Supporting device for display apparatus and display apparatus having the same

A supporting device for a display apparatus, including a supporting bracket coupled to the display apparatus, a base, a stand to connect the base to the supporting bracket, and a connector mechanism to rotatably connect the stand to the supporting bracket. The connector mechanism includes a first connecting unit to rotatably connect the stand to the supporting bracket, the first connecting unit having a retainer structure to divide a rotation range of the display apparatus relative to the stand into a screen angle adjusting range and a folding range. The connector mechanism further includes a second connecting unit to rotatably connect the stand to the supporting bracket, the second connecting unit having a frictional structure to provide a rotation-coupling region thereof with a frictional force. The first connecting unit and the second connecting unit are formed as separate assemblies.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2007-0014846, filed on Feb. 13, 2007 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a supporting device for a display apparatus, and, more particularly, to a supporting device for a display apparatus in which a stand is rotatably connected to a body of the display apparatus, and a display apparatus having the same.

2. Description of the Related Art

A display apparatus, such as an LCD or PDP, includes a supporting device to support a body of the display apparatus and to adjust the angle of a body screen. The supporting device is disclosed in Korean Registered Patent Publication No. 10-0512719 (published on Sep. 7, 2005).

The supporting device, disclosed in the above publication, comprises a link member interposed between a monitor body and a base member, a base hinge to rotatably connect one end of the link member to the base member, a monitor hinge to rotatably connect the other end of the link member to the monitor body, and an auxiliary link member to convert a rotating movement of the link member relative to the base member into a rotating movement of the monitor body. In operation of the conventional supporting device, by rotating the base hinge and the monitor hinge, the angle of the monitor body relative to the base member can be appropriately adjusted. Also, the supporting device can be folded to reduce the volume of a package, for the sake of easy storage and carrying.

The monitor hinge of the above described supporting device comprises a frictional structure to provide a rotating shaft with a frictional force for keeping the screen angle of the monitor body in an adjusted state, and a retainer structure for restricting the rotation of the monitor body within an angle adjustment range.

The retainer structure includes a seesaw type stopper supported by a spring. When a user rotates the monitor body beyond the angle adjustment range of the screen, the monitor body is caught by the stopper, so as not to be rotated further. Then, when the user operates the stopper to release the monitor body from the stopper, the monitor body is further rotatable, to allow the supporting device to be folded completely.

However, since the monitor hinge, having the frictional structure and the retainer structure, has a single assembly form, the above described conventional supporting device has a problem of a complicated connection between the monitor body and the link member in the course of manufacture.

Furthermore, the retainer structure has a complicated configuration and tends to cause trouble in use because the user has to manually release the monitor body from the stopper of the retainer structure when it is desired to completely fold the supporting device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems. It is an aspect of the invention to provide a supporting device for a display apparatus capable of being assembled easily, and a display apparatus having the same.

It is a further aspect of the invention to provide a supporting device for a display apparatus which can achieve a more simplified retainer structure provided at a connecting region thereof as compared to the prior art and can be folded easily, and a display apparatus having the same.

In accordance with the invention, the above and/or other aspects can be achieved by the provision of a supporting device for a display apparatus, comprising a supporting bracket coupled to the display apparatus, a base, a stand to connect the base to the supporting bracket, and a connector mechanism to rotatably connect the stand to the supporting bracket, wherein the connector mechanism comprises: a first connecting unit to rotatably connect the stand to the supporting bracket, the first connecting unit having a retainer structure to divide a rotation range of the display apparatus relative to the stand into a screen angle adjusting range and a folding range; and a second connecting unit to rotatably connect the stand to the supporting bracket, the second connecting unit having a frictional structure to provide a rotation-coupling region thereof with a frictional force, and wherein the first connecting unit and the second connecting unit take the form of separate assemblies.

