely, which is particularly undesirable in the industry. On the other hand, rigid plastic mortar boards, although non-absorptive, tend to be rigid and have a flat planar surface. Because of the rigidity and flat planar surface, the loaded mortar tends to slide and move laterally and outwardly on the mortar loading surface. This causes lateral displacement of the loaded mortar and water, which also particularly undesirable. An objective of the present invention is to provide a mortar board which addresses the problems with known mortar boards. SUMMARY OF INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided a mortar board comprising a mortar receiving surface, the mortar receiving surface being formable between a planar surface formation when unloaded with mortar and a concave surface formation when loaded with mortar, the loaded mortar being the cause of the formation of the concave surface. The mortar receiving surface is advantageously resiliently biased to return to the planar surface formation. The mortar receiving surface advantageously further comprises a three-dimensional patterned portion. The three-dimensional portion advantageously comprises mortar retaining means, operable to retain loaded mortar at the location of the mortar receiving surface at which the mortar was loaded. The mortar retaining means functions to mitigate lateral and / or outward displacement of the loaded mortar along the mortar receiving surface. The three-dimensional portion advantageously comprises fluid retention means. The fluid retention means advantageously comprise a plurality of fluid retainers. The fluid retainers are operable to collect mortar-originating fluid and retain the mortaroriginating fluid in the fluid retention means underlying the loaded mortar. The fluid retention means functions to mitigate displacement of the mortar-originating fluid along the mortar receiving surface and to maintain hydration of the loaded mortar by retaining the mortar-originating fluid on the mortar receiving surface at the location on which the loaded mortar has been loaded. The mortar board advantageously comprises Polyethylene, preferably High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and / or Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE). More advantageously, the mortar board comprises Stocbord®. The invention is an improved mortar board that incorporates flexibility and resilience and a three-dimensional patterned surface to prevent the loaded mortar from drying out and / or displacing laterally. The mortar board is designed to flex and form a concave surface when loaded with mortar, ensuring the mortar stays centred. Additionally, the three-dimensional patterned surface grips the loaded mortar and retains fluid, preventing unwanted displacement. DESCRIPTION Various embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a drawing showing a perspective view from above of a mortar board according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a drawing showing a perspective view from below of the motor board of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a drawing showing a view from above of a three-dimensional patterned surface portion disposed on a mortar receiving surface of the mortar board of Figure 1. The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. While this present disclosure is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail specific embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an example of the principles of the present disclosure and not intended to limit the present disclosure to the specific embodiments shown and described. In the description below, like reference numerals are used to describe the same, similar or corresponding parts in the several views of the drawings. In this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element preceded by "comprises ... a" does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and parts thereof, are not necessarily to scale and the parts may be merely representative of components or other described entities. Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a mortar board 10, according to the present invention, comprises a relatively thin rectangular board 12. The board 12 has an upper surface 14 and a under surface 16. The upper surface 14 comprises a mortar receiving surface 18, which may extend over the whole of the upper surface or, alternatively, may be a defined central area of the upper surface 14. The mortar receiving surface 18 comprises a three-dimensional patterned surface 20, as shown in Figure 3, for example. The three-dimensional patterned surface 20 comprises a plurality of surface indentations 22 and a plurality of ridges 24 formed by and between adjacent surface indentations 22. The plurality of surface indentations 22 are preferably arranged in lines orientated diagonally relative to the rectangular board 12. Similarly, the plurality of ridges 24 preferably extend diagonally relative to the rectangular board 12. The board 12 is formed from a non-rigid resilient material that has a small amount of flexibility sufficient for the load of mortar loaded onto the mortar receiving surface to cause deformation of the mortar receiving surface into a shallow concave in which the loaded mortar sits. For example, the board 12 is formed using Polyethylene. High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and / or Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) are preferable because they are not highly cross-linked and therefore not very rigid. More advantageously, the mortar board may be formed from Stocbord® material. In alternative embodiments the flexible and resilient material may be selected from a group consisting of rubber, silicone, flexible plastic, and other similar materials. A handle 26 is preferably formed as an aperture 28 through the thickness of the board 12 adjacent a peripheral edge of the board 12. The handle 26 facilitates carrying and manoeuvrability of the mortar board 10. In use, mortar is loaded onto the mortar receiving surface 18. As the mortar is loaded onto the mortar receiving surface 18, the board 12 flexes and a concave formation is formed under the load of the mortar. The depth and / or size of the concavity is relative to the load of the loaded mortar and sufficient to keep the mortar centred on the board. This mitigates lateral displacement of the mortar and of mortar-originating fluid across the mortar receiving surface 18. Therefore, in use, the formation of the concavity functions to localise the mortar and mortar-originating fluid at the centre of the board 12. With the loaded mortar disposed on the motor receiving surface 18, the three-dimensional patterned surface 20 underlies the loaded mortar. The plurality of surface indentations 22 capture mortar-originating fluid and thereby prevent lateral displacement and escape of mortar-originating fluid towards outer edges of the board 12. By capturing the mortar-originating fluid in the mortar receiving surface directly underlying the loaded mortar, the plurality of surface indentations 22 maintain the mortar-originating fluid under and in contact with the loaded mortar. This maintains the moisture in the loaded mortar preventing premature drying out of the loaded mortar and ensuring the mortar maintains its workability for a longer period. As the mortar is loaded onto the board 12, the plurality of ridges 24 are embedded into the surface of the loaded mortar and thereby grip the loaded mortar. This prevents lateral displacement of the loaded mortar along the mortar receiving surface and maintains the loaded mortar in the location at which it is was initially loaded onto the board 12. The improved mortar board, according to the present invention, is particularly useful in the construction industry, where maintaining the quality and consistency of mortar is 5 essential. The present invention addresses the common problems experienced in the industry of mortar-originating fluid absorption and lateral displacement found in traditional mortar boards, offering a more reliable and user-friendly tool. Having described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted by those skilled in the art that the disclosures are exemplary only and that various 10 other alternatives, adaptations and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited by the abovedescribed embodiments.

Claims

06 05 251. A mortar board comprising a mortar receiving surface, the mortar receiving surface being formable between a planar surface formation when unloaded with mortar and a concave surface formation when loaded with mortar; the mortar receiving surface further comprising a three-dimensional patterned portion.

2. A mortar board as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the mortar receiving surface is resiliently biased to return to the planar surface formation.

3. A mortar board as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the three-dimensional patterned portion comprises mortar retaining means operable to retain loaded mortar on the receiving surface at the location the mortar is loaded.

4. A mortar board as claimed in Claim 3, wherein mortar retaining means is operable to mitigate displacement of the loaded mortar on the mortar receiving surface.

5. A mortar board as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the threedimensional patterned portion comprises fluid retention means operable to retain fluid on the mortar receiving surface.

6. A mortar board as claimed in Claim 5, wherein retention means is operable to mitigate displacement of mortar-originating fluid on the mortar receiving surface and thereby maintain hydration of the loaded mortar.

7. A mortar board as claimed in any of the preceding claims comprising one or more of High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) and Stokbord®.06 05 25

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