Connection system, corresponding process and household appliance comprising connection system

Abstract

The invention relates to a connection system (11) for connecting a first household appliance to a second household appliance or an accessory, comprising a table top (2, 3) having a plurality of predefined cavities (4) for receiving fastening elements (1), each cavity (4) being covered by a cover (5, 6, 7, 8), each fastening element (1) has a strip-shaped narrow portion (9) of length l1 and a maximum width d1 and a shorter wide portion (10) of length l2 and a maximum width d2, where l1gt; l1, l2 and d1lt; d2, said cavity (4) and / or said cover (5, 6) being adapted to fix said fastening element (1) in said cavity (4). The invention also relates to a process for connecting a first household appliance to a second household appliance or accessory and to a household appliance comprising said connection system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a connection system, a process for connecting a first household appliance to a second household appliance or an accessory, and a household appliance comprising the connection system. Background Art

[0002] In cramped environments and / or when using a large number of appliances, stacking multiple appliances can be a convenient way to manage limited space. Secure stacking, specifically a mechanical connection, is crucial. Often, tumble dryers are stacked on top of washing machines or washer-dryers, requiring an additional stacking kit to securely attach the dryer to the washing machine. For example, if the dryer is not secured, it could fall in a worst-case scenario. Therefore, a stacking kit is now commonly used for secure stacking. If users want to stack a tumble dryer on a washing machine, they typically have to purchase this additional kit.

[0003] DE 38 27 790 A1 discloses a kit for mounting an upper appliance (e.g., a dryer) on a worktop of a lower appliance (e.g., a washing machine), the kit having four height-adjustable feet. The kit comprises four Z-shaped brackets, at least two screws per bracket, two side panels, and a front panel with corresponding stop elements on the back of the panels.

[0004] DE9101782U1 discloses an anti-tilt connection kit for household appliances (particularly refrigerators and freezers that can be stacked on each other). The housing of the refrigerator and freezer has at least a substantially uniform bottom surface, the refrigerator and freezer are supported on feet, and a tabletop or similar type of accessory is mounted on top. It is characterized in that it has at least two profile rails that can be connected to the housing of the lower device instead of the opposite upper edge of the accessory and have receiving portions on them that are shaped to be inserted into the device feet.

[0005] DE 10 2013 10 31 03 258 A1 discloses a connection kit for stackable laundry treatment appliances, by means of which, for example, a tumble dryer can be mounted on a washing machine to form a washer-dryer column, the connection kit having a frame for fastening to a cover of a bottom-mounted appliance, the frame comprising at least one transverse member between lateral frame parts having foot receptacles arranged therein for supporting support feet of a top-mounted appliance, wherein mounting elements are provided for mounting the connection kit on the cover of a lower-standing appliance, which can be connected to the frame of the connection kit so that they interact as positioning and / or spacing elements between the frame parts and the cover.

[0006] US2011 / 241501A discloses a laundry processing apparatus comprising: an upper laundry processing device; and a lower laundry processing device, wherein each of the upper and lower laundry processing devices comprises: a cabinet; and a plurality of legs mounted below the cabinet. The lower laundry processing device comprises a plurality of leg accommodating portions formed on the upper surface of the cabinet of the lower laundry processing device to accommodate the plurality of legs of the upper laundry processing device. The upper and lower laundry processing devices are fixed to each other by inserting and securing the plurality of legs of the upper laundry processing device into the plurality of leg accommodating portions of the lower laundry processing device. The leg accommodating portions are configured to receive the legs of the upper laundry processing device. In the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, each leg comprises a support portion that directly contacts a bottom surface and supports the cabinet, and a screw portion connected to the support portion and inserted into the bottom surface of the cabinet. The support portion is disc-shaped with a diameter larger than that of the screw portion. The screw portion is cylindrical and has threads on its outer circumference. One end of the screw portion protrudes into the cabinet of the upper laundry handling device by penetrating the bottom surface of the upper laundry handling device. The leg accommodating portion comprises two holes of different widths. One hole is a first insertion hole with a diameter larger than that of the support portion, configured to facilitate insertion of the support portion. The other hole is a second insertion hole with a diameter smaller than that of the support portion but larger than that of the screw portion. In this configuration, the leg cannot pass through the second insertion hole, but can only pass through the first insertion hole.

