Casing and Method for Assembling Casing for Water Heater Appliance

Abstract

Casings for water heater appliance and methods for assembling such casings are provided. In one embodiment, a casing includes a wrapper extending generally along a vertical direction between a top edge and a bottom edge, the wrapper including an inner surface and an outer surface and defining an interior of the casing. The casing further includes a channel defined in the outer surface of the wrapper and extending generally peripherally about the wrapper adjacent to one of the top edge or the bottom edge. The casing further includes a cover coupled to the wrapper at one of the top edge or the bottom edge, the cover including a sidewall, the sidewall generally surrounding the channel. The casing further includes a fastener extending through the sidewall and the channel, the fastener coupling the wrapper and the cover together.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A water heater appliance, comprising:
 a tank defining a chamber;   a casing generally surrounding the tank, the casing comprising:
 a wrapper extending generally along a vertical direction between a top edge and a bottom edge, the wrapper comprising an inner surface and an outer surface and defining an interior of the casing; 
 a channel defined in the outer surface of the wrapper and extending generally peripherally about the wrapper adjacent to one of the top edge or the bottom edge; 
 a cover coupled to the wrapper at one of the top edge or the bottom edge, the cover comprising a sidewall, the sidewall generally surrounding the channel; and 
 a fastener extending through the sidewall and the channel, the fastener coupling the wrapper and the cover together. 
   
     
     
         2 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the channel is generally V-shaped. 
     
     
         3 . The water heat appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the wrapper comprises a plurality of channel walls defining the channels, and wherein the channel walls define a channel angle therebetween, the channel angle between approximately 90 degrees and approximately 150 degrees. 
     
     
         4 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the wrapper comprises a body portion and a shelf portion, the shelf portion extending generally vertically between one of the top edge or the bottom edge and the body portion, the body portion having a perimeter greater than a perimeter of the shelf portion. 
     
     
         5 . The water heater appliance of  claim 4 , wherein the channel is defined in the shelf portion. 
     
     
         6 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the casing further comprises a sealant layer disposed between the sidewall of the cover and the wrapper. 
     
     
         7 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the wrapper is generally cylindrical. 
     
     
         8 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the cover is a top cover and the channel is defined adjacent to the top edge. 
     
     
         9 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the cover is a bottom cover and the channel is defined adjacent to the bottom edge. 
     
     
         10 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the channel is a plurality of channels, each of the plurality of channels disposed adjacent to one of the top edge or the bottom edge. 
     
     
         11 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the cover is a plurality of covers. 
     
     
         12 . A casing for a water heater appliance, the casing comprising:
 a wrapper extending generally along a vertical direction between a top edge and a bottom edge, the wrapper comprising an inner surface and an outer surface and defining an interior of the casing;   a channel defined in the outer surface of the wrapper and extending generally peripherally about the wrapper adjacent to one of the top edge or the bottom edge;   a cover coupled to the wrapper at one of the top edge or the bottom edge, the cover comprising a sidewall, the sidewall generally surrounding the channel; and   a fastener extending through the sidewall and the channel, the fastener coupling the wrapper and the cover together.   
     
     
         13 . The casing of  claim 12 , wherein the channel is generally V-shaped. 
     
     
         14 . The casing of  claim 12 , wherein the wrapper comprises a body portion and a shelf portion, the shelf portion extending generally vertically between one of the top edge or the bottom edge and the body portion, the body portion having a perimeter greater than a perimeter of the shelf portion. 
     
     
         15 . The casing of  claim 12 , wherein the wrapper is generally cylindrical. 
     
     
         16 . The casing of  claim 12 , wherein the cover is a top cover and the channel is defined adjacent to the top edge. 
     
     
         17 . The casing of  claim 12 , wherein the cover is a bottom cover and the channel is defined adjacent to the bottom edge. 
     
     
         18 . A method for assembling a casing for a water heater appliance, the method comprising:
 positioning one of a top edge or a bottom edge of a wrapper within a cover, the wrapper comprising an inner surface and an outer surface and defining an interior, the cover comprising a base wall and a sidewall extending from the base wall;   providing a fastener through a bore hole in the sidewall such that the fastener contacts a channel wall of the wrapper, the channel wall defining a channel in the outer surface of the wrapper, the channel extending generally peripherally about the wrapper adjacent to the one of the top edge or the bottom edge;   traversing the fastener along the channel wall towards an apex of the channel if the fastener initially contacts the channel wall at a location spaced from the apex; and   penetrating the channel generally through the apex with the fastener.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the channel is generally V-shaped. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the wrapper is generally cylindrical.