Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus to support an electrical heating element installed in an oven and extending generally horizontally therethrough from one side of the oven to the opposite side thereof for heating an oven cavity to bake or broil food set inside the oven cavity. The oven cavity has side walls, a top wall and a bottom wall. The apparatus and heating element are located below the bottom wall of the oven cavity. The apparatus includes at least one support bracket extending horizontally in the oven and has a plurality of openings formed therein each of which is generally presented in the upward vertical direction and sized to receive the heating element. The support bracket also has a plurality of standoffs generally presented in the upward vertical direction and having a height sufficient to prevent the bottom wall of the oven cavity from coming in contact with the heating element.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) supports an electrical heating element (H) which is mounted in an oven (O). When supplied with electricity, the element heats the oven to cook food. During an operating cycle, the heating element expands and contracts along its length. The apparatus comprises a support bar (12) including an elongate plate (16) and bracketry (14) for mounting the plate to an inner wall (T) of the oven. The support bar extends orthogonally of a longitudinal axis of the heating element when the heating element is installed. The plate has spaced openings (18), each of which is sized for a length of the heating element to be fitted in an opening. Each opening comprises a slot one end of which extends into the body of the plate for a portion of the plate to cover the slot. The other end of the slot is open to receive the heating element, the portion of the heating element received in each slot being fitted into the covered end of the slot.