[0007] DE 103 55 457 A1 discloses a device for sorting laundry into different compartments before feeding into a washing machine, which device consists of at least two washing racks with a base and side walls, wherein the dimensions of the base are adapted to the shape and dimensions of the washing machine cover.

[0008] DE 3827789 A1 discloses a washer / dryer column with a washing machine at the bottom and a countertop. The dryer at the top has four height-adjustable standing feet with footrests. These feet have four Z-shaped brackets that screw onto the countertop to connect and cover any gaps. The brackets' fastening plates are spaced from the countertop and have prongs to accommodate the standing feet. After the dryer is placed on top, the footrests are screwed onto the fastening plates from below. Two side panels and a front panel are secured between the dryer base and the washing machine countertop using snap-on elements.

[0009] DE4233803C2 discloses an invention in which two household appliances, in particular a washing machine and a dryer, are installed overlapping each other. Four adjustable feet are screwed into the base of the upper machine far enough so that the foot end plates or the base project beyond the lower edge of the upper housing by the same amount as the upper edge of the lower machine projects beyond the top surface of its bearing plate. The base is connected to the bearing plate by screws inserted from below. First, the adjustable feet are screwed into the base of the dryer and receive screws inserted through holes in the top bearing plate of the washing machine from below. Sealing rings prevent moisture from seeping through the screws. The feet are positioned so that the edges of the dryer housing and the washing machine housing are in seamless contact.

[0010] DE102005026134A1 discloses a device for connecting two household appliances, in particular a washing machine with a dryer on top, comprising a frame or a plate that can be fixed to the lower appliance. The frame or the plate has at least two shoe segments for fixing the feet of the upper unit. The feet of the upper appliance can be placed in the shoe segments and fixed using a horizontal force. The frame or the plate is made of plastic or metal, as are the positioning elements and the spacers. The frame or the plate is fixed to the lower unit using screws or adhesives. Summary of the Invention

[0011] In view of this situation, the object of the present invention is to provide a connection system that allows for a simplified and safe stacking process based on the mechanical connection of a first household appliance to a second household appliance and / or an accessory, without the need for an additional stacking kit. Preferably, the present invention allows the use of a countertop as a basic element on which additional accessories can also be mounted.

[0012] According to the present invention, this object is achieved by a connection system, a process for connecting a first household appliance, and a household appliance comprising the connection system according to the independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the connection system are particularly shown in the dependent claims. Preferred embodiments of the household appliance and the process correspond to the preferred embodiments of the connection system and vice versa, even if not explicitly stated herein.

[0013] Thus, the present invention relates to a connection system for connecting a first household appliance to a second household appliance or an accessory, comprising a countertop having a plurality of pre-defined cavities for receiving fastening elements, wherein each cavity is covered by a lid, and each fastening element has a narrow strip portion with a length of l1 and a maximum width of d1 and a shorter wide portion with a length of l2 and a maximum width d2, where l1 > l2 and d1 < d2, and the cavity and / or the lid are adapted to fix the fastening element in the cavity.

[0014] For example, the first household appliance can be a dishwasher or a laundry care device, such as a washing machine or a dryer. Preferably, the first household appliance is a washing machine and the second household appliance is a dryer.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the connection system is integrated into the first household appliance.

[0016] In a further preferred embodiment of the connection system of the invention, said connection system is adapted to be attached to said first household appliance.

[0017] In this respect, it should be noted that the worktop is usually composed of a worktop frame and / or a worktop panel.In the above embodiments, both components can be connected to the first household appliance.

[0018] In an alternative embodiment, the connection system is integrated into the first household appliance.

[0019] In the present invention, the cover preferably includes a first cover without a cutout and a second cover with a cutout, in an embodiment, a corresponding slider. In the second slider with a cutout, a portion thereof is cutout, compared to the closed slider, to allow the fastening element to pass through. The cover, in an embodiment, the slider, can be located at various locations within or on top of the countertop.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment of the connection system, the slider is arranged to slide in a direction towards the front side of the household appliance.

[0021] Alternatively, the slide may be arranged to slide in a direction towards the side of the household appliance.

[0022] In a very different embodiment, the slide is a rotary slide which is arranged to be slidable around the fastening element to be fixed.

[0023] Typically, the non-cutout first cover and the cutout second cover, in embodiments corresponding slides, are locked in the table top, preferably in the table top frame, by mechanical clamps.

[0024] Regardless, the connection system of the present invention allows integration into a countertop or a primary countertop of a household appliance. In the latter case, the connection system of the present invention provides an interface that can be used for stacking. Household appliances (e.g., laundry care appliances) can be stacked with other household appliances or suitable accessories. These accessories include, for example, additional worktops or drawers between a dryer and a washing machine.

[0025] In the present invention, the connection system is preferably configured such that both cavities are closed by the same cover.

[0026] In an embodiment of the connection system of the present invention, the cavity is a non-cylindrical cavity having a wide opening and a narrow opening, wherein the two openings may also be merged, wherein the wide opening is wide enough to allow the shorter width portion of the fastening element to enter the cavity, and the narrow opening is narrow enough to prevent the shorter width portion of the fastening element from passing through, so that the fastening element can be fixed by shifting the fastening element from the wide opening to the narrow opening. In this case, the wide opening and the narrow opening are usually merged into a larger opening.

[0027] In a further embodiment of the connection system of the present invention, the cavity is a non-cylindrical cavity that is larger than the shorter width portion of the fastening element, and the fastening element can be fixed by a second cover with a cutout for locking, wherein the cutout can be adapted to allow the fastening element to be fixed in different positions in the cavity.

[0028] In one embodiment of the present invention, the tabletop is designed as a reversible tabletop with a top and a bottom. When the top is facing upward, it looks like a traditional tabletop. The tabletop can be removed from the housing and inverted. The original bottom then faces upward. It then includes a universal retainer for the connector / legs, which incorporates a locking mechanism as shown.

[0029] Another embodiment of the present invention provides additional means for securely attaching appliances or accessories to the countertop. This can be achieved by using a suitable, specialized attachment clamping system. For example, the countertop could have four predefined clamping hooks on the left and right sides. The top appliance / accessory to be attached could then have predefined cutouts in the lower left and right corners. Using the clamps, the appliance / accessory can be locked in place. In contrast to this configuration, the clamps can be attached to the upper appliance / accessory, i.e., in an inverted configuration.

[0030] Stacked household appliances, or combinations of household appliances with accessories such as drawers, can also be securely connected using a system with spring hooks. In this embodiment, the countertop typically has four predefined cutouts. Corresponding cutouts must be provided on the upper appliance / accessory. Specific spring hooks are attached to these cutouts for connecting upper and lower household appliances, or lower household appliances with upper accessories. When the springs are released, they lock the upper appliance / accessory in place.

[0031] Furthermore, the present invention also relates to a process for connecting a first household appliance to a second household appliance or an accessory. The household appliance includes a countertop having a plurality of pre-defined cavities for receiving fastening elements, wherein each cavity is covered by a lid. Each fastening element has a narrow strip portion with a length of l1 and a maximum width of d1, and a shorter wide portion with a length of l2 and a maximum width of d2, where l1 > l2 and d1 < d2. The cavity and / or the lid is adapted to fix the fastening element in the cavity. The process involves using a first lid without a cut and a second lid with a cut, and includes the following steps:

[0032] (a) Remove the first lid without a cut from the cavity;

[0033] (b) Place each fastening element in the cavity with its shorter wide portion; and

[0034] (c) Insert the second lid with a cut to fix the fastening element. The second lid has a cut that is smaller than the shorter wide portion and wider than the narrow strip portion; and

[0035] (d) Connect the second household appliance or the accessory to the first household appliance through the fastening element.

[0036] In a preferred embodiment of the process, the first and second household appliances are connected together such that the second household appliance is stacked on the first household appliance.

[0037] In a further preferred process, the removal in step (a) and the insertion in step (c) are achieved by sliding at least one of the lids.

[0038] Furthermore, in the process of the present invention, preferably, the fastening element is inserted into a corresponding lower opening of the second household appliance or the accessory. The lower opening of the second household appliance or the accessory is usually adjusted to achieve a secure connection.

[0039] Furthermore, the present invention also relates to a household appliance that includes the connection system described herein.

[0040] The first and second household appliances are not limited in principle. It can be a laundry care device, i.e., a washing machine, a laundry dryer, or a dryer. In addition, it can also be a dishwasher, a refrigerator, or a freezer.

[0041] The present invention offers several advantages. The present invention allows the connection system to be used as a conventional countertop, a base for stacking devices, and an interface for connecting multiple accessories. Consumers can decide which functions to use according to their needs.

