Abstract: A solid state heater uses a heater subassembly employing a terminal block, terminals and a PTCR or NTCR heater. The terminals engage and make electrical contact with the heater, thus eliminating the need for a rigid heater housing. The heater subassembly can be formed into a soft body or rigid body heater for heating purposes. The soft body heater uses a soft casing that envelops the heater subassembly with the casing expanding upon heating to provide a snug fit during use. The heater subassembly can be inserted in the cavity of either a soft body or a rigid body with potting compound filling any remaining voids, and the rigid or soft body can then be used for heating purposes.

Abstract: An open coil resistance heater uses one or more standoffs to engage and support the generally straight or uncoiled run of bare or insulated wire that is part of the resistance wire of the heater. The standoff has slots, which are sized to engage the bare or insulated wires for support purposes, and is removably mountable to the heater frame for supporting the run of uncoiled wire.

Abstract: A mica board open coil resistance heater assembly includes a mica board subassembly of at least one pair of mica boards, a resistance wire wound around the boards, an electrical connection clip secured to each mica board, wherein each end of the resistance wire is connected to a respective clip. A terminal plate subassembly includes a thermostat, a ceramic two-hole terminal block, and bus wires, the bus wires adapted to be attached to a portion of the electrical connection clip to connect the resistance wire to power. The ceramic two-hole terminal is able to receive push on terminals from power conductors.

Abstract: An electric belly-band heater includes at least one conduit fitting housing. The housing is located on the heater to surround one or more lead wires and provide a securement point for a conduit end. The conduit end can be secured to the housing using the appropriate fittings so that the lead wire exiting the heater sheath is totally encased in the conduit to meet installation codes.

Abstract: A cooking controller assembly includes a heating element, a push-to-turn rotary switch, and an electric controller. The heating element is coupled to the push-to-turn rotary switch and the electric controller. The push-to-turn rotary switch is manually pushed and turned to selectively connect power to the heating element. The electric controller is coupled to the push-to-turn rotary switch and the heating element, and electrically controls the power to the heating element in relation to the manual rotation of the push-to-turn rotary switch.

Abstract: A switch assembly includes a shaft, a first switch and a second switch, a potentiometer including a first and a second terminal, and an electric controller. The first switch is coupled to a first device, whereas the second switch is coupled to a second device. The shaft is coupled to the first switch and the second switch, and is moved to a first position to selectively connect power, through the first switch, to the first device, and to a second position to selectively connect power, through the second switch, to the second device. The potentiometer is coupled to the shaft, and provides a variable resistance between the first and the second terminal in relation to the movement of the shaft. The electric controller is coupled to the potentiometer, and electrically controls the power to the first device and/or the second device in relation to the variable resistance between the first and the second terminal of the potentiometer.

Abstract: A heater having a frame rail and clips, attached to the rail, for securing insulators for supporting a heater coil. Each clip has a main body having a structural member for securing to the rail, and having a pair of flanges symmetrical about a central axis. Each flange has a cut-out for supporting an insulator, the cut-out having an open end, a back abutment edge and a pair of side abutment edges. A bendable tab is located at either side of the open end, each having a first and a second position. In the first position an insulator is insertable into the cut-out, and the insulator is secured by bending the tabs to their second position. Optionally the main body has a cross-section that accommodates the cross section of the rail and the rail is welded to the channel. Alternatively, a plurality of clinching flaps extend from the main body, the flaps shaped and dimensioned for bending around and clinching the rail.

Abstract: An open coil resistance heating apparatus uses a pair of twisted wires having a particular gauge and pitch as the resistance heating wire. Using the twisted pair of wires in the selected gauge and pitch results in significant cost reductions; less wire is needed to achieve the same heating capacity.

Abstract: A conductive metal jumper strap has a plate portion with a pair of connection legs forming a u-shape. The connection legs are adapted to connect to terminals to make an electrical connection between two components of a heating device. The plate portion has a bend in it to allow flexing so that the connection legs can make a jumper connection between terminals where the terminal spacing may vary between heating devices.

Abstract: A heater assembly includes a mounting structure, a securement structure, an insulator support structure, a conducting structure having a first portion and a second portion, a terminal structure, and a thermostat structure. The securement structure cooperates with the insulator support structure and the mounting structure to releasably and fixedly secure the insulator support structure to the mounting structure. The terminal structure is coupled to the first portion of the conducting structure, and is used to deliver power to the conducting structure. The thermostat structure is coupled to the second portion of the conducting structure. The insulator support structure is configured to cooperate with both the terminal structure and the thermostat structure to fixedly support the terminal structure or the thermostat structure in position.

Abstract: A heater assembly includes a housing structure, a support structure, an insulator structure, and a heating structure. The housing structure conveys heat to be produced within the housing structure from a first portion to a second portion of the housing structure. The support structure is releasably and fixedly secured to the housing structure. The insulator structure is affixed to the support structure to be releasably and fixedly secured to the housing structure. The heating structure is affixed to the insulator structure to be releasably and fixedly secured to the housing structure, and to be insulated from at least one of the housing structure and the support structure. The housing structure includes an outer surface having a non-uniform cross section with respect to an axis of the housing structure. The support structure, the insulator structure, and the heating structure are positioned within the housing structure.

