Front panel fitting

Abstract

A front panel fitting (1) according to the invention for releasably fastening a front panel (2) to a drawer comprises at least one fitting part (3), which can be mounted on the rear side of the front panel (2) and which has a retaining contour (4) which can be engaged from behind, and at least one fastening device (5), which can be mounted on the drawer, for fastening the fitting part (3), wherein the fastening device (5) has a guide plate (6), a clamping device (7), which is mounted on the guide plate (6) so as to movable between a starting position and a locking position, for engaging behind and pulling the retaining contour (4) in an insertion direction (12) into a fastening position, and an energy store (9) which preloads the clamping device (7) into the locking position.

Description

[0001] Front panel fittings

[0002] The invention relates to a front panel fitting for detachably attaching a front panel to a drawer, in particular to a drawer side wall or frame.

[0003] Such front panel fittings are well known and feature a cam disc (e.g. EP 3 709 839 B1), a locking lever (e.g. DE 20 2014 002 229 U1, EP 3 167 759 B1, DE 202015 102 087 U1, DE 20 2016 101 367 U1, EP 2 164 363 B1), a locking wedge (EP 2 374 370 B1, EP 2 207 456 B1) or a rotatable locking lever (EP 2 868 229 B1) as a clamping element.

[0004] In contrast, the present invention aims to provide an alternative front panel fitting that is as simple in design as possible.

[0005] This task is solved by a front panel fitting, featuring

[0006] - at least one fitting component that can be mounted on the rear of the front panel and has a retaining contour that can be gripped from behind, and

[0007] - at least one fastening device mountable on the drawer for attaching the fitting part, wherein the fastening device has a guide plate, a clamping device movably mounted on the guide plate between an initial and a locking position for engaging and tightening the retaining contour in an insertion direction up to a fastening position and a force storage device that pre-tensions the clamping device into the locking position.

[0008] The fastening device preferably has no fixed end position or stop for the fastening position, so that the holding contour, e.g., after the connection has been set, is automatically pulled further in the insertion direction by the still spring-loaded clamping element until it reaches a new fastening position and is thus retensioned. At the same time, manufacturing tolerances can also be compensated for by means of the variable end position, so that a play-free contact of the cover against the frame is always ensured.

[0009] Preferably, the clamping device is initially movable against the force of the energy storage device by means of the retaining contour inserted in the insertion direction, and after overcoming a dead point of the energy storage device, it is automatically moved further by the energy storage device into the locking position. The guide plate preferably has a guide slot for inserting the retaining contour in the insertion direction up to the mounting position. In the installed position of the front panel fitting, the guide slot can, for example, run horizontally or, viewed in the insertion direction, obliquely, e.g., at an angle of approximately 25° to 35° downwards.The clamping device can, for example, have as a clamping element a cam disc with a preferably stationary axis of rotation, a locking lever with (catch) recess, a locking wedge, a pull rod or a rotatable locking lever, or combinations of cam disc, locking lever with (catch) recess, locking wedge, pull rod or rotatable locking lever.

[0010] Preferably, the clamping element itself or a coupling element cooperating with the clamping element has a release element with a tool holder or handle to manually move the clamping element back from the locked position over a dead center of the energy storage device.

[0011] In preferred embodiments of the invention, the front panel fitting has two fastening devices which are either independent of each other or coupled to each other in terms of movement. In the latter case, the clamping devices of the two fastening devices can be coupled to each other permanently, in particular by a rod, or sectionally, in particular by a deflection lever.

[0012] In particularly preferred embodiments of the invention, the front panel fitting comprises a first fastening device with a guide slot and a first clamping device for a first retaining contour inserted into the guide slot, and a second fastening device with a support guide and a second clamping device for a second retaining contour inserted onto the support guide, wherein the guide slot extends obliquely to the support guide and wherein the distance between the guide slot and the support guide increases in the insertion direction. Preferably, the two fastening devices are not coupled to each other in terms of movement.

[0013] In one possible embodiment, the first clamping device has a first clamping element in the form of a rotatably mounted cam disk, which has an arc-shaped cam with an open cam end, through which, in an initial position of the cam disk, the first holding contour enters the cam, wherein the cam distance to an axis of rotation of the cam disk decreases along the cam starting from the open cam end.

[0014] In another possible embodiment, the second clamping device has a second clamping element in the form of a rotatably mounted locking lever, which can be deflected from a starting position projecting beyond the support guide against the action of a restoring force into a non-projecting release position and which, in a projecting locking position, engages behind the inserted, second retaining contour, wherein the second clamping device has a self-locking mechanism that prevents the locking lever from rotating from the locking position into the release position when a force acts from the locked, second retaining contour against the insertion direction, and wherein the second clamping device has a clearance above the locking lever for the second retaining contour, which is at least as high as the stroke of the first retaining contour required to lift it out of the guide slot.The locking position cannot be a fixed position either, but can compensate for tolerances depending on how far the locking lever projects beyond the support guide (inclined plane, wedge), while self-locking is still present in every position. This results in tolerance-compensating self-locking mechanisms acting independently in the upper and lower holding positions.

[0015] In a possible further development, the locking lever has a clamping contour pointing in the insertion direction for engaging behind the second retaining contour and a ramp for the second retaining contour, positioned upstream of the clamping contour in the insertion direction and pointing against the insertion direction. The self-locking mechanism can, for example, include a counter bearing that is positioned upstream of a rotation axis of the locking lever in the insertion direction and spaced apart from the support guide, with the locking lever bearing against the counter bearing at least in the locked position. Optionally, the locking lever can have a control contour pointing against the insertion direction, which is guided against the counter bearing when the locking lever is rotated.The pivot axis of the locking lever can be slidably mounted in the insertion direction, and the control contour can run eccentrically to the pivot axis of the locking lever in order to move the locking lever in the insertion direction when it is rotated from the release to the locking position. Preferably, the pivot axis of the locking lever is formed by a slotted / bearing pin pivot bearing.

[0016] In a possible further development, the locking lever has two parallel lever arms arranged on either side of the guide plate. The two lever arms can be formed integrally by a U-shaped part or by two interconnected, separate parts. Preferably, the restoring force is provided by a helical spring, which is arranged at one end in an angled spring guide of the guide plate and at the other end in an angled spring guide of the locking lever, with the two spring guides being aligned along a straight line.

[0017] The two mounting devices can be arranged on a common guide plate. Alternatively, the front panel fitting can have two separate guide plates, with the first mounting device arranged on one guide plate and the second mounting device on the other.

[0018] In another possible embodiment, the front panel fitting has two base plates between which the guide plate is mounted so as to be laterally displaceable by means of a lateral adjustment mechanism. The lateral adjustment mechanism includes a threaded screw that is rotatably mounted in the two base plates and interacts with an internal thread of the guide plate. Preferably, the threaded screw has a stop ring for the guide plate at both ends, and at least one of the two stop rings can be a separate retaining ring attached to the threaded screw.

[0019] In another possible embodiment, the front panel fitting has two base plates between which the guide plate is arranged so that it can be moved vertically by means of a height adjustment mechanism. This height adjustment mechanism includes an eccentric adjusting cam that is rotatably mounted in the two base plates. Preferably, a rotary detent is arranged between the adjusting cam and one of the two base plates, and a wave spring is arranged between the adjusting cam and the other base plate to exert axial pressure on the rotary detent. Advantageously, the adjusting cam can be flattened on both its upper and lower sides.

[0020] Further advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description, the claims, and the drawing. The embodiments shown and described are not to be understood as an exhaustive list, but rather serve as examples for illustrating the invention.

