Electric heating unit for heating container space to variable temperature with constant electric current

A heater arrangement comprising a container having a base with a planar heat conducting surface of predetermined shape arranged in a recess formed therein, and an apparatus for heating the contents of said container, said apparatus comprising:

• a housing having an opening;
• a plug-in electrical cord for receiving an electrical current, said cord having an end arranged in said opening in said housing;
• means electrically coupled to said cord for transforming said electrical current into heat radiation, said transforming means comprising a planar heat radiating surface having a shape substantially similar to said predetermined shape which is supported by said housing in a horizontal plane;
• means for supporting said container in a stable position whereat said heat conducting surface overlies said heat radiating surface, said supporting means comprising an annular support surface arranged substantially parallel to said heat radiating surface, said annular support surface supporting said container along a contour of contact and having an aperture of diameter such that said planar heat radiating surface passes freely there through;
• and
• first adjustment means located on a radially outer periphery of said container supporting means and second adjustment means located on said housing, said first and second adjustment means being coupled to adjustably support said container supporting means in any one of a plurality of positions, each of said plurality of positions being linearly displaced in a direction perpendicular to said planar heat radiating surface relative to the next preceding one of said plurality of positions and rotationally displaced about an axis perpendicular to said planar heat radiating surface relative to said next preceding one of said plurality of positions, at least one of said plurality of positions of said container supporting means being such that said annular support surface lies below said heat radiating surface and said heat radiating surface contacts said heat conducting surface when said container is supported by said annular support surface.

An electric heating appliance comprising:

• a housing having an opening;
• a plug-in electrical cord for receiving an electrical current, said cord having an end arranged in said opening in said housing;
• means electrically coupled to said cord for radiating heat from a planar heat radiating surface thereof in response to receipt of said electrical current, said heat radiating means being supported by said housing;
• means for supporting a container comprising an annular support surface having an aperture of diameter such that said planar heat radiating surface passes freely there through;
• and
• first adjustment means located on a radially outer periphery of said container supporting means and second adjustment means located on said housing, said first and second adjustment means being coupled to adjustably support said container supporting means in any one of a plurality of successive positions which are relatively displaced with respect to each other in a first direction, a first position of said plurality of successive positions being such that said heat radiating surface lies within said aperture and is co-planar with said annular support surface of said container supporting means, and a second position of said plurality of successive positions being such that said heat radiating surface lies above said annular support surface.