ADJUSTABLE BATHTUB LEDGER STRAP AND METHOD OF USE

COURROIE DE MOISE DE BAIGNOIRE REGLABLE ET PROCEDE D'UTILISATION

English Abstract

A bathtub ledger strap for use with the installation of a bathtub, such ledger
strap being of
generally planar construction for attachment to a ledger stud in a position
corresponding to a wall
stud, such ledger strap having a top portion, a mid portion and a lower
portion disposed along its
length with such portions having apertures/slots for adjusting the height and
level of the ledger
stud on a corresponding wall stud using screws and levering means and for
permanently
attaching the rim of the bathtub to the ledger strap and corresponding wall
stud after the ledger
stud is at the desired height and level state.

Claims

We claim:
1. A device for leveling and supporting a bathtub on a horizontally disposed
ledger stud, said ledger stud having a bottom planar surface and a rear planar
surface, such
bathtub of the type having an upwardly extending rim, comprising:
an elongated, vertically disposed ledger strap having a top and a bottom
defining a length therebetween, a center defined along said length, a width, a
front face and a rear
face, said ledger strap having three portions defined on its front face from
top to bottom being a
top lift tab, a mid portion and a lower ledger stud support;
a plurality of upper perforations defined in said ledger strap separating
said top lift tab from said mid portion, said upper perforations disposed
perpendicular to said
length of said ledger strap;
a plurality of lower perforations defined in said ledger strap separating
said mid portion from said lower ledger stud support, said lower perforations
disposed
perpendicular to said length of said ledger strap;
at least one lift slot defined within said top lift tab;
an elongated tub attachment slot defined within said midportion, said tub
attachment slot extending parallel to said length of said ledger strap;
an elongated tightening screw slot having first and second sides, a top and
a bottom, said tightening screw slot defined in said ledger strap within said
midportion and
disposed above said tub attachment slot;
at least one attachment aperture defined in said mid portion below said
upper perforations and disposed near said tightening screw slot;
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attachment means for retaining said ledger strap to said ledger stud, said
lower ledger stud support being bent upwards along said lower perforations
towards said front
face of said ledger strap at approximately a 90 degree angle, said front face
of said lower ledger
stud support positioned against said bottom planar surface of said ledger stud
and with said rear
planar surface of said ledger stud positioned against said front face of said
mid portion of said
ledger strap, said ledger strap attached by said attachment means to said
ledger stud;
said top lift tab being bent downwards at approximately 30 degree angle
toward said front face of said ledger strap along said upper perforations,
said top lift tab for
grasping and manually adjusting the height of said ledger stud after said
ledger strap is releasably
retained to said wall stud;
a screw passing through said tightening screw slot into said wall stud, said
screw retaining said ledger stud at a desired height and level;
at least one attachment screw for passing through said at least one
attachment aperture for attaching said ledger strap to said wall stud when
said ledger stud is at
said desired height and level; and
said screw in said tightening screw slot being removable after said at least
one attachment screw is engaged through said at least one attachment aperture
and into said wall
stud and said top lift tab adapted to be broken away along said upper
perforations.
2. The ledger strap of Claim 1 wherein the height of said ledger stud on said
wall
stud can be manually adjusted by manually engaging an awl through said at
least one lift slot and
into said wall stud and using said awl as a lever to lift or lower, as
desired, said ledger strap when
said ledger strap is releasably retained to said wall stud by said screw in
said tightening screw
slot.

3. The ledger strap of Claim 2 further including a tub attachment screw for
passing through said rim of said bathtub, through said tub attachment slot and
into said wall stud
for retaining said bath tub rim to said wall stud when said bath tub is
resting on said ledger stud
at its desired height and level.
