CN103486114B - Mechanical connecting device and household electrical appliance for household electrical appliance combine - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is on a kind of attachment means (1,3) for being used to for the first household electrical appliance (100) to be mechanically connected to the second household electrical appliance (200).First household electrical appliance and second household electrical appliance or so side by side and have gap (G) therebetween.Attachment means (1,3) at least one the first connector (11 to be fixed on first household electrical appliance (100) is included, 31), first connector (11,31) has the first pontes (112,312), attachment means (1,3) insertion section (13,3222) of at least one pluggable the first pontes (112,312) is also included.According to the suggestion of the present invention, the first pontes (112,312) and insertion section (131,3222) in gap (G), and insertion section (13,3222) insert the first pontes (112,312) in the longitudinal direction.

Description

Mechanical connecting device for household appliance and household appliance combination

[ technical field ]

The present invention relates to a mechanical connecting device for a household appliance assembly and a household appliance assembly, and more particularly, to a connecting device for mechanically connecting two cabinet type household appliances and a household appliance assembly mechanically connected by the connecting device.

[ background art ]

Various devices are known for mechanically connecting a plurality of cabinet-type electric household appliances.

The publication DE 20209516U 1 describes a mechanical connection for two refrigerators, which secures the appliances to each other by means of screws through short connecting rails. The connection rail is located in a visible manner in front of the appliance.

The publication DE 102009040789 a1 describes a fixing bracket for mechanically connecting two refrigerators or freezers. The fixed support is arranged behind the two electric appliances in a matching way. However, such a connection device is very complicated to install.

[ summary of the invention ]

The object of the present invention is to provide a connection device for mechanical connection that can be easily concealed and easily operated between two household appliances.

The above object is achieved by the features of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject of the figures, the description and the dependent claims.

One aspect of the invention concerns a connecting device for mechanically connecting a first household appliance to a second household appliance, said first household appliance and said second household appliance being juxtaposed with a gap therebetween, said connecting device comprising at least one first connecting member for fixing to said first household appliance, said first connecting member having a first connecting portion, said connecting device further comprising at least one insertion portion insertable into said first connecting portion, characterized in that said first connecting portion and said insertion portion are located within said gap and said insertion portion is inserted into said first connecting portion in a front-rear direction.

The first connecting piece and the insertion part are both positioned in the gap, so that the connecting device is hidden or partially hidden. If suitable covering means are arranged at the boundary of the gap, the first connecting portion and the insert part located in the gap may not be visible to the user. This is advantageous for improving the consistent and compact appearance of the combination of the household appliances. On the other hand, since the insertion part is connected by inserting the first connecting member in the front-rear direction, it is advantageous for a worker to stand on the front side or the rear side of the electric home appliance for operation, which is not affected by the positions of the connecting hole and the insertion part in the longitudinal direction of the electric home appliance combination, for example, even if the first connecting portion and the insertion part are disposed at a position adjacent to the bottom of the electric home appliance combination, the insertion part can be easily inserted into the first connecting portion.

A household appliance as understood herein refers to any appliance that can be used in housekeeping. Such an appliance may be a large appliance, such as a washing machine, a tumble dryer, a dishwasher, a cooker or an oven, a refrigerator such as a refrigerator or freezer, or an air conditioning unit.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the connecting device comprises a second connecting piece for fixing to the second household appliance, said second connecting piece comprising a second connecting portion located in said gap, said connecting device further comprising a plurality of fixing elements for fixing together said first and second connecting portions, said fixing elements having said insertion portions, each insertion portion being inserted into said first connecting portion and/or said second connecting portion. By using the fixing member to fix the first connecting member and the second connecting member respectively fixed to the first household appliance and the second household appliance together, it is advantageous that the first connecting member and the second connecting member have a simple and easily manufactured structure, and it is also possible that the fixing member uses standard members such as screws, etc.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first connection portion and the second connection portion overlap in the front-rear direction, the first connection portion has at least one first connection hole, the second connection portion has at least one second connection hole coinciding with the corresponding first connection hole, and each insertion portion is inserted into the corresponding first connection hole and second connection hole in the front-rear direction to fix the first connection portion and the second connection portion.

