Supports – Brackets – Article holding means
Reexamination Certificate
1998-01-14
2001-07-03
Braun, Leslie A. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Brackets
Article holding means
C248S505000, C024S280000, C126S024000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06254051
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to water heaters and, in particular, to a system for restraining water heaters.
Conventional water heaters are generally cylindrical in overall shape, often between about four and six feet tall, and placed in an upright position. It is important for water heaters to remain in an upright position, in spite of disturbances such as earthquakes. A conventional method for securing a water heater in an upright position is to wrap a simple cable or strap around the water heater and attach the cable or strap to a nearby wall. This method, however, is unsatisfactory because the water heater is often an unknown distance from the wall and water heaters typically have different sizes. Thus, cables or straps of various lengths are required, and installation time is lengthened. Additionally, these simple cables or straps can be very difficult to install, and it is very difficult to obtain the proper tension in the cables or straps around the water heater. Therefore, the water heater is often improperly supported.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a simple and economical system for restraining water heaters. Advantageously, the system is readily adjustable to restrain water heaters of various sizes. For example, the restraining system can restrain residential water heaters, which typically contain 30, 40 or 50 gallons of water. The restraining system can also restrain larger and smaller water heaters, and commercial water heaters. The restraining system is also readily adjustable to restrain water heaters located at various distances from a supporting structure, such as a wall. Additionally, the system is relatively inexpensive to manufacture because it has few parts and the parts have relatively simple construction. Further, the system provides for fast and efficient installation because the system is easy to assemble and readily adjustable.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the restraining system includes a first strap having a first end connected to a support structure and a second end containing a plurality of slots. A second strap has a first end connected to the support structure and a second end containing plurality of slots. The restraining system also includes a first connector including an extension configured to extend through a selected slot in the first strap and a second connector including an extension configured to extend through a selected slot in the second strap. Additionally, the system includes an adjustable fastener configured to connect the first and second connectors. The slot which is selected in the first strap and the slot which is selected in the second strap are selected for coarse adjustment of the straps around the water heater, and the adjustable fastener is configured to tighten the straps around the water heater to achieve the desired fit of the straps around the water heater.
In another embodiment of the invention, the restraining system further includes a bracket connected to a supporting structure and a pair of wedges connected to the bracket. Each wedge includes a first leg and a second leg, with the first leg of each wedge configured to engage the water heater.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, a mounting bracket with a generally “Z”-shaped configuration has a first section for engagement with an inner surface of a supporting member, a second section extending generally perpendicular to the first for engagement with the front face of the supporting member, and a third or attachment section extending generally perpendicular to the second section (and generally parallel to the first section). The bracket includes a through-hole in its second section through which a fastener may be extended for connecting the bracket to the front face of the supporting member and the bracket may include a pair of through-holes in the first section through which additional fasteners may be extended. Desirably, when a wall covering is installed over the front face of the supporting member, the attachment section of the bracket extends through the wall covering and includes a point of attachment for the end of a strap or other restraint.
The invention also includes a method of restraining a water heater; the method includes the steps of attaching a first strap with a plurality of apertures to a supporting structure and attaching a second strap with a plurality of apertures to a supporting structure. A first connector is inserted through selected slots in the first strap and a second connector is inserted through selected slots in the second strap. An adjustable fastener connects the first and second connectors. The adjustable fastener is preferably configured to tighten the first strap and the second strap around the water heater.
In another method of restraining a water heater, two Z-shaped brackets are each mounted to different supporting members and the water heater is generally positioned between the brackets. The first section of each bracket is connected to an inner or side face of the supporting member, with a second section of each bracket connected to an end face or front face of the supporting member. A strap is then connected to each of the brackets and the ends of the straps are then positioned around the water heater. A connector joins the ends of the straps around the water heater to restrain the water heater.
Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following figures, detailed description of preferred embodiments and claims.
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Spacemaker TS-E-25, 2 pages of installation instructions (undated).
Brown Larry D.
Hubbard Kirt R.
Baxter Gwendolyn
Braun Leslie A.
Securus Inc.
Stetina Brunda Garred & Brucker
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