Abstract:
A stand for a display having a base, a supporting case mounted on the base, a supporting member mounted inside the supporting case and having an end seated on the base to support the weight of the display, and a mounting bracket engaged with the the other end of the supporting member, to mount the display. This stand supports the weight of a large-sized display and allows a user to swivel the display around an axis of the supporting member, and change the distance between the base and the display.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2002-66642, filed Oct. 30, 2002, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to a stand for supporting a display that allows the display to be swiveled and elevated, and more particularly, to a stand for large-sized displays such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or a PDP (Plasma Display Panel), etc.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0005]    Conventionally, there has been a stand that allows a display to be swiveled. This kind of conventional stand has mainly been used in lightweight small-sized stands employed for notebook computers or desktop computers. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-126068 disclosed a stand allowing the display to be swiveled. However, this type of stand cannot support heavy, large-sized displays.  
           [0006]    Korean Patent Laid-Open No. 1997-14267 disclosed a stand allowing the display to be swiveled and elevated by a powered driving gear with the use of a handle for adjusting left and right angles, and a handle for adjusting elevation. But, this type of stand requires separate devices such as a plurality of driving gears and rack gears, and also a chamber for receiving them, thus the supporting device is complicated in structure.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide a stand for a display that is capable of supporting a display of substantial weight, and that allows the display to be swiveled and elevated, and additionally needs no separate device for swiveling and elevation change of the display.  
           [0008]    Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.  
           [0009]    The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention are achieved by providing a stand having a base, a supporting case mounted on the base, a supporting member having first and second ends mounted inside the supporting case and having the second end seated on the base to bear the weight of the display, a rotating case that is rotatably combined with a first end of the supporting case, and a mounting bracket engaged with a first end of the rotating case, to engage the display.  
           [0010]    According to one aspect, the base has a base plate with a seating part, the seating part having an engaging opening to engage the supporting case.  
           [0011]    According to one aspect, the base plate of the base has an extending part extending from the base plate, to increase stability of the base, and a first cover and a second cover respectively disposed on opposite sides of the base plate.  
           [0012]    According to one aspect, the supporting case has a supporting trunk part, which the supporting member passes through, and a supporting guide to guide the supporting member.  
           [0013]    According to one aspect, the supporting case additionally has a supporting bracket with: a seating flange, on which the lower end of the supporting member is seated; a first engaging opening engaging the supporting trunk part of the supporting case; and a second engaging opening engaged with the seating part of the base. The supporting case also has first and second bracket covers covering portions of the supporting bracket, and the seating part of the base corresponds to the supporting bracket.  
           [0014]    According to one aspect, the supporting trunk part has a pipe through which the supporting member passes.  
           [0015]    According to one aspect, the supporting guide of the supporting case has a bent part extending from a guiding flange having a central bore, to guide the supporting member.  
           [0016]    According to one aspect, the supporting member has a supporting shaft that passes through the supporting case, and a bracket-engaging part positioned on a first end of the supporting shaft, that engages the mounting bracket.  
           [0017]    According to one aspect, the supporting member has a cylinder cover, a cylinder with a first end combined with the cylinder cover to translate along a common axis of the cylinder and the cylinder cover, and a cylinder part having a bracket-engaging part located on a second end of the cylinder.  
           [0018]    According to one aspect, the mounting bracket has an engaging part with which the bracket-engaging part of the supporting member of the cylinder part is engaged, and an opening to which the display is mounted.  
           [0019]    According to one aspect, the mounting bracket additionally has a cover.  
           [0020]    According to one aspect, the rotating case additionally has: a trunk part, through which the supporting member passes; a projection part, projecting from an inner surface of the trunk part, and maintaining a predetermined separation between the inner surface of the trunk part and an outer surface of space to the supporting case; a bracket-inserting opening, located on a first end of the rotating case to engage the mounting bracket. The mounting bracket additionally has an inserting part to engage the bracket-inserting opening.  
