US-12624860-B2 - Integrated lifting handle for a water heater appliance

US12624860B2US 12624860 B2US12624860 B2US 12624860B2US-12624860-B2

Abstract

A shroud for a water heater appliance may define a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a circumferential direction. The shroud may include a front cover and a rear cover. The front cover and the rear cover may be coupled together to form the shroud. The rear cover may include a first handle that may be formed integrally into the rear cover. The rear cover may also include a second handle that may be formed integrally into the rear cover. The first handle and the second handle may each be spaced apart approximately along a circumference of the shroud.

Inventors

Gregory Hutchison
Norman Boulard

Assignees

HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20230719

Claims (10)

1 . A water heater appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the water heater appliance comprising: a casing, the casing comprising a shroud defining a chamber; a tank disposed within the casing, the tank comprising a top portion and a bottom portion spaced apart approximately along the vertical direction, wherein the shroud is positioned at the top portion of the tank; a first handle formed integrally into the shroud, the first handle comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, a flat surface, and a rounded surface, wherein the top surface and the bottom surface of the first handle are each extended into the casing approximately along the lateral direction and wherein the flat surface and the rounded surface of the first handle are each extended from the bottom surface to the top surface approximately along the vertical direction; and a second handle formed integrally into the shroud, the second handle comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, a flat surface, and a rounded surface, wherein the top surface and the bottom surface of the second handle are each extended into the casing approximately along the lateral direction and wherein the flat surface and the rounded surface of the second handle are each extended from the bottom surface to the top surface approximately along the vertical direction; and wherein the first handle and the second handle are spaced apart approximately along a circumference of the shroud.
2 . The water heater appliance of claim 1 , wherein a first non-continuous portion of the shroud is provided by the first handle and a second non-continuous portion of the shroud is provided by the second handle, whereby the shroud is stiffened by the first non-continuous portion and the second non-continuous portion.
3 . The water heater appliance of claim 1 , wherein the shroud comprises a front cover and a rear cover and the front cover and the rear cover are coupled together to form the shroud.
4 . The water heater appliance of claim 3 , wherein the first handle and the second handle are each formed integrally into the rear cover.
5 . The water heater appliance of claim 1 , wherein the first handle defines a first recess extended into the shroud and the second handle defines a second recess extended into the shroud.
6 . The water heater appliance of claim 1 , further comprising a sealed system configured to generate heated water, wherein the first handle and the second handle are each positioned outward of the sealed system approximately along the lateral direction.
7 . A shroud of a casing for a water heater appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the water heater appliance comprising a tank disposed within the casing, the tank comprising a top portion and a bottom portion spaced apart along the vertical direction, the shroud comprising: a front cover a rear cover; wherein the front cover and the rear cover are coupled together to form the shroud; a first handle formed integrally into the rear cover, the first handle comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, a flat surface, and a rounded surface, wherein the top surface and the bottom surface of the first handle are each extended into the casing approximately along the lateral direction and wherein the flat surface and the rounded surface of the first handle are each extended from the bottom surface to the top surface approximately along the vertical direction; and a second handle formed integrally into the rear cover, the second handle comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, a flat surface, and a rounded surface, wherein the top surface and the bottom surface of the second handle are each extended into the casing approximately along the lateral direction and wherein the flat surface and the rounded surface of the second handle are each extended from the bottom surface to the top surface approximately along the vertical direction; and wherein the first handle and the second handle are spaced apart approximately along a circumference of the shroud.
8 . The water heater appliance of claim 7 , wherein the shroud defines a chamber, wherein the first handle defines a first recess extended into the chamber and the second handle defines a second recess extended into the chamber.
9 . The water heater appliance of claim 7 , wherein the rounded surface of the first handle comprises a first concave portion and a first convex portion, and wherein the rounded surface of the second handle comprises a second concave portion and a second convex portion.
10 . The water heater appliance of claim 7 , wherein a first non-continuous portion of the shroud cover is provided by the first handle, wherein a second non-continuous portion of the shroud cover is provided by the second handle, whereby the shroud cover is stiffened by the first non-continuous portion and the second non-continuous portion.

Description

FIELD The present subject matter relates generally to a water heater appliance, and more particularly to integrated lifting handles for a water heater appliance. BACKGROUND Many households and buildings include water heaters (or hot water tanks) that selectively provide heated water on demand via faucets, showers, and the like. Conventional water heaters include a tank storing a quantity of water, a temperature sensor to sense the temperature of the water, one or more heat sources to provide heat to the water; and piping or tubing to deliver water to and from the tank. Certain drawbacks exist that are related to the serviceability of current water heater appliances. For instance, the relatively large size and shape of water heater appliances make it difficult for an operator to move the water heater appliance. For example, the large size and shape of the water heater appliance may make it difficult for an operator of the water heater appliance to handle components of the water heater appliance during assembly, may make it difficult to sit the water heater appliance down into a horizontal position, for example, for transport of the water heater appliance, and/or may make it difficult to raise the water heater appliance to a vertical position, for example, during installation of the water heater appliance. Accordingly, a water heater appliance that obviates one or more of the above-mentioned drawbacks would be beneficial. Particularly, a water heater appliance that includes integrated lifting handles would be useful. BRIEF DESCRIPTION Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be apparent from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention. In one exemplary embodiment, a water heater appliance is provided. The water heater appliance may define a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction. The water heater appliance may include a casing. The water heater appliance may also include a tank disposed within the casing. The tank may include a top portion and a bottom portion spaced apart approximately along the vertical direction. The water heater appliance may further include a first handle that may be formed integrally into the casing. The water heater appliance may also include a second handle that may be formed integrally into the casing. The first handle and the second handle may be spaced apart approximately along a circumference of the casing. In another exemplary embodiment, a shroud for a water heater appliance is provided. The shroud may define a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction. The shroud may include a front cover and a rear cover that may be coupled together to form the shroud. The rear cover may include a first handle that may be formed integrally into the rear cover. The rear cover may also include a second handle that may be formed integrally into the rear cover. The first handle and the second handle may be spaced apart approximately along a circumference of the shroud. These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures. FIG. 1 provides a front elevation view of a water heater appliance according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present subject matter. FIG. 2 provides a front section view of the exemplary water heater appliance of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 provides a close-up perspective view of the exemplary water heater appliance of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 provides a perspective view of a rear cover according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present subject matter. FIG. 5 provides an additional perspective view of a rear cover according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present subject matter. FIG. 6 provides a close-up sectional view of the water heater appliance of FIG. 1 according to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present subject matter. Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent the same or analogous features or elements of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations c