Heating panel assembly with improved electrical connection means

Claim 1

An electrical heating panel assembly comprising a relatively thin and generally planar panel having at least one edge surface and opposite side surfaces which are generally planar and which intersect said edge surface substantially at right angles, said panel carrying a length of electrical resistance heating wire and a pair of cold leads connected with the heating wire and projecting from said edge surface, an insulated multiple-conductor power line assembly extending along and adjacent said panel edge surface and having at least a portion of its outer insulation removed, means connecting said cold leads respectively with a pair of said multiple power line conductors at said outer insulation free portion of said power line, a generally U-shaped multi-purpose closure member having an enlarged parti-cylindrical body portion with a gap approximately equal to the thickness of the panel edge surface, and integral thin generally planar and parallel leg portions adapted respectively to slidably engage said opposite panel side surfaces and in assembled position to cooperatively embrace the heating panel adjacent said edge surface, the parti-cylindrical body portion of the closure member being spaced from the edge surface of the panel and cooperating therewith to define an open end substantially cylindrical tubular enclosure with said edge surface substantially completing said cylindrical configuration, said enclosure being adapted to receive said outer insulation free power line portion, said cold leads, and said connecting means, attachment and abutment means for securing and positioning said closure member in assembly with its legs embracing the panel and with its body defining a substantially cylindrical enclosure in cooperation with the panel edge surface, and means for electrically insulating at least each of the open ends of said cylindrical tubular enclosure formed by said closure member and panel edge surface.