Abstract:
Disclosed is an a mountable leveling support clamp comprising a mounting plate, a support arm having a horizontal and vertical portion incorporating a leveling indicator and threaded throughbore with an adjusting screw having a locking plate on one end and a handle on the other. The support clamp is designed to temporarily fix the positioning of a horizontal member to an upright as permanent fasteners are applied thereto, whereupon the support clamp is removed.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to clamps and, more specifically, to a mountable leveling support clamp comprising a mounting plate, a support arm having a horizontal and vertical portion incorporating a leveling indicator and threaded throughbore with an adjusting screw having a locking plate on one end and a handle on the other. 
   The support clamp is designed to temporarily fix the positioning of a horizontal member to an upright as permanent fasteners are applied thereto, whereupon the support clamp is removed. 
   The temporary support tool for use in construction supports a horizontal length of dimensional lumber (or ledger) that will be fastened to a vertical length of dimensional lumber or any surface requiring the use of a ledger; concrete, cinder block, drywall or plywood surfaces. 
   The apparatus provides a secure and level platform for the ledger to rest upon while it is in the process of being permanently attached to an upright with any acceptable and approved method: nails, screws, lags or bolts. The support is obtained by installing two temporary screws of varying length through the provided holes in the mounting plate the ledger is then held fast to the vertical member by tightening the locking plate of the apparatus by turning the threaded adjustment screw until a tight fit is made. After establishing a location where the ledger is to be fastened and establishing a level position using a leveling vial provided by the apparatus the installer will drive two temporary screws into the mounting plate. The installer will then set the ledger in place and tighten the adjusting bar, after this the installer will then proceed to make permanent attachments. 
   After the ledger is secured the apparatus may be removed and any additional attachment fasteners that may be required may be added. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   There are other clamp devices designed for support. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 382,590 issued to Clay on May 8, 1888. 
   Another patent was issued to Gerhardt on Jan. 24, 1893 as U.S. Pat. No. 490,432. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 646,835 was issued to Jackson on Apr. 3, 1900 and still yet another was issued on Jun. 3, 1919 to Tooker as U.S. Pat. No. 1,305,321. 
   Another patent was issued to LeVine on Sep. 18, 1984 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,471,951. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,769 was issued to Pappason Apr. 8, 1986. Another was issued to Schnell on Jul. 19, 1994 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,330,216 and still yet another was issued on Nov. 16, 1999 to Troha as U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,292. 
   Another patent was issued to St. John, Sr. on Aug. 29, 2000 as U.S. Pat. No. 6,109,601. Yet another U.K. Patent No. GB638,854 was issued to Brandstad on Jun. 14, 1950. Another was issued to Aldeghi on Dec. 12, 1990 as U.K. Patent No. GB2232343 and still yet another was issued on Oct. 29, 1994 to Schnell as Canadian Patent No. CA2120787. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 382,590 
   Inventor: William H. Clay 
   Issued: May 8, 1888 
   A soldering-clamp consisting of the combination of a base, 3, having a holding screw, 4,′, a bifurcated standard, 5, consisting of two separated side pieces rigidly connected near their upper ends, two clamping-jaws, 6, provided, with notches 13 and grasping portions 11, and a holding device, 7, having. cross-pin ′8 and thumb-screw 9, substantially as set forth. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 490,432 
   Inventor: Wilhelm Gerhardt 
   Issued: Jan. 24, 1893 
   The combination with an independent base having parallel guides and perforated as described, of a vise having a horizontal extension sliding between said guides and secured in engagement by a bolt passing through the extension and the base, substantially as set forth. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 646,835 
   Inventor: William H. Jackson 
   Issued: Apr. 3, 1900 
   An adjustable support, comprising a vertical tubular post, a rod adapted to be inserted in the upper end of the tube, and adapted to be clamped thereto, a head swiveled in the upper end of said rod, an arm pivoted to said head, collars on said tubular post and arm, a brace connecting said collars, and a slide on said arm carrying a support, substantially as described. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 1,305,321 
