U.S. patent application number 10/400450 was filed with the patent office on 2004-09-30 for mechanism for aligning lcd with frame.
This patent application is currently assigned to AAEON TECHNOLOGY INC.. Invention is credited to Chuang, Yung-Shun.
Application Number | 20040188584 10/400450 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32989230 |
Filed Date | 2004-09-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040188584 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chuang, Yung-Shun |
September 30, 2004 |
Mechanism for aligning LCD with frame
Abstract
A mechanism for aligning an LCD with a rectangular frame in a
manufacturing process is disclosed. The mechanism comprises
alignment means comprising an elongate body, apertures through the
body for aligning with the frame, and a flat section perpendicular
to the body; a left wing coupled to and perpendicular to the
alignment means and comprising a first vertical section on an inner
side coupled to the flat section and a first lower recess adjacent
the first vertical section and including a first horizontal
portion; and a right wing coupled to and perpendicular to the
alignment means and comprising a second vertical section on an
inner side coupled to the flat section and a second lower recess
adjacent the second vertical section and including a second
horizontal portion. As such, a precise alignment of the LCD and the
frame is made possible for facilitating fastening them
together.
Inventors: |
Chuang, Yung-Shun;
(Hsin-Tien City, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
RABIN & BERDO, P.C.
Suite 500
1101 14 Street, N.W.
Washington
DC
20005
US
|
Assignee: |
AAEON TECHNOLOGY INC.
Hsin-Tien City
TW
|
Family ID: |
32989230 |
Appl. No.: |
10/400450 |
Filed: |
March 28, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/346.06 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02F 1/133308 20130101;
G02F 1/133325 20210101; G02F 2201/46 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/346.06 |
International
Class: |
B65D 019/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A mechanism for aligning a rectangular LCD with a rectangular
frame in a manufacturing process, the mechanism comprising:
alignment means comprising an elongate body, a plurality of
apertures through the body for aligning with the frame, and a flat
section perpendicular to a top surface of the body; a left wing
coupled to and perpendicular to a left side of the alignment means
and comprising a first vertical section on an inner side coupled to
the flat section and a first lower recess adjacent the first
vertical section and including a first horizontal portion; and a
right wing coupled to and perpendicular to a right side of the
alignment means and comprising a second vertical section on an
inner side coupled to the flat section and a second lower recess
adjacent the second vertical section and including a second
horizontal portion.
2. The mechanism of claim 1, further comprising an elongate groove
under the alignment means defined by the left and the right wings,
the groove being shaped to mate with a front side of the frame.
3. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein each of the left and the right
wings comprises a threaded hole having a diameter slightly larger
than that of a screw for permitting the screw to pass through into
the LCD and the frame thereunder.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to alignment mechanisms and
more particularly to a mechanism for aligning an LCD (liquid
crystal display) with a frame for facilitating fastening in the
manufacturing process.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A conventional mechanism for LCD alignment and fastening in
the manufacturing process is shown in FIG. 1. As illustrated, two
elongated brackets B of L section at both sides of a rectangular
LCD A. Each bracket B has two spaced apart threaded holes B1 on its
horizontal section. A rectangular frame C has a rectangular central
opening slightly smaller than the LCD A. The frame C further
comprises two spaced nuts C1 at either side. In assembly, drive
four bolts D into the threaded holes B1 and the nuts C1 for
fastening the LCD A onto the central opening of the frame C.
[0003] However, the prior art alignment and fastening mechanism and
is not reliable. In detail, the LCD A is subject to displacement
with respect to the frame C. Thus, prior to delivery from a factory
it is frequent that an employee detaches the LCD A from the frame C
and reassembles the LCD A onto the frame C after manually aligning
the LCD A with the frame C. This inevitably consumes precious
manufacturing time and reduces yield. Further, a precise alignment
of the LCD A with the frame C is not possible. Hence, the aligning
mechanism is disadvantageous. Thus, the need for improvement still
exists.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a mechanism for aligning a rectangular LCD with a
rectangular frame in a manufacturing process, the mechanism
comprising alignment means comprising an elongate body, a plurality
of apertures through the body for aligning with the frame, and a
flat section perpendicular to a top surface of the body; a left
wing coupled to and perpendicular to a left side of the alignment
means and comprising a first vertical section on an inner side
coupled to the flat section and a first lower recess adjacent the
first vertical section and including a first horizontal portion;
and a right wing coupled to and perpendicular to a right side of
the alignment means and comprising a second vertical section on an
inner side coupled to the flat section and a second lower recess
adjacent the second vertical section and including a second
horizontal portion. By utilizing this, a precise alignment of the
LCD and the frame is made possible so as to facilitate
fastening.
