EP2265872A1

EP2265872A1 - Mounting structure and method for the upright mounting of a decorative plate on a door of a household appliance

Info

Publication number: EP2265872A1
Application number: EP09732230A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mehmet Ciyanoglu; Karl-Friedrich Laible; Helmut Steichele
Original assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
Current assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Priority date: 2008-04-17
Filing date: 2009-04-08
Publication date: 2010-12-29
Also published as: DE102008019415A1; WO2009127570A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a mounting for fixing a decorative plate (7) to the door (2) of a household appliance (1), said mounting comprising a first mounting part (41) to be mounted on the door in a height-adjustable manner, an abutment gauge guided in a vertically mobile manner for a height pre-adjustment, and a second mounting part (40) to be fixed to the decorative plate (7). The first and second mounting parts (40, 41) can be unlocked from each other and moved vertically in relation to each other for a fine height adjustment.

Description

Fitting structure and method for height-correct installation of a decorative plate on a door of a household appliance

The invention relates to a method and a fitting structure suitable for this purpose for the correct height mounting of a decorative plate on a door of a household appliance.

For home appliances installed in or adjacent to kitchen furniture, the design of the visible front of the appliance is often aligned with the decor of the doors of adjacent kitchen furniture. In order to achieve a precisely aligned arrangement of the furniture doors and the visible parts of the front of the device, the latter are generally constructed in several parts, namely from a door which, to close an interior of the household appliance, in a fixed position with respect to a body of the device must be mounted, and a decorative plate, which is subsequently installed in the installation of the household appliance at its intended location using a fitting structure on the door and adjusted with respect to adjacent furniture fronts. In built-in appliances, the edge length of the decorative panel is generally a few centimeters larger than that of the door, since the decorative panel must not only cover the door of the device, but the entire furniture niche in which the device is installed. Since a fitting structure, which connects the decorative plate with the door should be invisible when the door is closed, can only be adjusted with the door open. But since the door must be closed to check the adjustment, the adjustment is tedious and tedious.

For this reason, European Patent EP 0 915 310 B1, which discloses a fitting structure according to the preamble of claim 1, proposes to place adjusting screws on the upper side of the appliance door, on which an angle-shaped fitting part is provisionally fixed so that a leg of it parallel to the front of the door. In mutually parallel guides of this leg force-guided guided ruler-shaped gauges are pushed so far until they abut the lower edge of a arranged above the refrigerator decorative plate. Then the angled fitting part is removed from the door and after flush alignment of the upper ends of the gauges to the upper edge of the decor on the door to be mounted decorative plate with its parallel to the appliance door leg to the Screwed inside the decorative panel. Subsequently, the upper leg of the angular fitting part is hooked on the adjusting screws again. Since the two gauges are not widely spaced, any inaccuracy in tightening the angular fitting causes the decorative plate to hang obliquely and to be pulled straight back using the adjustment screws. If by mistake the adjusting screws were in a stop position when aligning the gauges, this may not be possible.

The object of the invention is to provide a fitting, in particular a fitting construction, in which the risk of the adjustment aggravating assembly errors is reduced.

The object is achieved by a fitting, in particular a fitting structure for attaching a decorative plate on the door of a household appliance with a height adjustable on the door or the decorative panel to be mounted first fitting part and a vertically adjustable guided stop gauge, one on the respective other of decorative plate and door to be fastened second fitting part and the first fitting part are unlocked from each other and vertically movable against each other in the unlocked state. By unlocking a mounting margin is created in the vertical, which can not be nullified by previous assembly errors.

Preferably, the first fitting part is arranged on the door and the second fitting part on the decorative plate

Two first fitting parts are preferably provided for attachment to opposite vertical flanks of the door. This results in a large distance between the first fitting parts and consequently also between the stop gauges, which reduces the risk of skewing of the decorative plate due to inaccuracies in the attachment of fittings on the decorative panel and as a result, the amount of work in a possible readjustment.