[0021] They show:

[0022] Figs. 1 a-1 c show a front panel fitting according to the invention with a fastening device in an exploded view (Fig. 1 a), in a side view (Fig. 1 b) and in a top view (Fig. 1 c);

[0023] Figs. 2a-2f show the sequence of steps when attaching a front panel using the front panel fitting;

[0024] Figs. 3a, 3b show a front panel fitting modified for a narrow installation space in an exploded view (Fig. 3a) and in the assembled state (Fig. 3b);

[0025] Fig. 4 shows the attachment of a front panel using a modified

[0026] Front panel fitting with two mounting devices;

[0027] Fig. 5 shows an alternative front panel fitting according to the invention in an exploded view;

[0028] Figs. 6a-6d show the sequence of events when attaching a front panel using a further front panel fitting according to the invention;

[0029] Figs. 7a-7d show the sequence of events when attaching a front panel using a further front panel fitting according to the invention;

[0030] Figs. 8a-8d show the sequence of events when attaching a front panel using a further front panel fitting according to the invention;

[0031] Figs. 9a-9d show the sequence of steps when attaching a front panel using a further front panel fitting according to the invention;

[0032] Figs. 10a-10d show the sequence of steps when attaching a front panel using a further front panel fitting according to the invention; Figs. 11a-11c show the sequence of steps when attaching a front panel using a further front panel fitting according to the invention;

[0033] Figs. 12a-12c show the sequence of events when attaching a front panel using a further front panel fitting according to the invention;

[0034] Fig. 13 shows the fastening of a front panel by means of a front panel fitting modified compared to Fig. 4 with two coupled, different fastening devices;

[0035] Figs. 14a-14c show a further front panel fitting according to the invention with two interconnected, different fastening devices in the unfastened state (Fig. 14a), in the fastened state (Fig. 14b) and in an exploded view (Fig. 14c);

[0036] Fig. 15 shows a modification of a locking lever shown in Figs. 12 to 14;

[0037] Figs. 16a, 16b show a further front panel fitting according to the invention with an upper and a lower fastening device and a front panel not yet attached to it, in two opposing side views;

[0038] Figs. 17a, 17b show the front panel fitting of Fig. 16 in two opposing side views;

[0039] Figs. 18a, 18b show the lower fastening device shown in Figs. 16 and 17, with an inclined guide slot and a cam disc for a lower retaining contour of the front panel;

[0040] Fig. 19 shows the upper fastening device shown in Figs. 16 and 17, with an upper support guide and a locking lever for an upper retaining contour of the front panel;

[0041] Figs. 20, 21 show two locking levers modified compared to Fig. 19;

[0042] Fig. 22 shows a front view of the locking levers shown in Figs. 20, 21 with an inclined return spring;

[0043] Figs. 23a, 23b show a low front panel fitting (Fig. 23a) for a low frame and a high front panel fitting (Fig. 23b) for a high frame;

[0044] Fig. 24 shows a front panel fitting suitable for both low and high frames; Figs. 25a, 25b show a front panel fitting with side and height adjustment, in a perspective side view (Fig. 25a) and in a top view (Fig. 25b);

[0045] Figs. 26a, 26b show the front panel fitting shown in Fig. 25 with a front adapter of the front panel that is laterally adjusted to the left and right;

[0046] Fig. 27 shows an eccentric adjusting cam of the height adjustment shown in Fig. 25; and

[0047] Fig. 28 shows the adjusting cam from Fig. 27, which is rotatably guided in a slotted recess of a guide plate shown in Fig. 25.

[0048] In the following description of the drawing, identical reference symbols are used for identical or functionally equivalent components.

[0049] The front panel fitting 1 shown in Figs. 1a-1c serves to detachably fasten a front panel 2 (Fig. 2) to a drawer (not shown), in particular to a drawer side panel or frame. The front panel fitting 1 has a fitting part that can be mounted on the back of the front panel 2 with a retaining contour that can be gripped behind it, here only by way of example in the form of a front adapter 3 with a transverse bolt that can be gripped behind it, as well as a fastening device 5 that can be mounted on the drawer for fastening the front adapter 3.

[0050] The fastening device 5 has a guide plate 6, a clamping device 7 mounted on the guide plate 6 which is movable between an initial and a locking position for engaging and tightening the retaining contour 4 in an insertion direction 12 up to a fastening position, and a force storage device 9 which pre-tensions the clamping device 7 into the locking position.

[0051] It can be provided that the clamping device 7 is initially movable against the action of the energy storage device 9 by means of the holding contour 4 introduced in the insertion direction 12, and after overcoming a dead point of the energy storage device 9, is automatically moved further by the energy storage device 9 into the locking position.

[0052] It can be provided that the clamping device 7 has a first contact surface 7a for the holding contour 4 and a second contact surface 7b for the holding contour 4, wherein the holding contour 4 rests on the first contact surface 7a until at least the dead center is overcome and then on the second contact surface 7b.

[0053] It may be provided that the guide plate 6 has a guide slot 11 for inserting the retaining contour 4 in the insertion direction 12 up to the fastening position.

[0054] It may be provided that the clamping device 7 has a clamping element 8, wherein the clamping element 8 is directly or indirectly connected to the energy storage device 9.

[0055] It may be provided that the energy storage device 9 is articulated to the clamping element 8, in particular such that the energy storage device 9 is connected to an axis 9a of the clamping element 8.

[0056] It may be provided that the clamping element 8 is rotatably mounted.

[0057] In the exemplary embodiment shown in Figures 1a-1c, optional features are depicted that can be provided individually or in combination. The clamping element of the clamping device is designed in the form of a cam disc 8. The energy storage device 9, shown here only by way of example as a compression spring 9, is eccentrically connected to the cam disc 8 at axis 9a by means of a guide rod 10. The guide plate 6 has the guide slot 11 for inserting and advancing the transverse bolt 4 in the insertion direction 12 to a fastening position. The cam disc 8 is rotatably mounted on the guide plate 6 between an initial position and a locking position and serves to engage and tighten the transverse bolt 4 guided in the guide slot 11 in the insertion direction 12 to the locking position.The initial position may be limited by a stop between the guide rod 10 and the guide plate 6, for example, in the area of ​​the axis 9a. For example, in the initial position of the cam disk 8, the axis 9a of the guide rod 10 may rest against the top of the guide plate 6. The cam disk 8 has an arc-shaped slot (hereinafter referred to as the cam) 13 with an open cam end 14, through which, in the initial position of the cam disk 8, the transverse bolt 4, guided in the guide slot 11, can enter the cam 13. The cam distance to the axis of rotation 15 of the cam disk 8 decreases along the cam 13 from the open cam end 14, as described in more detail below.From its initial position, the cam disk 8 can initially rotate against the force of the compression spring 9 until, after overcoming a dead center of the compression spring 9, it is automatically rotated further by the compression spring 9 into the locking position. The cam pitch can be selected such that noticeable resistance, but no great effort, is required to insert the front panel 2 into the mounting device 5. In particular, the force required to insert the front panel 2 can be in the range between 5 and 75 Newtons, preferably between 10 and 50 Newtons, with the lower limit representing noticeable resistance and the upper limit requiring no great effort to insert the front panel 2.At the dead center of the compression spring 9, the axis of rotation 15 of the cam disk 8 and the pivot point 9a of the guide rod 10 on the cam disk 8 lie on the effective axis of the compression spring 9, i.e., on the longitudinal axis of the guide rod 10, so that the compression spring 9 exerts no torque on the cam disk 8. The clamping device 7, here the cam 13, has a first contact surface 7a and a second contact surface 7b for the transverse bolt 4, wherein the transverse bolt 4 bears against the first contact surface 7a at least until it passes the dead center and then bears against the second contact surface 7b until it reaches the locking position. It can be provided that when unlocking (ejecting), the transverse bolt 4 bears only against the first contact surface 7a or its extension. As shown in the exemplary embodiment, the axis of rotation 15 can be fixedly mounted in the guide plate 6.

[0058] The operating principle of the front panel fitting 1 is as follows.

[0059] The front panel 2 with the mounted front adapter 3 is manually brought close to the mounting device 5 attached to the drawer in the insertion direction 12 (Fig. 2a) and then inserted with its transverse bolt 4 into the guide slot 11 of the guide plate 6 and, if present, initially hooked into a suspension recess 16 of the guide slot 11 (Fig. 2b). The cam disc 8 is in its initial position.

[0060] When the front panel 2 is moved manually further in the insertion direction 12, the transverse bolt 4, guided in the guide slot 11, enters the cam 13 of the cam disk 8 via the open cam end 14 (Fig. 2c) and then, by pressing on the first contact surface 7a, rotates the cam disk 8 - in Fig. 2c counterclockwise - from the initial position against the action of the compression spring 9 to the dead center of the compression spring 9 (Fig. 2d).