   Inventor: Harold A. Tooker 
   Issued: Jun. 3, 1919 
   In combination with a support, vertically spaced hooks secured to the support, a plate secured to and between the hooks, a socket secured to the plate intermediate of its ends, a horizontal rod rotatably mounted in the socket, and a vise secured to the rod. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,471,951 
   Inventor: Arthur L. LeVine 
   Issued: Sep. 18, 1984 
   A sharpener mounting construction for sharpening opposite sides of a knife edge including a sharpener body for clamping a knife, opposite sides on the sharpener body, bores on opposite sides of the sharpener body, a post, and a pin at the end of the post, the pin being of a diameter to fit snugly within the bores whereby the sharpener body may be mounted on the post in one attitude and thereafter the sharpener body can be inverted and mounted on the post in an inverted attitude. The posts in turn may be threadably mounted on a plate or detachably mounted on a C-clamp in a plurality of attitudes. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,769 
   Inventor: Nick Pappas 
   Issued: Apr. 8, 1986 
   A specialized clamp having a pair of spaced parallel jaw members that slide together on parallel rods orthogonally extended relative to the jaw members, there being a wall or surface mount which optionally engages and mounts the clamp either by a mounting end plate at the shank end of one of the jaws, or by sockets defined in the base into which the ends of the slide rods are inserted. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,330,216 
   Inventor: Marl Schnell 
   Issued: Jul. 19, 1994 
   A wall-mounted pipe clamp installation and a mounting kit therefor. The kit comprises an elongated wall bracket having its upper and bottom edges in the form of downwardly and upwardly facing and opposing channels respectively and a pair of pipe end receiving sockets slidably mountable in the bracket. Each socket has a base with exposed upper and lower edges spaced to fit in bracket supported relationship in the channels and a projecting socket formation for receiving a pipe end therein. Each socket formation is preferably provided with a set screw to secure therein the free pipe end of each pipe clamp of a pipe clamp installation. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,292 
   Inventor: Louis J. Troha 
   Issued: Nov. 16, 1999 
   An adjustable clamping device. A base or a channel is attached to either the top or side of a work table. The base has a threaded aperture for engaging one end of a threaded rod upon which several adjustable clamping bars are positioned. The clamping members are each movable to an adjusted clamping position on the threaded rod. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,109,601 
   Inventor: Robert W. St. John, Sr. 
   Issued: Aug. 29, 2000 
   A fishing fly tying device is provided including a C-clamp having a generally C-shaped configuration with an exterior periphery, an interior periphery, a top end, and a bottom end. The bottom end has a bolt screwably coupled thereto. Such bolt has a first end and a second end with an engagement surface capable of releasably engaging the top end of the C-clamp. A rotator is included with an end rotatably coupled to the top end of the C-clamp about an axis perpendicularly situated with respect to the bolt of the C-clamp. A bore is formed in the rotator perpendicular with respect to the axis about which the rotator rotates. The rotator is further adapted to be selectively fixed with respect to the C-clamp. A hook clamp includes a rod slidably and rotatably situated within the bore of the rotator and further adapted to be selectively fixed with respect thereto. The hook clamp is equipped with an end having a pair of spaced members for clamping a hook. 
   U.K. Patent Number GB638,854 
   Inventor: Malte Brandstad 
   Issued: Jun. 14, 1950 
   In a vice having hollow jaw-members slidably connected by a nut and clamping screw, the stationary and movable jaws 1 and 2 each comprise two trough-shaped halves of sheet-metal welded together at their abutting. edges. The clamping screw 6 is rotatable but non-displaceable axially in a bushing fixed in the wall of the jaw 2 by a washer 10 and a wear-plate 9. The nut 5 mounted on the guideway 4 in the fixed jaw 1 has machined surfaces 11 which engage with the inturned edges 12 of the slide portion 14 of the movable jaw 2. Replace-able wear strips 13 of suitable thickness, secured to the bottom of the guide-way by screws, eliminate lateral clearance between the inverted V-shaped upper part 15 of the slide portion and the correspondingly-shaped part 16 of the guide-way. The hardened steel gripping members 17, 18 are of sufficient thick-ness to prevent dehardening during the welding thereof to the jaws. The vice is bolted to a bench by a fastening plate 3 welded to the under side of the stationary jaw. 