For locking the fitting parts together, a spacer between the fitting parts is preferably insertable. This spacer may conveniently be designed so that it is a vertical play of the fittings against each other upwards and limited downwards, or that by its elimination vertical play is created both upwards and downwards additionally.

Preferably, the stop gauges are angular with extending on both sides of the vertical edges of the door vertical, guided legs and facing horizontal legs. Since the stop gauges consequently do not have to fit into a gap between the door and the decorative panel, this gap can be kept tight, which improves the space utilization and / or the adjusting movement freedom of the decorative panel in the depth direction.

The thickness of the horizontal legs preferably corresponds to the gap dimension of a horizontal gap between adjacent decorative panels of a fitted kitchen. Thus, when the top of the horizontal leg has been brought into abutment with the lower edge of an overlying decorative panel, the underside of the same leg can serve directly as a stop reference for the placement of the decorative panel of the domestic appliance.

In order to avoid slippage of the stop gauges between the abutment against the overlying decorative plate and the placement of the decorative plate of the household appliance, the stop gauges are expediently fixed in relation to the first fitting parts by clamping or detent.

Preferred dimensions of the stop gauges are connected to the first fitting parts via spacers and guided vertically displaceable on the spacers. This allows to maximize the distance between the stop gauges.

In order not to disturb the subsequent use of the household appliance, the spacers are preferably releasably attached to the first fitting parts.

A spacer can also serve as a reference for the alignment of the decorative panel in the lateral direction when it has a first stop surface for abutment with an outer edge of the decorative plate and a second stop surface parallel to the first stop surface for abutment with the second fitting part. In order to simplify the assembly of the first fitting part with the decorative plate, preferably the spacer and the first fitting part releasably cooperating latching means for fixing the spacer to the first fitting part at least in a direction perpendicular to the stop surfaces direction. The spacer is preferably made of elastic plastic material or hard rubber, so that it behaves so flexible that it can be locked by hand without the intervention of tools and - after mounting the first fitting part on the decorative plate - can be disengaged again.

The fixation of the spacer also serves that it preferably has a bracket of the first fitting part on opposite sides embracing, the second stop surface bearing fingers.

Preferably, the bracket also serves to hold a connecting tongue formed on the second fitting part, i. the bracket also serves to anchor the spacer and to connect to the second fitting part.

When the fingers of the spacer form two pairs of fingers opposite each other on either side of the bracket, the connecting tongue expediently engages in a space between the pairs of fingers. Thus, the connecting tongue and the fingers can cause the above-mentioned, the vertical play of the fitting parts against each other upwards and downwards limiting lock.

The connecting tongue can also engage in a space between the bracket and the decorative plate, or a single gap receiving the connecting tongue can be limited in one direction by the bracket and in another direction by the above-mentioned fingers.

Between the second fitting parts, an adjusting rail can be fastened to the decorative plate. The placement of the adjustment rail is simplified by carrying two markers, each of which is aligned with a complementary marking of one of the first fitting parts. These markings may in particular be embossed, printed or notched. Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures. It shows:

1 shows a known from the prior art fitting structure for connecting the door of a household appliance with a decorative plate.

Fig. 2 is a bridge bar and a mounting angle bar of an inventive

Fitting structure in perspective view;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a spacer;

4 is a perspective view of a stop gauge;

Figure 5 is a view of the interconnected with the aid of the spacer bridge bar and a mounting angle bar.

