Assembly aid for pre-assembly and alignment of a door panel on a dishwasher door

Abstract

Assembly aid (1) for pre-assembly and alignment of a door panel (44) on a dishwasher door, - with a locking strip (3) for mounting on the dishwasher door or the door panel (44), which carries several locking teeth (11), and - with a locking piece (40) for mounting on the door panel (44) or the dishwasher door, wherein the locking piece (40) has a locking lug (52) corresponding to the locking teeth (11) of the locking strip (3) and a retaining element, wherein the locking strip (3) and the locking piece (40) can be assembled to create a specific pre-assembly position (54) of the door panel (44) on the dishwasher door such that the locking piece (40) engages the locking strip (3) with the retaining element, that movement of the locking piece (40) along the locking strip (3) is blocked in one direction by the locking lug (52) engaging the locking teeth (11), and that the door panel (44), together with the locking strip (3) or the locking piece (40) fixed to it, is locked in the other direction in the specified pre-assembly position (54) on the dishwasher door It is pre-fixed and movable.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an assembly aid for a dishwasher, which is provided for the pre-assembly and alignment of a door panel on a dishwasher door that is particularly unclad.

[0002] To create a visually uniform appearance in a private kitchen, both for the kitchen furniture and the electrical appliances often placed between the units, especially dishwashers, dishwashers are frequently used with a door panel that can be mounted on the door. This panel ideally matches the color and design of the other kitchen furniture fronts. Such a door panel is conventionally screwed onto the dishwasher door. However, since the dimensions and positions of kitchen furniture fronts are not standardized, the position of the door panel on the (dishwasher) door usually needs to be adjusted to match the fronts of the adjacent kitchen furniture. In particular, the door panel should be aligned so that it is flush with the bottom and / or top edge of the adjacent fronts.Once aligned, the door panel is screwed to the inside of the door. The problem, however, is that the door panel must be aligned with the adjacent front panels while the door is closed, and then screwed to them with the door open. The already aligned door panel must be pre-fixed in position on the dishwasher door so that it doesn't shift when the door is opened. Installers typically use clamps and / or manually hold the door panel in place while opening the door.

[0003] From DE 197 12 418 C1, for example, an assembly aid is known which is preset to a fixed height before the door panel is positioned on the door.

[0004] The door panel is loosely placed on this mounting aid for alignment with the door. The mounting aid is removed again before the door panel is finally fixed in place.

[0005] The invention is based on the objective of simplifying the installation of a door panel on a dishwasher door.

[0006] This problem is solved according to the invention by an assembly aid having the features of claim 1. Advantageous and partly inventive embodiments and further developments of the invention are set out in the dependent claims and the following description.

[0007] The assembly aid according to the invention is designed and intended for the pre-assembly and alignment of a door panel on a preferably unclad dishwasher door. For this purpose, the assembly aid comprises a locking strip for mounting on the dishwasher door or the door panel, wherein the locking strip is preferably provided with several locking teeth on one longitudinal side. Furthermore, the assembly aid comprises a locking piece for mounting on the door panel or the dishwasher door. The locking piece has a locking lug that corresponds to the locking teeth of the locking strip. The locking piece also has a retaining element. According to the invention, the locking strip and the locking piece can be assembled such that the locking piece engages behind the locking strip with the retaining element, and that movement of the locking piece along the locking strip is at least unidirectionally inhibited or unidirectionally blocked by the locking lug engaging with the locking teeth.The locking lug of the locking piece preferably fits snugly between two locking teeth.

[0008] Preferably, the locking lug and the detent strip are spring-loaded against each other in the assembled state. This allows the door panel, in the pre-assembled state (i.e., when it is pre-fixed to the dishwasher door using the assembled mounting aid), to be adjusted along the detent strip to discrete positions – spaced apart from each other by the dimensions of the detent teeth – by overcoming the spring action. In particular, the locking lug is spring-mounted on the locking piece.