   U.K. Patent Number GB 2 232 343 
   Inventor: Mario Aldeghi 
   Issued: Dec. 12, 1990 
   A shelf bracket has an opening in which an edge of a shelf is inserted and fixed, and includes means for adjusting the width of the opening. To this end, the bracket consists of two interengaged jaw-shaped parts 13, 14 relatively slidable perpendicularly to the surface of the shelf. The two parts are interconnected by a plurality of screws 21 which are rotatable to adjust the distance between the jaws 23, 24 of the parts. 
   Canadian Patent Number CA 2 120 787 
   Inventor: Mark Schnell 
   Issued: Oct. 29, 1994 
   A wall-mounted pipe clamp installation and a mounting kit therefor. The kit comprises an elongated wall bracket having its upper and bottom edges in the form of downwardly and upwardly facing and opposing channels respectively and a pair of pipe end receiving sockets slidably mountable in the bracket. Each socket has a base with exposed upper and lower edges spaced to fit in bracket supported relationship in the channels and a projecting socket formation for receiving a pipe end therein. Each socket formation is preferably provided with a set screw to secure therein the free pipe end of each pipe clamp of a pipe clamp installation. 
   While these clamping devices may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention, as hereinafter described. 
   SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
   The tool is a temporary support for use in construction whereby a horizontal member, such as a ledger, is supported during fastening to an upright. Ledgers are used for many purposes in construction and require that they be installed perfectly level. Ledgers come in various lengths, widths and heights and require either making temporary supports or by having another installer give assistance for their placement. The present invention would allow a single installer to position the ledger to the upright. Although the present invention may be used alone it is preferably to be used in pairs to install a ledger with minimal time and effort. The present invention provides a mounting plate with a transverse support arm perpendicularly extending from the mounting plate forming support for the ledger with a vertically depending portion coplanar with the mounting plate and forming a 90 degree angle with the support platform portion of the support arm. Incorporated in the vertical portion of the support arm is a level indicator and an adjustment screw for moving the ledger into engagement with the upright having the apparatus temporarily mounted thereto. 
   A primary object of the present invention is to provide a mountable leveling support clamp having a mounting plate with a plurality of apertures passing therethrough for the placement of fasteners therein. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a mountable leveling support clamp having a support arm extending perpendicularly from said mounting plate. 
   Yet another object of the present invention is to provide mountable leveling support clamp wherein said support arm has a horizontal portion and a vertically depending portion. 
   Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide mountable leveling support clamp wherein said horizontal portion forms a platform for supporting a workpiece. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide mountable leveling support clamp wherein said vertical portion of the support arm forms a 90 degree angle with the horizontal support portion and co-planar with the mounting plate. 
   Yet another object of the present invention is to provide mountable leveling support clamp wherein the support arm vertical portion has a level indicator mounted thereto. 
   Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide mountable leveling support clamp wherein the support arm vertical portion has a threaded throughbore with a threaded rod movably positioned therein having a handle at one end and a plate at the other. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a mountable leveling support clamp wherein the threaded rod provides means for applying pressure to move the supported member situated on the support arm platform into engagement with an upright as permanent fasteners are affixed thereto. 
   Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds. 
   The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a mountable leveling support clamp comprising amounting plate, a support arm having a horizontal and vertical portion incorporating a leveling indicator and threaded throughbore with an adjusting screw having a locking plate on one end and a handle on the other. 
   The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which forms a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
   The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
     In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the mountable leveling support clamp. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the mountable leveling support clamp in use. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the mountable leveling support clamp. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the mountable leveling support clamp. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a side sectional view of the mountable leveling support clamp in use. 
       FIG. 7  is a front view of the leveling clamp in use. 
