SIDE GRID FOR FURNITURE OR A HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE, AND METHOD FOR FASTENING A DRAWER SLIDE TO A SIDE GRID

Abstract

The invention relates to a side grid for furniture or for a household appliance, in particular a cooking appliance, which has at least one horizontal rod for receiving carriers, wherein a drawer slide is fastened to the at least one rod by means of at least one quick-fastening element. The side grid is characterized in that at least one section of the at least one quick-fastening element is crimped to the rod by plastic deformation. The invention further relates to a method for fastening a drawer slide to a side grid.

Description

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosure relates to a side grid for an item of furniture or a household appliance, in particular a cooking appliance, which has at least one horizontal rod for accommodating supports, wherein a pullout guide is fixed by means of at least one quick-action fastening element on the at least one rod. The disclosure furthermore relates to a method for fastening a pullout guide on a side grid, wherein at least one quick-action fastening element is mounted on the pullout guide.

Such side grids are used, for example, in household (domestic) appliances, for example, cooking appliances and in particular ovens. They can also be used in further domestic appliances such as dishwashers or also in items of furniture, for example, shelves. Two opposing side grids, which each have at least one rod extending substantially horizontally, are typically provided in the interior of such an item of furniture or appliance. Supports, for example, shelves or food supports, for example, baking sheets, can be pushed in on two opposing rods of equal height. In addition, fixing a pullout guide, on which the food support can be laid, for example, on at least one of the rods of the side grid is known. The pullout guides enable easier pulling out and removal of a food support, for example, without the risk of the food support tipping over.

A quick-action fastening element for fixing a pullout guide on a side grid is known from document DE 20 2005 020 458 U1, in which clamp-type holding sections are provided, which at least partially encompass the rod of the side grid. A catch element is preferably provided, which engages behind a section of the rod of the side grid, to fix the quick-action fastening element and therefore the pullout guide on the rod. When the quick-action fastening element is pushed onto the rod, the catch element deforms elastically, then springs out again and fixes the quick-action fastening element on the rod. The described quick-action fastening element has the advantage of simple and problem-free installation of the pullout guide on the side grid. Because of unavoidable tolerances in the diameter of the rods of the side grid and the dimensions of the quick-action fastening element, the provided connection generally has play, however, which can result in rattling of the pullout guide during use.

The disclosure is directed to a side grid having a pullout guide fixed thereon of the type mentioned at the outset, in which the pullout guide is fixed with as little play as possible on the side grid even if tolerances exist in the diameter of the rods of the side grid. The disclosure further is directed to a method for fastening a pullout guide on a side grid, which can be carried out rapidly and easily using a variety of materials and/or material combinations of side grid and fastening element of the pullout guide.

A side grid according to the disclosure of the type mentioned at the outset is distinguished in that at least one section of the quick-action fastening element is crimped with the horizontal rod by a plastic deformation. Any embossing or bending procedure is to be understood as crimping in this context.

By way of the plastic deformation—optionally in addition to a previously performed latching with elastic deformation—a connection can be provided between the quick-action fastening element and the rod of the side grid, by which the pullout guide is fastened without play and without degrees of freedom on the side grid. This ensures smooth-running usage of the pullout guide.

The crimping requires plastic deformability of at least parts of the quick-action fastening element. However, except for this condition, crimping can be performed with nearly any material combination of side grid and quick-action fastening element. In particular, crimping is also suitable for those material combinations in which materially-bonded fastening, for example, welding, would not be possible. Side grids of cooking appliances are frequently chrome-plated, for example, and the quick-action fastening elements are manufactured from stainless steel plate, so that welding of the side grid to a subsequently attached quick-action fastening element does not come into consideration as a fastening method.

The crimping can be performed rapidly and easily using a corresponding tool, in the simplest case using pliers. The fastening of the pullout guide or the pullout guides on the side grid can already be performed at the factory. Because of the simple type of fastening by the crimping, however, it can also be provided that the pullout guides are fastened on the side grid upon delivery or installation of the device on location at the final customer, whereby the customer has the possibility, for example, of individually selecting the height in which the pullout guide is to be fixed.

