U.S. patent application number 11/285103 was filed with the patent office on 2007-01-18 for coupling device and flat panel display device utilizing the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to Hannspree, Inc.. Invention is credited to Ching-Wen Chen.
Application Number | 20070013275 11/285103 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37025824 |
Filed Date | 2007-01-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070013275 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chen; Ching-Wen |
January 18, 2007 |
Coupling device and flat panel display device utilizing the
same
Abstract
A coupling device includes a mounting frame mounted on a rear
surface of a front shell of a display housing and having a plate
portion disposed adjacent to a front surface of a bracket of the
display and formed with a through hole. A coupling plate is mounted
on the mounting frame such that the plate portion of the mounting
frame is disposed between the coupling plate and the bracket. A
fastening member extends through a through hole in the bracket, and
the through hole in the plate portion of the mounting frame, and is
fastened to the coupling plate so as to couple the bracket to the
front shell.
Inventors: |
Chen; Ching-Wen; (Taoyuan
County, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STEPTOE & JOHNSON LLP
1330 CONNECTICUT AVENUE, N.W.
WASHINGTON
DC
20036
US
|
Assignee: |
Hannspree, Inc.
Taipei
TW
|
Family ID: |
37025824 |
Appl. No.: |
11/285103 |
Filed: |
November 23, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/223.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02F 1/133308 20130101;
G02F 2201/46 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/223.2 |
International
Class: |
A47B 81/00 20060101
A47B081/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 13, 2005 |
TW |
094211892 |
Claims
1. A coupling device for a display housing that includes a front
shell having a rear surface, and a bracket having a front surface
and formed with a through hole, said coupling device comprising: a
mounting frame adapted to be mounted on the rear surface of the
front shell, having a plate portion adapted to be disposed adjacent
to the front surface of the bracket and formed with a through hole
that is adapted to correspond to the through hole in the bracket,
said mounting frame further having at least one flexible portion
such that said plate portion is movable relative to the front shell
along a direction generally parallel to said plate portion; a
coupling plate mounted on said mounting frame such that said plate
portion of said mounting frame is disposed between said coupling
plate and the bracket; and a fastening member adapted to extend
through the through hole in the bracket, extending through said
through hole in said plate portion of said mounting frame, and
fastened to said coupling plate so as to couple the bracket to the
front shell.
2. The coupling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said coupling
plate includes an anchoring portion having a first surface adjacent
to said plate portion of said mounting frame, and a second surface
opposite to said first surface and distal from said plate portion
of said mounting frame, said anchoring portion of said coupling
plate being formed with a fastening hole that extends from said
first surface to said second surface, said fastening hole having a
through-hole section that extends from said first surface of said
anchoring portion and that converges toward said second surface of
said anchoring portion, and a threaded-hole section extending from
said second surface of said anchoring portion and connected to said
through-hole section, said fastening member further extending
through said through-hole section and engaging threadedly said
threaded-hole section.
3. The coupling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plate
portion of said mounting frame has a curved section.
4. The coupling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plate
portion of said mounting frame is flat.
5. The coupling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mounting
frame further includes opposite flexible lateral supporting
portions connected respectively to opposite lateral sides of said
plate portion and adapted to extend toward the rear surface of the
front shell.
6. The coupling device as claimed in claim 5, wherein each of said
lateral supporting portions has a projecting member extending
inwardly toward the other one of said lateral supporting portions,
said coupling plate being disposed between and adjacent to said
plate portion and said projecting members of said lateral
supporting portions.
7. The coupling device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said
projecting member of each of said lateral supporting portions
includes two projecting lugs disposed respectively adjacent to two
opposite sides of said plate portion.
8. The coupling device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said coupling
plate has two opposite sides, each of which is formed with a flange
extending rearwardly, said plate portion of said mounting frame
being disposed between and adjacent to said flanges such that said
coupling plate is positioned relative to said plate portion of said
mounting frame.