Fig. 6 is a second view of the connected bridge bar and

Mounting brackets bar;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the back of the decorative plate with it attached

Bridge strips, fastening angle strips and stop gauges; and

8 is an enlarged detail of FIG .. 7

Fig. 1 shows to illustrate the problem underlying the invention, a known from the prior art fitting structure for connecting the door of a household appliance with a decorative plate, as described for example in German Patent Application DE 10 2005 021 607 A1. The Fig. Shows the perspective view of a household appliance with a body 1 and an articulated thereto door 2 in the closed position. In the door 2, a plurality of threaded blind holes 5, 6 are formed in an upper flank 3 and the lateral flanks 4. The decorative plate, for example made of wood, is shown separately from the device-side door 2, to which it is to be mounted. In Fig. 1, the back of the decorative plate 7 can be seen, which faces the door 2 in the assembled state. In the upper part of the decorative plate 7, an adjusting rail 8 made of sheet metal by means of several screws 9 is attached. The adjusting rail 8 has a stiffened by a flat rib, applied to the decorative plate 7 base plate and two of the top edge of the base plate at right angles protruding tabs 10 each having two openings therein. These openings serve to secure the decorative plate 7 to the upper flank 3 of the appliance-side door panel 2 by means of screws 11 and 12, respectively. The screws 11 are ordinary screws with a threaded shank and a head. The screws 12 are special screws with a threaded shaft, a head and a head-up looking pen. The screws 11, 12 are dimensioned so that their heads do not fit through the openings 13 of the tabs 10, but their shaft or in the case of the screw 12, her pin. First, the two screws 12 are screwed into their associated threaded holes 5, then the decorative plate is suspended on the screws 12 so that their pins engage through their associated openings 13 through and the tabs 10 rest on the heads of the screws 12. By turning the screws 12, the height of the decorative plate 7 is adjustable. By moving the tabs 10 on the heads of the screws 12, the lateral position of the decorative plate 7 and adjust their distance from the device-side door 2. If the height of the decorative plate 7 has been found to be correct, it can be fixed by setting the screws 11.

At the back of the decorative plate 7, a plurality of bent from sheet metal brackets 14 are screwed adjacent to their lateral edges, each defining a gap 15 open to the adjacent edge together with the decorative plate. The columns 15 are provided to each frictionally receive a first leg 17 of a like the bracket 14 formed of sheet metal mounting bracket 16, of which in each case a second leg 18 is bolted to one of the threaded holes 6 of the side flanks 4 of the door 2.

The attachment of five pairs of brackets 14 and mounting brackets 16 on each side of the door 2 makes high demands on a fitter, since the large number of individual elements always the risk of confusion, wrong uses or Losses. Also creates a significant installation effort, since a mutually aligned mounting of the bracket 14 on the decorative plate 7 requires high precision assembly work.

Fig. 2 shows a perspective not to scale view of two fittings, a bridge bar 40 and a mounting bracket 41, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The bridge strip 40 is a metal strip, which is structured in many ways by crimping, and which is intended to be screwed adjacent to a lateral edge on the rear side of the decorative plate 7. By the Kröpfstufen offset from each other in the longitudinal direction of the bridge bar 40 bearing surfaces 24, 25, 26 and bridge sections 23 from. The upper end of the bridge bar 40 forming support surface 24 is provided to clamp the adjusting rail 8 when screwing on the decorative plate 7; the other bearing surfaces 25, 26 touch the decorative plate 7 directly. While the bearing surfaces 25 are planar in itself, each of the bearing surfaces 26 flanked by edge strips 62 latching clip 61 is cut free and disengaged. Of the bearing surfaces 26 40 at least two are present on the bridge bar.

The fastening angle strip 41 is an angle profile with two mutually orthogonal legs, of which the first rests in the mounted state on the decorative plate 7 and the second extends along a lateral edge 4 of the door 2. The first leg has a plurality of tongues 42 which are provided to engage in the spaces between the bridge portions 23 and the decorative plate 7 when the bridge bar 40 is mounted on the decorative plate 7, and locking tongues 71 which extend in a against Level of the tongues 42 slightly offset plane and are provided to engage in a space defined by one of the locking bracket 61 gap. In the tongues 42 embossed beads 43 ensure a frictional connection of the fitting parts together when the tongues 42, the spaces between the bridge sections 23 and the decorative plate 7 are inserted.

