Mounting system for solid plate surface heating units

Claim 2

A flat plate surface heating unit comprising a recessed reflector pan and a flat substantially circular plate of high temperature, high resistivity dielectric material such as crystalline glass supported over the top portion of the reflector pan, a heat spreader plate of high thermal conductivity disposed against the underside of the crystalline glass plate, and a metal sheathed heating element attached to the underside of the heat spreader plate, and a trim ring encircling the unit and having a top flange with an inner edge overlapping the peripheral edge of the flat plate and an outer edge adapted to overlap an adjacent peripheral edge of a supporting structure, said trim ring also having a vertical shank portion with support ledges on its inner surface that engage under the peripheral edge of the reflector pan, and annular spring means associated with the said support ledges to clamp the unit within the trim ring, and spring locking means associated with the lower portion of the trim ring and adapted to engage an adjacent surface of a heating unit supporting structure to bias the trim ring in a downward holding position.

Claim 3

A flat plate surface heating unit as recited in claim 1 wherein the support ledges of the trim ring are inwardly lanced sections which allow the flat plate, the reflector pan and the annular spring means to snap into the trim ring.

Claim 4

A flat plate surface heating unit as recited in claim 1 wherein the said spring locking means is formed as part of a separable bracket member having quick-connect fastening means joining the bracket member to the shank of the trim ring, the Top portion of the bracket member being engaged by the annular spring means to assist in holding the bracket in place.

Claim 5

A plate surface heating unit comprising a flat substantially circular plate of glass-ceramic material supported on a heat spreader plate of high thermal conductivity, a metal sheathed heating element attached to the underside of the heat spreader plate, a dished reflector pan supporting the assembly across the top portion thereof; the invention comprising, means for mounting the heating unit in a recessed opening in a supporting panel, said mounting means comprising a trim ring of generally T-shaped transverse cross-section having a head portion and a shank portion, the head portion of the trim ring having an inner edge overlying the peripheral edge of the glass-ceramic plate and an outer edge adapted to overlie the peripheral edge of the supporting panel, the shank portion of the trim ring having support ledges on its inner surfact that underlie a peripheral flange at the top portion of the reflector pan, and a spring means attached to the shank of the trim ring and adapted to bear against the supporting panel to exert a pull-down force on the trim ring to clamp the heating unit in the opening in the supporting panel.

Claim 6

A plate surface heating unit comprising a flat substantially circular plate of glass-ceramic material supported on a heat spreader plate of high thermal conductivity, a metal sheathed heating element attached to the underside of the heat spreader plate, a dished reflector pan supporting the assembly across the top portion thereof; the invention comprising, means for mounting the heating unit in a recessed opening in a supporting panel, said mounting means comprising a trim ring of generally T-shaped transverse cross-section having a head portion and a shank portion, the head portion of the trim ring having an inner edge overlying the peripheral edge of the glass-ceramic plate and an outer edge adapted to overlie the peripheral edge of the supporting panel, the shank portion of the trim ring having support ledges on its inner surfact that underlie a peripheral flange at the top portion of the reflector pan, and a spring means attached to the shank of the trim ring and adapted to bear against the supporting panel to exert a pull-down force on the trim ring to clamp the heating unit in the opening in the supporting panel.

Claim 7

A plate surface heating unit as recited in claim 4 wherein the supporting panel is formed with a recess having a central opening in the bottom thereof that is surrounded by a narrow shelf, a notch formed in the said shelf whereby the spring means attached to the trim ring may be passed down through the notch and the trim ring turned in place to lock the spring means beneath the narrow shelf.

Claim 8

A plate surface heating unit as recited in claim 5 wherein the spring means is of endless strip configuration that is capable of vertical compression to exert a strong force against the underside of the narrow shelf of the supporting panel.

Claim 9

A plate surface heating unit comprising a supporting panel having a recess, a large opening formed in the bottom of the recess leaving a narrow shelf surrounding the opening, a glass-ceramic substantially circular plate disposed within the recess, a heat spreader plate of high thermal conductivity contacting the bottom surface of the glass-ceramic plate, a metal sheathed heating element attached to the underside of the heat spreader plate, and a recessed reflector pan positioned under the heating element and having a top peripheral flange supporting the glass-ceramic plate across the top surface of the reflector pan, and mounting means for holding the surface heating unit within the recess in the supporting panel, said mounting means comprising a trim ring with a top head portion and a generally vertical shank portion in transverse cross-section, said head portion having an innermost edge overlying the peripheral edge of the glass-ceramic plate and an outermost edge overlying the peripheral edge surrounding the recess in the supporting panel, the shank portion having an inner surface with support ledges on which the top peripheral flange of the reflector pan is mounted, and at least one notch formed in the narrow shelf of the supporting panel, and a locking spring means supported from the shank of the trim ring and insertable down through the said notch whereby the surface heating unit may be turned bodily within the recess in the supporting panel to compress the locking spring means beneath the said narrow shelf.

