WO1999027817A1

WO1999027817A1 - Connecting element

Info

Publication number: WO1999027817A1
Application number: PCT/EP1998/007747
Authority: WO
Inventors: Per Olaf Lindquist; Kenneth Andersson; Thomas Klasson; Andrew Moseley
Original assignee: Electrolux Siegen Gmbh
Priority date: 1997-12-01
Filing date: 1998-12-01
Publication date: 1999-06-10
Also published as: CA2277940A1; EP0975252A1; DE29721281U1

Abstract

The invention relates to a connecting element for an easy, economical and stable connection of components between two interspaced surfaces which face one another. The invention also relates to different connecting systems with which the advantages of the connecting elements can be fully displayed, and which permit an easy and quick removal or repositioning of compartment bottoms, particularly racks, especially when used in refrigerators. To this end, the systems make it possible, especially when used in refrigerators, to brace the components to be fastened between the walls so that the oscillations generated by the compressor cannot effect undesired vibrations on the components or racks.

Description

Fastener

The invention relates to a connecting element according to the preamble of claim 1, a connecting system of connecting elements according to claims 22 and 50 and a refrigerator with such connecting elements. The connecting element and the connecting systems are preferably used in the interior of a refrigerator for fastening the shelves, but they can also be used for fastening components of furniture, such as shelves and cupboards.

Refrigerators are known in which recessed receiving strips are provided for fastening the shelf compartments to two opposite side walls. Such a side wall is shown in Fig. 8. The receiving strips (20) extend almost over the entire depth of the shelf compartment, which usually consists of wire-shaped bars that are connected to one another to form a grid. Lateral bars of these shelf compartments are either placed on the strips or inserted into the refrigerator from the front.

The inner housing of a refrigerator facing the cold room side is usually manufactured as a one-piece plastic injection-molded part for production-related and food-hygiene reasons. Between this one-piece molded plastic part and its foam insulation on the back, it is usually

CONFIRMATION COPY se a composite material that additionally stabilizes the plastic injection molded part. The plastic molded part is made as thin-walled as possible to save material. The connection systems consisting of mounting strips have the advantage of good stability even with small wall thicknesses, but they are also disadvantageous. They require a considerable amount of material in the production of the side walls and the application of their rigid foam insulation, since the structure of multiple strips arranged one above the other extends almost over the entire length of each side wall. In addition, the production of a large-area multiple strip structure requires a not inconsiderable amount of tools. In particular, there is an increased effort for mold construction in the production by injection molding. The multiple strip structure is also unsanitary, since the large number of cutouts and projections is difficult to clean, which is particularly critical when storing food. Experience has shown that occasional spillage of packages containing liquid that have been opened in the refrigerator cannot be completely avoided. Therefore, the construction of the interior of a refrigerator requires a design that can be easily cleaned, especially after spilling liquid. This is the only way to avoid a risk of contamination.

The multiple strip structure also results in reduced insulating properties of the side wall, since the multiple strip structure ultimately behaves like a number of heat-conducting fins, which “improves” the heat exchange between the cold room side and the outside of the refrigerator.

Alternative fastening systems, such as. B. the use of pin-shaped shelf shelf holders, which are inserted into the side walls and serve to support the shelves, are not suitable for thin-walled side walls, especially in refrigerators, since the possibilities of a concentrated local load transfer are limited, where only thin-walled side walls are available.

It is therefore first of all the object of the present invention to provide a connecting element for a piece of furniture such as a refrigerator, which enables improved load introduction, in particular into thin-walled side walls, enables stable mounting of the component and, at the same time, can be quickly fastened to a wall using structurally simple means . In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide a connecting element that is inexpensive to manufacture, in particular in large quantities.

This object is achieved with a connecting element with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the connecting element according to the invention are specified in subclaims 2 to 21.

If the connecting element is arranged on its rear side on a wall and a receiving section is also provided for connection to a component, the receiving section can be individually adapted to the requirements of the shelf compartment without having to meet the manufacturing requirements to be taken into account when manufacturing a wall, in particular without to have to pay special attention to the thin walls of the wall. The fact that the size of the contact surface between the component and the thin-walled wall is no longer predetermined by the component, but by the section of the connecting element connected to the wall, makes it possible to determine the contact surface via which a load is introduced into the thin-walled wall is able to enlarge without having to accept additional specifications for the component. The wall can then be made flat outside the connection point with a connecting element. The connecting element can thus simultaneously be used for connection to the wall as well as for the connection to a component. The receiving section of the connecting element can be used universally for different parts. In an advantageous embodiment of the connecting element according to the invention, the connecting element is removably held on the wall, so that it can be easily replaced. So not only the wall, especially in the area of the connecting element, can be cleaned completely and easily after a few assembly steps.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention provides a first variant, in which the back of the connecting element is held in a form-fitting manner with clamping forces on the wall, so that no additional fastening elements are required. A particularly quick assembly can be achieved with this first variant if a recess is provided on the rear of the connecting element, into which a projection engages on the wall. As a result of the cuboid design of the recess, the recess being open on one side, the connecting element according to this first variant can be easily pushed onto the projection on the wall parallel to the wall assigned to it. According to an exemplary embodiment which is particularly preferred with regard to this first variant, the connecting element is connected to the component via a snap or clamp connection. In this way, for example, a shelf can be attached to the connecting element quickly and easily, which also enables the connecting element to be preassembled to facilitate handling on the shelf to be positioned. The connecting element preferably additionally has a support section which can be used to additionally support the component on the connecting element, which increases the stability and the load-bearing capacity of the shelf.