[0005] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description taken with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional
mechanism for LCD alignment and fastening in the manufacturing
process.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alignment device
according to the invention viewed from a top angle;
[0008] FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the alignment device
viewed from a bottom angle;
[0009] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view, the alignment device
being shown during mounting to LCD and frame in the manufacturing
process; and
[0010] FIG. 5 is a perspective view, the alignment device being
mounted.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0011] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, there is shown an alignment
device 1 constructed in accordance with the invention. The
alignment device 1 is substantially n-shaped and has an elongate
flat section 12, a left wing 2, and a right wing 3 both
perpendicular to the elongate flat section 12. There are three
spaced apart threaded holes 11 formed through the alignment device
1. A vertical section 21 is formed on inner side of the left wing
2. The vertical section 21 is perpendicular to the elongate flat
section 12. A lower recess 22 is formed adjacent the vertical
section 21. The recess 22 has a vertical portion 221 and a
horizontal portion 222. A threaded hole 23 is formed through the
recess 22.
[0012] The right wing 3 comprises a vertical section 31 facing the
vertical section 21. The vertical section 31 is also perpendicular
to the elongate flat section 12. The right wing 3 further comprises
a lower recess 32. The recess 32 comprises a vertical portion 321
and a horizontal portion 322. A threaded hole 33 is formed through
the recess 32. An elongate groove 4 is formed under the alignment
device 1 defined by the left wing 2 and the right wing 3.
[0013] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a mounting of the alignment
device 1 onto an LCD A and a frame C for aligning the LCD A with
the frame C in the manufacturing process will now be described in
detail below. As illustrated, two elongated brackets B of L section
are placed at both sides of the rectangular LCD A. Each bracket B
has two spaced apart threaded holes B1 on its horizontal section.
The rectangular frame C has a rectangular central opening slightly
smaller than the LCD A. The frame C further comprises two spaced
nuts C1 at either side and three spaced nuts C2 at a front side. A
distance between two adjacent nuts C2 is about the same as that
between two adjacent threaded holes 11, i.e., the nuts C2 are
aligned with the threaded holes 11. Also, the diameter of the
threaded hole 11 is slightly larger than the bore of the nut C2.
The depth of groove 4 is about equal to the thickness of the frame
C. Further, the groove 4 is shaped to conform to a front edge of
the frame C. In assembly, first drive a bolt D into the rear
threaded hole B1 and the nut C1 at either side for initially
fastening the LCD A onto the central opening of the frame C. Then
align the threaded holes 11 with the nuts C2 prior to mounting the
alignment device 1 on front sides of the LCD A and the frame C with
the nuts C2 inserted into the threaded holes 11 for alignment. As
shown, a front edge A1 of the LCD A is engaged with the elongate
flat section 12. Further, the vertical section 21 of the left wing
2 is abutted on one side A2 of the LCD A and a vertical portion B2
of one bracket B. Similarly, the vertical section 31 and the
vertical portion 321 of the right wing 3 are abutted on the other
side A3 of the LCD A and a vertical portion B3 of the other bracket
B. Front top portions of the brackets B are pressed by the
horizontal portion 222 of the left wing 2 and the horizontal
portion 322 of the right wing 3 for further securing the LCD A to
the frame C. After all components have been aligned, drive another
two bolts D through the threaded holes 23, 33 into the nuts C1
respectively for further fastening the LCD A onto the central
opening of the frame C. This finishes the task of fastening the LCD
A and the frame C with precise alignment. Thereafter, the alignment
device 1 can be removed.
[0014] While the invention has been described by means of specific
embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made
thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the
scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.
* * * * *