Abstract:
A stand for a display is provided. The stand can reduce a delivery volume of the display and can provide for adjustment of a rotation angle thereof during use. The stand may include a support connected to a lower portion of the display, a pivot block pivotably coupled to the support, a rear base connected to the pivot block, a swivel that pivotably couples the pivot block and the rear base, and a front base coupled to the rear base.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a stand for a display device, and more particularly, to a stand for a display device, capable of increasing the quantity loaded in the same volume by reducing a volume when a display device is packaged, reducing the package cost and logistics cost, and stably supporting the display device. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Generally, a stand is installed under a display device, such as PDP and LCD, to support the display device. 
   The stand includes a support fixed under the display device and a base connected to the support and placed on the floor. It is usual that the base connected to the support is fixedly installed to the support, or fixed thereto in a swivel type. To prevent the display device from falling down front or rear, the base is formed such that its area contacting the floor is increased. 
   To increase the contact area between the stand and the floor, the base is formed to protrude toward the front or rear of a front side and a back cover forming a main body of the display device. The base of the stand is increasing as the size of the display device is increasing. As the size of the display device is increasing, the “falling-down” power of the display device is also increasing. Therefore, the area supporting the center of gravity must be increased. 
   However, if the front or rear extending length of the base fixed under the display device is increased, the package of the display device and the package volume are increased due to the protrusion of the base during the delivery. Consequently, the package cost and the logistics cost are increased and the treatment becomes inconvenient. 
   Also, the stand has a portion extending toward the rear of the display device. Therefore, in the case of a flat display device, when the back cover of the main body is installed adjacent to the wall surface, the back cover must be spaced apart from the wall surface by a predetermined distance. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a stand for a display device that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art. 
   An object of the present invention is to provide a stand for a display device, capable of reducing a package volume of the display device. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a stand for a display device, capable of reducing the package coast and logistics cost. Due to the reduction in the package volume of the display device, the delivery and treatment become convenient. 
   A further object of the present invention is to provide a stand for a display device, capable of providing the swivel motion and reducing the volume of the display device. 
   Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings. 
   To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided a stand for a display device, including: a display device; a support connected to a lower portion of the display device; a pivot block connected to be operable with respect to the support; a rear base connected to the pivot block; a swivel disposed in a contact portion between the pivot block and the rear base such that the pivot block is pivotally rotated; and a front base connected to be operable with respect to the rear base. 
   In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a stand for a display device, including: a support for supporting the display device; a pivot block connected to be movable with respect to the support; a swivel having at least a fixing portion and a pivot portion providing a pivot motion with respect to the fixing portion, the pivot portion being connected to the pivot block; a first base connected to the fixing portion and supported to a floor; and a second base connected to be movable with respect to the first base and supported by the floor. 
   In a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a stand for a display device, including: a base; a swivel to which a first portion of the base is fixedly connected; a pivot block to which a second portion of the based is fixedly connected; and a support connected to the display device in a state in which the support is connected to the pivot block, whereby the base is rotated with respect to the display device while the display device is delivered, resulting in volume reduction. 
   Accordingly, the package size of the display device is reduced and is easy to treat, thereby reducing the cost in package, delivery, and logistics. 
   Also, the swivel motion of the display device can be freed and the volume of the display device can be reduced. Further, the outer appearance of the display device becomes elegant. 
   It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a display device and a stand; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a stand for a display device according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of a swivel; 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate the left/right rotation of the display device; 
       FIGS. 6 through 9  illustrate the process of expanding the stand; 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a stand according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 11  is an enlarged perspective view of a pivot block of the stand; and 
       FIGS. 12 and 13  illustrate a pivot motion of the display device due to the pivot block. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a display device and a stand according to the present invention. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , a support  20  is extended downward in a state that its portion is connected to a rear surface of a flat display device  10 . A pivot block  40  is connected to the support by a first hinge  30  at a rear of the support  20 . A rear base  50  provides a support point of the pivot rotation of the pivot block  40  by a swivel ( 70  in  FIG. 2 ) downward the pivot block  40 , and prevents the flat display device  10  from falling backward. A front base  90  is connected to the rear base  50  by a second hinge  60  and prevents the flat display device  10  from falling forward. 
   A structure and operation of the parts will be described briefly with reference to the  FIG. 1 . 
