US3606217A

US3606217A - Bathtub faucet bracket

Info

Publication number: US3606217A
Application number: US855858A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert J Leiferman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-09-08
Filing date: 1969-09-08
Publication date: 1971-09-20
Anticipated expiration: 1988-09-20

Abstract

A BRACKET FOR QUICK AND EASY MOUNTING OF BATHTUB FAUCET AND VALVE FIXTURES DURING CONSTRUCTION. THE BRACKET HAS A HORIZONTAL BAR WITH A PAIR OF ARCUATE CLAMPING BOLTS FOR SECURING AND POSITIONING THE FIXTURE AND A PAIR OF LATERALLY DISPLACED EARS AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE BAR TO ATTACH IT TO THE STUDS OF THE WALL FRAMING AT THE CONSTRUCTION SITE. THE BATHTUB FIXTURE MAY BE SIDE MOUNTED OR TOP MOUNTED RELATIVE TO THE BAR. THE BAR MAY BE ADJUSTABLY CONNECTED TO THE EARS FOR ATTACHING THE BRACKET TO THE STUDS TO PERMIT VARIATIONS IN SPACING OF THE FIXTURE RELATIVE TO THE BATHROOM WALL.

Description

P 20, 1971 R. J. LEIFERMAN BATHTUB FAUCET BRACKET 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed se t. 8', 1969 32/. 35 FIG. 4

INVIiNlUR. ROB ERT J. LEIFERMAN B MiWaW AT TORNE-YS P 20, 1971 R. J. LEIFERMAN BATHTUB FAUCET BRACKET 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 8, 1969 I NVliN I ()R. ROBERT J. LEIFERMAN JMMW AT TORNE-YS United States Patent 3,606,217 BATHTUB FAUCET BRACKET Robert J. Leiferman, 308 Davis St., Mankato, Minn. 56001 Filed Sept. 8, 1969, Ser. No. 855,858 Int. Cl. F161 3/22 US. Cl. 248-68 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A bracket for quick and easy mounting of bathtub faucet and valve fixtures during construction. The bracket has a horizontal bar with a pair of arcuate clamping bolts for securing and positioning the fixture and a pair of laterally displaced ears at opposite ends of the bar to attach it to the studs of the wall framing at the construction site. The bathtub fixture may be side mounted or top mounted relative to the bar. The bar may be adjustably connected to the ears for attaching the bracket to the studs to permit variations in spacing of the fixture relative to the bathroom wall.

This invention relates to a bracket for mounting a bathtub valve and faucet fixture during construction work, either new construction or remodeling. Bathtub filler fixtures are presently generally positioned between the studs in the framing of the room partition wall forming one wall of the bathroom against which the bathtub is positioned. In some instances, no support is provided other than that inherent in the framework of pipes forming the plumbing system. In other instances, the fixture may be secured to a frame member by means of bent-over nails or similar makeshift measures. In other instances, an appropriately notched section of framing might be used.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a bracket for positioning the typical two-valve over-rim spout bathtub fixture, with or without shower, to which the fiXtul'e may be firmly secured and which is easily mounted in the framing of the construction site.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of one form of bathub fixture bracket according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation showing the bracket in place positioning a fixture;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation showing the positioning of a different type of fixture;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the bracket and fixture in place;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of another form of bathtub fixture bracket according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a front elevation showing the bracket of FIG. 4 in place positioning a fixture; and

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the bracket and fixture in place.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the bracket indicated generally at 10, includes a fiat strong rigid steel bar fixture mounting plate 11 of length slightly less than the distance between two adjacent studs in the Wall framing of the partition on which the bathub fixture is to be installed. The bar plate 11 is intended to be oriented horizontally with its fiat face surfaces disposed parallel to the wall. At each end of bar 11 there is a leg 12 in-turned at right angles and having a pair of vertically spaced apart holes to receive bolts 13 to which are secured nuts 14.

A fiat strong steel bracket attaching plate or ear 15 having a right angle leg 16 is attached to each end of bar plate 11 by means of the bolts 13 which also extend through each of a pair of horizontal slots 17 in the leg 16. The bracket attaching plates 15 lie in a plane spaced from and parallel to the plane of bar 11. Each attaching plate is provided with a plurality of holes 18 by means of which the bracket may be readily secured to studs 19 by means of nails 20 or similar fastening means.