4. A device for leveling and supporting a bathtub on a horizontally disposed
ledger stud, said ledger stud having a bottom planar surface and a rear planar
surface, such
bathtub of the type having an upwardly extending rim, comprising:
an elongated, vertically disposed ledger strap having a top and a bottom
defining a length therebetween, a center defined along said length, a width, a
front face and a rear
face, said ledger strap having three portions defined on its front face from
top to bottom being a
top lift tab, a mid portion and a lower ledger stud support;
a plurality of upper perforations defined in said ledger strap separating
said top lift tab from said mid portion, said upper perforations disposed
perpendicular to said
length of said ledger strap;
a plurality of lower perforations defined in said ledger strap separating
said mid portion from said lower ledger stud support, said lower perforations
disposed
perpendicular to said length of said ledger strap;
first and second lift slots defined within said top lift tab, said first and
second lift slots disposed one above the other along said center of said
length of said ledger strap,
said first and second lift slots disposed extending parallel to said length of
said ledger strap;
an elongated tub attachment slot defined along said center of said length of
said ledger strap within said midportion, said tub attachment slot extending
parallel to said length
of said ledger strap;
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an elongated tightening screw slot having first and second sides, a top and
a bottom, said tightening screw slot defined along said center of said length
of said ledger strap
within said midportion and disposed above said tub attachment slot, said
tightening screw slot
extending parallel to said length of said ledger strap;
first, second, third and fourth attachment apertures defined in said mid
portion below said upper perforations, said first and second attachment
apertures disposed,
respectively, near said first and second sides of said tightening screw slot
near said top of said
tightening screw slot; and said third and fourth attachment apertures
disposed, respectively, near
said first and second sides of said tightening screw slot near said bottom of
said tightening screw
slot;
first and second side ledger stud engagement apertures defined in said mid
portion below said tub attachment slot and above said lower perforations;
first and second bottom ledger stud engagement apertures defined in said
lower ledger stud support below said lower perforations, said first and second
bottom ledger stud
engagement apertures defined, respectively, on opposite sides of said center
of said ledger strap,
said lower ledger stud support being bent upwards along said lower
perforations toward said
front face of said ledger strap at approximately a 90 degree angle, said front
face of said lower
ledger stud support positioned against said bottom planar surface of said
ledger stud and with
said rear planar surface of said ledger stud positioned against said front
face of said mid portion
of said ledger strap, said ledger strap for attachment to said ledger stud by
screws passing through
said first and second side ledger stud engagement apertures and through said
first and second
bottom ledger stud engagement apertures into said ledger stud;
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said top lift tab being bent downwards at approximately 30 degree angle
toward said front face of said ledger strap along said upper perforations,
said top lift tab for
grasping and manually adjusting the height of said ledger stud after said
ledger strap is releasably
retained to said wall stud;
a screw passing through said tightening screw slot into said wall stud, said
screw retaining said ledger stud at a desired height and level;
first, second, third and fourth attachment screws for passing, respectively,
through said first, second, third and fourth attachment apertures for
attaching said ledger strap to
said wall stud when said ledger stud is at the desired height and level; and
said screw in said tightening screw slot being removable after said first,
second, third and fourth attachment screws are engaged through said first,
second and third
attachment apertures and into said wall stud and said top lift tab adapted to
be broken away along
said upper perforations.
5. The ledger strap of Claim 4 wherein the height of said ledger stud on said
wall
stud can be manually adjusted by manually engaging an awl through a selected
one of said first
and second lift slots and into said wall stud and using said awl as a lever to
lift or lower, as
desired, said ledger strap when said ledger strap is releasably retained to
said wall stud by said
screw in said tightening screw slot.
6. The ledger strap of Claim 5 further including a tub attachment screw for
passing through said rim of said bathtub, through said tub attachment slot and
into said wall stud
for retaining said bath tub rim to said wall stud when said bath tub is
resting on said ledger stud
at its desired height and level.
