AU2017201751B2

AU2017201751B2 - Connecting bridge with spacer

Info

Publication number: AU2017201751B2
Application number: AU2017201751A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Christian Roth
Original assignee: V-Zug AG
Current assignee: V-Zug AG
Priority date: 2016-03-15
Filing date: 2017-03-15
Publication date: 2022-03-17
Anticipated expiration: 2037-03-15
Also published as: EP3025617A2; EP3025617A3; SI3025617T1; EP3025617B1; AU2017201751A1; PL3025617T3; DK3025617T3

Abstract

The invention relates to a combination of kitchen devices (3, 4), which are insertable into a cut-out of a 5 work surface (1) and at least a connecting bar (6), and to a method for mounting the combination. During mounting, in a first step, a first kitchen device (3) and the connecting bar (6) are inserted into the cut-out (2). In a second step, a second kitchen device (4) is inserted 10 into the remaining cut-out in such a way that the connecting bar (6) is arranged between the two kitchen devices (3, 4) and seals the slit (12) forming between the two kitchen devices (3, 4). Spacers (9, 11) are arranged at the connecting bar (6) and the second kitchen 15 device (4), such that the second kitchen device (4) can be inserted into the cut-out in a simple way during the insertion process and is pressed against the connecting bar (6) by compression elements during the insertion process, such that a good sealing effect is generated by 20 the sealing bar (7). (Fig. 4a) 1/4 ---- 1 7 5 Fig. 1 /5 3c 6 -3c Fig. 2 3a -- ____ ____ ____ __--------__ 10 7 56 3 0 0 0 0 2 ---- Fig. 3a 4 .....----3 Fig. 3b 15 ---- ---13 5_ 12 ---- < 7 14 -----7 -------- < 5 Fig.4a 10 ---- Fig. 4b

Description

1/4

- - 17

5

Fig. 1

/5

3c

6

-3c Fig. 2 3a --

____ ____ ____ __--------__ 10

7 56 3

0 0 0 0

2 ---- Fig. 3a

4 .....----3 Fig. 3b

---- --- 13

5_ 12 ----<7 14 -----7-------- < 5

Fig.4a 10 ---- Fig. 4b

Australian Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARDPATENT

Invention Title Connecting bridge with spacer

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:

-la

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a combination of kitchen devices, which are insertable into a work surface, particularly cooktops or sinks, as well as to a method for mounting such a combination.

Background

It is known how to arrange two neighbouring rectangular kitchen devices in a cut-out of a work surface. The kitchen devices have edge flanges serving for support on the work surface. A connecting bar is arranged between the two kitchen devices, which shall seal the slit formed between the two mutually contacting edge flanges, such that no liquids can enter the base of the work surface. In order to make possible a good sealing effect, the two kitchen devices and the connecting bar must be fastened to one another by compression elements. Due to the fastening of the kitchen devices in the work surface, which is required for the sealing effect, mounting of the combination can only be carried out in a difficult way.

Description of the Invention

Embodiments of the invention aim to provide a combination of the type disclosed herein, which can be mounted without any major difficulties. It is also an aim to provide a method by means of which a combination of the type disclosed herein can be mounted without any major difficulties. According to the present invention there is provided a combination of kitchen devices, which are insertable into a cut-out of a work surface, particularly cooktops or sinks, and at least a connecting bar, wherein the insertable kitchen devices and the connecting bar are adapted such that the connecting bar is arranged between two of the insertable kitchen devices and a lateral bar surface of the connecting bar borders a lateral device surface of one of the insertable kitchen devices in inserted state, at least one of the kitchen devices has at least a compression element which is suitable to press the kitchen devices against the connecting bar in the inserted state, wherein the lateral bar surface has a first spacer and the lateral device surface has a second spacer which are arranged and adapted such that the first spacer and the second spacer are in mutual contact at least during a part of an insertion process, in order to maintain a mutual distance between the connecting bar and the one of the kitchen devices, and that the first spacer and the second spacer are arranged vertically one over the other in the inserted state, such that the mutual distance between the connecting bar and the one of the kitchen devices is reduced as compared to the insertion process. According to this, the combination comprises kitchen devices which are insertable into a work surface, i.e. at least two, and at least a connecting bar, wherein cooktops or sinks are particularly conceivable as kitchen devices. The kitchen devices and the connecting bar are adapted such that the connecting bar can be arranged between two of the insertable kitchen devices. A lateral bar surface of the connecting bar borders the lateral device surface of one of the insertable kitchen devices in inserted state. The term "borders" is understood in such a way that the two lateral surfaces are oriented towards one another and do not necessarily have to be in mutual contact.