[0009] The mounting aid is preferably designed such that the door panel can be moved and aligned along the locking strip in the vertical direction (i.e., towards the top edge of the dishwasher door) during installation on the dishwasher door. The unidirectional locking action of the locking strip advantageously ensures that the door panel remains in its respective position when the dishwasher door is closed and does not slip downwards over the locking teeth, i.e., towards the bottom edge of the dishwasher door, due to its own weight. Preferably, the locking teeth of the locking strip are shaped like sawtooth teeth, so that movement of the locking lug is unidirectionally blocked.

[0010] The locking mechanism engages behind the locking strip, effectively preventing the door panel from folding away from the dishwasher door when it is opened. This ensures that the door panel retains its alignment position even when the door is open. Therefore, additional, separate clamping elements, such as a screw clamp, for pre-fixing the door panel's position after alignment are unnecessary. This significantly simplifies the installation and alignment of the door panel on the dishwasher door.

[0011] For pre-assembly and alignment of the door panel on the dishwasher door, the locking strip and the locking piece are positioned opposite each other – preferably centered in the width direction – and fixed to the dishwasher door or the door panel, respectively. The door panel is then placed against the dishwasher door so that the locking piece engages the locking strip with the retaining element and the locking lug sits between two locking teeth. This secures the door panel to the dishwasher door, effectively pre-fixing it. With the dishwasher door closed, the door panel is then moved vertically until it is flush with the front panels of the adjacent kitchen cabinets. Finally, the dishwasher door is opened, and the aligned and pre-fixed door panel is screwed to the inside of the dishwasher door as intended.

[0012] In a practical design, the locking strip is attached to a support element for mounting on the dishwasher door or door panel. By means of this support element, the locking strip is held in the intended installation state, in particular such that a space is formed behind the locking strip in which the retaining element of the locking piece rests in the pre-assembled position.

[0013] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the locking strip, especially the support element, is designed to be inserted flush with the surface of the dishwasher door over a recess formed in the dishwasher door. This ensures that the door panel is held against the dishwasher door with a particularly small gap, preferably flush with it, in the pre-assembly position. The space behind the locking strip is advantageously formed by the recess in the dishwasher door itself.

[0014] To achieve particularly high mechanical stability and guiding accuracy between the dishwasher door and the door panel, the preferred assembly aid comprises two locking strips arranged parallel to each other on the support element. A guide slot is formed between these locking strips, through which the locking piece, in the intended pre-assembly position, engages both locking strips with the retaining element. The locking lug lies transversely to the longitudinal direction of the two locking strips, aligned between the locking teeth of the two locking strips, so that tilting of the door panel is at least almost completely prevented.

[0015] In a suitable embodiment, the support element extends longitudinally on both sides beyond each locking bar by at least the length of the retaining element of the locking piece. This creates an insertion opening in front of each locking bar (i.e., in the direction of movement of the locking lug not blocked by the locking teeth) for inserting the retaining element behind the locking bar. Furthermore, an additional removal opening is created behind each locking bar in the direction of movement. This removal opening advantageously allows the locking piece to be (repeatedly) released from the locking bar, thus enabling the door panel to be removed from the dishwasher door. This is particularly beneficial if the door panel is unintentionally shifted one or more locking teeth beyond the desired position during alignment.In this case, the door panel is best moved upwards until the retaining element of the locking piece can be protruded through the removal opening behind the locking strips. The door panel is then reattached to the dishwasher door in such a way that the locking piece protrudes through the insertion opening into the space of the support element, allowing the door panel to be realigned.

[0016] In another advantageous embodiment, the locking piece has a mounting plate for fixing it to the door panel or the dishwasher door. The retaining element is connected to the mounting plate by means of at least one support pillar, preferably two support pillars in a bridge-like fashion, and is spaced from it in such a way that the locking lug, in the intended pre-assembly position, is clamped against the locking strip and thus between two locking teeth. If two parallel locking strips are arranged on the support element, the support pillars preferably project through the guide slot between the locking strips in the pre-assembly position, so that the retaining element engages behind the two locking strips (viewed in the vertical direction of the dishwasher door) in a T-shape.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the retaining element of the locking piece is designed as a spring tongue. This causes the retaining element to clamp the locking lug against the detent strip in the intended pre-assembly position, so that the door panel must be moved against the spring force of the retaining element over the respective detent teeth.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment, the locking teeth are arranged on one side of the locking strip or strips facing the surface of the dishwasher door or door panel. In this case, the locking lug is located directly on the retaining element.

