Patent Application
20210123633
The present disclosure relates to a device to assist in moving water heaters and, more particularly to a device that can be easily coupled to a water heater as an attachment, for allowing a user to grasp and move the water heater.
The water heater (or a “boiler”) is an apparatus that is used in a residential heating system. The water heater is configured to heat a liquid, like water therein. The heated water is made to flow through another component of the residential heating system, such as a radiator, to allow heat carried by the heated water to be dissipated within an enclosed space, for example, within a home, an office space and so forth. The water heater may employ any means, like electrical power or gas (by combustion thereof) to heat the water.
Generally, the water heater is fabricated to have a cylindrical shape. Typically, the water heater can have a height equal to or more than 4 feet and can have a diameter more than or equal to 1.5 feet, and weighs between 50 to 100 pounds. It will be appreciated that such a water heater can be lifted and moved by a person, if needed. However, most conventional water heaters lack an attachment or any handling surface to allow the person to conveniently grasp the water heater and move the water heater. Therefore, the person may be forced to use techniques such as placing the water heater on ground in a horizontal position and rolling the water heater to move the water heater from one place to another. However, such a technique is cumbersome and may cause damage to the water heater in the process.
Therefore, there is a need of a simple device to assist a person in moving the water heater from one place to another.
The disclosed subject matter provides device to assist in moving water heaters. According to one aspect of the present disclosure here is provided the device to assist in moving a water heater. The device comprises at least one socket having a threaded portion configured to be received by a corresponding threaded portion of at least one of an inlet nozzle or an outlet nozzle of the water heater. The at least one socket comprises the threaded portion formed on an external surface of the socket or an internal surface of the socket. Further, the device comprises a handle integrally formed with the at least one socket and configured to receive a hand of a user, to allow the user to grasp the device for moving the water heater. The handle is fabricated to have a rectangular shape, a semi-circular shape or a semi-hexagonal shape. Moreover, the handle comprises a cavity for receiving the hand of the user to allow the user to grasp the device.
The presently disclosed device comprises the handle comprising the cavity, such that a width of the cavity ranges from 17 centimeters (cm) to 24 cm. Further, an inside of the handle comprises one or more depressions for resting one or more fingers of the hand of the user. Also, an outside of the handle comprises at least one depression for resting at least a thumb of the hand of the user.
Another technical feature of the presently disclosed device is that a width of the handle is less than or equal to a distance between the inlet nozzle and the outlet nozzle of the water heater. Further, the device is fabricated using a material having high tensile strength.
A further technical feature of the presently disclosed device is that the at least one socket comprises a first socket configured to be arranged with the inlet nozzle and a second socket configured to be arranged with the outlet nozzle. The handle is integrally formed with the first socket and the second socket. Further, each of the first socket and the second socket is configured to be independently rotated for arranging the first socket with the inlet nozzle and the second socket with the outlet nozzle, while maintaining the handle in a stationary position.
The device further comprises a grip-enhancing wrap arranged on the handle. The grip-enhancing wrap is fabricated using at least one of rubber and silicone.
Still further technical aspects and advantages of the presently disclosed watch winding apparatus and method for winding a wrist watch will become apparent upon reading the technical description and considering the claims appearing below.
The present subject matter will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings, which are provided as illustrative examples of the subject matter so as to enable those skilled in the art to practice the subject matter. Notably, the FIGUREs and examples are not meant to limit the scope of the present subject matter to a single embodiment, but other embodiments are possible by way of interchange of some or all of the described or illustrated elements and, further, wherein:
The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of exemplary embodiments in which the presently disclosed process can be practiced. The term “exemplary” used throughout this description means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration,” and should not necessarily be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. The detailed description includes specific details for providing a thorough understanding of the presently disclosed method and system. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the presently disclosed process may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the concepts of the presently disclosed method and system.
In the present specification, an embodiment showing a singular component should not be considered limiting. Rather, the subject matter preferably encompasses other embodiments including a plurality of the same component, and vice-versa, unless explicitly stated otherwise herein. Moreover, applicants do not intend for any term in the specification or claims to be ascribed an uncommon or special meaning unless explicitly set forth as such. Further, the present subject matter encompasses present and future known equivalents to the known components referred to herein by way of illustration.
Although the present disclosure provides a description of device to assist in moving water heaters, it should be understood that the description is by way of example only and is not to be construed in a limiting sense. It is to be further understood, therefore, that numerous changes may arise in the details of the embodiments of this device. It is contemplated that all such changes and additional embodiments are within the spirit and true scope of this disclosed device as claimed below.
