U.S. patent application number 10/051159 was filed with the patent office on 2003-03-13 for carrier frame having in-frame elastic constraint structure.
This patent application is currently assigned to AU Optronics Corp.. Invention is credited to Lin, Hsin-Wu.
Application Number | 20030046849 10/051159 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 21686390 |
Filed Date | 2003-03-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030046849 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lin, Hsin-Wu |
March 13, 2003 |
Carrier frame having in-frame elastic constraint structure
Abstract
A carrier frame having an in-frame elastic constraint structure
includes at least one elastic constraint structure, each of which
is disposed in a predetermined position in an embracing space of
the carrier frame. When a put-in module is put into the embracing
space, the elastic constraint structure can be compressed and
thereby deformed to produce a corresponding elastic force acting
against the put-in module so as to restrict the motion of the
put-in module within the embracing space. By providing the elastic
constraint structure to the carrier frame, the put-in module can
then be secured stably inside the embracing space.
Inventors: |
Lin, Hsin-Wu; (Tainan City,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DOUGHERTY& TROXELL
5205 LEESBURG PIKE, SUITE 1404
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22041
US
|
Assignee: |
AU Optronics Corp.
|
Family ID: |
21686390 |
Appl. No.: |
10/051159 |
Filed: |
January 22, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
40/792 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 1/1601 20130101;
F16M 11/22 20130101; G02F 1/133308 20130101; A47G 2001/0677
20130101; G06F 2200/1612 20130101; F16M 11/041 20130101; G02F
2201/46 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
40/792 |
International
Class: |
A47G 001/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 10, 2001 |
TW |
90215542 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A carrier frame having an in-frame elastic constraint structure,
comprising at least one flange which forms an inner embracing space
for receiving a put-in module, said flange further having an inner
edge wall which faces said embracing space, characterized in
that:said carrier frame further comprises at least one elastic
constraint structure, each of which is disposed in a predetermined
corresponding position abutting against said inner edge wall of
said flange within said embracing space; when said put-in module is
put into said embracing space, said elastic constraint structure is
compressed and thereby deformed to produce a corresponding elastic
force against said put-in module so as to restrict the motion of
said put-in module within said embracing space.
2. The carrier frame having an in-frame elastic constraint
structure according to claim 1, wherein said elastic constraint
structure includes an elastomer and a lean-against top end, where
one end of said elastomer is mounted on said inner edge wall and
the other end of said elastomer extends toward said embracing space
and connects with said lean-against top end for further contacting
with said put-in module.
3. The carrier frame having an in-frame elastic constraint
structure according to claim 2, wherein said elastomer is a
spring.
4. The carrier frame having an in-frame elastic constraint
structure according to claim 2, wherein said elastomer is a
rubber.
5. The carrier frame having an in-frame elastic constraint
structure according to claim 2, wherein said elastomer is a sponge
structure.
6. The carrier frame having an in-frame elastic constraint
structure according to claim 2, wherein said lean-against top end
further includes a guide sliding surface for leadingsaid put-in
module to be set in said embracing space.
7. The carrier frame having an in-frame elastic constraint
structure according to claim 1, wherein said elastic constraint
structure is an elastic column, which is disposed in parallel with
said inner edge wall and further includes a guide sliding surface
opposite to said inner edge wall so as to lead said put-in module
to be set in said embracing space, and which provides an elastic
force through sideward bending resulted from the compression
applied by said put-in module while set inside said embracing
space.
8. The carrier frame having an in-frame elastic constraint
structure according to claim 1, wherein said elastic constraint
structure is a bridge structure, which is mounted on said inner
edge wall and provides an elastic force through deformation thereof
resulted from the compression applied by said put-in module while
set inside said embracing space.
9. The carrier frame having an in-frame elastic constraint
structure according to claim 8, further including a jut point which
protrudes from said bridge structure, posed opposite to said inner
edge wall for contacting with said put-in module.
10. The carrier frame having an in-frame elastic constraint
structure according to claim 1, wherein said carrier frame is a
backlight plate, and said put-in module is a liquid crystal module.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] (1) Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to a carrier frame having an in-frame
elastic constraint structure, and more particularly to a carrier
frame, wherein an elastic element is constructed in the edge inside
the frame and provides an elastic force to stably constrain an
article within the frame.
