Aroma generating apparatus with electrical heating element

Claim 1

An aroma generating apparatus comprising: a housing with openings for allowing an air current to pass therethrough; a medium impregnated with aroma producing fluid and removably supported by said housing at least partially within said air current; and electrical heating means adapted for coupling to an external power source and supported by said housing proximate said medium when said medium is supported by said housing, said electrical heating means comprising: a heating element disposed between substantially parallel and spaced apart electrical insulating layers, said heating element comprising at least a pair of terminals electrically extended through at least one of said insulating layers; and a frame which clamps said insulating layers along a perimeter region thereof against said heating element and which cooperates with said at least one of said insulating layers to form a compartment surrounding said electrically extended terminals, said frame comprising: first and second sections, said first section further comprising a peripheral wall member and a flange extending inwardly therefrom for engagement with the periphery of one of said insulating layers; and said second section includes an outer peripheral wall member adapted for mating engagement with said first section peripheral wall member whose sides are shorter than said outer peripheral wall member, said inner peripheral wall member adapted to engage one of said insulating layers whereby said insulating layers and intermediate heating element are pressed together when said first and second sections are joined together, said inner peripheral wall member having at least one side spaced apart from an associated side of said outer wall member to form said compartment.