Extensible tape heater

Claim 1

A tape heater for securing in close proximity to a surface including: a. an elongated flexible resistance wire heating element; b. heat transmitting extendable cover means generally coextensive with said element, said cover means being of electrically insulative material, wherein said resistance wire heating element is a continuous wire that extends from one end of said cover means to the other end and then doubles back on itself to said one end of said cover means wherein; c. substantially nonresistive wire means connected about one end of said element; d. spring means surrounding said nonresistive wire means and abutting said cover means at one of its ends, wherein said cover means comprises a plurality of ceramic beads strung in end to end relation on said wire whereby compression of said spring means enables said beads to spread apart so that the heater may be secured in close proximity to a surface of varying diameter and configuration without changing the length of said element and without removing any of said beads; e. stop means positioned on said nonresistive wire means in spaced relation to the end of said cover means which abuts one end of said spring means; f. said spring means having its other end in abutting relationship with said stop means; and g. flexible sleeve means extending over said spring means and fastened about said cover means.