[0019] In principle, the locking piece and each locking strip can be made of metal within the scope of the invention. Preferably, however, the locking piece and each locking strip (and optionally the support element) are made of plastic. In particular, both the locking piece (with the retaining element, the locking lug, and optionally the mounting plate and the support pillar) and the locking strips (with the support element) are each designed as a monolithic, one-piece injection-molded component.

[0020] In principle, the mounting aid according to the invention can be used with a dishwasher with a conventional, unclad dishwasher door. Preferably, however, the dishwasher to which the mounting aid is assigned according to the invention comprises a dishwasher door in which a recess is formed, into which the locking strip is preferably pre-mounted flush with the surface by means of its optionally associated support element.

[0021] In a further development of the dishwasher, the dishwasher door additionally features two recesses on its outer surface, referred to as retaining grooves. These retaining grooves preferably run parallel to each other and vertically along the dishwasher door. Preferably, the two retaining grooves are designed and intended to engage positively with the screw head of a screw attached to the door panel opposite the respective retaining groove in the intended pre-assembly position. This secures the door panel to the dishwasher door at two additional points during pre-assembly and alignment, in addition to the mounting aid—i.e., the locking strip(s) and the retaining element of the locking piece.Because the retaining grooves are aligned in the vertical direction of the dishwasher door, the door panel is guided in its intended pre-assembly position by means of the respective screw head in the retaining grooves, similar to a T-slot.

[0022] It is also advisable to provide a mounting template to the mounting aid and / or the dishwasher, by means of which the locking piece and, if applicable, the two screws can be attached in the intended position opposite the locking strip or retaining grooves on the door panel.

[0023] An embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing. The drawing shows: Fig. 1 in perspective view two locking strips molded onto a support element of an assembly aid, which is intended for the pre-assembly and alignment of a door panel on a dishwasher door, Fig. 2 in view according to Fig. 1 a locking piece of the assembly aid, which is a counterpart to the in Fig. 1 depicted grid strips, Fig. 3 in a perspective sectional view the mounting aid in the mounted state on the dishwasher door or the door panel, with the locking piece inserted into the support element, Fig. 4 in view according to Fig. 3 the locking piece in a designated pre-assembly position, wherein the locking piece engages behind the locking bar and lies with a locking lug between the locking teeth of the locking bar, Fig. 5 in view according to Fig. 3 the locking piece in a removal position in the carrier element, and Fig. 6. A schematic representation shows the intended arrangement of the locking piece on the door panel.

[0024] Corresponding parts in all figures are always marked with the same reference symbols.

[0025] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a support element 2, a first component of an assembly aid 1, which carries two locking strips 3. The locking strips 3 are aligned parallel to each other, so that a guide slot 4 is formed between the two locking strips 3. The locking strips 3 transition flush into a front plate 5 of the support element 2. A bathtub-like housing 6 is formed on the front plate 5 of the support element 2, which defines an interior space (also: free space 7) between the two locking strips 3 and the base of the housing. The locking strips 3 are shorter in the longitudinal direction 8 of the support element 2 than the housing 6. This creates an opening at each longitudinal end of the locking strips 3, which extends over the entire width of the housing 6. The in Fig. The opening shown below the locking strips 3 is designated as the insertion opening 9 and the one in Fig. The opening located above the locking strips 3 is designated as the removal opening 10.

