Abstract: A flexible heating assembly includes a plurality of stranded or otherwise combined, insulated electrical conductors including feeder lines and, possibly, additional lines and constituting a subassembly; a heating conductor loops around this subassembly in multiple loops; at least two of the feeder line conductors have spaced apart and staggerdly arranged bare spots of removed insulation exposing the respective electrical conductor and the heating conductor where passing across such a bare area will be an intimate electrical contact making relationship without supplemental fastening; the loop density defined as number of loops per unit length on the subassembly is smaller in between bare spots and higher by at least 20% as to loops contacting conductors in a bare spot.

Abstract: A ribbon, preferably made of polytetrafluoroethylene and preferably in an unsintered configuration but having lens or trapezoidal cross section is used for wrapping elongated stock such as electrical conductors, tubes, or a removable mandrel, the wrapping to be made with overlapping edges followed by fusion to obtain a coherent tubular configuration.

Abstract: A flexible heating element is suggested to be made on a continuous basis, so that desired length can be cut therefrom and includes individual, electrically insulated feeder lines and a heating being interlooped in interweaving fashion with the feeder lines, there being discrete locations of the feeder lines from which the insulation has been removed for making contact with the heating conductor for supplying power thereto.

Abstract: A sleeve, terminal body, plug body, or the like receives tubular or ring-shaped, normally solid but thermoplastic filler elements, being traversed by a cable or conductor, particularly a portion from which insulation has been stripped. A plunger-like element receives also the cable or conductor and is inserted in one end of the sleeve, or body, the other end being closed by another plunger or body structure. Upon heating, the filler element melts and the plunger or plungers are forced further in to cause melted filler material to fill all voids; the deformed material resolidifies and seals and bonds all parts together.