Coupling device for securing audio/video player onto flat panel display

Abstract

A coupling device is used for securing an audio/video player such as a DVD player onto a flat panel display, thereby enhancing space utilization. The coupling device includes a chassis for receiving therein the audio/video player in an upright manner, and a hanger attached to the chassis and having a coupler structure engageable with the flat panel display for coupling the chassis to the flat panel display.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a coupling device, and more particularly to a coupling device for securing an audio/video player such as a DVD player onto a flat panel display.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] General collocation of a DVD player or similar audio/video player is to lie on a platform together with a flat panel display electrically connected thereto. FIG. 1A is one of the typical examples of the collocation. The DVD player 11 is put on a desk and the flat panel display 10 rests on the top of the DVD player 11. Although certain space can be saved by resting the flat panel display 10 on the top of the DVD player 11, the unused space 12 resulting from the extensive portion L of the DVD player 11 from the flat panel display 10 is still adverse to space utilization.

[0003] For making use of the desk space, miniature DVD players were developed. A flat panel display, however, cannot rest on such a small DVD player, so exclusive spaces for respectively resting the DVD player and the flat panel display on the desk are still required. The space utilization is thus not much improved.

[0004] For further improving the space utilization, the DVD players can be made upright, as shown in FIG. 1B. Unfortunately, it is difficult for a small uptight DVD player to stand well on the desk, and the DVD player may subject to fall.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Therefore, the present invention provides a coupling device to couple the upright DVD player onto the flat panel display so that the space utilization is satisfactory, and the electric connection between the DVD player and the flat panel display is made easy.

[0006] The present invention provides a coupling device for securing an audio/video player onto a flat panel display, which comprises a chassis for receiving therein the audio/video player in an upright manner; and a hanger attached to the chassis and having a coupler structure engageable with the flat panel display for coupling the chassis to the flat panel display.

[0007] The present invention also provides a coupling device for securing an audio/video player onto a flat panel display, which comprises a chassis for receiving the audio/video player in a trench between two upright side plates thereof; and a hanger attached to the chassis and having a coupler structure engageable with the flat panel display for coupling the chassis to the flat panel display.

[0008] Preferably, the audio/video player is releasable from the trench.

[0009] If the audio/video player includes a plurality of push buttons, it is preferred that the audio/video player is accommodated in the chassis with the push buttons exposed from the chassis.

[0010] If the audio/video player has a recording media entrance, it is preferred that the audio/video player is accommodated in the chassis with the recording media entrance exposed from the chassis. More preferably, a recording medium is inserted into the recording media entrance in a direction parallel to a surface of the flat panel display.

[0011] In an embodiment, the coupler structure is a hook structure for hooking on an edge of the flat panel display in a manner that the audio/video player is secured behind and parallel to a back surface of the flat panel display.

[0012] In an embodiment, the coupling device further comprises at least one cushion member disposed on one of the upright side plates for preventing from abrasion between the coupling device and the back surface of the flat panel display when the hook structure hooks on the edge of the flat panel display.

[0013] Preferably, the hanger is integrally formed with said chassis and detachably mounted onto the flat panel display.

[0014] In an embodiment, the coupler structure engages with the flat panel display with an extensible portion thereof that conforms to the shape and size of the flat panel display. The coupler structure can be a hook structure for hooking on a top edge of the flat panel display, and the extensible portion is a traverse bar of the hook structure resting on the top edge of the flat panel display.

[0015] Preferably, the extensive portion has a drawtube structure.

[0016] Preferably, at least one of the upright side plates has a hollow structure for heat dissipation.

[0017] The above contents of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram showing conventional collocation of an audio/video equipment;

[0019] FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram showing an upright DVD player;

[0020] FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of a coupling device according to the present invention;

[0021] FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram showing an assembly with the DVD player of FIG. 1B disposed in the coupling device of FIG. 2A;

[0022] FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram showing a coupling configuration of the assembly of FIG. 2B to a flat panel display;

[0023] FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram showing another coupling configuration of the assembly of FIG. 2B to a flat panel display; and

[0024] FIGS. 4A and 4B are schematic diagrams showing another embodiment of a coupling device according to the present invention in retracted and extensive states, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0025] Please refer to FIGS. 2A and 2B in which a first embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The coupling device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a chassis 21 for accommodating therein an audio/video player, e.g. DVD player 20, and a hanger 22 attached to the chassis 21 for securing the chassis 21 to the back surface 300 of the flat panel display 30. The assembled configuration is schematically shown in FIG. 3A. The chassis 21 has two upright side plates 211 and 212 extending from a bottom plane 213 thereof. The hanger 22 is attached to the side plate 212 of the chassis 21 and has a hook structure. One or more of the side plates 211, 212 and bottom plate 213 have a hollow structure, e.g. with opening 2111, so as to facilitate heat dissipation during operation of the DVD player 20. For example, the chassis 21 and the hanger 22 can be separate members or integrally formed of metal or plastic. Preferably, the chassis 21 and the hanger 22 are integrally formed of ABS resin. The coupling device further includes one or more cushion members 23 made of elastic material such as rubber and attached onto the side plate 212 facing to the flat panel display 30. With the cushion members 23, abrasion between the side plate 212 and the back surface 300 of the flat panel display 30 can be prevented from when the hanger 22 hangs on the top edge 301 of the flat panel display 30.