[0026] The two locking strips 3 have several locking teeth 11 on their side facing the base of the housing 6 (i.e., the free space 7). The locking teeth 11 are shaped like sawtooth teeth such that their tooth flank, referred to as the tooth back, rises towards the removal opening 10, and their tooth flank, referred to as the tooth face, is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 8. The locking strips 3 are thus designed and intended to allow movement from the insertion opening 9 towards the removal opening 10, but to block movement in the opposite direction. The support element 2 is designed and intended to be inserted into a dishwasher door such that the removal opening 10 is oriented towards the top of the dishwasher door.To ensure unambiguous alignment of the support element 2 and thus the locking strips 3 on the dishwasher door, two projections, designated as locating ribs 22, are formed at the lower end 20 of the housing 6. At the upper end 24 of the housing 6, however, only one locating rib 22 is formed. The locating ribs 22 are designed to engage in complementary locating grooves 26 formed in a front panel 28 of the dishwasher door (see figure). Fig. 3 and Fig. 4).

[0027] Three snap tabs 30 are formed on each of the long sides of the housing 6, which, in the intended assembly state of the support element 2 on the dishwasher door, grip behind the door panel 28.

[0028] In Fig. Figure 2 shows a second component of the assembly aid 1, designated as locking piece 40. The locking piece 40 comprises a mounting plate 42, by means of which the locking piece 40 is mounted to a door panel 44 by means of two screws 46 (see Figure 2). Fig. 3) Furthermore, the locking piece 40 comprises a spring tongue 48, which is held portal-like on the mounting plate 42 by two longitudinally aligned support pillars 50. The spring tongue 48 faces the mounting plate 42. A locking lug 52 is also formed at the free end of the spring tongue 48, which is complementary to the shape of the locking teeth 11. The distance of the spring tongue 48 to the mounting plate 42 is chosen such that it is slightly less than the thickness of the locking strip 3. Thus, in a standard pre-assembly position 54 (see Fig. 4), in which the locking piece 40 engages the detent bars 3 with the spring tongue 48, elastically clamping the spring tongue 48 against the detent bars 3, so that the locking nose 52 is pressed between each pair of detent teeth 11 under the spring action of the spring tongue 48.

[0029] To mount and align the door panel 44 with the front panels of the kitchen cabinets located next to the dishwasher, the support element 2 is inserted into a complementary recess 56 in the front panel 28 of the dishwasher door and secured by means of the snap tabs 30. The locking piece 40 is mounted opposite the locking strips 3 on the door panel 44 using the screws 46. The door panel 44 is then placed against the dishwasher door (with the dishwasher door closed) so that the locking piece 40 protrudes through the insertion opening 9 into the recess 7 of the support element 2. The door panel 44 is then moved towards the top edge of the dishwasher door, with the support pillars 50 guided in the guide slot 4 between the locking strips 3 (see figure). Fig. 3 and Fig. 4).

[0030] Will the door panel 44 - as in Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the spring tongue 48, with its locking lug 52, engages in discrete pre-assembly positions 54 between each locking tooth 11 as it is moved further towards the removal opening 10. This allows the door panel 44 to be precisely aligned with the front panels of the adjacent kitchen furniture. Furthermore, the locking action of the locking teeth 11 towards the lower end 20, and thus towards the bottom edge of the dishwasher, prevents the door panel 44 from being moved downwards from its (already aligned) pre-assembly position 54 by its own weight.

[0031] Once the door panel 44 is aligned, the dishwasher door is opened and the door panel 44 is screwed to it from the inside of the dishwasher door. The spring tongue 48 serves as a retaining element, which on the one hand provides the spring force to engage the locking lug 52 between the locking teeth 11 and on the other hand holds the door panel 44 to the dishwasher door by means of a positive fit with the locking strips 3 when the dishwasher door is open.

[0032] In the event that the door panel 44 is moved beyond the intended pre-assembly position 54 (i.e., by one or more locking teeth 11 towards the removal opening 10), the door panel 44 can expediently be moved upwards until the locking piece 40, i.e., the spring tongue 48, is positioned in the removal opening 10 and thus no longer engages the locking strips 3. In this position, the door panel 44 can be removed from the dishwasher door and reinstalled (according to the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4) be aligned with the dishwasher door.

