U.S. patent application number 09/223761 was filed with the patent office on 2002-01-03 for flat panel display device having a wide adjusting range of a visual angle.
This patent application is currently assigned to Michael D. Stein. Invention is credited to CHO, CHANG-HO.
Application Number | 20020000505 09/223761 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 19520354 |
Filed Date | 2002-01-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020000505 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CHO, CHANG-HO |
January 3, 2002 |
FLAT PANEL DISPLAY DEVICE HAVING A WIDE ADJUSTING RANGE OF A VISUAL
ANGLE
Abstract
A flat panel display device having a stand cap which is firmly
assembling to a hinge member. The flat panel display device
includes a display unit for displaying an image and is vertically
and horizontally pivotally supported by a stand through a hinge
member. The hinge member has a tilting shaft for pivoting the
display unit vertically and a rotation member for rotating the
display unit horizontally. The stand cap is fixed to the rotation
member by a fastener so that the stand cap is rotated with and not
released from the rotation member when the display unit is
rotated.
Inventors: |
CHO, CHANG-HO; (INCHEON-SI,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STAAS & HALSEY
700 ELEVENTH STREET N W
SUITE 500
WASHINGTON
DC
20001
|
Assignee: |
Michael D. Stein
|
Family ID: |
19520354 |
Appl. No.: |
09/223761 |
Filed: |
December 31, 1998 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/371 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10S 248/921 20130101;
F16M 11/2014 20130101; F16M 2200/08 20130101; G06F 1/1601 20130101;
F16M 11/10 20130101; G06F 2200/1612 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/371 |
International
Class: |
A47G 029/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 31, 1997 |
KR |
97-44775 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A flat panel display device comprising: a display unit to
display an image; a stand having a circular recess, to support said
display unit; a hinge member including a ring-shaped rotation
member rotatably fixed to the circular recess of said stand; a
holder fixed to the circular recess of said stand, to secure the
rotation member in said stand; a bracket case fixed to the rotation
member and said display unit; a stand cap to cover said hinge
member; and a fastener to fix said stand cap to said hinge
member.
2. The flat panel display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said stand cap includes a boss that extends downward toward said
hinge member and is connected to said hinge member by said
fastener.
3. The flat panel display device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the
boss has an end face that makes contact with the rotation member
when said stand cap is fixed to said hinge member.
4. The flat panel display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
said rotation member has a projection formed at a rear portion
thereof; and said stand cap has a locking member that locks to said
projection.
5. The flat panel display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
said bracket case has a plurality of grooves formed at inner sides
thereof; and said stand cap has a plurality of ribs inserted into
the grooves of said bracket case, respectively.
6. The flat panel display device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the
grooves and the ribs extend vertically and are parallel to each
other.
7. The flat panel display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
rotation member has a pair of convex portions provided at an inner
circumference thereof, and said stand cap has a pair of hooks
hooked to the convex portions, respectively.
8. A flat panel display device comprising: a display unit to
display an image; a stand, having a circular recess, to support
said display unit; a hinge member, including a ring shaped rotation
member rotatably fixed to the circular recess of said stand; a
holder fixed to the circular recess of said stand to fix the
rotation member in said stand; a bracket case fixed to the rotation
member and said display unit; a fastener; and a stand cap fixed to
said hinge member by said fastener to cover said hinge member,
having a boss which extends toward said hinge member and is
connected to said hinge member by said fastener.
9. The flat panel display device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the
boss has an end face that makes contact with the rotation member
when said stand cap is fixed to said hinge member.
10. The flat panel display device as claimed in claim 8, wherein:
said rotation member has a projection formed at a rear portion
thereof; and said stand cap has a locking member that locks to said
projection.
11. The flat panel display device as claimed in claim 8, wherein:
said bracket case has a plurality of grooves formed at inner sides
thereof; and said stand cap has a plurality of ribs inserted into
the grooves of said bracket case, respectively.
12. The flat panel display device as claimed in claim 11, wherein
the grooves and the ribs extend vertically and are parallel to each
other.
13. The flat panel display device as claimed in claim 8, wherein
the rotation member has a pair of convex portions provided at an
inner circumference thereof, and said stand cap has a pair of hooks
hooked to respective convex portions.
14. A flat panel display device, comprising: a display unit to
display an image; a stand, having a circular recess, to support
said display unit; a hinge member, having a ring-shaped rotation
member rotatably fixed to the circular recess of said stand; and a
stand cap fixed to the rotation member to cover said hinge member,
wherein said stand cap is rotated with the rotation member and is
prevented from being separated from said hinge member as said
display unit is rotated.
