US3916149A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electric heater element connection assembly
Assignee: Electro Therm Inc
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Filing: 1975-01-15
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Granted: 1975-10-28
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Expires: 1995-01-15
Abstract
Abstract The embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is directed to an electric heater element connection assembly which has a mounting flange for receiving rod-like end terminals of an electric heating unit. An insulating block member is mounted on the flange and the end terminals of the heating unit pass therethrough. The block member has an upstanding separating rib between the terminals, and resilient connection clips are lockingly engaged on the end terminals on opposite sides of the rib. Each clip has outwardly facing female terminal portions provided with gripping means defining a receptacle to receive and grip an inwardly-directed current supply wire. An insulating protective cover is secured over the block member and has apertures located in registry with the female terminal portions so that the current supply wire can be inserted therethrough. The cover has an opening through which a tool can be inserted for releasing the gripping action of the clip to allow the current supply wire to be disengaged.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles A Skinner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 20:59
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24H; F24H9/00; F24H9/18; F24H9/1809; F24H9/1818; H; H01; H01R; H01R4/00; H01R4/28; H01R4/48; H05; H05B; H05B3/00; H05B3/02; H05B3/06; H01R4/4809; H01R4/48185; H01R4/4819; H01R4/4826; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49082; Y10T29/49101
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
An electric heating element having a mounting flange and a pair of rod-like end terminals rigidly secured in and projecting from said mounting flange, an insulating block member engaged on said flange and having spaced apertures through which said rodlike end terminals extend, and respective conductive connection clips, each clip having at one end portion thereof an opening receiving a respective rod-like end terminal and spring jaws at opposite sides of the opening grippingly engaging the end terminal and having an opposite end portion defining an outwardly facing female terminal element having a pair of opposing cooperating inwardly converging gripping arms defining a yieldable receptacle to receive an inwardly directed supply wire, said opposing gripping arms being formed to grippingly engage and establish electrical contact with said inwardly directed supply wire and to resist withdrawal of said supply wire.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
An electric heating element having a mounting flange and a pair of rod-like end terminals rigidly secured in and projecting from said mounting flange, an insulating block member engaged on said flange and having spaced apertures through which said rodlike end terminals extend, and respective conductive connection clips, each clip having at one end portion thereof an opening receiving a respective rod-like end terminal and spring jaws at opposite sides of the opening grippingly engaging the end terminal and having an opposite end portion defining an outwardly facing female terminal element having a pair of opposing cooperating inwardly converging gripping arms defining a yieldable receptacle to receive an inwardly directed supply wire, said opposing gripping arms being formed to grippingly engage and establish electrical contact with said inwardly directed supply wire and to resist withdrawal of said supply wire.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The heating element assembly of claim 1, and wherein said female terminal element has a flexible free end, and means to release the gripping arms responsive to flexure of said free end.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The heating element assembly of claim 1, and wherein said female terminal element has a flexible free end and one of the gripping arms is formed as part of said free end, and the other gripping arm is located opposite said one gripping arm and is substantially unyielding.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The heating element assembly of claim 3, and wherein said unyielding gripping arm is concave to substantially conform with the contour of the inwardly directed supply wire.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
The heating element assembly of claim 1, and wherein one of the pair of gripping arms is concavely formed to conformably receive the inwardly directed supply wire and the other gripping arm is resilient and has a transversely extending gripping end edge to hold the supply wire against the concavely formed arm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The heating element assembly of claim 5, and wherein said other gripping arm is provided with a free end portion which can be engaged to flex said other gripping arm in a direction to release the associated supply wire.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The heating element assembly of claim 1, and an insulating cover cap having respective apertures registering with said pairs of gripping arms for receiving said respective inwardly directed supply wires inserted between the pairs of gripping arms.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The heating element assembly of claim 7, and wherein said block member is formed with an upstanding separator rib extending between said first-named apertures, said cover cap being formed with a slot to comformably receive said separator rib.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
The heating element assembly of claim 8, and wherein the female terminal elements have resilient free end portions formed to release the supply wires responsive to flexure, and wherein said cover cap is formed with apertures located adjacent said free end portions for at times receiviNg a releasing tool for flexing said free end portions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The heating element assembly of claim 9, and wherein said block member is formed with positioning means receiving at least one of each pair of gripping arms.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
The heating element assembly of claim 1, and wherein said block member is formed with an upstanding separator rib extending between said first-named apertures, said connection clips being disposed on opposite sides of the separator rib with their inner longitudinal edges located adjacent the separator rib.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
128 words
An electric heating element having a mounting flange and a pair of rod-like end terminals rigidly secured in and projecting from said mounting flange, an insulating block member engaged on said flange and having spaced apertures through which said rod-like end terminals extend, and respective conductive connection clips, each clip having at one end portion thereof opening means receiving a respective rod-like end terminal and first spring means adjacent said opening for grippingly engaging the end terminal and having an opposite end portion defining an outwardly facing female portion having second spring means defining a yieldable receptacle to receive an inwardly directed current supply wire for grippingly engaging and establishing electrical contact with said inwardly directed current supply wire and to resist withdrawal of said current supply wire.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
