U.S. patent application number 11/293238 was filed with the patent office on 2007-06-07 for enclosure structure of water heater.
This patent application is currently assigned to GRAND MATE CO. LTD.. Invention is credited to Chung-Chin Huang.
Application Number | 20070126320 11/293238 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38117995 |
Filed Date | 2007-06-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070126320 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Huang; Chung-Chin |
June 7, 2007 |
Enclosure structure of water heater
Abstract
An enclosure structure of water heater is disclosed, which is
readily assembled/disassembled and has an enhanced structural
strength, including two opposite side panels having front and rear
edges along which aluminum-extruded channels are integrally fixed
to respectively receive opposite edges of a front panel and an
opposite base plate and top and bottom cover boards respectively
attached to upper and lower edges of the side panels to secure the
front panel and the base plate in the channels of the side panels.
Such a structure enhances simplification of
assembling/disassembling the water heater enclosure and provides
flexibility in modification of overall outside appearance of the
water heater by replacing the side panels and the front panel to
thereby eliminate troubles and inconveniences that are encountered
in the conventional water heater enclosures.
Inventors: |
Huang; Chung-Chin;
(Taichung, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LEONG C LEI
PMB # 1008
1867 YGNACIO VALLEY ROAD
WALNUT CREEK
CA
94598
US
|
Assignee: |
GRAND MATE CO. LTD.
|
Family ID: |
38117995 |
Appl. No.: |
11/293238 |
Filed: |
December 5, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/236 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24H 9/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/236 |
International
Class: |
A47B 77/08 20060101
A47B077/08 |
Claims
1. An enclosure of water heater, comprising: two opposite side
panels, each having front and rear edges along which front and rear
channels are formed; a front panel having opposite edges received
in the front channels of the side panels; a base plate having
opposite edges received in the rear channels of the side panels; a
top cover board mounted to upper edges of the side panels; and a
bottom cover board mounted to lower edges of the side panels to
thereby secure the front panel and the base plate in the channels
of the side panels.
2. The enclosure as claimed in claim 1, wherein each side panel
comprises a rib between the first and second channels, the rib
having opposite ends in which threaded holes are defined, the top
cover board defining through holes corresponding in positions to
the threaded holes defined in the upper edges of the side panels to
receive bolts that engage the threaded holes respectively, and the
bottom cover board defining through holes corresponding in
positions to the threaded holes defined in the lower edges of the
side panels to receive bolts that engage the threaded holes
respectively.
3. The enclosure as claimed in claim 1, wherein each channel has an
expanded inboard edge having opposite ends defining threaded holes
to engage bolts extending through holes defined in the top and
bottom cover boards and corresponding in positions to the threaded
holes thereby securing the top cover board and the bottom cover
board to the side panels.
4. The enclosure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the front panel has
upper and lower edges, which are substantially flush with the upper
and lower edges of the side panels.
5. The enclosure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the front panel
forms an observing window in a central portion thereof.
6. The enclosure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base plate has
upper and lower edges, which are substantially, flush with the
upper and lower edges of the side panels.
7. The enclosure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top cover board
defines an air outlet opening.
8. The enclosure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bottom cover
board defines an air inlet opening.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] (a) Technical Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention generally relates to an enclosure
structure of a gas water heater, and in particular to an water
heater enclosure having a readily-detachable front panel for
frequent change of outside appearance in an economic manner.
[0003] (b) Description of the Prior Art
[0004] A gas water heater comprises a base plate mounted to a
vertical fixed surface, such as a wall, and a front cover mounted
to the base plate. The front cover comprises a front panel having a
circumference from which side panels extends rearward to form a
casing having an open rear side, which is attached and secured to
the base plate to form an enclosure inside which a burning/heating
assembly of the heater that is generally fixed to the base plate is
accommodated for protection purposes.
[0005] Taiwan Patent Publication No. 326262 discloses an
improvement over the previously discussed water heater structure by
forming holes on opposite marginal portions in a top portion of the
front cover at positioned close to a rear edges of the top portion.
A projection is formed on the base plate at a location
corresponding to each hole of the front cover and each projection
forms an inclined extension receivable in the hole to thereby
attach the front cover to the base plate. As such, efficient
assembling of the water heater can be realized.