   The support  20  is firmly connected to the rear surface of the flat display device  10 , for example, by a screw connection. The rear surface of the flat display device  10 , to which the support  20  is connected, is depressed by a predetermined depth, thereby minimizing the interference of the stand&#39;s rear portion against the wall surface and making its appearance elegant. 
   The support  20  and the pivot block  40  are connected together by the first hinge  30 . The pivot block  40  can be completely folded at more than 90° toward the rear surface of the flat display device  10 . The rear surface of the support  20  contacts the front surface of the pivot block  40 , thereby preventing the support  20  from falling forward. To prevent the support  20  from falling backward, a fixing pin ( 34  in  FIG. 2 ) is simultaneously inserted into the support  20  and the pivot block  40  at an adjacent side portion where the first hinge  30  is installed. The fixing pin  34  is installed after the display device  10  is placed on the floor. However, when there is no fixing pin  34 , it is possible to prevent the display device  10  from falling backward because the center of gravity of the display device  10  is placed forward. Further, in addition to the fixing pin  34 , any member that can prevent the display device  10  from falling backward can be used. 
   A swivel ( 70  in  FIG. 2 ) is provided at an interval between the pivot block  40  and the rear base  50 , and the swivel  70  itself can be pivotally rotated. Therefore, when the display device  10  is pivotally rotated due to an external force, the support  20 , the pivot block  40 , and the upper portion of the swivel  70  can be pivotally rotated smoothly, so that the view angle of the display device  10  can be adjusted. The swivel  70  is fixed to the lower portion of the pivot block  40 . To firmly maintain the shape while fixing the swivel  70 , the pivot block  40  may be formed of metal using die casting. 
   The rear base  50  is fixed to the lower portion of the swivel  70 . Therefore, when the user rotates the display device  10 , the lower portion of the swivel  70  and the rear base  50  can be operated as a support surface of the pivot rotation. 
   The second hinge  60  is provided on both sides of the rear base  50 , and the front base  90  can be rotated with respect to the rear base  50  around the second hinge  60 . Thus, when packaging the product, the rear base  50  can be folded rearward such that it is closed contacted with the rear side of the display device  10 . 
     FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the stand for the display device according to the present invention. A structure of the stand according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
   First, the support  20  is firmly fixed to the rear surface of the display device  10 . A pair of protrusions  21  is protruded rearward in a surface shape about the center of the support. The protrusions  21  are provided in a state that they are aligned with a protrusion block  43  disposed at the upper portion of the pivot block  40 , and the first hinge  30  is provided at its contact portion. The first hinge  30  includes hinge insertion holes  36  and  42  aligned to the protrusion  21  and the protrusion block  43 , a first hinge shaft  31  inserted into the hinge insertion holes  36  and  42 , and a nut  33  fixed to an end of the first hinge shaft  31 . Also, the first hinge  31  further includes a washer  32  for providing an appropriate fiction force when the first hinge  30  is rotating. Meanwhile, the first hinge  31  is placed in a horizontal extending direction of the display device  10  such that the pivot block  40  can be folded rearward the display device  10 . This can be equally applied to a bolt  64  operating as a rotation shaft of the second hinge  60 . 
   It is preferable that the friction force occurring when the first hinge  30  is rotating is greater than that occurring when the second hinge  60  is rotating. When installing the display device  10  after unpacking, the first hinge  30  is made to rotate later. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the user from being hurt because the user thinks the bases  50  and  90  are one body. 
   Also, fixing pin insertion holes  35  and  41  aligned together are further formed at the protrusion  21  and the protrusion block  43 . The fixing pin  34  is inserted into the fixing pin insertion hole, thereby preventing the display device  10  from falling rearward. 
   The pivot block  40  includes a circular planar portion  44  so as to prevent the interference against the rear base  50  during the rotation. An upper portion of the swivel  70  is fixed to the lower portion of the planar portion  44 . It is preferable that the pivot block  40  is formed of metal so as to prevent the problems of damage and deformation when the swivel  70  is fixed. 
   The swivel  70  is a device that can provide the pivot motion with respect to the center shaft vertically erected.  FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the swivel  70 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , the swivel  70  includes an upper rotation plate  71  at an upper portion, a fixing plate  72  at a lower portion, and a bolt  74  for connecting the upper rotation plate  71  and the fixing plate  72 . The fixing plate  72  can be pivotally rotated by the bolt  74  within a range in which the interference does not occur. 