The first connecting unit may comprise a first hinge shaft coupled, in a rotation-limited state, to the stand and a first connecting member having one side rotatably coupled to the first hinge shaft and the other side fixed to the supporting bracket, the retainer structure may comprise a first protrusion protruding from a side surface of the first connecting member, a retaining plate coupled, in a rotation-limited state, around an outer surface of the first hinge shaft and having a second protrusion provided at a position corresponding to the first protrusion, and a fastening nut fastened around the outer surface of the first hinge shaft so as to force the retaining plate to be in close contact with the first connecting member.

The retainer structure may further comprise at least one spring washer coupled around the outer surface of the first hinge shaft between the fastening nut and the retaining plate.

The first hinge shaft may comprise a head portion formed at one end thereof for preventing separation of the first connecting member, and a non-circular sectional portion to limit rotation of the retaining plate and the first hinge shaft.

The stand may comprise a shaft coupling portion provided at one side of an upper end of the stand for the coupling of the first hinge shaft, the shaft coupling portion having a non-circular shaft coupling hole.

The first connecting unit may further comprise a torsion spring installed around the outer surface of the first hinge shaft, the torsion spring having one end fixed to the stand and the other end coupled to the first connecting member.

The connector mechanism may further comprise a fixing bracket detachably coupled to an upper end portion of the stand for the installation of the second connecting unit, the second connecting unit may comprise a second hinge shaft coupled, in a rotation-limited state, to the fixing bracket and a second connecting member having one side rotatably coupled to the second hinge shaft and the other side fixed to the supporting bracket, and the frictional structure may comprise a frictional member coupled around the outer surface of the second hinge shaft, the frictional member having elasticity to tighten the outer surface of the second hinge shaft and being coupled, in a rotation-limited state, to the second connecting member.

The second hinge shaft may have a non-circular sectional portion provided at a portion thereof to be coupled to the fixing bracket, and the fixing bracket may have a non-circular shaft coupling hole for the coupling of the second hinge shaft.

The supporting device may further comprise a rotation-limit structure to limit a rotation range of the second connecting member relative to the fixing bracket, the rotation-limit structure may comprise a holding piece protruding from the second connecting member toward the fixed bracket, a first stepped supporting portion provided at a position of the fixing bracket to limit a rotation range of the holding piece in a first direction, and a second stepped supporting portion provided at an opposite position of the fixing bracket to limit a rotation range of the holding piece in a second direction.

The connector mechanism may further comprise fastening screws to connect the first connecting unit and the second connecting unit to each other.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a display apparatus comprising a body having a screen and a supporting device to support the body, wherein the supporting device may comprise a supporting bracket coupled to the body, a base to support the body, a stand to connect the base to the supporting bracket, and a connector mechanism to rotatably connect the stand to the supporting bracket, the connector mechanism may comprises: a first connecting unit to rotatably connect the stand to the supporting bracket, the first connecting unit having a retainer structure to divide a rotation range of the display apparatus relative to the stand into a screen angle adjusting range and a folding range; and a second connecting unit to rotatably connect the stand to the supporting bracket, the second connecting unit having a frictional structure to provide a rotation-coupling region thereof with a frictional force, and the first connecting unit and the second connecting unit may take the form of separate assemblies.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1illustrates an LCD monitor as one example of a display apparatus provided with a supporting device in accordance with the present invention. The display apparatus comprises a body10having a screen (not shown) mounted in a front surface thereof, and a supporting device20to support the body10.

The supporting device20includes a flat-plate base30to be put on a desk or table for supporting the body10, a supporting bracket50coupled to a rear surface of the body10, and a stand40having a lower end portion coupled to the base30and an upper end portion coupled to the supporting bracket50. To fold the supporting device20as shown inFIG. 2when it is desired, for example, to package the display apparatus, or to rotate the body10forward or rearward for the adjustment of a screen tilting angle as shown inFIG. 3, the supporting device20further includes a lower connector mechanism100to rotatably connect the base30to the lower end portion of the stand40, and an upper connector mechanism200to rotatably connect the supporting bracket50to the upper end portion of the stand40.

