Conduction heating assembly

Claim 1

A heating assembly for use in heating an instrument, comprising: a heating element adapted to be mounted to the exterior of the instrument to be heated, said heating element including a heat transfer means and a heating means; said heat transfer means having a first surface and a heat transfer surface substantially perpendicular and adjacent to said first surface; said heat transfer surface for engaging an external surface of the instrument; said heat transfer means having an opening formed therethrough extending substantially perpendicularly through said heat transfer surface, said opening also formed adjacent said first surface to receive a mounting means therethrough; said mounting means extending through said heat transfer surface, said mounting means substantially perpendicular to said heat transfer surface for securing said heating element to the instrument; said heating means formed with said heat transfer means, said heating means having a hollow longitudinal portion with the axis thereof substantially parallel to said first surface at the midpoint thereof and substantially parallel to the plane of said heat transfer surface for receiving an electrical heating element; said opening disposed between said first surface and said heating means; and said electrical heating element to provide heat to the heating means.