Water heater support and method of use

Abstract

A water heater support that supports and braces a water heater having a curved outer surface from falling backwards and damaging an adjacent firewall comprising an extendable support arm; a mount configured to mount the extendable support arm to the adjacent firewall; and a tip configured to engage the curbed outer surface of the water heater so that the extendable support arm supports and braces the water heater from falling backwards and damaging an adjacent firewall.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A water heater support that supports and braces a water heater having a curved outer surface from falling backwards and damaging an adjacent firewall, comprising:
 an extendable support arm;   a mount configured to mount the extendable support arm to the adjacent firewall;   a tip configured to engage the curbed outer surface of the water heater so that the extendable support arm supports and braces the water heater from falling backwards and damaging an adjacent firewall.   
     
     
         2 . The water heater support of  claim 1 , wherein the tip includes a curved tip. 
     
     
         3 . The water heater support of  claim 2 , wherein the curved tip includes a curved engagement surface with a contour that matches a curved contour of the curved outer surface of the water heater. 
     
     
         4 . The water heater support of  claim 3 , wherein the curved engagement surface is U-shaped. 
     
     
         5 . The water heater support of  claim 3 , wherein the curved engagement surface includes a material to inhibit slippage between the curved engagement surface and the curved outer surface of the water heater. 
     
     
         6 . The water heater support of  claim 1 , wherein the mount includes a bracket mountable to the adjacent firewall and a plate coupled to the extendable support arm, the plate configured to slide within the bracket, once mounted to the adjacent firewall. 
     
     
         7 . The water heater support of  claim 1 , wherein the extendable support arm includes a cylinder shaft and a cylinder sleeve base, the cylinder shaft extending within and from the cylinder sleeve base. 
     
     
         8 . The water heater support of  claim 7 , wherein the extendable support arm includes a locking mechanism that allows the cylinder shaft to extend further from or retract further within the cylinder sleeve base and lock into a desired position. 
     
     
         9 . The water heater support of  claim 1 , wherein the extendable support arm is adjustable in length between four or more inches and nine or less inches. 
     
     
         10 . A method of using the water heater support of  claim 1  to support and brace a water heater from falling backwards and damaging an adjacent firewall, comprising:
 mounting the mount of the extendable support arm to the adjacent firewall; 
 engaging the curbed outer surface of the water heater with the tip of the extendable support arm so that the extendable support arm supports and braces the water heater from falling backwards and damaging an adjacent firewall. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the tip includes a curved tip, and engaging includes engaging the curbed outer surface of the water heater with the curved tip. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the curved tip includes a curved engagement surface with a contour that matches a curved contour of the curved outer surface of the water heater, and engaging includes engaging the curbed outer surface of the water heater with the contour of the curved engagement surface that matches the curved contour of the curved outer surface of the water heater. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the curved engagement surface is U-shaped, and engaging includes engaging the curbed outer surface of the water heater with the U-shaped curved engagement surface. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the curved engagement surface includes a material to inhibit slippage between the curved engagement surface and the curved outer surface of the water heater, and engaging includes engaging the curbed outer surface of the water heater with the material to inhibit slippage between the curved engagement surface and the curved outer surface of the water heater. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the mount includes a bracket mountable to the adjacent firewall and a plate coupled to the extendable support arm, the plate configured to slide within the bracket, once mounted to the adjacent firewall, and mounting the mount of the extendable support arm to the adjacent firewall includes mounting the bracket to the adjacent firewall and sliding the plate with the coupled extendable support arm within the mounted bracket. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the extendable support arm includes a cylinder shaft and a cylinder sleeve base, the cylinder shaft extending within and from the cylinder sleeve base, and the method further comprising adjusting a length of the extendable support by extending the cylinder shaft further from or retracting the cylinder shaft further within the cylinder sleeve base. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the extendable support arm includes a locking mechanism that allows the cylinder shaft to extend further from or retract further within the cylinder sleeve base, and the method further comprising using the locking mechanism to allow the cylinder shaft to extend further from or retract further within the cylinder sleeve base and lock into position. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the extendable support arm is adjustable in length between four or more inches and nine or less inches, and the method further comprising adjusting the length of the extendable support arm between four or more inches and nine or less inches.