U.S. patent application number 10/810029 was filed with the patent office on 2004-11-18 for attachment apparatus for a work surface panel.
Invention is credited to Felske, Hans Gunter, Jakuscheit, Jurgen, Lamprecht, Michael.
Application Number | 20040227436 10/810029 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32798114 |
Filed Date | 2004-11-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040227436 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Felske, Hans Gunter ; et
al. |
November 18, 2004 |
Attachment apparatus for a work surface panel
Abstract
A work surface panel of a cabinet-type household appliance has a
rearward surround at which it is attachment at the rear. The panel
is intended to have a position which is defined transversely with
respect to the attachment direction. The work surface panel is
attached to the body of the household appliance by means of at
least one holding pin. In this case, the holding pin has a
slotted-link section that passes through an elongated hole in the
surround and holds the surround at a defined level. To allow
tolerance compensation, which is suitable for mass production,
between the work surface panel and the housing, or a further part
mounted on the top face of the housing, the surround is held
exclusively by the holding pins, whose slotted-link sections have a
substantially rectangular cross section, allowing the work surface
panel to be adjusted in the lateral direction during
installation.
Inventors: |
Felske, Hans Gunter;
(Berlin, DE) ; Jakuscheit, Jurgen; (Berlin,
DE) ; Lamprecht, Michael; (Berlin, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LERNER AND GREENBERG, PA
P O BOX 2480
HOLLYWOOD
FL
33022-2480
US
|
Family ID: |
32798114 |
Appl. No.: |
10/810029 |
Filed: |
March 26, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/265.5 ;
68/3R |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 39/12 20130101;
A47L 15/4251 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/265.5 ;
068/003.00R |
International
Class: |
A47G 029/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 26, 2003 |
DE |
103 13 600.2 |
Claims
We claim:
1. In a household appliance having a body with a cabinet shape, and
a work surface panel to be attached to the body in a defined
position transversely with respect to an attachment direction, an
attachment apparatus for attaching the work surface panel,
comprising: a rear surround integrally formed on the work surface
panel and having at least one elongated hole formed therein; at
least one holding pin for attaching said rear surround to the body
of the household appliance, said holding pin having a slotted-link
section with a substantially rectangular cross section configured
to pass through said elongated hole in said rear surround; and said
at least one holding pin holding said rear surround at a defined
height position, and exclusively holding said rear surround to the
body of the household appliance.
2. The attachment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said
holding pin is formed with a head-type attachment adjoining said
slotted-link section.
3. The attachment apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said
holding pin is formed with an axial bore for receiving an
attachment element passing therethrough.
4. The attachment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said
holding pin has a shank forming a continuation of said slotted-link
section, and said shank forms a slotted dowel configured to enter
an opening in the body of the household appliance, and to be
attached there by spreading inside the opening.
5. The attachment apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said slot
extends to a head-type attachment of said holding pin adjoining
said slotting-ling section, and a key width of said slotted-link
section is smaller in size than a diameter of the adjacent said
shank.
6. The attachment apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said
head-type attachment has two ear-shaped lateral projections, with
an internal separation at least as large as a diameter of a part of
the attachment element located there in an attachment position
thereof, and said slots extending as far as said lateral
projections.
7. The attachment apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said
head-type attachment is formed with apertures at a level of the
slotted-link sections, and a free width of said apertures is
suitable for an insertion of a flat tool.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0001] The invention lies in the mechanical arts and pertains, in
particular to an attachment apparatus for a work surface panel. The
invention is based on an attachment apparatus for a work surface
panel for a household appliance that has the form of a cabinet. The
structure forming the work surface panel is intended to be in a
defined position transversely with respect to the attachment
direction and has a rearward surround for the rearward attachment
of the work surface panel by means of at least one holding pin on
the body of the household appliance. The holding pin has a
slotted-link section by way of which the holding pin passes through
an elongated hole area in the surround and holds the surround at a
defined height position.
[0002] An attachment apparatus such as this is described in German
utility model DE 74 11 413 U1 (Gebrauchsmuster). There, the
rearward surround is screwed firmly (indirectly) to the body of the
household appliance at only one point in order to avoid the heat
causing deformation of the work surface panel. All the other
connections are made by means of a holding pin, which passes
through an elongated hole in the surround and holds the surround in
a defined height position, but allows it sufficient freedom of
movement in the lateral direction.
