Integrated appliance handling systems

Abstract

An appliance handling system may include an appliance having a top face and a bottom face, one or more cutouts formed in at least one of the top face or the bottom face, each of the one or more cutouts having at least one sidewall, and one or more inserts, each of the one or more inserts having a cavity, wherein each of the one or more cavities of the one or more inserts is aligned with at least one of the cutouts.

1 . An appliance handling system, the system comprising:
 an appliance having a top face and a bottom face;   one or more cutouts formed in at least one of the top face or the bottom face, each of the one or more cutouts having at least one sidewall; and   one or more inserts, each of the one or more inserts having a cavity, wherein each of the one or more cavities of the one or more inserts is aligned with at least one of the cutouts.   
     
     
         2 . The appliance handling system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more cutouts is formed in the top face and at least one of the one or more cutouts is formed in the bottom face. 
     
     
         3 . The appliance handling system of  claim 1 , wherein the appliance has a cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         4 . The appliance handling system of  claim 1 , wherein the appliance is a water heater. 
     
     
         5 . The appliance handling system of  claim 4 , wherein the water heater is a storage tank water heater. 
     
     
         6 . The appliance handling system of  claim 1 , wherein the insert is constructed of one of sheet metal, a polymeric material, ceramic, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . An appliance handling system, the system comprising:
 an appliance having at least one sidewall, a first opening, and a second opening;   one or more removable pans, each of the one or more removable pans having one or more cutouts formed therein, each of the one or more cutouts having at least one sidewall; and   one or more inserts, each of the one or more inserts having a cavity, wherein:   each of the one or more cavities of the one or more inserts are aligned with at least one of the cutouts.   
     
     
         8 . The appliance handling system of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the one or more cutouts is formed in the removable pan proximate to the first opening and at least one of the one or more cutouts is formed in the removable pan proximate to the second opening. 
     
     
         9 . The appliance handling system of  claim 7 , wherein the appliance has a cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         10 . The appliance handling system of  claim 7 , wherein the appliance is a water heater. 
     
     
         11 . The appliance handling system of  claim 10 , wherein the water heater is a storage tank water heater. 
     
     
         12 . The appliance handling system of  claim 7 , wherein the insert is constructed of one of sheet metal, a polymeric material, ceramic, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The appliance handling system of  claim 7 , wherein each of the one or more removable pans are coupled to the appliance by interference fit. 
     
     
         14 . An appliance handling system, the system comprising:
 an appliance having at least one sidewall, a first opening, and a second opening;   one or more removable pans, each of the one or more removable pans having a cutout and a cavity formed therein, each of the one or more removable pans coupled to the appliance and covering at least one of the first opening and the second opening.   
     
     
         15 . The appliance handling system of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the one or more cutouts is formed in a removable pan covering the first opening and at least one of the one or more cutouts is firmed in a removable pan covering the second opening. 
     
     
         16 . The appliance handling system of  claim 14 , wherein the appliance has a cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         17 . The appliance handling system of  claim 14 , wherein the appliance is a water heater. 
     
     
         18 . The appliance handling system of  claim 17 , wherein the water heater is storage tank water heater. 
     
     
         19 . The appliance handling system of  claim 14 , wherein the insert is constructed of one of sheet metal, a polymeric material, ceramic or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The appliance handling system of  claim 14 , wherein each of the one or more removable pans are coupled to the appliance by interference fit.