In an advantageous embodiment of the first variant according to the invention, the connecting element has at least one cylindrical receiving section, which is open on the side opposite the rear side, the one rod-shaped section of the component, such as a shelf of a refrigerator, can accommodate. The rod-shaped section is locked on the cylindrical receiving section and can be removed via a tapered section on the cylinder wall side.

According to a particularly stable and easy to manufacture embodiment of the first variant of the connecting element according to the invention, two cylindrical receiving sections are provided on the side opposite the rear wall, which are arranged on two sides of the connecting element and into which a rod can be inserted, the longitudinal extent of which is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the cuboid recess, a continuous support section being arranged above the receiving sections.

A particularly advantageous further development provides for a second variant. In this case, the connecting element is held on the wall with its rear side, in that a part of the connecting element is pushed perpendicular to the wall onto a projection of the wall or inserted into a recess in the wall. Such a pushing in or pushing on perpendicular to the wall makes it possible to produce a large-area, form-fitting contact between the fastening element and the wall in the main loading direction with a very simply designed fastening element.

A particularly advantageous development of the alternative second variant of the invention provides that the receiving section is formed by an opening in the connecting element, which extends essentially parallel to the axis, along which the connecting element onto the holding projection or into the holding recess can be inserted. Due to the possibility of inserting the component perpendicular to the wall into the connecting element, a connection between the component and the fastening element can be made very easily, and there is also the possibility of being perpendicular anyway to use the tapered struts of a grid-shaped shelf for fastening between the component and the connecting element.

A particularly advantageous development of this second variant provides that the opening forming the mounting portion completely penetrates the connecting element. It is thus possible to guide the connecting element on the component in such a way that the connecting element can be displaced relative to the component and so that engagement with the wall can be established or canceled in a simple manner.

In addition to the disadvantages already described, the tube-shaped structure has further disadvantages, particularly in refrigerators. In particular, the tube-shaped structure is disadvantageous with regard to the problem-free arrangement of the shelving compartments according to the user's wishes.

If the individual receiving strips are arranged closely one above the other, the shelves can only be installed and removed by pulling out or inserting the shelf compartments in a drawer-like manner through the door of the refrigerator so that they come into or out of engagement with the receiving strips. The need to pull this out is impractical. If, for example, the door of the refrigerator swings open in the direction of the kitchen wall, or if the refrigerator is arranged in the corner area of an angle kitchen, for example, so that the refrigerator door cannot be opened much more than 90 °, the following problem arises. In this case, the compartments in the refrigerator door may protrude into the area through which the shelf compartments must be pushed for removal and installation, even when the refrigerator door is fully open. That is, In such cases, installing or removing the shelf compartments initially requires a laborious removal of the compartments fitted in the refrigerator door. Other systems are known which do not require the door compartments to be removed even in such a case. With these systems, however, the shelves must first be pulled a little way into the door area. Then they have to be tilted up or down to an approximately vertical level. Finally, they must be pulled vertically out of the refrigerator along the top or bottom edge of the refrigerator door. This process is also cumbersome.

Furthermore, it proves to be a disadvantage that the inner housing of the refrigerator cannot be designed freely in the area of the door as long as the shelf compartments can be pushed in through the door opening. For example, the sealing flange facing the door must be designed so that it does not protrude inwards and hinder the ability to insert the shelf compartments.

If the holding strips of the shelf compartments are arranged at a large distance from one another to avoid these disadvantages, this is also unsatisfactory. Installation and removal of the shelf compartments is then no longer dependent on the ability to insert the shelf compartments through the door opening. Because the shelf compartments can be tilted into the diagonal at a large distance from the mounting rails in the interior of the refrigerator and then easily removed through the door opening or installed in the opposite direction. In this case, however, the variability of the arrangement of the shelf compartments is restricted. Because in order to make it possible that the shelf compartments inside the refrigerator can be tilted from their horizontal position into a diagonal and vice versa, a clear distance between the superimposed mounting strips is essential. It is therefore a further object of the present invention to provide a connection system for connecting shelves to furniture such as a refrigerator, which not only can take advantage of the advantages of the fastening elements according to the invention, but also allows shelves to be attached very closely to one another to allow for simple assembly at the same time.

This object is achieved with a connection system with the features of claim 22. Advantageous refinements of the connection system according to the invention are specified in subclaims 23 to 49.

The connecting system consists of at least one guide on the component and at least two connecting elements according to one of claims 11 to 22, of which at least one connecting element interacts with a guide in such a way that a relative movement between the component and this at least one guide element is possible, the connecting system additionally at least comprises two projections or formations corresponding to the connecting elements, at least one or one of which is located on each wall. A connection system designed in this way enables each individual shelf to be completely disengaged from the walls for disassembly, despite the fact that the optional fastening points for the shelves are very close together. The shelf can then be tilted and easily removed from the refrigerator. Nevertheless, the attachment is easy and quick to use. There are no strength problems even with thin-walled side walls.

