Integrated lifting handle for a water heater appliance
AssigneeHaier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
InventorsGregory Hutchison, Norman Boulard
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A shroud for a water heater appliance may define a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a circumferential direction. The shroud may include a front cover and a rear cover. The front cover and the rear cover may be coupled together to form the shroud. The rear cover may include a first handle that may be formed integrally into the rear cover. The rear cover may also include a second handle that may be formed integrally into the rear cover. The first handle and the second handle may each be spaced apart approximately along a circumference of the shroud.
Claims10
A water heater appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the water heater appliance comprising:
- a casing, the casing comprising a shroud defining a chamber;
- a tank disposed within the casing, the tank comprising a top portion and a bottom portion spaced apart approximately along the vertical direction, wherein the shroud is positioned at the top portion of the tank;
- a first handle formed integrally into the shroud, the first handle comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, a flat surface, and a rounded surface, wherein the top surface and the bottom surface of the first handle are each extended into the casing approximately along the lateral direction and wherein the flat surface and the rounded surface of the first handle are each extended from the bottom surface to the top surface approximately along the vertical direction;
- and
- a second handle formed integrally into the shroud, the second handle comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, a flat surface, and a rounded surface, wherein the top surface and the bottom surface of the second handle are each extended into the casing approximately along the lateral direction and wherein the flat surface and the rounded surface of the second handle are each extended from the bottom surface to the top surface approximately along the vertical direction;
- and
- wherein the first handle and the second handle are spaced apart approximately along a circumference of the shroud.
A shroud of a casing for a water heater appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the water heater appliance comprising a tank disposed within the casing, the tank comprising a top portion and a bottom portion spaced apart along the vertical direction, the shroud comprising:
- a front cover
- a rear cover;
- wherein the front cover and the rear cover are coupled together to form the shroud;
- a first handle formed integrally into the rear cover, the first handle comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, a flat surface, and a rounded surface, wherein the top surface and the bottom surface of the first handle are each extended into the casing approximately along the lateral direction and wherein the flat surface and the rounded surface of the first handle are each extended from the bottom surface to the top surface approximately along the vertical direction;
- and
- a second handle formed integrally into the rear cover, the second handle comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, a flat surface, and a rounded surface, wherein the top surface and the bottom surface of the second handle are each extended into the casing approximately along the lateral direction and wherein the flat surface and the rounded surface of the second handle are each extended from the bottom surface to the top surface approximately along the vertical direction;
- and
- wherein the first handle and the second handle are spaced apart approximately along a circumference of the shroud.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.