Abstract: An insulating support structure for a helical wire heating coil for an electric resistance heating element includes a plurality of insulating standoff members supported by a metallic support frame. The insulating standoffs each include a pair of wedge portions that are used to separate the individual convolutions of the helical wire heating coil. Located inwardly from each of the wedge portions are a pair of V-shaped coil grooves sized to receive a portion of an individual convolution of the helical wire heating coil. A retainer tab extends into and forms one surface of the coil groove such that the wire heating coil contacts the retainer tab and a pair of contact surfaces that define the coil groove. The insulating standoffs are each supported by an arm contained on the support frame. Each of the arms includes a pair of tines which combine to form an open slot within the arm. The insulating standoff is captured between the tines by a pair of locking projections on the outer end of the tines.

Abstract: An insulating support structure for a helical wire heating coil for an electric resistance heating element includes a plurality of insulating standoff members supported by a metallic support frame. The insulating standoffs each include a pair of wedge portions that are used to separate the individual convolutions of the helical wire heating coil. Located inwardly from each of the wedge portions are a pair of V-shaped coil grooves sized to receive a portion of an individual convolution of the helical wire heating coil. A retainer tab extends into and forms one surface of the coil groove such that the wire heating coil contacts the retainer tab and a pair of contact surfaces that define the coil groove. The insulating standoffs are each supported by an arm contained on the support frame. Each of the arms includes a pair of tines which combine to form an open slot within the arm. The insulating standoff is captured between the tines by a pair of locking projections on the outer end of the tines.

Abstract: An insulating support structure for a helical wire heating coil for an electric resistance heating element includes a plurality of insulating standoff members supported by a metallic support frame. The insulating standoffs each include a pair of wedge portions that are used to separate the individual convolutions of the helical wire heating coil. Located inwardly from each of the wedge portions are a pair of V-shaped coil grooves sized to receive a portion of an individual convolution of the helical wire heating coil. A retainer tab extends into and forms one surface of the coil groove such that the wire heating coil contacts the retainer tab and a pair of contact surfaces that define the coil groove. The insulating standoffs are each supported by an arm contained on the support frame. Each of the arms includes a pair of tines which combine to form an open slot within the arm. The insulating standoff is captured between the tines by a pair of locking projections on the outer end of the tines.

Abstract: An insulating support structure for a helical wire heating coil for an electric resistance heating element includes a plurality of insulating standoff members supported by a metallic support frame. The insulating standoffs each include a pair of wedge portions that are used to separate the individual convolutions of the helical wire heating coil. Located inwardly from each of the wedge portions are a pair of V-shaped coil grooves sized to receive a portion of an individual convolution of the helical wire heating coil. A retainer tab extends into the coil groove such that the wire heating coil contacts the retainer tab and a pair of contact surfaces that define the coil groove. The insulating standoffs are each supported by an arm contained on the support frame. Each of the arms includes a pair of tines which combine to form an open slot within the arm. The insulating standoff is captured between the tines by a pair of locking projections on the outer end of the tines.

Abstract: An insulating support for a helical wire heating coil for an electric resistance heating element includes a coil supporting notch into which a single helical coil turn is inserted and locked into position without twisting the coil and without unduly stretching the coil in an axial direction. The supporting notch includes lead-in ramp surfaces to spread the two halves of the coil turn until the coil is centrally positioned in the notch, whereupon the coil turn snaps into locking engagement with four separate abutments to prevent dislodgement. A central portion in the notch includes a separate coil supporting surface that limits further movement of the coil into the notch and the notch also includes interior lateral abutment surfaces to engage the outside of the coil turn and prevent lateral movement in the notch. The faces of the support body adjacent the notch are engaged by opposite half portions of the coil turn to preclude axial movement of the coil once it is locked in position.

Abstract: The insulative stand-off is mounted on a frame and supports a heating coil. In the preferred embodiment the coil loops engage retention surfaces inside the inverted T-shaped opening in the end of the stand-off. The sides of the stand-off forming the opening have cam surfaces which squeeze adjacent central loops together during mounting while the loops adjacent the central loops are deflected to the outside of the stand-off. When the central loops reach the crossbar of the T they spring apart to fix the coil. Other embodiments are shown--all have retention surfaces generally parallel to the coil loops and transverse the coil axis. Cam surfaces control access to the retention surfaces to deflect the loops as they are moved to the retention surfaces and the coil resiliency biases the loops into engagement with the retention surfaces when mounting is completed.