In an alternative embodiment, a third connecting member for connecting the first and second connecting portions may be used, the third connecting member being secured to the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion, respectively, by corresponding fasteners (e.g. screws), i.e. the first connecting portion and the third connecting member being secured by at least one fastener and the second connecting portion and the third connecting member being secured by a further fastener, thereby indirectly securing the first and second connecting portions together.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first and second connecting portions are plate-shaped and parallel to each other, and a rear surface of one of the first and second connecting portions is attached to a front surface of the other.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first and second electric home appliances include first and second sidewalls facing the gap, respectively, and the first and second connectors are fixed to the first and second sidewalls, respectively. Such an embodiment is particularly advantageous when the gap between the first household appliance and the second household appliance belongs to the interior of the household appliance assembly, in order to avoid the first and second connection members being exposed to the exterior of the household appliance assembly.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first connecting member includes a first fixing portion for fixing to the first sidewall, the second connecting member includes a second fixing portion for fixing to the second sidewall, and the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion are plate-shaped and respectively attached to the first sidewall and the second sidewall.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the first connecting piece and the second connecting piece are each made from a one-piece metal plate.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first connecting element and/or the second connecting element is connected to a covering strip for covering the gap.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first connecting element and/or the second connecting element comprise a connecting tongue for connecting to the cover strip.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the connecting tongue and the at least one fixing element do not overlap in the front-rear direction.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the ends of the connection tongues are notched to give way to the fixture and/or the tool used to operate the fixture.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the insertion part has a screw thread, and the insertion part is rotatably inserted into the first connection hole and/or the second connection hole. By rotating the insertion portion, the insertion portion is gradually passed through and screwed to the corresponding coupling hole, thereby fixing the fixing member and the first and/or second coupling member together.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the connecting device comprises a second connecting element for fixing to the second household appliance, the insert being formed by the second connecting element.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second connector includes a second connection portion extending from the second electric home appliance toward the first electric home appliance, and the insertion portion is formed by an end of the second connection portion near the first electric home appliance.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second connection portion is perpendicular to a second side wall of the second household appliance facing the gap.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second connection portion is a cylinder.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first connection portion has a connection cavity to receive the insertion portion, the connection cavity being open at a side facing the second electric home appliance and at a front or rear side to allow the insertion portion to be inserted and received in the connection cavity.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a combined household appliance comprising a first household appliance, a second household appliance and a connecting device according to any one of the preceding claims for mechanically connecting the first household appliance and the second household appliance.

The construction of the present invention and other objects and advantages thereof will be more apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[ description of the drawings ]

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. Wherein,

fig. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a first home appliance and a second home appliance before being combined according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 and 3 are partial enlarged views at a and B in fig. 1, respectively.

Fig. 4 is a schematic partial perspective view of the shield strip after the lower attachment device is secured and before the shield strip is attached to the lower attachment device.

Fig. 5 shows a partial sectional view of a household appliance assembly.

Fig. 6 and 7 are partial enlarged views at C and D in fig. 1, respectively.

Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a rear connection device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is another partial sectional view of the household appliance combination.

Fig. 10 is a partial perspective view of a combination of home appliances having an upper connecting means according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[ detailed description of the invention ]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the first and second home appliances 100 and 200 before they are combined together. In this embodiment, both the first and second home appliances 100 and 200 are refrigerators. The first and second home appliances 100 and 200 may be fixed together side by side in a left-right direction by a plurality of mechanical connection means to form a home appliance combination.

A predetermined gap G (shown in fig. 5 and 10) is formed between the first and second home appliances 100 and 200, and the first and second home appliances 100 and 200 include first and second sidewalls 101 and 201, respectively, which are disposed to face each other and are disposed toward the gap.

