Patent ID: 7800477

Claim:
A thermal protector which is comprised of a bimetal blade, a moving electrical contact, a fixed electrical contact, an electrical resistor, a conductive metal can, a conductive metal plate, and a conductive metal clip wherein the bimetal blade has a fixed end and a moving end, wherein the electrical current flows substantially through the length of the bimetal blade, wherein the moving electrical contact is positional toward the moving end of the bimetal blade, wherein the moving electrical contact has a minimum volume of 0.0003 in 3 , wherein electrical current can flow through the bimetal blade through the moving electrical contact and the fixed electrical contact at temperatures below a preset maximum operating temperature, wherein the bimetal blade bends in a manner whereby the moving electrical contact is pulled away from the fixed electrical contact at temperatures above the preset maximum operating temperature, wherein at temperatures below a reset temperature the bimetal blade bends back into a position where the moving electrical contact is pulled back into electrical association with the fixed electrical contact, wherein the electrical current can only flow through the electrical resistor when the moving electrical contact is separated from the fixed electrical contact, wherein after the moving electrical contact has been pulled away from the fixed electrical contact and at temperatures above the reset temperature the electrical current that can flow through the electrical resistor is electrically in parallel to the electrical current that flows through the bimetal blade, the moving contact and the fixed contact, wherein the electrical resistor generates sufficient heat to keep the bimetal blade above the reset temperature and to maintain the bimetal blade in a bent position wherein the moving electrical contact remains away from the fixed electrical contact during periods of continued application of the electrical current, and wherein the fixed contact is affixed to and in electrical contact with the conductive metal can, wherein the electrical current flows through the conductive metal can, wherein the fixed end of the bimetal blade is affixed to and in electrical contact with the metal plate, wherein the electrical current flows through the conductive metal can, wherein the conductive metal clip is affixed to the conductive metal can and is in electrical contact with the conductive metal can, and wherein the conductive metal clip is in electrical contact with the electrical resistor and wherein the electrical resistor is positioned between the conductive metal clip and the conductive metal plate, wherein the electrical resistor is held in contact with the conductive metal plate by the conductive metal clip, and wherein the electrical resistor is in electrical contact with both the conductive metal can and the conductive metal plate.