US Patent 7388175 Temperature-limiting device

A temperature-limiting device (14) is provided for an electric heater (2), the heater (2) being located behind a heatable surface (4) and comprising a dish-like support (6) having therein at least one electric heating element (12) having first and second terminal regions (12A, 12B). The device comprises thermally responsive bimetallic means (22) provided in a housing (16). The housing (16) is supported at a peripheral region of the heater (2), at least partially externally of the support (6). The bimetallic means (22) is thermally coupled with the heater (2) to sense heat generated therein by the heating element (12) and to respond at a predetermined temperature to operate at least one switch means (18) located in the housing (16). The housing (16) has first and second sides (32, 38) opposite each other provided with first and second electrically conductive elements (34, 40) accessible at the sides of the housing (16), externally of the dish-like support (6), for electrical connection to the terminal regions (12A, 12B) of the heating element (12).