In one embodiment of the side grid, the at least one quick-action fastening element has at least one clamp-type holding section, which at least partially encompasses the horizontal rod, so that a form fit is formed. The at least one clamp-type holding section preferably has a substantially U-shaped profile having an upper leg and a lower leg, wherein at least one of the legs is deformed so that the horizontal rod is at least partially encompassed in a formfitting manner. Such a quick-action fastening element having clamp-type holding section can be produced as a simple stamped/bent part in a manner which saves material and costs. Its free lower leg can be easily deformed for crimping. The pullout guide can additionally initially be simply pushed onto the rod of the side grid and held there in a clamped manner, for example, using the clamp-type holding section. The crimping can then be carried out conveniently, without the pullout guide having to be separately fixed in this case. In one refinement, a catch element can be formed on the at least one clamp-type holding section, which causes latching of the quick-action fastening element when it is pushed onto the rods. For example, the catch element can be designed as a springy catch tongue, the free end of which presses against the rod.

The pullout guide is temporarily fixed even better by the latching than solely by clamping.

In one embodiment of the side grid, one of the clamp-type holding sections of the quick-action fastening element engages behind the rod in a formfitting manner at least partially on a longitudinal extension section of the rod. Furthermore, the rod preferably has a bent-over end section, wherein one or a further one of the clamp-type holding sections of the quick-action fastening element at least partially encompasses the rod in a formfitting manner at the bent-over end section.

In one embodiment of the side grid, at least two quick-action fastening elements are provided for each pullout guide, whereby secure fastening on the side grid can be implemented in the front region and in the rear region of the pullout guide. In this case, at least one of the quick-action fastening elements preferably has a clamp-type holding section, which is plastically deformed and encompasses the horizontal rod in a formfitting manner at least partially on a longitudinal extension section, and a further clamp-type holding section, which is plastically deformed and at least partially encompasses the horizontal rod in a formfitting manner on a bent-over end section. Fastening on only one rod section is not twist-locked in the case of a rod of the side grid which is round in cross section. Twist-locked and tilt-locked fastening is provided by the fastening on a longitudinal section and a transverse section, i.e., on two differently oriented sections.

A method according to the disclosure for fastening a pullout guide on a side grid comprises the steps of pushing a pullout guide having at least one quick-action fastening element onto a rod of the side grid and subsequent crimping with plastic deformation of at least one section of the quick-action fastening element with the rod of the side grid. The advantages described in conjunction with the side grid result from the method.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an interior of a household appliance having a side grid of the pullout guide;

FIGS. 2a, 2b show different perspective views of a side grid having a pullout guide, which is pushed with the aid of quick-action fastening elements onto a rod of the side grid; and

FIGS. 3a, 3b show the side grid having pullout guide in perspective views similar to FIGS. 2a and 2b with crimped quick-action fastening elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an oven 1 as an example of a cooking appliance in a perspective schematic illustration. A door 2 is opened to allow a view into an interior 3 of the oven 1.

A grid-type side part 5, also referred to as a side grid 5 hereafter, is situated in the interior 3 of the oven 1 on each of the opposing sides. The side grid 5 extends from a front side 4 of the oven in the direction of a rear side and has vertically extending pillars 6 and at least one, in the present case a plurality of horizontally extending rods 7. The horizontal rods 7 have an end section 8 bent over substantially perpendicularly on both sides. The rods 7 are each fixed using this angled end section 8 on at least one of the pillars 6, in particular welded thereto.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, each two of the horizontal rods 7 are situated in parallel at a slight distance from one another, so that a food support can be pushed with its side edge between each two adjacent rods 7. It is apparent that the number of the horizontal rods 7 and/or the pillars 6 can deviate from the example shown here in embodiments of the side grid 5. Furthermore, it is to be noted that a comparable side grid, on which at least one pullout guide is fastened according to the application, can also be used in other domestic appliances and/or items of furniture.

One pullout guide 10 is fastened here on one of the rods 7 by way of example, which has a guide rail 14 and a slide rail 11, which is extendable forward in relation to the guide rail 14. The slide rail 11 is delimited in the front region by a cover plate 12. A stop pin 13 is arranged in the rear region of the slide rail 11. A food support can be laid between cover plate 12 and stop pin 13 on the slide rail 11, which can be extended conveniently by means of the pullout guide 10.