           [0021]    According to one aspect, the rotating case additionally has an inserting guide, having an external diameter corresponding to an internal diameter of the rotating case and an internal diameter corresponding to an external diameter of the supporting case to aid insertion of the supporting case into the rotating case.  
           [0022]    According to one aspect, the trunk part of the rotating case additionally has a wire holder.  
           [0023]    According to one aspect, the trunk part of the rotating case has a stopper that projects farther from the inner face of the trunk part, than the projection part, and the outer surface of the supporting trunk part of the supporting case has a recess of predetermined size, to receive the stopper and limit a rotation of the rotating case about the supporting case.  
           [0024]    According to one aspect, the stand also has a display-mounting part having a display base plate with a first engaging hole to engage a mounting face of the mounting bracket, and first and second side engaging parts, positioned on opposing sides of the display base plate, and a second engaging opening to engage the display. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0025]    These and/or other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 1 is a combined perspective view of a stand according to the present invention;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the stand of FIG. 1;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 3A is an exploded perspective view of a base  100  of the stand of FIG. 1;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 3B is an exploded perspective view of a supporting case  200  of the stand of FIG. 1;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 3C is an exploded perspective view of an rotating case  300  of the stand according to a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 3D is an exploded perspective view of a supporting member  400  of the stand of FIG. 1;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 3E is an exploded perspective view of an mounting bracket  500  of the stand of FIG. 1;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 3F is an exploded perspective view of a cylinder part  600  of the display according to fourth fifth, and sixth embodiments of the present invention;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 3G is an exploded perspective view of a display-mounting part  700  of the stand according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a combination of the supporting case  200  and the rotating case  300  of the stand according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0036]    Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.  
         [0037]    A first embodiment of the stand includes a base  100 , a supporting case  200 , a supporting member  400  that can be swiveled, and an mounting bracket  500 . As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a second embodiment of the stand includes a rotating case  300  in addition to the components of the first embodiment of the stand described above. According to a third embodiment, the stand includes a display-mounting part  700  in addition to the components of the second embodiment of the stand. The display-mounting part  700  mounts on the mounting bracket  500 .  
         [0038]    Further, substituting the cylinder part  600  (see FIG. 3G) for the supporting member  400  employed in the first, second, and third embodiments, creates respective fourth, fifth, and sixth embodiments. Detailed descriptions of each embodiment shall be made with reference to FIGS. 3A through 3G, respectively, which illustrate the components of the stand.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 3A is an exploded perspective view of the base  100  of the stand according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The base  100  includes a base plate  110 , a seating part  120 , and an engaging hole  130 .  
         [0040]    An extending part  111  is located on a first end of the base plate  110  to widen a contact area of the base  100 ,and thereby enhance stability. According to another aspect, first and second sides of the base plate  110  are covered by a first cover  113  and a second cover  115  respectively.  
         [0041]    The seating part  120  located at a predetermined position on the base plate  110  corresponds in shape to the supporting case  200 . Along the edge of the seating part  120 , there are a plurality of engaging holes  130  for seating the supporting case  200 .  
         [0042]    As shown in FIG. 3B. The supporting case  200  has a supporting trunk part  210  and a supporting guide  220 . In the first embodiment, the supporting trunk part  210  may be circular or polygonal. However, in the second embodiment (to be described later), the rotating case  300  rotates, and thus the supporting trunk part  210  of the supporting case  200  corresponding thereto is approximately cylindrical.  
         [0043]    According to one aspect, the supporting trunk part  210  has a penetrating pipe  211  through which the supporting member  400  passes. In the second and third embodiments, the supporting trunk part  210  additionally has a recess  213  accommodating a stopper  313  (see FIG. 3C) to limit rotation of the display.  
         [0044]    The supporting guide  220  corresponds to the supporting trunk part  210 , and has an opening through which the supporting member  400  passes. The supporting guide  220  guides the supporting member  400  to pass therethrough, and transfers the weight of the display from the supporting member  400  to the supporting case  200 . According to one aspect, the supporting guide  220  has a bending part  221  extending from a guiding flange with an opening that corresponds to the opening formed in the supporting guide  220 .  