15. The flat panel display device as claimed in claim 14, further
comprising: a fastener to fix said stand cap to said hinge member;
and a boss having an end face, extending downward from said stand
cap toward said hinge member, and fixed to the rotation member by
said fastener, wherein the rotation member has an opening with an
upper surface, and the end face of said boss makes contact with the
upper surface of the opening of the rotation member.
16. The flat panel display device as claimed in claim 14, further
comprising a pair of tilting shafts fixed to said hinge member, and
wherein said hinge member includes a hinge bracket assembly fixed
to said display unit and pivots about the tilting shafts.
17. The flat panel display device as claimed in claim 16, wherein
the hinge bracket assembly includes: bracket pieces pivotably
positioned at respective one ends of the tilting shafts; and a pair
of connecting pieces to respectively fix the tilting shafts to the
hinge member.
18. The flat panel display device as claimed in claim 15, further
comprising: a projection extending from said hinge member; and a
locking member positioned on said stand cap, wherein said fastener
is a bolt and said locking member is fixed to said projection prior
to said stand cap being fixed to said hinge member by said
fastener.
19. The flat panel display device as claimed in claim 18, wherein
said hinge member further comprises a bracket case having grooves
formed along inner sides of said bracket case, and said stand cap
has a plurality of parallel, vertically extending ribs inserted
within the grooves.
20. The flat panel display device as claimed in claim 19, wherein
the rotation member has a pair of convex portions located at an
inner portion thereof, and said stand cap has a pair of hooks
respectively hooked to the convex portions of the rotation member.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application makes reference to, incorporates the same
herein, and claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119
from my utility model application entitled Connection Device for
Stand Cap of Flat Panel Display filed with the Korean Industrial
Property Office on Dec. 31, 1997 and duly assigned Ser. No.
97-44775 by that Office.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a flat panel display
device, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a
flat panel display device having a stand cap which can be easily
connected to and disconnected from the display device, and which
does not become separated from the display device when the display
device is rotated in a horizontal direction to adjust a visual
angle of the display device.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] As shown in FIG. 1, generally, a conventional flat panel
display device is pivotally supported by a stand to adjust a visual
angle of the display device in horizontal and vertical directions.
The conventional flat panel display device includes a display unit
1 that has a flat panel (not shown) to display an image, and a
stand 2 that rotatably supports the display unit 1. A hinge member
3 installed at an upper portion of the stand 20 connects the
display unit 1 to the stand 2. As a result, the display unit 1 is
rotatably supported by the stand 2 through the hinge member 3.
[0006] The hinge member 3 includes a tilting shaft 5 which is
supported by the hinge member 3 in a vertical direction. The
display unit 1 is connected to the tilting shaft 5 through hinge
brackets 6 which are pivotally supported at both ends of the
tilting shaft 5, respectively. In this way, the display unit 1 is
rotated by the hinge member 3 in a horizontal direction and pivoted
by the tilting shaft 5 in a vertical direction. When rotatably
mounted to the stand 3, the hinge member 3 is covered by a stand
cap 4 to prevent foreign substances, such as dust, etc., from
entering into the hinge member 3. The stand cap 4 also prevents an
exterior of the display device from falling off due to exposure of
the hinge member 3.
[0007] Snap-recesses or snap-projections (not shown) located inside
the hinge member 3 are snap-fitted with snap-recesses or
snap-projections (not shown) located within the stand cap 4, so
that the stand cap 4 is snap-fittingly fixed to the hinge member 3.
As a result, the stand cap 4 can be easily engaged with and
separated from the hinge member 3.
[0008] Since the stand cap 4 is snap-fittingly fixed to the hinge
member 3 as described above, the stand cap 4 remains in a
stationary state when the display unit 1 is pivoted in a vertical
direction, but is rotated along with the hinge member 3 when the
display unit 1 is rotated in a horizontal direction.
[0009] In the conventional flat panel display device, however, when
the stand cap 4 is rotated horizontally with the hinge member 3,
the snap-fitting between the hinge member 3 and the stand cap 4
eventually is released, so that the stand cap 4 becomes separated
from the hinge member 3. When the hinge member 3 and the stand cap
4 become separated, foreign substances such as dust, etc., enter
into the hinge member 3, corrupting the functional capabilities of
the hinge member 3 and the display unit 1.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
provide a flat panel display device having a stand cap which can be
easily connected to and disconnected from the display device, and
is prevented from being separated from the display device when the
display device is rotated in a horizontal direction to adjust a
visual angle of the display device.
[0011] The above and other objects of the present invention are
achieved by providing a flat panel display device that includes a
display unit to display an image, and a stand that has a circular
recess, to support the display unit. The flat panel display device
also includes a hinge member that has a ring-shaped rotation member
rotatably fixed to the circular recess of the stand, and a holder,
fixed to the circular recess of the stand, to secure the rotation
member in the stand. A bracket case is fixed to the rotation member
and the display unit, and a fastener fixes a stand cap to the hinge
member to cover the hinge member.
