Bendable tabs for attaching heat pump venting

Abstract

A heat pump water heater is disclosed. The heat pump water heater may include a housing that may include an air inlet and an air outlet. The air inlet may include a first perforated pattern configured to receive ambient air, and the air outlet may include a second perforated pattern configured to output exhaust air. The first perforated pattern and the second perforated pattern may include a plurality of bendable tabs. Each bendable tab may be configured to bend between a first position and a second position.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An appliance comprising:
 an air inlet;   an air outlet; and   a plurality of bendable tabs disposed about the air inlet and/or the air outlet,   wherein each bendable tab of the plurality of bendable tabs is configured to bend between a first position and a second position.   
     
     
         2 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the air inlet comprises a first perforated pattern configured to receive ambient air, wherein the air outlet comprises a second perforated pattern configured to output exhaust air, and wherein at least one of the first perforated pattern and the second perforated pattern comprises the plurality of bendable tabs. 
     
     
         3 . The appliance of  claim 2 , wherein a plane of each bendable tab in the first perforated pattern is disposed at a predefined non-zero angle relative to the plane of the first perforated pattern in the second position. 
     
     
         4 . The appliance of  claim 2 , wherein a plane of each bendable tab in the second perforated pattern is disposed at a predefined non-zero angle relative to the plane of the second perforated pattern in the second position. 
     
     
         5 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bendable tabs is disposed at a periphery of at least one of the air inlet and the air outlet. 
     
     
         6 . The appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of bendable tabs comprises one or more outer bendable tabs and one or more inner bendable tabs. 
     
     
         7 . The appliance of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more outer bendable tabs are configured to bend away from a center portion of the first perforated pattern or the second perforated pattern. 
     
     
         8 . The appliance of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more inner bendable tabs are configured to bend towards the center portion of the first perforated pattern or the second perforated pattern. 
     
     
         9 . The appliance of  claim 6 , wherein each outer bendable tab comprises an attachment mechanism. 
     
     
         10 . The appliance of  claim 9 , wherein each outer bendable tab is configured to be attached to an external device via the attachment mechanism. 
     
     
         11 . The appliance of  claim 9 , wherein the attachment mechanism is a through-hole. 
     
     
         12 . A heat pump water heater comprising:
 an air inlet comprising a first perforated pattern configured to receive ambient air; and   an air outlet comprising a second perforated pattern configured to output exhaust air,   wherein at least one of the first perforated pattern and the second perforated pattern comprises a plurality of bendable tabs, wherein each bendable tab is configured to bend between a first position and a second position, and wherein the plurality of bendable tabs comprises one or more outer bendable tabs and one or more inner bendable tabs.   
     
     
         13 . The heat pump water heater of  claim 12 , wherein a plane of each bendable tab in the first perforated pattern is disposed at a predefined non-zero angle relative to the plane of the first perforated pattern in the second position. 
     
     
         14 . The heat pump water heater of  claim 12 , wherein a plane of each bendable tab in the second perforated pattern is disposed at a predefined non-zero angle relative to the plane of the second perforated pattern in the second position. 
     
     
         15 . The heat pump water heater of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of bendable tabs is disposed at a periphery of at least one of the first perforated pattern and the second perforated pattern. 
     
     
         16 . The heat pump water heater of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more outer bendable tabs are configured to bend away from a center portion of the first perforated pattern or the second perforated pattern. 
     
     
         17 . The heat pump water heater of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more inner bendable tabs are configured to bend towards the center portion of the first perforated pattern or the second perforated pattern. 
     
     
         18 . The heat pump water heater of  claim 12 , wherein each outer bendable tab comprises an attachment mechanism. 
     
     
         19 . The heat pump water heater of  claim 18 , wherein each outer bendable tab is configured to be attached to an external device via the attachment mechanism. 
     
     
         20 . A method to attach an external device to an appliance, the method comprising:
 bending a plurality of bendable tabs from a first position to a second position, wherein the plurality of bendable tabs is associated with at least one of a first perforated pattern and a second perforated pattern, wherein the first perforated pattern is disposed about an air inlet of the appliance and the second perforated pattern is disposed about an air outlet of the appliance;   aligning the external device with the plurality of bendable tabs in the second position; and   attaching the external device with one or more bendable tabs from the plurality of bendable tabs to secure the external device with the air inlet or the air outlet.