[0003] However, that type of attachment leads to a problem when a
another component of the device is connected at the same plane as
the working surface, such as, for example, the control section in a
washing machine that projects into the upper surface area. Gaps can
be formed between the components that have been mentioned as a
result of manufacturing tolerances in the housing, on the work
surface panel and possibly on a further part on the top face of the
housing, for example a control panel. In this case, it must be
possible to align the position of the work surface panel with
respect to the position of the housing or of this other part, which
is not possible with the known attachment apparatus, because the
work surface panel is screwed tight at one point, specifically such
that it cannot be adjusted. However, since the two parts (for
example the work surface panel and the control section) are not
intended to be mounted offset with respect to one another in the
lateral direction, which would have a severe adverse effect on the
visual appearance, the attachment apparatus for the work surface
panel must allow lateral adjustment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an
attachment apparatus for a working surface, which overcomes the
above-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and
methods of this general type and in which tolerance compensation,
which is suitable for mass production, can take place between the
work surface panel and the housing, which is in the form of a
cabinet, of a household appliance, or a further part which is
mounted on the top face of the housing.
[0005] With the foregoing and other objects in view there is
provided, in accordance with the invention, a system with which a
work surface panel can be attached to the cabinet-shaped body of a
household appliance. The work surface panel is to be attached to
the body in a defined position transversely with respect to an
attachment direction. An attachment apparatus for attaching the
work surface panel comprises:
[0006] a rear surround integrally formed on the work surface panel
and having at least one elongated hole formed therein;
[0007] at least one holding pin for attaching said rear surround to
the body of the household appliance, said holding pin having a
slotted-link section with a substantially rectangular cross section
configured to pass through said elongated hole in said rear
surround; and
[0008] said at least one holding pin holding said rear surround at
a defined height position, and exclusively holding said rear
surround to the body of the household appliance.
[0009] In other words, the objects of the invention are achieved in
that according to the invention, this object is achieved in that
the surround is held exclusively by way of holding pins, whose
slotted-link sections have a virtually rectangular cross
section.
[0010] The work surface panel can now advantageously be adjusted
with respect to all the other parts. The work surface panel can
thus be directed at a position which is aligned exactly with
respect to the other housing parts, so that there is no offset to
interfere with the aesthetic appearance. It is now possible to pass
all leakage tests (water spray test, spillage test).
[0011] A further fault situation in which the work surface panel
and possibly the control panel are each of maximum size for
tolerance reasons and the housing is of minimum size can be avoided
by the solution according to the invention. This fault situation
would lead to the work surface panel being visibly stressed with
respect to the control panel, and this could even lead to
malfunctions in the control panel area. The attachment apparatus
according to the invention can avoid this risk, in contrast to the
prior art.
[0012] Furthermore, there is no longer any deformation as a result
of stressing of the components, no unpleasant gaps formed between
the control panel and the work surface panel; the individual
components are not subject to stringent tolerance requirements, and
a defined slight contact pressure can be applied from the work
surface panel to the control panel.
[0013] The rectangular shape of the slotted-link sections prevents
the holding pin from being able to rotate in the elongated hole in
the preinstalled position.
[0014] The holding pin particularly advantageously has a head-like
attachment above the slotted-like section. This attachment results
in the holding pin being located in a defined manner on the outer
surface of the surround, thus producing a reproducible
position.
[0015] Furthermore, the holding pin may advantageously have an
axial hole through which the attachment element can pass. This
allows the holding pin and the surround to be jointly fixed to the
housing.
[0016] This advantage can be extended even further by the holding
pin having a shank as a continuation of the slotted-link section,
which shank is slotted in the manner of a dowel and is intended to
enter an opening on the body of the household appliance, where it
can be attached by the attachment element by spreading.
Specifically, during installation, the holding pin can then be
inserted together with the slightly rotated attachment element
(generally a screw) through the elongated hole in the surround into
the attachment hole in the housing. The dowel part of the holding
pin is then spread in the attachment hole by rotation of the screw,
and the holding pin is held securely in the attachment hole in a
known manner. The work surface panel may for this purpose be held
in a position such that it is adjusted with respect to the other
housing parts.
[0017] In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention,
the slot advantageously extends into the head-like attachment and a
key width of the slotted-link section has a smaller size than the
diameter of the adjacent shank. This allows the two shank parts to
be pushed together in the circumference of the slot width during
insertion of the holding pin into the elongated hole in the
surround. In the final position, the holding pin is held loosely on
the slotted-link section. Its rectangular shape together with the
internal contour of the elongated hole prevents the holding pin
from being rotated.
[0018] If the head-like attachment has two ear-shaped projections
at the side, whose internal separation is at least as large as the
diameter of that part of the attachment element which is in the
mounted position here, and the slots extend into the projections, a
head of the attachment element will be located in a protected
manner between the ear-shaped projections. Furthermore, the two
ears guide the attachment element more reliably and into the axial
hole during installation.
