Supports – Stand – Receptacle
Reexamination Certificate
1997-11-06
2001-04-17
Braun, Leslie A. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Stand
Receptacle
C248S346010
Reexamination Certificate
active
06216990
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an appliance pan and stand, and more particularly, to improvements in an appliance pan and stand having a drainage system therein for support of an ignitable appliance, such as a water heater, a central heat and air conditioner or a washer/dryer.
An ignitable appliance, such as a water heater, is typically positioned within a limited space of a dwelling and on a floor adjacent the garage or within of a house or basement. Gasoline and other flammable liquids are commonly stored within the garage, and most commonly in cans on the floor. Not infrequently, these flammable liquids are spilled or leaked onto the floor and fumes emanating from these liquids tend to hover and travel low to the floor and travel into the area where the ignitable appliance is disposed. There have been a number of accidents involving an ignitable appliance, such as a water heater, wherein a pilot light of the appliance is an instrument which ignites these fumes resulting in explosion and/or fire. Thus, these ignitable appliances are to be raised above the fumes in a manner to preclude ignition thereof.
A drain is normally formed in the floor adjacent the water heater to catch water leakage from the water heater. Since leaks can occur potentially anywhere from the appliance (water heater) the leakage is not necessarily directed toward the drain and can create a mess and defeat the purpose of the drain.
There are a variety of different diameter sized appliances, e.g., water heaters, to accommodate a variety of demands. These larger sized appliances are not as common in the market place. In order to accomplish this need and reduce costs of manufacturing, it is desirable to utilize present stands having a base having a predetermined diameter and compliment the top of the stand with a retrofit pan large enough to accommodate the appliance. Further, a need exists to provide a stand with enhanced support of the appliance in extreme conditions, such as an earthquake.
Attempts have been made at providing a pan and a stand for a water heater. Such attempts have failed to provide uniformity to the industry safety standards for supporting the ignitable appliance, such as a water heater, under dry or wet conditions. Such attempts also lack height and width adjustability, fail to provide for leakage, or are designed to inhibit maneuverability for assembly and positioning within small work areas.
One type of stand described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,519,233 is directed to a water heater stand having four straight legs and a pan with a centrally located drain hole. U.S. Pat. No. 4,267,998 is directed to a wooden stand which requires on-site assembly. Another type of stand disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,199,676 is directed to a sheet-like metal stand which requires assembly at the site. Similarly, this stand lacks drainage directability. Such stands either lack drainage directability, width and height adjustability or is susceptible to weakening from moisture.
There exists a need for a relatively inexpensive stand which can elevate the ignitable appliance, such as a water heater, and associated pilot light above the garage floor and/or air region of concern. There is also needed for an appliance stand in order to raise the ignitable appliance, such as a water heater, a desired height while allowing accommodation of the ignitable appliance within the housing environment. Still there is another need to have a stand which is easy to install within a limited work space wherein the ignitable appliance, such as a water heater, is housed and accommodate a variety of sized appliances. There is also a need for a stand to include a pan having a drainage system. Finally, there is a need to provide a safe and stable stand for an ignitable appliance which solves the above needs and brings uniformity to the industry.
Accordingly, stand which address and solves some of these problems are described in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,368,263 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/559,441. The present invention modifies and improves upon the invention described therein.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a relatively inexpensive retrofit pan and stand which accommodates a variety sizes of ignitable appliances and includes a drainage system and is relatively easy to install.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a retrofit pan and appliance stand which is relatively light weight and capable of sustaining relatively heavy ignitable appliance, such as a water heater, for extended periods of time under wet or dry conditions.
It is another object of the present invention to provide for a retrofit pan and appliance stand which requires minimal or no assembly.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide for a retrofit pan and appliance stand which is relatively safe.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide for a retrofit pan and appliance stand which is easily installed in limited a work area.
Accordingly, the invention is directed to a retrofit pan and stand for raising an ignitable appliance, such as a water heater, above a support floor a distance which is above and beyond a region of air lying adjacent the floor which is susceptible to containing flammable fumes emanating from flammable liquids on the floor. The stand includes a base of a predetermined height to raise the ignitable appliance a sufficient distance above the region of air. The base has a support surface for supporting the ignitable appliance and a retention lip member extending from the support surface to retain leakage from the ignitable appliance. Adjacent the retention lip member and the support surface there is at least one preformed threaded aperture formed in a recessed cup surface which provides an opening to which a drain pipe can be threadedly connected thereto. The support surface is preferably arcuately shaped to aid drainage in this regard. In the preferred embodiment, the base is tapered from wide to narrow from the bottom to top of the stand, respectively.
The pan has a base with a diameter larger than the retention lip of the stand and having an outer lip member extending from the base and has a support surface interconnecting an inner portion of the lip member. The lip member likewise has at least one preformed threaded aperture formed adjacent at least one of the lip member and support surface of the pan which provides an opening to which a drain pipe can be threadedly connected thereto. The support surface of the pan has at least one support rib which connectedly extends along a bottom surface of the support surface in a manner to provide stability to the support surface of the pan. The rib is configured to seat on the support surface of the stand. More particularly, the rib of the pan support surface shall provide self-orienting aspect with respect to the support surface of the stand in a manner to substantially prevent a degree of freedom of movement therebetween.
One embodiment of the an appliance stand for supporting ignitable appliances of various sizes, comprises four generally trapezoidal side panels of a predetermined height and width, each panel having two ends, wherein each end of one of the panels connects to one end of another of the panels such that the side panels interconnect to form a substantially trapezoidal base. The stand has a generally rectangular top support panel having four edges, wherein each edge is connected to an edge of each side panel. The stand has four generally trapezoidal retention lip members of a predetermined height and width connected to an edge of the top support panel and extend substantially along a common plane with the side panel interconnecting thereto, the retention lip members having two ends, wherein each end of one of the retention lip members connects to one end of another of the retention lip members such that the retention lip members interconnect, wherein the top support member and retention lip members form a retainer surface area, at least one threaded apertu
Braun Leslie A.
Graham R. William
W. H. Safety Products, Inc.
Wood Kimberly
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