128 words
An electric heating element having a mounting flange and a pair of rod-like end terminals rigidly secured in and projecting from said mounting flange, an insulating block member engaged on said flange and having spaced apertures through which said rod-like end terminals extend, and respective conductive connection clips, each clip having at one end portion thereof opening means receiving a respective rod-like end terminal and first spring means adjacent said opening for grippingly engaging the end terminal and having an opposite end portion defining an outwardly facing female portion having second spring means defining a yieldable receptacle to receive an inwardly directed current supply wire for grippingly engaging and establishing electrical contact with said inwardly directed current supply wire and to resist withdrawal of said current supply wire.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
74 words
An electric heating element as set forth in claim 12 wherein said one end portion has a first flat run leading into a bight portion which, in turn, leads into a second flat run spaced from said first flat run, and said opening means is formed by a pair of spaced-apart aligned apertures formed in said first and second flat runs for providing two discrete areas of electrical contact with said rod-like end terminal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
55 words
An electrical heating element as set forth in claim 13 wherein said first flat run has a turned-up portion at said opposite end thereof, said turned-up portion having a second bight portion formed therein and extending downwardly toward said first flat run to form said second spring means for releasably securing said current supply wire.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
65 words
An electric heating element as set forth in claim 13 wherein said opposite end portion has an opening formed in said turned-up portion and wherein said first flat run has a concave portion in alignment with said opening, said concave portion having a radius substantially equal to the radius of said current supply line to provide maximum surface area contact with said current supply line.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
119 words
An electric heating element having a mounting flange and a pair of rod-like end terminals rigidly secured to and projecting from said mounting flange, an insulating block member engaged on said flange and having spaced apertures through which said rod-like end terminals extend, and respective conductive connection clips, each clip having at one end portion thereof means for connecting a respective one of said rod-like end terminal thereto, and having an opposite end portion defining an outwardly facing female terminal element having spring means defining a yieldable receptacle to receive an inwardly directed current supply wire for grippingly engaging and establishing electrical contact with said inwardly directed current supply wire and to restrict withdrawal of said current supply wire.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
119 words
An electric heating element having a mounting flange and a pair of rod-like end terminals rigidly secured to and projecting from said mounting flange, an insulating block member engaged on said flange and having spaced apertures through which said rod-like end terminals extend, and respective conductive connection clips, each clip having at one end portion thereof means for connecting a respective one of said rod-like end terminal thereto, and having an opposite end portion defining an outwardly facing female terminal element having spring means defining a yieldable receptacle to receive an inwardly directed current supply wire for grippingly engaging and establishing electrical contact with said inwardly directed current supply wire and to restrict withdrawal of said current supply wire.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
An electric heating element as set forth in claim 16 wherein said spring means is formed by a pair of spaced-apart resilient portions formed integral with said opposite end and arranged to define said outwardly facing female end terminal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
51 words
An electric heating element as set forth in claim 17 wherein one of said pair of spaced-apart resilient portions is formed from a struck-out portion formed within said opposite end and wherein the other of said pair of spaced-apart resilient portions is formed by the terminating edge of said opposite end.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
45 words
An electric heating element as set forth in claim 18 further including trough means formed along saId clip means and terminating immediately adjacent said one of said pair of spaced-apart resilient portions to form a gradually tapering entrance between said pair of spaced-apart resilient portions.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
170 words
An electric heating element comprising a mounting flange; a pair of rod-like end terminals rigidly secured to and projecting from said mounting flange; insulating block means for mounting on and coupling to said flange and said pair of rod-like end terminals, said block means defining aperature means into and through which said rod-like terminals are inwardly received, and a pair of conductive connection clips on said block means, each of said clips having one end portion defining means for connection with an inwardly directed current supply terminal and another end portion defining means for connection with one of said rod-like end terminals, and wherein at least one of said means for connection of said clip is a yieldable receptacle for receiving its terminal as the terminal is inwardly directed and for grippingly engaging and establishing electrical contact with said terminal and for restricting withdrawal of said terminal, whereby the terminal is both electrically and mechanically connected to the clip and also thereby mechanically secured to the clip and block means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
170 words
An electric heating element comprising a mounting flange; a pair of rod-like end terminals rigidly secured to and projecting from said mounting flange; insulating block means for mounting on and coupling to said flange and said pair of rod-like end terminals, said block means defining aperature means into and through which said rod-like terminals are inwardly received, and a pair of conductive connection clips on said block means, each of said clips having one end portion defining means for connection with an inwardly directed current supply terminal and another end portion defining means for connection with one of said rod-like end terminals, and wherein at least one of said means for connection of said clip is a yieldable receptacle for receiving its terminal as the terminal is inwardly directed and for grippingly engaging and establishing electrical contact with said terminal and for restricting withdrawal of said terminal, whereby the terminal is both electrically and mechanically connected to the clip and also thereby mechanically secured to the clip and block means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-27 | 1979-04-28 | 1979-10-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-27 | 1983-04-28 | 1983-10-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-27 | 1987-04-28 | 1987-10-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |