Aroma generating apparatus with electrical heating element
First 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.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved heater assembly for an aroma generating unit is disclosed. A serpentine heater element is disposed between mica insulating layers. The terminals of the heater element are extended through one of the layers. A two piece frame holds the heater element and insulating layers together. Both pieces have outer peripheral wall portions adapted for mating engagement when the frames are attached together. One of the pieces further comprises an inwardly divided flange while the other includes an inner peripheral wall portion which is shorter than the outer wall portion. When the heater assembly is joined together the insulating layers and intermediate heater element are held together between the flange and inner wall portion. A pair of opposite sides of the inner wall are spaced apart from the corresponding sides of the outer wall to form compartments which enclose the extended terminals of the heater element and the terminal ends of external power source leads such as an AC cord and related circuitry. The related circuitry includes a thermostat and rectifier circuit coupled in parallel between one pair of lead and heater terminals and a fuse coupled between the other pair.
59 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An aroma generating apparatus comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An electrical heating apparatus comprising:
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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 and an inner 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. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification