ADJUSTABLE UNIVERSAL TANK MOUNT

Description

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that We, Wilbur Hochstetler, a resident of the Village of Millington, County of Tuscola, State of Michigan, a citizen of the United States of America and Jaylin James Hochstetler, a resident of the City of Millington, County of Tuscola, State of Michigan, a citizen of the United States of America have invented a new and useful device that is an ADJUSTABLE UNIVERSAL TANK MOUNT that is described in this specification.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The applicant is aware of the following prior art.

U.S. Pat. No. 11,828,411 issued to Oh on Nov. 28, 2023 entitled, “Bracket Device For Installing Expansion Tank”, teaches the bracket device includes: a supporting member including a first supporting part having a groove into which a nipple of an expansion tank is inserted, a second supporting part bent perpendicularly to the first supporting part, sidewall parts formed on both sides of the second supporting part, and locking parts formed on the sidewall supporting parts; a strip member, which includes first and second binding members having loop parts one each end so that the locking part is forcedly fit thereto.

There is a tension spring connected to the other end of the first binding member, and a tightening member to which the other end of the third binding member is hinged coupled and also is hinged-coupled to the other end of the second binding member. This invention suffers from a lack of adjustability in the horizontal plane to accommodate tanks of varying sizes and mountable to a floor or ceiling.

U.S. Pat. No. 11,149,984 issued to Bober on Oct. 19, 2021 entitled, “Apparatus for Supporting Expansion Tank”, teaches an apparatus supporting a thermal or hydronic expansion tank in fluid communication via a pipe nipple with a water heater in a water piping system.

The supporting apparatus comprises a mounting base adapted to be mounted directly to the water heater. A rack constructed of rigid materials is adapted to be secured to the tank. The rack is fastened to the mounting base. The tank is mounted in a vertical orientation on the water heater with the pipe nipple pointing upward or downward.

There is sufficient special separation of the tank from the mounting base to permit the tank to be insulated or otherwise covered for protecting the tank from the environment. This invention suffers from a lack of adjustability in the horizontal plane to accommodate tanks of varying sizes and mountable to a floor or ceiling.

U.S. Pat. No. 10,429,097 issued to Sexton on Oct. 5, 2019, entitled “Expansion Tank Wall Mount Bracket Apparatus and Method of Use” teaches a wall mount bracket apparatus capable of being mounted in multiple assembly configurations and supporting multiple expansion tanks. This device is not adjustable.

None of this prior art teaches adjustability and mountable to a floor or ceiling.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an adjustable universal tank mount. The universal tank mount comprises a bottom tray. The bottom tray has a first end and a second end. The first end has a support leg mounted on a bottom surface thereof. The bottom tray has two spaced-apart, parallel, vertical, walls. The walls have first elongated openings therein.

The second end has two corners and a support leg mounted at each of the corners on the bottom surface. There is a first vertical tray fixedly attached by one end to the second end. The vertical tray has a back. The back has two vertical, parallel rows of openings near the outside edges of the vertical tray.

There is a top tray. The top tray has a first end and a second end. The top tray has two spaced apart vertical walls that have terminal ends. The terminal ends are configured to fit a top profile of a tank to be mounted thereon. The top tray first end has lateral tabs positioned a predetermined distance from the top tray first end and an open notch in the terminal end.

There is a second vertical tray that has two spaced-apart parallel sides. The second vertical tray is fixedly attached by one end to the top tray. The spaced-apart parallel sides are slidable within the first vertical tray.

The second vertical tray has a second spaced apart, parallel vertical, elongated openings through the sides.

The first vertical tray and the second vertical tray are securely joined by at least two fasteners through the openings and the spaced apart, parallel vertical elongated openings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 shows a full side view of the adjustable universal expansion tank mount.

FIG. 2 shows a full opposite side view of the adjustable universal expansion tank mount.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows the adjustable universal expansion tank mount 2 from the side. The adjustable universal tank mount 2 comprises a bottom tray 4. The bottom tray 4 has a first end 6 and a second end 8. The first end 6 has a support leg 10 mounted on a bottom surface 12 thereof. The bottom tray 4 has two spaced-apart, parallel, vertical, walls 14 and 16. The walls 14 and 16 have first elongated openings 18 therein.

The second end 8 has two corners 20 and 22 and a support leg 10 mounted at each of the corner 20 and 22 on the bottom surface 12. There is a first vertical tray 28 fixedly attached by one end to the second end 8. The vertical tray 28 has a back 30. The back 30 has two vertical, parallel rows of openings 32 near the outside edges 34 and 36 of the vertical tray 28.

There is a top tray 38. The top tray 38 has a first end 40 and a second end 42. The top tray 38 has two spaced apart vertical walls 44 and 46 that have terminal ends 48 and 50. The terminal ends 48 and 50 configured to fit a top profile of a tank 5 to be mounted thereon. The top tray 38 first end 40 has lateral tabs 52 positioned a predetermined distance from the top tray 38 first end 40 and an open notch 54 in the terminal end 48.

There is a second vertical tray 56 that has two spaced-apart parallel sides 58 and 60. The second vertical tray 56 is fixedly attached by one end to the top tray 38. The spaced-apart parallel sides are slidable within the first vertical tray 28.

The second vertical tray 56 has second spaced apart, parallel vertical elongated openings 62 and 64 through the sides.

The first vertical tray 28 and the second vertical tray 56 are securely joined by at least two fasteners 70 through the openings 32 and the spaced apart, parallel vertical elongated openings 58.

FIG. 2 shows the adjustable universal expansion tank mount 2 from the side. The adjustable universal tank mount 2 comprises a bottom tray 4. The bottom tray 4 has a first end 6 and a second end 8. The first end 6 has a support leg 10 mounted on a bottom surface 12 thereof. The bottom tray 4 has two, spaced-apart, parallel, vertical, walls 14 and 16. The walls 14 and 16 have first elongated openings 18 therein.

The second end 8 has two corners 20 and 22 and a support leg 10 mounted at each of the corner 20 and 22 on the bottom surface 12. There is a first vertical tray 28 fixedly attached by one end to the second end 8. The vertical tray 28 has a back 30. The back 30 has two vertical, parallel rows of openings 32 near the outside edges 34 and 36 of the vertical tray 28.

There is a top tray 38. The top tray 38 has a first end 40 and a second end 42. The top tray 38 has two spaced apart vertical walls 44 and 46 that has terminal ends 48 and 50. The terminal ends 48 and 50 configured to fit a top profile of a tank 5 to be mounted thereon. The top tray 38 first end 40 has lateral tabs 52 positioned a predetermined distance from the top tray 38 first end 40 and an open notch 54 in the terminal end 48.

There is a second vertical tray 56 that has two spaced-apart parallel sides 58 and 60. The second vertical tray 56 is fixedly attached by one end to the top tray 38. The spaced-apart parallel sides are slidable within the first vertical tray 28.

The second vertical tray 56 has second spaced apart, parallel vertical elongated openings 62 and 64 through the sides.

The first vertical tray 28 and the second vertical tray 56 are securely joined by at least two fasteners 70 through the openings 32 and the spaced apart, parallel vertical elongated openings 58.

The instant device is manufactured from metal. Preferred metal are steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. It can also be manufactured from plastic such as polyethylene, cross linked polyethylene, polypropylene, ABS, vinyl and the like.

The instant invention is mountable to a ceiling, a floor, or a wall.

The present invention is an adjustable universal tank mount 2 wherein the universal tank mount 2 is constructed to hold a tank 5 that is 6 to 40 inches in diameter and 9 to 72 inches in height and the support legs can be from 1 inch to 36 inches in length.

The instant device is an adjustable universal tank mount 2 wherein the universal tank mount 4 is constructed using 8-to-14 gauge metal.

The device is adjustable in height and typically is mounted using fasteners such as bolts or pins.

The adjustable universal tank mount allows the user to mount the expansion tank with one mount making it much more convenient for anyone installing an expansion tank.

The support legs are supplied by a plumber. The plumber can make them whatever length he or she wants. The patentee herein provides a coupler where one can attach a pipe, or it can be attached to the floor without legs. Support legs vary by the intended end use of the tank mount and can vary from 1 inch to 36 inches.

The adjustable expansion tank mount of this invention is in compliance with Michigan code M2003.1 as follows: https://up.codes/viewer/michigan/mi-residential-code-2015/chapter/20/boilers-and-water-heaters#20.

Specifically, as follows:

Section M2003 Expansion Tanks

M2003.1 General

Hot water bollers shall be provided with expansion tanks. Nonpressurized expansion tanks shall be securely fastened to the structure or boiler and supported to carry twice the weight of the tank filled with water. Provisions shall be made for draining nonpressurized tanks without emptying the system

M2003.1.1 Pressurized Expansion Tanks

Pressurized expansion tanks shall be consistent with the volume and capacity of the system. Tanks shall be capable of withstanding a hydrostatic test pressure of two and one-half times the allowable working pressure of the system.