[0006] The conventional designs of the water heater both comprises
a front cover that is made as a single piece by die stamping and
the front cover so made is then mounted to and shields the base
plate. Thus, the front cover plays a major role for the outside
appearance of the water heater. However, the conventional front
cover, as discussed previously, once made, has a fixed construction
and configuration. New die or mold is required for
differently-constructed or shaped front cover. This is not
economically practical due to the great expense for making of new
dies or molds, and consequently, to save cost, the water heater
industry often employs the old design of front cover in new models
of water heaters. This imposes an undesired constraint on selection
and modification of the outside appearance of water heaters. Also,
distinction between different models of water heater is hard to
tell. Apparently, further improvement is still of a great need of
the water heater industry.
[0007] Furthermore, due to the fact that the front cover is made as
a single piece by stamping, the front cover that is comprised of a
front panel and side panels extending from and substantially normal
to the front panel occupies a great amount of space. This causes
problems in manufacturing, storage, and transportation of the
manufacturers of the front cover. Costs are thus increased.
[0008] Thus, it is desired to have an enclosure structure for water
heater that overcomes the above problems of the conventional
designs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide
an enclosure structure that comprises a base plate mounted to a
fixed vertical surface and a front panel opposite to the base plate
and two side panels each forming channels extending along opposite
edges thereof to receive corresponding edges of the base plate and
the front panel. A top cover board and a bottom board, each
defining an air passage, are fixed to upper and lower ends of the
assembly of the base plate, the front panel, and the side panels
and fixed thereto by fasteners, such as bolts, to secure the front
panel, the side panels, and the base plate together. Such an
arrangement allows for easy assembling/disassembling, and thus
allowing for change of the outside appearance by replacing the
front panel, and efficient storage by reducing the space occupied
by an individual front cover.
[0010] The foregoing object and summary provide only a brief
introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these
and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention
itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the
art, the following detailed description of the invention and the
claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical
reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.
[0011] Many other advantages and features of the present invention
will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making
reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets
of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment
incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by
way of illustrative example.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an enclosure structure for
water heater in accordance with a first embodiment of the present
invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the enclosure of the present
invention;
[0014] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an enclosure constructed in
accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of an enclosure constructed in
accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of an enclosure constructed in
accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of an enclosure constructed in
accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of an enclosure constructed in
accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] The following descriptions are of exemplary embodiments
only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or
configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following
description provides a convenient illustration for implementing
exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the
described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement
of the elements described without departing from the scope of the
invention as set forth in the appended claims.
[0020] With reference to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1
and 2, an enclosure of water heater constructed in accordance with
a first embodiment of the present invention comprises two opposite
side panels (10), which are substantially rectangular, having front
and rear edges. Each side panel (10) comprise a first, front
channel (11), preferably aluminum-extruded, longitudinally
extending along and integrally formed at the front edge thereof,
and a second, rear channel (12), also preferably aluminum-extruded,
longitudinally extending along and integrally formed at the rear
edge thereof. The first and second channels (11), (12) are opposite
to each other. A rib (13), preferably aluminum-extruded,
longitudinally extends between and opposite to the first and second
channels (11), (12) and is integrally formed with each side panel
(10). Opposite ends of the rib (13) form threaded holes (14)
respectively.
[0021] A front panel (20) having a thickness substantially
corresponding to the first channels (11) of the side panels (10)
has opposite edges received in the first channels (11),
respectively, with upper and lower edges of the front panel (20)
substantially flush with upper and lower edges of the side panels
(10), respectively. The front panel (20) forms, at a central
portion thereof, an observing window (21).
[0022] A base plate (30) having a thickness substantially
corresponding to the second channels (12) of the side panels (11)
has opposite edges received in the second channels (12) of the side
panels (10) with upper and lower edges of the base plate (30)
substantially preferably flush with the upper and lower edges of
the side panels (10), respectively.
[0023] A top cover board (40) mates the upper edges of the two side
panels (10), the front panel (20), and the base plate (30) and
forms air an outlet hole (41) at a center thereof. The top cover
board (40) also defines through holes (42) corresponding in
position to the threaded holes (14) of the side panels (10) for the
extension of bolts (43) therethrough to engage the threaded holes
(14) thereby securing the top cover board (40) to the side panels
(10), the front panel (20), and the base plate (30).
[0024] A bottom cover board (50) mates the lower edges of the side
panels (10), the front panel (20), and the base plate (30) and
forms air an inlet hole (51) at a center thereof. The bottom cover
board (50) also defines through holes (52) corresponding in
position to the threaded holes (14) of the side panels (10) for the
extension of bolts (53) therethrough to engage the threaded holes
(14) thereby securing the bottom cover board (50) to the side
panels (10), the front panel (20), and the base plate (30).
