US4085773A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Water heater overflow pan
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-10-06
•
Granted: 1978-04-25
•
Expires: 1996-10-06
Abstract
Abstract An overflow unit for a water heater installation has a plastic, resilient polystyrene pan with a bottom wall for receiving the bottom of the heater and a continuous side wall including inner and outer walls which diverge downwardly in a range of approximately five to fifteen degrees. A bottom edge portion of the outer wall is substantially coplanar with the bottom or outer face of the bottom wall but, preferably, extends outwardly a distance up to approximately 0.0001 inch from the outer face of the bottom wall when the pan is in a relaxed condition. Upon being placed on a supporting surface and receiving the water heater, the bottom edge portion of the outer wall is snugly and closely seated on the supporting surface. A drain coupling for receiving a drain line opens through the inner and outer walls and is in sealed engagement with the inner wall.
Inventors
- 👤 Lyle D. Tinney
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 15:46
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24H; F24H9/00; F24H9/16; F24H9/17; F24H9/0005; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S220/00; Y10S220/14; Y10S220/22; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/86187; Y10T137/86348
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
A water heater overflow pan comprising, a plastic slightly yieldable pan having a bottom wall for receiving the bottom of the heater, the bottom of said bottom wall having outer face means to be seated on a supporting surface when the heater is received on said bottom wall, said pan further having a continuous side wall including a generally upright inner wall and a generally upright outer wall interconnected at their upper portions, said outer wall having bottom edge means to be seated on the supporting surface and said bottom edge means extending slightly downwardly from said outer face means of said bottom wall to be flexed into firm seated engagement with the supporting surface as said pan yields responsive to the heater being received on said bottom wall, and a coupling opening through said side wall for connection with a drain, said coupling being in sealed engagement with said inner wall and extending freely through said outer wall to permit free relative movement between said coupling and said outer wall as said pan and heater are seated on said supported surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
182 words
A water heater overflow pan comprising, a plastic slightly yieldable pan having a bottom wall for receiving the bottom of the heater, the bottom of said bottom wall having outer face means to be seated on a supporting surface when the heater is received on said bottom wall, said pan further having a continuous side wall including a generally upright inner wall and a generally upright outer wall interconnected at their upper portions, said outer wall having bottom edge means to be seated on the supporting surface and said bottom edge means extending slightly downwardly from said outer face means of said bottom wall to be flexed into firm seated engagement with the supporting surface as said pan yields responsive to the heater being received on said bottom wall, and a coupling opening through said side wall for connection with a drain, said coupling being in sealed engagement with said inner wall and extending freely through said outer wall to permit free relative movement between said coupling and said outer wall as said pan and heater are seated on said supported surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A pan as set forth in claim 1 in which said bottom edge means of said outer wall extends downwardly from the plane of said outer face means of said bottom wall a distance up to approximately 0.0001 inch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A pan as set forth in claim 1 in which the inner and outer walls diverge from said upper portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A pan as set forth in claim 3 in which the last said walls diverge in a range of about 5° to 15 degrees.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A pan as set forth in claim 3 in which said bottom edge means of said outer wall extends downwardly from the plane of said outer means of said bottom wall a distance up to approximately 0.0001 inch.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
A pan as set forth in claim 5 in which all said walls are of homogeneous construction, one with the other, and are of a slightly resilient polystyrene and approximately one-eighth inch thick, the inner and outer walls are approximately 2 inches high and diverge approximately 10°, and said coupling extends through said inner and outer walls and is in sealed engagement therewith.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-04-24 | 1981-10-24 | 1982-04-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-04-24 | 1985-10-24 | 1986-04-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-04-24 | 1989-10-24 | 1990-04-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |