Protective shield for the electrical components of a water heater

An electrically insulating shield for a water heater, the water heater including a cylindrical tank, a thermostat having an electrically active terminal, and a leadwire connected to the terminal, said shield comprising:

• a face portion adapted to cover the terminal in spaced relation to the tank and including means for providing access to the terminal;
• a first sidewall portion which extends rearwardly from said face portion, said first sidewall portion having a rearward tapered surface adapted to sealingly engage the tank and further having therein a leadwire access port which provides an opening for routing the leadwire and which provides strain relief for the leadwire;
• and
• a second sidewall portion which extends rearwardly from said face portion, said second sidewall portion having a rearward tapered surface adapted to sealingly engage the tank.

A water heater comprising:

• a tank for holding water, said tank defining a water compartment and having an outer cylindrical surface;
• heating means for selectively heating water in said compartment;
• a thermostat mounted on said tank for detecting tank water temperature and for controlling said heating means in response to said tank water temperature, said thermostat including an electrically active terminal, a leadwire connected to said terminal, an electric circuit reset, and temperature adjustment means;
• a bracket;
• an electrically insulating shield covering said thermostat to prevent contamination of said terminal, said shield including a face portion covering said thermostat in spaced relation to said tank, a first opening in said face portion for providing operator access to said circuit reset, a second opening in said face portion for providing operator access to said temperature adjustment means, a channel on said face portion for receiving said bracket, a first planar, generally vertical sidewall portion extending between said face portion and said tank, said first sidewall portion having a rearward tapered surface sealingly engaging said tank outer surface and further having therein a leadwire access port providing an opening for routing said leadwire and providing strain relief for said leadwire, and a second planar, generally vertical sidewall portion extending between said face portion and said tank and having a rearward tapered surface engaging said tank outer surface in sealing relation, each of said first and second sidewall portions forming an obtuse angle with said face portion;
• and
• means for securing said bracket to said tank so that said bracket draws said sidewall surfaces into substantially sealing contact with said outer cylindrical surface.