In an advantageous embodiment of the connecting system according to the invention, it is provided that all the guides and connecting elements are matched to one another in such a way that all connecting elements assigned to the component can be displaced on the component in such a way that they disengage from the Come wall, whereby the component comes free from the walls, so that it can be positioned in another place or removed entirely. In this way, a very simple detachment of the component from the walls is still possible in the cold room. By pushing the connecting elements back on one side, the component is either completely free in the horizontal position or in any case only has to be tilted by a small amount in the diagonal direction in order to be completely free.

A further advantageous embodiment of the connecting system according to the invention provides that at least on one side of the component all guides and the connecting elements assigned to them are coordinated with one another in such a way that at least on this one side of the component all connecting elements can be displaced on the component in such a way that the component first comes free from the wall on this one side, whereupon the remaining connecting elements can also be brought out of engagement with the wall by moving the component, so that the structural part is released from the walls on both sides. This means that space must only be left on one side of the component in order to be able to withdraw the connecting elements sufficiently far from the wall. Since the connecting elements are rigidly arranged on the other side of the component, the component can move closer to the wall on this side. This is particularly advantageous where the component is a shelf, since the shelf only has to be elaborately designed on one side in order to close the gap to the wall there as well. Unless a special design of the shelf is provided, a noticeable gap between the shelf and the wall must only be accepted on one side.

A further advantageous embodiment of the connection system according to the invention provides that the connection elements, which only disengage from the walls in a second step by moving the component relative to the walls Bring wall and coordinate the projections or recesses of the wall associated with these connecting elements so that the component can be tilted after it has come free on one side of the wall. This tiltability makes it possible on the side on which the component is first brought out of engagement with the wall by moving the connecting elements, to make do with a smaller displacement path of the connecting elements. In this way, the distance between the shelf and the wall can be further reduced even without special design of the component or shelf.

An advantageous embodiment of the fastening system according to the invention provides that the guide is formed by a strut of the grating and preferably by a main strut of the grating. The guide can then be produced in a simple manner by dispensing with a strut in the region of the outer edges of the grating, as a result of which a free section suitable for guiding is available on the main strut of the grating.

If only one or more connecting elements are provided on one side of the building board, which have a receiving section in the form of a blind hole, the component can also be supported on these connecting elements perpendicular to the wall. This is particularly important if the component is to be clamped between the walls. It is then possible for the elastic bracing to support the component against the force of a spring element at the bottom of the blind hole of this connecting element.

The same advantage results if the connecting element or the connecting elements are permanently attached to one side of the component, preferably by pressing, gluing, locking or injection molding. Furthermore, it can be provided that at least on one wall side the projections or recesses of the wall are designed such that they can only be brought into engagement with connecting elements which are provided for fastening on this wall side. In this way, protection against assembly errors can be achieved, in particular if different types of fastening elements are provided for different walls.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the connection system according to the invention, the component is fixed by at least one removable means between two opposing walls. In this way, an even more reliable fixing of the component can be achieved than if only frictional engagement is provided between the movable connecting elements and their guides. A KHpp consisting of two elastically interconnected legs is provided as a very simple means of fixing the component.

A preferred embodiment of the first alternative of the connection system according to the invention provides that the component is fixed by elastic bracing. In the case of refrigerators in particular, the problem arises that, excited by the compressor, undesirable vibrations and noises occur. Elastic tensioning of the component (especially if it is a shelf) prevents the development of disturbing vibrations. The elastic bracing can be implemented in a simple manner by arranging at least one leaf spring acting in the direction of the axis of the guide element on at least one of the limbs of the clip. If the dimensions are correct, the KHpp then clamps in the installed position between the adjacent fastening element and the guide stop. The at least one leaf spring (of the clip) is advantageously designed in the manner of a clamped cantilever and at the same time the extension of the clip along the axis of the guide element at the clamping point of the leaf spring is less than at the free end of the leaf spring. Between the two side edges of the KHpp, a wedge effect is created when the clip is inserted, which allows the spring to be tensioned with little effort.

Advantageously, the extension of the clip along the axis of the guide element (= width of the clip) is selected to match the other system components so that the KHpp is only so wide up to the area of the clamping tension of the leaf spring that it is almost tension-free on the guide can be pushed on, while its width increases in the area of the leaf spring so that it is tensioned by moving this KHpps into the locked position. The KHpp designed in this way can be very easily mounted on the guide, since first its front section can be attached to the guide element with almost no tension and then the spring tension of the clip is inevitably produced by the further pressing on, without the pressing being associated with difficulties and during Press on the KHpps must be taken care of the leadership.

Advantageously, an opening is made at least on one leg of the KHpps, but preferably on both legs, at the free end of the leg. The opening is preferably designed so that the blade of a flat screwdriver or similar tool can be attached. This makes it possible for people with only small forces, especially older people, to easily remove the clip if necessary using an auxiliary tool.