   The bolt  74  is fixed by the nut  75  in a state that the it is inserted into a bolt connector  76  formed at the rotation plate  71 . The bolt  74  is guided in a state that it is inserted into a guide hole  79  with respect to the fixing plate  72 . The guide hole  79  is formed in an arc shape. When the rotation plate  71  is rotated, the guide hole  79  sets a rotation limit of the bolt  74 . 
   Also, a clutch  73  is inserted into a gap between the fixing plate  72  and the upper rotation plate  72 . The clutch  73  is supported by a bushing  80 . When the upper rotation plate  71  is rotated, the clutch  73  prevents the friction force occurring at the contact portion with the fixing plate  72 , thereby providing the smooth rotation of the rotation plate  71 . 
   Further, an upper fixing hole  77  is provided at the upper rotation plate  71 . The bolt  74  is inserted into the fixing hole formed at the position corresponding to the pivot block  40 , whereby the upper rotation plate  71  and the pivot block  72  are firmly fixed. The lower fixing hole  78  is formed at the fixing plate  72 . The bolt  74  is inserted into the fixing hole formed at the position corresponding to the swivel seating portion  51 , whereby the fixing plate  72  and the rear base  50  are firmly fixed together. 
   As described above, when the fixing plate  72  is fixed to the rear base  50 , the rotation plate  71  disposed at the upper portion of the swivel  70  can be pivotally rotated with respect to the fixing plate  72 . Consequently, the pivot block  40  can be pivotally rotated smoothly with respect to the rear base  50 . 
   Referring again to  FIG. 2 , the swivel seating portion  51  is formed at the rear base  50  to fix the swivel  70 . The swivel seating portion  51  is formed of metal, which is different from plastic material of the rear base  50 . When the swivel  70  is fixed to the rear base  50 , the swivel seating portion  51  prevents the connector of the rear base  50  from being damaged. It will be apparent that the rear base  50  prevents the display device  10  from falling rearward. 
   The front base  90  is provided at the front of the rear base  50 . The front base  90  prevents the display device  10  from falling forward and is connected to the rear base  50  by the second hinge  60 . Two second hinges  60  are provided at the left and right of the rear base  50  and make the front base  90  rotate smoothly with respect to the rear base  50 . 
   A structure of the second hinge  60  will now be described in detail. The second hinge  60  includes a plate  62  fixed to the rear base  50 , and a plate  61  fixed to the front base  90 . A connection portion of the plates  61  and  62  is fixed to a vertically bent plate by a bolt  64 . A nut  65  is inserted into an opposite side of a head of the bolt  64 . A washer  66  is inserted into the body of the bolt  64 . A friction force due to the second hinge  60  can be adjusted by a fastening force of the bolt  64  and the nut  65  and a friction of the washer  66 . 
   Meanwhile, the front base  90  is supported to the rear base  50  only by the second hinge  60 , and the pivot block  40  is supported only by the rear base  50 . Therefore, the falling-down force toward the front or rear of the display device  10  is applied only to the rear base  50 . Even if the falling-down force toward the rear of the display device  10  is supported by the position and shape of the rear base  50  connected to the pivot block  40 , the falling-down force toward the front of the display device  10  is supported not by the rear base  50  but by the front base  90 . To prevent the display device from falling forward, a locking protrusion  63  is formed at the plate  61  of the second hinge  60 , and an end portion of the plate  62  is placed on the locking protrusion  63 . 
   Due to such a structure, the falling-down force directed toward the display device  10  is applied to the locking protrusion  63  at the upper portion of the plate  62  and thus can be supported by the plate  61  and the front base  90 . 
   The structure of the stand for the display device can be understood fully, and the operation of the stand will be described below. The stand can be pivotally rotated right and left by the swivel  70 . The respective parts of the stand are folded in the rearward direction of the display device  10  by the first and second hinges  30  and  60 , thereby reducing the package volume. 
   First, the pivot motion of the swivel  70  will be described. The upper portion of the upper rotation plate  71  of the swivel  70  can be pivotally rotated with respect to the fixing plate  72  of the swivel  70 . Therefore, it can be pivotally rotated in a right direction at a predetermined angle, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Also, it can be pivotally rotated in a left direction at a predetermined angle, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . As described above with reference to  FIG. 3 , the pivot angle of the display device  10  is limited within the range of the guide hole  79 . 
