Water heater insulated base

Abstract

An insulated base for reducing thermal losses through the bottom of a water heater includes an inner body of insulating foam. The insulating body is between 0.75 inch and 2.5 inches thick, and extends laterally commensurate with the bottom diameter of the water heater. The insulating body is surrounded by a molded plastic cover for protection from physical impact. The insulated base may include an upturned lip around its perimeter to prevent water from entering or leaving the insulated base. A drain hole in such upturned lip allows collected water to escape upon reaching the level of the drain hole. The insulating body is preferably made from polyurethane, polyethylene, or polystyrene. The molded plastic cover that encases the insulating body is preferably made from roto-molded polyethylene or polypropylene plastic resin.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An insulated base for a water heater, the water heater including a generally circular bottom end having a bottom diameter, and the insulated base being adapted for placement below the bottom end of the water heater, the insulated base comprising in combination:
 an insulating body made of insulating foam, the insulating body having a thickness ranging between 0.75 inch and 2.5 inches, and having a lateral size commensurate with the bottom diameter of the water heater; and   a molded plastic cover generally surrounding the insulating body.   
     
     
         2 . The insulated base for a water heater recited in  claim 1  wherein the insulating body is made from polyurethane. 
     
     
         3 . The insulated base for a water heater recited in  claim 2  wherein the insulating body is made from closed-cell, high-density polyurethane foam. 
     
     
         4 . The insulated base for a water heater recited in  claim 1  wherein the insulating body is made from polyethylene. 
     
     
         5 . The insulated base for a water heater recited in  claim 4  wherein the insulating body is made from closed-cell, high-density polyethylene foam. 
     
     
         6 . The insulated base for a water heater recited in  claim 1  wherein the insulating body is made from polystyrene. 
     
     
         7 . The insulated base for a water heater recited in  claim 1  wherein the insulating body is made of sprayable insulating foam injected into the molded plastic cover. 
     
     
         8 . The insulated base for a water heater recited in  claim 7  wherein the sprayable insulating foam is open-cell spray polyurethane foam. 
     
     
         9 . The insulated base for a water heater recited in  claim 7  wherein the sprayable insulating foam is closed-cell spray polyurethane foam. 
     
     
         10 . The insulated base for a water heater recited in  claim 1  wherein the molded plastic cover is made from roto-molded plastic resin. 
     
     
         11 . The insulated base for a water heater recited in  claim 10  wherein the roto-molded plastic resin is polyethylene. 
     
     
         12 . The insulated base for a water heater recited in  claim 10  wherein the roto-molded plastic resin is polypropylene. 
     
     
         13 . The insulated base for a water heater recited in  claim 1  wherein the molded plastic cover includes a lower surface for resting upon a supporting surface, and the molded plastic cover also including an opposing upper surface for receiving the bottom end of the water heater. 
     
     
         14 . The insulated base for a water heater recited in  claim 13  wherein the upper surface of the molded plastic cover includes an outer perimeter, the outer perimeter having an upturned lip extending around the upper surface of the molded plastic cover. 
     
     
         15 . The insulated base for a water heater recited in  claim 14  wherein the upturned lip includes a drain hole for selectively draining water collected upon the upper surface.