[0061] By further inserting the transverse bolt 4 in the insertion direction 12, the cam disk 8 is rotated further, thereby overcoming the dead center (Fig. 2e), so that the cam disk 8, driven by the compression spring 9, is automatically rotated further into the locking position, and the transverse bolt 4, engaged by the second contact surface 7b of the cam 13, is carried along in the guide slot 11 in the insertion direction 12 to its fixing position (Fig. 2f). In this fixing position, the transverse bolt 4 is locked by the cam disk 8 against the insertion direction 12, with the transverse bolt 4 still approximately 20° away from the other, closed end of the cam. There is therefore no fixed end position or stop for the fastening position, and the transverse bolt 4 is, e.g. after the connection has been set, automatically pulled further in the insertion direction 12 to a new fastening position by the still spring-loaded cam disc 8 and thus retensioned.

[0062] In the fastening position, the second contact surface 7b acting on the transverse bolt 4 forms such a steep angle with the insertion direction 12, e.g. 75°, that the locking of the transverse bolt 4 cannot be released by a tensile force acting on the transverse bolt 4 against the insertion direction 12 (self-locking). The "inclined plane" of e.g. 15° is sufficient to achieve self-locking, especially since the spring force of the compression spring 9 additionally counteracts the release.

[0063] The cam distance to the axis of rotation 15 along the cam 13, i.e., the cam pitch, can decrease uniformly from the open cam end 14 (constant cam pitch) or, preferably, decrease over several cam sections with different cam pitches. In the latter case, as shown in Fig. 1b, the cam 13 has three cam sections with different cam pitches starting from the open cam end 14. A first cam section I with a large cam pitch, on which the transverse bolt 4 presses against the first contact surface 7a, serves to push the cam disk 8 from its initial position past the dead center. A second cam section II forms a transition and pull-in area with some clearance between the two cam sides for optimized retraction of the transverse bolt 4.A third cam section III serves to tension and lock the transverse bolt 4 with a low cam pitch (self-locking swivel wedge) in any position, which allows retensioning and tolerance compensation (manufacturing / assembly tolerances).

[0064] To unlock or release the fastening device 5, the cam disc 8 must be manually rotated back from the locked position past the dead center, e.g., to the self-locking initial position, thereby pushing the transverse bolt 4 back in the guide slot 11 against the insertion direction 12, e.g., into the suspension recess 16. For this purpose, the cam disc 8 optionally has a tool receptacle 17 arranged eccentrically or centrally to the axis of rotation 15 for a tool (e.g., screwdriver or Allen key). In this case, the tool receptacle 17 is located centrally on a bearing journal 18, which forms the axis of rotation 15 and is rotationally fixed to the cam disc 8, e.g., via a positive locking mechanism (triangular, not shown).

[0065] As further shown in the exemplary embodiment, the guide plate 6 can be adjusted vertically and laterally between two drawer-side mounting plates 19, 20 to allow adjustment of the front panel 2. Lateral adjustment is achieved by means of a screw 21, which is rotatably mounted in vertical elongated holes 22 of the mounting plates 19, 20 and laterally fixed, and is screwed into a threaded bore 23 of the guide plate 6. Here, for example, a fine thread M8x1 can be used to ensure that the lateral adjustment is held securely even under continuous load (opening and closing of the drawer). The guide plate 6 and the cam disc 8 can, for example, be mounted with minimal play between two walls of the front adapter 3 so that a lateral adjustment of the guide plate 6 results in a corresponding lateral adjustment of the front adapter 3.

[0066] Height adjustment is achieved by means of an eccentric 24, which is rotatably mounted in the two mounting plates 19, 20 and can change the height of the guide plate 6 via a horizontal elongated hole 25. Small radial ribs on the eccentric 24, which engage corresponding profiles in the mounting plates 19, 20, provide locking under load. Rotation to the next increment is achieved using a screwdriver, whereby the mounting plates 19, 20 can flex slightly towards their respective outer edges to allow movement. The guide plate 6 is guided vertically at the front by a vertical recess 26 on an angled tab 27 of the rear mounting plate 19 (as shown in Fig. 1a) and at the rear by two rear projections 28 in rear vertical guide slots 29 of the rear mounting plate 19.The projections 28 extend rearward through the guide slots 29 and can optionally be secured with pins 30. The two mounting plates 19, 20 are riveted together, both via an attachment of the tab 27 and via three raised sections of the rear mounting plate 19, which protrude into the corresponding recesses of the front mounting plate 20 and can thus be embossed.

[0067] Figures 3a and 3b show a modified front panel fitting 1 for a narrow installation space (as seen in the insertion direction 12), in which the guide and mounting plates 6, 19, and 20 are oriented vertically and the energy storage device 9 is also arranged vertically instead of horizontally. The horizontal arrangement of the guide and mounting plates 6, 19, and 20 allows for a small installation space in terms of height for small frame heights, while the vertical arrangement allows, for example, the insertion of a larger insert (e.g., glass or decorative panel) in taller frames. Due to these different features, all standard frame heights can be accommodated with these two variants. It is also important to note that the tool receptacles for the side and height adjustment elements 21 and 24 are accessible from both sides, which is why the pre-assembled mounting devices 5 can be used for both sides of the frame.Therefore, for all variations (height and side), only these two fastening principles are necessary as pre-assembled sub-assemblies (economical prefabrication).

[0068] Fig. 4 shows the fastening of a front panel 2, which has a front adapter 3 with an upper and a lower transverse bolt 4, by means of a front panel fitting 1 with an upper fastening device 5 and a further, lower fastening device 5a. Instead of being arranged in reverse relative to each other as shown, the two fastening devices 5, 5a can also be arranged in a non-reversible manner relative to each other.

[0069] Fig. 5 shows another embodiment of the front panel fitting 1, in which the clamping device 7 has two parallel cam discs 8 for engaging the transverse bolt 4. The cam discs 8 are rotatably mounted on the guide plate 6 about the axis of rotation 15 and are arranged on both sides of the guide plate 6. It is also conceivable that the two cam discs 8 are connected, forming a U-shaped configuration with its two legs on either side of the plate 6. The compression spring 9 is arranged between the two cam discs 8 and eccentrically pivoted to them, thus preventing rotation. Unlike in Fig. 1, the two mounting plates 19, 20 are connected at the front by means of a bolt 31 and at the rear, for example, by means of two vertically offset bolts 32. However, the mounting plates 19, 20 can also be connected as shown in Fig. 1a.The guide plate 6 is mounted vertically displaceable on these bolts 31, 32 by means of corresponding front and / or rear vertical elongated holes 33. Otherwise, this front panel fitting 1 corresponds to the front panel fitting 1 of Figs. 1 and 2.

[0070] Figures 6a-6d show the sequence of events during the fastening and unfastening of a front panel 2 using a further embodiment of the front panel fitting 1, where the guide plate 6 is shown only schematically. In this embodiment as well, the clamping element is rotatably mounted. This embodiment differs from the previously described embodiments in that the clamping device 7, as the clamping element, has a locking lever 34 rotatably mounted about the axis of rotation 15, with a radially outwardly open (catching) recess 35. From its initial position (Fig. 6a), the locking lever 34 can initially be rotated against the force of the compression spring 9 until, after overcoming the dead center, it is automatically rotated further by the compression spring 9 into the locked position (Fig. 6c).The clamping device 7, here the catch recess 35, has a first contact surface 7a and a second contact surface 7b for the transverse bolt 4, wherein the transverse bolt 4 bears against the first contact surface 7a at least until it overcomes the dead center and then bears against the second contact surface 7b until it reaches the locking position. The fastening device 5 also has a rotatably mounted locking lever 36 which, in a locking position, prevents the locking lever 34 from rotating back out of the locking position.

[0071] The front panel 2 is manually inserted into the guide slot 11 in the insertion direction 12 using the transverse bolt 4 until the transverse bolt 4 enters the catch recess 35 of the locking lever 34, which is in its initial position (Fig. 6a). As the transverse bolt 4 is further inserted in the insertion direction 12, it then rotates the locking lever 34 – counterclockwise in Fig. 6b – from its initial position against the action of the compression spring 9, by pressing on the first contact surface 7a, and beyond the dead center of the compression spring 9. After overcoming the dead point, the locking lever 34, driven by the compression spring 9, is automatically rotated further into the locking position, and the transverse bolt 4, engaged by the second contact surface 7b of the catch recess 35, is carried along in the guide slot 11 in the insertion direction 12 to its fastening position (Fig. 6c).The locking lever 36 is rotated by the locking lever 34 – against the action of a restoring force (spring or gravity) – into the locked position, in which the round, free end of the locking lever 36 clamps against an outer contour of the locking lever 34 at an acute angle. This prevents the locking lever 34 from rotating back to its initial position, but further rotation of the locking lever 34 is still possible. Thus, there is no fixed end position or stop for the fastening position, and the transverse bolt 4 is automatically pulled further in the insertion direction 12 into a new fastening position by the still spring-loaded locking lever 34, for example, after the connection has been set, and is thus retensioned.

