DE102005049801A1 - Component e.g. household appliance component, has base body and stop connection element whereby connecting element, flexible in stop connection direction, connects stop connection element with base body - Google Patents

Abstract

Component has base body (10) and a stop connection element (12) for connecting the base body with an element (14) further in the stop connection direction (16). A connecting element (18), flexible in the stop connection direction, connects the stop connection element with the base body. Stop connection element is designed to the rest perpendicularly in connecting direction.

Description

The Invention is particularly based on a component with a base body and with at least one latching connection element according to the preamble of claim 1.

Out the prior art are components, in particular plastic components, with a basic body and one to the main body molded snap-in connection element known. The locking connection element is intended to be in a Rastverbindungsrichtung in a corresponding Detent connection element plugged in at a further element be or on such a corresponding locking connection element to be plugged. The dimensions the interlocking parts of the locking connection must be in such components very precise be coordinated.

The The object of the invention is, in particular, a generic component with a particularly tolerant Equip locking connector.

The The object is achieved by the Characteristics of claim 1 solved while advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention can be taken from the subclaims.

The Invention is based on a component, in particular a household appliance component, with a basic body and at least one latching connection element for connecting the the body with another element in a snap connection direction.

It It is suggested that the snap fastener via a in the snap connection direction flexible connector with the body connected is. This allows a particularly high dimensional tolerance the locking connection can be achieved and by taking advantage of the flexibility in the locking connection direction can be a simple clipping of the component in the other element be enabled. Due to the flexible connection of the locking connection element with the body can the latching connection element during manufacture of the latching connection advantageous over his final Detent position to be deflected out and with the other element snag. Furthermore, by a suitable choice of a spring constant of the connector an advantageous bias of the locking connection element in the locked State can be achieved, creating a backlash and a secure hold guaranteed could be.

By the high flexibility the latching connection can be achieved that the component in different Series with manifold other elements can be connected, in particular also with different sheets of different thickness.

As a "snap connection direction" should in this context be designated that direction in which the latching connection element be inserted into a corresponding locking connection element can or in the locking connector on the corresponding Detent connection element can be plugged.

is the component as a household appliance component trained, can especially in mass production assembly costs can be saved. Particularly advantageous is the locking connection according to the invention for mounting used by components that are not directly accessible to the operator or which are exposed during operation no immediate impact load, so that the connector Although a bias voltage can be generated after assembly, but none immediate impact on the Must intercept component.

In a development of the invention it is proposed that the latching connection element perpendicular is formed flexible to the locking connection direction. This can achieves a total of at least two-dimensional flexibility be, by which manufacturing tolerances in at least two directions can be compensated advantageous. Furthermore, by a suitable dimensioning of the latching connection element or of the other Elements a bias of the latching connection element perpendicular be achieved for Rastverbindungsrichtung, which also in this direction a backlash of locking connection can be ensured.

A very high flexibility can be achieved if the latching connection element at least comprises two elastically interconnected legs.

The Locking connection element can be advantageously inserted well guided in an opening be when the legs are connected at an acute angle. As "acute-angled" should in this context an angle of more than 270 ° can be designated.

An insertion of the latching connection element can be further facilitated if the legs are connected to each other via a pointing in the snap connection direction knee over which the flexibility can be made perpendicular to the locking connection direction.

A at least largely independent the two elastic degrees of freedom can be achieved if the snap-in connection element over one end of a first leg connected to the connector is.

One secure hooking of the latching connection element in the further element can by a support paragraph ensures the locking connection element be, which is behind an edge of the other element is provided. In this case, a particularly secure hold can be made possible if the support paragraph has an undercut, in which the edge of the other Elements can intervene. In the simplest case, the edge of the further element formed by the edge of a hole. To reach behind the undercut is in particular a funnel-shaped edge a hole suitable.

is the support paragraph arranged on a free leg of the latching connection element, can be achieved that the support paragraph by a bias of the thigh automatically snaps and behind the edge of the another element attacks. tolerances of the further element can Advantageously compensated by the mobility of the free leg become.

A very high flexibility in the locking connection direction is reached when the connector as a tab is trained. In principle would be but also a bridge-like one Embodiment of the connector conceivable, wherein the latching connecting element then in the middle of the connector could be arranged.

Around an impairment of flexibility an initiation of the connector To prevent the further element, the connector can be advantageous from an on-plane for applying the further element in the snap connection direction be spaced. The investment level should be that level which is intended, in the connected state with the other Element to come to the plant.

One Distance between the connector and the plant level can be achieved constructively particularly advantageous in that the connector bent out of the plant level. It can be a particular one-piece design of the Plant level or a contact flange reached with the connector become.

is integrated the locking connection element in a contact flange of the body, can the locking connection by a secure system in the locking connection direction be secured and any support loads in the locking connection direction can supported on the abutment flange become.