The supporting bracket50, as shown inFIG. 4, includes a pivot bracket51rotatably coupled to a front surface thereof. The pivot bracket51is coupled to the rear surface of the body10, to rotate the screen of the body10so as to allow the screen to be oriented in a horizontal direction or vertical direction. Although the present embodiment illustrates the supporting bracket50having the pivot bracket51, the supporting bracket50may be configured to have no pivot bracket51.

The lower connector mechanism100to connect the lower end portion of the stand40to the base30, as shown inFIG. 4, includes fixing brackets101and102mounted on an upper surface of the base30with a distance therebetween, and at least one hinge shaft103to rotatably connect the fixing brackets101and102to the lower end portion of the stand40. The hinge shaft103is inserted through both the fixing brackets101and102by a nut-fastening method. The lower connector mechanism100further includes at least one torsion spring105installed around the outer surface of the hinge shaft103, and a frictional structure (not shown) provided at a connecting region between the hinge shaft103and the stand40, to provide the connecting region with a frictional force. Even if a rotating force acts on the lower connector mechanism100by the weight of the body10, the torsion spring105can compensate for the rotating force by elasticity thereof, thereby guaranteeing a smooth rotating motion of the stand40. Also, after the stand40is rotated forward or rearward to adjust the angle thereof, the adjusted angle of the stand40can be kept by a frictional force of the frictional structure.

The upper connector mechanism200, which connects the upper end portion of the stand40to the supporting bracket50, as shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, includes first and second connecting units210and250to rotatably connect the upper end portion of the stand40to the supporting bracket50, and a fixing bracket300to install the second connecting unit250to the stand40. The first and second connecting units210and250are provided as separate assemblies and can be sequentially assembled to each other, to facilitate connecting between the supporting bracket50and the upper end portion of the stand40.

The first connecting unit210, as shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, includes a first hinge shaft220coupled, in a rotation-limited state, to the upper end portion of the stand40, and a first connecting member230having one side rotatably coupled with the first hinge shaft220and the other side fixed to the supporting bracket50. The first connecting member230has a fixing portion232fixed to the supporting bracket50by fastening fixing screws231, an extended portion233extended from the fixing portion232at a right angle, and a shaft coupling portion234having a shaft coupling hole235for the coupling of the first hinge shaft220. The first hinge shaft220has a head portion221formed at one end thereof to prevent separation of the first connecting member230, a non-circular sectional portion222to allow the first hinge shaft220to be coupled, in a rotation-limited state, to the upper end portion of the stand40, and a screw portion223for the coupling of a fastening nut211.

The first connecting unit210further includes a retainer structure to divide the rotation range of the body10relative to the stand40into a screen angle adjusting range A and a folding range B, as shown inFIG. 3. The screen angle adjusting range A is a range in which the body10is rotated manually to adjust the forward or rearward titling angle of the screen during the use of the display apparatus. The folding range B is a range in which the body10is manually further rotated rearward to fold the supporting device20as shown inFIG. 2when it is desired, for example, to package the display apparatus. In the course of being manually rotated rearward, the body10will be slightly caught by the retainer structure at a boundary between the screen angle adjusting range A and the folding range B and therefore, the retainer structure serves to separate the screen angle adjusting range A and the folding range B from each other.

For this, the retainer structure, as shown inFIG. 6, includes a first protrusion241formed at a side surface of the shaft coupling portion234of the first connecting member230, a retaining plate243coupled, in a rotation-limited state, around the outer surface of the first hinge shaft220and having a second protrusion242at a position corresponding to the first protrusion241, a plurality of spring washers244,245and246coupled around the outer surface of the first hinge shaft220, to force the retaining plate243to be in close contact with the first connecting member230, and the fastening nut211. A washer247may be additionally installed between the first connecting member230and the retaining plate243, to adjust a gap therebetween. The retaining plate243is centrally perforated with a non-circular shaft coupling hole248. Accordingly, as the non-circular sectional portion222of the first hinge shaft220is inserted into the shaft coupling hole248of the retaining plate243, a rotating motion of the retaining plate243relative to the first hinge shaft220is limited.