       FIG. 8  is a front view of the leveling clamp in use. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCED NUMERALS 
   Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the Figures illustrate the Open Flotation De-inking Module for Recycled Paper of the present invention. With regard to the reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the various drawing figures.
           10  Apparatus for the Temporary Support of Dimensional Lumber Used as a Ledger     12  mounting member     14  arm support     16  pressure apparatus     18  leg of  12       20  leg of  12       22  arm of  14       24  arm of  14       26  back surface of  18       28  front surface of  18       30  side boundary of  12  mounting member     32  side boundary of mounting member     34  bottom edge of  18       36  angle of mounting member     38  front surface of  20       40  back surface of  20       42  terminus end of  20       44  fastener apparatuses     46  front surface of  22       48  back surface of  22       50  side boundary of  22  support arm     52  side boundary of  22  support arm     54  straight edge of  22       56  angle of angle of support arm     58  front surface of  24       60  back surface of  24       62  terminus end of  24       64  threaded bore of  24       66  handle     68  threaded shaft     70  pressure plate     72  joint     74  level     76  structure     78  ledger     80  pressure point     82  fastener       

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention. This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments, practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to appended claims. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , shown is a perspective view of the mountable leveling support clamp. The mountable leveling support clamp  10  is comprised of mounting member  12 , support arm  14  and pressure apparatus  16 . mounting member has a pair of legs  18 ,  20  bounded by side perimeters  30 ,  32  preferably perpendicular forming right angle  36 . Leg  18  having a front surface  28  and a back surface  26  with bores  44  passing therebetween is releasably mountable to a structure using bores  44  for fastener attachment. Leg  20  conjoined to leg  18  extending between terminus  42  and angle  36  having surfaces  38 ,  40  form a platform for attachment of support arm  14  comprising arms  22 ,  24 , preferably perpendicular. Arm  22  bounded by side perimeters  50 ,  52  and extending between terminus straight edge  54 , serving for alignment to a user provided mark on a workpiece, and angle  56 , preferably a right angle has surfaces  46 ,  48  with surfaces  48  and  40  bonded forming an integral part. Arm  24  serves as anchor for pressure apparatus  16  having threaded bore  64  with threaded shaft  68  passing therethrough extending between pressure plate  70  and handle  66 , which serves as the torque applicator. Arm  24  having front surface  58  and rear surface  60  with threaded bore  64  positioned therebetween extends between angle  56  and terminus surface  62 , which incorporates level  74  positioned thereon. Pressure apparatus  16  incorporates a pressure plate  70  driven  66  by threaded shaft  68  moving in bore  64 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , shown is a perspective view of the mountable leveling support clamp in use. The mountable leveling support clamp  10  is comprised of mounting member  12 , support arm  14  and pressure apparatus  16 . Mounting member has a pair of legs  18 ,  20  bounded by side perimeters  30 ,  32  preferably perpendicular forming right angle  36 . Leg  18  having front surface  28  and back surface  26  with bores  44  passing therebetween is releasably mountable to structure  76  using bores  44  for fastener  82  attachment. Leg  20  conjoined to leg  18  extending between terminus  42  and angle  36  having surfaces  38 ,  40  form a platform for attachment of support arm  14  comprising arms  22 ,  24 , preferably perpendicular. Arm  22  bounded by side perimeters  50 ,  52  and extending between terminus straight edge  54 , serving for alignment to a user provided mark on a workpiece, and angle  56 , preferably a right angle has surfaces  46 ,  48  with surfaces  48  and  40  bonded forming an integral part and surface  46  supporting workpiece  78 . Arm  24  serves as anchor for pressure apparatus  16  having threaded bore  64  with threaded shaft  68  passing therethrough extending between pressure plate  70 , which is used to drive workpiece  78  into engagement with workpiece  76  while permanent fasteners are installed and handle  66 , which serves as the torque applicator. Arm  24  having front surface  58  and rear surface  60  with threaded bore  64  positioned therebetween extends between angle  56  and terminus surface  62 , which incorporates level  74  positioned thereon. Pressure apparatus  16  incorporates a pressure plate  70  driven  66  by