Spacer strip, especially for electrical heating mats

Abstract

The present spacer strips are used to form, for example, electrically heated mats, whereby the strips hold the elongated heating elements in a fixed position relative to each other. For this purpose the strips are provided with grooves into which the elements are inserted with a press-fit and preferably with an elastically yielding press-fit. The strips are further provided along the ends with coupling means for connecting several strips in series with each other. The present strips are formed by heating thermoplastic sheet material and stretching the sheet material over a grooving tool plate then the sheet is pressed or sucked into the grooves of the tool plate. After cooling and removal of the grooved sheet, the sheet is cut into strips whereby the cut extends substantially across the grooves. Preferably the strips are also provided with further grooves for receiving strap bars, whereby a plurality of strips may be connected in parallel to each other or whereby the strips may be secured to structural members.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.