Patent US3767897A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3767897A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Plug-in surface heating unit with a terminal block mounting
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1972-12-04
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Granted: 1973-10-23
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Expires: 1992-12-04
Abstract
Abstract A plug-in electric surface heating unit for use in the cooktop of an electric range. The heating unit is a metal sheathed electrical resistance heating element in spiral form with radial, outwardly directed terminal portions in closed side-by-side relation. The invention relates to a fixed mounting bracket and a movable terminal block combination that is capable of limited relative vertical movement therebetween by virtue of a flexible coupling spring joining the two members.
Inventors
- 👤 R Prucha
- 👤 T Bowling
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 05:42
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24C; F24C15/00; F24C15/10; F24C15/102; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S439/00; Y10S439/928
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
236 words
A plug-in surface heating unit comprising a metal sheathed electric heating element having an intermediate heat-generating portion providing a generally planar heating surface supported in a generally horizontal position for supporting a cooking utensil to be heated thereby, the heating element having terminal end portions for making electrical connections therewith, said terminal end portions being disposed beneath said heating surface and projecting radially outward in side-by-side relation beyond the periphery of said heating surface, a separate insulating terminal block having electrical sockets for receiving the terminal end portions of the heAting element, a stationary mounting bracket adapted to be fixed to a supporting structure and flexibly coupled to the terminal block so that the terminal block is self-aligning during insertion and removal of the terminal end portions of the heating element from the said sockets, said mounting bracket including a downwardly inclined ramp located beneath the entrance to the sockets of the terminal block, and two forwardly extending grounding arms at the sides of the terminal block cooperating with the said inclined ramp to assist in guiding the terminal end portions of the heating element into the sockets of the terminal block, said flexible coupling including a coupling spring attached to the terminal block and to the mounting bracket to allow relative movement therebetween, and a lost motion fastening means joining the terminal block to the mounting bracket to restrict the amount of relative movement there-between.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
236 words
A plug-in surface heating unit comprising a metal sheathed electric heating element having an intermediate heat-generating portion providing a generally planar heating surface supported in a generally horizontal position for supporting a cooking utensil to be heated thereby, the heating element having terminal end portions for making electrical connections therewith, said terminal end portions being disposed beneath said heating surface and projecting radially outward in side-by-side relation beyond the periphery of said heating surface, a separate insulating terminal block having electrical sockets for receiving the terminal end portions of the heAting element, a stationary mounting bracket adapted to be fixed to a supporting structure and flexibly coupled to the terminal block so that the terminal block is self-aligning during insertion and removal of the terminal end portions of the heating element from the said sockets, said mounting bracket including a downwardly inclined ramp located beneath the entrance to the sockets of the terminal block, and two forwardly extending grounding arms at the sides of the terminal block cooperating with the said inclined ramp to assist in guiding the terminal end portions of the heating element into the sockets of the terminal block, said flexible coupling including a coupling spring attached to the terminal block and to the mounting bracket to allow relative movement therebetween, and a lost motion fastening means joining the terminal block to the mounting bracket to restrict the amount of relative movement there-between.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
A plug-in surface heating unit as recited in claim 1 wherein said coupling spring is a flat strip of sheet metal that is attached at one end to the bottom of the terminal block by the said fastening means and extends over the said inclined ramp and is attached at its opposite end to the ramp.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
105 words
A plug-in surface heating unit as recited in claim 1 wherein the said lost motion fastening means comprises a through bolt that extends through both the coupling spring, the terminal block and the mounting bracket, an elongated slot formed in the mounting bracket, and a sleeve mounted on the bolt and bearing against the terminal block and positioned within the slot of the bracket, and a lock nut holding the sleeve on the bolt so that when the terminal end portions of the heating element move with respect to the mating sockets in the terminal block the block may shift automatically to accommodate the movement.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
75 words
A plug-in surface heating unit as recited in claim 3 wherein said coupling spring is a flat strip of sheet metal with one end bearing against the underside of the terminal block and held therewith by the said through bolt, while the intermediate portion of the said spring is substantially coextensive with the top surface of the said inclined ramp and the other end of the said spring grips the leading edge of the ramp.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
216 words
A plug-in surface heating unit comprising a metal sheathed electrical resistance heating element in spiral form with terminal portions generally beneath the heating unit and extending radially outwardly therefrom in side-by-side relation, a separate insulating terminal block having sockets for receiving the terminal portions therein; the invention comprising a stationary mounting bracket adapted to be fixed to a supporting structure and for loosely supporting the terminal block so that the block is self-aligning during insertion and removal of the terminal portions from the sockets of the block, said mounting bracket encompassing at least a portion of the top and the opposite side walls of the block as well as having a downwardly inclined ramp located beneath the entrance to the sockets and two forwardly extending grounding arms at the sides of the block for guiding the coupling movement of the terminal portions with respect to the sockets of the block, and a coupling spring attached between the terminal block and the mounting bracket to allow limited relative vertical movement therebetween, and fastening means vertically disposed between the terminal block and the mounting bracket and fixed with respect to the block, the mounting bracket including lost motion restraining means cooperating with the said fastening means to restrict the relative vertical movement between the block and the bracket.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
216 words
A plug-in surface heating unit comprising a metal sheathed electrical resistance heating element in spiral form with terminal portions generally beneath the heating unit and extending radially outwardly therefrom in side-by-side relation, a separate insulating terminal block having sockets for receiving the terminal portions therein; the invention comprising a stationary mounting bracket adapted to be fixed to a supporting structure and for loosely supporting the terminal block so that the block is self-aligning during insertion and removal of the terminal portions from the sockets of the block, said mounting bracket encompassing at least a portion of the top and the opposite side walls of the block as well as having a downwardly inclined ramp located beneath the entrance to the sockets and two forwardly extending grounding arms at the sides of the block for guiding the coupling movement of the terminal portions with respect to the sockets of the block, and a coupling spring attached between the terminal block and the mounting bracket to allow limited relative vertical movement therebetween, and fastening means vertically disposed between the terminal block and the mounting bracket and fixed with respect to the block, the mounting bracket including lost motion restraining means cooperating with the said fastening means to restrict the relative vertical movement between the block and the bracket.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
A plug-in surface heating unit as recited in claim 5 wherein the said coupling spring is a flat strip of sheet material that is attached at one end to the underside of the terminal block by the said fastening means, said strip extending over the said inclined ramp and being attached thereto.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
78 words
The plug-in surface heating unit as rEcited in claim 5 wherein the said fastening means comprises a through bolt that extends up through both the coupling spring, the terminal block, and the mounting bracket, said lost motion restraining means comprising an elongated slot formed in the mounting bracket for receiving the bolt loosely therein, and a spacer member seated in the slot and on the block and held in place by a nut tightened down on the bolt.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-22 | 1977-04-23 | 1977-10-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-22 | 1981-04-23 | 1981-10-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-22 | 1985-04-23 | 1985-10-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |