Patent Document

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a quick-fixing element and more particularly quick-fixing elements for fixing guide rails on lattice-like lateral parts which are formed, for example, of wire or rods. These lateral parts can be found in household appliances, such as dishwashers, baking ovens, etc., a use in other pieces of furniture also being conceivable. 
     In the case of lattice, which can be fastened in household appliances or furniture, several mutually parallel extending horizontal rods are usually provided which are fixed on vertical rods. The horizontal rods may be bent at right angles in order to project into the interior of the household appliance so that shelf bottoms, baking sheets or lattice-type baskets can be slid between the lattice bars. In order to extend the pull-out length of such inserts, which can be slid in, or to facilitate the pull-out movement by using special sliding, rolling or ball bearing guides, guide rails are also fixed to the lateral parts. This fixing of the guide rails takes place by a screwing-on of a countersheet or a snapping-in by sheet metal clips mounted on the guide rails. 
     The present sheet metal clips have an essentially C-shaped construction and, by means of an upper section, reach around an upper rod and, by means of the lower section, reach around a lower rod of the lateral element. However, these sheet metal clips have the disadvantage that, when stressed, the upper bearing rod may bend downward and the lower rod will disengage from the sheet metal clip. This can open the connection when the upper rod deforms. Also in the event of slight deformations, the sheet metal clip no longer holds on to the rods in a form-locking manner and may therefore rattle. In addition, the known sheet metal clips will be secured, with respect to a displacement along the rods, only when they rest on lateral stops. Locking of the sheet metal clips in both directions along the rod is not provided. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a quick-fixing element which is securely held on the lateral part even under the effect of considerable forces, and which can be used for different lattice types. In addition, the quick-fixing element should be easy to mount. 
     This object is achieved by means of a quick-fixing element of the present invention. 
     When a nose is provided on the quick-fixing element between the upper and the lower holding section and rests against the second lower rod of the lateral part, the quick-fixing element maintains the distance between the two rods even during considerable vertical loading. This prevents the rods from moving away from one another and possibly detach the quick-fixing element. In addition, a load on the quick-fixing element is distributed on both rods, so that higher vertical loads can be absorbed. 
     According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the quick-fixing element is made of a bendable material and the lower holding section with the nose forms a snap connection. As a result, the quick-fixing element can be fixed in a simple manner on the lattice-type lateral part. In addition, the snap connection holds the quick-fixing element in a form-locking and force-locking manner on the lateral part, so that no rattling noises can occur. 
     Also, a second nose may be provided between the lower and the upper holding section which, when the first rod bends toward the second rod, will rest on the second rod. This second nose therefore forms a stop for the upper rod, so that, also during lateral loads and/or stressing from the downward direction, the two rods maintain a uniform distance from one another and the forces are transmitted to both rods. 
     For a manufacturing of the quick-fixing element at reasonable cost, this element is preferably constructed in one piece from a metal sheet. In this case, the noses can be produced by stamping and bending, so that only a few working steps are required during the manufacturing. It is also possible to manufacture the quick-fixing element from other material, such as plastic. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, recesses are provided in the upper and/or lower holding section. A right-angle bend of the first or second rod or a rod which extends perpendicularly to the first rod can be inserted into the recesses. In this manner, the quick-fixing element can be fixed on the lateral part, so that a displacement along the rods is not possible. As an alternative, profilings can be provided on the rods, so that sections provided on the quick-fixing element engage the profilings on the rods in order to prevent a displacement. Instead of the recesses, projections, thickenings or other elements can also be provided for the fixing. 
     According to another embodiment of the invention, at least one center section is provided between the upper and the lower holding section, which center section partially reaches around another rod of the lateral part. When loads are particularly large, it may be advantageous to distribute the load on the quick-fixing element to three or more rods, so that the corresponding number of holding sections are to be provided on the quick-fixing element. 
     According to the invention, a pull-out guide is provided on which at least one quick-fixing element according to the invention is provided. 
     Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a quick-fixing element according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a lateral view of the quick-fixing element of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the quick-fixing element of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a top view of the quick-fixing element of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a pull-out guide with two mounted fixing elements according to FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of two pull-out guides according to FIG. 5 which are mounted on a lateral part; 
     FIG. 7 is a lateral view of the quick-fixing element according to FIG. 1 during the mounting; 
     FIG. 8 is a lateral view of the quick-fixing element of FIG. 1 in the mounted condition; 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a second embodiment in which two quick-fixing elements are provided on a pull-out guide; 
     FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a mounted quick-fixing element of FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 11 is a lateral view of a quick-fixing element according to a third embodiment; 
     FIG. 12 is a lateral view of a quick-fixing element according to a fourth embodiment; 
     FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a quick-fixing element according to a fifth embodiment; 
     FIG. 14 is a top view of the quick-fixing element of FIG. 13; 
     FIG. 15 is a sectional view along Line A—A of FIG. 14; 
     FIG. 16 is a lateral view of a sixth embodiment of a quick-fixing element according to the invention; 
     FIG. 17 is a top view of the quick-fixing element of FIG. 16; 
     FIGS. 18,  19  and  20  are views of different embodiments of rods on which additional quick-fixing elements according to the invention can be mounted. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A quick-fixing element  10 , illustrated in FIGS. 1 to  4 , has spaced upper holding section  11  and lower holding section  12 . Between the two holding sections, a nose is provided which projects from the quick-fixing element  10 . A gap  14  is formed between the nose  13  and the lower holding section  12 . In addition, a nose  15  is punched out in the quick-fixing element  10  and points to the upper holding section  11 . 