In addition, especially in refrigerators, there may be a need to simplify the assembly and disassembly of the shelves even further. Here- The use of somewhat elaborate connecting elements, ie. accepted a slightly higher cost. However, buying the simplified assembly by giving up other advantages is not desirable.

This object is achieved with a connection system with the features of claim 50.

Accordingly, a connection system is provided which consists of at least two guides on the component, at least two connection elements according to one of claims 1 to 10, which are all held movably on the component along the guide and at least two projections, at least one of which is located on each wall , exists and in which the connecting elements can be brought out of engagement with the ends by lifting the component and in which the guide elements are further designed so that each connecting element can be moved along the guide assigned to it to the wall assigned to it. This system makes it possible, by lifting the component as a whole, to bump the component onto the projecting wall or to pull it off. In that the connecting elements can be displaced along the side edges of the component so that they are outside the region of the wall projections after the component has been disassembled, the component, although its side edges extend very close to the walls, can be moved freely between the walls and easily positioned or removed elsewhere.

The invention is described below using several exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures. Show it:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the connecting element according to the invention (Variantel); Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the back of the connecting element of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side view of a second embodiment of the connecting element (modification of variant 1);

Fig. 4 is a rear view of the connecting element of Fig. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional side view of the connecting element of FIG. 4 along the line AA;

FIG. 6 is a sectional plan view of the connecting element of FIG. 4 along the line BB;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of an inner side wall of a refrigerator, and

8 shows a plan view of an inner side wall of a refrigerator according to the prior art;

9 shows a perspective view of a third exemplary embodiment (variant 2) of the connecting element according to the invention in a view from the front and a view from the rear;

10 is a perspective view of a fourth exemplary embodiment (modification variant 2) of the connecting element according to the invention in a view from the front and a view from the rear;

11 is a sectional view of a first exemplary embodiment of the connection system according to the invention in the installed state. 12 shows a sectional view of a first exemplary embodiment of the connection system according to the invention during removal;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the connection system according to the invention in the installed state and clamped by a spring element.

14 shows a partial section of a second exemplary embodiment of the connection system according to the invention;

15 shows a partial section of a third exemplary embodiment of the connection system according to the invention;

16 shows a perspective view of a KHpp used preferably in connection systems as a spring element;

17 shows a perspective view of a fourth exemplary embodiment of the connection system according to the invention in the state installed in the refrigerator;

18 shows a perspective view of a fourth exemplary embodiment of the connection system according to the invention during removal;

1 and 2 show a first exemplary embodiment of the connecting element, which can be fastened on its rear side 1 to a projection on a wall, a receiving section 2 being provided on the opposite side for connection to a component such as a shelf compartment of a refrigerator . On the rear side 1, a parallelepiped ^'-shaped recess 3 is provided which is environmentally on two sides by two arms 4 and 5 of a snap device give is. The arms 4 and 5 each have a vertical section at their lower end for engagement with the cuboid projection.

On the sides 7 and 8 of the connecting element, a receiving section 2 is formed, which is cylindrical and is open to one side. This allows a cylindrical rod of a shelf compartment to be inserted into the receiving sections on pages 7 and 8. To increase the stability, a support section 6 is provided on the upper side of the receiving section 2. In addition, this support section 6 increases the variability of the connecting element. In order to brake the cold air access to the vegetable compartment provided as a relatively warm storage location, no grating but rather a glass plate or the like is regularly provided in the refrigerators as the bottom shelf compartment. Such a glass plate can be held on the support section 6. As a result, no special connecting elements are required for fastening a glass plate.

The second exemplary embodiment of the connecting element shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 largely has the same components, which are therefore designated by the same reference numerals. On the back 1 of this connecting element, another arm 9 of a snap device is provided between the arms 4 and 5. The arm 9 is articulated on the support section 6 and has at the same height as the arms 4 and 5 a vertical section for receiving the quadrangular projection.

The connection element has two feet 17 and 18 for contacting a side wall in the upper region of the support section 6 and in the lower region, which are each integrally connected to a side 7 and 8, respectively. The sides 7 and 8 and the feet 17 and 18 are connected to one another via a central web 19. For fastening to the side wall of a refrigerator, the connecting element according to the first or second exemplary embodiment is plugged onto a projection 10 or 12 on an inner side wall of a refrigerator, so that the connecting element is retained on the projection by clamping forces. Furthermore, a shelf compartment is latched into the receiving section 2.

The clamping device of the connecting element can be modified in that elevations or depressions are formed on the arms 4, 5 or 9 for engagement with the projection. Furthermore, the clamping connection with the cuboid projection can be achieved with a corresponding recess in the connecting element which is open to one side, so that the connecting element can be pushed onto the projection.

9 shows a third exemplary embodiment of the connecting element, which can be fastened to a wall on its rear side 21b. The attachment is carried out by inserting the section 23 of the fastening element into a corresponding opening in the wall. The insertion takes place along an axis which is essentially perpendicular to the holding wall. Furthermore, the fastening element has an opening 24 into which the component can be inserted. The component is inserted essentially parallel to the axis along which the fastening element is inserted into the wall. If the part of the fastener to be inserted into the wall is slightly kegeHg, this can be advantageous for disassembly and final assembly, without sacrificing load-bearing capacity.

