Patent ID: 8292616

Claim:
A premix gas burner for use in a water heater, said water heater including a wall at least partially defining a combustion chamber and an access opening in said wall, comprising: a) a burner body including a lower housing and an element defining a combustion surface that is attached to said lower housing; b) an inlet conduit communicating with said burner body through which a combustible gas and combustion air mixture is delivered to said burner body in a region located below said combustion surface defining element said inlet conduit supplying at least 100% of the combustion air needed for combustion of said combustible gas wherein said inlet conduit extends at least partially into said burner body; and, c) an access door for closing off said access opening when said burner is in its installed position within said water heater, said access door secured to an inlet end of said inlet conduit; d) said inlet end of said inlet conduit including an integrally formed upset ridge that abuts an inside surface surrounding an opening in said door through which said inlet conduit extends and an integrally formed outwardly extending flare that abuttably engages an outside surface of said door, whereby said door is secured to said inlet conduit, and wherein said upset ridge, said inlet conduit, and said extending flare are formed from a single piece of material.