         [0045]    According to one aspect, the supporting case  200  has a supporting bracket  230 , a first bracket cover  240 , and a second bracket cover  250 . The supporting bracket  230  facilitates mounting the supporting case  200  on the base  100 , and has: a seating flange  231 , in which the supporting member  400  is seated; a first engaging hole  233 , engaging the supporting bracket  230  with the supporting trunk part  210 ; and a second engaging hole  235 , engaging the supporting bracket  230  with the seating part  120  of the base  100 . Specifically, the supporting bracket  230  engages the lower end of the supporting trunk part  210  of the supporting case  200  through the first engaging hole  233 . Then, the supporting case  200  engages the base  100  through the second engaging holes  235  after the supporting bracket  230  is inserted into the seating part  120  of the base  100 . Since a diameter of the supporting bracket  230  is larger than an external diameter of the supporting trunk part  210 , a portion of the supporting bracket  230  is exposed. The exposed portion is covered by the first and second bracket covers  240  and  250 .  
         [0046]    Referring to FIG. 3C, a trunk part  310  of the rotating case  300  has a hollow opening through which the supporting member  400  passes. The trunk part  310  is installed onto an upper part of the supporting case  200 . Since the trunk part  310  rotates when installed on an upper part of the supporting case  200 , according to one aspect, the trunk part  310  is approximately cylindrical.  
         [0047]    A projection part  320  protrudes from an inner surface of the trunk part  310 , and maintains a predetermined separation from an outer face of the supporting case  200 . A bracket-inserting opening  330  is an opening located on the first end of the trunk part  310 , and through which the rotating case  300  engages the mounting bracket  500 .  
         [0048]    According to one aspect, the rotating case  300  additionally has an inserting guide  340 . The external diameter of the inserting guide  340  corresponds to an internal diameter of the trunk part  310 , and the internal diameter of the inserting guide  340  corresponds to an external diameter of the supporting trunk part  210 . Thus, the lower part of the trunk part  310  is inserted onto the upper part of the supporting trunk part  210 .  
         [0049]    According to another aspect, the trunk part  310  additionally has a wire holder  311 . The wire holder  311  is a protrusion that holds a plurality of wires connected to the display.  
         [0050]    According to another aspect, the trunk part  310  additionally has a stopper  313 . The stopper  313  projects farther from an inner face of the trunk part  310 , than the projection part  320 . According to yet another aspect, the stopper  313  is molded from an elastic material. Also, according to still yet another aspect, the trunk part  310  is spaced from the supporting trunk part  210  to absorb an impact and facilitate a molding operation.  
         [0051]    Referring to FIG. 3D, a supporting member  400  has a supporting shaft  410  and a bracket-engaging part  420 . The bracket-engaging part  420  on a first end of the supporting shaft  410  engages an engaging part  510  of the mounting bracket  500  see FIG. 3E). Thus, the bracket engaging part  420  and the engaging part  510  have corresponding shapes. According to one aspect, the bracket engaging part  420  is polygonal and the engaging part  510  has a corresponding polygonal recess. It will be appreciated that the engaging part  510  may be polygonal, and the bracket engaging part  420  may have a corresponding polygonal recess.  
         [0052]    As shown in FIG. 3E the, mounting bracket  500  has an engaging part  510 , a mounting face  520 , and a mounted hole  530 . As previously noted, engaging part  510  engages the bracket-engaging part  420  located on the first end of the supporting shaft  410  of the supporting member  400 . According to one aspect, the mounting face  520  is shaped like a plate, with a face having the mounted hole  530  on which the display is mounted.  
         [0053]    According to one aspect, the mounting bracket  500  additionally has a cover  540  and an inserting part  550 . The cover  540  covers a first end of the mounting bracket  500  to conceal the inside thereof.  