This design of the fastening element makes it possible to hold the fastening element on the component and, at the same time, to allow a relative movement between the building element and the fastening element. Due to this relative mobility, the fastening element mounted on the component can either be pushed into the wall and pulled out of the wall again. the. However, because of the relative mobility, there is also the possibility of fixing the fastening element in the wall and of assembling or dismantling the component by movement relative to the fastening element.

The collar 31 can have various configurations, not shown here in detail. So it can be relatively wide and knurled to provide a surface for touching and actuating the connecting element. However, it can, for example, also be relatively narrow and have a tapered phase tapering towards the wall. This can make it possible, for example, even with a very narrow collar, to intervene behind the collar and thus simplify the pull-out of the connecting element from the wall. Furthermore, the collar can be configured on its side facing the building panel and in particular with very narrow outer edges. A collar designed in this way lies optimally against the wall in the assembled state of the connecting element. There is then practically no edge at the transition between the edge and the connecting element. This makes cleaning easier. This federal design is particularly recommended for fasteners that are fixed on the component, d. H. as such do not have to be actuated and therefore do not have to offer any surface for attack by the actuating forces.

10 shows a fourth exemplary embodiment of the connecting element, which can be fastened on its rear side 21 b to a projection of a wall. The attachment takes place in that the back of the fastening element has a recess 22. This recess is pushed along an axis that extends essentially perpendicular to the holding wall onto a projection of the wall. The connecting element according to this fourth embodiment is essentially the functional reversal of the connecting element according to the third embodiment. 11 shows a first embodiment of the connection system according to the invention in the installed state. The connection system consists of the two connection elements 21, the grating constituting the component with the main strut 26 and the struts 27 serving as the actual shelf, and the receiving openings 25 a provided on the wall. The connecting elements are slidably guided on the ends of the main strut 26. Between the struts 27 attached to the left and right at the outermost edge of the grating and each connecting element 21, when the connecting elements are installed, there is a distance which corresponds approximately to the axial extent of the connecting element. Each connecting element can thus be withdrawn from the wall to such an extent that it disengages from the wall. The length of the main strut (26) is chosen so that the two outermost ends of the main strut (26), coming from the space between the walls, extend as far as possible to the main plane of the walls. If necessary, the load-bearing capacity of the connecting elements can be increased by making the main strut (26) a little longer, so that both ends protrude a little into the area of the receiving opening of the wall. With such a design, a larger piece of the main strut is in contact with the built-in connecting elements, which improves the compression ratio and reduces the moment load on the fastening elements.

The receiving openings of the wall and the sections of the fastening elements encompassed by the wall can be coordinated with one another in such a way that the fastening elements are guided into the wall with a certain amount of play. This facilitates assembly and disassembly. In such a case, however, a further separate element will be required in order to fix the connecting elements in the installed state relative to the main strut. Alternatively, the receiving openings and the sections of the connecting elements encompassed by the wall, but also the connecting elements and the guides, can be opened in this way. be coordinated so that a certain amount of friction occurs. In such a FaU, additional elements for fixing the connecting elements relative to the main strut in the installed state may be dispensed with.

FIG. 12 shows the connection system just explained with reference to FIG. 11 in a phase of expansion. The connecting elements have been withdrawn from the wall on both sides along the main strut. In principle, the grating has already cleared the wall, but both ends of the main strut protrude a little into the openings in the wall. In order to be able to get the grating off the wall and reposition or remove it as required, the grating must be tilted a little into the diagonal in a further step. With the correct design of the length of the main strut, the main strut can then be guided out of the opening in the wall on one side, which completely frees the grating. If, as already mentioned above, the length of the main strut is alternatively carried out in such a way that the ends of the main strut extend from the space between the walls up to the main planes of the wall, the diagonal tilting of the grating is unnecessary. The grate then comes completely free from the walls in a horizontal position.

13 shows a second exemplary embodiment of the connection system. The connection system consists of a rear-side connecting element 21 and a right-hand fastening element 21 c, which interact with two openings 25 in the wall. The left fastening element 21 is in turn movably held on the main strut 26 of the grating. The right-hand fastening element 21 c is provided as a stationary element. It can be fixed on the main strut, for example by pressing. However, it can also simply be pushed loosely onto the main strut. The receiving opening 24 of the fastener 21 c can be designed as a blind hole be (blind hole not shown here). When running as a blind hole, the end of the main strut can be supported against the bottom of the blind hole. Alternatively, as shown here, the grating can also be supported via the outermost (right) strut 27 on the end face of the connecting element. The end face of the connecting element 21 c is constructed and tapered towards the outer edges. In this way, the connecting element hugs the wall almost completely, and there is practically no dirt-trapping edge. In the illustration shown here, the grating is stretched elastically over the two connecting elements between the two walls. The spring clip 28 is responsible for this tension. It consists wesentHchen from both perpendicular to the plane of the legs KHpps which are in turn carried out in duplicate slit, two U-fb ^'-shaped spring legs 29 and 30 so that revealed the effect of the longitudinal axis of the main strut. The leg 29 is resiliently supported on the left fastening element. The leg 30 is supported on the outermost left strut 27. In this way, the entire grating is pushed to the right. There, as described, it is supported on the right fastening element via the outermost right strut 27. Thus there is tension. This has the advantage that the grating is reliably fixed regardless of the tolerances just present and also when a loose "fit" is selected between the stationary connecting element and the opening in the wall receiving it. There is thus no danger that the grating will be in operation The compressor of the refrigerator is caused to vibrate by its vibrations. Noise is prevented. The spring mechanism 28 can be pulled off the main strut in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing.