   Next, the folding of the stand will be described below.  FIGS. 6 through 9  illustrate a process of expanding the folded stand.  FIG. 6  illustrates the case where the respective components of the stand are completely folded, such that the product volume is most reduced. At this point, the pivot block  40  is folded to the rearward of the display device  10  by the first hinge  30 , and the front base  90  is completely folded to the rearward of the display device  10  by the second hinge  60 . 
   When the user unfolds the stand while taking the front base  90 , since the friction force of the first hinge  30  is greater than that of the second hinge  60 , the rear base  50  is maintained at the current state and the front base  90  is unfolded forward with respect to the rear base  60 .  FIG. 7  illustrates the case where the front base  90  is unfolded at 90°, and  FIG. 8  illustrates the case where the front base  90  is completely unfolded.  FIG. 9  illustrates the case where the front base  90  is completely unfolded and aligned with the rear base  50 . The front base  90  is not unfolded because it is caught by the locking protrusion  63  of the second hinge  60 . 
   If the front base  90  is further unfolded in this state, the pivot block  40  is unfolded around the first hinge  30  while the support  20  is fixed. After the pivot block  40  is completely unfolded, the front base  90  and the rear base  50  are unfolded such that they contact the floor. Consequently, the stand is placed on the floor as illustrated in  FIG. 9 . 
     FIG. 10  is a rear perspective view of a display device and a stand according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
   Referring to  FIG. 10 , the display device and the stand therefor are similar to the above-described display device and stand, except the pivot block  103  and the rear base  104 . Therefore, the duplicated description will be omitted for conciseness. 
   A swivel  70  is placed at the contact portion between the pivot block  103  and the rear base  104 . An upper portion of the swivel  70  is connected to the pivot block  103  and a lower portion of the swivel  70  is connected to the rear base  104 . In this state, the lower portion of the pivot block  103  is placed at a position higher than the top surface of the front base  105 . Therefore, even when the display device  101 , the support  102  and the pivot block  103  are rotated, the front base  105  is not interfered from the pivot motion of the pivot block  103 . Such a structure will be understood more fully with reference to  FIG. 11 . 
     FIGS. 12 and 13  illustrate the case where the display device  11  is pivotally rotated by the pivot block  103 . 
   In this embodiment, the pivot block  103  need not be large in size. Thus, the manufacturing cost of the pivot block  103 , which has been formed of expensive metal, can be reduced. Also, only the front base  105  is observed from the front of the display device  101 , and the rear base  104  is extended only toward the rear of the pivot block  103 , thereby providing an elegant appearance. Specifically, the pivot block  103  has a rectangular shape, which one edge is provided at the front. The lower section also has a polygonal shape. When observed from the front, it looks as if there is nothing at the rear side. Therefore, the outer appearance looks elegant. 
   When the rear base  104  is folded so as to package the display device  101 , the end portion of the front base  105  further extending downward from the lower portion of the display device  101  becomes short, thereby further reducing the volume of the package. 
   In a further embodiment of the present invention, the swivel can be provided with a pivot shaft and a fixing part for supporting the pivot shaft, instead of two divided parts of the upper rotation plate and the fixing plate. Also, the swivel can have various shapes. In this regard, the swivel can be constructed in any shapes only if they include the pivot part (e.g., the upper rotation plate) pivotally rotating together with the pivot block and the fixing part (e.g., the fixing plate) fixed to the pivot part. 
   In a further embodiment of the present invention, when the swivel is inevitably provided, any types of parts can be interposed which allow the relative motion between the front base and the rear base and allow the relative motion between the support and the pivot block. In this manner, in packaging and delivering the display device, the respective parts of the base structure can be folded or overlapped so that the volume is reduced, thereby promoting the user&#39;s convenience. In a further embodiment of the present invention, when only one of the connector of the front base and the rear base or the connector of the support and the pivot block is relatively operable, the package volume of the display device can be reduced. 
   According to the stand of the present invention, the package volume of the display device is reduced. Thus, the package cost and logistics cost of the display device can be reduced, and the delivery and treatment of the packaged display device becomes convenient. 
   Further, the angle between the viewer and the display device can be conveniently adjusted, and the base of the stand is provided in a folded shape, thereby improving the viewer&#39;s convenience. 
   It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.