[0003] (2) Description of the Prior Art
[0004] It is known that a conventional frame construction such as a
picture frame, mainly includes a carrier frame, an embracing space
which is built in the frame for containing an article such as a
picture or a thin plate, and a constrained plate or element which
limits the article within the embracing space of the frame. Such a
frame construction assembly is often employed in picture frames,
mirror frames, thin-plate advertisement exhibition frames, liquid
crystal displays (LCDs), plasma displays or the other similar
products.
[0005] FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are respectively a front view and a
cross-sectional view along a line AA in FIG. 1A of the conventional
frame construction assembly 1, wherein the frame construction
assembly 1 comprises a carrier frame 11, a put-in module 12 and an
upper frame 13. Flanges 111 extending from the carrier frame 11
construct an embracing space 110 for the put-in module 12 to be put
therein. After the put-in module 12 is disposed in the embracing
space 110, the upper frame 13 is mounted on the carrier frame 11 so
as to constrain the put-in module 12 within the embracing space
110. The upper frame 13 and the carrier frame 11 are usually bound
by means of gluing, pressing or any mechanically securing ways. In
the art, in consideration of assembling tolerance or other
disposition requirements (for example, space required for wiring
the LCD module assembly), the size of the embracing space 110 of
the carrier frame 11 is manufactured slightly larger than that of
the put-in module 12. Thus, when completing the assembly of the
frame construction assembly 1 of FIGS. 1A and 1B, it is inevitable
that a gap can be produced to space the side edge 120 of the put-in
module 12 and the inner edge wall 1110 of the flanges 111 of the
carrier frame 11 ( as shown by "s" in FIG. 1B or by "sx" and "sy"
in FIG. 2). The formation of such a gap "s", "sx" or "sy" would
allow the put-in module 12 to have a limited-dimensional (i.e. the
directions of X axis and Y axis in FIG. 2) movement in the
embracing space 110, which is unfavorable to the put-in module 12
within the embracing space 110. In the art, such an unfavorable
situation may not cause much adverse influence upon the practice
and employment of the picture frame, the exhibition frame or the
mirror frame, but anyhow can deeply affect the practicing of high
technology such as the LCD module assembly or the plasma
display.
[0006] For the frame assembly of the LCD module assembly, the
carrier frame 11 is usually a backlight plate, the put-in module 12
is a liquid crystal module (LCM), and the upper frame 13 is an
outer frame. In a particular edge of the frame assembly, the gap
"s", "sx" or "sy" between the put-in module 12 and the flanges 111
is usually used to arrange wiring for connecting the put-in module
12 with other elements in the backside of the carrier frame 11
(such as a driving circuit structure), and such a wire connecting
construction cannot bear a large pull force. Therefore, the
unfavorable constraint of the put-in module 12 in the carrier frame
11 can not only lead the put-in module 12 to sway in the embracing
space 110 but also adversely affect the wiring.
[0007] Hence, there is a need to provide a frame construction,
which is easily assembled and may avoid the unfavorable constraint
of the put-in module 12 in the carrier frame 11.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention
to provide a carrier frame having an in-frame elastic constraint
structure, which can secure a put-in module stably therein by means
of an elastic force provided by the elastic constraint structure so
as to prevent the put-in module within the carrier frame from
swaying and unfavorable constraint.
[0009] In accordance with the present invention, the carrier frame
for carrying a put-in module includes at least one flange which
forms an inner embracing space, and the flange has an inner edge
wall which faces the embracing space. The carrier frame is
characterized in that:the carrier frame further includes at least
one elastic constraint structure, each of which is disposed in a
predetermined corresponding position abutting against the inner
edge wall of the flange within the embracing space. When the put-in
module is put into the embracing space, the elastic constraint
structure is compressed and thereby deformed to produce a
corresponding elastic force against the put-in module so as to
restrict the motion of the put-in module within the embracing
space.
[0010] In an embodiment of the present invention, the elastic
constraint structure of the carrier frame includes an elastomer and
a lean-against top end, wherein one end of the elastomer is mounted
on the inner edge wall and the other end of the elastomer extends
toward the embracing space for connecting with the lean-against top
end for contacting with the put-in module. In this embodiment, the
elastomer can be a spring, a rubber, a sponge structure or other
like compressible elastic elements. Preferably, the lean-against
top end can further include thereon a guide sliding surface which
can direct the put-in module to be smoothly secured into the
embracing space.