[0042] The stacking process can be easily implemented. The invention allows for a very simple and visible possibility, for example, to securely connect a laundry care appliance (such as a dryer) to another laundry care appliance (such as a washing machine) or a washer-dryer. The invention also allows items such as detergents to be stored on top of their laundry care appliance, or to provide a countertop for storage or expanded workspace. In any case, the invention allows for many different uses, as many accessories can also be fixed using the connection system. These include, for example, various accessories that meet specific needs, such as drawers, shelves, baby changing tables, etc. As a side effect, the visual aspect of the connection between the appliances can be improved.

[0043] The present invention offers numerous positions for fastening elements, for example, from 4 to 16. Upper appliances or accessories can be attached to lower household appliances without the need for specialized tools. Thus, for example, a dryer can be placed on top of a washing machine and secured to it. Furthermore, no additional nuts or rods on the back of the appliance are required. The invention allows, for example, the use of slides to cover slots and create a surface like a regular countertop. Stacking can be done by the consumer themselves, without the need for customer service. Furthermore, the height gap between appliances can be adjusted, in principle, without the need for specialized tools.

[0044] The inventive connection system of the present invention can also be used to place appliances side by side to create a large countertop that can cover all household appliances. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] The following will refer to the attached Figures 1 to 28 More details of the present invention are introduced, wherein important details of a specific exemplary embodiment of the present invention are shown:

[0046] Figures 1 to 6 A first embodiment of a connection system according to the invention is shown.

[0047] Figures 7 to 9 A second embodiment of the connection system according to the invention is shown.

[0048] Figures 10 to 12 A third embodiment of the connection system according to the invention is shown.

[0049] Figures 13 to 17 A fourth embodiment of a connection system according to the invention is shown.

[0050] Figures 18 to 20 A fifth embodiment of the connection system according to the invention is shown.

[0051] Figures 21 to 24 A sixth embodiment of the connection system according to the invention is shown.

[0052] Figures 25 to 28Shows a seventh embodiment of the connection system according to the present invention. Detailed Description

[0053] Figures 1 to 6 Shows a first embodiment of the connection system according to the present invention.

[0054] A connection system 11 for connecting a first household appliance to a second household appliance or accessory includes a tabletop 2, 3 having a plurality of predefined cavities 4 for receiving fastening elements 1 as shown in the upper part. Each cavity 4 is covered by covers 5, 6. In this embodiment, the tabletop 2, 3 includes a tabletop frame 2 and a tabletop panel or plate 3. It can be seen that the tabletop frame 2 is located at the edge of the tabletop panel 3. In this first embodiment, the covers 5, 6 are represented by a first cover 6 (slider) without a cutout for covering the cavity and a second cover 5 (slider) with a cutout for locking the fastening element 1. As Figure 3 shown, at the beginning of the process of connecting the first household appliance to the second household appliance or accessory, the empty cavity 4 is covered by the first slider 6 without a cutout. To attach a device (such as a dryer or accessory) to the tabletop, the slider 6 needs to be removed. Figure 1 Shown, in

[0055] In Figure 2 , it can be seen that the slider 6 has been pulled out in the direction of the front of the household appliance, the front of which is not shown here. Thus, a passage to the cavity 4 is provided. Figure 3 Shown, in this embodiment, four cavities are used, and thus four first cover sliders 6 are used. Figure 4 Shows the fastening element 1 to be placed in the cavity provided in the tabletop frame 2.

[0056] From Figure 5 and Figure 6 it can be seen that the fastening element 1 has a narrow strip portion 9 with a length of l1 and a maximum width of d1 and a shorter wide portion 10 with a length of l2 and a maximum width d2, where l1 > l2 and d1 < d2, and the cavity 4 and / or the covers 5, 6 are adapted to fix the fastening element 1 in the cavity 4. The meanings of other reference numerals are the same as those in Figures 1 to 4 . In Figure 5 it can be clearly identified that the second slider 5 with a cutout for locking the fastening element 1 is in a pulled-out state. Figure 6 Differing from Figure 5 , the second slider 5 with a cutout has been pushed into the tabletop frame 2 for locking the fastening element 1.