To assemble the first connecting unit210, as shown inFIG. 6, after the first connecting member230, the washer247, the retaining plate243, the plurality of spring washers244,245and246are sequentially fitted around the outer surface of the first hinge shaft220, the fastening nut211is fastened. In this way, the first connecting unit210takes the form of a single assembly as shown inFIG. 5.

With the above described configuration, when the body10is rotated relative to the stand40, the second protrusion242of the retaining plate241is kept in a stationary state and the corresponding first protrusion241is rotated together with the first connecting member230. Thereby, the first protrusion241can be caught by the second protrusion242in the course of adjusting the angle of the screen. Specifically, the first protrusion241can be caught by the second protrusion242at the boundary between the screen angle adjusting range A and the folding range B. Then, the body10is further rotated rearward by a bit of force in a state wherein the first protrusion241is caught by the second protrusion242in the course of rotating the body10rearward from a position within the screen angle adjusting range A ofFIG. 3, the first protrusion241can pass over the second protrusion242and be rotated into the folding range B ofFIG. 3. As the first protrusion241is further rotated in the folding range B, the first protrusion241is again caught by the second protrusion242, so as to keep the supporting device20in a folded state.

To facilitate the above described operation, it is important to adjust a gap between the first connecting member230having the first protrusion241and the retaining plate243having the second protrusion242. For this, in the present invention, the first connecting unit210, which was previously assembled as shown inFIG. 5, is used to connect the stand40to the supporting bracket50, therefore the gap between the first connecting member230and the retaining plate243can be maintained accurately.

As shown inFIG. 5, the stand40is provided, at one side of the upper end portion thereof, with a shaft coupling portion41having a non-circular shaft coupling hole42such that the first hinge shaft220of the first connecting unit210can be inserted, in a rotation-limited state, into the non-circular shaft coupling hole42. The first connecting unit210is installed, on the outer surface of the first hinge shaft220, with a torsion spring212. The torsion spring212has one end213coupled into a spring coupling hole236of the first connecting member230and the other end214coupled into the shaft coupling portion41of the stand40. In the course that the body10is rotated forward or rearward to adjust the angle of the screen, the torsion spring212serves to compensate for a rotating force of the first connecting member230caused by the weight of the body10, thereby facilitating the angle adjustment of the screen of the body10. That is, if the center of gravity of the body10is displaced forward or rearward and consequently, the body10is forced to be rotated in the same direction, the torsion spring212imparts an elastic force to rotate the body in an opposite direction, to thereby compensate for the rotation of the body10.

The second connecting unit250, as shown inFIGS. 5 and 7, includes a second hinge shaft260coupled, in a rotation-limited state, to the fixing bracket300, and a second connecting member280having one side rotatably coupled to the second hinge shaft260and the other side fixed to the supporting bracket50by fastening fixing screws251. The second connecting unit250further includes a frictional structure to provide a rotation-coupling region between the second hinge shaft260and the second connecting member280with a frictional force. The frictional structure, as shown inFIGS. 7 and 8, includes a cylindrical frictional member270coupled around the outer surface of the second hinge shaft260, the cylindrical frictional member270having a longitudinal incision271. The frictional member270has elasticity such that an inner surface of the frictional member270surrounds and tightens the outer surface of the second hinge shaft260. The frictional member270has a pair of holding pieces272formed at opposite circumferential positions thereof. As the holding pieces272are caught by the inner surface of the second connecting member280so as to be kept at fixed positions, the rotation of the frictional member270relative to the second connecting member280is limited. The second connecting member280internally defines a hollow281for the penetration of the second hinge shaft260and the seating of the frictional member270.