9. The coupling device as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a
pair of engaging members adapted to be fixed on the rear surface of
the front shell so as to define an open-ended engaging groove
between the rear surface of the front shell and each of said
engaging members, said mounting frame further including a pair of
engaging flanges extending respectively from ends of said lateral
supporting portions away from each other and engaging respectively
said engaging grooves.
10. The coupling device as claimed in claim 9, wherein each of said
engaging flanges of said mounting frame is generally U-shaped, and
has two opposite side flange portions, and a middle flange portion
engaging a respective one of said engaging grooves and
interconnecting said side flange portions to define a notch among
said middle flange portion and said side flange portions, said
engaging members engaging respectively and fit tightly said notches
in said engaging flanges of said mounting frame so as to posit-ion
said engaging flanges on the rear surface of the front shell.
11. A flat panel display device comprising: a display housing
including a front shell having a rear surface, and a bracket having
a front surface and formed with a through hole; and a coupling
device including a mounting frame mounted on said rear surface of
said front shell, disposed between said front shell and said
bracket, and having a plate portion disposed adjacent to said front
surface of said bracket and formed with a through hole that
corresponds to said through hole in said bracket, said mounting
frame further having at least one flexible portion such that said
plate portion is movable relative to said front shell along a
direction generally parallel to said plate portion, a coupling
plate mounted on said mounting frame such that said plate portion
of said mounting frame is disposed between said coupling plate and
said bracket, and a fastening member extending through said through
hole in said bracket and said through hole in said plate portion of
said mounting frame, and fastened to said coupling plate so as to
couple said bracket to said front shell.
12. The flat panel display device as claimed in claim 11, wherein
said coupling plate includes an anchoring portion having a first
surface adjacent to said plate portion of said mounting frame, and
a second surface opposite to said first surface and distal from
said plate portion of said mounting frame, said anchoring portion
of said coupling plate being formed with a fastening hole that
extends from said first surface to said second surface, said
fastening hole having a through-hole section that extends from said
first surface of said coupling portion and that converges toward
said second surface, and a threaded-hole section extending from
said second surface of said coupling portion and connected to said
through-hole section, said fastening member further extending
through said through-hole section and engaging threadedly said
threaded-hole section.
13. The flat panel display device as claimed in claim 11, wherein
said plate portion of said mounting frame has a curved section.
14. The flat panel display device as claimed in claim 11, wherein
said plate portion of said mounting frame is flat.
15. The flat panel display device as claimed in claim 11, wherein
said mounting frame further includes opposite flexible lateral
supporting portions connected respectively to opposite lateral
sides of said plate portion and extending toward said rear surface
of said front shell.
16. The flat panel display device as claimed in claim 15, wherein
each of said lateral supporting portions has a projecting member
extending inwardly toward the other one of said lateral supporting
portions, said coupling plate being disposed between and adjacent
to said plate portion and said projecting members of said lateral
supporting portions.
17. The flat panel display device as claimed in claim 16, wherein
said projecting member of each of said lateral supporting portions
includes two projecting lugs disposed respectively adjacent to two
opposite sides of said plate portion.
18. The flat panel display device as claimed in claim 17, wherein
said coupling plate has two opposite sides, each of which is formed
with a flange extending rearwardly, said plate portion of said
mounting frame being disposed between and adjacent to said flanges
such that said coupling plate is positioned relative to said plate
portion of said mounting frame.
19. The flat panel display device as claimed in claim 15, wherein
said coupling device further includes a pair of engaging members
fixed on said rear surface of said front shell so as to define an
open-ended engaging groove between said rear surface of said front
shell and each of said engaging members, said mounting frame
further including a pair of engaging flanges extending respectively
from ends of said lateral supporting portions away from each other
and engaging respectively said engaging grooves.