In this embodiment, the first and second home appliances 100 and 200 are cooling appliances each having at least one storage compartment for storing food and a door 105, 205 at a front side of the cooling appliance for closing the corresponding storage compartment.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the home appliance assembly includes a lower connecting means 1, an upper connecting means 2 (see fig. 10), and a rear connecting means 3 provided at the bottom of the front side, the upper portion of the front side, and the rear side of the first and second home appliances 100, 200, respectively.

Referring to fig. 2 to 5, the lower connecting device 1 includes a first lower connecting member 11 fixed to the first household appliance 100 and a second lower connecting member 12 fixed to the second household appliance 200.

The first lower connector 11 includes a first lower mounting portion 111 to be fixed to the case of the first home appliance 100 and a first lower connection portion 112 to be connected with the second lower connector 12.

The first lower mounting portion 111 may be fixed to the first sidewall 101. The first lower mounting portion 11 may be provided with a plurality of first lower mounting holes 1111 and fixed to the first sidewall 101 by screws. Holes for fixing screws may be reserved on the first sidewall 101.

The first lower mounting portion 111 may have a substantially plate shape, an inner side of which is attached to an outer surface of the first sidewall 101.

The first lower connection portion 112 is connected with the first mounting portion 111 and extends toward the second sidewall 201. The first lower connecting portion 112 is substantially plate-shaped, and substantially perpendicular to the first and second side walls 101 and 201. The first lower mounting portion 111 is perpendicular to the first lower connecting portion 112, and thus the first lower link 11 has an L-shaped cross section. The first lower connecting member 11 may be made of one metal plate.

The first lower connection part 112 is provided with at least one first lower connection hole 1121. In this embodiment, the first lower connection part 112 is provided with two first lower connection holes 1121. The two first lower connection holes 1121 are arranged in a longitudinal row.

The second lower connector 12 includes a second lower mounting portion 121 to be fixed to the case of the second home appliance 100 and a second lower connection portion 122 to be connected with the first lower connector 11.

The second lower mounting portion 121 may be fixed to the second sidewall 201. The second lower mounting portion 121 may be provided with a plurality of second lower mounting holes 1211 and fixed to the second sidewall 201 by screws. Holes for fixing screws may be reserved on the second side wall 201.

The second lower mounting portion 111 may have a substantially plate shape, an inner side of which is attached to an outer surface of the first sidewall 101.

The second lower connection portion 122 is connected to the second mounting portion 121 and extends toward the first sidewall 101. The second lower connecting portion 122 is substantially plate-shaped, and substantially perpendicular to the first and second side walls 101 and 201. The second lower mounting portion 121 is perpendicular to the second lower connecting portion 122.

The second lower connecting portion 122 is provided with at least one second lower connecting hole 1221. In this embodiment, the second lower connecting portion 122 is provided with two second lower connecting holes 1221 arranged in a longitudinal row.

The second lower connecting member 12 further includes a corner member connected to the lower end of the second lower connecting portion 122. The lower end of the cover strip 4 for shielding the gap G between the first and second home appliances 100, 200 from the front is connected with the angled part. The angled member includes a base 123 connected to the second lower connecting portion 122 and extending horizontally, and a tongue 124 extending vertically upward from the base 123.

The second lower connecting member 12 may also be made of one metal plate.

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of the first lower link 11 and the second lower link 12 when pushed together. The second lower connecting portion 122 and the first lower connecting portion 112 are overlapped in the front-rear direction, and the rear surface of the former is stuck on the front surface of the latter. The two first lower connection holes 1121 substantially overlap with the corresponding second lower connection holes 1221, respectively.

The first lower connecting device 1 includes a fixing member 13 to fix the first connecting portion 112 and the second connecting portion 122. Each fixing member 13 has a first insertion portion 131, and the first insertion portion 131 passes through the overlapped second lower connection hole 1221 and first lower connection hole 1121 from front to rear, respectively, to be fixed with the first lower connection member 11 and the second lower connection member 12. In this embodiment, the fixing member 13 is a screw, the first insertion portion 131 has a screw thread, and the first insertion portion 131 is rotatably inserted into the second lower coupling hole 1221 and the first lower coupling hole 1121 by rotating the head portion of the fixing member 13, and the first insertion portion 131 and the first and second lower coupling members 11, 12 are fixed by tightening them.

