Fastening system for fixing a domestic appliance in furniture The present invention relates to a fastening system for fixing a domestic appliance in furniture. In particular, the present in ^¬ vention relates to a fastening system for fixing a front frame of a cooking oven in kitchen furniture. Further, the present invention relates to a domestic appliance, in particular a cooking oven, insertable into furniture.

A domestic appliance is usually arranged inside furniture, wherein the furniture is marginally bigger than the domestic ap ^¬ pliance. Mostly, the domestic appliance is fastened by fixing a front frame of said domestic appliance to a front side of a side wall of the furniture. Thereby one or more screws, plastic spac ^¬ ers and/or other fixing elements penetrate the front frame of the domestic appliance and the front side of the side wall of the furniture.

However, the screws or the other fixing elements may damage the front frame of the domestic appliance. Further, the screws, the plastic spacers and/or the other fixing elements are visible on the front frame of the domestic appliance, which is disadvanta- geous in view of aesthetic aspects.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a fastening system for fixing a domestic appliance in furniture, which avoids a damage of the front frame of the domestic appliance by fixing elements.

The object is achieved by the fastening system for fixing a do ^¬ mestic appliance in furniture according to claim 1. According to a first aspect of the present invention a fastening system for fixing a domestic appliance in furniture is provided, wherein : - the fastening system comprises at least one fastening ele ^¬ ment ,

the fastening element is formed as an L-shaped profile part and includes a long portion and a short portion,

the long portion of the fastening element is fixable or fixed at an inner side of a wall of the furniture, while the short portion of the fastening element is arrangeable or ar ^¬ ranged in front of a front side of said wall of the furni ^¬ ture,

the fastening element includes a snap-in mechanism arranged at or in front of the short portion of said fastening ele ^¬ ment, and

the snap-in mechanism is engageable or engaged with a front frame of the domestic appliance. According to a second aspect of the invention a fastening system for fixing a domestic appliance in a piece of furniture is pro ^¬ vided :

comprising at least one fastening element that is adapted to be fastened to both, said piece of furniture and to said do- mestic appliance without the help of any mechanical fixation means, such as e.g. any screw or nail, that require the use of any hand tool, such as a drill, a screw driver or a hammer . In preferred embodiments of said second aspect of the invention, the fastening system comprises only fastening elements that are adapted to be fastened to both, said piece of furniture and to said domestic appliance without the help of any mechanical fixa ^¬ tion means such as e.g. any screw or nail, that require the use of any hand tool, such as a drill, a screw driver or a hammer. Further preferred embodiments of the second aspect of the inven ^¬ tion can comprise the fastening system according to the first aspect of the invention.

The core of the present invention is that the front frame of the domestic appliance is fixable at the furniture by the snap-in mechanism, wherein said snap-in mechanism is arranged between the front side of the wall of the furniture and the front frame.

At least at the front side of the front frame neither screws nor other fixing element are visible. The fastening system allows a fast installation of the domestic appliance in the furniture.

The front frame of the domestic appliance cannot be damaged by screws or other fixing elements.

For example, the fastening element includes at least one, pref- erably two, screw holes for fixing the long portion of the fas ^¬ tening element at the inner side of the wall. The screw holes and therefore the screws are not visible, when the domestic ap ^¬ pliance is inserted in the furniture. In alternative, in embodiments of the second aspect of the in ^¬ vention the fastening element can comprise a surface that is adapted to be positioned on said inner side of the wall of the furniture and to be fixed to said wall by an adhesive. Said ad ^¬ hesive can for example be a strip of adhesive tape, preferably comprising two opposing adhesive faces. The strip of adhesive tape can have a shape corresponding to said surface of the fas ^¬ tening element that is adapted to be positioned on the inner side of the wall of the furniture. Further, the short portion of the fastening element may be alignable or aligned at the front side of the wall of the furni ^¬ ture, wherein preferably the fastening element is alignable or aligned at an edge between the inner side and the front side of the wall.

Moreover, the snap-in mechanism may include at least one snap-in hook engageable or engaged with a cut-out or an undercut of the front frame of the domestic appliance, wherein preferably said snap-in hook is charged by at least one spring element.

In particular, the snap-in hook extends away from the long portion of the fastening element. Furthermore, the snap-in hook extends radially in view of a front opening of the furniture, when the fastening element is fixed at the wall of the furniture.

