Other

Watts Investment Company

William J McCraney

William E McCraney

The instant invention is directed to an apparatus and methods for restraining a water heater to a supporting structure, such as a wall. The fastening system includes at least one bracket which mounts to the supporting structure and at least one restraining strap, one end of which attaches to a bracket, the other end of which can attach to another bracket, or mount directly to the wall, to hold the water heater tightly against the supporting structure. In some embodiments, the strap is long enough to encircle the water heater. In other embodiments, the strap can be split into two straps and joined at the water heater with tension buckles. In the preferred embodiment, two straps are used, and both are secured to the supporting structure with brackets. One of the straps encircles the water heater, and both connect to each other at the water heater through tension buckles. In the preferred embodiment, the connection of a strap to its tension buckle is made by a single slot, which contains a pointed tab which pierces a hole in the strap to securely fasten the strap to the tension buckle.

Fastening apparatus

A water heater restraint for securing a vertical cylindrical water heater adjacent a wall. The restraint has an elongated strut, which is held horizontally to a wall against which the water heater is to be restrained. A pair of triangular gussets may be slid along the elongated strut so that one gusset is on each side of the water heater. Strapping is attached to the two gussets and surrounds the water heater and the gussets are secured to the elongated strut. The strut is secured to the wall by channel clamps which may be secured to vertical studs and slide along the elongated strut so that the water heater can be secured independently of the position of the studs.

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Laguna Hills, CA, United States of America

William J McCraney