[0057] Figures 7 to 9 Shows a second embodiment of the connection system 11 according to the present invention. Differing from Figures 1 to 6The first embodiment shown differs in that the shapes of the cavities 4 and 12 are different. Cavity 12 is not cylindrical. Thus, the fastening element 1 can be placed in different locations within cavity 4 to accommodate a second household appliance or accessory. Of course, the shape and exact location will depend on the shape of the notched second slide 5. Figure 7 The fastening element 1 is shown placed in the cavity 12 . Figure 8 The non-cylindrical shape of the cavity 12 is shown in order to illustrate how the position of the fastening element 1 can be varied. Figure 9 The situation is shown where the fastening element 1 is secured by the inserted second notched slide 5 .

[0058] The advantage of this embodiment is that the upper appliance / accessory can be flexibly moved in the Y direction, i.e., in the direction towards the front of the first household appliance, so that it can accommodate different positions of the second household appliance or accessory. Thus, for example, different laundry care structures can be used, such as cubes and tilting appliances.

[0059] Figures 10 to 12 A third embodiment of a connection system according to the present invention is shown. Figures 1 to 6 The difference from the first embodiment shown is that the shape of the cavities 4, 12 in the table edge 2 is not cylindrical (see Figure 10 ). Thus, the fastening element 1 can be placed in different positions within the cavity 12. Final fixation of the fastening element 1 can be achieved by using a slide 5, the cutout of which is adapted to the desired position of the fastening element 1. Figure 11 As can be seen in FIG. 1 , here too the wide part of the fastening element 1 is placed in the cavity 12 . Figure 12 A cross-sectional view of the fastening element 1 and the notched slide 5 is shown.

[0060] The advantage of the third embodiment is that the upper household appliance or accessory can be flexibly moved in the Y direction to meet different positions of the fastening element 1, for example for different laundry care structures, such as cubic and tilted laundry care appliances.

[0061] Figures 13 to 17 A fourth embodiment of a connection system according to the present invention is shown. Figures 1 to 6 The first embodiment shown in FIG differs from the first embodiment in the shape of the slider 5 with a specific cutout for locking and in the rotational locking mechanism. The half-moon-shaped slider 5 is fixed so as to be rotatable about a pivot point 16 near the cavity 4. Rotating the slider 5 allows the cavity 4 to be opened and closed and the fastening element 1 to be secured. The slider 5 is thus a rotary slider arranged to slide around the fastening element 1 to be secured. Movement of the slider 5 can be achieved by rotating the half-moon-shaped locking element, for example, by means of a hinged joint within the table frame.

[0062] Figures 13 to 17Therefore, other parts shown in other figures are omitted here.

[0063] Figures 18 to 20 A fifth embodiment of a connection system 11 according to the invention is shown. Figures 1 to 6 The first embodiment shown in is different in that one cover, here called a locking bar 8, is used to fix two fastening elements 1. For this purpose, a non-cylindrical opening 15 is present in the locking bar. It can be seen that the non-cylindrical opening 15 comprises a wide opening and a narrow opening, wherein the wide opening is wide enough to allow the locking bar to be placed over the fastening elements 1. On the other hand, the narrow opening is narrow enough so that the shorter width portion of the fastening elements 1 cannot pass through, so that the fastening elements 1 can be fixed by shifting the locking bar 8 in the direction from one fastening element 1 to the other. Figures 18 to 20 The cavity where the fastening element 1 is placed is not shown. For example, the four predefined cavities can be used to securely attach appliances or accessories to the countertop with additional removable plastic rods for locking. The fastening element 1 will be locked by the plastic locking rod 8 to ensure a secure and stable connection.

[0064] The advantage of the fifth embodiment is that the two fastening elements 1 can be fixed by only one sliding part, which is here called the locking lever 8. The locking lever 8 here is made of plastic.

[0065] Figures 21 to 24 A sixth embodiment of the connection system according to the present invention is shown. Figures 18 to 20 The fifth embodiment shown differs in that the plastic locking levers 8 are concealed within the edge 2 of the countertop and are only visible from the rear of the household appliance. The function of the plastic locking levers 8 is the same as in the fifth embodiment, where typically two plastic locking levers are used for a total of four fastening elements (not shown here). The reference numerals have the same meaning as in the other figures.

[0066] Figures 25 to 28 A seventh embodiment of the connection system according to the present invention is shown. Figures 1 to 6 The difference of the first embodiment shown in the figure is that the side slide 5 is hidden on the side edge 2 of the table top. The function of only one slide shown here remains unchanged. If the fastening element 1 is not used, the cavity 4 is sealed by the cover 7.