Claim 10

A plate surface heating unit comprising a supporting panel having a recess, a large opening formed in the bottom of the recess leaving a narrow shelf surrounding the opening, a glass-ceramic substantially circular plate disposed within the recess, a heat spreader plate of high thermal conductivity contacting the bottom surface of the glass-ceramic plate, a metal sheathed heating element attached to the underside of the heat spreader plate, and a recessed reflector pan positioned under the heating element and having a top peripheral flange supporting the glass-ceramic plate across the top surface of the reflector pan, and mounting means for holding the surface heating unit within the recess in the supporting panel, said mounting means comprising a trim ring with a top head portion and a generally vertical shank portion in transverse cross-section, said head portion having an innermost edge overlying the peripheral edge of the glass-ceramic plate and an outermost edge overlying the peripheral edge surrounding the recess in the supporting panel, the shank portion having an inner surface with support ledges on which the top peripheral flange of the reflector pan is mounted, and at least one notch formed in the narrow shelf of the supporting panel, and a locking spring means supported from the shank of the trim ring and insertable down through the said notch whereby the surface heating unit may be turned bodily within the recess in the supporting panel to compress the locking spring means beneath the said narrow shelf.

Claim 11

A plate type surface heating unit comprising a thin substantially circular plate of glass-ceramic material, a heat spreader plate bearing against the underside of the glass-ceramic plate, a metal sheathed resistance heating element attached to the underside of the heat spreader plate, a heat reflector pan disposed beneath the heat spreader plate, and a trim ring encircling the unit; the invention comprising means for supporting the heating unit in the trim ring comprising a trim ring with a generally T-shaped transverse cross-section with a cylindrical lower portion and a generalLy flat double flange top portion where the inside flange overlies the peripheral edge of the glass-ceramic plate and the outside flange is adapted to overlie the peripheral edge of a stationary supporting structure, the inner surface of the cylindrical portion being provided with a plurality of spaced ledges which underlie the peripheral edge of the reflector pan whereby the glass-ceramic plate, the heat spreader plate, the heating element, and the reflector pan may be snapped past the ledges in the trim ring and held firmly in place thereby, and a spring locking means carried beneath the trim ring and adapted to engage under an adjacent surface of a stationary supporting surface by means of a turning action of the trim ring.

Claim 12

A plate type surface heating unit comprising a thin substantially circular plate of glass-ceramic material, a heat spreader plate bearing against the underside of the glass-ceramic plate, a metal sheathed resistance heating element attached to the underside of the heat spreader plate, a heat reflector pan disposed beneath the heat spreader plate, and a trim ring encircling the unit; the invention comprising means for supporting the heating unit in the trim ring comprising a trim ring with a generally T-shaped transverse cross-section with a cylindrical lower portion and a generalLy flat double flange top portion where the inside flange overlies the peripheral edge of the glass-ceramic plate and the outside flange is adapted to overlie the peripheral edge of a stationary supporting structure, the inner surface of the cylindrical portion being provided with a plurality of spaced ledges which underlie the peripheral edge of the reflector pan whereby the glass-ceramic plate, the heat spreader plate, the heating element, and the reflector pan may be snapped past the ledges in the trim ring and held firmly in place thereby, and a spring locking means carried beneath the trim ring and adapted to engage under an adjacent surface of a stationary supporting surface by means of a turning action of the trim ring.

Claim 13

A plate type surface heating unit as recited in claim 8 with the addition of an adjustable ring member compressed between the ledges of the trim ring and the peripheral edge of the reflector pan to render a tight clamping action.

Claim 14

A plate type heating unit as recited in claim 8 assembled in a supporting panel that is formed with a recess having a center opening in the bottom thereof that is surrounded by a narrow shelf, at least one notch formed in the said shelf, the said heating unit being assembled within the recess of the panel with the outside flange of the trim ring seated upon the edge of the panel that surrounds the said recess, the said spring locking means being adapted to slip through the notch of the shelf and to be compressed against the underside of the shelf when the trim ring is turned in place.

Claim 15

A plate type surface heating unit assembled in a supporting panel as recited in claim 10 where the adjustable ring member is substantially circular in plan view and of sinusoidal form in elevational view.

Claim 16

A combined plate type surface heating unit and supporting panel as recited in claim 11 wherein the said spring locking means is in the form of a narrow width of tubular form of generally oval configuration.