It is easily understood that the fixing member 13 formed of a screw penetrates the plate-shaped first and second connection parts 112, 122, and ends thereof protrude from the rear side of the first connection part 112.

In an alternative embodiment, the fixing member may also use a pin to fix the first and second lower links. Such a pin may be configured such that it moves only in the front-rear direction when it is inserted into the first and second lower coupling holes, without being inserted into the corresponding coupling holes while rotating like a screw.

The upper end of the tongue 124 is recessed downwardly intermediate to form a recess 1241. Therefore, the upper edge of the tongue 124 at the recess 1241 is lower than any one of the second lower coupling holes 1221 to give way to the fixing member 13 and a tool for operating the fixing member 13. The upper edge of the tongue 124 on both sides of the recess 1241 is higher than the second lower connecting hole 1221 lying below, which facilitates a more secure connection of the tongue 124 to the cover strip 4.

The cover strip 4 may be coupled to the angled member 123 positioned in front of the first and second coupling portions 112, 122 after the first lower coupling member 11 and the second lower coupling member 12 are fastened together.

The rear connecting device 3 is described in detail below with reference to fig. 6 to 9.

The rear connection means 3 includes a first rear connection member 31 to be fixed to a rear side of the first home appliance 100 and a second rear connection member 32 to be fixed to a rear side of the second home appliance 200.

The first rear connector 31 includes a first rear fixing portion 311 to be fixed to the first home appliance 100 and a first rear connecting portion 312 to be connected with the second rear connector 32.

The first rear fixing portion 311 includes a pair of engaging ears respectively coupled to the upper and lower walls 3132 and 3133 of the case body 313 and perpendicular to the upper and lower walls 3132 and 3133. Each engaging ear is provided with a perforation 3111. Screws are passed through the coupling lugs to fix the first rear coupling member 31 to the first sidewall 101.

The first rear connection portion 312 includes a box body 313 having an open front end. An inner wall 3131 of the box body 313 facing the first home appliance 100 is adjacent to the first sidewall 101. The box 313 is located in the gap G.

The box body 313 has a coupling chamber 314 with a front opening 3141. The connection cavity 314 has a side opening 3142 at an outer wall 3134 of the box body 313 facing the second home appliance 200, and a front end of the side opening 3142 is opened to a front edge of the outer wall 3134 to communicate with the front opening 3141.

In an alternative embodiment, it is also possible that the box 313 does not have an inner wall 3131, so that the connection cavity 314 directly faces the first side wall 101.

The side opening 3142 may include an inlet section that narrows from front to back, a transition section connected to the inlet section and defined by a pair of parallel walls, and a circular arc section at the back end.

The second rear connector 32 includes a second rear fixing portion 321 to be fixed to the second home appliance 200 and a second rear connecting portion 322 to be connected with the first rear connector 31.

The second rear fixing portion 321 may have a similar structure to the first rear fixing portion 311, for example, also has a pair of coupling ears parallel to the second sidewall 201. The coupling lug may have a through hole 3211 to receive a corresponding screw to fix the second rear fixing portion 321 to the second sidewall 201.

The second rear connection portion 322 extends toward the first sidewall 101, substantially perpendicular to the second sidewall 201 and the first sidewall 101. The second rear connection portion 322 is a cylinder.

The second rear connecting portion 322 has a radius decreasing at a distance near the free end to form a concave ring portion 3221. With respect to the concave ring portion 3221, the second rear connecting portion 322 includes a second insertion portion 3222 located at the free end side and a body portion 3223 located at the opposite side of the second insertion portion 3222.

The thickness of the second insertion portion 3222 in the lateral direction (left-right direction) of the household appliance assembly is slightly smaller than the width of the connection cavity 314 in the left-right direction to allow the second insertion portion 3222 to be inserted into the connection cavity 314. Further, the concave ring portion 3221 may receive an edge of the outer wall 3134 around the side opening 3142.