Bar plate 11 is provided with a plurality of pairs of vertically spaced apart holes 21, the pairs being disposed transversely relative to the bar and spaced apart horizontally along the length of bar 11. Each pair of holes 21 is adapted to receive the arms of an arcuate clamping bolt, such as a U-bolt or a hook or Jbolt, in this instance shown as a U-bolt clamp 22. The bolts are used in horizontally spaced apart pairs. As shown, each arm of each U-bolt is threaded to receive a nut 23, although only one is essential.

The holes of each pair may be aligned vertically so the U-bolts are disposed parallel to one another, or they may be aligned along an oblique line at about a 20 degree angle from vertical so the bolts are disposed canted toward one another. This latter configuration is necessary to mount some fixtures, as shown in FIG. 3. Where hook or J-bolts are used, only one hole 21 of each pair of holes is needed since these arcuate clamping bolts have only one threaded arm. Because they have but a single arm extending through bar plate 11, they may be disposed vertically or pivoted so as to be disposed obliquely as necessary to position the particular fixture being mounted. In most instances, however, the holes will be provided in pairs so as to permit the alternative optional use of either U-bolts or J-bolts. The holes are disposed symmetrically on opposite sides of the transverse center line of the bar plate 11.

The bracket in use is illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. The bathtub faucet fixture includes a hot Water valve 24 connected to a hot Water supply pipe 25 and a cold water valve 26 connected to a cold water supply pipe 27, each by means of appropriate union connections. Hot and cold

water distribution pipes

28 and 29, respectively, extend from the hot and cold water valves to a straight cross fitting 30 (or, in the absence of a shower outlet, to a straight T-fitting). In some instances, the hot and cold water valve casings, distributor pipes and fitting may be cast as an integral unit. In other instances, they may be separate components connected together by conventional means.

The fitting 30 functions as a mixing chamber and distributor of the mixed water from the hot and cold water supplies. An L-spout supply line 31 extends from the fitting 39 through the bathroom Wall 32 to a water spout 33 mounted on the wall above the rim of the bathtub. A shower supply line 34 is also coupled to the distributor fitting to supply water to the shower head in the usual manner.

The valve and faucet fixture is mounted between studs 19 by means of the pair of U-bolts 22 extending around

distributor pipes

28 and 29 and clamped by tightening nuts 23. The stems 35 of the valves to which the operating handles 36 are attached extend through the wall 32 and a decorative cover plate 37 conceals the wall opening. In order to provide proper spacing of the bathtub fixture relative to the exposed wall surface for proper fitting of the spout 33 and the valve handles 36 and cover plates 37, the bar plate 11 may be moved toward and away from the wall by virtue of the slots 17 in the mounting plate legs 16 and secured in the proper space relationship by tightening nuts 14.

The bracket is simply and easily installed between the studs by simply nailing the bracket attaching plates 15 to the forward edges of the studs. The valve and faucet fixture is readily secured to the bar plate 11 by means of clamping bolts 22. The space relation with the bathroom wall is readily adjusted and fixed simply by tightening nuts 14. The bracket is adaptable to the mounting of all types of bathtub fixtures. The use of the bracket greatly simplifies the installation of bathtub plumbing and securely and rigidly positions the bathtub fixture with any type of wall construction, be it lath and plaster, dry wall, plywood, and with or without tile.

Referring now to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, there is shown a modified form of bathtub fixture mounting bracket, indicated generally at 10A. The bracket comprises an elongated strong steel bar plate 11A of length slightly less than the distance between two adjacent studs in the wall framing. Bar plate 11A is adapted to be disposed horizontally with its face surfaces lying spaced from, but generally parallel to, the bathroom Wall. An in-turned fixture-mounting bar plate 11B extends forwardly from the top edge of bar plate 11A. Bar plate 118 extends inwardly from bar 11A toward the bathroom wall and lies generally in a horizontal plane parallel to the bathroom floor with its edges generally parallel to the bathroom wall. Each end of bar plate 11A is provided with an inturned right angle leg 12A which extends to, and is connected at right angles to, stud attaching plate 15A. Although, according to this form of the invention as illustrated, the attaching plates 15A are shown fixed relative to the bar plate 11A, the attaching plates may be adjustably connected as shown in connection with the bracket of FIG. 1. Similarly, although legs 12A are shown at right angles, they may extend obliquely.