[0033] To additionally hold the door panel 44 to the dishwasher door when the door is open, and also to prevent the door panel 44 from tilting when the dishwasher door is closed, the following are done - as in Fig.As shown in Figure 6, two additional screws 60 are conveniently fixed to the door panel 44. These screws 60 are not fully screwed into the door panel 44, but their heads protrude slightly beyond the door panel 44 by a distance X. This allows the screws 60 to engage in a (retaining) groove in the front panel 28 of the dishwasher door that corresponds to the screw heads when the locking piece 40 is inserted into the insertion opening 9. In the pre-assembly position 54, the two screws 60 engage behind this groove, thus preventing the door panel 44 from folding away from the dishwasher door when the door is open and exerting torque on the locking piece 40 or the locking strips 3.

[0034] The subject matter of the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. Rather, further embodiments of the invention can be derived by a person skilled in the art from the above description. Reference symbol list 1 Assembly aid 2 support element 3 locking strips 4 guide slots 5 Front panel 6 cases 7 Free space 8 Longitudinal direction 9 insertion opening 10. Sampling opening 11 Raster tooth 20 lower end 22 Pass rib 24 upper end 26 Fit groove 28 Door / front panel 30 Snap-nose 40 locking piece 42 Mounting plate 44 Door panel 46 screw 48 spring tongue 50 support pillars 52 Locking nose 54 Pre-assembly position 56 recess 60 screws X distance

Claims

Assembly aid (1) for pre-assembling and aligning a door panel (44) on a dishwasher door, comprising a locking strip (3) for mounting on the dishwasher door or the door panel (44), which carries several locking teeth (11), and a locking piece (40) for mounting on the door panel (44) or the dishwasher door, wherein the locking piece (40) has a locking lug (52) corresponding to the locking teeth (11) of the locking strip (3) and a retaining element, wherein the locking strip (3) and the locking piece (40) can be assembled to establish a specific pre-assembly position (54) of the door panel (44) on the dishwasher door such that the locking piece (40) engages the locking strip (3) with the retaining element, and movement of the locking piece (40) along the locking strip (3) is blocked in one direction by the locking lug (52) engaging with the locking teeth (11).and that the door panel (44) together with the locking strip (3) or the locking piece (40) fixed to it is pre-fixed in the intended pre-assembly position (54) on the dishwasher door so as to be slidable in the other direction. Assembly aid (1) according to claim 1, wherein the locking strip (3) is arranged on a support element (2) by means of which the locking strip (3) is held on the dishwasher door or the door panel (44) in the intended assembly state such that a free space (7) is formed behind the locking strip (3) in which the retaining element of the locking piece (40) is located in the intended pre-assembly position (54). Assembly aid (1) according to claim 2, wherein two locking strips (3) are arranged parallel to each other on the support element (2), wherein a guide slot (4) is formed between the locking strips (3), through which the locking piece (40) engages behind both locking strips (3) in the intended pre-assembly position (54). Assembly aid (1) according to claim 3, wherein the support element (2) extends in the longitudinal direction (8) on both sides beyond the or each locking strip (3) at least by the longitudinal extent of the retaining element of the locking piece (40), so that in the direction of movement an insertion opening (9) for hooking the retaining element behind the or each locking strip (3) is formed in front of the or each locking strip (3), and so that in the direction of movement a removal opening (10) for removing the retaining element is formed after the or each locking strip (3). Assembly aid (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the locking piece (40) has a mounting plate (42) for fixing to the door panel (44) or the dishwasher door, and wherein the retaining element is spaced apart from the mounting plate (42) by means of at least one support pillar (50) such that the locking lug (52) is clamped in the intended pre-assembly position (54) between two locking teeth (3) of the or each locking strip (3). Assembly aid (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the retaining element of the locking piece (40) is designed as a spring tongue (48). Assembly aid (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the locking teeth (3) are arranged on a side of the locking strip or each locking strip (3) facing the surface of the dishwasher door or the door panel (44), and wherein the retaining element carries the locking lug (52).

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