The fastening system may comprise a plurality of fastening ele- ments, wherein preferably the fastening elements are arrangeable or arranged at opposite walls of the furniture.

For example, the fastening elements are arrangeable or arranged at opposite side walls of the furniture.

The fastening system can comprise a spacer plate adapted to be arranged between the long portion of the fastening element and the inner side of a wall. A plurality of spacer plates having different predetermined thicknesses can be provided. At least one spacer plate can be formed in one piece with the fastening element. E.g. by injection moulding of a polymer, especially providing a film hinge between the fastening element and a spacer plate. In particular, the fastening system comprises at least one screw, preferably two screws, for each fastening element, wherein said screw is fixable at the inner side of the wall or side wall, respectively.

Further, the fastening element may include a recess provided for receiving a protruding part at the rear side of the front frame of the domestic appliance, wherein preferably said recess is formed in the long portion of said fastening element and is open to the front side and to the interior of the furniture, when the fastening element is mounted at the side wall of the furniture.

Moreover, an elongated tongue element may be formed within the recess of the fastening element, wherein the tongue element acts a spring and is provided for supporting the protruding part at the rear side of the front frame of the domestic appliance, and wherein preferably the tongue element extends forwards from a rear wall of said recess. Preferably, the fastening element is made of plastics. The fas ^¬ tening element made of plastics allows a production by low costs .

Further, the present invention relates to a domestic appliance, in particular a cooking oven, including a front frame and inserted in or insertable into furniture, wherein the domestic ap ^¬ pliance comprises the fastening system mentioned above.

Preferably, the front frame of the domestic appliance is engaged or engageable with at least one fastening element. In particular, the front frame includes at least one cut-out en ^¬ gaged or engageable with the snap-in hook of the snap-in mecha ^¬ nism of the fastening element, wherein said cut-out is arranged in an outer side of the front frame.

Alternatively or additionally, the front frame includes at least one undercut engaged or engageable with the snap-in hook of the snap-in mechanism of the fastening element, wherein said undercut is arranged at a rear side of the front frame.

Preferably, at least two cut-outs and/or undercuts are arranged at opposite sides of the front frame.

Novel and inventive features of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims.

The present invention will be described in further detail with reference to the drawings, in which

FIG 1 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a fastening element for a fastening system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention,

FIG 2 illustrates a schematic sectional top view of the fas ^¬ tening element for the fastening system according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention,

FIG 3 is a perspective view of a fastening element of the in ^¬ vention,

FIG 4 is a perspective view of an adhesive tape of the inven ^¬ tion, and FIG 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the fastening element of the invention comprising two spacer plates.

FIG 1 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a fastening element 10 for a fastening system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The fastening system is pro ^¬ vided for fixing a domestic appliance in furniture. In this ex ^¬ ample, the fastening element 10 is attached by a screw 12, pref ^¬ erably by two screws 12, at a side wall 30 of the furniture. The fastening element 10 may be also attached at a top wall or bot ^¬ tom wall of the furniture.

The fastening element 10 is formed as a substantially L-shaped profile part including a long portion 14 and a short portion 16. Preferably, the long portion 14 and the short portion 16 of the fastening element 10 form a right angle. The long portion 14 of the fastening element 10 is aligned at an inner side 32 of the side wall 30 of the furniture, while the short portion 16 of the fastening element 10 is aligned at a front side 34 of the side wall 30 of the furniture. Preferably, the fastening element 10 is aligned at a vertical edge between the inner side 32 and the front side 34 of the side wall 30 of the furniture. The inner side 32 of the side wall 30 is directed to the interior of the furniture. The fastening element 10 is provided for fixing a front frame 24 of the domestic appliance in front of the front side 34 of the side wall 30 of the furniture. Preferably, the domestic appliance is fastened at the furniture by fixing the front frame 24 of the domestic appliance at the side wall 30, the top wall and/or the bottom wall of the furniture.

The fastening element 10 includes a recess 18 formed in the long portion 14 of said fastening element 10. The recess 18 is open to the front side and to the interior of the furniture, when the fastening element 10 is mounted at the side wall 30 of the fur ^¬ niture. The recess 18 is provided for receiving a protruding part at the rear side of the front frame 24 of the domestic ap ^¬ pliance. The recess 18 allows that the position of the domestic appliance may be aligned to the furniture.