20. The flat panel display device as claimed in claim 19, wherein
each of said engaging flanges of said mounting frame is U-shaped,
and has two opposite side flange portions, and a middle flange
portion engaging a respective one of said engaging grooves and
interconnecting said side flange portions to define a notch among
said middle flange portion and said side flange portions, said
engaging members engaging respectively and fit tightly said notches
in said engaging flanges of said mounting frame so as to position
said engaging flanges on said rear surface of said front shell.
21. The flat panel display device as claimed in claim 12, wherein
said rear surface of said front shell is formed with a hollow
tubular body extending rearwardly toward said coupling plate for
supporting said coupling plate so as to maintain a predetermined
distance between said coupling plate and said rear surface of said
front shell, said anchoring portion of said coupling plate having
an outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of said tubular
body.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority of Taiwanese Patent
Application No. 094211892, filed on Jul. 13, 2005.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates to a coupling device, more
particularly to a coupling device for a housing of a flat panel
display device.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional flat panel display
device is shown to include a front shell 1 made of plastic, and a
bracket 2 made of metal. The front shell 1 has a rear surface
formed with a plurality of internally threaded posts 31 (only one
is shown) extending rearwardly toward the bracket 2, and a
plurality of positioning posts 32 (only one is shown) extending
rearwardly toward the bracket 2 and disposed respectively adjacent
to the threaded posts 31. The bracket 2 has a plurality of
extension plates 21 (only one is shown) corresponding respectively
to the threaded posts 31 and the positioning posts 32. Each
extension plate 21 is formed with a positioning hole 211 engaging
the respective positioning post 32, and a through hole 212 aligned
with the respective threaded post 31. A screw fastener (not shown)
extends through the respective through hole 212 in the bracket 2,
and engages threadedly the respective threaded post 31 so as to
couple the bracket 2 to the front shell 1. However, since the front
shell 1 is formed by injection molding, and since the positioning
holes 211 and the through holes 212 in the extension plate 21 are
formed by metal pressing process, if an error occurs in any one of
the injection molding process and the metal pressing process, each
positioning hole 211 may be misaligned with the respective
positioning post 32 or each through hole 212 may be misaligned with
the respective threaded post 31. As such, if the front shell 1 and
the bracket 2 are forcedly assembled together, a Newton's ring
phenomenon may occur as a result of a deformed assembly of the
front shell 1 and the bracket 2. Furthermore, a distance between
the front shell 1 and the bracket 2 may not be maintained.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide
a coupling device and a flat panel display device utilizing the
same that can eliminate the aforesaid drawbacks of the prior
art.
[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a coupling device for a display housing. The display
housing includes a front shell having a rear surface, and a bracket
having a front surface and formed with a through hole. The coupling
device comprises:
[0008] a mounting frame adapted to be mounted on the rear surface
of the front shell, having a plate portion adapted to be disposed
adjacent to the front surface of the bracket and formed with a
through hole that is adapted to correspond to the through hole in
the bracket, the mounting frame further having at least one
flexible portion such that the plate portion is movable relative to
the front shell along a direction generally parallel to the plate
portion;
[0009] a coupling plate mounted on the mounting frame such that the
plate portion of the mounting frame is disposed between the
coupling plate and the bracket; and
[0010] a fastening member adapted to extend through the through
hole in the bracket, extending through the through hole in the
plate portion of the mounting frame, and fastened to the coupling
plate so as to couple the bracket to the front shell.