[0012] The stand cap has a boss that extends toward the hinge
member and is connected to the hinge member by the fastener.
[0013] The above and other objects of the present invention are
also achieved by providing a flat panel display device that
includes a display unit to display an image, and a stand, that has
a circular recess, to support the display unit. The flat panel
display device also includes a hinge member that has a ring shaped
rotation member that is rotatably fixed to the circular recess of
the stand, and a holder fixed to the circular recess of the stand
to fix the rotation member in the stand. A bracket case is fixed to
the rotation member and the display unit, and a stand cap is fixed
to the hinge member by a fastener to cover the hinge member. The
stand cap has a boss which extends toward the hinge member and is
connected to the hinge member by the fastener.
[0014] The boss has an end face that makes contact with the
rotation member when the stand cap is fixed to the hinge member.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention may also include
a projection formed at a rear portion of the rotation member and a
locking member located on the stand cap that locks to the
projection. In addition, a plurality of grooves may be formed at
inner sides of the bracket case in which a plurality of ribs
located on the stand cap are respectively inserted, with the
grooves and the ribs extending vertically and parallel to each
other. Furthermore, a pair of convex portions may be included at an
inner circumference of the rotation member, and a pair of hooks
located on the stand cap are hooked to respective ones of the
convex portions.
[0015] The above and other objects of the present invention are
still further achieved by providing a flat panel display device
that includes a stand that has a circular recess to support a
display unit, and a hinge member, having a ring-shaped rotation
member rotatably fixed to the circular recess of the stand. A stand
cap is fixed to the rotation member to cover the hinge member, to
rotate with the rotation member, and is prevented from being
separated from the hinge member as the display unit is rotated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] These and other objects and advantages of the invention will
become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following
description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings, of which:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a side view of a flat panel display device
according to the conventional art.
[0018] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a flat panel
display device according to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0019] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a stand, a hinge
member, and a stand cap according to the flat panel display device
of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the stand, the
hinge member, and the stand cap according to the preferred
embodiment of the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the flat panel
display device according to the preferred embodiment of the present
invention, taken along section lines V-V' of FIG. 4.
[0022] FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the flat panel
display device according to the preferred embodiment of the present
invention, taken along the line VI-VI' of FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0023] Reference will now be made in detail to the present
preferred embodiment of the present invention, examples of which
are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like
reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The
embodiment is described below in order to explain the present
invention by referring to the figures.
[0024] As illustrated in FIG. 2, a flat panel display device
according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention
includes a display unit 10 to display an image, and a stand 20 to
support the display unit 10. A hinge member 30 is secured to the
display unit 10 and is rotatably mounted to the stand 20 to adjust
a visual angle of the display unit 10. A stand cap 40 is fixed to
the hinge member 30 by a fastener 29, such as a bolt for example.
The stand cap 40 covers the hinge member 30 so that the hinge
member 30 is not exposed. As a result, the stand cap 40 prevents
foreign substances, such as dust, etc., from entering into the
hinge member 30.
[0025] The display unit 10 includes a front case 12, a rear case
13, and a flat panel 11 disposed between the front case 12 and the
rear case 13 to display the image. The stand 20 supports the
display unit 10 and a circular recess 21 is formed at a top portion
of the stand 20. An opening 21c is formed at a center of the
circular recess 22 and a plurality of cylindrical bodies 21a are
arranged in the circular recess 21 at regular intervals around the
opening 21c. The stand 20 also includes two or more pins 21b, with
each of the pins 21b being positioned between the cylindrical
bodies 21a.
[0026] The hinge member 30 includes a ring-shaped rotation member
22 that is rotatably mounted to the circular recess 21 of the stand
20. A holder 23 is secured to the circular recess 21 of the stand
20 to hold the rotation member 22 within the stand 20. A bracket
case 26 has a hinge bracket assembly 25 which is secured to the
display unit 10 by fasteners, such as screws for example. As
illustrated in FIG. 3, a plurality of grooves 26a are formed along
inner sides of the bracket case 26. The grooves 26a extend
vertically and are parallel to each other.
[0027] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the rotation member 22 is
rotatably mounted to the circular recess 21 of the stand 20, and is
connected to the bracket case 26 through a pair of connecting
pieces 25b. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the fastener 29 passes
through a hole 22a located along the rotation member 22, and a
projection 28 is formed along a rear side of the rotation member
22. As illustrated in FIG. 5, a pair of convex portions 27 are
located along an inner circumference of the rotation member 22.