[0019] In a further advantageous development of the invention,
apertures are provided in the head-like attachment at the level of
the slotted-link sections, and their unobstructed width is suitable
for the insertion of a screw driver. In consequence, in order to
disassemble the work surface panel after removal of the attachment
elements, the two shank parts can be pushed towards one another by
means of screw drivers or some other suitable tool until they are
released from the wall of the attachment hole and make the shank
narrower in order to make it possible to pull it back through the
elongated hole in the surround.
[0020] Other features which are considered as characteristic for
the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
[0021] Although the invention is illustrated and described herein
as embodied in an attachment apparatus for a work surface panel, it
is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown,
since various modifications and structural changes may be made
therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and
within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
[0022] The construction and method of operation of the invention,
however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof
will be best understood from the following description of specific
embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] FIG. 1 is a rear top perspective view of the work surface
panel of a household appliance;
[0024] FIG. 2 is a detailed perspective view of a rear corner of
the work surface panel of FIG. 1;
[0025] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a holding pin according to
the invention; and
[0026] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the holding pin of FIG. 3 with
a detail of the housing rear face.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0027] Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and
first, particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a top plate,
or work surface panel 1 defining a work surface of a household
appliance. The work surface panel 1 is combined on the top face of
a body 3 of a household appliance, which is in the form of a
cabinet, with a further part. The further part, in this case, is a
control panel 2 that falls away slightly in the form of a curve
towards the front face of the housing. On the front edge the work
surface panel 1 is attached by its lower face to the top face of
the housing body 3. On the rear face, the work surface panel 1 has
a surround 4 (i.e., an angle piece, bent edge) with elongated holes
5, which are used for attachment of the work surface panel 1 in the
direction of the front face of the body 3.
[0028] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged detail of a rear corner of the work
surface panel 1. The elongated hole 5 is located in the vicinity of
the lower edge of the surround 4 behind which the upper edge of the
attachment hole 6 of the body 3 can be seen. A holding pin 7, as is
shown in FIG. 3, is inserted into the attachment hole 6, passing
through the elongated hole 5 in the direction of the arrow, and is
secured by way of a screw 16 (FIG. 4). During the installation
process, the position of the work surface panel 1 can then be
adjusted laterally within the extent of the degree of freedom
provided by the elongated holes 5. This makes it possible to
compensate for any dimensional tolerances that exist.
[0029] As is shown in FIG. 3, a holding pin 7 has an axial bore 17
and two shank parts 8 and 9, which are formed by an elongated slot
10 along the center axis of the holding pin 7. At the upper end,
the holding pin 7 has a head-like attachment 11 with projections 12
which are similar to ears arranged at the side. The slot continues
into these projections 12 and thus provides the shank 8, 9 with
enormous diameter elasticity, so that the shank parts 8, 9 can be
deflected towards one another during insertion of the holding pin 7
into the elongated hole 5 and into the attachment hole 6.
[0030] Directly underneath the head-like attachment 11, the holding
pin 7 has a slotted-link area with flat surfaces 13, which give the
holding pin 7 a virtually rectangular cross section at this point.
The slotted-link surfaces 13 correspond to surfaces 14 of apertures
15 in the head-like attachment 11, which are intended for the
insertion of a tool, such as a screwdriver, by means of which the
shank parts 8 and 9 can be pressed towards one another in the
installed position, in order to release the holding pin 7 from the
attachment hole 6 and from the elongated hole 5 in order to
disassemble the work surface panel 1.
[0031] As is shown in FIG. 4, the holding pins 7 are locked by
means of the integrally formed slotted-link surfaces 13 such that
they cannot rotate once they have latched into the elongated hole
5, and are fixed by means of the undercut, which is provided by
there being a shorter distance (key width) between the slotted-link
surfaces 13 than the diameter of the shank 8, 9. In this case, the
distance between the slotted-link surfaces 13 is approximately the
same size as the unobstructed width of the elongated holes 5.
[0032] In the assembled state, the attachment elements pass through
the length of the holding pins 7. In this case, screws 16 are
provided as the attachment elements, which force the shank parts 8
and 9 apart from one another during insertion into the holding pin
7 and thus produce a close force fit (i.e., friction fit) between
the outer surfaces of the shank parts 8 and 9 and the inner wall of
the attachment holes 6. Since the holding pins 7 are preferably
made of plastic, the edges of the attachment hole 6 also bury
themselves in the shank parts 8 and 9 during the spreading process,
thus also resulting in an interlock between these parts, which
ensures a firm connection.
[0033] The spreading of the shank parts 8 and 9 of the holding pin
7 can be achieved by different screw types (for example screws for
plastics, self-tapping screws, etc) or by insertion pins (which are
not illustrated).
[0034] This application claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.
119, of German patent application No. 103 13 600.2, filed Mar. 26,
2003; the disclosure of the prior application is herewith
incorporated by reference in its entirety.
* * * * *