[0072] To release the fastener, the locking element 36 is first lifted off the locking lever 34 (Fig. 6d) by manually turning a release element 37, which is eccentrically mounted on the locking lever 34, clockwise. The release element 37 has a tool receptacle 38 for this purpose, here in the form of a cross slot, and is guided on one side in an arcuate cam 39 of the locking lever 34 and on the other side in a control cam (not shown) of the guide plate 6. By continuing to turn the release element 37 clockwise, the locking lever 34 can be turned back from the locked position past its dead center, e.g., to its initial position, and thereby the transverse bolt 4 is pushed back or ejected in the guide slot 11 against the insertion direction 12.

[0073] Figures 7a-7d show the sequence of events for attaching and detaching a front panel 2 using a further embodiment of the front panel fitting 1, where the guide plate 6 is shown only schematically. This embodiment of the front panel fitting 1 differs from the embodiment of the front panel fitting 1 shown in Figures 6a-6d in that the release element is designed as a release cam 37 rotatably mounted on the locking lever 34, with a rotary handle 40, here in the form of a lever arm. To release the fastening, the release cam 37 is first rotated clockwise (free rotation) until the release cam 37 has lifted the locking lever 36 (Figure 7d). The free rotation then ends, and by continuing to rotate the release cam 37, the locking lever 34 is moved clockwise back to its initial position. This causes the transverse bolt 4 to be pushed back or ejected in the guide slot 11 against the insertion direction 12.When the transverse bolt 4 is reinserted, the release cam 37 is first moved back to its initial position by the extension of the front adapter 3 via the rotary handle 40. Figures 8a-8d show the sequence of events when attaching a front panel 2 using a further embodiment of the front panel fitting 1, where the guide plate 6 is shown only schematically. This embodiment corresponds to the configuration of Figures 1-5, unless otherwise described below. The clamping device 7 has a locking wedge 42 as its clamping element, which is linearly displaceable at right angles or nearly (approx. ± 10°) to the insertion direction 12 in a guide 41 of the guide plate 6. The locking wedge has a wedge surface 43 for engaging and tightening the transverse bolt 4 in the insertion direction 12.Furthermore, the fastening device 5 has a coupling element 45 rotatably mounted on the guide plate 6 at 44, which, in an initial position shown in Fig. 8a, engages in the guide slot 11, here with a coupling arm 46, and is coupled to the locking wedge 42 for movement. For this purpose, a pin 47 of the locking wedge 42 is guided in an angled cam 48 of the coupling element 45. The compression spring 9 engages the coupling element 45 eccentrically and pre-tensions the coupling element 45 into its initial position shown in Fig. 8a. In this initial position, the locking wedge 42 is in its initial position, in which it does not engage in the guide slot 11.

[0074] The front panel 2 is manually inserted into the guide slot 11 in the insertion direction 12 using the transverse bolt 4 until the transverse bolt 4 contacts the coupling arm 46 (Fig. 8a). As the transverse bolt 4 is further inserted in the insertion direction 12, the coupling arm 46, or the coupling element 45, is rotated by the transverse bolt 4 from its initial position, first against the force of the compression spring 9, beyond a dead center of the compression spring 9 (Fig. 8b), and then further rotated by the compression spring 9 to an end position (Fig. 8c). In Fig. 8b, the coupling element 45 has already been rotated significantly beyond the dead center, so that it is already being drawn in by the compression spring 9, which is why the transverse bolt 4 is no longer in contact with the coupling arm 46. Due to the movement coupling, the locking wedge 42 is lowered into its locking position, initially resting on the transverse bolt 4 (Fig.8b), until the transverse bolt 4 is engaged by the wedge surface 43 in the insertion direction 12 and carried into its fastening position. In the fastening position, the pin 47 does not yet rest against the cam end to allow for retensioning or tolerance compensation. This is achieved by further rotation of the coupling element 45 by the spring force, whereby the locking wedge 42 lowers further via the cam 48 to the end position of the tolerance compensation or retensioning travel (Fig. 8c). The locking wedge 42 cannot move independently. Thus, there is no fixed end position or stop for the fastening position, and the transverse bolt 4 can, for example, after the connection has been set, be automatically pulled further in the insertion direction 12 to a new fastening position by the still spring-loaded locking wedge 42 and thus retensioned.

[0075] Due to the small wedge angle of the wedge surface 43, the locking of the transverse bolt 4 cannot be released by a tensile force acting on the transverse bolt 4 against the insertion direction 12 (self-locking and spring force). To release the fastening, the coupling element 45 is manually rotated clockwise past its dead center, e.g., to its initial position, using a tool holder 49 – arranged here eccentrically to the axis of rotation 44. This causes the locking wedge 42 to be lifted first (Fig. 8d) until it is free, and then the transverse bolt 4 is pushed back or ejected by the coupling arm 46 in the guide slot 11 against the insertion direction 12. For this to occur, there must be sufficient play in the end position shown in Fig. 8c so that, upon release, the locking wedge 42 can first be loosened sufficiently for the coupling arm 46 to eject the transverse bolt 4 (Fig. 8d).

[0076] Figures 9a-9d show the sequence of steps for attaching a front panel 2 using a further embodiment of the front panel fitting 1, where the guide plate 6 is shown only schematically. This embodiment corresponds to the embodiment of Figures 8a-8d, unless differences are described below. The compression spring 9 engages directly with and is received in the locking wedge 42. Furthermore, a different movement coupling is provided in this embodiment. The coupling element 45 is guided by a pin 50 in a cam 51 of the locking wedge 42 that is parallel or nearly (approx. ± 10°) parallel to the insertion direction 12. The coupling element 45 is rotatably mounted about the axis of rotation 44 and coupled to the locking wedge 42 via pin 50 and cam 51. When the coupling element 45 is inserted from its position shown in Figure 8a-8d, the front adapter 3 is moved into position 45.In the initial position shown in Fig. 9a, the coupling element 45 is rotated counterclockwise at the right end of the cam. Against the force of the compression spring 9, the coupling element 45 is rotated to a dead center where the line defined by pin 50 and axis of rotation 44 runs parallel to the direction of movement of the locking wedge 42. Due to the coupling action, the locking wedge 42 is raised slightly from its initial position shown in Fig. 9a. After passing the dead center, the locking wedge 42 is lowered into its locking position shown in Fig. 9c by the compression spring 9. Due to the coupling action, the coupling element 45 is then rotated further into the final position shown in Fig. 9c. In its initial position, the locking wedge 42 does not engage in the guide slot 11.

[0077] The front panel 2 is inserted into the guide slot 11 with the transverse bolt 4 until the front adapter 3 contacts the coupling arm 46 with one of its two side walls (Fig. 9a). As the transverse bolt 4 is further inserted in the insertion direction 12, the coupling arm 46 or the coupling element 45 is rotated counterclockwise from its initial position against the force of the compression spring 9 by the transverse bolt 4 until it reaches beyond the dead center (Fig. 9b) and then further rotated by the compression spring 9 to an end position (Fig. 9c). Due to the movement coupling, the locking wedge 42 is initially raised and, after passing the dead center, lowered, causing the transverse bolt 4 to be engaged by the wedge surface 43 in the insertion direction 12 and carried into its mounting position (Fig. 9c). In the mounting position, the pin 50 is still distanced from the left end of the cam.There is therefore no fixed end position or stop for the fastening position, and the transverse bolt 4 can, e.g. after the connection has been set, be automatically pulled further in the insertion direction 12 to a new fastening position by the still spring-loaded locking wedge 42 and thus retensioned.

[0078] To release the fastening, the coupling element 45 is manually rotated clockwise using the tool holder 49 until the coupling arm 46 rests against the front adapter 3 (Fig. 9d), and then further past the dead center to the initial position. Due to the movement coupling, the locking wedge 42 is first lifted and then the transverse bolt 4 is pushed back or ejected from the coupling arm 46 in the guide slot 11 in the opposite direction to the insertion direction 12.

