Water heater expansion tank retention device

Abstract

A bracket to retain an expansion tank in conjunction with a water heater tank may comprise an upright member that extends along the side of the water heater tank and a horizontal member that extends along the top of the water heater thank when the bracket is installed, such that the horizontal member is gravitationally retained against the top of the water heater tank. Straps may be used to retain an expansion tank to the upright member. Magnets, retention straps, and/or legs may be used to retain the bracket in position relative to the water heater tank. Straps, extensions upon which an expansion tank may rest, and retention mechanisms may be used to retain an expansion tank in a bracket.

1 . A bracket for holding an expansion tank with a hot water heater, the bracket comprising:
 an upright member that extends vertically along the exterior of a water heater tank when the bracket is installed;   at least one strap anchored on the upright member at both ends of the strap such that the strap may loop around an expansion tank held by the bracket to hold the expansion tank against the upright member when the bracket is installed; and   a horizontal member extending orthogonally from the upright member in a direction opposite from the direction the at least one strap extends from the upright member when the strap is looped around the expansion tank held by the bracket, the horizontal member gravitationally retained on the top of a water heater tank when the bracket is installed.   
     
     
         2 . The bracket of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of magnets within at least one of the upright member and the horizontal member, the plurality of magnets being attracted to a material in the water heater tank when the bracket is installed. 
     
     
         3 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one strap is adjustable to allow it to be tightened or loosened around an expansion tank held by the bracket. 
     
     
         4 . The bracket of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one retention strap extending from the upright member in an opposing direction from the at least one strap that holds the expansion tank against the upright member, that at least one retention strap affixable around the water heater tank when the bracket is installed. 
     
     
         5 . The bracket of  claim 1 , further comprising an extension extending away from that water heater tank and away from the upright member when the bracket is installed at the lower end of the upright member, such that the expansion tank held by the bracket rests upon the extension. 
     
     
         6 . The bracket of  claim 5 , further comprising a retaining mechanism that extends from the upright member away from the water heater tank to engage the top of the expansion tank held by the bracket. 
     
     
         7 . The bracket of  claim 6 , further comprising a hole in the retaining mechanism, the hole in the retaining mechanism encompassing an inlet/outlet of the expansion tank when the bracket is installed. 
     
     
         8 . A bracket that retains an expansion tank with a water heater tank, the bracket comprising:
 an upright member that extends vertically along the exterior of a water heater tank when the bracket is installed;   at least one strap anchored on the upright member at both ends of the strap such that the strap may loop around an expansion tank held by the bracket to hold the expansion tank against the upright member when the bracket is installed; and   at least one retention strap extending from the upright member in an opposing direction from the at least one strap that holds the expansion tank against the upright member, that at least one retention strap affixable around water heater tank when the bracket is installed.   
     
     
         9 . The bracket of  claim 8 , further comprising at least one extension that protrudes perpendicular to the upright member at the lower end of the upright member and away from the water heater tank when the bracket is installed, the expansion tank held by the bracket resting upon the extension when the bracket is installed. 
     
     
         10 . The bracket of  claim 9 , further comprising a retaining mechanism that extends from the upright member parallel to the extension, the retaining mechanism securable over the top of the expansion tank held by the bracket when the bracket is installed. 
     
     
         11 . The bracket of  claim 8 , further comprising a horizontal member extending from the upright member in the same direction as the at least one extension strap, the horizontal member gravitationally engaging an upper surface of the water heater tank when the bracket is installed. 
     
     
         12 . The bracket of  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of magnets within at least one of the upright member and the horizontal member, the plurality of magnets attracted to the material comprising the water heater tank. 
     
     
         13 . The bracket of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one strap comprises a plurality of adjustable straps that may be tightened or loosened to hold the expansion tank against the upright member. 
     
     
         14 . The bracket of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one retention strap comprises at least two retention straps. 
     
     
         15 . An L-shaped bracket to retain an expansion tank in association with a water heater tank, the bracket comprising:
 a long leg extending vertically along the exterior of the water heater tank when the bracket is installed;   a short leg perpendicular from the long leg, the short leg extending horizontally along the top surface of the water heater tank when the bracket is installed; and   at least one adjustable strap affixed to the long leg, the adjustable strap securing an expansion tank to the long leg when the bracket is installed, and wherein installing the bracket uses gravitational force to retain the short leg of the bracket against the top surface of the water heater tank while the at least one strap secures the expansion tank to the long leg.   
     
     
         16 . The bracket of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one adjustable strap comprises two straps. 
     
     
         17 . The bracket of  claim 16 , further comprising a plurality of magnets within at least one of the long leg and the short leg, the plurality of magnets being magnetically attracted to a material that is a component of the water heater tank. 
     
     
         18 . The bracket of  claim 17 , further comprising at least one retention strap extending from the long leg and around the water heater tank. 
     
     
         19 . The bracket of  claim 18 , further comprising at least one extension that extends outward from the long leg at the end of the long leg distant from the short leg, the extension extending from the long leg a distance sufficient to receive and support the expansion tank. 
     
     
         20 . The bracket of  claim 19 , further comprising a retention mechanism that extends from the long leg and mechanically engages with the top of the expansion tank opposite from the portion of the expansion tank supported by the extension.