The device 100 comprises at least one socket 102 having a threaded portion configured to be received by a corresponding threaded portion of at least one of an inlet nozzle or an outlet nozzle of the water heater. For example, the at least one socket 102 having the threaded portion is configured to be received by the corresponding threaded portion of the inlet nozzle. The socket 102 is a portion of the device 100 that is used to couple the device 100 to the inlet nozzle or the outlet nozzle of the water heater. The socket 102 can be fabricated to have a cross-section corresponding to a circular shape, a hexagonal shape, a rectangular shape and so forth of the inlet nozzle or the outlet nozzle of the water heater. It will be appreciated that an internal or external cross-section of the socket 102 corresponds to an external (or alternatively, internal) cross-section of the inlet nozzle or the outlet nozzle respectively to which the socket 102 is coupled. For example, when the inlet nozzle has a cylindrical shape (associated with a circular cross-section), then the internal cross-section of the socket 102 is fabricated to have a cylindrical shape. Similarly, when the outlet nozzle has the internal cross-section corresponding to a hexagon, then the external cross-section of the socket 102 is fabricated to have the corresponding hexagonal shape.
The socket 102 comprises the threaded portion formed on an internal surface of the socket 102, when one or more of the inlet nozzle and the outlet nozzle comprise the corresponding threaded portion formed on an external surface thereof. It will be appreciated that when the inlet nozzle and/or the outlet nozzle comprises threads formed along the external surface thereof, then the socket 102 will be coupled to the inlet nozzle and/or the outlet nozzle by arranging the socket 102 over the inlet nozzle and/or the outlet nozzle and rotating the socket 102. Correspondingly, as shown, the socket 102 comprises the threaded portion having threads formed around the internal surface of the socket 102.
Moreover, a dimension of the socket 102 corresponds to a dimension of the inlet nozzle or the outlet nozzle that the socket 102 is coupled thereto. In an example, the inlet nozzle has a circular cross-section with a diameter of 2 inches and has threads formed along the external surface thereof. In such an example, the socket 102 is configured to be coupled to the inlet nozzle by arranging the socket 102 over the inlet nozzle. Correspondingly, the socket 102 comprises threads formed along the internal surface thereof and is fabricated to have an internal diameter of more than 2 inches (such as, 2.1 inches). It will be appreciated that the diameter of the socket 102 is chosen to allow a snug fit of the socket 102 with the inlet nozzle or the outlet nozzle that the socket 102 is coupled thereto. In another example, the outlet nozzle has a circular cross-section with a diameter of 2 inches and has threads formed along an internal surface thereof. In such an example, the socket 102 is configured to be coupled to the outlet nozzle by arranging the socket 102 within the outlet nozzle. Correspondingly, the socket 102 comprises threads formed along the external surface thereof and is fabricated to have an external diameter of less than 2 inches (such as, 1.9 inches).
The socket 102 can be formed integrally with a remainder of the device 100, such that movement (for example, by rotation) of the device 100 causes a corresponding movement of the socket 102. In one or more embodiments, the socket is configured to move independently of the device 100. For example, the socket 102 is rotatably coupled to a remainder of the device 100. In such an example, the device 100 can be maintained in a stationary position, while allowing rotation of the socket 102.
The device 100 further comprises a handle 104 integrally formed with the at least one socket 102. The handle 104 is configured to receive a hand of a user to allow the user to grasp the device 100 for moving the water heater. The handle 104 is a portion of the device 100 that allows the user to hold the device 100 for causing movement of the water heater. The handle 104 is fabricated to have a rectangular shape, a semi-circular shape or a semi-hexagonal shape. The handle 104 comprises a cavity 106 for receiving the hand of the user, to allow the user to grasp the device 100. For example, the handle 104 is fabricated to be D-shaped (corresponding to a semi-circular shape). Furthermore, the handle 104 comprises the cavity 106, such that the user can insert their hand into the cavity 106. Correspondingly, the handle 104 is fabricated to have dimensions such that the user can conveniently insert their hand into the cavity 106. Subsequently, the user can grasp a gripping portion 108 of the handle 104 to hold the device 100. In an example, the handle 104 is fabricated such that a width of the cavity 106 ranges from 17 centimeters to 24 centimeters (corresponding to a width of an average human hand). In some embodiments, the handle 104 is fabricated such that the width of the cavity 106 allows the user to grasp the gripping portion 108 with both hands thereof. In such an example, the width of the cavity 106 can be equal to or more than 34 centimeters (such as, 35 centimeters or 40 centimeters).
In some embodiments, the device 100 further comprises a grip-enhancing wrap (not shown) arranged on the handle 104. It will be appreciated that once the user has grasped the handle 104 and applies force thereon to move the water heater, a low coefficient of friction between the handle 104 and the hand of the user may cause the handle 104 to slip from the hand of the user. Thus, the device 100 further comprises the grip-enhancing wrap arranged on the handle 104, such as, along the gripping portion 108. The grip-enhancing wrap increases the coefficient of friction between the handle 104 and the hand of the user, thereby, preventing slippage of the handle 104 from the hand of the user. In one or more embodiments, the grip-enhancing wrap is fabricated using at least one of rubber and silicone. In an example, the grip-enhancing wrap is formed using vulcanized rubber. In some embodiments, the grip-enhancing wrap can comprise a plurality of ridges, protrusions and so forth formed on an external surface thereof, to further increase the coefficient of friction between the handle 104 and the hand of the user.
In one or more embodiments, the device 100 is fabricated using a material having high tensile strength. In an example, the device is fabricated using stainless steel material or the like. It will be appreciated that such a device 100 fabricated using the material having high tensile strength allows the device 100 to withstand tensile and/or compressive forces applied on the device 100 due to a weight of the water heater, while the user uses the device 100 to move the water heater.