An elongated tongue element 36 is formed within the recess 18 of the fastening element 10. The tongue element 36 extends forwards from a rear wall of the recess 18. An open end of the tongue el- ement 36 is arranged beside the short portion 16 of the fas ^¬ tening element 10. The tongue element 36 acts as a spring. The tongue element 36 is provided for supporting the protruding part formed at the rear side of the front frame 24 of the domestic appliance. The tongue element 36 allows or contributes that the front frame 24 is hold tight by the fastening element 10.

The fastening element 10 includes a snap-in mechanism 20 formed at the short portion 16 of said fastening element 10. The snap- in mechanism 20 forms a front part of the short portion 16 of the fastening element 10. The snap-in mechanism 20 includes a snap-in hook 22 extending laterally outwards and away from the interior of the furniture. In other words, the snap-in hook 22 extends radially outwards in view of a front opening of the fur ^¬ niture. The snap-in hook 22 is engageable with a recess or an undercut of the front frame 24 of the domestic appliance. Fur ^¬ ther, the fastening element 10 may include at least one spring element, wherein the snap-in hook 22 is charged by said spring element . In this example, the fastening element 10 is made of plastics. Further, the fastening element 10 may be made of metal. FIG 2 illustrates a schematic sectional top view of the fas ^¬ tening element 10 for the fastening system according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. In FIG 2 the domes ^¬ tic appliance is arranged in the furniture. In this example, the domestic appliance is a cooking oven.

The domestic appliance includes a front frame 24. The front frame 24 is arranged in front of the front side 34 of the side wall 30 of the furniture. The front frame 24 encloses a front opening of a cavity of the domestic appliance. In FIG 2 said front opening is closed by a front door 28.

The front frame 24 is fixed at the front side 34 of the side wall 30 of the furniture by the fastening element 10, preferably by more fastening elements 10. The long portion 14 of the fas ^¬ tening element 10 is aligned at the inner side 32 of the side wall 30 of the furniture, while the short portion 16 of the fas ^¬ tening element 10 is aligned at the front side 34 of the side wall 30 of the furniture. Preferably, the fastening element 10 is aligned at the vertical edge between the inner side 32 and the front side 34 of the side wall 30 of the furniture. The fas ^¬ tening element 10 is fixed at the inner side 32 of the side wall 30 by at least one screw 12, preferably by two screws 12, pene ^¬ trating the long portion 14 of the fastening element 10 and the side wall 30.

The front frame 24 of the domestic appliance is snapped-in with the fastening element 10. The front frame 24 includes at least one cut-out 26 arranged at an outer side of said front frame 24. The cut-out 26 of the front frame 24 is engaged with the snap-in hook 22 of the snap-in mechanism 20 of the fastening element 10.

Alternatively or additionally to the cut-out 26, the front frame

24 may include at least one undercut arranged at its rear side. Said undercut is not shown in FIG 2. The undercut of the front frame 24 may be engaged with the snap-in hook 22 of the snap-in mechanism 20 of the fastening element 10. The fastening system according to the present invention allows a fast installation of the domestic appliance in the furniture. The front frame 24 of the domestic appliance cannot be damaged by screws or other fixing elements. No screws and no other fix ^¬ ing elements are visible at the front side of the front frame 24. Preferably, as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the fas ^¬ tening element 10 can be subsequently disengaged from the domes ^¬ tic appliance for taking out again the domestic appliance from the furniture. More in particular, the user can push, e.g. with his finger, inwardly the snap-in hook 22 in order to disengage it from the cut-out 26 of the front frame 24 of the domestic ap ^¬ pliance. If two fastening elements 10 have been used on either side of the front frame 24, the user has to push in the snap-in hooks 22 of both before being able to release and take out the domestic appliance.

