Hand held electric heating device

An electrically powered heating device adapted to be held in the hand of a user, comprising:

• elongated electrical heating means for providing localized heating over various selected heating ranges for a variety of applications, said elongated electrical heating means comprising;
• an elongated substantially rigid tubular sheath;
• an electric heating element in said sheath;
• terminal means at one end of said sheath;
• and,
• collet means at the other end of said sheath for removably receiving and holding a heating tip in a heat exchange relation to said electric heating element;
• an elongated sleeve means of thermally insulative material disposed in spaced relation about and covering a major portion of said heating means for gripping by the user and for thermally insulating the user's hand from said heating means, said collet means being spaced from one end of said sleeve means;
• a body member formed having an enlarged housing portion and a reduced neck portion, said neck portion releasably engaging said terminal means of said heating means, said neck portion having a first end and a second end, said first end formed with said enlarged housing portion providing a thermal barrier between said heating means and said enlarged housing portion, said second end adapted to releasably engage the other end of said sleeve means;
• an electronic control circuit coupled to said heating means for selectively controlling a heating temperature of said heating means over various selected heating ranges;
• and
• said enlarged housing portion formed with a cavity therein for housing said electronic control circuit.