Patent ID: 7388175

Claim:
An electric heater ( 2 ) adapted for location behind a surface ( 4 ) to be heated and comprising a dish-like support ( 6 ) having therein at least one electric heating element ( 12 ) having a first terminal region ( 12 A) and a second terminal region ( 12 B), and a temperature-limiting device ( 14 ) having a thermally responsive bimetallic means ( 22 ) provided in a housing ( 16 ), the housing ( 16 ) being adapted to be supported at a peripheral region of the heater ( 2 ), at least partially externally of the dish-like support ( 6 ), the thermally responsive bimetallic means ( 22 ) being thermally coupled with the heater ( 2 ), by means of an elongate thermally conductive member ( 26 ) which extends from the housing ( 16 ) at least partly across the heater ( 2 ) and overlying the at least one heating element ( 12 ) to sense heat generated therein by the at least one heating element ( 12 ) and to respond at a predetermined temperature to operate at least one switch means ( 18 ) located in the housing ( 16 ), the housing ( 16 ) having a first side ( 32 ) and a second side ( 38 ) opposite to each other provided with a first electrically conductive element ( 34 ) and a second electrically conductive element ( 40 ) accessible at the sides ( 32 , 38 ) of the housing ( 16 ), externally of the dish-like support ( 6 ), wherein the first and second terminal regions ( 12 A, 12 B) respectively of the at least one electric heating element ( 12 ) are electrically connected to the first electrically conductive element ( 34 ) and the second electrically conductive element ( 40 ).