Abstract: A heater assembly includes a mounting assembly, a conducting structure, a thermostat structure, a first terminal structure and a second terminal structure, and an insulator support structure including a terminal receiving opening formed therethrough. The conducting structure and the insulator support structure are releasably and fixedly secured to the mounting assembly. The terminal receiving opening of the insulator support structure cooperates with the first terminal structure to secure the first terminal structure to the mounting assembly. The second terminal structure is releasably and fixedly secured to the mounting assembly. The thermostat structure is connected to the first terminal structure and to the second terminal structure. The first terminal structure is then connected to a power delivering structure to receive power to be used by the heater assembly, and to deliver power, through the thermostat structure, to the conducting structure.

Abstract: A heater having a frame rail and clips, attached to the rail, for securing insulators for supporting a heater coil. Each clip has a main body having a structural member for securing to the rail, and having a pair of flanges symmetrical about a central axis. Each flange has a cut-out for supporting an insulator, the cut-out having an open end, a back abutment edge and a pair of side abutment edges. A bendable tab is located at either side of the open end, each having a first and a second position. In the first position an insulator is insertable into the cut-out, and the insulator is secured by bending the tabs to their second position. Optionally the main body has a cross-section that accommodates the cross section of the rail and the rail is welded to the channel. Alternatively, a plurality of clinching flaps extend from the main body, the flaps shaped and dimensioned for bending around and clinching the rail.

Abstract: A heater having an insulating terminal mounting block, a thermostat and a terminal bushing mounted to a frame. The insulating terminal mounting block supports a plurality of removable terminal members. Each terminal member has a crimping structure at one end and a connection structure at its other end. A temperature sensitive fuse is crimped within the crimping structure of a first and a second of the terminal connection members. A unitary jumper strap connects between the connection structure of the second and a third of the terminal members. A fourth terminal member is supported by the terminal bushing. A second unitary jumper strap connects between the connection structure of the fourth terminal member and a terminal of the thermostat. One terminal of a resistive heating wire is crimped within the crimping structure of one of the terminal connection members supported by the terminal mounting block.

Abstract: A clip for connecting one or two insulators to a rail (preferably a T-bar member) of an electric heater including at least one bendable metal clinching member, where the clip is securable to the rail by bending the clinching member around the rail. Preferably, the clinching member is one or two T-shaped end members disposed on transverse ends of the clip. Opposite end sections of the ridge of the T-shaped end member constitute clinching flaps which, in use, are clinched around a stem of a T-bar of an electric heater.

Abstract: An appliance window coated with a thermochromic, polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) material allows users of appliances containing such window to view the inside chamber of the appliance without opening the appliance door. The thermochromic material on the coated window also does not detract from the overall appearance of the appliance and is composed of phase-separated droplets of liquid crystal in a light-transmissive resin matrix. The liquid crystal has an optical index of refraction in the isotropic phase that is similar to the refractive index of the resin and an index of refraction in the liquid crystalline phase that is mismatched with the refractive index of the resin. The thermochromic coating is activated by the thermal energy released by the appliance during operation. The thermal energy raises the temperature of the coating to a sufficient value so as to cause the coating to switch from an opaque state to a clear state.

Abstract: A switch which controls a heating element in terms of limiting its overheating and indicating both that the heating element is on and that it has a hot surface associated therewith is disclosed, particularly for use with range top cooking elements.

Abstract: An electric multi-stage heater assembly that provides multi-level heating using a plurality of separately controllable heating elements within a housing that is readily interchangeable with standard single-stage heater housings that can be controlled by conventional power switching circuits. The multi-stage heater assembly of this invention has each electric heater element straddling a support member with a portion of the heater element extending from one side to the other to maintain the electrical continuity of the element. The support member has a plurality of cut-outs that provide space for routing the cross over portion of the heater element and sufficient clearance to accommodate the inevitable droop associated with heat cycling electric resistive heater elements. The support member is equipped with a plurality of insulators which support and electrically insulate the heater element. The insulators are arranged to cooperatively rotate within the support member to minimize sagging of the heater elements.

Abstract: An electric heater support and mounting assembly is described for reducing or substantially eliminating noise resulting from the vibration in the heating element. The support and mounting assembly comprises a housing having a plurality of unique openings for receiving a plurality of arms extending from a support plate. The openings firmly engage the arms so as to prevent rattling while enabling the arms to move within the opening to accommodate thermal expansion of the support plate.

Abstract: A terminal assembly is provided which is easy to assemble and disassemble. The assembly features male and female ceramic elements that interconnect and provide a passageway into which a terminal equipped with forward and rearward tabs is placed. After the terminal is positioned in the passageway, the forward tabs may be bent into a position at an angle to the terminal, thereby securing the terminal in place and holding the terminal assembly together. The male ceramic element is provided with a unique annular depression that reduces the amount of ceramic materials needed to make the assembly, while also providing the minimum surface spacing required by industry standards. In addition, the terminal assembly is provided with a v-shaped attachment element for conveniently attaching the assembly to a lead wire.