FIG 3 shows a view of another embodiment of the fastening ele ^¬ ment 10 of the invention that shows its plane surface 40 that is adapted to be positioned on the inner side of a wall 30 of the furniture (not shown) for fixing the fastening element 10 to the wall 30. Divergently from FIG 1, the embodiment of the fastening element 10 shown in FIG 3 does not comprise any through hole for a screw 12 for fixing the fastening element 10 to the side wall 30. Instead, the plane surface 40 of the fastening element 10 shown in FIG 3 is adapted for fixation to the side wall 30 using a suitable adhesive. One example of a suitable adhesive is the adhesive tape 42 shown in FIG 4 that has opposing adhesive faces

(not shown) that are adapted to stick firmly to respectively the surface 40 of the fastening element 10 and the side wall 30. The example of the adhesive tape 42 has a shape that corresponds to the shape of the surface 40 of the fastening element 10. Other shapes of the adhesive tape are possible as long as their area matches the area of the surface 40 to a sufficient extent to me ^¬ diate the desired fixation of the fastening element 10 to the side wall 30. In alternative to the use of an adhesive tape, the surface 40 can be directly covered by a layer of suitable adhe ^¬ sive (not shown) . Preferably said adhesive layer can covered by a removable protective sheet (not shown) upon delivery to the user, such is known in the prior art for many articles compris- ing a protected adhesive layer, e.g. for adhesive tapes, adhe ^¬ sive bathroom hooks etc..

The embodiment of the fastening element 10 of the invention shown in FIG 3 and the adhesive tape 42 shown in FIG 4 can be used for fixing a domestic appliance in a piece of furniture, e.g. in a kitchen furniture cabinet, without the help of any me ^¬ chanical fixation means such as the screw 12 indicated schemati ^¬ cally in FIG 12. Therefore, the embodiment shown in FIGs 3 and 4 can be used according to the invention in a fastening system that allows a user to fix a domestic appliance in a piece of furniture without the need to drill any screw holes into the furniture and to fasten corresponding screws 12 or using any nails or the like. Also the user does not need to handle any hand tools such as drills, screw drivers, hammers etc.. Still, the fastening system of the invention allows also a later release of the domestic appliance, as has been described above re ^¬ ferring to the embodiment of FIG 2.

FIG 5 shows a further embodiment of the fastening element 10 of the invention that allows to compensate any divergences from the standardized dimensions of a piece of furniture for taking up a domestic appliance. Kitchen furniture comprises standardized niches for taking up domestic appliances. Nevertheless, toler ^¬ ances occur frequently due to the use of side walls 30 that are thinner than required according to the standard. For example, whereas a standard side wall 30 usually has a thickness of 20 mm, sidewalls with a thickness of only 18,5 or even 16 mm are often used, however without any corresponding corrections of the distance between the sidewalls that define a niche for the in ^¬ stallation of a domestic appliance.

The fastening element 10 in FIG 5 comprises a first thin spacer plate 50 having a first predetermined thickness and a second thicker spacer plate 52 having a second thickness chosen thicker than the first spacer plate 50. The spacer plates 50 and 52 are adapted to be arranged between the long portion 14 of the fas ^¬ tening element 10 and the side wall 30 (not shown) of the piece of furniture. According to the need either or both of the thin first spacer plate 50 and the thick second spacer plate 52 can be used. In the embodiment shown, the shape of the spacer plates 50, 52 matches the long portion 14 of the fastening element 10. Both spacer plates 50, 52 are respectively connected with their lateral edges to corresponding lateral edges of said long por- tion 14 via film hinges 54. At least one of the spacer plates

50, 52 can be folded (not shown around its film hinge 54 in or ^¬ der to be arranged in correspondence of the lateral portion 14 before positioning the fastening element 10 on the side wall 30 similarly as in FIG 1 or 2. In that case, comparing to FIG 2, the thickness of the long portion 14 will be increased by the spacer plate 50 or 52, as the case may be. The spacer plates 50, 52 can comprise through holes for the screw 12 of FIG 12 (not shown in FIG 5) . In alternative, the spacer plates 50, 52 can be fixed by an adhesive to the fastening element and/or to the side wall 30 of the furniture.

Although an illustrative embodiment of the present invention has been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to that precise embodiment, and that various other changes and modifications may be affected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the in ^¬ vention. All such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as defined by the ap ^¬ pended claims.

List of reference numerals

10 fastening element

12 screw

14 long portion

16 short portion

18 recess

20 snap-in mechanism

22 snap-in hook

24 front frame

26 cut-out

28 front door

30 side wall

32 inner side of the side wall

34 front side of the side wall

36 tongue element

40 surface

42 adhesive, adhesive tape 50, 52 spacer plate

54 film hinge