Attaching plate 15A is provided with a plurality of holes 18A by which the bracket may be secured to studs 19 by nails or the like, as already described. The fixturemounting bar plate 11B is provided with a plurality of pairs of holes 21B adapted to receive the arms of a pair of arcuate clamping bolts as described, here shown s U-bolts 22A. Holes 21B are aligned longitudinally. The bathtub valve and faucet fixture is mounted by resting on top of bar plate 11B and being secured by the U-bolts 22A which extend around those portions of the hot and

cold water valves

24 and 26, respectively, through which the valve stem extends. The U-bolts are secured in tight clamping relation by means of nuts 23A.

The bracket is secured to the studs, as already described. The bathtub fixture and connections are as already described, but the fixture is positioned in place by being mounted on top of the bracket 10A and secured by means of the U-bolts extending around the valve bodies, in contrast to the side mounting from the distributor tubes previously described.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A bracket for mounting bathtub valve and faucet fixtures during construction, which bracket comprises:

(A) a strong rigid elongated bar fixture-mounting plate,

(B) means at opposite ends of said bar plate for attaching the same to structural wall framing at the construction site, said means comprising plates lying in a plane parallel to but spaced from said bar plate,

(C) means connecting said attaching plates to said bar plate, said means comprising:

(1) a first flat plate lying in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said bar plate and rigidly connected thereto,

(2) a second flat plate lying in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said attaching plate and rigidly connected thereto,

(3) said first and second plates being disposed in overlapped face-to-face relation,

(4) at least one elongated slot in one of said plates, said slot extending perpendicular to the plane of said attaching plate,

(5) at least one hole in said other plate aligned with said slot,

(6) a bolt extending through said slot and hole,

and

(7) fastening means on the end of said bolt;

(D) at least one pair of spaced apart holes in said bar plate disposed symmetrically on opposite sides of the transverse center line of the bar plate,

(E) a pair of arcuate clamping bolts, the arms of said bolts extending through at least one pair of said holes, said bolts being disposed symmetrically on cpposite sides of the transverse center line of the bar plate and adapted to engage said bathtub fixture to be mounted,

(F) fastening means on the ends of the arms of said bolts extending through said bar plate.

2. A bracket according to claim 1 further characterized in that:

(A) said fixture-mounting bar plate lies in a plane generally parallel to the plane of said attaching plates,

(B) said holes are disposed in pairs along lines extending transversely relative to said bar plate and said pairs of holes are spaced apart longitudinally thereof, and

(C) said clamping bolts are disposed in parallel planes perpendicular to the plane of the bar plate and extending transversely thereof.

3. A bracket according to claim 1 further characterized in that:

(A) said fixture-mounting bar plate lies in a plane generally parallel to the plane of the attaching plates,

(B) said holes are disposed in pairs along lines extending at an angle deviating by about 20 degrees from the transverse center line of the bar plate and said pairs of holes are spaced apart longitudinally of said bar plate, and

(C) said clamping bolts are disposed in oblique p anes perpendicular to the bar plate and extending so as to intersect along the lateral center line of the bar plate.

4. A bracket according to claim 1 further characterized in that:

(A) said fixture-mounting bar plate lies in a plane generally perpendicular to the plane of said attaching plates and is attached along one side edge to a supporting bar plate which lies in a plane generally parallel to the plane of said attaching plates,

(B) the holes of said pair of holes are disposed and aligned longitudinally relative to said fixture-mounting bar plate, and

(C) said clamping bolts are disposed in a common plane perpendicular to the plane of the fixturemounting plate and extending longitudinally thereof.

5. A bracket according to claim 1 further characterized in that:

(A) said first flat connecting plate is provided with a pair of vertically spaced holes,

(B) said second flat connecting plate is provided with a pair of vertically spaced parallel elongated horizontal slots, and (C) abolt extends through each of said slots and holes in said connecting plates. 6. A bracket according to claim 1 further characterized in that:

(A) said arcuate clamping bolts are U-bolts, (B) said holes are disposed in spaced apart pairs to receive the legs of said U-bolts, and (C) fastening means are attached to the ends of each of the arms of said bolts. 7. A bracket according to claim 1 further characterized in that said arcuate clamping bolts are J-bolts.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1915 Caine 24857X 10/ 1944 Banneyer 2. 248-68 l/1951 Haby 24857 3/1961 Voigtlander 248201 5/1965 Sloop 2483 00X 10/ 1968 Levy 24868 US. Cl. X.R.