A Component diversity can be reduced if the latching connection element one piece with the main body is trained. This can be a particularly cost-effective production be achieved in a few steps when the locking connection element to the body is cast, in particular when the latching connection element and the main body as one piece Plastic injection molded part are formed.

The In principle, the component can be made of any one that appears suitable for the person skilled in the art Be formed material, with particular advantages leave when the component is made of plastic. Then leave Namely the for Snap fasteners frequently complex shape and the necessary flexibility at the same time low production costs and a high robustness to reach.

The locking connection according to the invention especially in high-temperature and fat-resistant and highly reinforced Plastic components are used, which usually screwed due to their brittleness become.

Further Advantages are shown in the following description of the drawing. In the drawing are exemplary embodiments represented the invention. The drawing, the description and the claims contain numerous features in combination. The specialist will the features also expediently individually consider and summarize to meaningful further combinations.

It demonstrate:

1 an air shaft of a household oven with a main body and a plurality of latching connection elements,

2 one of the locking connection elements 1 in a detailed view and

3 the locking connection element 2 and another element in another view.

1 shows a domestic appliance component, namely an air duct of a household oven, in a perspective view. The home appliance component comprises a main body 10 which in turn has a suction screen 46 and an abutment flange 36 includes. The air duct is intended to be arranged above a baking oven muffle behind a control panel of a household oven and serves to dissipate the resulting in the cooking chamber of the household oven fumes.

During assembly, the air shaft with another element 14 ( 3 ), with a sheet metal connected. These are in the area of the contact flange 36 a total of seven snap-in connection elements 12 arranged, which are of similar construction and of which in the following description only one example to be explained. That the locking connection elements 12 comprehensive mounting system of the duct is for attachment to a variety of configurations of the other element 14 provided, which are used in different types and series of home ovens application. Therefore, the mounting system has a particularly effective tolerance compensation, which must compensate not only tolerances within a series, but also a spread between the different types and series effectively.

The entire air shaft with the main body 10 and the latching connection elements 12 is formed as a one-piece plastic injection molded part made of a high temperature resistant plastic, so that the locking connection elements 12 to the body 10 are poured.

In addition to the locking connection elements 12 includes the abutment flange 36 also holes 48 , by which the air shaft can be screwed with other elements that do not the locking connection elements 12 include corresponding devices. As a result, the duct is also compatible with older series and a secure attachment of the air duct is, for example, in the case of service even if one of the locking connection elements 12 is canceled.

For mounting the air duct this is in a direction perpendicular to an extension plane locking connection direction 16 on the further element 14 fitted, wherein the locking connection elements 12 in corresponding locking connection elements 38 or holes of the other element 14 intervention. The locking connection elements 12 locked in a manner explained below in the corresponding locking connection elements 38 , so that a screw-free, releasable latching connection is formed.

The locking connection element 12 is designed as a tab, in the locking connection direction 16 flexible connector 18 with the main body 10 of the household appliance component connected ( 2 ). The connector is on the abutment flange 36 formed. The abutment flange 36 extends in an investment level 32 on three sides around the main body 10 and points in the region of the connector 18 a recess on. The connector 18 is opposite to the locking connection direction 16 from the investment level 32 bent out and corresponds in size in the projection on the plant level 32 essentially the size of the respective recess in the abutment flange 36 , Here is the connector 18 , which has the same material thickness as the abutment flange 36 , in one on the abutment flange 36 subsequent area of the plant level 32 bent and runs in a free end area 40 at a distance 34 parallel to the plant level 32 ,

The actual locking connection element 12 is in the end area 40 the locking connection element 12 associated with this. It comprises two limbs which essentially run parallel in the latched state 20 . 22 , which via a in the locking connection direction 16 pointing knee 28 elastic and acute angle are connected together. The thigh 20 . 22 are through a gap 42 separated and each have a semicircular profile, so that the two legs 20 . 22 to complement a pin-shaped element. The locking connection element 12 is just over one end of the first thigh 20 with the connector 18 connected. Through the knee 28 is the locking connection element 12 in a direction perpendicular to the locking connection direction 16 extending direction flexible. The gap 42 allows tolerance compensation in this direction in connection with this flexibility. In a power-free state, the legs run 20 . 22 at an acute angle to each other.

The second, free thigh 22 points to a molded support shoulder 24 an undercut 30 to reach behind an edge 26 the further element 14 or of the corresponding latching connection element 38 on. The support paragraph 24 runs in a semicircle around the outer contour of the profile of the leg 22 in a direction perpendicular to the locking connection direction 16 extending plane that is parallel to the attachment level 32 runs.

