Electrotherm, Inc.

Charles A Skinner

The flexing device comprises a strip of metal adapted to be secured to the underside of a drip pan in which a planar formation of a surface electric heating element is disposed. Terminal legs and portions connecting the terminal legs to the planar formation pass through apertures in the bottom of the drip pan and are engaged by the flexing device. A base portion of the flexing device is secured to the center of the underside of the pan. First and second arms of the flexing device extend from the base portion of the flexing device and frictionally and resiliently engage the terminal legs and connecting portions. The second arm is struck from the base portion and is bent outwardly from the base portion to provide an open space which is aligned with the aperture for one terminal leg and connecting portion. The second arm has a first section extending at an angle from the base portion, a V-shaped bend and a second section extending at an angle toward the plane of the base portion. A tab is struck from the second section to provide an open space which is aligned with the aperture for the other terminal leg and connecting portion. The second arm, the tab and the V-shaped bend frictionally and resiliently engage the terminal legs and connecting portions for holding the heating element in a raised position.

Flexing device for holding a surface electric heating element in a

An improved terminal for a sheathed resistance heating element includes a body portion, and a tab portion folded over and connected to the body portion by a neck portion of reduced width. A first aperture for receiving a large size threaded fastener is provided on the body portion, and a second aperture axially-aligned with the first aperture is provided on the tab portion for receiving a smaller sized threaded fastener. The tab portion is dimensioned for sliding engagement with a standard female quick-connect type connector.

Terminal for a resistance heating element

A terminal housing for surface-type resistance heating elements includes interlocking housing sections which snap together to form compartments in which connections to the heating elements are mechanically and electrically protected. The use of identical housing sections with integral locking and strain relief provisions allows the terminal housing to be used with a wide variety of types of connections without the need for a large inventory of components.

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Columbia, MD, United States of America

Charles A Skinner