The locking tongues 71 carry at their tip in each case a latching nose 72, which is provided to after insertion of the latching tongue 71 in one of the latching clip 61 and the adjacent edge strip 62 defined gap 63 behind the edge facing away from the edge of the decorative plate 7 edge of the latching clip 61 engage. The length of the latching clip 61 is substantially greater than the width of the latching tongue 71, so that when the latching tongue 71 engages alone in the intermediate space 63, they are mounted in the longitudinal direction of the bridge strip 40, ie in the vertical when the fitting parts 40, 41 are mounted, is displaceable.

Slots 44 of the second leg are provided to postpone them loosely screwed on the side edge 4 of the door 2 screws and so the decorative plate 7 with the fitting parts 40, 41 first loose, adjustable in the depth direction of the refrigerator to support the door 2.

3 shows a perspective view of a plastic molded spacer 50. The spacer 50 has a base plate with a stop surface 51 provided to abut a lateral edge of the decorative plate 7. A projecting beyond the stop surface 51 block 52 of the spacer 50 has a lying in the perspective of FIG. 3 bottom surface which abuts in the assembled state at the back of the decorative plate 7. A passage 75 extending through the block 52 is provided to receive a leg of an angular stop gauge 77 shown in FIG. 4, the function of which will be described in more detail later with reference to FIG. The stop gauge 77 is an angle formed from a steel sheet with an elongated leg 78 to be inserted into the passage and a short leg 79 perpendicular thereto. The thickness of the steel sheet is about 3 mm, the usual joint width between adjacent decorative panels of a fitted kitchen.

At the side remote from the viewer of FIG. 3 side of the base plate of the spacer 50, as shown in Fig. 5, a resilient tongue 76 is cut free, which projects into the passage 75 to clamp the leg 78 of the stop gauge 77 therein. The outside of the leg 78 may be roughened or grooved to increase the friction between the leg 78 and the tongue 76, or to allow the leg 78 to be latched to the tongue 76, thus setting the stop gauge 77 in a once set position with respect to the tongue Secure spacer 50. Of the block 52, each separated by a gap with the width of the locking tabs 71, two pairs of gripper fingers, 53a, 54a and 53b, 54b from. These gripping fingers extend in the assembled state by recesses 73 (see FIG. 2) formed in the fastening angle strip 41 on both sides of the latching tongues 71 and engage in the intermediate space 63 above and below the latching tongue 71.

The fingers 53a, 53b have a bent course to facilitate overcoming the edge strips 62 and insertion into the gap 63.

The fingers 53a, 53b opposite gripping fingers 54a, 54b each carry two locking lugs 55a, 56a and 55b, 56b, which surround the locking bracket 61 on both sides play in the assembled state of the spacer 50. Side edges of the detents 55a, 56a, 55b, 56b thus form abutment surfaces 57 which define the spacing of the bridge strip 40 from an edge of the decorative plate 7 when the abutment surface 51 of the spacer 50 bears against this edge.

Referring again to FIG. 2, an alignment mark 45, here in the form of a vertically oriented notch or bead, is embossed on the upper end of the uppermost bearing surface 24. The adjusting rail 8 is provided with complementary alignment marks 74, whose function will be discussed later.

A complete fitting structure for mounting the decorative panel 7 comprises two of the bridge bars 40 and fastening angle strips 41 shown in FIG. 2, one of the number of locking tongues 71 of the fastening angle strips 41 corresponding number of spacers 50, at least 4 pieces, two stop jigs 71 and the adjusting rail ,

A first assembly step is the insertion of the locking tongues 71 in the intermediate spaces 63 of the bearing surfaces 26, so that the locking lugs 72 engage behind the locking bracket 61. In this state, the bridge bars 40 and the fastening angle strips 41 are displaceable relative to each other in their longitudinal direction.

Next, the spacers 50 are each inserted with their gripper fingers 53, 54 in front through the recesses 73 on both sides of the locking tabs 71 and into the gap 63 on either side of the locking tabs 71. Thereby are the Fitting parts 40, 41 fixed in relation to each other also in their longitudinal direction. FIGS. 5 and 6 show two perspective views of the inserted spacer 50.

