Abstract: A heating device, such as a heating coil for use in apparatus to be heated, has a removable flexible strip carrier which enables the coil, already supported on ceramic insulators and carried by brackets, to be readily installed in the apparatus. The disposable or reusable strip carrier is notched for supporting the insulators and is easily removed after installation of the device.

Abstract: A duct heater includes end brackets by frame bars. The end brackets are formed into a geometric shape whereby only corners of the bracket engage an inner suface of the duct. Assembly is facilitated by providing the end bracket as thin, flat strips having narrower and wider sections. The frame bars are attached to the wider sections, and when the strips are bent to form a closed geometric form, the thinner sections are curved to form duct-engaging corners while the wider sections remain substantially straight. Insulating supports are attached to the frame bars, and a heater coil is attached to the insulating supports. The structure may be easily slid into a duct because only the corners of the end brackets contact the duct. Thus, a method for forming the heater brackets and attaching heater elements is set forth.

Abstract: An electric heater incorporating simple support structure therefor. A frame is insulated from an electric resistance heater coil by insulator supports mounted within beam members of the frame. The supports incorporate structural features enabling the use of simplified supporting beams. The support insulators include additional structural features for retaining the resistance wire in place and for simplified engagement therewith. The insulators may project on both sides of the support beams and retain heater wires in two planes. The support insulators further provide an integrated structure easily fabricated and simply assembled to the frame.

Abstract: An insulator for an electric heater employs a central elongated slot and two guide surfaces. Below each guide surface is a notch for receiving an outer convolution of a heater coil, while the central slot terminates in a notch for receiving an intermediate convolution of the heater coil. The slot engages the central convolution of the heater coil before outer convolutions engage the guide surfaces to facilitate installation of the insulator. As the insulator is inserted into the heater coil, the guide surfaces engage the outer convolutions and direct them to respective notches for securely holding the heater coil. The insulator may support a single pass of the heater coil or may be arranged to have these surfaces and notches on opposite ends to support two passes of the heater coil.

Abstract: A duct heater includes end brackets connected by frame bars. The end brackets are formed into a geometric shape whereby only corners of the bracket engage an inner surface of the duct. Assembly is facilitated by providing the end brackets as thin, flat strips having narrower and wider sections. The frame bars are attached to the wider sections, and when the strips are bent to form a closed geometric form, the thinner sections are curved to form duct-engaging corners while the wider sections remain substantially straight. Insulating supports are attached to the frame bars, and a heater coil is attached to the insulating supports. The structure may be easily slid into a duct because only the corners of the end brackets contact the duct.

Abstract: A heater assembly includes a housing which both channels air flowing around a heating element and provides support structure for the elements holding the heating element. In one embodiment, a lower U-shaped channel has recesses in opposed sidewalls to engage down-turned ends of holding elements. A second U-shaped channel is attached to form a hollow duct open at opposite ends. In a second embodiment, a U-shaped channel is made of flexible material so that the spacing between opposed sidewalls may be varied. A holding element is secured between the sidewalls by separating the sidewalls to allow insertion of the holding means.

Abstract: An electric heater incorporating simple support structure therefor. A frame is insulated from an electric resistance heater coil by insulator supports mounted within beam members of the frame. The supports incorporate structural features enabling the use of simplified supporting beams. The support insulators include additional structural features for retaining the resistance wire in place and for simplified engagement therewith. The insulators may project on both sides of the support beams and retain heater wires in two planes. The support insulators further provide an integrated structure easily fabricated and simply assembled to the frame.

Abstract: An insulator for an electric heater employs a central elongated slot and two guide surfaces. Below each guide surface is a notch for receiving an outer convolution of a heater coil, while the central slot terminates in a notch for receiving an intermediate convolution of the heater coil. The slot engages the central convolution of the heater coil before outer convolutions engage the guide surfaces to facilitate installation of the insulator. As the insulator is inserted into the heater coil, the guide surfaces engage the outer convolutions and direct them to respective notches for securely holding the heater coil. The insulator may support a single pass of the heater coil or may be arranged to have these surfaces and notches on opposite ends to support two passes of the heater coil.

Abstract: An electric heater incorporating simple support structure therefor. A frame is insulated from an electric resistance heater coil by insulated supports mounted within beam members of the frame. The supports incorporate structural features enabling the use of simplified supporting beams. The support insulators include additional structural features for retaining the resistance wire in place and for simplified engagement therewith. The insulators may project on both sides of the support beams and retain heater wires in two planes. The support insulators further provide an integrated structure easily fabricated and simply assembled to the frame.

Abstract: An electric resistance heating unit in which the heating element is a thin, foil-like strip of expanded metal supported on edge substantially along its entire length on a board of insulating material. The heating element is formed in a serpentine pattern, and its bottom edge is embedded in a similar serpentine groove in the upper surface of a ceramic fiberboard and cemented therein.

Abstract: A heated wiper arrangement for windshields and like surfaces including an elongated backing member having means along the inner face area thereof to retainingly receive an elongated wiper blade longitudinally therealong. A heating element is closely associated with the backing member at generally the neutral surface or plane thereof for heating the wiper blade by conduction. Location of the heating element at generally the backing member neutral surface or plane prevents stresses from being applied to the element during bending of the backing member for accommodating the windshield surface contour. The heating element may be advantageously located generally along the backing member longitudinal neutral or moment of inertia axis as well as at locations spaced laterally outward therefrom in the neutral surface. Means may also be advantageously provided for protecting the heating element from natural and other corrosive elements.