[0011] According to another aspect of the present invention, a flat
panel display device comprises:
[0012] a display housing including a front shell having a rear
surface, and a bracket having a front surface and formed with a
through hole; and
[0013] a coupling device including [0014] a mounting frame mounted
on the rear surface of the front shell, disposed between the front
shell and the bracket, and having a plate portion disposed adjacent
to the front surface of the bracket and formed with a through hole
that corresponds to the through hole in the bracket, the mounting
frame further having at least one flexible portion such that the
plate portion is movable relative to the front shell along a
direction generally parallel to the plate portion, [0015] a
coupling plate mounted on the mounting frame such that the plate
portion of the mounting frame is disposed between the coupling
plate and the bracket, and [0016] a fastening member extending
through the through hole in the bracket and the through hole in the
plate portion of the mounting frame, and fastened to the coupling
plate so as to couple the bracket to the front shell.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent in the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings,
of which:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating how a
front shell and a bracket of a conventional flat panel display
device are coupled together;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the preferred
embodiment of a flat panel display device according to the present
invention;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a coupling
device of the preferred embodiment;
[0021] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the coupling
device of the preferred embodiment;
[0022] FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing a modified mounting
frame;
[0023] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary schematic sectional view showing the
coupling device of the preferred embodiment in a state of use;
and
[0024] FIG. 6 is a fragmentary schematic sectional view showing the
coupling device of the preferred embodiment in another state of
use.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0025] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the preferred embodiment of a
flat panel display device according to the present invention is
shown to include a display housing and four coupling devices 4.
[0026] In this embodiment, the display housing includes a larger
front shell 6 made of plastic, and a smaller rectangular bracket 5
made of metal. The front shell 6 has a rear surface 60. The bracket
5 has four extension plates 51, each of which extends outwardly
from a periphery of the bracket 5, is disposed adjacent to a
respective one of four corners of the bracket 5, and has a front
surface 510. The rear surface 60 of the front shell 6 is formed
with four sets of hollow tubular bodies 61 and positioning posts 62
corresponding respectively to the extension plates 51 of the
bracket 5. The tubular body 61 and the positioning post 62 in each
set extend respectively and rearwardly toward the front surface 510
of the respective one of the extension plates 51. Each extension
plate 51 is formed with a through hole 511 corresponding to the
respective tubular body 61, and a positioning hole 512 permitting
extension of the respective positioning post 62 therethrough, as
shown in FIG. 3. Each tubular body 61 has an open end 611 (see FIG.
4).
[0027] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, each of the coupling devices 4
includes a mounting frame 41, a coupling plate 42, a fastening
member 43, and a pair of engaging members 63.
[0028] For each coupling device 4, the engaging members 63 are
fixed on the rear surface 60 of the front shell 6 so as to define
an open-ended engaging groove 6311 between the rear surface 60 of
the front shell 6 and each of the engaging members 63, are spaced
apart from each other, and are disposed on opposite sides of a
respective one of the tubular bodies 61 on the rear surface 60 of
the front shell 6. In this embodiment, each engaging member 63 is
an engaging block that has an inner lateral side 631 formed with
the engaging groove 6311, and an inclined guiding face 630, as
shown in FIG. 4.
[0029] The mounting frame 41 is mounted on the rear surface 60 of
the front shell 6. In this embodiment, the mounting frame 41 has a
plate portion 411 disposed between the front surface 510 of a
respective one of the extension plates 51 and the respective one of
the tubular bodies 61 on the rear surface 60 of the front shell 6
and formed with a through hole 415 corresponding to the through
hole 511 in the respective one of the extension plates 51, opposite
flexible lateral supporting portions 412 connected respectively and
integrally to opposite lateral sides of the plate portion 411 and
extending toward the rear surface 60 of the front shell 6, and a
pair of engaging flanges 413 extending respectively and integrally
from ends of the lateral supporting portions 412 away from each
other and engaging respectively the engaging grooves 6311. Each
engaging flange 413 is generally U-shaped, and has two opposite
side flange portions 4131, and a middle flange portion 4132
engaging the respective one of the engaging grooves 6311 and
interconnecting the side flange portions 4131 to define a notch
4133 among the middle flange portion 4132 and the side flange
portions 4131. The engaging members 63 engage respectively and fit
tightly the notches 4133 in the engaging flanges 413 of the
mounting frame 41 so as to position the engaging flanges 413 on the
rear surface 60 of the front shell 6. In this embodiment, the plate
portion 411 has a curved section, as best shown in FIG. 5.