In each of the assemblies obtained in this way from each bridge bar 40 and a mounting bracket 41 a stop gauge 77 is inserted into the passage 75 of the support surface 24 next adjacent spacer 50. Then, the assemblies are provisionally placed on the door 2 by the slots 44 of the mounting bracket 41 are pushed onto screwed into the side edge 4 of the door 2 screws. In the next step, the stop gauges 77 are displaced upward until their horizontal legs 79 abut against the lower edge of a decorative plate delimiting the niche of the household appliance upwards.

Next, the adjusting rail 8 is placed on the upper back of the flat placed on a base decorative plate 7. The two mirror images, each comprising a bridge strip 40, a mounting bracket 41, a stop gauge 77 and two spacers 50 comprehensive assemblies are also placed on the back of the decorative plate 7 along its side edges, as shown in Fig. 7, wherein the upper bearing surfaces 24 of the bridge bars 40 each come to rest on the adjusting rail 8. By bringing the lower surfaces of the horizontal legs 79 of the stopper jigs 77 into contact with an upper edge of the decorative plate, an advance direction of the decorative plate 7 in the vertical direction with respect to the door 2 is achieved. Further, by bringing the abutment surfaces 51 of the spacers 50 into contact with the edges of the decorative plate 7, the two assemblies are aligned in mirror image with each other at the same distance from the side edges of the decorative plate 7. Now, with the screwing of the bridge strips 40 on the decorative plate 7 in height of the bearing surfaces 25, 26, to be started. Before the bridge strips are also screwed to the support surfaces 24, the adjusting rail 8 still movable at this time is aligned with the aid of the alignment marks 45, 74 so that each alignment mark 74 of the adjustment rail 8 immediately extends the alignment mark 45 to one of the bridge rails 40. This is shown in the enlarged partial plan view of the decorative plate 7 of FIG. 8.

When tightening in height of the bearing surfaces 24 and the adjusting rail 8 is fixed by clamping between the support surfaces 24 and the decorative plate 7. In the thus obtained assembly of decorative plate 7, fittings 8, 40, 41 and spacers 50, all parts are fixed with respect to each other. At this stage, the complete assembly can be temporarily suspended on the door 2 by the slots 44 of the mounting bracket 41 are pushed onto screwed into the side edges 4 of the door screws and the adjusting rail 8 as described with reference to FIG. 1 in the upper edge of Door screwed screws 12 is placed. The screws 12 may at this time be screwed into the door 2 as far as the stop, since the height at which the decorative plate 7 is held on the door 2 is fixed by the spacers 50 vertically immovably fixed to each other fitting parts 40 and 41.

It can now be adjusted immediately the position of the decorative plate 7 in the depth direction and then the screws are tightened in the side edges 4 of the door 2; it is also conceivable to initially tighten these screws provisionally and make a depth adjustment at a later date.

After the fastening angle strips 41 are fixed to the side edges 4 by tightening the screws, the screws 12 are adjusted so that they can press against the adjusting rail 8 and carry the weight of the decorative plate 7. Then the spacers 50 and with them the stop gauges 77 are removed. By pulling out the spacer 50, the decorative plate 7 is vertically adjustable again. A vertical fine adjustment can now, if necessary, be made with the help of screws 12. If the decorative plate 7 is vertically aligned correctly, it is fixed by means of the screws 1 1, as described with reference to FIG. 1.

Claims

claims

1. fitting for the mounting of a decorative plate (7) on the door (2) of a household appliance (1), with a height adjustable on the door (2) or the decorative plate (7) to be mounted first fitting part (41) and a vertically adjustable guided Stop gauge (77), characterized in that on the decorative plate (7) or the door (2) to be fastened second fitting part (40) and the first fitting part (41) are unlocked from each other and in the unlocked state vertically against each other.

