Cooktop and heating element therefor

摘要

The invention is a cooktop having a heating element that is locked in place and held in place by a biasing force to eliminate the rattle of the heating element during normal use and the dislodgement of the heating element during shipping. The heating element comprises a heating coil which is supported on a spider having multiple legs. The heating coils has two terminals which are connected to a receptacle block in the cooktop. The spider has a nose formed on the end of the legs. A biasing device is positioned between the cooktop and the heating coil, preferably a spring mounted to the electrical terminals and abutting the cooktop. The biasing device biases the nose of the spider into a keyway formed in the cooktop to wedge the nose into a locking position relative to the cooktop.