[0025] To this point, it is apparent that the front panel (20), the
base plate (30), and the side panels (10) can be readily
assembled/disassembled by simply fitting the edges of the front
panel (20) and the base plate (30) into the first and second
channels (11), (12) of the side panels (10) and attaching the top
cover board (40) and the bottom cover boards (50) to the upper and
lower edges thereof with bolts to secure the side panels (10), the
front panel (20), and the base plate (30) together. In addition,
the side panels (10), the front panel (20), the base plate (30),
the top cover board (40), and the bottom cover board (50) can be
made separately. This significantly improves the conventional
manufacturing process that makes a front cover of water heater
enclosure as a single piece with a single die.
[0026] Referring now to FIG. 3, which shows a second embodiment of
the water heater enclosure in accordance with the present
invention, the enclosure of second embodiment is a modification of
the first embodiment by removing the central rib (13) from each
side panel (10). In the second embodiment, each channel (11), (12)
has an expanded inboard edge having opposite ends in which the
threaded holes (14) that are originally formed in the central rib
(13) are formed to engage bolts (43), (53) extending through holes
(42), (52) defined in the top and bottom cover boards (40), (50)
and corresponding in positions to the threaded holes (14) thereby
securing the top and bottom cover boards (40), (50) to the upper
and lower edges of the side panels (10) and the front panel (20)
and the base plate (30).
[0027] Referring now to FIG. 4, which shows a third embodiment of
the water heater enclosure in accordance with the present
invention, the enclosure of the third embodiment is a modification
of the previously discussed first and second embodiments by
combining the first and second embodiments together. Threaded holes
(14) are defined in ends of both the expanded inboard edges of the
channels (11), (12) and the rib (13) and corresponding through
holes (42), (52) are defined in the top and bottom cover boards
(40), (50) to receive bolts (43), (53) that engage the threaded
holes (14) to thereby secure the side panels (10), the front panel
(20), and the base plate (30) together.
[0028] Referring now to FIG. 5, which shows a fourth embodiment of
the water heater enclosure in accordance with the present
invention, the enclosure of the fourth embodiment is a modification
of the first embodiment by replacing the side panels (10) of the
first embodiment, which are flat in general, with curved plates and
the top and bottom cover boards (40), (50) are contoured in
accordance with the curves of the curved side panels of the present
embodiment. Similar to the previous embodiments, the top and bottom
cover boards (40), (50) are attached to the side panels (10) by
bolts extending through the holes (42), (52) of the top and bottom
cover boards (40), (50) and engaging the threaded holes (14) of the
side panels (10). The instant embodiment is intended to demonstrate
that the enclosure in accordance with the present invention can be
easily modified in the outside appearance by simply replacing the
side panels (10), the top cover board (40), and the bottom cover
board (50) with counterparts of different shapes. Consequently, the
overall configuration or shape of the water heater can be made
different to quite an extent. In addition, the costs for changing
the side panels and the top and bottom cover boards, as well as the
front panel and the base plate, are certainly much lower than
replacing different stamping dies.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 6, which shows a fifth embodiment of the
water heater enclosure in accordance with the present invention,
the enclosure of the fifth embodiment is a modification of the
fourth embodiment by removing the central rib (13) from each side
panel (10). In the fifth embodiment, each channel (11), (12) has an
expanded inboard edge having opposite ends in which the threaded
holes (14) that are originally formed in the central rib (13) are
formed to engage bolts (43), (53) extending through holes (42),
(52) defined in the top and bottom cover boards (40), (50) and
corresponding in positions to the threaded holes (14) thereby
securing the top and bottom cover boards (40), (50) to the upper
and lower edges of the side panels (10) and the front panel (20)
and the base plate (30).
[0030] Referring now to FIG. 7, which shows a sixth embodiment of
the water heater enclosure in accordance with the present
invention, the enclosure of the sixth embodiment is a modification
of the previously discussed fourth and fifth embodiments by
combining the fourth and sixth embodiments together. Threaded holes
(14) are defined in ends of both the expanded inboard edges of the
channels (11), (12) and the rib (13) and corresponding through
holes (42), (52) are defined in the top and bottom cover boards
(40), (50) to receive bolts (43), (53) that engage the threaded
holes (14) to thereby secure the side panels (10), the front panel
(20), and the base plate (30) together.
[0031] Although the present invention has been described with
reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it is apparent to
those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and
changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present
invention which is intended to be defined by the appended
claims.
[0032] It will be understood that each of the elements described
above, or two or more together may also find a useful application
in other types of methods differing from the type described
above.
[0033] While certain novel features of this invention have been
shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is
not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be
understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and
changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in
its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without
departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
* * * * *