Water heater security system

• US 20050121568A1
• Filed: 12/05/2003
• Published: 06/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Little Firefighter Corporation
• Original Assignee: Little Firefighter Corporation
• Inventors: Youngberg, Eric Ezra
• Granted Patent: US 7,103,942 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/154
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/06 Arrangement of mountings or supports for heaters, e.g. boilers, other than space heating radiators space heating radiators F24D19/02
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/2175 Cargo tie down
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4019 Sliding part or wedge
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4084 Looped strap

Abstract

A water heater security system includes a woven, flexible strap disposed around a water heater to maintain the water heater in a fixed relationship with an adjacent wall. The system includes a pair of wall brackets and may include a buckle assembly. The strap may be formed with two or four ends at least one of which is adjustably attachable to one of the wall brackets or buckle. The buckle can be stamped from metal and bent back on itself to form a slide channel with two sidebars and a crossbar. A slide is disposed within the channel. Side flanges can be formed on the buckle portions or the slide.

Claims

1. A water heater security system adapted to hold the water heater in a generally fixed relationship with an adjacent wall, the system comprising:

at least one strap assembly extending around at least a portion of the water heater;

the strap assembly having a first end, a second end, and a woven, flexible configuration free of sharp edges;

a first wall bracket attached to the wall on a first side of the water heater;

a second wall bracket attached to the wall on a second side of the water heater opposite to the first side;

the first end of the strap assembly having a fixed relationship with the first wall bracket; and

the second end of the strap assembly having an adjustable relationship with the second wall bracket to permit movement of the second end of the strap assembly between a first position wherein the strap has a first length between the first wall bracket and the second wall bracket, and a second position wherein the strap has a second length shorter than the first length between the first wall bracket and the second wall bracket.

2. The water heater security system recited in claim 1, wherein the strap assembly comprises a single strap having the first end and the second end.

3. The water heater security system recited in claim 1, wherein:

the strap assembly includes a first strap having the first end and an opposing third end, and a second strap having the second end and an opposing fourth end; and

the system further comprises;

a buckle for attaching the third end of the first strap in a fixed relationship to the fourth end of the second strap.

4. The water heater security system recited in claim 3, wherein the buckle has an adjustable relationship with one of the third end of the first strap and the fourth end of the second strap.

5. The water heater security system recited in claim 4, wherein the buckle has an adjustable relationship with the other of the third end of the first strap and the fourth end of the second strap.

6. The water heater security system recited in claim 3, wherein the buckle further comprises:

a first portion of the buckle bent back on a second portion of the buckle and defining a channel therebetween; and

a slide engagable by the third end of the strap and movable within the channel to form a fixed relationship between the buckle and the third end of the strap.

7. The water heater security system recited in claim 6, wherein the slide includes side flanges to maintain the slide in the channel.

8. The water heater security system recited in claim 6, wherein the second portions of the buckle have side flanges to maintain the slide in the channel.

13. The water heater security system recited in claim 1, wherein the strap assembly comprises a non-metallic material.

9. A buckle adapted to receive a strap end in an adjustably fixed relationship, comprising:

an inner portion disposed generally in a first plane;

an outer portion bent back on the inner portion and disposed generally in a second plane parallel to the first plane;

the outer portion forming a sidebar with the inner portion, the sidebar being generally parallel to the first plane of the first portion and the second plane of the second portion and having a first pair of strap engagement edges;

the inner portion and the outer portion defining with the sidebar a channel;

a slide movable within the channel generally parallel to the sidebar, the slide having a second pair of strap engagement edges whereby

the strap can be threaded around the slide and cinched tightly to engage the strap with the first and second pair of strap engagement edges and thereby form the fixed relationship with the buckle.

10. The buckle recited in claim 9 wherein:

the strap end is a first strap end; and

the inner portion of the buckle is adapted for attachment to a second strap end.

11. The buckle recited in claim 9 wherein:

the strap end is a first strap end; and

the inner portion of the buckle is adapted for attachment to a wall.

12. The buckle recited in claim 9 further comprising:

side flanges formed alternatively on the first portion of the buckle and the slide of the buckle.

14. A water heater security system adapted to hold the water heater in a generally fixed relationship with an adjacent wall, the system comprising:

a first wall bracket attached to the wall on a first side of the water heater;

a second wall bracket attached to the wall on a second side of the water heater opposite to the first side;

a strap assembly coupled to the first wall bracket and the second wall bracket, the strap assembly comprising a woven, flexible configuration and extending around at least a portion of the water heater; and

the strap assembly being adjustable between a first position wherein the strap assembly holds the water heater securely and a second position wherein the strap assembly does not hold the water heater securely.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the strap assembly comprises a single strap having a first end and a second end.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein:

the first end of the single strap has a fixed relationship with the first wall bracket; and

the second of the single strap has an adjustable relationship with the second wall bracket.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein:

the first end of the single strap has an adjustable relationship with the first wall bracket; and

the second of the single strap has an adjustable relationship with the second wall bracket.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the strap assembly comprises:

a first strap having a first outer end coupled to the first wall bracket and a first inner end;

a second strap having a second outer end coupled to the second wall bracket and a second inner end; and

a buckle coupling the first inner end and the second inner end.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the buckle has an adjustable relationship with one of the first inner end and the second inner end.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the buckle has an adjustable relationship with the other of the first inner end and the second inner end.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein:

the first outer end has a fixed relationship with the first wall bracket; and

the second outer end has a fixed relationship with the second wall bracket.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein:

the first outer end has a fixed relationship with the first wall bracket; and

the second outer end has an adjustable relationship with the second wall bracket.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein:

the first outer end has an adjustable relationship with the first wall bracket; and

the second outer end has an adjustable relationship with the second wall bracket.

24. The system of claim 14, wherein the strap assembly comprises a non-metallic material.