Fig. 10 is a partial perspective view of the upper connecting device 2 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention before being fixed to the first and second home appliances 100 and 200, which are pushed together. As shown in fig. 10, the upper connecting device 2 includes an integrated connecting plate 21 having one end fixed to the first home appliance 100 and the other end fixed to the second home appliance 200. The connection plate 21 bridges the gap G between the first and second home appliances 100, 200, and the connection plate 21 has a plurality of holes 211 at each home appliance 100, 200, respectively. The upper connecting means 2 comprise a plurality of screws 22, the screws 22 being insertable through respective holes 211 to fix the two ends of the connecting plate 21 to the top walls 102, 202 of the first and second electric household appliances 100, 200, respectively.

The web 21 has an angled tongue 212. The angled tongue 212 includes a portion of the connecting plate 21 bent downward at a right angle and is located in the gap G between the two home appliances. The angled tongue 212 is located at the forward end of the web 21. The angled tongue 212 can be inserted in the vertical direction into the covering strip 4.

Referring to fig. 5 and 10, the cover strip 4 includes a plate-shaped cover plate 41 covering the gap G between the two home appliances and an embedded portion 42 extending into the gap G. In this embodiment, the cover strip 4 is an extruded profile.

The embedding portion 42 includes a pair of oppositely disposed wall portions 421 projecting rearward from the inner side of the cover plate 41. The wall 421 extends over the entire length of the cover strip 4, which forms a slot 43 inside the cover plate 41 and extending over the entire height of the cover strip 4. The slot 43 is adapted to receive the tongues 212, 124 extending into the gap G between the two household appliances.

Each wall portion 421 is provided with a fixing groove 4211 at a side wall facing a corresponding one of the home appliances to fix the magnetic member 5. The fixing groove 4211 may extend along the entire length of the cover strip 4. The magnetic element 5 is magnetically attracted to the side walls 101, 201 of the respective household appliance.

Hereinafter, an assembling method of a home appliance assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

First, the first front connector 11 and the first rear connector 31 are fixed to the front lower end and the rear middle portion of the first sidewall 101 of the first home appliance 100, respectively, and the second front connector 12 and the second rear connector 32 are fixed to the front lower end and the rear middle portion of the second sidewall 201 of the second home appliance 200. These connecting members 11, 12, 31, 32 may be fixed to the first and second sidewalls 101, 201 by screws, and the first and second home appliances 100, 200 may reserve mounting holes for coupling the screws at corresponding positions.

Next, the first and second home appliances 100, 200 are pushed close with the first and second sidewalls 101 and 201 facing each other. The distance between the first and second home appliances 100, 200 in the lateral direction may be close to the lateral length of the second rear link 32, which can be judged by the positional relationship of the second insertion portion 3222 of the second rear link 32 and the first sidewall 101. The second home appliance 200 is staggered by a certain distance in the front-rear direction more forward than the first home appliance 100.

Next, the second home appliance 200 is moved backward or the first home appliance 100 is moved forward so that the second insertion portion 3222 of the second rear connector 32 is inserted into the connection cavity 313 of the first rear connector 31 in the front and rear direction.

Since the second inserting portion 3222 and the connecting cavity 313 substantially correspond in size in the lateral direction and the edge of the outer wall 3134 around the side opening 3142 is inserted into the concave ring portion 3221, a moving trace of the second home appliance 200 is guided.

The backward movement of the second home appliance 200 or the forward movement of the first home appliance 100 is stopped at the rear surface of the second lower connection part 122 against the front surface of the first lower connection part 112. At this time, the second insertion portion 3222 abuts against the rear wall of the connection cavity 314, and the first lower connection holes 1121 respectively overlap with the corresponding second lower connection holes 1221.

Then, the fixing piece 13 is inserted into the overlapped second lower coupling hole 1221 and first lower coupling hole 1121 in the front-rear direction. The first and second lower connecting members 112, 122 are fixed together by tightening the fixing member 13 and the second lower connecting hole 1221 and/or the first lower connecting hole 1121.