[0026] When the DVD player 20 is put into a trench 214 and clamped between the side plates 211 and 212 and the assembly is mounted to the flat panel display 30, the disc entrance 201 and push buttons 202 are preferably exposed from the chassis 21, as shown in either of FIG. 3A or 3B. The disc entrance 201 faces upwards in FIG. 3A, and the disc entrance 201 faces rightwards in FIG. 3B. Under these configurations, the optical disc 40 can be easily inserted and ejected in a direction parallel to the back surface 300, and the DVD player 20 can be operated in-situ instead of being withdrawn from the chassis 21 first.

[0027] Another embodiment of a coupling device according to the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B. In this embodiment, the traverse bar 221 of the hanger 22 for resting on the top edge 301 of the flat panel display 300 has a drawtube structure so that the hook size can be adjusted to confirm to the shape or thickness of the flat panel display. FIG. 4A illustrates a retracted state of the drawtube 221, which is adapted to a thin display, and FIG. 4A illustrates an extensive state of the drawtube 221, which is adapted to a thick display.

[0028] It is understood from the above description that the coupling device according to the present invention secures the audio/video players behind the flat panel displayer in uptight configuration so that much desk space will be saved. The space utilization is largely improved. Further, the electric connection between the DVD player and the flat panel display is made easy.

[0029] While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A coupling device for securing an audio/video player onto a flat panel display, comprising: a chassis for receiving therein said audio/video player in an upright manner; and a hanger attached to said chassis and having a coupler structure engageable with said flat panel display for coupling said chassis to said flat panel display.

2. The coupling device according to claim 1 wherein said audio/video player is releasably received by said chassis.

3. The coupling device according to claim 1 wherein said audio/video player includes a plurality of push buttons and is accommodated in said chassis with said push buttons exposed from said chassis.

4. The coupling device according to claim 1 wherein said audio/video player has a recording media entrance and is accommodated in said chassis with said recording media entrance exposed from said chassis.

5. The coupling device according to claim 4 wherein a recording medium is inserted into said recording media entrance in a direction parallel to a surface of said flat panel display.

6. The coupling device according to claim 1 wherein said coupler structure is a hook structure for hooking on an edge of said flat panel display.

7. The coupling device according to claim 1 wherein said hanger is detachably mounted onto said flat panel display.

8. The coupling device according to claim 1 wherein said coupler structure engages with said flat panel display with an extensible portion thereof that conforms to the shape and size of said flat panel display.

9. The coupling device according to claim 8 wherein said coupler structure is a hook structure for hooking on a top edge of said flat panel display, and said extensible portion is a traverse bar of said hook structure resting on said top edge of said flat panel display.

10. The coupling device according to claim 8 wherein said extensive portion has a drawtube structure.

11. A coupling device for securing an audio/video player onto a flat panel display, comprising: a chassis for receiving said audio/video player in a trentch between two upright side plates thereof; and a hanger attached to said chassis and having a coupler structure engageable with said flat panel display for coupling said chassis to said flat panel display.

12. The coupling device according to claim 11 wherein said audio/video player is releasable from said trench.

13. The coupling device according to claim 11 wherein said audio/video player includes a plurality of push buttons and a recording media entrance, and said audio/video player is accommodated in said chassis with said push buttons and said recording media entrance exposed from said chassis.

14. The coupling device according to claim 11 wherein said coupler structure is a hook structure for hooking on an edge of said flat panel display in a manner that said audio/video player is secured behind and parallel to a back surface of said flat panel display.

15. The coupling device according to claim 14 further comprising at least one cushion member disposed on one of said upright side plates for preventing from abrasion between said coupling device and said back surface of said flat panel display when said hook structure hooks on said edge of said flat panel display.

16. The coupling device according to claim 11 wherein said hanger is integrally formed with said chassis and detachably mounted onto said flat panel display.

17. The coupling device according to claim 11 wherein said coupler structure engages with said flat panel display with an extensible portion thereof that conforms to the shape and size of said flat panel display.

18. The coupling device according to claim 17 wherein said coupler structure is a hook structure for hooking on a top edge of said flat panel display, and said extensible portion is a traverse bar of said hook structure resting on said top edge of said flat panel display.

19. The coupling device according to claim 17 wherein said extensive portion has a drawtube structure.

20. The coupling device according to claim 11 wherein at least one of said upright side plates has a hollow structure for heat dissipation.