Drain pan for a water heater

Abstract

A drain pan for a water heater is provided. The drain pan includes a plurality of leveling legs mounted to a pan body. The plurality of leveling legs is selectively adjustable in order to arrange the drain pan in a level configuration. By arranging the drain pan in the level configuration, a water heater supported on the drain pan can be leveled.

1 . A drain pan for a water heater, the drain pan defining a vertical direction, the drain pan comprising:
 a bottom wall having a top surface and a bottom surface;   a sidewall extending away from the top surface of said bottom wall along the vertical direction, said sidewall and said bottom wall defining a containment volume for receipt of liquid;   a plurality of posts positioned within the containment volume and extending away from the top surface of said bottom wall along the vertical direction, each post of said plurality of posts defining a chamber that is open at the bottom surface of said bottom wall, said plurality of post configured for supporting the water heater thereon such that the water heater is spaced from the top surface of said bottom wall; and   a plurality of leveling legs, each leveling leg of said plurality of leveling legs mounted to a respective one of said plurality of posts, each leveling leg of said plurality of leveling legs extending into the chamber of the respective one of said plurality of posts, each leveling leg of said plurality of leveling legs having a distal portion that is spaced apart from the bottom surface of said bottom wall along the vertical direction by a distance, the distance being selectively adjustable in order to arrange the drain pan in a level configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The drain pan of  claim 1 , wherein said sidewall is annular in a plane that is perpendicular to vertical direction. 
     
     
         3 . The drain pan of  claim 2 , wherein said sidewall defines a circumferential direction, wherein said plurality of leveling legs is uniformly distributed along the circumferential direction. 
     
     
         4 . The drain pan of  claim 1 , wherein said sidewall defines an outlet for directing liquid out of the containment volume. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The drain pan of  claim 1 , wherein each leveling leg of said plurality of leveling legs comprises:
 a nut mounted to the respective one of said plurality of posts;   a threaded stem received by said nut; and   a foot mounted to said threaded stem at the distal portion of said plurality of leveling legs.   
     
     
         7 . The drain pan of  claim 6 , wherein said foot has a larger cross-sectional area than said threaded stem in a plane that is perpendicular to the vertical direction. 
     
     
         8 . The drain pan of  claim 6 , wherein said nut is at least partially positioned within the chamber of the respective one of said plurality of posts. 
     
     
         9 . The drain pan of  claim 1 , wherein said bottom wall is circular in a plane that is perpendicular to vertical direction. 
     
     
         10 . The drain pan of  claim 9 , wherein said bottom wall has a diameter that is greater than about one and one half feet. 
     
     
         11 . The drain pan of  claim 1 , wherein said sidewall has a height along the vertical direction, the height being greater than about two inches. 
     
     
         12 . A drain pan for a water heater, the drain pan defining a vertical direction, the drain pan comprising:
 a pan body having a top surface and a bottom surface positioned opposite the first surface of said pan body, said pan body defining a containment volume for receipt of liquid, said pan body also having a plurality of posts positioned within the containment volume and extending away from the top surface of said pan body along the vertical direction, each post of said plurality of posts defining a chamber that is open at the bottom surface of said pan body, said plurality of posts configured for supporting the water heater thereon such that the water heater is spaced from the top surface of said pan body; and   a plurality of leveling legs, each leveling leg of said plurality of leveling legs mounted to said pan body at a respective one of the plurality of posts, each leveling leg of said plurality of leveling legs extending into the chamber of the respective one of the plurality of posts, each leveling leg of said plurality of leveling legs having a distal portion that is spaced apart from the bottom surface of said pan body along the vertical direction by a distance, the distance being selectively adjustable in order to arrange the drain pan in a level configuration.   
     
     
         13 . The drain pan of  claim 12 , wherein said pan body has a circular cross-section in a plane that is perpendicular to vertical direction. 
     
     
         14 . The drain pan of  claim 13 , wherein said pan body defines a circumferential direction, wherein said plurality of leveling legs is uniformly distributed along the circumferential direction. 
     
     
         15 . The drain pan of  claim 12 , wherein said pan body defines an outlet for directing liquid out of the containment volume. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The drain pan of  claim 12 , wherein each leveling leg of said plurality of leveling legs comprises:
 a nut mounted to said pan body at the respective one of said plurality of posts;   a threaded stem received by said nut; and   a foot mounted to said threaded stem at the distal portion of said plurality of leveling legs.   
     
     
         18 . The drain pan of  claim 17 , wherein said foot has a larger cross-sectional area than said threaded stem in a plane that is perpendicular to the vertical direction.