The pullout guide 10 is fixed with the aid of two quick-action fastening elements 20 on the corresponding horizontal rod 7 of the side grid 5. The quick-action fastening elements 20 are described in greater detail in conjunction with FIGS. 2a, 2b and 3a, 3b, which are described hereafter. A method according to the application for fixing the pullout guides 10 on the rod 7 by means of the quick-action fastening elements 20 will also be explained on the basis of these figures.

FIG. 2a shows a section of the side grid 5 and the pullout guide 10 in a perspective illustration. FIG. 2a is a diagonal view of the rear of the side grid 5, i.e., the side which presses against the wall of the interior 1 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2b shows a sectional illustration through the side grid 5 and the pullout guide 10, wherein the section is executed perpendicularly to the horizontally extending longitudinal section of the horizontal rod 7 with the direction of view along the longitudinal extension of the rod 7.

In the installation stage shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b, the pullout guide 10 is pushed onto the rod 7 with the aid of two quick-action fastening elements 20, a front and a rear quick-action fastening element 20. The pullout guide 10 and the quick-action fastening elements 20 are connected to one another in this case via a supporting section 15 of the guide rail 14 of the pullout guide 10, in particular in a spot welding method. The quick-action fastening elements 20 each have a clamp-type holding section 21, which at least partially encompasses the rod 7 in its longitudinal extension section. In the present exemplary embodiment, the clamp-type holding section 21 has the shape of a recumbent U-shaped profile having an upper leg 22, which is connected to the support section 15, and a lower leg 23. A catch element 24 is arranged on the lower leg 23, which is extended upward in a springy manner in the direction of the upper leg 22. If the fastening element is pushed horizontally onto the rod 7, the catch element 24 initially yields downward, to then spring upward after it is completely pushed on and thus to engage behind the rod 7.

A further clamp-type holding section 25 is formed on the quick-action fastening element 20. This further holding section 25 also has a U-shaped profile, which is pivoted in its alignment by 90° in relation to the U-shaped profile of the clamp-type holding section 21, however. The U-shaped profile of the further holding section 25 also at least partially encompasses the bent-over end section 8 of the rod 7 and thus prevents a displacement of the quick-action fastening element in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the rod 7.

It can be provided that both the front and also the rear of the fastening elements 20 have the further clamp-type holding section 25. However, it is also conceivable that only one of the two fastening elements 20, either the front or the rear, has both the clamp-type holding section 21 and also the further clamp-type holding section 25. By pushing on the fastening elements 20 and latching with the aid of the catch element 24, the pullout guide 10 is already fixed on the rod 7 in the installation state shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b so that unintentional falling off is prevented. If both fastening elements have the further clamp-type holding section 25, the pullout guide 10 is also fixed in both directions (to the front and to the rear) in the longitudinal extension direction.

Because of material tolerances in the diameter of the rod 7 and because of manufacturing tolerances during the formation of the U-shaped clamp-type holding sections 21 and 25 and also tolerances which relate to the distance of the two fastening elements 20 in the longitudinal extension direction of the rods 7, the installation state of the pullout guide 10 on the rod 7 shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b is not without play, however, which can result in rattling during operation of the pullout guide 10.

FIGS. 3a and 3b show, in the same way as FIGS. 2a and 2b, the side grid 5 with finally-installed pullout guide 10 after application of an installation method according to the application.

In the installation method according to the disclosure, proceeding from the installation stage shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b, the clamp-type holding sections 21, and optionally the further clamp-type holding sections 25, are plastically deformed so that a form fit exists between the clamp-type holding sections 21, 25 and the corresponding sections of the rods 7. Due to the plastic deformation, the clamp-type holding sections 21, 25 are fastened without play on the rod 7, whereby tolerances in the diameter of the rods 7, the spacing of the bent-over end sections 8, and the spacing of the fastening elements 20, as well as the dimensions of the U-shaped profile of the clamp-type holding sections 21, 25 are compensated for. Rattling or similar operation noises which previously resulted from the fastening, which involved play, are prevented.