     As illustrated in FIG. 8, the upper holding section  11  reaches around a first rod  31 , a small gap being formed between the nose  15  and the rod  31 . On the lower holding section  12 , a second rod  32  is provided which is clamped between the nose  13  and the lower holding section  12 . 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a pull-out guide  20  on which the two quick-fixing elements  10  are mounted. The pull-out guide  20  comprises a sliding, ball bearing or rolling guide as well as end stops  21 ,  22  which are not shown and described in detail. By way of the two quick-fixing elements  10 , the pull-out guide  20  can be fixed on a lattice-like lateral part. It is also possible to use the quick-fixing elements  10  for mounting a movable lateral part. 
     FIG. 6 shows a lattice-like lateral part  30  which has a first rod  31  and a second rod  32  on which two quick-fixing elements  10  are mounted. The lateral part  30  also has a rear vertical rod  33  and a front vertical rod  34 . The front quick-fixing element  10  rests on the front vertical rod  34 , so that a movement of the quick-fixing element  10  toward the front is not possible. The lateral part  30  also has two rods  35  and  36 , which are bent at right angles and which point in the direction of the household appliance or of the piece of furniture and can be used for the mounting or guiding of additional elements. 
     In the lower area of the lateral part  30 , two rods  31  and  32  are provided on which a pull-out guide  20  with two quick-fixing elements  10  is being mounted. For this purpose, the pull-out guide  20  is first hung into the quick-fixing elements  10  and is swivelled about the upper rod  31 . This process is illustrated in the sectional views of FIGS. 7 and 8. First, the upper section  11  is guided around the rod  31  so that there is a partial reaching around the upper rod  31 . Then the lower section  12  and the nose  13  are pressed against the rod  32 , so that the nose  13  and the lower section  12  move apart and, in the manner of a snap connection, reach around the lower rod  32 . Because the quick-fixing element  10  is made of an elastic metal sheet, the nose  13  and the lower section  12  rest form-lockingly against the lower rod  32 . 
     In the mounted condition, when a vertical load occurs from above, the nose  13  keeps the distance between the rods  31  and  32  essentially constant. As a result, the force absorption is made more uniform and it prevents the connection between the quick-fixing elements from opening up. In the event of a lateral loading or a loading from below, the nose  15  ensures that the upper rod  31  also moves upward as the rod  32  bends more, so that the distance between the rods  31  and  32  is essentially kept constant. 
     FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate a second embodiment of a quick-fixing element  40  according to the invention which is mounted on a pull-out guide  20 . The quick-fixing element  40  has an upper holding section  41 , a lower holding section  42  as well as a nose  43  which rest against a lower rod  32 . Two recesses  46  are provided in the upper holding section  41 , a right-angle bend of the rod  31  reaching through one recess  46 . The lower holding section  42  also has two recesses  47 , the lower rod  32  reaching through one recess  47 . The two right-angle bends of the rods  31  and  32  fix the quick-fixing element  40 , so that it cannot be displaced along the rods  31  and  32 . It is also possible to position profilings or vertical rods through the recesses  46  and  47  in order to prevent a displacement of the quick-fixing element  40 . 
     FIG. 11 shows a third embodiment of a quick-fixing element  50  which has a center holding section  56  between an upper holding section  51  and a lower holding section  52 . The holding sections  51 ,  52  and  56  each partially reach around a rod  61 ,  62  and  63 , the rods being secured by way of noses  53 ,  55  and  57 . As a result of the accommodation of three rods  61 ,  62 ,  63  on the quick-fixing element  50 , higher forces can be absorbed, so that this quick-fixing element  50  can also be used for large loads. It is also conceivable to provide more holding sections for corresponding rods. 
     FIG. 12 shows another embodiment of a quick-fixing element  70 , in the case of which an upper rod  31  and a lower rod  32  are surrounded in a force-locking manner by the quick-fixing element  70 . For this purpose, a nose  74  is constructed opposite the upper holding section  71  and a nose  73  is constructed opposite the lower holding section  72 , which noses rest in the mounted condition against the rods  31  and  32 . The symmetry of the quick-fixing elements  70  requires no separate parts for right or left side walls, which facilitates the mounting. In addition, no positionally precise mounting is required in the sense of above or below because the quick-fixing element is also constructed to be mirror-image about a horizontal plane. 
     FIGS. 13 to  15  show another embodiment of a quick-fixing element  80 . The quick-fixing element  80  has an upper holding section  81 , a lower holding section  82 , and noses  83  and  85  between the holding sections  81  and  82 . In addition, a profiling including a bent holding nose  86  and a detent nose  87  are provided between the upper holding section  81  and the lower holding section  82 . Holding nose  86  and detent nose  87  permit a quick disconnectible connection between the pull-out guide  20  and the quick fastening element  10 . The detent nose  87  prevents an unintentional displacement and thus an unintentional disconnecting (FIG.  15 ). 
     In the case of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 17, a quick-fixing element  90  is fixed by way of an upper holding section  91  and a lower holding section  92  on two rods  31  and  32 . The lower rod  32  has a recess  94  into which the nose  93  of the quick-fixing element  90  engages. As a result, the quick-fixing element  90  is secured against a displacement of the rod  32 . FIG. 18 shows a correspondingly constructed rod with recesses  37 . 
     Instead of the nose  93 , other holding elements can also be provided on the quick-fixing device  90 , which engage, for example, in notches  38  on the rod  32  (FIG.  19 ). In addition, recesses  39  can be provided on the rod  32 , so that clamping elements engage in adjacent recesses  39  and reach around thickened sections on the rod  32  (FIG.  20 ). 
     Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only, and is not to be taken by way of limitation. The spirit and scope of the present invention are to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

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