Furthermore, at least one of the kitchen devices has a compression element, particularly a leaf spring, which is suitable to press the kitchen devices against the connecting bar in the inserted state, in order to create a good sealing effect when the kitchen devices meet at the connecting bar. The lateral bar surface has a first spacer and the lateral device surface has a second spacer, which are arranged and adapted such that the first spacer and the second spacer are in mutual contact at least during a part of the insertion process. In this way, a mutual distance between the connecting bar and the one of the kitchen devices is maintained. However, the spacers are arranged vertically one over the other in the inserted state, such that the mutual distance between the connecting bar and the one of the kitchen devices is reduced as compared to the insertion process. The "spacer" may be formed in arbitrary ways, as long as said mutual distance between the connecting bar and the one of the kitchen devices can be created during the insertion process. For example, the spacer may be implemented by a projection of a lateral surface, which was created by a deformation of the lateral surface. Particularly, it also possible to arrange an additional and detachable component on a lateral surface, which creates the required distance. In the same way, the lateral bar surface may e.g. itself serve as first spacer, wherein the lateral bar surface extends in vertical direction only along a limited height, such that the second spacer comes to lie vertically below the lateral bar surface in the inserted state.

Preferably, a section, which is horizontally recessed with respect to the second spacer, is arranged above the second spacer, inside which the first spacer comes to lie. The described arrangement of the spacers enables a simplified mounting of the combination for the user. After a first kitchen device and the connecting bar have already been inserted into the cut-out of the work surface, the kitchen device provided with the second spacer can be inserted in a simple way into the remaining cut-out. By way of the spacers, the kitchen devices are not yet or only partially pressed against a sealing position at the connecting bar during insertion, but they are kept at a distance in a controlled way. The kitchen devices only move together in the inserted state while tension of the compression elements is at least partially released. Advantageously, they remain however slightly tensioned, such that the required sealing effect between the two kitchen devices at the connecting bar only takes place at the end of the insertion process. Preferably, the first and/or the second spacer are formed as a plurality of nubs. A nub is understood as a projection, particularly a bump like elevation. In a further embodiment, the first and/or the second spacer may be formed as an elongated bar, particularly which extends along the entire length of the lateral bar surface and/or the lateral device surface. The connecting bar may preferably be formed as extruded section. Further method steps may be carried out before or after the extrusion process for further processing the extruded section. The extrusion process is particularly suitable if the first and/or the second spacer is/are formed as elongated bar. In this way, the connecting bar can be manufactured in an easy way. In another embodiment, one of the kitchen devices has an edge flange, which is orientable towards the connecting bar in the inserted state. Particularly, this edge flange may be formed in a suitable way for supporting the kitchen device on the connecting bar. In this case, the connecting bar advantageously has a sealing bar on an upper side, which may particularly serve to seal the slit between two neighbouring kitchen devices. The spacers are arranged and adapted such that the at least one edge flange and the sealing bar are at a non-contact distance from one another during the insertion process and the at least one edge flange is pressed against the sealing bar by the compression elements in the inserted state. This device makes it possible to attain the advantage that the sealing bar is not damaged by the edge flange during the insertion process, by not contacting the same, in the sense that the compression elements would press against the edge flanges. On the other hand, the user doesn't have to mind during the insertion process that the edge flange comes to lie correctly at the sealing bar. This is because the spacers guide the edge flange during the insertion process such that it passes by the sealing bar without contact, however they make it possible that the edge flange is pressed against the sealing bar by the compression elements in inserted state, such