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7. A method for leveling and supporting a bathtub on a horizontally disposed
ledger stud, said ledger stud having a bottom planar surface and a rear planar
surface, such
bathtub of the type having an upwardly extending rim, comprising the steps of
providing an elongated, vertically disposed ledger strap having a top and a
bottom defining a length therebetween, a center defined along said length, a
width, a front face
and a rear face, said ledger strap having three portions defined on its front
face from top to
bottom being a top lift tab, a mid portion and a lower ledger stud support,
said ledger strap
having:
a plurality of upper perforations defined in said ledger strap
separating said top lift tab from said mid portion, said upper perforations
disposed perpendicular
to said length of said ledger strap;
a plurality of lower perforations defined in said ledger strap
separating said mid portion from said lower ledger stud support, said lower
perforations
disposed perpendicular to said length of said ledger strap;
at least one lift slot defined within said top lift tab;
an elongated tub attachment slot defined within said mid portion,
said tub attachment slot extending parallel to said length of said ledger
strap;
an elongated tightening screw slot having first and second sides, a
top and a bottom, said tightening screw slot defined in said ledger strap
within said midportion
and disposed above said tub attachment slot;
at least one attachment aperture defined in said mid portion below
said upper perforations near said tightening screw slot;
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at least one side ledger stud engagement aperture defined in said
mid portion below said tub attachment slot and above said lower perforations;
at least one bottom ledger stud engagement aperture defined in said
lower ledger stud support below said lower perforations;
bending said lower ledger stud support upwards along said lower
perforations towards said front face of said ledger strap at approximately a
90 degree angle;
positioning said front face of said lower ledger stud support against said
bottom planar surface of said ledger stud;
positioning said front face of said mid portion of said ledger strap against
said rear planar surface of said ledger stud;
attaching said ledger strap to said ledger stud by screws passing through
said at least one side ledger stud engagement aperture and through said at
least one bottom ledger
stud engagement aperture into said ledger stud;
bending said top lift tab downwards at approximately 30 degree angle
toward said front face of said ledger strap along said upper perforations;
grasping and manually adjusting the height of said ledger stud after said
ledger strap is releasably retained to said wall stud;
providing a screw;
passing said screw through said tightening screw slot into said wall stud;
retaining said ledger stud at a desired height and level;
providing at least one attachment screw;

attaching said ledger strap to said wall stud by passing said at least one
attachment screw through said at least one attachment screw aperture when said
ledger stud is at
the desired height and level; and
removing said screw in said tightening screw slot after said at least one
attachment screw is engaged through said at least one attachment aperture and
into said wall
stud; and
breaking away said top lift tab from said ledger strap along said upper
perforations.
8. The method of Claim 7 further including the steps of:
providing an awl;
engaging said awl through said at least one lift slot and into said wall stud;
and
using said awl as a lever to lift or lower, as desired, said ledger strap.
9. The method of Claim 8 further including the steps of:
providing a tub attachment screw;
screwing said tub attachment screw through said rim of said bathtub and
through said tub attachment slot and into said wall stud; and
retaining said bath tub to said wall stud at its desired height.
10. A method for leveling and supporting a bathtub on a horizontally disposed
ledger stud, said ledger stud having a bottom planar surface and a rear planar
surface, such
bathtub of the type having an upwardly extending rim, comprising the steps of:
providing an elongated, vertically disposed ledger strap having a top and a
bottom defining a length therebetween, a center defined along said length, a
width, a front face
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and a rear face, said ledger strap having three portions defined on its front
face from top to
bottom being a top lift tab, a mid portion and a lower ledger stud support,
said ledger strap
having:
a plurality of upper perforations defined in said ledger strap separating
said top lift tab from said mid portion, said upper perforations disposed
perpendicular to said
length of said ledger strap;
a plurality of lower perforations defined in said ledger strap separating
said mid portion from said lower ledger stud support, said lower perforations
disposed
perpendicular to said length of said ledger strap;
first and second lift slots defined within said top lift tab, said first and
second lift slots disposed one above the other along said center of said
length of said ledger strap,
said first and second lift slots disposed extending parallel to said length of
said ledger strap;
an elongated tub attachment slot defined along said center of said length of
said ledger strap within said midportion, said tub attachment slot extending
parallel to said length
of said ledger strap;
an elongated tightening screw slot having first and second sides, a top and
a bottom, said tightening screw slot defined along said center of said length
of said ledger strap
within said midportion and disposed above said tub attachment slot, said
tightening screw slot
extending parallel to said length of said ledger strap;
first, second, third and fourth attachment apertures defined in said mid
portion below said upper perforations, said first and second attachment
apertures disposed,
respectively, near said first and second sides of said tightening screw slot
near said top of said
tightening screw slot; and said third and fourth attachment apertures
disposed, respectively, near
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said first and second sides of said tightening screw slot near said bottom of
said tightening screw
slot;
first and second side ledger stud engagement apertures defined in said mid
portion below said tub attachment slot and above said lower perforations;
first and second bottom ledger stud engagement apertures defined in said
lower ledger stud support below said lower perforations, said first and second
bottom ledger stud
engagement apertures defined, respectively, on opposite sides of said center
of said ledger strap;
bending said lower ledger stud support upwards along said lower
perforations towards said front face of said ledger strap at approximately a
90 degree angle;
positioning said front face of said lower ledger stud support against said
bottom planar surface of said ledger stud;
positioning said front face of said mid portion of said ledger strap against
said rear planar surface of said ledger stud;
providing first and second side ledger stud engagement screws;
attaching said ledger strap to said ledger stud by said first and second side
ledger stud engagement screws passing through said first and second side
ledger stud engagement
apertures and through said first and second bottom ledger stud engagement
apertures into said
ledger stud;
bending said top lift tab downwards at approximately 30 degree angle
toward said front face of said ledger strap along said upper perforations;
grasping and manually adjusting the height of said ledger stud after said
ledger strap is releasably retained to said wall stud;
providing a tightening screw;
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passing said tightening screw through said tightening screw slot into said
wall stud;
retaining said ledger stud at a desired height and level;
providing first, second, third and fourth attachment screws;
screwing said first, second, third and fourth attachment screws,
respectively, through said first, second, third and fourth attachment
apertures in said ledger strap
and into said wall stud when said ledger stud is at the desired height and
level; and
removing said tightening screw in said tightening screw slot; and
breaking away said top lift tab along said upper perforations.
