Abstract:
A data recording/reproducing apparatus, includes: an open front housing having a base frame and a cover frame; a recording/reproducing unit installed in the housing to record/reproduce data in/from a predetermined recording medium; a circuit board installed parallel to the recording/reproducing unit in the housing; a front unit connected to the open front of the housing to support operation buttons; a first locking unit which locks the front unit and the recording/reproducing unit; and a second locking unit which locks the front unit and the housing at a position corresponding to the circuit board.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) from Korean Patent Application No.2004-56681, filed on Jul. 21, 2004, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates in general to a data recording/reproducing apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a data recording/reproducing apparatus accommodating a data recording/reproducing unit in a box-shaped housing  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     In general, data recording/reproducing apparatuses such as DVD players, VCRs, digital audio discs, and video discs accommodate a data recording/reproducing unit in a housing. Depending on which kind of recording medium is used, the data recording/reproducing units can be categorized into magnetic recording/reproducing units and (optical) disc recording/reproducing units. A recent trend shows that a ‘combo system’ adopting both the magnetic recording/reproducing unit (i.e., a VCR deck) and the optical disc reproducing unit (i.e., a DVD deck) is being widely used.  
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a data recording/reproducing apparatus adopting a VCR deck  20  in a housing  10 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the housing  10  includes a base frame  11  with side walls, a rear frame  12 , a cover frame (not shown) and a front panel (not shown). The frames except for the front panel are usually made of metallic materials. On the other hand, the front panel is a plastic mold product and has a certain design to increase the functional (such as the installation of operation buttons) and aesthetic value.  
         [0007]     Meanwhile, the VCR deck  20  and a circuit board  30  are installed side by side in the housing  10 . The VCR deck  20  is locked on the base frame  11  and connected to the front panel.  
         [0008]     As such, the front panel is disposed between the base frame  11  and the cover frame (not shown), and is also locked onto the VCR deck  20 . However, the VCR deck  20  is installed more closely to the edge. Hence, only part of the front panel is connected to the VCR deck. The rest of the front panel is not supported by the VCR deck  20  and is therefore structurally weak and vulnerable. Therefore, if a user keeps pulling at or grasping the front panel, the part of the front panel that is not supported by the VCR deck  20  becomes elastically deformed. Then the front panel is no longer adhered to the base frame  11  or the cover frame and a space is created therebetween, which is not aesthetically pleasing. Overall, the reliability of the front panel and the data recording/reproducing apparatus accommodating the same becomes deteriorated  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     One aspect of the present invention is to provide a data recording/reproducing apparatus with an improved structure for securely supporting a front panel according to an aspect of the present invention.  
         [0010]     According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a data recording/reproducing apparatus, which includes: an open front housing having a base frame and a cover frame; a recording/reproducing unit installed in the housing to record/reproduce data in/from a predetermined recording medium; a circuit board installed in near to the recording/reproducing unit in the housing; a front unit connected to the open front of the housing to support operation buttons; a first locking unit which locks the front unit and the recording/reproducing unit; and a second locking unit which locks the front unit and the housing at a position corresponding to the circuit board.  
         [0011]     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the second locking unit includes: a hook member protrudingly formed from the front unit into the housing; and a locking bracket detachably installed in the housing to be combined with the hook member.  
         [0012]     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the hook member is made of plastic materials, and has a locking hole where one end of the locking bracket is inserted.  
         [0013]     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the locking bracket is installed in an upright position against the base frame.  
         [0014]     According to an embodiment of the present invention, a holding unit in a predetermined shape is formed on the base frame to hold or support the locking bracket.  
         [0015]     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the locking bracket is supported by the base frame, and the circuit board has a through hole for the locking bracket to pass through.  
         [0016]     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the locking bracket includes: a base adhered to the base frame; a locking caster that is bent at the base and extended upwards to a same height with the hook member; and a board support that is bent at the base at a predetermined height to support the circuit board.  
         [0017]     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the base has a screw hole to screw the locking bracket to the base frame.  
         [0018]     According to an embodiment of the present invention, a position determining unit is formed on the locking bracket and the base frame, respectively, to determine the installation position of the locking bracket to be reciprocably connected to the base frame.  
         [0019]     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the front unit includes: a plastic front panel; and a plastic rear panel connected to the rear side of the front panel and having the hook member.  
         [0020]     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the recording/reproducing unit is a disc recording/reproducing unit.  
         [0021]     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the recording/reproducing unit is installed more closely to an edge on one side of the housing, and the circuit board is installed more closely to an edge on the other side of the housing.  
         [0022]     Additional aspects and/or advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0023]     These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:  
         [0024]      FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of a related art data recording/reproducing apparatus;  
         [0025]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a data recording/reproducing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of a front unit of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0027]      FIG. 4  is a diagram for explaining how the front unit of  FIG. 2  is connected to a DVD deck;  
         [0028]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a second locking unit for locking the front unit onto a housing;  
         [0029]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a locking bracket of  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0030]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state before a locking bracket of  FIG. 5  is connected to a base frame; and  
         [0031]      FIG. 8  to  FIG. 10  illustrate, respectively, a procedure for connecting a locking bracket to a base frame. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0032]     Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.  