The second hinge shaft260has a non-circular sectional portion261formed at a portion thereof to be coupled into the fixing bracket300. The fixing bracket300has a non-circular shaft coupling hole310for the coupling of the second hinge shaft260. Accordingly, the second hinge shaft260can be coupled, in a rotation-limited state, to the fixing bracket300. A washer252may be selectively interposed between the second connecting member280and the fixing bracket300, to reduce, for example, the wear of a coupling region between the second connecting member280and the fixing bracket300.

In cooperation with the previously described first connecting unit210, the second connecting unit250, having the above described configuration, can rotatably connect the stand40to the supporting bracket50and also, impart a frictional force to the rotation-coupling region by means of the frictional member270. With the provision of the frictional force, after the body10is rotated forward or rearward to adjust the angle of the screen, the body10can be kept at the adjusted state.

The second connecting member280and the fixing bracket300are provided with a rotation-limit structure to allow the supporting bracket50to be rotated relative to the stand40only within a predetermined range. The rotation-limit structure, as shown inFIG. 7, includes a holding piece291protruding from the second connecting member280toward the fixing bracket300, a first stepped supporting portion292formed at a circumferential position of the fixing bracket300to limit the rotation range of the holding piece291in a first direction, and a second stepped supporting portion293formed at an opposite circumferential position of the fixing bracket300to limit the rotation range of the holding piece291in a second direction. With this configuration, when the body10is rotated forward, the forward rotation of the body10can be limited as the holding piece291is caught by the first stepped supporting portion292. Also, when the body10is rotated rearward, the rearward rotation of the body10can be limited as the holding piece291is caught by the second stepped supporting portion293.

Hereinafter, a method (i.e. assembling method) for connecting the stand40to the supporting bracket50by use of the above described upper connector mechanism200will be described.

Referring toFIG. 5, to connect the stand40to the supporting bracket50, first, the torsion spring212is disposed around the outer surface of the first hinge shaft220of the first connecting unit210. Then, the first hinge shaft220is coupled into the shaft coupling portion41provided at the upper end portion of the stand40. In sequence, the first connecting member230is fixed to the supporting bracket50by fastening the fixing screws231into the first connecting member230. Thereafter, the second connecting unit250is installed.

To install the second connecting unit250, in a state wherein the second hinge shaft260, which was previously coupled with the frictional member270, is mounted to the second connecting member280, the second connecting member280is fixed to the supporting bracket50by fastening the fixing screws251. Then, after inserting the washer252and the fixing bracket300around the second hinge shaft260, the fixing bracket300is fixed to the stand40by fastening the fixing screws320. Finally, the first connecting unit210and the second connecting unit250are coupled to each other by use of fastening screws400. In this way, the coupling between the stand40and the supporting bracket50can be completed as shown inFIG. 4.

As apparent from the above description, the present invention provides a supporting device for a display apparatus, in which a connector mechanism for connecting the upper end portion of a stand to a supporting bracket includes first and second connecting units, and the first and second connecting units take the form of separate assemblies. With this configuration, the present invention has the effect of guaranteeing the easy assembling of the connector mechanism used to connect the upper end portion of the stand to the supporting bracket.

According to the present invention, the first connecting unit has a retainer structure, which includes a first protrusion of a first connecting member and a second protrusion of a retaining plate. The retainer structure of the present invention has a significantly simplified configuration as compared to the prior art.

Further, since the retainer structure is included in the first connecting unit provided as a separate assembly, even after completing the assembling of the supporting device, a gap between the first protrusion of the first connecting member and the second protrusion of the retaining plate can be kept accurately. That is to say, the present invention has the effect of eliminating the risk of a variation in the gap between the first and second protrusions even after the assembling of the supporting device.

Furthermore, when a body of the display apparatus is rotated rearward to fold the supporting device, the first protrusion can be rotated into a folding range by passing through the second protrusion, and consequently, the supporting device can be folded easily. Once the supporting device is folded, moreover, the first protrusion can be caught by the second protrusion, to keep the supporting device in the folded state.