[0079] Figures 10a-10d show the sequence of steps for attaching a front panel 2 using a further embodiment of a front panel fitting 1, where the guide plate 6 is shown only schematically. This embodiment corresponds to the embodiment of Figures 9a-9d, unless differences are described below. The rotatably mounted coupling element 45 on the guide plate 6 is designed as a cam disk with a control cam 52, which controls the stroke movement of the locking wedge 42. In a starting position, the coupling element 45 engages with a (catch) recess 53 in the guide slot 11. The coupling element 45 is acted upon by a further energy storage device, here in the form of another compression spring 54. In this case, the control cam 52 interacts with a pin 55 of the locking wedge 42, which is pressed against the control cam 52 by the compression spring 54.The control cam 52 has a circular cam section with respect to the axis of rotation 44, against which the pin 55 rests from the initial position until shortly before the end position, as well as a subsequent cam section offset radially inwards to lower the locking wedge 42, driven by the compression spring 9, accordingly.

[0080] The front panel 2 is inserted into the guide slot 11 with the transverse bolt 4 until the transverse bolt 4 enters the catch recess 53 (Fig. 10a). As the transverse bolt 4 is further inserted in the insertion direction 12, the coupling element 45 is rotated counterclockwise from its initial position by the transverse bolt 4 against the action of the secondary compression spring 54 until it reaches a dead center, at which the axis of rotation 44 lies in the line of action of the secondary compression spring 54 (Fig. 10b), and then rotated further by the secondary compression spring 54 to a final position (Fig. 10c). The locking wedge 42, which rests with its pin 55 on the circular section of the control cam 52, initially remains in its initial position, in which it does not engage in the guide slot 11.As soon as the pin 55 reaches the recessed cam section, the locking wedge 42, driven by the compression spring 9, is lowered, causing the transverse bolt 4 to be engaged by the wedge surface 43 in the insertion direction 12 and carried along to its fastening position (Fig. 10c). There is no fixed end position or stop for the fastening position, and the transverse bolt 4 can, for example after the connection has been seated, be automatically pulled further in the insertion direction 12 to a new fastening position by the still spring-loaded locking wedge 42 and thus retensioned. The recessed cam section is provided for tolerance compensation and represents a clearance for (within limits) independent movements of the locking wedge 42 and the coupling element 45.

[0081] To release the fastening, the coupling element 45 is manually rotated clockwise past the dead center using the tool holder 49 and back to its initial position, causing the pin 55 to rest again on the circular curved section and the locking wedge 42 to be lifted. The transverse bolt 4 is then pushed back or ejected from the catch recess 53 in the guide slot 11 in the opposite direction to the insertion direction 12.

[0082] Figures 11a-11c show the sequence of steps for attaching a front panel 2 using a further embodiment of the front panel fitting 1, where the guide plate 6 is shown only schematically. The clamping device 7 has a pull rod 56 as its clamping element, which has a suspension receptacle 57 at one end (left in Figure 11a) with two contact surfaces acting in and against the insertion direction 12 for engaging the transverse bolt 4. The suspension receptacle 57 is comparable to or replaces the suspension recess 16 (Figure 1). Furthermore, the fastening device 5 has a coupling element 59 rotatably mounted on the guide plate 6 at 58, to which both the compression spring 9 at 60 and the pull rod 56 with its other, right end at 61 are eccentrically and angularly offset from each other.It is also technically conceivable to combine the pivot points so that the compression spring 9 is also received at the pivot point 61, whereby the desired dead center is set by appropriately aligning the compression spring 9. The front panel 2 is hooked into the suspension recess 57 with the transverse bolt 4 (Fig. 11a) and then manually pushed in the insertion direction 12, so that the transverse bolt 4 enters the guide slot 11 and is inserted further therein. The pull rod 56, which is also pushed in the insertion direction 12 as a result, causes the coupling element 59 to rotate from its initial position clockwise against the action of the compression spring 9 until it passes a dead center, in which the axis of rotation 58 lies in the line of action of the compression spring 9 (Fig. 11b), and is then rotated further by the compression spring 9 to an end position (Fig. 11c). There is no fixed end position or stop for the mounting position, and the cross bolt 4 can, for example,After the connection has been set, the spring-loaded pull rod 56 is automatically pulled further in the insertion direction 12 to a new fastening position and thus retensioned.

[0083] In the fastening position, viewed perpendicular to the insertion direction 12, the point of application 60 of the compression spring 9 is significantly further from the axis of rotation 58 than the point of application 61 of the pull rod 56, so that a tensile force acting against the insertion direction 12 on the transverse bolt 4 does not lead to unlocking. To release the fastening, the coupling element 59 is manually turned counterclockwise past the dead center and further back to its initial position using a tool holder (not shown here), thereby pushing the pull rod 56 back against the insertion direction 12 to its initial position.

[0084] Figures 12a-12c show the sequence of steps for attaching a front panel using a further embodiment of the front panel fitting 1, where the guide plate 6 is shown only schematically. The clamping device 7 has a locking lever 62 as its clamping element. At one end of the lever, on the left in Figure 12, the locking lever has an upwardly open (catch) recess 63 for engaging a fitting component with a retaining structure, here only by way of example in the form of a bolt 3 with a receptive bolt head 4. The bolt 3 is attached to the front panel 2 instead of or in addition to a front adapter, preferably by screwing it in (thread not shown). The locking lever 62 is rotatably mounted at one end of the lever by means of an elongated hole 65 on a bearing pin 66 of the guide plate 6, and at the other end of the lever, on the right, it is guided by a pin 67 in an angled recess 68 of the guide plate 6.In its initial position shown in Fig. 12a, the pin 67 is held in a detent recess 69 of the cam 68 by a compression spring 9, which is supported on the guide plate 6 and, with a guide rod 70 passing through the compression spring 9, pulls the pin 67 into the detent recess 69. This allows the compression spring 9, together with the locking lever 62 and guide plate 6, to always move synchronously, which is important for the lateral and vertical adjustment function. The clamping device 7, here the locking lever 62, has a first contact surface 7a and a second contact surface 7b for the bolt head 4, wherein the bolt head 4 bears against the first contact surface 7a at least until it overcomes a dead center of the compression spring 9 and then bears against the second contact surface 7b until the locking position.

[0085] The front panel 2 is manually inserted into the guide slot 11 (not shown) with the bolt head 4 (Fig. 12a) until the bolt head 4 enters the catch recess 63. As the bolt head 4 is further inserted, the locking lever 62, when it presses against the first contact surface 7a, is initially moved with its elongated hole 65 on the bearing pin 66 and thereby released from the detent recess 69 against the action of the compression spring 9 (Fig. 12b). Subsequently, driven by the compression spring 9, the locking lever 62 is pulled with its pin 67 along the cam 68 and thereby rotated clockwise around the bearing pin 66 until it is in the locked position. The bolt head 4, engaged by the second contact surface 7b of the locking lever 62, is carried along in the guide slot 11 in the insertion direction 12 until it reaches its fastening position (Fig. 12c). There is no fixed end position or stop for the fastening position, and the bolt 4 can, for example,After the connection has been set, the locking lever 62, which remains spring-loaded, is automatically pulled further in the cam 68 into a new fastening position and thus retensioned.

[0086] The cam 68 again has three cam sections. A first cam section I serves to push the locking lever 62 out of the detent recess 69 and beyond the dead center. A sloping, second cam section II, extending to the point where it deflects into the negative, serves to retract the locking lever 62. A negative, third cam section III serves for self-locking, since the force line (to the point of application, bolt head 4) is always almost perpendicular to the cam tangential axis, and is arc-shaped and can also be ±15° to the vertical. The pin 66 does not absorb any force here (floating bearing). The theoretical end position of Fig. 12c) is in the middle of the third cam section III. Tolerance compensation (and retensioning) then takes place further downwards or upwards, whereby the contact at the bolt head 4 continues to move in or against the insertion direction 12.

[0087] In the locked position, the pin 67 is located in a cam section that runs essentially perpendicular to the insertion direction 12, so that a tensile force acting on the bolt 4 against the insertion direction 12 does not lead to unlocking (self-locking). To release the fastener, the locking lever 62 is manually turned counterclockwise against the force of the compression spring 9, for example by means of an eccentric tool holder 71, until it returns to its locked initial position. This releases the bolt head 4 from the locking lever 62 and preferably also pushes it back in the guide slot 11 against the insertion direction 12. For this purpose, there is a raised section to the upper left above the detent position 69, so that the pin 67 can be reliably moved back into the detent position, similar to the heart-shaped cam of a PTO (push-to-open) unit.