2. Fitting according to claim 1, characterized in that the first fitting part (41) on the door (2) and the second fitting part (40) on the decorative plate (7) is arranged.

3. Fitting according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that two first

Fitting parts (41) for attachment to opposite vertical edges of the door (2) are provided.

4. Fitting according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that for locking the fitting parts (40, 41) to each other a spacer (50) between the fitting parts (40, 41) can be inserted.

5. Fitting according to claim 4, characterized in that the spacer (50) limits a vertical play of the fitting parts (40, 41) against each other upwards and downwards.

6. Fitting according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stop gauges (77) are angularly with on both sides of the vertical edges of the door (2) extending vertical, guided legs (78) and facing horizontal legs (79).

7. Fitting according to claim 6, characterized in that the thickness of the horizontal leg (79) corresponds to the gap of a horizontal gap between adjacent decorative panels of a fitted kitchen.

8. Fitting according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stop gauges (77) with respect to the first fitting parts (41)

Clamp or detent are fixed.

9. Fitting according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stop gauges (77) with the first fitting parts (41) via spacers (50) and guided on the spacers (50) are guided vertically displaceable.

10. Fitting according to claim 9, characterized in that the spacers (50) are releasably secured to the first fitting parts (41).

11. Fitting according to claim 10, characterized in that the spacer (50) has a first stop surface (51) for abutment against an outer edge of the decorative plate (7) and one to the first stop surface (51) parallel second stop surface (57) for conditioning on the second fitting part (40).

12. Fitting according to claim 10 or 1 1, characterized in that the spacer (50) and the first fitting part (40) releasably cooperating latching means (53, 54, 55, 56) for fixing the spacer (50) on the second fitting part ( 40) at least in a direction perpendicular to the stop surfaces (51, 57) direction.

13. Fitting according to claim 12, characterized in that the spacer a bracket (61) of the second fitting part (40) on opposite sides embracing, the second stop surface (57) carrying fingers (53 a, 53 b, 54 a,

54b).

14. Fitting according to claim 13, characterized in that on the first fitting part (41) formed connecting tongue (71) is held on the bracket (61).

15. Fitting according to claim 14, characterized in that the fingers (53 a, 53 b, 54 a, 54 b) of the spacer (50) has two pairs of on both sides of the

Form brackets (61) opposite to each other and that the connecting tongue (71) engages in a gap (63) between the pairs of fingers.

16. Fitting according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the connecting tongue (71) in an intermediate space (63) between the bracket (61) and the decorative plate (7) engages.

17. Fitting according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that between the two second fitting parts (40) attached to the decorative plate (7) adjusting rail (8) carries two markings (74), each of which on a complementary marking (45) of a the second fitting parts (40) is aligned.

18. Fitting according to claim 17, characterized in that the markings (45, 74) are embossed, printed or notched.

19. Household appliance, in particular domestic refrigeration appliance with a door (2) and a content based on a fitting Erten decor panel (7), characterized in that the fitting is designed according to one of claims 1 to 18.

20. A method for mounting a decorative plate (7) on the door (2) of a household appliance (1) by means of a fitting according to one of the preceding claims comprising the steps of: a) positioning the second fitting parts (40) with the stop gauges (77) on the Door (2); b) bringing the stop gauges (77) into abutment with the lower edge of a decorative plate arranged above the door (2); d) positioning the second fitting parts (40) on the decorative plate (7) of the door, so that the stop gauges (77) to an upper edge of the decorative plate (7) abutting; e) attaching the first fitting parts (41) joined to the second fitting parts (40) to the door (2).

21. The method according to claim 20, characterized in that between steps b) and d) a step c) removing the second fitting parts (40) from the door (2) and after step e) a step f) reinstalling the second Fittings (40) with the attached thereto

Decorative plate (7) on the door (2) takes place.

22. The method according to claim 20 or 21, characterized by the further step g) removing the spacers (50) and the stop gauges (77).