that the required sealing effect is generated. Advantageously, a horizontal distance between an outer end of the edge flange and the lateral device surface is longer than a horizontal distance between the sealing bar and a side of the first spacer, which faces away from the lateral bar surface and the horizontal distance between the sealing bar and the side of the first spacer, which faces away from the lateral bar surface, is longer than a horizontal distance between the outer end of the edge flange and a side of the second spacer, which is facing away from the one insertable kitchen device. In the same way, advantageously a vertical distance between an underside of the edge flange and an upper side of the second spacer is longer than a vertical extension of the first spacer. Furthermore, also another kitchen device of the combination may have an edge flange, which is orientable towards the connecting bar in the inserted state. The edge flanges of the one and of the further kitchen device may be arranged and adapted such that the sealing bar can be clamped between the edge flange of the one kitchen device and the edge flange of the further kitchen device in the inserted state, particularly by the force effect of the compression elements. This brings the advantage that a similar force acts against the sealing bar from two sides, such that the sealing bar is automatically centered and a good sealing effect is reached by clamping the sealing bar. Advantageously, the connecting bar has at least one opening on the lateral bar surface and the one of the kitchen devices has at least an arm on the lateral device surface. The opening and the arm are arranged in such a way that the arm protrudes into the opening in the inserted stated, in order to avoid a relative shifting of the connecting bar and the kitchen devices in horizontal direction parallel to the lateral surfaces. The present invention also provides a method where a first kitchen device, a second kitchen device, and a connecting bar are mounted together in a single cut-out of a work surface. The first and/or the second kitchen device has at least one compression element, which presses the kitchen devices against the connecting bar in the inserted state. The connecting bar comprises a lateral bar surface with a first spacer and the second kitchen device comprises a lateral device surface with a second distance element. Said device can be mounted with the following method steps: - inserting the first kitchen device into the cut out of the work surface, - inserting the connecting bar into the cut-out on a free side of the first kitchen device in such a way that the lateral bar surface with the first spacer faces away from the first kitchen device, - inserting the second kitchen device in such a way that the lateral device surface with the second spacer is oriented towards the lateral bar surface with the first spacer. The first and the second spacer are arranged in such a way that the first and the second spacer are contacting one another during the insertion process, for maintaining a mutual distance between the connecting bar and the second kitchen device. However, in the inserted state, the first and the second spacer are arranged vertically one above the other, such that the mutual distance between the connecting bar and the second kitchen device is reduced as compared to the insertion process. Embodiments of the present invention also make it possible to mount further kitchen devices additionally to the first and the second kitchen device, particularly with further connecting bars arranged between them, in the cut out of the work surface. In this case, the compression elements are advantageously arranged only at the outer sides of the kitchen devices, which border the work surface.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Further embodiments, advantages and applications of the devices and the methods will be apparent from the dependent claims and the following description of exemplary embodiments based on the figures. It is shown in FIG. 1 a work surface section with inserted kitchen device, FIG. 2 a combination of two kitchen devices and a connecting bar, FIG. 3a a combination during the insertion process, Fig. 3b a combination in the inserted state, Fig. 4a a detail view of the connecting bar during the insertion process, Fig. 4b a detail view of the connecting bar in the inserted state, Fig. 5 a schematic view of the connecting bar, Fig. 6a a connecting bar with a spacer, which is formed as a plurality of nubs, Fig. 6b a connecting bar with a spacer formed as elongated bar, Fig. 7 a schematic view of the connecting bar with horizontal dimensions, and Fig. 8 a schematic view of the connecting bar with vertical dimensions.