In operation, the socket 102 of the device 100 is arranged over the inlet nozzle or the outlet nozzle of the water heater and the device 100 is rotated by rotating the handle 104. Alternatively, when the socket 102 is configured to rotate independently of the handle 104, the handle 104 is kept in a stationary position and the socket 102 is rotated with respect to the inlet nozzle or the outlet nozzle. It will be appreciated that such a rotation of the socket 102 with respect to the inlet nozzle or the outlet nozzle enables meshing of corresponding threads of the threaded portions of the socket 102 and the inlet nozzle or the outlet nozzle respectively. Consequently, the device 100 is fixedly coupled to the water heater. Thereafter, the user can grasp the device 100 by inserting their hand into the cavity 106 of the handle 104 and rest their fingers (and thumb) within the plurality of depressions 110 (and the depression formed for resting the thumb). Subsequently, the user can apply force on the device 100 to pull, push or lift the water heater, to move the water heater from a current position thereof to another convenient position for storing the water heater.
In one or more embodiments, an inside of the handle 104 comprises one or more depressions 110 for resting one or more fingers of the hand of the user. The one or more depressions 110 are formed along the inside of the handle 104 (such as, along a bottom portion of the gripping portion 108 of the handle 104) to allow the user to lock their fingers into the one or more depressions 110. In an example, when the cavity 106 is formed to receive one hand of the user, at least four depressions 110 are formed along the inside of the handle 104, such that each depression 110 allows the user to rest one of four fingers within one of the depressions 110. In another example, when the cavity 104 is fabricated to receive both hands of the user, at least eight depressions 110 are formed along the inside of the handle 104. Furthermore, a dimension of each depression 110 is selected within a range of 1.5 centimeters to 2.5 centimeters (corresponding to a width of an average human finger).
In one or more embodiments, an outside of the handle 104 comprises at least one depression (not shown) for resting at least a thumb of the hand of the user. It will be appreciated that once the user inserts their hand into the cavity 106 of the handle 104 and rests four fingers thereof within depressions 110, the user will be required to rest their thumb to apply opposing force for grasping the handle 104. Consequently, the handle 104 comprises at least one depression formed along the outside of the handle 104 (such as, along a top portion of the gripping portion 108 of the handle 104), to allow the user to rest their thumb for grasping the handle 104.
Furthermore, the first socket 502 and the second socket 504 comprises the threaded portion corresponding to the threaded portion of the inlet nozzle or the outlet nozzle respectively. It will be appreciated that, as described with respect to the device 100 of
Furthermore, the device 500 comprises the handle 506 integrally formed with the first socket 502 and the second socket 504. The handle 506 can be grasped by the user to apply force on each of the first socket 502 coupled to the inlet nozzle and the second socket 504 coupled to the outlet nozzle, to move the water heater. As shown, the handle is fabricated to have a rectangular shape. In some embodiments, a width of the handle is less than or equal to a distance between the inlet nozzle and the outlet nozzle of the water heater. It will be appreciated that a distance between the first socket 502 and the second socket 504 will correspond to the distance between the inlet nozzle and the outlet nozzle, to allow the device 500 to be coupled to the inlet nozzle and the outlet nozzle. Correspondingly, the width of the handle can correspond to the distance between the inlet nozzle and the outlet nozzle. In an example, the inlet nozzle and the outlet nozzle are arranged on top of the water heater and the distance between the inlet nozzle and the outlet nozzle may be 1.5 feet. In such an example, the width of the handle may be 1 foot. Furthermore, the user can insert one hand or both hands thereof into a cavity 508 formed in the handle, to grasp the handle 508 and move the water heater via the device 500.
In one or more embodiments, each of the first socket 502 and the second socket 504 is configured to be independently rotated for arranging the first socket 502 with the inlet nozzle and the second socket 504 with the outlet nozzle, while maintaining the handle 506 in a stationary position. For example, the device comprises the handle 506 that is integrally formed with a first stem portion 510 and a second stem portion 512. The first socket 502 is rotatably coupled to the first stem portion 510 and the second socket 504 is rotatably coupled to the second stem portion 512. Therefore, each of the first socket 502 and the second socket 504 can be rotated with respect to the handle 506, i.e. independently of the handle 506 and/or of each other.
In light of the above, the present disclosure provides a device to assist in moving a water heater.
All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.
The detailed description set forth herein in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of exemplary embodiments in which the presently disclosed subject matter may be practiced. The term “exemplary” used throughout this description means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration,” and should not necessarily be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.
This detailed description of illustrative embodiments includes specific details for providing a thorough understanding of the presently disclosed subject matter. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the presently disclosed subject matter may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the concepts of the presently disclosed method and system.
The foregoing description of embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the subject matter. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the novel principles and subject matter disclosed herein may be applied to other embodiments without the use of the innovative faculty. The claimed subject matter set forth in the claims is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein. It is contemplated that additional embodiments are within the spirit and true scope of the disclosed subject matter.
