Patent ID: 7361868

Claim:
An electric heating device for a motor vehicle, comprising: a closed frame composed of longitudinal members and cross members, a plurality of heating elements arranged in an array within the frame, wherein the heating elements comprise electrically conductive plastic layers which are arranged between contact plates and have a PTC effect, a plurality of heat-conducting secondary surface elements over which air can flow, and at least one electrically conductive spring element, wherein the heating elements and the secondary surface elements are arranged one next to the other in an alternating fashion and are clamped to one another by the longitudinal members and wherein the spring element is arranged in place of one of said secondary surface elements at a position in the central region of the array, and wherein at least one of the heating elements comprises an electrically conductive plastic layer which has been injection molded between a first contact plate and a second contact plate such that a width of the electrically conductive plastic layer extends beyond a width of the first and second contact plates to form a bead which partially encapsulates end regions of the first and second contact plates, thereby clamping the first and second contact plates together.