The first insertion portion 131 penetrates the first and second lower connecting parts 112 and 122 with its ends protruding from the rear side of the first lower connecting part 112, compared with the case where the second insertion portion 3222 is finally completely received in the connecting cavity 314 of the first rear connecting member 312.

Next, the lower end of the cover strip 4 is inserted over the upwardly extending tongue 124 of the lower connecting device 1. The cover strip 4 may be positioned between the first and second home appliances 100, 200 by the magnetic element 5.

And then the upper connecting means 2 is fixed to the first and second home appliances 100, 200. In this process, the downwardly extending angled tongue 212 of the upper connecting means 2 is first inserted in the longitudinal direction into the upper end of the slot 43 of the cover strip 4, and then the corresponding end of the connecting plate 21 is fixed to the first and second electric home appliances 100, 200, respectively, by means of the screw 22. Thereby, the mechanical coupling of the first and second home appliances 100, 200 is completed.

The various embodiments of the individual components described in connection with fig. 1 to 10 may be combined with each other in any given way to achieve the advantages of the invention. In addition, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments, and other means than those shown may be generally used as long as the same effects are obtained.

For example, in the above-mentioned embodiment, during the process of inserting the first and second inserting portions 131, 3222 into the corresponding connecting holes/connecting cavities, the two portions move from front to back relative to the corresponding connecting holes/connecting cavities. However, in an alternative embodiment, when the connection chamber has an opening opened rearward to insert the second insertion part, which is inserted into the connection chamber from the rear to the front, the second electric home appliance should be moved from the rear to the front.

In addition, in an alternative embodiment, the lower connecting means can also be located on the rear side of the first and second household appliances, in which case the fixing element should also be inserted into the respective first and/or second connecting element from the rear to the front.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, each of the fixing members is inserted into both the first lower connecting member and the second lower connecting member to fix both of them, however, in an alternative embodiment, a third connecting member for connecting the first and second connecting portions may be additionally provided, and the third connecting member is fixed to the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion by the corresponding fixing members, respectively, to thereby mechanically fix the first and second connecting members.

Claims (18)

1. A connecting device (1, 3) for mechanically connecting a first household appliance (100) to a second household appliance (200), which are side by side with a gap (G) therebetween, the connecting device (1) comprising at least one first connecting piece (11) for fixing on the first household appliance (100) and a second connecting piece (12) for fixing on the second household appliance, the first connecting piece (11) having a first connecting portion (112), the connecting device (1) further comprising at least one insertion portion (131) which can be inserted into the first connecting portion (112), the first connecting portion (112) and the insertion portion (131) being located in the gap (G), the second connecting piece (12) comprising a second connecting portion (122) located in the gap (G), characterized in that the insertion portion (131) inserts the first connection portion (112) and the second connection portion (122) in the front-rear direction to fix the first connection portion and the second connection portion.

2. The connecting device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting device (1) further comprises a plurality of fixing members (13) having the insertion portions (131) for fixing the first and second connecting portions (112, 122) together, each insertion portion (131) being inserted into the first connecting portion (112) and the second connecting portion (122) in the front-rear direction.

3. The connecting device according to claim 2, wherein the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion overlap in a front-rear direction, the first connecting portion has at least one first connecting hole (1121), the second connecting portion has at least one second connecting hole (1221) coinciding with the corresponding first connecting hole (1121), and each insertion portion (131) is inserted into the corresponding first connecting hole and second connecting hole in a front-rear direction to fix the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion.

4. A coupling device according to claim 3, wherein the first coupling portion (112) and the second coupling portion (122) are plate-shaped and parallel to each other, and a rear surface of one of the first and second coupling portions is attached to a front surface of the other.

5. The connecting device according to claim 1, characterized in that said first and second electric household appliances comprise a first (101) and a second (201) side wall, respectively, facing said gap (G), said first and second connecting members (11, 12) being fixed to said first (101) and second (201) side walls, respectively.