[0067] Reference Signs List

[0068] 1 Fastening element; device or accessory connector / foot

[0069] 2 Table frames

[0070] 3 panels or trays

[0071] 4 chambers

[0072] 5Second cover with cutout for locking (slider)

[0073] 6 First cover (slider) without cutout for covering the cavity

[0074] 7 Cover for cavity

[0075] 8 Cover; Locking lever

[0076] 9 Narrow strip of fastening element

[0077] 10 Shorter width of the fastening element

[0078] 11 Connection System

[0079] 12 non-cylindrical cavity

[0080] 13Narrow opening of non-cylindrical cavity

[0081] 14Wide opening of non-cylindrical cavity

[0082] 15 non-cylindrical opening (in locking lever)

[0083] 16 Pivot Points

Claims

1. A connection system (11) for connecting a first household appliance to a second household appliance or an accessory, comprising a table top (2, 3) having a plurality of predefined cavities (4) for receiving fastening elements (1), wherein: Each cavity (4) is covered by covers (5, 6, 7, 8). Each fastening element (1) has a narrow strip portion (9) with a length of l1 and a maximum width of d1 and a shorter wide portion (10) with a length of l2 and a maximum width of d2, where l1 > l2 and d1 < d2. The cavity (4) and / or the covers (5, 6) are adapted to fix the fastening element (1) in the cavity (4).

2. The connection system (11) according to claim 1, wherein The first household appliance is a washing machine, and the second household appliance is a dryer.

3. The connection system (11) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The connection system (11) is integrated in the first household appliance.

4. The connection system (11) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The connection system (11) is adapted to be attached to the first household appliance.

5. The connection system (11) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The connection system (11) is integrated in the first household appliance.

6. The connection system (11) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: The cover includes a first cover (6) without a cut and a second cover (5) with a cut, preferably as a first sliding member (6) and a second sliding member (5).

7. The connection system (11) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: The sliding members (5, 6) are arranged to be able to slide in a direction towards the front of the household appliance.

8. The connection system (11) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein The sliding members (5, 6) are arranged to be able to slide in a direction towards the side of the household appliance.

9. The connection system (11) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: The sliding members (5, 6) are rotary sliding members, and the rotary sliding members are arranged to be able to slide around the fastening element (1) to be fixed.

10. The connection system (11) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein Two of the cavities (4, 12) are closed by the same cover (8).

11. The connection system (11) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein: The cavity (4, 12) is a non-cylindrical cavity (12) having a wide opening (14) and a narrow opening (13). The wide opening (14) is wide enough to allow the shorter wide portion (10) to enter the cavity (12), and the narrow opening (13) is narrow enough to prevent the shorter wide portion (10) from passing through, so that the fastening element (1) can be fixed by shifting the fastening element (1) from the wide opening (14) to the narrow opening (13).

12. The connection system (11) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein The cavity (4) is a non-cylindrical cavity (15) larger than the shorter wide portion (10) of the fastening element (10). The fastening element (1) can be fixed by a second cover having a cut for locking, and the cut can be adapted to allow the fastening element (1) to be fixed at different positions in the cavity (4).

13. A process for connecting a first household appliance to a second household appliance or an accessory, comprising a table top (2, 3) having a plurality of predefined cavities (4) for receiving fastening elements (1), wherein: Each cavity (4) is covered by covers (5, 6, 7, 8). Each fastening element (1) has a narrow strip portion (9) with a length of l1 and a maximum width of d1 and a shorter wide portion (10) with a length of l2 and a maximum width of d2, where l1 > l2 and d1 < d2. The cavity (4) and / or the covers (5, 6, 7, 8) are adapted to fix the fastening element (1) in the cavity (4). The process involves using a first cover (6) without a cut and a second cover (5) with a cut and includes the following steps: (a) Remove the first cover (6) without a cut from the cavity (4); (b) Place each fastening element (1) in the cavity (4) with its shorter wide portion (10); (c) Insert the second cover (5) with a cut to fix the fastening element (1), the cut of the second cover (5) being smaller than the shorter wide portion (10) and wider than the narrow strip portion (9); and (d) Connecting the second household appliance or accessory to the first household appliance via the fastening element (1).

14. The process of claim 13, wherein: The first household appliance and the second household appliance are connected together such that the second household appliance is stacked on the first household appliance.

15. A household appliance comprising a connection system (11) according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

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