threaded shaft  68  moving in bore  64 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , shown is a cutaway view of the mountable leveling support clamp. The mountable leveling support clamp  10  is comprised of mounting member  12 , support arm  14  and pressure apparatus  16 . mounting member has a pair of legs  18 ,  20  bounded by side perimeters  30 ,  32  preferably perpendicular forming right angle  36 . Leg  18  having a front surface  28  and a back surface  26  with bores  44  passing therebetween is releasably mountable to a structure using bores  44  for fastener attachment. Leg  20  conjoined to leg  18  extending between terminus  42  and angle  36  having surfaces  38 ,  40  form a platform for attachment of support arm  14  comprising arms  22 ,  24 , preferably perpendicular. Arm  22  bounded by side perimeters  50 ,  52  and extending between terminus straight edge  54 , serving for alignment to a user provided mark on a workpiece, and angle  56 , preferably a right angle has surfaces  46 ,  48  with surfaces  48  and  40  bonded forming an integral part. Arm  24  serves as anchor for pressure apparatus  16  having threaded bore  64  with threaded shaft  68  passing therethrough extending between pressure plate  70  and handle  66 , which serves as the torque applicator. Arm  24  having front surface  58  and rear surface  60  with threaded bore  64  positioned therebetween extends between angle  56  and terminus surface  62 , which incorporates level  74  positioned thereon. Pressure apparatus  16  incorporates a pressure plate  70  driven  66  by threaded shaft  68  moving in bore  64 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , shown is a perspective view of the mountable leveling support clamp. The mountable leveling support clamp  10  is comprised of mounting member  12 , support arm  14  and pressure apparatus  16 . mounting member has a pair of legs  18 ,  20  bounded by side perimeters  30 ,  32  preferably perpendicular forming right angle  36 . Leg  18  having a front surface  28  and a back surface  26  with bores  44  passing therebetween is releasably mountable to a structure using bores  44  for fastener attachment. Leg  20  conjoined to leg  18  extending between terminus  42  and angle  36  having surfaces  38 ,  40  form a platform for attachment of support arm  14  comprising arms  22 ,  24 , preferably perpendicular. Arm  22  bounded by side perimeters  50 ,  52  and extending between terminus straight edge  54 , serving for alignment to a user provided mark on a workpiece, and angle  56 , preferably a right angle has surfaces  46 ,  48  with surfaces  48  and  40  bonded forming an integral part. Arm  24  serves as anchor for pressure apparatus  16  having threaded bore  64  with threaded shaft  68  passing therethrough extending between pressure plate  70  and handle  66 , which serves as the torque applicator. Arm  24  having front surface  58  and rear surface  60  with threaded bore  64  positioned therebetween extends between angle  56  and terminus surface  62 , which incorporates level  74  positioned thereon. Pressure apparatus  16  incorporates a pressure plate  70  driven  66  by threaded shaft  68  moving in bore  64 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 5 , shown is a perspective view of the mountable leveling support clamp in use. The mountable leveling support clamp  10  is comprised of mounting member  12 , support arm  14  and pressure apparatus  16 . Mounting member has a pair of legs  18 ,  20  bounded by side perimeters  30 ,  32  preferably perpendicular forming right angle  36 . Leg  18  having front surface  28  and back surface  26  with bores  44  passing therebetween is releasably mountable to structure  76  using bores  44  for fastener  82  attachment. Leg  20  conjoined to leg  18  extending between terminus  42  and angle  36  having surfaces  38 ,  40  form a platform for attachment of support arm  14  comprising arms  22 ,  24 , preferably perpendicular. Arm  22  bounded by side perimeters  50 ,  52  and extending between terminus straight edge  54 , serving for alignment to a user provided mark on a workpiece, and angle  56 , preferably a right angle has surfaces  46 ,  48  with surfaces  48  and  40  bonded forming an integral part and surface  46  supporting workpiece  78 . Arm  24  serves as anchor for pressure apparatus  16  having threaded bore  64  with threaded shaft  68  passing therethrough extending between pressure plate  70 , which is used to drive workpiece  78  into engagement with workpiece  76  while permanent fasteners are installed and handle  66 , which serves as the torque applicator. Arm  24  having front surface  58  and rear surface  60  with threaded bore  64  positioned therebetween extends between angle  56  and terminus surface  62 , which incorporates level  74  positioned thereon. Pressure apparatus  16  incorporates a pressure plate  70  driven  66  by threaded shaft  68  moving in bore  64 . 
