The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 13, 2002
Filed:
Nov. 04, 1998
Charles M. Eckman, Dallas, PA (US);
James S. Roden, Montgomery, AL (US);
Watlow Polymer Technology, Winona, MN (US);
Abstract
Electrical resistance heating elements, hot water heaters containing such elements, and methods of preparing such elements are provided. The electrical resistance heating elements of this invention can be disposed through a wall of a tank for heating fluid, such as water. They include a skeletal support frame having a first supporting surface thereon. They also include a resistance wire wound onto the first supporting surface and preferably connected to at least a pair of terminal end portions. The support frame and resistance wire are then hermetically encapsulated and electrically insulated within a thermally-conductive polymeric coating. The skeletal support frame of this invention improves injection molding operations for encapsulating the resistance wire, and can include heat transfer fins for improving thermal conductivity.