         [0033]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the data recording/reproducing apparatus of the present invention includes a housing  100 , a recording/reproducing unit  110 , a circuit board  120 , a front unit  130 , a first locking unit  140  and a second locking unit  150 .  
         [0034]     The housing  100  is formed by connecting metallic frames in a box shape. Therefore, the housing  100  includes a base frame  101 , a cover frame  103 , and a rear frame  105 . The base frame  101  has side walls  106  that are bent upwards to be combined with the base frame  101 .  
         [0035]     After the base frame  101 , the cover frame  103 , and the rear frame  105  form the box-shaped housing  100  with the entire front opened, the front unit  130  is then connected to the open front housing  100 .  
         [0036]     The recording/reproducing unit  110  and the circuit board  120  are installed side by side on the base frame  101 . Particularly, the recording/reproducing unit  110  (hereinafter it will be referred to as a DVD deck) of the present invention may be a DVD deck for recording/reproducing data on/from a (optical) disc. The DVD deck  110  is screwed onto the base frame  101 , and the circuit board  120  for controlling the operation of the DVD deck  110  is also screwed onto the base frame  101 . Here, the DVD deck  110  and the circuit board  120  are installed in such a manner that both are closer to the edge on each side.  
         [0037]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the front unit  130  includes a front panel  131  and a rear panel  133 . The front panel  131  is a plastic molded object, and exposed to outside. The front panel  131  has a door  131   a,  through which a user inserts a recording medium to be mounted on the DVD deck  110 . Also, a plurality of hooks  131   b  is attached at regular intervals to the top portion of the inner side of the front panel  131  to be locked into the rear panel  133 . Similarly, a plurality of locking holes  131   c  are formed on the lower portion of the inner side of the front panel  131  so that hooks  133   b  on the rear panel  133  can be inserted into the holes, respectively. Also, a plurality of locking hooks  131   d  is protruded from the lower portion of the front panel  131  to be locked into the base frame  101 .  
         [0038]     The rear panel  133  is connected to the rear surface of the front panel  131 . The rear panel  133  is a plastic molded object so that it can be deformed slightly by an external force. The real panel  133  also supports the circuit board in correspondence to the operation button  135 . On both sides of the rear panel  133  are elastic hooks  133   a  to be combined with the side walls  106  of the base frame  101 .  
         [0039]     The rear panel  133  is locked to the DVD deck  110  by the first locking unit  140 . As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , each of the first locking unit  140  includes a pair of hook members  141  that are formed on one side of the rear panel  133  (more specifically, at positions corresponding to the DVD deck  110 ), and a locking projection  143  formed on the DVD deck  110  to be in correspondence to each of the hook members  141 . A locking hole  141   a  is also formed in each hook member  141 . Therefore, when the hook member  141  is elastically deformed it contacts the locking projection  143 , and the locking projection  143  is inserted into the locking hole  141   a.    FIG. 4  illustrates a state where the locking projection  143  is inserted into the locking hole  141   a.  The locking projection  141  is connected to the DVD deck  110 . In this manner, the rear panel  133  is locked to the DVD deck  110  the first locking units  140 , and the front unit  130  is securely fixed to a position corresponding to the DVD deck  110 .  
         [0040]     Referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 5 , the second locking unit  150  includes a hook member  151  formed on the rear panel  133  of the front unit  130 , and a locking bracket  153  installed at the base frame  101  to be combined with the hook member  151 .  
         [0041]     The hook member  151  is made of a plastic material and connected to the rear panel  133  to be elastically deformable. The hook member  151  has a locking hole  151   a  formed therein. According to an aspect of the present invention, the hook members  141  and  151  are spaced about the same distance apart. The hook member  151  is installed at a position corresponding to the position of the circuit board  120 , and (flexibly) extended over the rear panel  133 .  
         [0042]     According to an aspect of the present invention, the locking bracket  153  can be made separately. In effect, the locking bracket  153  is selectively installed as required at a predetermined position on the base frame  101 . The locking bracket  153  is usually made of high strength metals; therefore, it can support the hook member  151  very stably.  
         [0043]     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the locking bracket  153  is composed of a base  153   a  that is closely adhered to the base frame  101 , a locking caster  153   b  that is bent at the base  153   a  and extended upwards to a predetermined height, and a board support  153   c.    
         [0044]     The locking caster  153   b  is taller than, or is the same height as the hook member  151 , so that the end of the locking caster  153   b  can be inserted into the locking hole  151   a  formed in the hook member  151 .  
         [0045]     The board support  153   c  is shorter than the locking caster  153   b  to support the bottom of the circuit board  120 . Therefore, the base  153   a  and the board support  153   c  are covered by the bottom of the circuit board  120 . On the other hand, the locking caster  153   b  is protruded upwards from the circuit board  120 . To this end, the circuit board  120  has a through hole  121  (in  FIG. 5 ) for the locking caster  153   b  to pass through.  