[0028] As illustrated in FIGS. 3-5, the hinge bracket assembly 25
includes a pair of bracket pieces 25c that are pivotally positioned
at respective one ends of tilting shafts 25a. The tilting shafts
25a extend transversely within the bracket case 26 in opposite
directions about one axis, and are fixed, respectively, to the
bracket case 26 by the pair of connecting pieces 25b. Since the
bracket pieces 25c are pivotally supported by the respective one
ends of the tilting shafts 25a, the display unit 10, which is
connected to the bracket pieces 25c of the hinge bracket assembly
25, can be rotated about the tilting shafts 25a.
[0029] The holder 23 includes a plurality of bosses 23a, a
plurality of holes 23b, and a pair of claws 38 (only one is shown)
located at a lower surface of the holder 23. The pair of claws 38
are parallel to each other, extend downward toward the rotation
member 22, and pass through an opening 22b of the rotation member
22. The bosses 23a are positioned above the cylindrical bodies 21 a
that are arranged at regular intervals in the circular recess 21,
and each of the pins 21b located about the circular recess 21 are
inserted into respective holes 23b of the holder 23 when the holder
23 is assembled to the circular recess 21. Thereafter, fasteners
24, such as bolts, for example, are fastened to the bosses 23a
through the cylindrical bodies 21a. The claws 38 are hooked under
and come in contact with a lower portion of the rotation member 22
to prevent the holder 23 from being separated from the rotation
member 22 when an upward force is extended on the holder 23.
[0030] As illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, and 6, when the hinge member
30 is mounted to the stand 20, the display unit 10 is pivotally
supported vertically and horizontally by the stand 20, and the
stand cap 40 is assembled to the hinge member 30 to prevent foreign
substances such as dust, etc., from entering into the hinge member
30. In addition, the stand cap 40 covers and prevents the hinge
member 30 from outside exposure. The stand cap 40 is preferably
made of a plastic material, and includes a boss 34 with an end face
that extends downward, toward the hinge member 30. As illustrated
in FIG. 6, the boss 34 is connected to the hinge member 30 by the
fastener 29. The boss 34 preferably has a length that enables the
end face of the boss 34 to be in direct contact with an upper
surface of the lower portion of the rotation member 22, so that the
stand cap 40 firmly engages the hinge member 30 when the stand cap
40 is fixed to the hinge member 30.
[0031] The stand cap 40 is rotated with the rotation member 22
during rotation of the display unit 20 when adjusting a visual
angle of the display unit 20. Accordingly, the stand cap 40 is
prevented from being separated from the hinge member 30 due to the
direct contact of the boss 34 of the stand cap 40 with the hinge
member 30 during rotation of the display unit 10.
[0032] In addition, as illustrated in FIGS. 3-5, the preferred
embodiment of the present invention may also include a locking
member 33 that is formed along a rear side of the stand cap 40 to
enable the fastener 29 to be more easily fastened to the boss 34 of
the stand cap 40 when the stand cap 40 is assembled to the hinge
member 30. That is, the locking member 33 is locked to the
projection 28 prior to the fastener 29 being fastened to the boss
34, so that the boss 34 can be more precisely positioned above the
holes 22a located in the rotation member 22, through which the
fastener 29 passes when being fastened to the boss 34.
[0033] In addition, the stand cap 40 also includes a plurality of
parallel, vertically extending ribs 31. The ribs 31 are engaged
with the grooves 26a formed along the inner sides of the bracket
case 26, respectively, when the stand cap 40 is assembled to the
hinge member 30. Since the ribs 31 are engaged with the grooves
26a, the stand cap 40 is prevented from moving back and forth when
the stand cap 40 is assembled to the hinge member 30 or when the
display unit 10 is rotated.
[0034] The stand cap 40 also includes a pair of hooks 32 formed at
the inner portion of the stand cap 40 that come in contact with
respective convex portions 27 of the rotation member 22. Since the
hooks 32 are in contact with the convex portions 27 of the rotation
member 22, the stand cap 40 can be maintained in position when the
fastener 29 is fastened to the boss 34 during assembly of the stand
cap 40 to the hinge member 30, i.e., the rotation member 22. As a
result, the fastener 29 can be more easily fastened to the boss
34.
[0035] As described above, in the flat panel display device
according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
stand cap 40 is prevented from being separated from the hinge
member 30 when the display unit 10 is rotated, since the stand cap
40 is firmly assembled to the rotation member 22 by the fastener
29.
[0036] Furthermore, in the flat panel display device according to
the present invention, the stand cap 40 can be more easily
assembled to the hinge member 30 since various means are provided
to keep the stand cap 40 in place before the stand cap 40 is
assembled to the hinge member 30 by the fastener 29.
[0037] Accordingly, the flat panel display device according to the
present invention is prevented from being separated from the hinge
member and prevents foreign substances, such as dust, etc., from
entering into the hinge member.
[0038] Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has
been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled
in the art that changes may be made in the embodiment without
departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the
scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *