Attachment apparatus for a work surface panel

Abstract

A work surface panel of a cabinet-type household appliance has a rearward surround at which it is attachment at the rear. The panel is intended to have a position which is defined transversely with respect to the attachment direction. The work surface panel is attached to the body of the household appliance by means of at least one holding pin. In this case, the holding pin has a slotted-link section that passes through an elongated hole in the surround and holds the surround at a defined level. To allow tolerance compensation, which is suitable for mass production, between the work surface panel and the housing, or a further part mounted on the top face of the housing, the surround is held exclusively by the holding pins, whose slotted-link sections have a substantially rectangular cross section, allowing the work surface panel to be adjusted in the lateral direction during installation.

We claim:  
     
         1 . In a household appliance having a body with a cabinet shape, and a work surface panel to be attached to the body in a defined position transversely with respect to an attachment direction, an attachment apparatus for attaching the work surface panel, comprising: 
 a rear surround integrally formed on the work surface panel and having at least one elongated hole formed therein;    at least one holding pin for attaching said rear surround to the body of the household appliance, said holding pin having a slotted-link section with a substantially rectangular cross section configured to pass through said elongated hole in said rear surround; and    said at least one holding pin holding said rear surround at a defined height position, and exclusively holding said rear surround to the body of the household appliance.    
     
     
         2 . The attachment apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said holding pin is formed with a head-type attachment adjoining said slotted-link section.  
     
     
         3 . The attachment apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said holding pin is formed with an axial bore for receiving an attachment element passing therethrough.  
     
     
         4 . The attachment apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said holding pin has a shank forming a continuation of said slotted-link section, and said shank forms a slotted dowel configured to enter an opening in the body of the household appliance, and to be attached there by spreading inside the opening.  
     
     
         5 . The attachment apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein said slot extends to a head-type attachment of said holding pin adjoining said slotting-ling section, and a key width of said slotted-link section is smaller in size than a diameter of the adjacent said shank.  
     
     
         6 . The attachment apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein said head-type attachment has two ear-shaped lateral projections, with an internal separation at least as large as a diameter of a part of the attachment element located there in an attachment position thereof, and said slots extending as far as said lateral projections.  
     
     
         7 . The attachment apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein said head-type attachment is formed with apertures at a level of the slotted-link sections, and a free width of said apertures is suitable for an insertion of a flat tool.