11. The method of Claim 10 further including the steps of:
providing an awl;
engaging said awl through a selected one of said first and second lift slots
and into said wall stud; and
using said awl as a lever to lift or lower, as desired, said ledger strap.
12. The method of Claim 11 further including the steps of:
providing a tub attachment screw;
screwing said tub attachment screw through said rim of said bathtub and
through said tub attachment slot and into said wall stud; and
retaining said bath tub to said wall stud at its desired height.
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Description

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ADJUSTABLE BATHTUB LEDGER STRAP
AND METHOD OF USE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The device and method of this invention reside in the field of adjustable
brackets to
support a bathtub ledger stud and more particularly relate to a metal ledger
strap having means
for adjusting the height and level of a bathtub ledger stud and its method of
use.
History of the Prior Art
It has long been appreciated that bathtubs must be installed level and at a
desired height
to have proper bathtub water drainage and to assure that tile surrounding the
bathtub can be
properly installed in level rows. However, such bathtub installation can be
very difficult to
accomplish since bathtubs can be quite heavy and cumbersome to move around.
Furthermore,
should a bathtub be installed out of level, many problems can arise in later
construction around
the bathtub. To this end brackets have been devised for use to support
bathtubs, such as taught in
U. S. Patent 1,938,818 to Erickson for a Bathtub Supporting Bracket; U. S.
Patent 2,102,920 to
Lucke for a Bathtub Hanger; U. S. Patent 2,017,710 to Clark for a Tub Bracket;
and U. S. Patent
2,602,936 to Erickson for a Bathtub Supporting Bracket. The prior art brackets
can sometimes
be very difficult to use since the installation of the brackets at a specific
height must be done
before the bathtub is positioned in place. Such brackets are usually screwed
to their final
position on the wall studs and the bathtub is then placed on the brackets.
Some brackets include
means for attempting height adjustment, such as screw members which are
rotated to different
heights under the bathtub rim, but these screw members can often be difficult
to reach. Such
adjustable bathtub support systems are taught in U. S. Patent 5,915,850 to
Krist for a Support
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System for Bath, Shower or Whirlpool Tubs and U. S. Patent 5,960,489 to Hanel
for a Support
System for Bath or Shower Tubs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide a bathtub mounting system
utilizing at least two
adjustable ledger straps and their method of use. In a preferred embodiment
three of the
adjustable ledger straps of this invention are positioned, respectively, on
three different wall
studs that are disposed behind the bathtub. Each adjustable ledger strap of
this invention to be
used is first attached to the bathtub ledger stud and then to its
corresponding wall stud in a
temporary position where the bathtub ledger stud is to be installed. Once the
height of the ledger
straps have been adjusted, they are fixed in their final positions; and the
bathtub and wall can
then be installed.
It is a further object of this invention to provide means for ledger strap
adjustment to
various heights when each ledger strap is in position attached to its
respective wall stud including
even when a bathtub is in position resting on the ledger stud held in place by
the ledger straps.
The ledger strap of this invention consists of an elongated planar strip of
strong metal
having an upper portion, a mid portion and a lower portion. The upper portion
is separated from
the mid portion by a plurality of upper perforations disposed perpendicularly
to the length of the
elongated ledger straps, and the bottom portion is separated from the mid
portion by a plurality of
lower perforations disposed perpendicularly to the length of the elongated
ledger strap. The
plurality of upper perforations allow the upper portion, being referred herein
as the top lift tab, to
be bent downward toward the front face of the ledger strap; and the lower
perforations allow the
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CA 02820165 2013-06-17
bottom portion, herein referred to as the bottom ledger stud engagement
portion, to be also bent
upward toward the front face of the ledger strap, as described further below.
