Enclosures for water heaters
AssigneeRheem Manufacturing Company
InventorRaheel A. Chaudhry
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An enclosure for a water heater can include a cover having at least one body coupling feature and at least one first water heater coupling feature. The enclosure can also include a body detachably coupled to the cover, where the body includes at least one cover coupling feature that couples to the at least one body coupling feature of the cover. The at least one water heater coupling feature can be configured to receive an enclosure coupling feature of the water heater, where the enclosure coupling feature, when received by the at least one water heater coupling feature, secures the body against a tank of the water heater.
Claims20
An enclosure for a water heater, the enclosure comprising:
- a cover comprising an outer surface, at least one body coupling feature, and at least one water heater coupling feature, wherein the at least one water heater coupling feature comprises a first plurality of ridges placed in parallel with each other, wherein the first plurality of ridges are disposed on the outer surface of the cover;
- and
- a body detachably coupled to the cover, wherein the body comprises at least one cover coupling feature that couples to the at least one body coupling feature of the cover,
- wherein the first plurality of ridges of the at least one water heater coupling feature is configured to receive an enclosure coupling feature of the water heater, wherein the enclosure coupling feature comprises a tab that extends from the water heater, wherein the tab, when received by two adjacent ridges of the first plurality of ridges, secures the body against a tank of the water heater.
A water heater, comprising:
- a tank defined by an inner wall;
- an outer wall disposed around the tank, wherein the outer wall has a first aperture that traverses therethrough;
- insulation disposed between the outer wall and the tank, wherein the insulation has a second aperture that traverses therethrough, wherein the second aperture is aligned with the first aperture, wherein the first aperture and the second aperture form a cavity that exposes a portion of the tank;
- at least one enclosure coupling feature coupled to the outer wall adjacent to the first aperture, wherein the at least one enclosure coupling feature comprises a first tab;
- and
- an enclosure disposed within the cavity, wherein the enclosure comprises at least one wall having an outer surface, wherein the at least one wall comprises at least one water heater coupling feature that couples to the at least one enclosure coupling feature, wherein the at least one water heater coupling feature comprises a first plurality of ridges placed in parallel with each other, wherein the first plurality of ridges are disposed on the outer surface of the enclosure,
- wherein the enclosure is secured against the tank when the first tab of the at least one enclosure coupling feature is received by two adjacent ridges of the first plurality of ridges of the at least one water heater coupling feature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.