BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(a) Technical Field of the Invention
[0001] 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.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
[0002] 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.
[0003] 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.
[0004] 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.
[0005] 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.
[0006] 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
[0007] 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.
[0008] 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.
[0009] 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
[0010]
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an enclosure structure for water heater in accordance
with a first embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is an exploded view of the enclosure of the present invention;
Figure 3 is an exploded view of an enclosure constructed in accordance with a second
embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 4 is an exploded view of an enclosure constructed in accordance with a third
embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 5 is an exploded view of an enclosure constructed in accordance with a fourth
embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 6 is an exploded view of an enclosure constructed in accordance with a fifth
embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 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
[0011] 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.
[0012] With reference to the drawings and in particular to Figures 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.
[0013] 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).
[0014] 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.
[0015] 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).
[0016] 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).
[0017] 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 (3 0) 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.
[0018] Referring now to Figure 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).
[0019] Referring now to Figure 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.
[0020] Referring now to Figure 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.
[0021] Referring to Figure 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).
[0022] Referring now to Figure 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.
[0023] 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.
[0024] 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.
[0025] 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.
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.