It is a still further object of this invention to enable a single individual
to install a bathtub
at a desired height and level. Prior to using the ledger strap of this
invention, one first marks the
positioning of at least two and preferably three wall studs along the length
of the ledger stud to be
used, choosing a wall stud near each end of the ledger stud and preferably
also one near its
midpoint. One then takes each ledger strap and bends the lower ledger stud
support along the
lower perforations upward approximately 90 degrees so that each ledger strap
forms an L shape.
One can then bend the top lift tabs of each ledger strap downward
approximately 30 degrees
along the upper perforations and its use will be described further below. Each
ledger strap has a
plurality of apertures formed therein, such as lift slots defined in the upper
portion; side ledger
stud engagement apertures, tightening screw slot, tub attachment slot and four
attachment
apertures, in the mid portion; and the bottom ledger stud engagement
apertures, in the lower
portion. One can then attach each ledger strap to the ledger stud with screws
passing through the
side ledger stud engagement apertures and through the bottom ledger stud
engagement apertures
so that the three ledger straps are securely attached to the ledger stud at
positions corresponding
to the locations of the selected wall studs. One then maneuvers the ledger
stud into a position
where it is close to its desired height with the ledger straps aligned
parallel to one another
extending upwards from the ledger stud and substantially perpendicular thereto
and with each
ledger strap disposed in front of its respective wall stud. Defined lengthwise
in the mid portion
of each ledger strap are two slots being a tightening screw slot and a tub
attachment slot with the
tub attachment slot positioned below the tightening screw slot. Positioned
below the tub
attachment slot of each ledger strap are side ledger stud engagement
apertures. One then
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CA 02820165 2013-06-17
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positions a pan head screw through the tightening screw slot of each ledger
strap and screws it
into its respective wall stud to engage and hold each ledger strap in place to
support the ledger
stud perpendicular to the vertical wall studs. One can then apply a level to
the ledger stud and
maneuver it to its approximate level state. At this point to accomplish the
leveling of the ledger
stud the pan screw in its tightening screw slot can be slightly loosened and
an awl can be inserted
into a selected lift slot defined in the upper portion to maneuver by a lever
action each ledger
strap either upwards or downwards. Further, by grasping the forwardly
extending top lift tab of
each ledger strap, one can pull it upwards or push it downwards until the
desired height and level
state of the ledger strap are achieved. At the desired height one can tighten
each pan head screw
in the tightening screw slot. One then inserts wood screws into the first,
second, third and fourth
attachment apertures in the midportion of each ledger strap to securely and
permanently hold the
ledger straps in position at their desired height. One then bends the top lift
tab of each ledger
strap backwards and forwards along the upper perforations until they break off
the ledger straps.
The pan head screws can then be removed so that their heads will not protrude
into the plaster
board to be placed over the ledger straps attached to the wall studs. One can
then continue to
install the bathtub with its rim resting on top of the ledger stud by screwing
in a tub attachment
screw driven into the rim of the bathtub, through the tub attachment slot and
into wall stud
therebehind and then build the walls around the bathtub.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 illustrates a front elevational view of the adjustable ledger
strap of this invention
in its planar state.
Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of the adjustable ledger strap
showing the lower
ledger stud support bent upwards approximately 90 degrees and showing the top
lift tab bent downwards approximately 30 degrees.
Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of the adjustable ledger strap of
this invention
attached to both a ledger stud and a wall stud and showing the top lift tab
being
manually adjusted either upwards or downwards.
Figure 4 illustrates a perspective view showing the lifting of an
adjustable ledger strap by
manually inserting an awl within the second lift slot to lift the ledger stud
to a
desired height.