         [0046]     Also, the base  153   a  has a screw hole (h) into which a screw is inserted. As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , there is a position determining unit  160  for determining an installation position of the locking bracket  153  on the base frame  101 . The position determining unit  160  includes a plurality of position determining projections  161  that formed on the base  153   a  of the locking bracket  153 , and position determining grooves  163  that are reciprocably formed in the base frame  101  for combination with the position determining projections  161 . Here, the positions of the position determining projections  161  and the position determining grooves  163  may be exchanged with each other.  
         [0047]     Moreover, a holding unit  170  is formed on the base frame  101 . The holding unit  170  holds or supports the locking bracket  153  before it is completely locked by a screw (S). As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the holding unit  170  includes a cut-off embossing unit  171  that is protrudingly formed on the base frame  101 , and a suspension groove  173  that is formed at a predetermined distance apart from the cut-off embossing unit  171 . The cut-off embossing unit  171  can be formed by punching or pressing the base frame  101  inward, and cutting off one side to form a groove  171   a.  Into this groove  171   a  is inserted a projection  153   d  formed at the end of the base  153   a.    
         [0048]     The suspension groove  173  starts at a corner or a boundary  101   c  between a bottom surface  101   a  of the base frame  101  and a bent part  101   b  that is bent almost perpendicularly from the bottom surface  101   a.  Then a projection  153   e  formed on the other end of the base  153   a  is inserted forcibly into the suspension groove  173  for support. Since the bent part  101   b  is somewhat elastically deformable, the projection  153   e  can press the inner side of the bent part  101   b  and be slid downward until it is inserted into the suspension groove  173 .  
         [0049]     The following will now explain a method for assembling the data recording/reproducing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0050]     At first, the DVD deck  110  is mounted on the base frame  101  as shown in  FIG. 2 . The locking bracket  153  is then temporarily connected to the base frame  101 . In other words, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the projection  153   d  is inserted into the groove  171   a  of the embossing unit  171  on the base frame  101  while the base  153   a  is leaned slightly forward.  
         [0051]     Next, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the locking bracket  153  is rotated so that the other projection  153   e  of the base  153   a  turns in the direction of an arrow (i.e., counterclockwise). As a result, the projection  153   e  moves downward while deforming the bent part  101   b  of the base frame  101 , and is inserted forcibly into the suspension groove  173 .  
         [0052]     Afterwards, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the position determining projections  161  are inserted into the corresponding position determining grooves  163 . And, the screw hole (h) in the base  153   a  coincides with the screw hole  101   d  formed in the base frame  101 .  
         [0053]     The circuit board  120  is installed on the locking bracket  153  while the locking bracket  153  is still being temporarily connected to the base frame  101 . Then the locking caster  153   b  passes through the through hole  121  formed in the circuit board  120  and is exposed out of the circuit board  120 . At this time, the circuit board  120 , being separated from the base frame  101  by a predetermined height, is supported by the board support  153   c.    
         [0054]     After the DVD deck  110 , the locking bracket  153 , and the circuit board  120  are installed on the base frame  101 , the front unit  130  is connected to the base frame  101 .  
         [0055]     More specifically, one side of the front unit  130  is connected to the DVD deck  110  by means of the first locking units  140  as shown in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0056]     Later, the hook member  151  is locked into the locking bracket  153  as shown in  FIG. 5 . Once the front unit  130  is completely connected, the base frame  101  is turned over, and the base frame  101  and the locking bracket  153  are completely fixed by inserting the screw (S) into the corresponding hole. Also, legs are screwed into the bottom surface of the base frame  101 . In effect, when the base frame  101  is turned over the legs can be easily assembled by screwing the locking bracket. Therefore, it is not necessary to turn the base frame  101  over simply to screw the locking bracket  153  thereto. Lastly, the rear frame  105  and the cover frame  103  are connected.  
         [0057]     As such, one side of the front unit  130  is supported by the DVD deck  110 , and the other side of the front unit  130  is supported by the second locking unit  150 . In this manner, the front unit  130  can be stably supported in the longitudinal direction. Moreover, the hook member  151  and the locking bracket  153  are combined so firmly that the front unit  130  does not get bent or deformed easily even when the user hauls at the front unit  130  or grasps it.  
         [0058]     In short, there is no space between the front unit  130  and the housing  100 , and the deformation of the front unit  130  is prevented. In result, the reliability and stability of the product is improved markedly.  
         [0059]     As described above, the locking bracket which is separately adoptable makes it possible to selectively lock the front unit into the base frame.  
         [0060]     Although the DVD deck is installed closer to the edge on one side, the front unit is supported by the uniform locking force exerted at regular intervals.  
         [0061]     Therefore, by suppressing the plastic deformation or bending of the front unit due to an external force, the front unit can be more firmly and stably locked into the housing without creating any gap therebetween.  
         [0062]     Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.