Patent ID: 7228098

Claim:
A fusing assembly comprising: (a) a first member having a first edge, a second edge and an end-to-end axis; (b) a second member having a fusing surface forming a fusing nip with said first member, and said fusing nip being located between said first edge and said second edge of each of said first member and said second member; (c) a heating member extending along said end-to-end axis for heating at least one of said first member and said second member to an image marking material fusing temperature; and (d) a temperature equalizing device for equalizing a temperature of said at least one of said first member and said second member, said temperature equalizing device including plural heat conductors, each heat conductor of said plural heat conductors including a first end and a second end, a body portion between said first end and said second end, said body portion being spaced from said fusing surface of said second member with only said first end and said second end discretely contacting said fusing surface, said first end and said second end of one conductor being arranged in an overlapping manner with said first end and said second of the next conductor, for contacting said at least one of said first member and said second member at a first contact point and at a second contact point respectively for conducting heat from one of said first contact point and said second contact point to the other.