A breaker (1) is provided with: a fixed piece (2) which has a fixed contact; a movable piece which has a movable contact at a front end portion and pushes the movable contact against the fixed contact to bring same into contact with each other; a thermally responsive element that deforms in accordance with a change in temperature and thereby actuates the movable piece so that the movable contact separates from the fixed contact; and a case body (71) of a resin case that accommodates the fixed piece (2), the movable piece, and the thermally responsive element. The case body (71) has recess portions (75, 77) which are recessed from a peripheral portion, and the fixed piece (2) has a withdrawal portion (25) that withdraws from the recess portions (75, 77) of the case body (71) by a predetermined first distance (D1) or more, and is embedded in the case body (71).

In a temperature-dependent switch having a switching mechanism that has a movable contact part which cooperates with a stationary counter contact and is moved by a spring part to which the movable contact part is electrically conductively connected, the switching mechanism produces an electrically conductive connection between the stationary counter contact and a second counter contact in a temperature-dependent manner. The switch is provided with an arc-shielding plate, which has no mechanical function, is arranged on an upper surface of the spring part and covers sections thereof.

A temperature-dependent switch comprising a switch housing, a temperature-dependent switching mechanism, and a spacer element. The temperature-dependent switching mechanism is arranged in the switch housing and comprises a movable contact part, a bimetal element and a spring element. The switching mechanism is configured to switch between a low-temperature state, in which an electrical connection is established between first and second electrical terminals, and a high-temperature state, in which the electrical connection between the first and second electrical terminals is interrupted. The spacer element is arranged inside the switch housing between a lower part and a cover part. At least one section of the spring element is arranged between the spacer element and the switch housing and is fixed in position. At least one section of the bimetal element is arranged between the spring element and the spacer element and is supported on the spacer element in the high-temperature state.

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 temperature-dependent switch, including a switching mechanism unit, and a switching mechanism housing including a first base body composed of electrically conductive material. The temperature-dependent switch further includes a switch housing having a second base body composed of electrically insulating material, in which the switching mechanism housing is arranged, wherein the switch housing includes a stationary contact part. The first base body of the switching mechanism housing surrounds the switching mechanism unit from a first housing side, a second housing side opposite to the first housing side, and a housing circumferential side extending between and transversely to the first and the second housing sides. The first housing side includes an opening through which a movable contact part of the switching mechanism unit interacts with the stationary contact part. The second base body surrounds the first housing side and the circumferential housing side of the switching mechanism housing.

A temperature-dependent switch, comprising a temperature-dependent switching mechanism having a switching mechanism unit and a switching mechanism housing, in which the switching mechanism unit is arranged and held captively therein. Furthermore, the switch comprises a switch housing, in which the switching mechanism housing is arranged and held captively therein.