14 shows the connection system according to the second embodiment just described during disassembly. The Hnke connecting element 21 was pulled out of the opening 25 of the wall along the main strut 26. The grating is thus disengaged from one side of the wall. The the second side of the grating can then be disengaged from the wall by tilting the grating diagonally around the right, stationary fastening element. With a suitable choice of the "fit" between the stationary connecting element and the opening 25 receiving this connecting element in the wall, it becomes possible to tilt the grating into the diagonal until the grating is a sufficient distance along the axis of the main strut, ie along the diagonal can be moved to disengage the second connector from the wall, or alternatively the fit between the stationary connector and the opening in the wall receiving it can be selected such that the second connector is disengaged from the wall by tilting the grate can be brought.

In Fig. 14 it can also be seen that at least on the side of the stationary fastening element the struts 17 which make up the shelf can be brought up to the wall directly. This way, an annoying gap is avoided at least on one side. Nevertheless, with regard to the handling of the grating, there is still a benefit compared to a grating mounted on both sides in guide rails. This is because the angle by which the grating must be tilted in order to bring it out of engagement with the wall is smaller if one side of the grating is already released from the wall by pulling back the connecting elements.

15 shows a third embodiment of the connection system. Queue in the wall openings of connecting elements are used here connecting elements that are pushed onto projections of the wall. Connecting elements of the type shown here can be used in the system either alone or in combination with the connecting elements shown in the previous figures. The use of the connecting element shown here has the advantage that the grating is very free between the walls. comes as soon as the main strut has been removed from the area of the wall projection. This advantage is, however, paid for with the Nachteü that the outermost side strut of the strut 27 forming the actual shelf has some distance from the wall - namely the amount by which the projection of the wall protrudes into the cooling space and additionally the amount by which the connecting element must be withdrawn.

16 shows a spring clip 28, as is preferably used in the connection system, in order to elastically brace the grating in relation to the side walls of the refrigerator. The U-shaped KHpp is formed from two legs 32 and 33 which are connected elastically to one another. It is open on one side and has a receptacle 34 for a rod-shaped component on the opposite side. Since then, the clip can be pushed onto a strut of the grating. When pushed on, the legs 32 and 33 are spread apart until the strut is locked with the opening 34. Because the opening 34 surrounds the strut by more than 180 °, the strut inevitably locks in the installed position. The legs are additionally slotted in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the strut received by the KHpp. Thus, the legs at the same time form two flexural supports ^" 29 and 30 clamped on one side. These are nothing more than a leaf spring that can exert forces essentially along the axis of the brace. The width of the KHpps is in the area marked with B 1 Narrowly chosen so that the KHpp can be attached to the strut without any effort. Towards the side on which the legs are connected, the KHpp becomes ever wider. In this way, it reaches its greatest width in the area marked with B 2. If at least the area marked with B 2 is chosen so wide that B 2 is greater than the play by which the grating held between two walls can be moved in its connecting elements, then the leaf springs 29 and 30 become when the KHpp is pressed onto the strut inevitably tensioned, thereby tensioning the leaf springs 29 and 30 Wedge effect of the KHpps, which broadened continuously from B 1 to B 2. In addition, two openings 35 and 36 are provided at the free ends of the legs of the KHpps. One or more screwdrivers or similar tools can be attached to these openings to disassemble the KHpp. The screwdrivers with their blades are inserted into the openings from the outside in a cost-effective manner. By applying a bending moment to both screwdrivers in the direction of the side on which the legs are connected, the KHpp can be easily expanded and removed. Other tools, such as. B. punched pieces of sheet metal, which the refrigerator manufacturer has supplied as an aid for dismantling, can be used.

17 shows a fourth exemplary embodiment of a connection system in the installed position in a refrigerator 40. The connection elements 37 are no longer shown in detail. It is exclusively connecting elements according to claims 1 to 10. Their design has already been described in detail previously. The grating 39 with the main struts 26 and the struts 27 representing the actual shelf is only shown in parts. The wall projections 38, from which the connecting elements 37 are held, are designed to be closely spaced apart. The grate can be positioned very variably.

