Abstract: A heater assembly (10) is for installation in a clothes dryer (D). The assembly includes at least one open coil heating element (12), and a plurality of insulators (16) to each of which a convolution of the coil is attachable. The insulators are mounted on a support (22) in a spaced relation from each other. The support is attachable to a multi-sided pan structure (30). The pan has sidewalls (32A, 32B) to which the support is attachable for installing the coil in the pan. The pan has a lip (54) which extends beneath one end (54) of a heating unit (U) section (S2). The pan is directly attachable to the unit and the unit directly installable in the dryer. The heater assembly is also formed to help install the unit in the appliance during its manufacture.

Abstract: An open coil electric heater (1) is disclosed having an open frame (3) and an exposed, open heating coil (11) of suitable resistance heating wire. The coil is supported on the frame by so-called "point suspension" electrical insulators (12). The insulators have a pair of apertures or holes (41) therethrough for receiving a pair of spaced arms (45a, 45b) of a wire mounting clip (9). The wire clip arms are crimped or are otherwise deformed adjacent the insulator so as to hold the insulator axially in place on the clip. The clip is welded to the frame.