The corresponding locking connection elements 38 the further element 14 include an edge in the snap connection direction 16 is funnel-shaped and has the shape of an outer shell of a truncated cone ( 3 ). The inner edge of the locking connection elements 38 each forms an edge 26 , at which in the assembled state, the latching connection element 12 with his support heel 24 hooked. The undercut 30 has an angle to the snap connection direction 16 , the angle of the funnel shape of the inner edge of the corresponding latching connection element 38 or hole equalizes, so that the edge 26 of another element 14 and the support heel 24 can hook securely. One in the snap connection direction 16 pointing bottom is as a slope 44 designed to be when inserting the locking connection element 12 a sliding of the support shoulder 24 over the edge 26 to facilitate.

For installation, the ventilation shaft, as described above, on the other element 14 attached until the abutment flange 36 at the further element 14 comes to the plant. The edge 26 the corresponding locking connection element 38 then lies on the slope 44 or below the slope 44 on the free leg 22 at.

To the latching connection element 12 Finally, the fitter has to put pressure on the end area 40 of the connector 18 exercise and thereby on the connector 18 the locking connection element 12 continue in the Rastverbindungsrich direction 16 move. This is the second leg 22 through the slope 44 around the knee 28 in the direction of the first leg 20 or in the gap 42 swung in until the support shoulder 24 by the spring action of the knee 28 automatically behind the edge 26 snaps. The fitter then leaves the connector 18 go, so the edge slides 26 in the undercut 30 and the support heel 24 supports one of the connector 18 generated bias against the locking connection direction 16 on the edge 26 from. Also the free thigh 22 is perpendicular to the snap connection direction 16 under a bias on the edge of the corresponding latching connection element 38 on, in such a way that the biases in the snap connection direction 16 and perpendicular to the snap connection direction 16 are essentially the same. The first leg 20 generally does not lie on the edge of the snap-in connection element 38 or holes.

The distributed around the edge of the air duct latching connection elements 12 have different orientations, so that the components of the bias in the plant level 32 to complement zero while the biases of the snap fasteners 12 in or against the locking connection direction 16 over the abutment flange 36 are supported.

10

body

12

Locking connection element

14

element

16

Locking connection direction

18

joint

20

leg

22

leg

24

supporting shoulder

26

edge

28

knee

30

undercut

32

contact plane

34

distance

36

abutment

38

Locking connection element

40

end

42

gap

44

slope

46

Ansaugschirm

48

hole

Claims (16)

Component, in particular household appliance component, with a basic body ( 10 ) and with at least one latching connection element ( 12 ) for connecting the basic body ( 10 ) with another element ( 14 ) in a latching connection direction ( 16 ), characterized by a in the snap connection direction ( 16 ) flexible connector ( 18 ), via which the latching connection element ( 12 ) with the basic body ( 10 ) connected is. Component according to claim 1, characterized in that the latching connection element ( 12 ) perpendicular to the latching connection direction ( 16 ) is flexible. Component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the latching connection element ( 12 ) at least two elastically interconnected legs ( 20 . 22 ). Component according to claim 3, characterized in that the legs ( 20 . 22 ) are connected at an acute angle. Component according to claim 4, characterized in that the limbs ( 20 . 22 ) via a in the snap connection direction ( 16 ) pointing knee ( 28 ) are interconnected. Component according to one of claims 3-5, characterized in that the latching connection element ( 12 ) over one end of a first leg ( 20 ) with the connector ( 18 ) connected is. Component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the latching connection element ( 12 ) at least one support shoulder ( 24 ) for engaging behind an edge ( 26 ) of the further element ( 14 ) having. Component according to claim 7, characterized in that the support shoulder ( 24 ) an undercut ( 30 ) having. Component according to one of claims 3-6 and according to one of claims 7 and 8, characterized in that the support shoulder ( 24 ) on a free leg ( 22 ) of the latching connection element ( 12 ) is arranged. Component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting piece ( 18 ) is designed as a tab. Component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting piece ( 18 ) in the snap connection direction ( 16 ) a distance ( 34 ) from an asset level ( 32 ) for creating the further element ( 14 ) having. Component according to claim 11, characterized in that the connecting piece ( 18 ) from the asset level ( 32 ) is bent out. Component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the latching connection element ( 12 ) in an abutment flange ( 36 ) of the basic body ( 10 ) is integrated. Component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the latching connection element ( 12 ) in one piece with the main body ( 10 ) is trained. Component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the latching connection element ( 12 ) to the main body ( 10 ) is poured. Component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the latching connection element ( 12 ) and the basic body ( 10 ) are formed as a one-piece plastic injection molded part.