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US 8,027,575 B2Granted
Heater contact assembly for volatile liquid dispenser
AssigneeS.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
InventorsSebastian D. Hasik, Richard L. Norwood, John T. Filiczkowski, Joel E. Adair
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed herein are heaters for dispensing volatile air treatment chemicals. Semi-circular electrical contacts are provided in a ring-type heater, and alignment and anchoring features are provided to facilitate use of a spring to accommodate thermal expansion.
Claims10
A heater suitable for use with an air treatment chemical dispenser, the heater comprising:
- a housing having a base and a cover, the base and cover together defining an internal generally ring-shaped cavity and an axial through bore;
- a first arc-shaped electrical contact positioned in the cavity;
- a second arc-shaped electrical contact also positioned in the cavity and having a portion overlapping the first arc-shaped electrical contact, and having another portion which does not overlap the first arc-shaped electrical contact;
- a heating element sandwiched between the first and second electrical contacts at a position where the first and second electrical contacts overlap;
- and
- a spring positioned adjacent at least one of the first and second electrical contacts to bias that contact towards the heating element while also allowing for adjustment if thermal expansion of the housing occurs when the heating element is generating heat;
- wherein the first and second arc-shaped electrical contacts do not overlap over a majority of a plan view area of the first arc-shaped electrical contact.
4 more elements
A heater suitable for use with an air treatment chemical dispenser, the heater comprising:
- a housing having a base and a cover, the base and cover together defining an internal generally ring-shaped cavity and an axial through bore;
- a first arc-shaped electrical contact positioned in the cavity;
- a second arc-shaped electrical contact also positioned in the cavity and having a portion overlapping the first arc-shaped electrical contact, and having another portion which does not overlap the first arc-shaped electrical contact;
- and
- a heating element sandwiched between the first and second electrical contacts at a position where the first and second electrical contacts overlap;
- wherein the first and second arc-shaped electrical contacts do not overlap over a majority of a plan view area of the first arc-shaped electrical contact;
- and
- wherein at least one of the first and second electrical contacts is formed with a portion that bends in an axial direction along the through bore.
5 more elements
A heater suitable for use with an air treatment chemical dispenser, the heater comprising:
- a housing having a base and a cover, the base and cover together defining an internal generally ring-shaped cavity and an axial through bore;
- a first arc-shaped electrical contact positioned in the cavity;
- a second arc-shaped electrical contact also positioned in the cavity and having a portion overlapping the first arc-shaped electrical contact, and having another portion which does not overlap the first arc-shaped electrical contact;
- and
- a heating element sandwiched between the first and second electrical contacts at a position where the first and second electrical contacts overlap;
- wherein the first and second arc-shaped electrical contacts do not overlap over a majority of a plan view area of the first arc-shaped electrical contact;
- wherein the first and second electrical contacts extend on opposite sides of the through bore;
- and
- wherein at least one of the first and second electrical contacts has an alignment notch which interfits with an alignment projection from the housing.
6 more elements
A heater suitable for use with an air treatment chemical dispenser, the heater comprising:
- a housing having a base and a cover, the base and cover together defining an internal generally ring-shaped cavity and an axial through bore;
- a first arc-shaped electrical contact positioned in the cavity;
- a second arc-shaped electrical contact also positioned in the cavity and having a portion overlapping the first arc-shaped electrical contact, and having another portion which does not overlap the first arc-shaped electrical contact;
- and
- a heating element sandwiched between the first and second electrical contacts at a position where the first and second electrical contacts overlap;
- wherein the first and second arc-shaped electrical contacts do not overlap over a majority of a plan view area of the first arc-shaped electrical contact;
- wherein the heating element is a positive temperature coefficient pill-shaped heating element;
- wherein the heating element is comprised of:
- a pill-shaped ceramic portion having first and second opposed facing surfaces;
- a first conductive layer formed on the first facing surface;
- and
- a second conductive layer formed on the second facing surface;
- wherein the heating element is positioned in a radially outwardly projecting alcove of the housing.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.