Patent ID: 8317169
Filing Date: 2012-11-27
Classification: F24H

Abstract:
1. A safety-enhancing vibration isolator for use between fluid collecting trays and pans and heavy furnaces, air conditioning units, and storage hot water heater tanks that are supported upon fluid-collecting trays and pans and present a risk of fluid damage to surroundings, said vibration isolator comprising: a broad dome-shaped cap having a width dimension, a height dimension, and an exterior surface, said width dimension being larger than said height dimension, said cap also having a top area with a small opening centrally therethrough, an interior hollow area communicating with said centrally-located opening, and multiple spaced-apart exterior ribs each separated from the next adjacent one of said ribs by a cutout area in said cap's exterior surface, said ribs radially extending from said top area and located fully around said top area, and said cutout areas each having opposing sides with a perimeter configuration substantially that of a circular sector; a substantially cylindrical stem depending downwardly from said cap, said stem also having a diameter dimension smaller than said width dimension of said cap, a central bore communicating with said interior hollow area and said central opening in said cap, said stem further having at least one wedge-shaped projection outwardly-extending therefrom; and a flared connection between said cap and said stem, so that when said slightly convex top area is in contact with a heavy furnace or fluid-producing unit and said stem is at least partially positioned within a raised support in a fluid collection pan positioned under the furnace or fluid-producing unit, said dome-shaped cap, in combination with said ribs, said cutout areas, and said wedge-shaped projections work together to resist rollover of said vibration isolator when a furnace or air conditioning unit is moved over said cap during installation, and provide enhanced safety for the furnace or air conditioning unit, storage hot water heater tank, the pan, and areas surrounding the pan as a result of enhanced weight distribution management in the pan.