[0011] In another embodiment of the present invention, the elastic
constraint structure can be an elastic column, which is preferably
disposed in parallel with the inner edge wall of the flange and
further includes a guide sliding surface opposite to the inner edge
wall so as to direct the put-in module to be smoothly secured into
the embracing space. In this embodiment, the elastic column
provides an elastic constraint through sideward bending resulted
from the compression of the put-in module while set in the
embracing space.
[0012] In a further embodiment of the present invention, the
elastic constraint structure can be a bridge structure, which is
mounted on the inner edge wall and provides an elastic force
required to restrict the movement of the put-in module through arch
deformation resulted from the compression of the put-in module
while set in the embracing space. In this embodiment, preferably a
jut point is protruded from the bridge structure, opposite to the
inner edge wall to press against the put-in module.
[0013] In the embodiments of the present invention, the carrier
frame can be a backlight plate, and the put-in module is a liquid
crystal module.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The present invention will now be specified with reference
to its preferred embodiments illustrated in the drawings, in
which
[0015] FIG. 1A is a schematic front view of a frame construction
assembly in the prior art;
[0016] FIG. 1B is a schematic cross-sectional view of FIG. 1A along
the line AA;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of FIG. 1A after removing the
upper frame;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a partial schematic diagram of one embodiment of
the carrier frame having an in-frame elastic constraint structure
in accordance with the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a partial schematic diagram of another embodiment
of the carrier frame having an in-frame elastic constraint
structure in accordance with the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a partial schematic diagram of the other
embodiment of the carrier frame having an in-frame elastic
constraint structure in accordance with the present invention;
and
[0021] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of coordinate divisions for
the frame structure.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0022] The invention disclosed herein is directed to a carrier
frame having an in-frame elastic constraint structure. In the
following description, numerous details are set forth in order to
provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will
be appreciated by one skilled in the art that variations of these
specific details are possible while still achieving the results of
the present invention. In other instance, well-known components are
not described in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure the
present invention.
[0023] Moreover, elements with the same functions but different
constructions are identically named and numbered so as to
facilitate explanation of the invention. The part of the carrier
frame in the present invention, which is structurally identical to
that of the conventional carrier frame described in the above, will
not be reiterated. In fact, the carrier frame having an in-frame
elastic constraint structure of this invention is characterized by
further including at least one elastic constraint structure
thereon, wherein each elastic constraint structure is disposed in a
predetermined corresponding position abutting against the inner
edge wall of the flanges in the embracing space. When the put-in
module is put into the embracing space, the elastic constraint
structure of this invention is pressed and thereby deformed to
produce a corresponding elastic force against the put-in module so
as to limit the motion of the put-in module within the embracing
space.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 3, which is a schematic diagram of one
embodiment of the elastic constraint structure of this invention,
the elastic constraint structure 2 of the carrier frame 11 may
include an elastomer 21 and a lean-against top end 22. One end of
the elastomer 21 (the left end of the elastomer 21 as shown in FIG.
3) is mounted on said inner edge wall 1110 of the flange 111 and
the other end of the elastomer 21 (the right end of the elastomer
21 as shown in FIG. 3) extends toward the embracing space 110 and
connects with the lean-against top end 22 for contacting with the
put-in module 12. Hence, in this embodiment, while the put-in
module 12 is lowering into the embracing space 110, the
lean-against top end 22 firstly have to press against the elastomer
21 so that the elastomer 21 is deformed and produces a reacting
elastic force which can restrain the movement of the put-in module
12 toward the direction of the inner edge wall 1110 so as to
achieve the function of constraining the put-in module 12 stably
within the carrier frame 11.
[0025] In this invention, the embodied dimension of the elastic
constraint structure 2 is related to the gap between the carrier
frame 11 and the put-in module 12 and the design concept behind is
that the elastic constraint structure 2 of the present invention
can produce a certain elastic forcing upon the put-in module 12
while resting theinside the embracing space 110. As for other
embodied details, which are well known by those skilled in the art,
this article will not reiterate herein.
