Water heater igniter bracket and bracket assembly

Abstract

An igniter bracket is provided for use with a water heater to mount an igniter to the water heater. The igniter bracket includes a base portion occupying a base plane and at least one mounting portion extending from the base portion, wherein an edge of the at least one igniter mounting portion occupies an edge plane that is not perpendicular to the base plane.

1 . An igniter bracket for use with a water heater to mount an igniter to the water heater, the igniter bracket comprising:
 a base portion occupying a base plane; and   at least one igniter mounting portion extending from the base portion, wherein an edge of the at least one mounting portion occupies an edge plane that is not perpendicular to the base plane.   
   
   
       2 . An igniter bracket for use with a water heater according to  claim 1 , wherein the base portion has a base surface occupying a first plane and the at least one mounting portion has a mounting surface extending from the base surface, wherein a vertical plane along an edge of the at least one mounting surface is angled less than ninety degrees from the first plane. 
   
   
       3 . An igniter bracket for use with a water heater according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one mounting portion includes:
 a first mounting portion; and   at least a second mounting portion spaced from the first mounting portion.   
   
   
       4 . An igniter bracket for use with a water heater according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one mounting portion defines an opening configured for receiving the igniter. 
   
   
       5 . An igniter bracket for use with a water heater according to  claim 4 , wherein a center of the opening configured for receiving the igniter is spaced in a range of from about ¼ inch to about 1¼ inch from a surface of the base portion. 
   
   
       6 . An igniter bracket for use with a water heater according to  claim 5 , wherein the center of the opening configured for receiving the igniter is spaced in a range of from about ¾ inch to about 1⅜ inch from an end of the surface of the base portion. 
   
   
       7 . An igniter bracket for use with a water heater according to  claim 4 , wherein the opening configured for receiving the igniter includes a wall portion extending from an edge of the opening. 
   
   
       8 . An igniter bracket for use with a water heater according to  claim 4 , wherein the opening configured for receiving the igniter includes at least one groove extending from an edge of the opening and configured for receiving a mating portion disposed on the igniter. 
   
   
       9 . An igniter bracket for use with a water heater according to  claim 1 , wherein the igniter bracket further includes at least one attachment portion extending from the base portion. 
   
   
       10 . An igniter bracket for use with a water heater according to  claim 1 , wherein the base portion defines an opening proximal to an edge of the base portion. 
   
   
       11 . An igniter bracket for use with a water heater according to  claim 1 , wherein the igniter bracket includes at least one attachment hook extending from an edge of the base portion. 
   
   
       12 . An igniter, igniter bracket and gas valve assembly for use with a water heater, the assembly comprising:
 a gas valve;   an igniter bracket coupled to the gas valve, wherein the igniter bracket includes a base portion positioned adjacent a facing surface of the gas valve and at least one mounting portion extending from the base portion, wherein an edge of the at least one mounting portion occupies an edge plane that is not perpendicular to the facing surface of the gas valve; and   an igniter mounted to the at least one mounting portion.   
   
   
       13 . An igniter, bracket and gas valve assembly for use with a water heater according to  claim 12 , wherein the igniter is mounted in an opening defined in the at least one mounting portion. 
   
   
       14 . An igniter, bracket and gas valve assembly for use with a water heater according to  claim 13 , wherein a center of the opening defined in the at least one mounting portion is spaced in a range of from about 1 inch to about 1½ inch from the base portion. 
   
   
       15 . An igniter, bracket and gas valve assembly for use with a water heater according to  claim 14 , wherein the center of the opening defined in the at least one mounting portion is spaced in a range of from about ¼ inch to about ¾ inch from an end of the facing surface of the gas valve. 
   
   
       16 . A water heater comprising;
 a water storage tank;   a gas valve coupled to the water storage tank, the gas valve including a surface opposing the water storage tank and a facing surface extending from the opposing surface;   an igniter bracket coupled to the gas valve, the igniter bracket including a base portion adjacent the facing surface of the gas valve and at least one mounting portion extending from the base portion, wherein an edge of the at least one mounting portion occupies an edge plane that is not parallel to the opposing surface of the gas valve; and   an igniter mounted to the at least one mounting portion of the igniter bracket.   
   
   
       17 . A water heater according to  claim 16 , wherein the igniter is mounted in an opening defined in the at least one mounting portion of the igniter bracket. 
   
   
       18 . A water heater according to  claim 17 , wherein a center of the opening defined in the at least one mounting portion is spaced in a range of from about ¾ inch to about 1⅜ inch from the base portion of the igniter bracket. 
   
   
       19 . A water heater according to  claim 17 , wherein a center of the opening defined in the at least one mounting portion is spaced in a range of from about ¾ inch to about 1⅜ inch from an end of the facing surface of the gas valve proximal the opposing surface of the gas valve. 
   
   
       20 . A water heater according to  claim 17 , wherein a center of the opening defined in the at least one mounting portion is spaced in a range of from about ¼ inch to about ¾ inch from the base portion of the igniter bracket and spaced in a range of from about ¾ inch to about 1⅜ inch from an end of the facing surface of the gas valve proximal the opposing surface of the gas valve.