[0088] Fig. 13 shows the fastening of a front panel 2 by means of a front panel fitting 1 modified compared to Fig. 4, with two different fastening devices 5, 5a. The front panel fitting 1 differs from Fig. 4 only in that the upper fastening device 5 is designed, as in Fig. 12, to engage behind the bolt head 4 of a bolt 3 of the front panel 2. As shown, the locking lever 62 of the upper fastening device 5 and the cam disc 8 of the lower fastening device 5a can be coupled to each other by means of a (spring) rod 72, which, for example, engages at the pivot points of the compression springs 9 on the locking lever 62 and on the cam disc 8. Alternatively, to release the upper fastening device 5, the spring rod 72 can be subjected to a force from below, which moves the pin 67 upwards in the cam 68 to the initial position of the detent recess 69.Should the initial position not be fully reached, this will be achieved at the latest by removing the front panel 2, whereby the bolt head 4 pulls back the catch recess 63 to the initial position.

[0089] In principle, the modified front panel fitting 1 shown in Fig. 13 can have any combination of two identical or different fastening devices 5, 5a, with or without motion coupling. In alternative embodiments not shown, the two compression springs 9 can also be replaced by a single energy storage device, for example also designed as a compression spring.

[0090] The embodiment of the front panel fitting 1 shown in Figs. 14a-14c differs from the front panel fitting 1 of Fig. 13 in that the two fastening devices 5, 5a are not actuated simultaneously, but with a time delay, and are only temporarily coupled to each other in their movement. For this purpose, a deflection lever 80 is rotatably mounted on the guide plate 6 about a pivot axis 81 parallel to the axes of rotation of the cam disk 8 and the locking lever 62. The end of the upper guide rod 10 of the upper fastening device 5 facing away from the locking lever 62 is rotatably and longitudinally displaceably mounted on the deflection lever 80 by means of an elongated hole 82 on a pin 83 of the deflection lever 80. The end of the lower guide rod 10 of the lower fastening device 5a facing away from the cam disc 8 is rotatably connected to the deflecting lever 80, between the axis of rotation 81 and the pin 83, at 84.It can be provided that different lever travel distances (point of application relative to the axis of rotation 81) result in different sized movements at the locking elements 8 and 62, respectively, in order to achieve the necessary, different travel distances. This allows, for example, different clamping distances to be compensated for.

[0091] During installation, the front panel 2 can first be snapped into the lower mounting device 5a and tightened. Due to the elongated hole 82, no movement is transmitted to the upper mounting device 5. The front panel 2 can then also be snapped into the upper mounting device 5 and tightened.

[0092] It may be provided that, after locking, both locking elements 8, 62 are not yet in their respective end positions, but rather in the middle of the clamping sections III, in order to allow for tolerance compensation or retightening. The pin 83 also does not rest against the limits of the elongated hole 82, in order to allow for different and independent tolerance compensation of the upper fastening device 5 and the lower fastening device 5a.

[0093] However, the coupling comes into play during unlocking, so that when the lower locking element 8 is released, the deflection lever 80 is lifted via the lower guide rod 10 until the pin 83 rests against the upper end of the elongated hole 82, and the upper guide rod 10, along with the upper locking element 5, is also released. Both locking elements 8 and 62 can thus be moved back to their initial position in one movement.

[0094] As shown in Fig. 15, the locking lever 62 shown in Figs. 12 to 14 can also be formed by two identical locking levers 62a, 62b, which are opposed by each other and between which the rotationally symmetrical bolt head 4 engages. The two locking levers 62a, 62b are connected to each other to form a rotationally fixed unit, e.g. by a connecting tab 62c at their respective ends facing away from the pin 67. In this case, the locking lever 62 is designed as a U-shaped element.

[0095] Figures 16a and 16b show a further front panel fitting 1 with an upper and a lower mounting device 5, 5a, which are not coupled to each other in terms of movement, and a front panel 2, not yet attached to it, with an upper and a lower retaining contour 4, 4a. The upper mounting device 5 has an upper clamping device 7 in the form of a rotatably mounted locking lever 85 for the upper retaining contour 4. The lower mounting device 5a has a guide slot 11a extending obliquely downwards in the insertion direction 12 and a lower clamping device 7a in the form of the cam disc 8 shown in Figure 1 for the lower retaining contour 4a inserted into the guide slot 11a. The guide slot 11a extends obliquely downwards to the horizontal in the insertion direction 12, e.g., at an angle of approximately 30°.

[0096] Figs. 17a, 17b show the front panel fitting 1, wherein the upper retaining contour 4 is engaged by the locking lever 85 and the lower retaining contour 4a is engaged by the cam disc 8 and drawn in or tensioned in the insertion direction 12.

[0097] As shown in Figs. 18a and 18b, the guide slot 11a has a raised section 86 at its beginning to act as an insertion / removal locking device, followed by a hanging recess 87 for the lower retaining contour (crossbolt) 4a. When the lower retaining contour 4a is inserted into or removed from the guide slot 11a, it remains securely suspended in the hanging recess 87.

[0098] As shown in Fig. 19, the locking lever 85 can be deflected downwards from a starting position projecting into the insertion path of the upper retaining contour 4 against the action of the compression spring 9 into a non-projecting release position. In the shown, projecting locking position, the locking lever 85 engages the inserted upper retaining contour (bolt head) 4 with a clamping contour 88 pointing in the insertion direction 12. A ramp 89 for the upper retaining contour 4, pointing in the opposite direction to the insertion direction 12, is provided in front of the clamping contour 88. By means of a self-locking mechanism, the locking lever 85 is locked against rotation from the locking position to the release position when a force acting from the locked upper retaining contour 4 in the opposite direction to the insertion direction 12 is applied.The self-locking mechanism can have a counter bearing 90, here in the form of a projection, which is arranged upstream of a pivot axis 91 of the locking lever 85 in the insertion direction 12 and is preferably located below the insertion path of the upper retaining contour 4. The locking lever 85 also has a control contour 92 pointing opposite to the insertion direction 12, which is guided on the counter bearing 90 when the locking lever 85 is rotated. The pivot axis 91 of the locking lever 85 is slidably mounted in the insertion direction 12 and thus does not absorb any horizontal forces, but only ensures the vertical position. The control contour 92 runs eccentrically to the pivot axis 91 in order to additionally displace the locking lever 85 in the insertion direction 12 when it is rotated from the release to the locking position, thereby further clamping the upper retaining contour 4.As shown, the pivot axis 91 of the locking lever 85 can be formed by an elongated hole 93 in the locking lever 85 and a bearing pin 94 of the guide plate 6. Alternatively, the pivot axis 91 of the locking lever 85 can be formed by a bearing pin of the locking lever 85 and an elongated hole in the guide plate 6. The guide plate 6 also has a clearance 95 above the insertion path of the upper retaining contour 4 for the second retaining contour 4, which is at least as high as the stroke of the lower retaining contour 4a required to lift it out of the inclined guide slot 11a. For safe operation, it is also ensured that if the front panel is first fully inserted and locked at the bottom, the retaining bolt at the top will still engage the clearance 95. Similarly, if the top is locked first after the panel has been hooked in, the bottom can still be locked afterward.

[0099] The procedure for removing the front panel 2 is as follows:

[0100] By manually rotating the cam disc 8, the lower retaining contour 4a is moved in the inclined guide slot 11a against the force of the lower compression spring 9, contrary to the insertion direction 12, and is thereby also lifted. After overcoming the dead center of the lower compression spring 9, the lower retaining contour 4a, driven by the lower compression spring 9, is ejected into the hanging recess 87. By releasing the front panel 2, the upper retaining contour 4 is also lifted by the vertical movement in the guide slot 11 a, and the self-locking mechanism of the locking lever 85 is bypassed in the horizontal direction, since the front panel 2 preferably only moves at the bottom in the release direction, i.e., it tilts and still rests against the frame at the top (only minimal horizontal movement at the top), the retaining contour 4 can now be lifted over the locking lever 85 in the clearance 95, and the front panel 2 can be removed from the front panel fitting 1.