         [0054]    The inserting part  550  is needed in the second embodiment described above. The inserting part  550  is a boss of predetermined thickness that corresponds to the bracket-inserting opening  330  of the rotating case  300 . The boss is positioned between the engaging part  510  and the mounting face  520 , and extends away from the first end of the mounting bracket  500 . The inserting part  550  is inserted into the bracket-inserting opening  330 .  
         [0055]    As previously mentioned, substituting the cylinder part  600  for the supporting member  400  employed in the first, second, and third embodiments, creates fourth, fifth, and sixth embodiments In the fourth, fifth, and sixth embodiments, the distance between the base and the display can be changed and the display can also be rotated.  
         [0056]    Referring to FIG. 3F, cylinder part  600  has a cylinder cover  610 , a cylinder  620  and a bracket-engaging part  630 .  
         [0057]    According to one aspect, cylinder  620  is a hydraulic cylinder filled with gas, such as air, and functions as a damping pot for translational movement of the cylinder part  600 .  
         [0058]    According to an aspect of the fourth embodiment, wherein the cylinder part  600  rotates, the bracket-engaging part  630  is polygonal. According to an aspect of the fifth and sixth embodiments, however, wherein the rotating case  300  rotates, the bracket-engaging part  630  is approximately cylindrical.  
         [0059]    As shown in FIG. 3G, the display-mounting part  700  has a display base plate  710 , a first engaging hole  720 , a first engaging part  730 , a second engaging part  740 , and a second engaging hole  750 .  
         [0060]    According to the third and sixth embodiments, the display base plate  710  is shaped like a plate, and engages the mounting face  520  of the mounting bracket  500  through the first engaging hole  720  on the base plate  710  and the corresponding mounted hole  530 . The first engaging part  730  and the second engaging part  740  are planar shaped wings located on opposite sides of the base plate  710 , having the second engaging hole  750 , through which the display is mounted to the display mounting part  700 .  
         [0061]    As shown in FIG. 4, according to the second, third, fifth, and sixth embodiments of the invention the supporting case  200  is inserted into the rotating case  300 .  
         [0062]    The rotating case  300  maintains a predetermined separation from the inserted supporting case  200 , owing to the projection part  320  of the trunk part  310 . This separation and the projection part facilitate smooth rotation of the rotating case  300 . The predetermined angle through which the rotating case  300  rotates, is limited by the stopper  313  and the recess  213  of the supporting trunk part  210 .  
         [0063]    It will be appreciated that the stopper  313  could be located on the external surface of the supporting case  200 , and the corresponding recess  213  could be located on the interior surface of the upper case  300 .  
         [0064]    According to one aspect of the second, third, fifth, and sixth embodiments of the invention, the penetrating pipe  211 , through which the cylinder part  600  passes, is located inside the supporting trunk part  210 .  
         [0065]    Thus, the stand, according to the present invention, is capable of swiveling and changing the distance between the base and the display, while supporting the weight of a large-sized display, and needing no separate device for swiveling and changing the elevation of the display.  
         [0066]    To illustrate how the stand works, the following is a description of how the stand functions according to the sixth embodiment. A display is mounted to the display mounting part  700  using the second engaging hole  750 . The display can be rotated by supplying a force of predetermined magnitude to a side of the display. Since the display mounting part  700  engages the mounting bracket  500 , which in turn engages the cylinder part  600  and the rotating case  300 , the force applied to the side of the display is transferred to the rotating case  300 , and results in rotation about the axis of the cylinder part  600 . This rotation continues until the stopper  313  encounters a side of the recess  213  (see FIG. 4). Similarly, rotation of the display can occur in the opposite direction until the stopper  313  encounters an opposing side of the recess  213 .  
         [0067]    The elevation of the display can be changed by applying a force of predetermined magnitude to a top or a bottom of the display. For purposes of this example, the force is applied to the top of the display. The force is transferred from the display to the display mounting part  700 , and in turn to the mounting bracket  500  and the cylinder part  600 , as described previously. The force compresses the cylinder part  600 , sliding the cylinder  620  into the cylinder cover  610 , and changing the elevation.  
         [0068]    Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will 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 appended claims and their equivalents.