An apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a heater comprising a heating element having a region that does not contain a surface heating portion. The apparatus further includes a thermostat positioned in the region. The thermostat includes a contact surface disposed to make contact with an object placed on the surface heating portion. The thermostat includes a switch configured to prevent a current from conducting through the heating element when the contact surface experiences a temperature equal to or greater than a temperature limit. The apparatus further includes a medallion coupled to the thermostat and positioned below a top surface of the heating element, the medallion comprising an aperture shaped to allow the contact surface to extend through the aperture to make contact with the object. The apparatus includes an urging element configured to provide vertical movement of the medallion in response to a downward force applied from the object.

An electric heater includes a. substrate and an inner plane heating element formed on one surface of the substrate. The inner plane heating element includes an inner pattern portion connecting a start point with an end point. The inner pattern portion includes a first track, a second track located outside the first track and spaced part from the first track, a first bridge connecting the first track with one end of the second track, a third track located outside the second track and spaced apart from the second track, and a second bridge connecting the other end of the second track with the third track. A first gap G1 between the first and second tracks is shorter than a second gap G2 between the second and third tracks along a virtual line crossing the first, second and third tracks and closer to the first bridge than the second bridge.

An electric heater includes a. substrate and an inner plane heating element formed on one surface of the substrate. The inner plane heating element includes an inner pattern portion connecting a start point with an end point. The inner pattern portion includes a first track, a second track located outside the first track and spaced part from the first track, a first bridge connecting the first track with one end of the second track, a third track located outside the second track and spaced apart from the second track, and a second bridge connecting the other end of the second track with the third track. A first gap G1 between the first and second tracks is shorter than a second gap G2 between the second and third tracks along a virtual line crossing the first, second and third tracks and closer to the first bridge than the second bridge.

An electric heater includes a substrate and an inner plane heating element formed on one surface of the substrate. The inner plane heating element includes an inner pattern portion connecting a start point with an end point. The inner pattern portion includes a first track, a second track located outside the first track and spaced part from the first track, a first bridge connecting the first track with one end of the second track, a third track located outside the second track and spaced apart from the second track, and a second bridge connecting the other end of the second track with the third track. A first gap G1 between the first and second tracks is shorter than a second gap G2 between the second and third tracks along a virtual line crossing the first, second and third tracks and closer to the first bridge than the second bridge.

An electric heater includes a substrate and an inner plane heating element formed on one surface of the substrate. The inner plane heating element includes an inner pattern portion connecting a start point with an end point. The inner pattern portion includes a first track, a second track located outside the first track and spaced part from the first track, a first bridge connecting the first track with one end of the second track, a third track located outside the second track and spaced apart from the second track, and a second bridge connecting the other end of the second track with the third track. A first gap G1 between the first and second tracks is shorter than a second gap G2 between the second and third tracks along a virtual line crossing the first, second and third tracks and closer to the first bridge than the second bridge.

An embodiment of an electric heating element is disclosed, including an electrically resistive inner heating element, an electrically resistive outer heating element, and a thermostat positioned underneath a centrally-positioned medallion and along a cold leg of the inner heating element. The thermostat is configured to selectively allow electrical current to be delivered to the inner heating element while maximum electrical current, for example, continues to be provided to the outer heating element. The thermostat cycles the electrical current on and off when detecting maximum and minimum desired temperatures radiated from the electric heating element. The inner heating element has a pair of cold legs that extend parallel to a pair of cold legs of the outer heating element, some or all of which may be supported by a terminal bracket.

A cooktop appliance or electric resistance heating coil assembly, as provided herein, may include a shroud cover, a thermostat, and a heat transfer disk. The shroud cover may define an axial hole. The thermostat may be positioned radially inward from the shroud cover. A continuous circumferential thermal break may be defined as a radial gap within the axial hole between the thermostat and the shroud cover. The heat transfer disk may be attached to the thermostat at the distal end of the thermostat and extend radially outward above the shroud cover.

A cooktop appliance or electric resistance heating coil assembly, as provided herein, may include a shroud cover, a thermostat, and a heat transfer disk. The shroud cover may define an axial hole. The thermostat may be positioned radially inward from the shroud cover. A continuous circumferential thermal break may be defined as a radial gap within the axial hole between the thermostat and the shroud cover. The heat transfer disk may be attached to the thermostat at the distal end of the thermostat and extend radially outward above the shroud cover.

A cooktop appliance or heating coil assembly may include a heating element, a shroud cover, a thermostat, and a spring bracket. The shroud cover may be disposed within the heating element. The shroud cover may include a top wall defining an upper surface and a lower surface. The thermostat may extend vertically between a distal end and an interior end below the distal end. The distal end may be disposed against the shroud cover at the lower surface. The thermostat may be connected in series between the first and second coil sections of the spiral wound sheathed heating element. The spring bracket may be disposed against the shroud cover at the lower surface and bias the shroud cover upward.

A cooktop appliance or heating coil assembly may include a heating element, a shroud cover, a thermostat, and a spring bracket. The shroud cover may be disposed within the heating element. The shroud cover may include a top wall defining an upper surface and a lower surface. The thermostat may extend vertically between a distal end and an interior end below the distal end. The distal end may be disposed against the shroud cover at the lower surface. The thermostat may be connected in series between the first and second coil sections of the spiral wound sheathed heating element. The spring bracket may be disposed against the shroud cover at the lower surface and bias the shroud cover upward.