Ways of implementing the invention

The terms horizontal and vertical are understood accordingly for a mount as intended, in case of which the kitchen devices are inserted from above into the cut-out.

Fig. 1 shows a work surface 1 with a cut-out 2, inside which kitchen devices 3 and 4 may be arranged. The work surface is e.g. formed by the upper side of kitchen furniture. The situation after the first step of the mounting method is shown, where a first kitchen device 3 was inserted into the cut-out. This first method step shouldn't cause big problems for the installer, because there is still sufficient space in the cut-out for the arrangement of the first kitchen device 3. Furthermore, the first kitchen device 3 has a lower body 3a as well as an upper body 3b, wherein the lower body 3a is attached to the underside of the upper body 3b. The upper body 3b forms edge flanges 5, which protrude laterally beyond the lower body 3a. The lower body 3a may form e.g. the lateral and lower housing and the upper body 3b the upper end of this housing of the kitchen device. In mounted state, the first kitchen device 3 is supported on the work surface 1 via two or three of the edge flanges 5. For the further mounting, a connecting bar 6,

visible in Fig. 2, is arranged inside the cut-out 2 of the work surface 1, neighbouring the first already inserted kitchen device 3. In a further mounting step, the second kitchen device 4 is inserted into the remaining opening of the cut-out 2 of the work surface 3. Fig. 2 shows the first kitchen device 3, the second kitchen device 4 and the connecting bar 6 in the inserted state. The work surface is hidden for the better visibility of the combination. The connecting bar 6 is arranged between the first kitchen device 3 and the second kitchen device 4. Furthermore, a sealing bar 7 is present at an upper side of the connecting bar, which is clamped by the edge flanges 5 in the inserted state. For this, compression elements 3c are arranged at the first kitchen device 3 on the side opposed to the connecting bar 6, which are in contact with the edge of the cut-out 2 of the work surface 1, which is not visible in Fig. 2. By fitting the first kitchen device 3, the second kitchen device 4 and the connecting bar 6 into the cut-out 2 of the work surface 1, the compression elements 3c are compressed by the edge of the work surface, resulting in a force of the first kitchen device 3 acting against the connecting bar 6 and against the sealing bar 7. In this way, the sealing bar 7 is clamped by the edge flanges 5 of the first kitchen device 3 and the second kitchen device 4. In this way, the slit forming between the first kitchen device 3 and the second kitchen device 4 is well sealed, such that no liquids can get into the lower body of the kitchen devices. Fig. 3a and 3b show the insertion process of the second kitchen device 4. In Fig. 3a, the first kitchen device 3 and the connecting bar 6 are already arranged in the cut-out 2 of the work surface 1. As a next mounting step, the second kitchen device 3 is now inserted from the top into the remaining opening of the cut-out 2 of the work surface 1. For simplifying the mounting process, the connecting bar 6, which is formed as an inverse U-shape, has at its left side in Fig. 3a, which is oriented against the opening inside which the second kitchen device 4 shall be inserted, a lateral bar surface 8 with a first spacer 9, which is formed as a nub. The lateral bar surface 8 is the outer surface of the left arm of the connecting bar 6 which is formed as an inverse U-shape. The second kitchen device 4 to be inserted has as counterpart on its right side, which is oriented against the connecting bar 6, a lateral device surface 10 at which a second spacer 11 is arranged. The second spacer 11 is e.g. a component, which is detachable from the kitchen device 4, which is fixed in a support arranged on the side of the lateral device surface 10. Fig. 4a shows a detailed view of the border between the first kitchen device 3 and the second kitchen device 4 at the connecting bar 6 during the insertion process. As soon as or already before the edge flange 5 arrives at the height of the sealing bar 7 from the top downwards during the insertion process, the first spacer 9 and the second spacer 11 are in contact with one another, such that a slit 12 is formed between the edge flange 5 of the second kitchen device 4 and the sealing bar 7.In this way, the edge flanges 5 and the sealing bar 7 don't contact one another during the insertion process, resulting in that damage of the sealing bar or of the edge flange or a non-appropriate clamping of the sealing bar 7 can be avoided. If the second kitchen device 4 is moved further down, the first spacer 9 and the second spacer 11 lose their contact, as shown in Fig. 4b, as soon as the second kitchen device 4 has been lowered far enough, such that the edge flange 5 is pressed against the sealing bar 7 by the compression elements 3c. In this way, the sealing bar 7 is clamped by the edge flanges 5 of the first kitchen device 3 and the second kitchen device 4, resulting in that the slit between the first kitchen device 3 and the second kitchen device 4 is sealed by the sealing bar 7, such that no liquids can get into the lower body of the combination. As shown in Fig. 4b, the second spacer 11 of the lateral device surface 10 lies in the inserted state vertically below the first spacer 9 of the lateral bar surface 8 and lies in the shown embodiment directly at the lateral bar surface 8, that is in a springy way, such that at least a part of the pressing force is absorbed by the sealing bar 7. Depending on the embodiment, the connecting bar 7 is adapted such that it also has a support surface 14 at the same time, on which the first kitchen device 3 and/or the second kitchen device 4 can be supported via the edge flanges 5. During the insertion process, the spacers serve to maintain a mutual distance between the connecting bar and the one of the kitchen devices, wherein said distance is reduced in the inserted state. In the present example, the distance between the connecting bar 6 and the second kitchen device 4 is defined by the distance between the vertical middle line 13 of the connecting bar 6 and the outer surface 15 of the second kitchen device 4, which is oriented towards the sealing bar 7 and which is pressed against the connecting bar 6 in the inserted state. This distance is reduced in the inserted state (Fig. 4b) as compared to the insertion process (Fig. 4a), because the outer surface 15 approaches the middle line 13, with the result that the slit 12 between the outer surface 15 and the sealing bar 7 is sealed. This definition of the distance shall be understood in a general way for the purposes of the invention. Fig. 5 shows a connecting bar 7 in case of which the first spacer 9 is well visible at the lateral bar surface 8. The connecting bar 7 has on each of the two sides at least a first spacer 9, such that the user doesn't have to focus on the orientation of the connecting bar 7 during insertion of the same into the cut-out 2 of the work surface 1.

