Metal working – Method of mechanical manufacture – Gas and water specific plumbing component making
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-26
2001-04-24
Hughes, S. Thomas (Department: 3726)
Metal working
Method of mechanical manufacture
Gas and water specific plumbing component making
C029S890140, C029S890020
Reexamination Certificate
active
06219917
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a gas supply assembly for an appliance powered by natural gas. The invention also provides a method of assembling the appliance.
Many domestic appliances are powered, at least in part, by natural gas. This necessitates that the appliance be provided with a gas supply assembly for connecting the appliance to an external gas supply line and for feeding the incoming natural gas to a burner assembly.
Various improvements of gas supply assemblies have been made through the years. These improvements include the use of a double-bead fitting such as found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,871,199 issued Oct. 3, 1989 and 5,573,285 issued Nov. 12, 1996, which are each incorporated herein by reference. Another improvement is the use of a stake joint to join a gas carrying tube with a fitting component. Examples of stake joints are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,930,298 issued Jan. 6, 1976, 3,977,710 issued Aug. 31, 1976 and 4,126,929 issued Nov. 28, 1978, each of which are incorporated herein by reference. Double-bead fittings and stake joints have helped to reduce the number of parts required by the appliance, and reduced the number of steps required to assemble the appliance.
Despite these improvements, however, there exists a need in the art of appliance manufacturing to further improve the gas supply assembly and the method of assembling the appliances. It has been found that during installation, excessive torque is often placed on parts comprising the gas supply assembly. This excessive torque commonly results in fractured parts or separated joints which would allow the leakage of natural gas. Obviously, this condition is unacceptable and must be corrected before completing the assembly process. Repairing or replacing damaged parts, however, increases both the total cost and assembly time of the appliances.
In addition, the installation process of a gas supply assembly into the appliance is lengthy and difficult. A number of factors contribute to this problem. These factors include the lack of space within the appliance to manipulate parts and tools, the difficulty in positioning the gas supply assembly around other appliance subsystems, and the difficulty in holding one end of gas supply assembly while securing the other. These difficulties also increase the total cost of the appliance.
The present invention overcomes at least some of the above-noted disadvantages of the related art by providing a gas supply assembly for an appliance that makes the assembling process easier and faster while minimizing the number of damaged parts. This is accomplished by providing a preshaped gas supply assembly that has interlocking components to support and prevent the rotation of the assembly during installation. The gas supply assembly can be attached to a burner assembly outside of the appliance where manipulation of the parts is simple. The gas supply assembly is constructed of lightweight parts that assist in reducing the overall weight and shipping cost of the appliance.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, a gas supply assembly for an appliance includes a tube with a first end and a second end. The tube is preshaped to fit around appliance subsystems, thus enhancing the installation of the gas supply assembly in the appliance. The first end is provided with a first fitting and the second end is provided with a second fitting, the second fitting having a second fitting shape. The assembly also has a mounting bracket defining a bracket opening for receiving the second fitting. The bracket opening has a shape complementary to that of the second fitting shape so that the mounting bracket and the second fitting cooperate to substantially prohibit rotation of the tube.
The present invention also provides a method of assembling an appliance having a cabinet. A tube assembly includes a preformed tube shaped to fit around objects in the cabinet, first fitting at a first end of the tube and a second fitting at a second end of the tube. The tube assembly is attached to a burner assembly using the first fitting. The tube assembly and the attached burner assembly are then inserted into the cabinet so that a first portion of the second fitting extends through an opening defined by the cabinet. The burner assembly is then secured within the cabinet.
The present invention also provides a method of assembling a gas supply device. A tube, having a first end and a second end, is bent into a shape which enhances installation of the device in an appliance. A first fitting is attached to the first end of the tube. A second fitting, defining a second fitting shape, is attached to the second end of the tube. A mounting bracket is provided for attaching the device to a cabinet. The mounting bracket defines a bracket opening for receiving the second fitting. The bracket opening has a shape complementary to that of the second fitting shape. The mounting bracket is placed on the second fitting so that the second fitting shape and the bracket opening shape cooperate to substantially prohibit rotation of the tube relative to the second fitting. The cabinet is provided with a receptor for receiving the mounting bracket and preventing rotation of the mounting bracket. Therefore, rotation of the device as a whole is prevented to avoid damage to the device.
REFERENCES:
patent: 877849 (1908-01-01), Loebe
patent: 1074789 (1913-10-01), Green
patent: 1354419 (1920-09-01), Reppetto
patent: 1445984 (1923-02-01), Wilkinson
patent: 1656447 (1928-01-01), Schenk
patent: 2033369 (1936-03-01), Baker
patent: 2109399 (1938-02-01), Meacham et al.
patent: 2763960 (1956-09-01), Wintriss
patent: 3195561 (1965-07-01), Sovitzky
patent: 3254399 (1966-06-01), Zahuranec
patent: 3413017 (1968-11-01), Hughey
patent: 3930298 (1976-01-01), Ridenour
patent: 3977710 (1976-08-01), Ridenour
patent: 4076281 (1978-02-01), Davis
patent: 4126929 (1978-11-01), Ridenour
patent: 4313286 (1982-02-01), Harbeke
patent: 4409954 (1983-10-01), Berlik et al.
patent: 4547942 (1985-10-01), Fukuda
patent: 4572154 (1986-02-01), Schweitzer
patent: 4739596 (1988-04-01), Cunningham et al.
patent: 4860791 (1989-08-01), Putnam
patent: 4871199 (1989-10-01), Ridenour et al.
patent: 5031940 (1991-07-01), Stefanos
patent: 5222768 (1993-06-01), Hofer et al.
patent: 5316346 (1994-05-01), Maurer
patent: 5362111 (1994-11-01), Harbin
patent: 5573285 (1996-11-01), Ridenour
patent: 5588681 (1996-12-01), Parks
patent: 5829425 (1998-11-01), Woods et al.
patent: 5833280 (1998-11-01), Ferlin et al.
patent: 5836296 (1998-11-01), Hillis et al.
Dipaolo John
Peed Sherman D.
Hughes S. Thomas
Jimenez Marc
Pearne & Gordon LLP
Universal Tubular Systems Inc.
LandOfFree
Gas supply device does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Gas supply device, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Gas supply device will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2463811