     FIG. 6  is a side sectional view of the mountable leveling support clamp in use. The present invention is a temporary support tool  10  for use in construction whereby a horizontal length of dimensional lumber  78  (or ledger) will be fastened to a vertical length of dimensional lumber  76  or any surface which will require the use of a ledger; concrete, cinder block, drywall or plywood surfaces. The apparatus provides a secure and level platform  22  for the ledger  78  to rest upon while it is in the process of being permanently attached to an upright  76  with any acceptable and approved method: nails, screws, lags or bolts. The support is obtained by installing two temporary screws  82  of varying length through the provided holes  44  in the mounting plate  18  the ledger  78  is then held fast  80  to the vertical member  76  by tightening the locking plate  70  of the apparatus by turning  66  the threaded adjustment screw  68  until a tight fit is made. After establishing a location where the ledger  78  is to be fastened and establishing a level position using a leveling vial  74  provided by the apparatus the installer will drive two temporary screws  82  into the mounting plate  18 . The installer will then set the ledger  78  in place and tighten the adjusting bar  68 , after this the installer will then proceed to make permanent attachments. After the ledger is secured the apparatus may be removed and any additional attachment fasteners that may be required may be added. 
     FIG. 7  is a front view of the leveling clamp in use. The present invention is a temporary support tool  10  for use in construction whereby a horizontal length of dimensional lumber  78  (or ledger) will be fastened to a vertical length of dimensional lumber  76  or any surface which will require the use of a ledger; concrete, cinder block, drywall or plywood surfaces. The apparatus provides a secure and level platform  22  for the ledger  78  to rest upon while it is in the process of being permanently attached to an upright  76  with any acceptable and approved method: nails, screws, lags or bolts. The support is obtained by installing two temporary screws  82  of varying length through the provided holes  44  in the mounting plate  18  the ledger  78  is then held fast  80  to the vertical member  76  by tightening the locking plate  70  of the apparatus by turning  66  the threaded adjustment screw  68  until a tight fit is made. After establishing a location where the ledger  78  is to be fastened and establishing a level position using a leveling vial  74  provided by the apparatus the installer will drive two temporary screws  82  into the mounting plate  18 . The installer will then set the ledger  78  in place and tighten the adjusting bar  68 , after this the installer will then proceed to make permanent attachments. After the ledger is secured the apparatus may be removed and any additional attachment fasteners that may be required may be added. 
     FIG. 8  is a front view of the leveling clamp in use. The present invention is a temporary support tool  10  for use in construction whereby a horizontal length of dimensional lumber  78  (or ledger) will be fastened to a vertical length of dimensional lumber  76  or any surface which will require the use of a ledger; concrete, cinder block, drywall or plywood surfaces. The apparatus provides a secure and level platform  22  for the ledger  78  to rest upon while it is in the process of being permanently attached to an upright  76  with any acceptable and approved method: nails, screws, lags or bolts. The support is obtained by installing two temporary screws  82  of varying length through the provided holes  44  in the mounting plate  18  the ledger  78  is then held fast  80  to the vertical member  76  by tightening the locking plate  70  of the apparatus by turning  66  the threaded adjustment screw  68  until a tight fit is made. After establishing a location where the ledger  78  is to be fastened and establishing a level position using a leveling vial  74  provided by the apparatus the installer will drive two temporary screws  82  into the mounting plate  18 . The installer will then set the ledger  78  in place and tighten the adjusting bar  68 , after this the installer will then proceed to make permanent attachments. After the ledger is secured the apparatus may be removed and any additional attachment fasteners that may be required may be added.