Modular panel heater having improved holder devices

A modular panel heater comprising:

• a panel,
• a cylindrical heating element;
• and
• a plurality of members for retaining said heating element in a predetermined position with respect to said panel, said retaining members being fixed to said panel and defining a plurality of parallel equally-spaced rows separated by a first distance, each of said rows having equally-spaced retaining members separated by a second distance, the first retaining members of respective alternate rows defining a first line and the first retaining members of rows between said alternate rows defining a second line, said second line being parallel to said first line and offset from said first line by a predetermined distance wherein each of the retaining members comprises:
• a base;
• means for forming a plurality of pairs of axially symmetrical recesses extending from said base;
• and
• a plurality of finger members extending upward from said base and distributed around said base in an axially symmetrical fashion for retaining said cylindrical heating element in a selected one of said pairs.

A panel heater system module comprising:

• a heating element;
• a plurality of members for retaining said heating element, each defining two perpendicular axes along which said heating element is capable of being held wherein each of said retaining members comprises:
• a base;
• means for forming a plurality of pairs of axially symmetrical recesses extending from said base;
• and
• a plurality of finger members extending upward from said base and distributed around said base in an axially symmetrical fashion for retaining said cylindrical heating element in a selected one of said pairs;
• and
• a panel, each of said retaining members being fixed to said panel and having four nearest neighboring retaining members, said nearest neighboring retaining members being equidistant from said each retaining member and each of said neighboring retaining members being equidistant from the two axes associated with said each retaining member.