MASONRY STRUCTURE
An apparatus and a method of producing the same are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a panel, a plurality of fasteners, and a plurality of bricks secured to the panel by the fastener.
1 . An apparatus, comprising:
a panel;
a plurality of fasteners; and
a plurality of bricks secured to the panel by the fasteners.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a grouting material between the bricks.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the fasteners comprises a rivet.
4 . The apparatus of claim 3 wherein each of the rivets comprises aluminum.
5 . The apparatus of claim 3 wherein each of the bricks comprises a surface in contact with the panel and at least one blind hole in the surface, wherein each of said at least one blind hole surrounds a tail portion of one of the rivets.
6 . The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the panel comprises a plurality of holes, and wherein each of said at least one blind hole in each of the bricks is aligned with one of the holes in the panel.
7 . The apparatus of claim 6 wherein each of said at least one blind hole in each of the bricks comprises a diameter greater than a diameter of the said one of the holes in the panel aligned therewith.
8 . The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the diameter for each of said at least one blind hole in each of the bricks is approximately ¼″ and the diameter for each of the holes in the panel is approximately 3/16″.
9 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the panel comprises a first surface in contact with the bricks and a second surface opposite the first surface, the second surface comprising one or more stiffeners.
10 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the panel with the bricks secured thereon is cut along one edge at an angle with respect to an adjoining edge.
11 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the bricks along one edge of the panel comprises a tapered side.
12 . A method of assembling a masonry structure, comprising:
arranging a plurality of bricks with a panel; and
securing the bricks to the panel with a plurality of fasteners.
13 . The method of claim 12 further comprising providing a grouting material between the bricks.
14 . The method of claim 12 wherein each of the fasteners comprises a rivet.
15 . The method of claim 14 wherein each of the rivets comprises aluminum.
16 . The method of claim 14 wherein the bricks are arranged with the panel by aligning at least one blind hole in each of the bricks with a hole in the panel, and wherein the bricks are secured to the panel by passing one of the rivets through one of the holes in the panel into said at least one blind hole aligned therewith.
17 . The method of claim 16 wherein the bricks are arranged with the panel using a frame.
18 . The method of claim 16 further comprising forming each of the holes in the panel with a diameter and forming each of said at least one blind hole in each of the bricks with a diameter greater than the diameter of said one of the holes in the panel aligned therewith.
19 . The method of claim 16 further comprising forming each of said at least one blind hole in each of the bricks with an approximately ¼″ diameter and forming each of the holes in the panel with an approximately 3/16″ diameter.
20 . The method of claim 12 wherein the bricks are arranged with a first surface of the panel, the method further comprising attaching one or more stiffeners to a second surface of the panel opposite the first surface.
21 . The method of claim 12 further comprising cutting the panel with the bricks secured thereon at an angle with respect to an adjoining edge.
22 . The method of claim 12 further comprising cutting each of the bricks along one edge of the panel to form a tapered side.
23 . An apparatus, comprising:
a panel;
a plurality of bricks; and
means for fastening the bricks to the panel.
24 . A fireplace, comprising:
a firebox having a plurality of walls defining an area for a fire, each of the walls having a panel, a plurality of fasteners, and a plurality of bricks secured to the panel by the fasteners.