Alternative embodiments of the first spacer 9 are shown in Fig. 6a and 6b. In Fig. 6a, the first spacer 9 is implemented as a plurality of nubs and in Fig. 6b the first spacer 9 is implemented as an elongated bar extending along the entire length of the lateral bar surface 8. Particularly, the connecting bar 7 of Fig. 6b with the elongated bar 9 is particularly suitable to be manufactured by an extrusion process. The connecting bar 7 of Fig. 6a can also be manufactured by an extrusion process, wherein the first spacer 9 has to be manufactured in a subsequent working step. The connecting bar 6 has an opening 16 at the lateral bar surface 8, inside which an arm 17 arranged at the kitchen device (Fig. 1) can engage in such a way that a relative shifting between the connecting bar 6 and the kitchen devices 3 and 4 in horizontal direction parallel to the lateral surfaces (see double arrow in Fig. 6a) can be avoided. Fig. 7 shows a schematic view of the connecting bar 6 and the second kitchen device 4. The dimensions Xl to X3 illustrate horizontal distances between the connecting bar 6 and the kitchen device 4, which preferably satisfy certain conditions such that the functionality is ensured in the present embodiment. The distance Xl from the lateral surface of the sealing bar 7 up to the surface of the first spacer 9, which faces away from lateral bar surface 8 has to be smaller than the distance X2 from the outer end of the edge flange 5 to the lateral device surface 10 of the kitchen device 4 (Xl < X2) . If this condition is fulfilled, it is made sure that the edge flange 5 contacts the sealing bar 7 in the inserted state and a sealing effect is possible. On the other hand, the distance Xl has to be larger than the distance X3 from the outer end of the edge flange 5 up to the second spacer 11 (Xl > X3). In this way it is made sure that during the insertion process the edge flange 5 doesn't contact the connecting bar 7 because the two spacers 9 and 11 keep the connecting bar 6 and the second kitchen device 4 at a mutual distance. Fig. 8 illustrates the dimensions X4 and X5 vertical distances. Furthermore, the distance X4 from the lower end of the edge flange 5 up to the upper end of the second spacer 11 should be greater than the vertical extension of the first spacer X5 (X4>X5). If this condition is given, the second spacer 11 can comes to lie below the first spacer 9 in the inserted state of the second spacer 11, such that the edge flange 5 can be pressed against the sealing bar 7.

Notes: - It is also possible to do without the sealing bar 7. In this case, the edge flanges 5 of two kitchen devices 3 and 4 are pressed directly onto one another by the force of the compression elements 3c. In such a device, the spacers 9 and 11 avoid that the edge flanges 5 bump into one another during the insertion process. - Advantageously, the edge flanges 5 have at their outer ends sealing elements, which seal the contact position of the two edge flanges 5. - Advantageously, the edge flanges 5 have on their underside sealing elements, particularly a bead or sealing band, which additionally seal the edge flanges 5 with respect to the connecting bar 7 and/or the work surface 1. - It is also possible that the connecting bar 6 and the kitchen device 4 have each a plurality of vertically shifted spacers which interlock in the inserted state.

While preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the present application, it is clearly noted that the invention is not limited thereto and may be executed in other ways within the scope of the following claims.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavor to which this specification relates.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. Combination of kitchen devices, which are insertable into a cut-out of a work surface, particularly cooktops or sinks, and at least a connecting bar, wherein the insertable kitchen devices and the connecting bar are adapted such that the connecting bar is arranged between two of the insertable kitchen devices and a lateral bar surface of the connecting bar borders a lateral device surface of one of the insertable kitchen devices in inserted state, at least one of the kitchen devices has at least a compression element which is suitable to press the kitchen devices against the connecting bar in the inserted state, wherein the lateral bar surface has a first spacer and the lateral device surface has a second spacer which are arranged and adapted such that the first spacer and the second spacer are in mutual contact at least during a part of an insertion process, in order to maintain a mutual distance between the connecting bar and the one of the kitchen devices, and that the first spacer and the second spacer are arranged vertically one over the other in the inserted state, such that the mutual distance between the connecting bar and the one of the kitchen devices is reduced as compared to the insertion process.