[0101] Instead of being attached to the guide plate 6 on only one side as shown in Figs. 16 and 17, the locking lever 85 can be designed on both sides, as shown in Figs. 20 and 21, with two parallel lever arms 85a, 85b, which are arranged on both sides of the guide plate 6 and connected to each other, e.g., by two rivets 96a, 96b. The two lever arms 85a, 85b can be formed by two separate parts (Fig. 20) or integrally by a U-shaped part with a connecting web 97 (Fig. 21). One rivet 96a forms the pivot axis 91 of the locking lever 85 and is guided horizontally displaceably in an elongated hole in the guide plate 6 in the insertion direction 12. The other rivet 96b is guided on a counter bearing 90 of the guide plate 6, here in a curved recess, in order to additionally displace the locking lever 85 in the insertion direction 12 when rotating from the release to the locking position, thereby further clamping the upper retaining contour 4.Figure 22 shows a front view of the locking lever 85 shown in Figures 20 and 21, with an inclined return spring 9. The return spring 9 is arranged at one end in an angled spring guide 98 of the guide plate 6 and at the other end in a spring guide 99 of the lever arm 85a, which is angled towards the central plane of the locking lever 85, with the two spring guides being aligned along a straight line. In this case, the spring guides 98 and 99 are designed as obliquely flared tabs.

[0102] Fig. 23a shows a low-profile front panel fitting 1 for a low frame 100 (frame height e.g. 180 mm) and Fig. 23b a high-profile front panel fitting 1 for a high frame 101 (frame height e.g. 240 mm). In the high-profile front panel fitting 1, the two mounting devices 5a, 5 are arranged on the common guide plate 6 with a greater vertical distance from each other than in the low-profile front panel fitting 1. Fig. 24 shows a front panel fitting 1 that can be used for both low and high frames, which has a separate upper guide plate 61 with the upper mounting device 5 and a separate lower guide plate 62 with the lower mounting device 5a. The two guide plates 61, 62 are indirectly connected to each other via the respective frame 100, 101 and at the desired vertical distance.

[0103] As shown in Figs. 25a and 25b, the front panel fitting 1 can have two base plates 102 between which the guide plate 6 is mounted so as to be laterally displaceable (pivotable) by means of a lateral adjustment 103. For this purpose, the lateral adjustment 103 includes a threaded screw 104, which is mounted in the two base plates 102 so as to be rotatable and vertically displaceable and which interacts with an internal thread of the guide plate 6. The threaded screw 104 has a stop ring 105a and 105b at each end for the guide plate 6. One stop ring 105a is, for example, integrally formed on the threaded screw 104, and the other stop ring 105b is, for example, a separate retaining ring that is inserted into an annular groove of the threaded screw 104.The threaded screw 104 preferably has a tool receptacle 106 on both sides in order to be able to rotate the threaded screw 104 by means of a tool and to be able to use the entire fastening element identically on both sides (in the left and the right frame).

[0104] As shown in Fig. 26a, 26b, the guide plate 6 is pivotably mounted about a vertical axis of rotation by rear pins 107 in corresponding rear recesses 108 of the base plate 102, so that by turning the threaded screw 104 the side facing away from the axis of rotation can move the front adapter 3 to the left or right.

[0105] As further shown in Figs. 25a and 25b, the front panel fitting 1 can also be mounted so that it can be moved vertically between the two base plates 102 by means of a height adjustment mechanism 109. For this purpose, the height adjustment mechanism 109 comprises an eccentric adjusting cam (height eccentric) 110 (Fig. 27), which is rotatably mounted in the two base plates 102. The adjusting cam 110 has a rotary detent 111 on one of its inner sides, which interacts with the base plate 81, and a spring, preferably a wave spring 112, on its other inner side to exert pressure on the rotary detent 111. The adjusting cam 110 again has a tool receptacle 113 on both sides to allow the adjusting cam 110 to be rotated by means of a tool. In order to achieve the most uniform height adjustment possible, the adjustment cam 110 is not circular, but flattened on both the top and bottom sides, yet still mirror-symmetrical, to ensure symmetrical adjustment upwards and downwards.As shown in Fig. 28, the adjusting cam 110 is rotatably mounted in a horizontal elongated slot 114 of the guide plate 6. The slot 114 is designed such that the flattened adjusting cam 110 can only be rotated by slightly more than ±90°. The vertical diameter of the adjusting cam 110 is almost identical in all angular positions, with only a varying center point to ensure contact on both sides, top and bottom, with the slot 114 (free play).

Claims

Patent claims 1. Front panel fitting (1) for detachably attaching a front panel (2) to a drawer, in particular to a drawer side wall or a drawer frame, comprising - at least one fitting part (3) that can be mounted on the rear of the front panel (2) and has a retaining contour (4) that can be gripped from behind, and - at least one fastening device (5) that can be mounted on the drawer for fastening the fitting part (3), wherein the fastening device (5) has a guide plate (6), a clamping device (7) that is movably mounted on the guide plate (6) between an initial and a locking position for engaging and tightening the retaining contour (4) in an insertion direction (12) up to a fastening position and a force storage device (9) that pre-tensions the clamping device (7) into the locking position.

2. Front panel fitting according to claim 1, wherein the clamping device (7) is initially movable against the action of the energy storage device (9) by means of the retaining contour (4) inserted in the insertion direction (12) and, after overcoming a dead point of the energy storage device (9), is automatically moved further by the energy storage device (9) into the locking position.

3. Front panel fitting according to claim 2, wherein the clamping device (7) has a first contact surface (7a) for the retaining contour (4) and a second contact surface (7b) for the retaining contour (4), wherein the retaining contour (4) rests on the first contact surface (7a) until at least the dead point is overcome and then on the second contact surface (7b).

4. Front panel fitting according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the guide plate (6) has a guide slot (11) for inserting the retaining contour (4) in the insertion direction (12) up to the fastening position.

5. Front panel fitting according to claim 4, wherein the guide slot (11a) in the installation position of the front panel fitting (1) , seen in the insertion direction (12), runs obliquely, preferably downwards.

6. Front panel fitting according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the clamping device (7) has a clamping element (8, 34, 42, 56, 62), wherein the clamping element (8, 34, 42, 56, 62) is directly or indirectly connected to the energy storage device (9).

7. Front panel fitting according to claim 6, wherein the energy storage device (9) is articulated to the clamping element (8, 34, 62), in particular such that the energy storage device (9) is connected to a pin (67) or an axis (9a) of the clamping element (8, 34, 62).

8. Front panel fitting according to one of claims 6 or 7, wherein the clamping device (7) has a release element (37), wherein the release element (37) has a tool receptacle (17; 49) or handle (40) for moving the clamping element (8, 34, 56, 62) back from the locked position over a dead center of the energy storage device (9).

9. Front panel fitting according to claim 8, wherein the release element (37) and the clamping element (62) are formed in one piece.

10. Front panel fitting according to one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the clamping device (7) has a locking element (36), wherein the locking element (36) acts frictionally on the clamping element (34) in the locking position.

11. Front panel fitting according to one of claims 6 to 10, wherein the clamping element (8, 34, 56, 62) is rotatably mounted.

12. Front panel fitting according to claim 11, wherein the clamping element (8) has a cam (13) which has a first contact surface (7a) for the retaining contour (4) and a second contact surface (7b) for the retaining contour (4), wherein the retaining contour (4) is guided in the cam (13) in the locking position.

13. Front panel fitting according to claim 12, wherein the clamping element is formed by at least one rotatably mounted cam disk (8) which has an arc-shaped cam (13) with an open cam end (14) through which, in an initial position of the cam disk (8), the retaining contour (4) enters the cam (13), wherein the cam distance to a rotation axis (15) of the cam disk (8) decreases along the cam (13) starting from the open cam end (14).

14. Front panel fitting according to claim 13, wherein the clamping element is formed by two parallel cam discs (8) arranged next to each other, both of which are rotatably mounted about the axis of rotation (15), for gripping and tightening the retaining contour (4).

15. Front panel fitting according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the cam (13) starting from the open cam end (14) has a first cam section (I) with a large change in scenery distance, a second scenery section (II) with a small change in the distance between the backdrop and in particular a third backdrop section (II) with an even smaller change in the distance between the backdrop.

16. Front panel fitting according to one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the axis of rotation (15) of the at least one cam disk (8) is arranged in a fixed position.

