WATER HEATER APPLIANCE

1 . A water heater appliance, comprising:

an outer shell;

a tank disposed within the outer shell, the tank defining an interior volume;

a heating element configured for heating water within the interior volume of the tank; and

a support ring disposed at a middle portion of the outer shell and extending about the outer shell, the support ring comprising

a first segment; and

a second segment pivotally mounted to the first segment.

2 . The water heater appliance of claim 1 , wherein the first and second segments of the support ring each extend between a hinge portion and a locking portion, the hinge portion of the first segment pivotally mounted to the hinge portion of the second segment, the locking portion of the first segment selectively secured to the locking portion of the second segment.

3 . The water heater appliance of claim 2 , wherein the water heater appliance defines a circumferential direction, the hinge portion of the first segment and the locking portion of the first segment spaced apart from each other along the circumferential direction on the outer shell, the hinge portion of the second segment and the locking portion of the second segment spaced apart from each other along the circumferential direction on the outer shell.

4 . The water heater appliance of claim 3 , wherein the hinge portion of the first segment and the locking portion of the first segment are positioned opposite each other on the outer shell along the circumferential direction, the hinge portion of the second segment and the locking portion of the second segment also positioned opposite each other on the outer shell along the circumferential direction.

5 . The water heater appliance of claim 2 , wherein the hinge portion of the first segment comprises a cylinder and the hinge portion of the second segment comprises a socket, the cylinder of the first segment received within the socket of the second segment such that the cylinder of the first segment is rotatable within the socket of the second segment.

6 . The water heater appliance of claim 5 , wherein the hinge portion of the first segment comprises an end wall, the cylinder of the first segment mounted to the end wall of the first segment, the hinge portion of the second segment comprising an outer projection, the outer projection of the second segment positioned on the end wall of the first segment when the support ring is in an open configuration, the outer projection of the second segment spaced apart from the end wall of the first segment when the support ring is in a closed configuration.

7 . The water heater appliance of claim 5 , wherein the locking portions of the first and second segments engage selectively engage each other at a lock assembly of the support ring, the lock assembly comprising a wedge and a slot, the wedge mounted to and the slot defined on a respective one of the locking portions of the first and second segments, the wedge positioned within the slot when the support ring is in a closed configuration.

8 . The water heater appliance of claim 7 , wherein the wedge is tapered such that the wedge is wider at a top portion of the wedge.

9 . The water heater appliance of claim 1 , wherein the second segment is pivotable by at least five degrees relative to the first segment.

10 . The water heater appliance of claim 1 , wherein the support ring has an outer perimeter and an inner perimeter, the outer perimeter of the support ring being generally square, the inner perimeter of the support ring being circular.

11 . The water heater appliance of claim 1 , wherein the support ring is constructed with expanded polystyrene.

12 . A water heater appliance defining a circumferential direction, the water heater appliance comprising:

an outer shell;

a tank disposed within the outer shell;

a heating element configured for heating water within the tank;

a support ring extending about the outer shell along the circumferential direction, the support ring comprising

a first segment;

a second segment;

a hinge assembly pivotally mounting the first segment to the second segment.

13 . The water heater appliance of claim 12 , wherein the first and second segments of the support ring each extend between a hinge portion and a locking portion spaced apart from each other along the circumferential direction, the hinge assembly comprising a cylinder positioned at the hinge portion of the first segment and a socket defined at the hinge portion of the second segment, the cylinder received within the socket such that the cylinder is rotatable within the socket.

14 . The water heater appliance of claim 13 , wherein the hinge portion of the first segment and the locking portion of the first segment are positioned opposite each other on the outer shell along the circumferential direction, the hinge portion of the second segment and the locking portion of the second segment also positioned opposite each other on the outer shell along the circumferential direction.

15 . The water heater appliance of claim 13 , wherein the hinge portion of the first segment comprises an end wall, the cylinder of the hinge assembly mounted to the end wall of the first segment, the hinge portion of the second segment comprising an outer projection, the outer projection of the second segment positioned on the end wall of the first segment when the support ring is in an open configuration, the outer projection of the second segment spaced apart from the end wall of the first segment when the support ring is in a closed configuration.

16 . The water heater appliance of claim 13 , wherein the support ring further comprises a lock assembly, the locking portions of the first and second segments engage selectively engaging each other at the lock assembly of the support ring, the lock assembly comprising a wedge and a slot, the wedge mounted to and the slot defined on a respective one of the locking portions of the first and second segments, the wedge positioned within the slot when the support ring is in a closed configuration.

17 . The water heater appliance of claim 16 , wherein the wedge is tapered such that the wedge is wider at a top portion of the wedge.

18 . The water heater appliance of claim 12 , wherein the hinge assembly is configured such that the second segment is pivotable by at least five degrees relative to the first segment.

19 . The water heater appliance of claim 12 , wherein the support ring has an outer perimeter and an inner perimeter, the outer perimeter of the support ring being generally square, the inner perimeter of the support ring being circular.

20 . The water heater appliance of claim 12 , wherein the support ring is constructed with expanded polystyrene.