[0026] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the elastomer 21 can be a
spring, a rubber, a sponge structure (e.g. plastic leather with a
certain thickness) or other like compressible elastic elements.
Preferably, a guide sliding surface 23 can be formed upon the
lean-against top end 22 to direct the put-in module 12 to be
smoothly secured into the embracing space 110. This guide sliding
surface 23 may be a slant face or an arc face.
[0027] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the
elastic constraint structure of this invention, wherein the elastic
constraint structure 2' is an elastic column which is preferably
disposed in parallel with the inner edge wall 1110 of the flange
111. The column, similar to the elastomer 21 of the aforesaid
embodiment, provides an elastic force to restrain the put-in module
12 through sideward bending resulted from the compression of the
put-in module 12 while set in the embracing space 110. As shown in
FIG. 4, a guide sliding surface 23 is further formed upon the
elastic column block 21, opposite to the inner edge wall of the
flanges so as to direct the put-in module 12 to be secured into the
embracing space 110.
[0028] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the other embodiment of the
elastic constraint structure of this invention, wherein said
elastic constraint structure 2" is abridge structure which is
mounted on said inner edge wall 1110 of the flange 111. The bridge
structure, similar to the elastomer 21 of the aforesaid embodiment,
provides an elastic force to restrain the put-in module 12 through
the depressive deformation of the arch face (see FIG. 5) resulted
from the compression of the put-in module 12 while set in the
embracing space 110. As shown in FIG. 5, due to the fact that the
elastomer 21 is configured as a bridge structure, the outer edge of
the elastomer 21 certainly forms a guide sliding surface 23 to
direct the put-in module 12 to be set into the embracing space
110.
[0029] In this embodiment, the arch face of the bridge structure 21
(opposite to said inner edge wall 1110 of the flange 111)
preferably protrudes a jut point as the lean-against top end 22 so
as to press against the elastomer 21 in a less defined area.
[0030] It is apparent that the elastic constraint structure of this
invention can be practiced in any conventional frames to
effectively provide the put-in module with a secured restriction,
and the present invention is particularly suitable to the practice
of the frame structures for high technology. For example, in
practicing this invention into TFT-LCD industry, the carrier frame
is a backlight plate of a display, which is usually a square
structure, and the put-in module 12 is the liquid crystal module
thereof.
[0031] Please refer to FIG. 6, which is a schematic diagram of
coordinate divisions for the square frame structure, wherein the
inner edge wall positioned in the positive direction of X axis is
designated by 1110 (+X), and that positioned in the negative
direction of X axis is designated by 1110 (-X); the inner edge wall
1110 positioned in the positive direction of Y axis is designated
by 1110 (+Y), and that positioned in the negative direction of Y
axis is designated by 1110 (-Y). Therefore, the practicing of the
elastic constraint structure of this invention can be one of the
following circumstances:
[0032] 1. a plurality of the elastic constraint structures are
disposed on the inner edge wall 1110 (+X);
[0033] 2. a plurality of the elastic constraint structures are
disposed on the inner edge walls 1110 (+X) and 1110 (-X);
[0034] 3. a plurality of the elastic constraint structures are
disposed on the inner edge walls 1110 (+X) and 1110 (+Y);
[0035] 4. a plurality of the elastic constraint structures are
disposed on the inner edge walls 1110 (+X), 1110 (+Y) and 1110
(-X); and
[0036] 5. a plurality of the elastic constraint structures are
disposed on the inner edge walls 1110 (+X), 1110 (+Y), 1110 (-X)
and 1110 (-Y).
[0037] Taking example by a LCD or a plasma display, since the
weight of the liquid crystal module itself and the disposition of
the display are vertically orientated, the elastic constraint
structure of this invention should be mainly employed to restrict
the motion on the direction of X axis. As for the direction of Y
axis, since it is the direction of gravity, it is unnecessary to
locate another elastic constraint structure of this invention.
Similarly, when practicing this invention in the other frame
structures, the determination of the disposition, quantities,
stiffness or other parameters for the elastic constraint structure
may be adjusted in accordance with the actual conditions, which is
well known to those skilled in the art, and thus will not be stated
herein.
[0038] While the present invention has been particularly shown and
described with reference to some preferred embodiments, it will be
understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form
and detail may be without departing from the spirit and scope of
the present invention.
* * * * *