17. Front panel fitting according to claim 11, wherein the clamping element is formed by a pull rod (56) which has a first rod end The device has a hanging bracket (57) for attaching the retaining contour (4), and the fastening device (5) has a coupling element (59) rotatably mounted on the guide plate (6), on which both a second rod end of the pull rod (56) opposite the first rod end and the energy storage device (9) engage eccentrically and with an angular offset to each other.

18. Front panel fitting according to one of claims 6 to 17, wherein the energy storage device (9; 54) engages the clamping element (42, 56) via a coupling element (45, 59).

19. Front panel fitting according to one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the clamping device (7) as a clamping element has a locking wedge (42) which is displaceable at a right angle or almost at a right angle to the insertion direction (12) and has a wedge surface (43) for engaging behind and tightening the retaining contour (4) in the insertion direction (12) up to the fastening position.

20. Front panel fitting according to claim 19, wherein the fastening device (5) has a coupling element (45) rotatably mounted on the guide plate (6) which is coupled to the locking wedge (42) in a movement-coupled manner.

21. Front panel fitting according to claim 20, wherein the coupling element (45) is designed as a release element.

22. Front panel fitting according to claim 20 or 21, wherein the coupling element (45) is actuated by the power storage device (9) and has a cam (48) in which a pin (47) of the locking wedge (42) is guided, or wherein the coupling element (45) is guided with a pin (50) in a cam (51) of the locking wedge (42) actuated by the power storage device (9) which runs parallel or nearly parallel to the insertion direction (12).

23. Front panel fitting according to claim 22, wherein the coupling element (45) acted upon by a further energy storage device (54) has a control contour (52) cooperating with the locking wedge (42), which controls the movement of the locking wedge (42) such that in the initial position of the coupling element (45) the locking wedge (42) is blocked in its initial position and in an end position of the coupling element (45) the locking wedge (42) is moved into the locking position.

24. Front panel fitting according to claim 23, wherein the locking wedge (42) has a pin (55) which interacts with the control contour (52) of the coupling element (45).

25. Front panel fitting according to one of claims 1 to 24, wherein the clamping device forms a locking lever (62) with a radially outwardly open recess (63) for receiving the retaining contour (4), which is rotatably mounted on the guide plate (6) and guided in a cam (68) of the guide plate (6), and wherein the locking lever (62) is rotatably displaceable from the initial position against the action of the energy storage device (9) in the cam (68) and is then, after overcoming a dead center, rotated by the energy storage device (9) in the cam (68) into the locking position.

26. Front panel fitting according to claim 25, wherein the locking lever (62) is rotatably mounted with an elongated hole (65) on a bearing pin (66) of the guide plate (6).

27. Front panel fitting according to claim 25 or 26, wherein the locking lever (62) is held in the initial position in a detent recess (69) of the cam (68).

28. Front panel fitting according to one of claims 1 to 27, wherein the front panel fitting (1 ) has two fastening devices (5, 5a).

29. Front panel fitting according to claim 28 wherein the clamping devices (7) of the two fastening devices (5, 5a) are permanently coupled to each other, in particular by a rod (72), or sectionally, in particular by a deflecting lever (80).

30. Front panel fitting according to one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the front panel fitting (1 ) comprises a first fastening device (5a) with a guide slot (11 a) and with a first clamping device (7a) for a first retaining contour (4a) inserted into the guide slot (11 a) and a second fastening device (5) with a second clamping device (7) for an inserted, second retaining contour (4), wherein the guide slot (11 a) extends obliquely downwards to the horizontal in the insertion direction (12).

31. Front panel fitting according to claim 30, wherein the guide slot (11 a) has a raised portion (86) at the beginning of the slot as an insertion / disengagement safety device.

32. Front panel fitting according to claim 30 or 31, wherein the first clamping device (7a) has a first clamping element in the form of a rotatably mounted cam disk (8) which has an arcuate cam (13) with an open cam end (14) through which, in an initial position of the cam disk (8), the first retaining contour (4a) enters the cam (13), wherein the cam distance to a rotation axis (15) of the cam disk (8) starting from the open end of the scenery (14) along the scenery (13).

33. Front panel fitting according to one of claims 30 to 32, wherein the second clamping device (7) has a second clamping element in the form of a rotatably mounted locking lever (85) which can be deflected from a starting position projecting beyond the insertion path of the second retaining contour (4) against the action of a restoring force into a non-projecting release position and which in a projecting locking position the inserted, second retaining contour (4) engages behind, wherein the second clamping device (7) has a self-locking mechanism which prevents the locking lever (85) from rotating from the locked position to the release position when a force is exerted by the locked, second retaining contour (4) against the insertion direction (12), and wherein the second clamping device (7) has a clearance (95) above the locking lever (85) for the second retaining contour (4) which is at least as high as the stroke of the first retaining contour (4a) required to lift it out of the guide slot (11a).

34. Front panel fitting according to claim 33, wherein the locking lever (85) has a clamping contour (88) pointing in the insertion direction (12) for engaging behind the second retaining contour (4) and a ramp (89) for the second retaining contour (4) arranged upstream of the clamping contour (88) in the insertion direction (12) and pointing opposite to the insertion direction (12).

35. Front panel fitting according to claim 33 or 34, wherein the self-locking mechanism has a counter bearing (90) which is arranged upstream of a pivot axis (91) of the locking lever (85) in the insertion direction (12) and is located below the insertion path of the upper retaining contour (4), and wherein the locking lever (85) bears against the counter bearing (90) at least in the locking position.

36. Front panel fitting according to claim 35, wherein the locking lever (85) has a control contour (92) pointing in the opposite direction to the insertion direction (12), which is guided on the counter bearing (90) when the locking lever (85) is rotated.

37. Front panel fitting according to claim 36, wherein the axis of rotation (91 ) of the locking lever (85) is slidably mounted in the insertion direction (12) and wherein the control contour (92) extends eccentrically to the axis of rotation (91 ) of the locking lever (85) in order to move the locking lever (85) when rotating from the release position to the locking position in the insertion direction (12).

38. Front panel fitting according to claim 37, wherein the pivot axis (91 ) of the locking lever (85) is formed by an elongated hole / bearing pin pivot bearing (93, 94).

39. Front panel fitting according to one of claims 33 to 38, wherein the locking lever (85) has two parallel lever arms (85a, 85b) arranged on both sides of the guide plate (6).

40. Front panel fitting according to claim 39, wherein the two lever arms (85a, 85b) are formed integrally by a U-shaped part or by two interconnected, separate parts.

41. Front panel fitting according to one of claims 33 to 40, wherein the restoring force is formed by a helical spring (9) which is arranged at one end in an angled spring guide (98) of the guide plate (6) and at the other end in an angled spring guide (99) of the locking lever (85), wherein the two spring guides (98, 99) are aligned along a straight line.

42. Front panel fitting according to one of claims 30 to 41, wherein the two fastening devices (5, 5a) are arranged on a common guide plate (6).

43. Front panel fitting according to one of claims 30 to 41, wherein the front panel fitting (1) has two separate guide plates (61, 62) and wherein the first fastening device (5a) is arranged on one guide plate and the second fastening device (5) is arranged on the other guide plate.

44. Front panel fitting according to one of claims 1 to 43, wherein the front panel fitting (1) has two base plates (102) between which the guide plate (6) is laterally adjusted by means of a lateral adjustment (103). is slidably mounted, wherein the lateral adjustment (103) has a threaded screw (104) which is rotatably mounted in the two base plates (102) and interacts with an internal thread of the guide plate (6).

45. Front panel fitting according to claim 44, wherein the threaded screw (104) has a stop ring (105a, 105b) at both ends for the guide plate (6).

46. ​​Front panel fitting according to claim 45, wherein at least one of the two stop rings is a separate retaining ring which is attached to the threaded screw (104).

47. Front panel fitting according to one of claims 1 to 46, wherein the front panel fitting (1 ) has two base plates (102) between which the guide plate (6) is arranged to be vertically displaceable by means of a height adjustment (109), wherein the height adjustment (109) has an eccentric adjusting cam (110) which is rotatably mounted in the two base plates (102).

48. Front panel fitting according to claim 47, wherein a rotary detent (111 ) is arranged between the adjusting cam (110) and one of the two base plates (102) and a spring (91 ) is arranged between the adjusting cam (110) and the other base plate (102) to exert axial pressure on the rotary detent (111 ).

49. Front panel fitting according to claim 47 or 48, wherein the adjusting cam (110) is flattened on the upper and lower sides.

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