6. A connecting device according to claim 5, characterised in that said first connecting element (11) comprises a first fixing portion (111) intended to be fixed to a first side wall (101), said second connecting element (12) comprises a second fixing portion (121) intended to be fixed to said second side wall (201), said first fixing portion (111) and said second fixing portion (121) being plate-shaped and being applied to said first side wall and to said second side wall, respectively.

7. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first connecting piece (11) and the second connecting piece (12) are each made of one piece of sheet metal.

8. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first and/or the second connecting piece (12) is adapted to be connected with a covering strip (4) for covering the gap (G).

9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the first and/or the second connecting element (12) comprise a connecting tongue (124) for connecting with the covering strip (4).

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the connecting device (1) further comprises a plurality of fixing members (13) having the insertion portions (131) for fixing the first and second connecting portions (112, 122) together, the connecting tongue (124) and the at least one fixing member (13) not overlapping in the front-rear direction.

11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the ends of the connection tongues (124) form recesses (1241) to give way to the fixing element (13) and/or to a tool for operating the fixing element (13).

12. A connecting device for mechanically connecting a first household appliance (100) to a second household appliance (200), said first and second household appliances being side by side with a gap (G) therebetween, said connecting device comprising at least one first connecting member for fixing to the first household appliance (100) and a second connecting member for fixing to the second household appliance, said first connecting member having a first connecting portion, said connecting device further comprising at least one insertion portion insertable into said first connecting portion, said first connecting portion and said insertion portion being located within said gap (G), said second connecting member comprising a second connecting portion located within said gap (G), characterized in that said insertion portion is inserted into said first connecting portion and/or said second connecting portion in a front-rear direction, the connecting device comprises a plurality of fixing elements for fixing the first and second connecting portions together, each of which is inserted into the first and/or second connecting portion, and a third connecting element for connecting the first and second connecting portions, the third connecting element being fixed to the first and second connecting portions by the corresponding fixing element, respectively, the first and/or second connecting element (12) being adapted to be connected to a covering strip (4) for covering the gap (G), the first and/or second connecting element (12) comprising a connecting tongue (124) for connecting to the covering strip (4).

13. The connecting device according to claim 1 or 12, characterized in that the first connecting portion has at least one first connecting hole (1121), the second connecting portion has at least one second connecting hole (1221) coinciding with the respective first connecting hole (1121), the insertion portion (131) has a thread, and the insertion portion (131) is rotatably inserted into the first connecting hole (1121) and/or the second connecting hole (1221).

14. A connecting device (1, 3) for mechanically connecting a first household appliance (100) to a second household appliance (200), side by side with a gap (G) between them, the connecting device (3) comprising at least one first connecting piece (31) for fixing on the first household appliance (100) and a second connecting piece (32) for fixing on the second household appliance, the first connecting piece (31) having a first connecting portion (312), the connecting device (3) further comprising at least one insertion portion (3222) insertable into the first connecting portion (312), the first connecting portion (312) and the insertion portion (3222) being located within the gap (G), characterized in that the insertion portion (3222) is inserted into the first connecting portion (312) in a front-rear direction, the insertion portion (3222) is formed of the second connection member (32), the first connection portion (312) has a connection cavity (314), and the connection cavity (314) is open at a side facing the second home appliance and a front or rear side to allow the insertion portion (3222) to be inserted and received in the connection cavity (314).

15. The connecting device according to claim 14, characterized in that the second connecting member (32) comprises a second connecting portion (322) extending from the second household appliance towards the first household appliance, the interposition part (3222) being formed by an end of the second connecting portion (322) close to the first household appliance (100).

16. The connecting device according to claim 15, characterized in that the second connecting portion (322) is perpendicular to a second side wall (201) of the second household appliance facing the gap (G).

17. A coupling device according to claim 15, wherein the second coupling portion (322) is a cylinder.

18. Combined household appliance comprising a first household appliance (100) and a second household appliance (200), which are side by side with a gap (G) between them, and comprising a connecting device (1, 3) for mechanically connecting the first household appliance (100) to the second household appliance (200) according to any one of the preceding claims.