Patent ID: 7778582

Claim:
An image heating apparatus, comprising: a tubular fixing film that comes into contact with a toner image borne on a recording material; a heater that comes into contact with an internal surface of said tubular fixing film; a backup member that forms a nip portion to pinch and convey the recording material with said heater through said tubular fixing film, wherein said heater heats the toner image on the recording material in the nip portion through said tubular fixing film; regulation members that regulate displacement of said tubular fixing film, said regulation members being provided at each of portions where end surfaces of said tubular fixing film face said regulation members; a cover member that covers a surface of said tubular fixing film with a gap between the surface of said tubular fixing film and one surface of said cover member; and a frame that accommodates said tubular fixing film, said heater, said backup member, said regulation members and said cover, wherein said cover is held by said regulation members, and is not in contact with said frame, wherein another gap is provided between an opposite surface of the one surface of said cover member and an inside surface of said frame.