Patents by Inventor Gary Allen Elder

Gary Allen Elder has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20250334297
    Abstract: A gas water heater appliance includes a tank for storage of water for heating, a combustion chamber wall positioned below the tank and defining a combustion chamber and a pilot air inlet, a gas burner positioned within the combustion chamber to heat the water in the tank, and an arrestor assembly mounted to the combustion chamber wall above the pilot air inlet and below the gas burner. The arrestor assembly includes a flame arrestor and a restrictor plate positioned adjacent the flame arrestor, the restrictor plate defining a bottom of the combustion chamber and comprising one or more apertures that provide fluid communication between the pilot air inlet and the combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2024
    Publication date: October 30, 2025
    Inventors: Corey Sweatt, Gary Allen Elder, Michael Champion
  • Patent number: 11592206
    Abstract: A method for insulating a gas-fueled water heater includes providing a tank for storage of water for heating and a combustion chamber adjacent to the tank. The method includes providing a compressed foam barrier circumferentially around the tank. Further, the method includes positioning a covering around the tank from a top end to a bottom end, the covering extending over the compressed foam barrier. Moreover, the method includes decompressing the compressed foam barrier such that an outer diameter of the foam barrier expands up to and seals against the covering so as to separate an internal volume defined between an outer surface of the tank and the covering into a first section and a second section. Then, the method includes injecting a foam material into the first section so as to provide a foam barrier around at least a portion of an outer surface of the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Nelson, Timothy David Gantt, Gregory L. Hutchison, Gary Allen Elder
  • Publication number: 20220178585
    Abstract: A gas fueled water heater appliance may include a tank for storage of water, a chamber wall, a gas burner, a gas conduit, a support post, and a guide bracket. The chamber wall may define a combustion chamber and a conduit hole. The gas burner may be positioned adjacent to the tank and within the combustion chamber. The gas conduit may extend from the gas burner and through the conduit hole. The support post may be fixed to the gas burner within the combustion chamber. The guide bracket may be mounted within the combustion chamber and define a mounting point. The guide bracket may be in selective engagement with the support post at the mounting point. The guide bracket may include a pair of lateral arms extending outward from the mounting point toward the chamber wall to guide the support post to the mounting point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Gregory L. Hutchison, Gary Allen Elder
  • Patent number: 11353243
    Abstract: A gas fueled water heater appliance may include a tank for storage of water, a chamber wall, a gas burner, a gas conduit, a support post, and a guide bracket. The chamber wall may define a combustion chamber and a conduit hole. The gas burner may be positioned adjacent to the tank and within the combustion chamber. The gas conduit may extend from the gas burner and through the conduit hole. The support post may be fixed to the gas burner within the combustion chamber. The guide bracket may be mounted within the combustion chamber and define a mounting point. The guide bracket may be in selective engagement with the support post at the mounting point. The guide bracket may include a pair of lateral arms extending outward from the mounting point toward the chamber wall to guide the support post to the mounting point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory L. Hutchison, Gary Allen Elder
  • Publication number: 20220026107
    Abstract: A method for insulating a gas-fueled water heater includes providing a tank for storage of water for heating and a combustion chamber adjacent to the tank. The method includes providing a compressed foam barrier circumferentially around the tank. Further, the method includes positioning a covering around the tank from a top end to a bottom end, the covering extending over the compressed foam barrier. Moreover, the method includes decompressing the compressed foam barrier such that an outer diameter of the foam barrier expands up to and seals against the covering so as to separate an internal volume defined between an outer surface of the tank and the covering into a first section and a second section. Then, the method includes injecting a foam material into the first section so as to provide a foam barrier around at least a portion of an outer surface of the tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Nelson, Timothy David Gantt, Gregory L. Hutchison, Gary Allen Elder