Fig. 18 shows the same connection system in a phase of removal to remove or otherwise arrange the grating. The connecting elements 37 are brought out of engagement with the wall projections 38 holding them by lifting the grating. Then the connecting elements 37 are shifted along the outermost strut 27 a paraUel clipped into them to the wall. As a result, they come to lie outside the region of the wall projections 38. As a result, the connecting elements 37 are not in the way when the grating is raised or lowered past the projections 38. It is not necessary, or at most a very slight tilting of the grating, in order to be able to raise or lower it. When the grating is in its new (for example, two projections provided above) position, the fastening elements 37 are pushed back to their original position along the strut 27 a that is inserted into them. Now the grating can be pushed back or pushed open with the fastening elements 37 onto the wall projections 38 assigned to the new position by simply pushing it down.

Claims

Expectations

1. Connecting element, in particular for the interior of a refrigerator, with a rear to be arranged on a wall (1) which is held in the installed state on the wall, characterized in that a receiving section (2) is provided on the connecting element for connection to a component is.

2. Connecting element according to claim 1, characterized in that the

Connection element is removably held on the wall.

3. Connecting element according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the back is held positively with clamping forces on the wall.

4. Connecting element according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the rear side has a recess (3) into which a projection (10, 12) of the wall engages.

5. Connecting element according to claim 4, characterized in that the

Recess (3) is essentially cuboid, wherein it is open to one side.

6. Connecting element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting element is connected to the component via a snap or clamp connection.

7. Connecting element according to claim 6, characterized in that on the back a snap device (4, 5, 9) is provided which engages in the installed state on a cuboid projection (10).

8. Connecting element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting element has at least one cylindrical receiving section (2) which is open to the side opposite the rear side (1).

9. Connecting element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting element has a support section (6).

10. Connecting element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two receiving sections open to the rear opposite side are arranged on two sides (7, 8) for receiving a rod-shaped section, the longitudinal direction of the rectangular recess (3) parallel to the Bar axis runs and a support section (6) is arranged above the receiving sections (2).

11. Connecting element (21) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the connecting element (21) is held in the installed state with its rear side (21b) on the wall in that its rear side (21b) has a recess (22), which is pushed essentially perpendicular to the holding wall onto a projection (25b) of the same.

12. Connecting element (21) according to claim 11, characterized in that the recess (22) is formed rotationally symmetrically, preferably cyclically or ke- geUg.

13. Connecting element (21) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the connecting element (21) is held in the installed state with its back on the wall in that a part of the connecting element (21) substantially perpendicular to the holding wall in a Recess (25 a) is inserted the same.

14. Verbmdungselement (21) according to claim 6, characterized in that the part encircled by the wall (3 a) is rotationally symmetrical, preferably cylindrical or conical.

15. Connecting element (21) according to one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that the receiving section is formed by an opening (24) in the connecting element (21), which extends essentially to the axis along which the connecting element (21 ) can be pushed onto the holding projection (25 b) or into the holding recess (25 a).

16. Connecting element (21) according to claim 15, characterized in that the opening forming the receiving portion (24) has a constant cross section over its entire depth.

17. Connecting element (21) according to claim 16, characterized in that the opening (24) forming the receiving section is cylindrical.

18. Connecting element (21) according to one of claims 15 to 18, characterized in that the opening forming the receiving portion (24) in the connecting element (21) is designed in the manner of a blind hole.

19. Verbmdungselement (21) according to any one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that the opening portion 24 opening the receiving section penetrates the connecting element (21) completely.

20. Connecting element (21) according to one of claims 11 to 19, characterized in that the connecting element (21) on its side facing the component (31) has a preferably cylindrical or conical collar.

21. Connecting element (21) according to one of claims 11 to 19, characterized in that the end face (31) of the connecting element facing the component is crowned.

22. Connection system for connecting a building unit with two opposite and facing walls, in particular for use in refrigerators, characterized in that the connection system consists of at least one guide (26 a) on the component and at least two connecting elements according to one of claims 11 to 21 , of which at least one connecting element (21) cooperates with a guide (26 a) in such a way that a relative movement between the building unit and this at least one guide is possible, the connecting system additionally comprising at least two projections or recesses (25 a) corresponding to the connecting elements , at least one of which is located on each wall.

23. Connection system according to one of claim 23, characterized in that all the guides (27 a) and connecting elements (21) are matched to one another in such a way that all connecting elements (21) assigned to the construction menu can be moved on the component in such a way that they disengage come with the wall, whereby the component of the Walls clear so that it can be positioned in another location or removed entirely.

24. Connection system according to claim 22 or 23, characterized in that all of the guides (27 a) and the connecting elements (21) associated therewith are matched to one another at least on one side of the building menu in such a way that all connecting elements (21 ) can be shifted on the component in such a way that the component is first released from the wall on one side, whereupon the remaining connecting elements (21) can also be disengaged from the wall by moving the building door, causing the component to get off the walls as far is released that it can be repositioned or removed between the walls.

25. Connection system according to claim 24, characterized in that the component is released from one side of the wall, can be moved between the walls so that all other connecting elements (21) can be brought out of engagement with the wall.

26. Connection system according to claim 25, characterized in that the connecting elements (21), which are only brought out of engagement with the wall by a movement of the building element relative to the walls, and the projections or recesses (25 a) associated with these connecting elements of the wall are coordinated so that the component can be tilted after it has come free on one side of the wall.