2. Combination according to claim 1, wherein the first spacer and/or the second spacer are formed as a plurality of nubs.

3. Combination according to claim 1, wherein the first spacer and/or the second spacer are formed as an elongated bar, particularly which extends along the entire length of the lateral bar surface and/or the lateral device surface.

4. Combination according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a recessed section is arranged above the second spacer, inside which the first spacer comes to lie.

5. Combination according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first spacer is formed by the lateral bar surface, which extends along such a short vertical height that the second spacer is arranged vertically below the lateral bar surface in the inserted state.

6. Combination according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting bar is formed as extruded section.

7. Combination according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the one of the kitchen devices has at least one edge flange, which is orientable towards the connecting bar in the inserted state, and wherein the connecting bar has a sealing bar on an upper side, wherein the spacers are arranged and adapted such that the at least one edge flange and the sealing bar are at a non-contact distance from one another during the insertion process and the at least one edge flange is pressed against the sealing bar by the compression elements in the inserted state.

8. Combination according to claim 7, wherein a horizontal distance between an outer end of the edge flange and the lateral device surface is longer above the second spacer than a horizontal distance between the sealing bar and a side of the first spacer, which faces away from the lateral bar surface and wherein the horizontal distance between the sealing bar and the side of the first spacer, which faces away from the lateral bar surface, is longer than a horizontal distance between the outer end of the edge flange and a side of the second spacer, which faces away from the one insertable kitchen device.

9. Combination according to claim 7 or 8, wherein a vertical distance between a underside of the edge flange and an upper side of the second spacer is longer than a vertical extension of the first spacer.

10. Combination according to claim 7 to 9, wherein also another kitchen device has an edge flange, which is orientable towards the connecting bar in the inserted state and the edge flanges of the one and of the further kitchen device are arranged and adapted such that the sealing bar is clamped between the edge flange of the one kitchen device and the edge flange of the further kitchen device in the inserted state.

11. Combination according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting bar has at least one opening on the lateral bar surface and the one of the kitchen devices has at least an arm on the lateral device surface, wherein the opening and the arm are arranged in such a way that the arm protrudes into the opening in the inserted state, in order to avoid a relative shifting of the connecting bar and the kitchen devices in direction of the lateral surfaces.

12. Method for mounting a first kitchen device and a second kitchen device and a connecting bar in a single cut-out of a work surface, particularly a combination according to one of the preceding claims, wherein, the first and/or the second kitchen device has at least one compression element, which presses the kitchen devices against the connecting bar in the inserted state, and wherein the connecting bar has a lateral bar surface with a first spacer and the second kitchen device has a lateral device surface with a second distance element, wherein the method comprises the following steps: - inserting the first kitchen device into the cut-out, - inserting the connecting bar into the cut-out on a free side of the first kitchen device in such a way that the lateral bar surface with the first spacer faces away from the first kitchen device, - inserting the second kitchen device in such a way that the lateral device surface with the second spacer is oriented towards the lateral bar surface with the first spacer, wherein the first and the second spacer are arranged in such a way that the first and the second spacer are contacting one another at least during a part of the insertion process, for maintaining a mutual distance between the connecting bar and the second kitchen device, and wherein the first and the second spacer are arranged vertically one above the other in the inserted state, such that the mutual distance between the connecting bar and the second kitchen device is reduced as compared with the insertion process.

13. Method according to claim 12, wherein the second kitchen device has at least one edge flange which is oriented towards the connecting bar in the inserted state, and the connecting bar has a sealing bar at its upper side, wherein the distance elements are arranged and adapted such that the at least one edge flange and the sealing bar have a non-contact mutual distance during the insertion process and the at least one edge flange is pressed against the sealing bar by the compression elements in the inserted state.

14. Method according to claim 13, wherein also the first kitchen device has an edge flange and wherein the sealing bar is clamped between the edge flange of the first kitchen device and the edge flange of the second kitchen device in the inserted state.

15. Method according to one of the claims 12 to 14, wherein the connecting bar has at least an opening at the lateral bar surface and the second kitchen device has an arm at the lateral device surface, wherein the arm protrudes into the opening in the inserted state, in order to avoid a relative shifting of the connecting bar and the kitchen devices in direction of the lateral surfaces.