Alternatively, the plate portion 411 can be flat, as shown in FIG.
4A. Each of the lateral supporting portions 412 has a projecting
member extending inwardly toward the other one of the lateral
supporting portions 412 such that the coupling plate 42 is disposed
between and adjacent to the plate portion 411 and the projecting
members. In this embodiment, each projecting member includes two
projecting lugs 414 disposed respectively adjacent to two opposite
sides 4111, 4112 of the plate portion 411.
[0030] The coupling plate 42 is mounted on the mounting frame 41,
and is disposed between the plate portion 411 and the respective
tubular body 61 on the rear surface 60 of the front shell 6. In
this embodiment, the coupling plate 42 is supported on the
projecting lugs 414 of the lateral supporting portions 412, and has
two opposite sides 425, 426, each of which is formed with a flange
427 extending rearwardly. The plate portion 411 of the mounting
frame 41 is disposed between and adjacent to the flanges 427 such
that the coupling plate 42 is positioned relative to the plate
portion 411 of the mounting frame 41. The coupling plate 42
includes a central anchoring portion 421 having a first surface 423
adjacent to the plate portion 411 of the mounting frame 41, and a
second surface 422 opposite to the first surface 423 and distal
from the plate portion 411 of the mounting frame 41. The anchoring
portion 421 of the coupling plate 42 is formed with a fastening
hole 424 that extends from the first surface 423 to the second
surface 422 and that has an outer diameter smaller than the inner
diameter of the respective tubular body 61. In this embodiment, the
fastening hole 424 has a through-hole section 4241 that extends
from the first surface 423 of the anchoring portion 421 and that
converges toward the second surface 422 of the anchoring portion
421, and a threaded-hole section 4242 extending from the second
surface 422 of the anchoring portion 421 and connected to the
through-hole section 4241.
[0031] The fastening member 43, such as a screw fastener, extends
through the through hole 511 in the respective extension plate 51
of the bracket 5 and the through hole 415 in the plate portion 411
of the mounting frame 41, and is fastened to the coupling plate 42
so as to couple the extension plate 51 of the bracket 5 to the
front shell 6. In this embodiment, the fastening member 43 further
extends through the through-hole section 4241 of the fastening hole
424 in the coupling plate 42, and engages threadedly the
threaded-hole section 4242 of the fastening hole 424 in the
coupling plate 42. It is noted that the plate portion 411 of the
mounting frame 41 is disposed between the respective extension
plate 51 and the coupling plate 42 so that it acts as a washer.
[0032] In such a configuration, even if there exists an error in
the distance between the positioning hole 512 and the through hole
511 in any one of the extension plates 51 of the bracket 5 (i.e.,
for example, the distance between the positioning hole 512 and the
through hole 511 in FIG. 6 is larger than that in FIG. 5) due to an
imprecise in metal pressing process forming the positioning hole
512 and the through hole 511, for the corresponding coupling device
4, due to the presence of the flexible supporting portions 412, the
plate portion 411 is movable relative to the front shell 6 along a
direction generally parallel to the plate portion 411 such that the
fastener member 43 can firmly engage the fastening hole 424 in the
anchoring portion 421 of the coupling plate 42 of the corresponding
coupling device 4 with slight deformation of the mounting frame 41,
as shown in FIG. 6. Therefore, the Newton's ring phenomenon
experienced in the aforesaid conventional flat panel display device
can be avoided. Furthermore, while the mounting frame 41 is
slightly deformed, the corresponding tubular body 61 on the rear
surface 60 of the front shell 6 abuts against the coupling plate 42
so as to maintain a predetermined distance between the coupling
plate 42 and the rear surface 60 of the front shell 6 such that a
required distance between the front shell 6 and the bracket 5 can
be maintained.
[0033] While the present invention has been described in connection
with what is considered the most practical and preferred
embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to
the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various
arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and
equivalent arrangements.
* * * * *