27. Connection system according to claim 26, characterized in that the component can be moved between the walls as a result of the tilting in such a way that all the connecting elements (21) come out of engagement with the wall.

28. Connection system according to claim 22, characterized in that the guides (26 a) and connecting elements (21) are matched to one another in such a way that the building block can be moved in the connecting elements in such a way that one side of the building block comes out of engagement with the connecting elements, whereupon the component can be tilted and brought out of engagement with the remaining fastening elements by a further movement and can thus be freely positioned or removed between the walls.

29. Connection system according to one of claims 22 to 28, characterized in that the guide (26 a) is formed by a rod which is fastened to the component and, when the component is in the installed position, extends essentially perpendicularly to the wall which corresponds to that of facing him connecting element (21).

30. Connection system according to one of claims 22 to 29, characterized in that the component is a shelf.

31. Connection system according to one of claims 22 to 30, characterized in that the Bauteü is a grate for a refrigerator.

32. Connection system according to claim 31, characterized in that the guide (26 a) by a strut (27) of the grating is büded.

33. Connecting element (21) according to claim 32, characterized in that the guide (26 a) is formed by a main strut (26) of the grating.

34. Connection system according to claim 32 or 33, characterized in that the bracing the guide brace (26, 27) is made of wire.

35. connecting element (21) according to claim 34, characterized in that the guide (26 a) forming strut made of round wire.

36. Connection system according to one of claims 22 to 37, characterized in that only one or more connecting elements (21) according to claim 18 are provided on one side of the component.

37. Connection system according to one of claims 22 to 27, or 29 to 36, characterized in that the connecting element (21) or the connecting elements (21) are permanently attached to one side of the component, preferably by pressing, gluing, latching or spraying.

38. Connection system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting elements (21) which are not permanently fixed on the building board are fixed by frictional engagement on the building board.

39. Connection system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least on one wall side, the projections or recesses (25 a) of the wall are designed such that they can only be brought into engagement with connecting elements which are provided for attachment to this wall side .

40. Connection system according to claim 39 in conjunction with claim 36 or 37, characterized in that the connecting elements (21) designated in more detail in claim 36 or 37 can only be brought into engagement with the projections or cutouts of the wall assigned to them.

41. Connection system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connection system has one or more means to fix the component relative to the connecting elements.

42. Connection system according to claim 41, characterized in that the means for fixing the building item, relative to the connecting elements, is at least one element which is arranged on one of the guides (26 a) and the component is directly or indirectly between two opposing walls specifies.

43. Connection system according to one of claims 41 or 42, characterized in that the fixing of the component is carried out by elastic bracing.

44. Connection system according to claim 42 or 43, characterized in that the means for fixing consists of two legs, between which a guide (26 a) can be locked (clip).

45. Connection system according to claim 44, characterized in that the legs are elastically connected to each other.

46. Connection system according to claim 44 or 45, characterized in that at least one leaf spring acting in the direction of the axis of the guide element is arranged on at least one of the legs of the clip.

47. Connection system according to claim 46, characterized in that the at least one leaf spring is designed in the manner of a clamped cantilever and that the extension of the KHpps along the axis of the guide element and the EinspannsteUe of the leaf spring is less than at the free end of the leaf spring.

48. Connection system according to claim 47, characterized in that the extent of the KHpps is chosen along the axis of the guide so that the KHpp is almost in the area of the clamping point of the leaf spring can be pushed tension-free onto the guide (26 a) and the leaf spring is tensioned in the locked position.

49. Connection system according to claim 44 to 48, characterized in that at least in one of the legs of the clip, but preferably in both legs, an opening is made at the open end of the leg.

50. Connection system for connecting a component to two opposing and facing walls, in particular for use in refrigerators, characterized in that the connection system consists of at least two guides (27 a) on the component, at least two connecting elements movable along the guides (27 a) on the construction menu according to one of claims 1 to 10 and at least two projections, of which at least one is located on each wall, and that the connecting elements (21) can be brought out of engagement with the walls by lifting the component and that the guide elements are designed so that each connecting element (21) along the guide (27 a) assigned to it can be moved parallel to the wall assigned to it.

51. Fridge with two inner side walls with two inner walls (11) opposite one another, on which a plurality of projections (10, 12, 25 b) or recesses (25 a) are provided, characterized in that at least one connecting element ( 21) according to one of claims 1 to 21 on a wall (11, 25) is provided.

52. A refrigerator according to claim 51, characterized in that a plurality of projections (10, 12, 25 b) or recesses (25 a), which are arranged one above the other, are provided on the two opposite walls (11, 25), some of which are connected with a connecting element ( 21) are provided, and a shelf is held between two connecting elements.

53. Fridge according to claim 51 or 52, characterized in that the shelf compartment has a grid-like structure and a zyHnderfδrmiger grid section is held on the connecting element (21).

54. Fridge according to one of claims 51 to 53, characterized in that two columns of projections (10, 12, 25 b) or recesses (25a) are provided on two opposite walls (11, 25), some of which have a connecting element (21) are connected, and a shelf is held on four connecting elements.