The plastic deformation can preferably be performed by means of a suitable embossing tool, for example, pliers. The use of special pliers is particularly advantageous, the jaws of which are adapted with regard to the alignment and dimensions thereof to the shape of the fastening element 20 and the available dimensions between fastening element 20 and guide rail 14. After plugging and latching the fastening elements 20 onto the corresponding rod 7, crimping (embossing) can be performed in a simple manner even in the case of a side grid 5 which is already situated in the interior 1 of the appliance (cf. FIG. 1).

As can be seen well in FIG. 3b, the catch element 24, which is formed as a spring tongue, presses with its free end against the upper leg 22 after completed crimping in the exemplary embodiment. The catch element 24 is at least above half of the diameter of the rod 7 after the crimping. In this manner, a structure is provided, which cannot be pulled off of the rod 7 even in the event of a large force acting on the pullout guide.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the pullout guide 10 is initially clipped in a latching manner on the corresponding rod using its fastening elements 20 (cf. installation state of FIGS. 2a, 2b). In an alternative embodiment of the fastening element 20, it does not have a catch element 24, so that temporary latching does not occur after the fastening elements 20 are plugged onto the rod 7. A temporary clamping fastening of the fastening elements 20 on the rod 7 can nonetheless be performed by the geometry and dimensioning of the clamp-type holding sections 21 and optionally the further clamp-type holding section 25. The final fixing is then performed, comparably to FIGS. 3a and 3b, by the plastic deformation of parts of the clamp-type holding sections 21, 25, in particular a free lower leg (cf. leg 23 in FIGS. 3a, 3b).

Claims

1. A side grid for an item of furniture or a household appliance, which has at least one horizontal rod for accommodating one or more supports, wherein a pullout guide is fixed by means of at least one quick-action fastening element on the at least one rod, wherein at least one section of the at least one quick-action fastening element is crimped to the rod by a plastic deformation.

2. The side grid according to claim 1, wherein the at least one quick-action fastening element has at least one clamp-type holding section, which encompasses the horizontal rod at least partially and in a formfitting manner.

3. The side grid according to claim 1, wherein the at least one clamp-type holding section has a substantially U-shaped profile having an upper leg and a lower leg, wherein at least one of the legs is deformed so that the horizontal rod is encompassed about more than half the diameter thereof.

4. The side grid according to claim 2, wherein a catch element is formed on the at least one clamp-type holding section, which causes latching of the quick-action fastening element when it is pushed onto the rod.

5. The side grid according to claim 4, wherein the catch element is designed as a springy catch tongue, the free end of which presses against the rod.

6. The side grid according to claim 2, wherein one of the at least one clamp-type holding sections of the quick-action fastening element encompasses the rod in a formfitting manner at least partially on a longitudinal extension section of the rod.

7. The side grid according to claim 2, wherein the rod has a bent-over end section, wherein one or a further one of the at least one clamp-type holding sections of the quick-action fastening element encompasses the rod in a formfitting manner at least partially at the bent-over end section.

8. The side grid according to claim 1, wherein at least two quick-action fastening elements are provided for each pullout guide.

9. The side grid according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the quick-action fastening elements has a clamp-type holding section, which is plastically deformed and encompasses the horizontal rod in a formfitting manner at least partially on a longitudinal extension section, and has a further clamp-type holding section, which is plastically deformed and encompasses the horizontal rod in a formfitting manner at least partially on a bent-over end section.

10. A method for fastening a pullout guide on a side grid, wherein at least one quick-action fastening element is installed on the pullout guide, having the following steps: pushing the at least one quick-action fastening element onto a horizontally extending rod of the side grid andcrimping the quick-action fastening element to the rod by plastically deforming at least one section of the quick-action fastening element.

11. The method according to claim 12, wherein the at least one quick-action fastening element has at least one clamp-type holding section, using which it is pushed onto the rod, and wherein at least a part of the at least one clamp-type holding section is plastically deformed for crimping.

12. The side grid according to claim 3, wherein a catch element is formed on the at least one clamp-type holding section, which causes latching of the quick-action fastening element when it is pushed onto the rod.

13. The side grid according to claim 5, wherein the catch element is designed as a springy catch tongue, the free end of which presses against the rod.