Variable Carrier for the Installation on Two Vertical Carrier Profiles of a Rack and Corresponding Installation Method

Abstract

A variable carrier for the installation on two vertical carrier profiles of a rack is disclosed. The vertical carrier profiles of the rack feature openings in a standardized grid. The variable carrier can be fixed on the vertical carrier profiles by means of the openings and features a snap-in device that automatically snaps into one of the openings of a vertical carrier profile during the installation. The variable carrier also features opposite the snap-in device at least one retaining hook that is rigidly connected to the variable carrier and can be hooked into one of the openings of a vertical carrier profile such that the variable carrier can be hooked into the opening by means of the retaining hook and subsequently pivoted in such a way that the snap-in device can interlock with one of the openings of the opposite vertical carrier profile.

1 . A variable carrier for the installation on two vertical carrier profiles of a rack, the vertical carrier profiles including openings, the variable carrier comprising:
 a variable carrier body;   a snap-in device that automatically snaps into one of the openings of the vertical carrier profiles during the installation; and   a retaining hook opposite the snap-in device, the retaining hook being rigidly connected to the variable carrier body, wherein the retaining hook can be hooked into one of the openings of a vertical carrier profile such that the variable carrier can be hooked into the opening by means of the retaining hook and subsequently pivoted in such a way that the snap-in device can interlock with one of the openings of the other vertical carrier profile so that the variable carrier can be fixed on the vertical carrier profiles by means of the openings.   
   
   
       2 . The variable carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the variable carrier body has two faces that each include a retaining hook that is rigidly connected to the variable carrier body. 
   
   
       3 . The variable carrier according to  claim 2 , wherein the retaining hook on one face protrudes laterally in one direction and the retaining hook on the other face protrudes laterally in the opposite direction. 
   
   
       4 . The variable carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the snap-in device is arranged on one face of the variable carrier body, the variable carrier further comprising at least one centering element is arranged on an opposite face. 
   
   
       5 . The variable carrier according to  claim 4 , wherein the centering element comprises a horizontal clip and wherein the retaining hooks lying opposite the snap-in device vertically engage into the openings of the vertical carrier profile. 
   
   
       6 . The variable carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the snap-in device comprises a spring element that is relaxed in the interlocked state and abuts on a vertical edge of an opening of the vertical carrier profile. 
   
   
       7 . The variable carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the vertical carrier profiles of the rack include openings in a standardized grid. 
   
   
       8 . A system carrier comprising:
 first and second vertical carrier profiles, wherein the vertical carrier profiles include openings; and   a variable carrier that can be fixed on the vertical carrier profiles by means of the openings, wherein the variable carrier comprises:
 a variable carrier body; 
 a snap-in device that automatically snaps into one of the openings of the vertical carrier profiles during the installation; and 
 a retaining hook opposite the snap-in device, the retaining hook being rigidly connected to the variable carrier body, wherein the retaining hook can be hooked into one of the openings of the first vertical carrier profile such that the variable carrier can be hooked into the opening by means of the retaining hook and subsequently pivoted in such a way that the snap-in device can interlock with one of the openings of the second vertical carrier profile so that the variable carrier can be fixed on the vertical carrier profiles by means of the openings. 
   
   
   
       9 . The system carrier according to  claim 8 , wherein the variable carrier body has two faces that each include a retaining hook that is rigidly connected to the variable carrier body. 
   
   
       10 . The system carrier according to  claim 9 , wherein the retaining hook on one face protrudes laterally in one direction and the retaining hook on the other face protrudes laterally in the opposite direction. 
   
   
       11 . The system carrier according to  claim 8 , wherein the snap-in device is arranged on one face of the variable carrier body, the variable carrier further comprising at least one centering element is arranged on an opposite face. 
   
   
       12 . The system carrier according to  claim 11 , wherein the centering element comprises a horizontal clip and wherein the retaining hooks lying opposite the snap-in device vertically engage into the openings of the second vertical carrier profile. 
   
   
       13 . The system carrier according to  claim 8 , wherein the snap-in device comprises a spring element that is relaxed in the interlocked state and abuts on a vertical edge of an opening of the second vertical carrier profile. 
   
   
       14 . The system carrier according to  claim 8 , wherein the vertical carrier profiles of the rack include openings in a standardized grid. 
   
   
       15 . A method of installing a variable carrier on first and second vertical carrier profiles of a rack, the variable carrier comprising a snap-in device and a retaining hook opposite the snap-in device, the method comprising:
 holding the variable carrier with the retaining hook directed towards the first vertical carrier profile in such a way that, if viewed from the top, the variable carrier extends at an acute angle relative to an imaginary axis that extends between the first vertical carrier profile and the second vertical carrier profile;   guiding the retaining hook through and hooked into an opening of the first vertical carrier profile;   pivoting the variable carrier about the retaining hook in the direction of the second vertical carrier profile until it is positioned a short distance from the imaginary axis;   extending the variable carrier between the vertical carrier profiles until the snap-in device can snap into an opening of the second vertical carrier profile; and   snapping the snap-in device into the opening of the second vertical carrier profile.   
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein guiding the retaining hook comprises guiding a plurality of retaining hooks.