System and method for restraining water heaters from tipping over due to earthquake or severe winds
AssigneeQuick Strap, Inc.
InventorDuane R. Condon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Upper and lower pairs of horizontally spaced L-shaped brackets made of steel are secured via fasteners to the rear sides of spaced apart vertical studs during the framing stage of building construction. During subsequent drywall installation the pointed ends of the perpendicularly extending strap attachment portions of each bracket penetrate the drywall and project outwardly from the studs and drywall. Upper and lower sheet metal straps, each having a sequence of equally spaced holes, are cut to length so that they can partially encircle the upper and lower third of a water heater. The terminal ends of the straps are connected to corresponding ones of the strap attachment portions of the brackets and placed under tension with bolt assemblies.
Claims50
A system for restraining a water heater to prevent the same from tipping over, comprising:
- a first bracket;
- means for securing the first bracket to a rear side of a first wall stud;
- a second bracket;
- means for securing the second bracket to a rear side of a second wall stud;
- a strap dimensioned for partially encircling a water heater;
- first means for connecting a first end of the strap to the first bracket;
- and
- second means for connecting a second end of the strap to the second bracket.
A method for restraining a water heater to prevent the same from tipping over, comprising the steps of:
- during a flaming stage of construction, and prior to the installation of drywall, installing an upper pair of horizontally spaced brackets and a lower pair of horizontally spaced brackets on a plurality of studs adjacent a location where a water heater is to be anchored, each bracket being secured to a corresponding one of the studs with at least one fastener and having a strap attachment portion that extends in an outward direction from the corresponding stud;
- installing drywall over the plurality of studs and allowing the strap attachment portion of each of the brackets to penetrate through the drywall;
- vertically positioning the water heater at the location between the brackets of the upper and lower pairs of brackets;
- providing an upper strap and a lower strap, each strap being dimensioned to partially encircle the water heater and having a pair of terminal ends that reach the strap attachment portions of the brackets of a corresponding pair of the upper and lower brackets;
- securing the terminal ends of the upper strap to the corresponding strap attachment portions of the upper brackets;
- and
- securing the terminal ends of the lower strap to the corresponding strap attachment portions of the lower brackets.
A water heater installation, comprising:
- a wall including a plurality of framing members;
- a layer of wall covering overlying the framing members;
- first and second upper anchoring devices secured to corresponding ones of the framing members prior to the installation of the layer of wall covering, the first and second anchoring devices each including a strap attachment portion projecting outwardly through the wall covering;
- third and fourth lower anchoring devices secured to corresponding ones of the framing members prior to the installation of the layer of wall covering, the third and fourth anchoring devices each including a strap attachment portion projecting outwardly through the wall covering;
- a water heater positioned adjacent the stud wall between the first and second anchoring devices and between the third and fourth anchoring devices;
- an upper strap dimensioned for partially encircling the water heater;
- first means for connecting a first end of the upper strap to the first anchoring device;
- second means for connecting a second end of the upper strap to the second anchoring device;
- a lower strap dimensioned for partially encircling the water heater;
- third means for connecting a first end of the lower strap to the third anchoring device;
- fourth means for connecting a second end of the lower strap to the fourth anchoring device.
A system for restraining a water heater to prevent the same from tipping over, comprising:
- a generally L-shaped first bracket made of a unitary piece of metal and having a first leg for attachment to the rear side of a first adjacent stud and a second leg extending in an outward direction from the first stud, the first leg having a first aperture and at least one fastener hole formed therein, and the second leg having at least one fastener hole and a second aperture formed therein;
- a first plurality of fasteners extending through the fastener holes of the first bracket and securing the first bracket to the rear side of the first stud;
- a generally L-shaped second bracket made of a unitary piece of metal and having a first leg for attachment to the rear side of a second adjacent stud and a second leg extending in an outward direction from the second stud, the first leg having a third aperture and at least one fastener hole formed therein, and the second leg having at least one fastener hole and a fourth aperture formed therein;
- a second plurality of fasteners extending through the fastener holes of the second bracket and securing the second bracket to the rear side of the second stud;
- an outer end of the second leg of each of the brackets being shaped to facilitate penetration through drywall;
- a strap dimensioned for partially encircling a water heater and having a plurality of equally spaced holes formed along a length thereof;
- first means for connecting a first end of the strap to the first bracket including a first bolt and nut assembly for extending through the second aperture of the second leg of the first bracket and a corresponding hole in the first end of the strap;
- and
- second means for connecting a second end of the strap to the second bracket including a second bolt and nut assembly for extending through the fourth aperture of the second leg of the second bracket and a corresponding hole in the second end of the strap;
- and
- wherein the second and fourth apertures in the second legs of the first and second brackets, respectively, have an elongated shape and the strap is dimensioned so that the bolts of each assembly can be inserted in a final hole in a corresponding end of the strap and the strap will tighten around the water heater when each nut is tightened over its corresponding bolt.
A system for restraining a water heater by a strap connected to at least one of a first or second wall framing members, the members having a side surface joining front and rear opposing surfaces, with the front surface nearer the water heater than a rear surface, comprising:
- a first bracket having a first leg adapted to engage the rear surface, a second leg connected to the first leg and sized and configured to extend along and beyond the side surface, the second leg having a distal end configured to connect to the strap when the system is in use.
A bracket for connecting to a strap used to secure a water heater to a stud in a wall, the stud having opposing front and rear surfaces with a thickness and separated by a side having a width, comprising a metal, L-shaped bracket having a short leg configured to abut the width of the stud, the short leg having at least one hole therein through which a fastener can extend to fasten the short leg to the stud when in use, the bracket having a long leg longer than the width of the stud, the long leg having at least one hole therein through which a fastener can extend to fasten the long leg to the stud when in use, the long leg having a free end configured to fasten to the strap.
A system for restraining a water heater, comprising a first bracket having a first leg connected to the rear side of a first wall support member and having a second leg extending along a side of the member and having a distal end connected to a strap that encircles at least a portion of a water heater, and a second bracket having a first leg connected to the rear side of a second wall support member and having a second leg extending along a side of the second member and having a distal end connected to the strap.
A combination, comprising:
- a first bracket having a first leg configured to be connected to the rear side of a first stud in a wall, the bracket having a second leg configured to extending along and beyond a side of the first stud and having a distal end;
- a second bracket having a first leg configured to be connected to the rear side of a second stud in a wall, the second bracket having a second leg configured to extending along and beyond a side of the second stud and having a distal end;
- a strap of sufficient length and strength to encircle and support at least a portion of a water heater interposed between the brackets, during an earthquake, the strap having an end configured to fasten to the distal end of one of the brackets.
A method for restraining a water heater by encircling at least a portion of the water heater with a strap that is connected to at least one stud in a wall to prevent the water heater from tipping over during an earthquake, the stud having opposing front and rear surfaces with a thickness and separated by a side having a width, comprising the steps of securing a first bracket to the stud so the bracket abuts a rear side of a wall stud near a location where the water heater is to be anchored, and extending a free end of the bracket along a side of the stud and beyond the width of the stud and any wall covering placed over the near end of the stud.
A method for restraining a water heater by connecting the heater to support members in a wall, comprising the steps of fastening a first bracket to a rear side of a first support member and extending a distal end of the first bracket beyond the support member and through any intervening wall covering, fastening a second bracket to a rear side of a second support member and extending a distal end of the second bracket beyond the second support member and through any intervening wall covering, fastening a strap to the distal ends of the brackets, and locating the first and second support members so the strap at least partially encircles and supports the water heater.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.