Patent ID: 8923690

Claim:
An electric resistance heater comprising: a shell having a first open end and a second open end; a heater element assembly comprising: at least a first insulating support segment, and at least a second insulating support segment, a plurality of connectors, said first and second insulating support segments mounted together and in a spaced apart relationship using the plurality of connectors, each connector further comprising one end that is attached to one of the first or second insulating support segments, an opposite end that is attached to the other of the first and second insulating support segments, and a connector body extending between the one and opposite ends, the connector body also mounted to the shell, a resistance ribbon heater element, having opposing edges and opposing faces, mounted between the first and second insulating support segments in a generally sinusoidal pattern, the width of the opposing faces being greater than a width of the opposing edges, a termination assembly comprising an insulator mounted to one of the connectors where ends of the ribbon heater element terminate in the shell and a pair of terminals respectively connected to ends of the ribbon heater element, wherein the first and second insulating support segments supporting the ribbon heater element are mounted to the shell such that one of the opposing edges of the ribbon heater is facing an inside surface of said shell to minimize movement of the ribbon heater element towards a surface of the shell and short circuiting.