Figure 5 illustrates a perspective view showing an adjustable ledger strap
attached to the
ledger stud and to a wall stud and showing the top side of a bathtub resting
upon the top of the ledger stud with the rim of the bathtub adjacent to the
wall
stud.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
Figure 1 illustrates a front elevational view of adjustable ledger strap 10 of
this invention
which is a generally elongated planar strip of metal measuring approximately
10 1/2 inches high
and 1 3/8 inches wide and which in a preferred embodiment can be made of 18
gauge galvanized
sheet metal with die cut slots and apertures, as described below. Ledger strap
10 consists of three
portions: an upper portion 60 being approximately 3 inches in height referred
to as top lift tab 26,

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a mid portion 62 being approximately 5 inches in height, and a lower portion
64 being
approximately 2 inches in height referred to as lower ledger stud support 24.
A plurality of upper
perforations 16 disposed in a row separate the top lift tab 26 from mid
portion 62 and a plurality
of lower perforations 18 disposed in a row separate the lower ledger stud
support 24 from mid
portion 62. Upper perforations 16 are wider than lower perforations 18. In
use, prior to using the
ledger straps of this invention, one first marks the positioning of at least
two and preferably three
wall studs along the length of the ledger stud 32 to be used, choosing a wall
stud 30, as seen in
Figure 3, near each end of the ledger stud and preferably also one near its
midpoint. One then
takes each ledger strap and bends lower ledger stud support 24 along lower
perforations 18
upward approximately 90 degrees so that each ledger strap forms an L shape.
Then, as seen in the
perspective view of Figure 3, one attaches lower ledger stud support 24 to the
bottom of ledger
stud 32 by utilizing bottom strap engagement screws 36 which pass through
bottom ledger strap
engagement apertures 22 formed in ledger strap 10 and driven into the bottom
of ledger stud 32.
One also drives screws, not shown, through side ledger stud engagement
apertures 20 defined in
mid portion 62 into the rear of ledger stud 32. In this way ledger strap 10 is
attached to ledger
stud 32 with each ledger strap 10 being positioned, respectively, in front of
its selected wall stud.
One then screws pan head screw 28 into tightening screw slot 12 which is
approximately 1 1/2
inches long to retain ledger strap 10 temporarily in a position where ledger
stud 32 is deemed to
be close to its desired height. Then one can insert awl 34 or equivalent
levering tool into either
first lift slot 48, such as seen in Figures 2 and 4, or into second lift slot
58 where it can be used to
lever ledger strap 10 upwards. Greater leverage is obtained using second lift
slot 58, if needed.
Also one can grasp top lift tab 26 to manually move ledger strap 10 up or down
by lifting up or
pushing down on top lift tab 26 until ledger stud 32 is at a desired height,
as seen in Figure 3.
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Once ledger stud 32 is at its desired height, then wood screws, such as wood
screw 46, as seen in
Figure 5, can be driven through first, second, third and fourth attachment
screw apertures 50, 54,
52 and 56 to permanently retain the ledger strap in its desired position on
wall stud 30. One then
removes protruding pan head screw 28 and also manipulates top lift tab 26 by
bending it up and
down until it breaks off along upper perforations 16, as seen in Figure 5.
Drywall can then be
placed flush over each ledger strap 10 when they are permanently affixed in
the desired position
on their respective wall studs. Because each upper perforation 16 is elongated
horizontally with
little metal between each upper perforation, top lift tab 26 breaks off easily
when bent up and
down repeatedly. One can then continue to install the bathtub with its rim
resting on top of the
ledger stud by screwing in a tub attachment screw 66 driven into rim 68 of the
bathtub, through
tub attachment slot 14 and into wall stud 30 therebehind and then build the
walls around the
bathtub.
By using the mounting system of this invention, one can level the height of
the bathtub
after the tub's installation without the need for shims. The present invention
also eliminates the
necessity of having to remove a bathtub after installation should the bathtub
ledger stud not be at
the proper height since further adjustment is possible. Thus, height
adjustment and leveling of
the ledger stud are easy to accomplish from the front of the bathtub as
opposed to having to
climb into areas to reach behind the bathtub or from the side of the bathtub
to adjust difficult-to-
reach leveling screws as often required utilizing prior art devices. The
present invention allows
the bathtub to be positioned absolutely level from front to back and end to
end quickly and
efficiently so that wall construction and tile work can be accomplished
quickly and accurately as
one is starting with a level bathtub. In some instances the bathtub can also
be biased to allow the
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fitting of bathtub surrounds where walls are not at right angles which type of
installation is
especially advantageous in older buildings.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to particular

embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations
and modifications can
be substituted therefor without departing from the principles and spirit of
the invention.
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Representative Drawing