LCD panel mounting apparatus

An exemplary LCD panel mounting apparatus includes a bracket, a pair of frames, and a pair of actuators. The bracket includes a flange defining a pair of slots therein. The frames are slidably attached to the bracket in a first direction and each includes a first sliding member defining a pair of notches therein along the first direction. The actuators are slidably attached to the bracket in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and each includes a post selectively engaging in one of the notches of the frames, and a handling tab extending through the corresponding slot of the bracket. The frames each include a pair of seats defining threaded holes therein to fix different size LCD panels thereon.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to mounting apparatus for mounting LCDs thereon, and particularly to a mounting apparatus which can be adjusted to mount different size LCD panels thereon.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Generally, in a portable computer, including but not limited to devices such as a notebook type personal computer, a PDA apparatus and the like, a lid containing a LCD display, which serves as a display unit to display a picture, is pivotably connected to a back end of the computer body. In the conventional portable computer, the lid with a certain size holds a LCD panel with a fixed corresponding size. When users need another size display screen to fulfill different viewing requirements, the old lid must be replaced with a new one, which is costly.

What is needed, therefore, is a mounting apparatus which can adjustably receive different size LCD panels mounted thereon.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a preferred embodiment, an LCD panel mounting apparatus includes a bracket, a pair of frames, and a pair of actuators. The bracket includes a flange defining a pair of slots therein. The frames are slidably attached to the bracket in a first direction and each includes a first sliding member defining a pair of notches therein along the first direction. The actuators are slidably attached to the bracket in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and each includes a post selectively engaging in one of the notches of the frames, and a handling tab extending through the corresponding slot of the bracket. The frames each include a pair of seats defining threaded holes therein to fix different size LCD panels thereon.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIG. 1, an LCD panel mounting apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention adjustably mounts different size LCD panels thereon. In this preferred embodiment, the mounting apparatus has a symmetrical configuration, and only a left portion of the mounting apparatus, which is same as a right portion thereof, is introduced. The LCD panel mounting apparatus includes a bracket10, a frame30, an actuator50, and a covering plate70. The covering plate70includes a pair of hooks72formed at opposite ends thereof, respectively.

Referring also toFIG. 2, the bracket10includes a back wall11, and a pair of flanges131,132respectively extending from two opposite longwise edges of the back wall11. The back wall11includes a curved portion112formed at a fore end portion thereof, adjacent the flange131. A slot133is defined in the flange131. A pair of first rails111extends longwise from the back wall11adjacent the flange131. A pair of second rails113extends from the back wall11below the upper flange131, corresponding to the slot133and perpendicular to the first railways111. A first blocking bar115and a second blocking bar117generally in a line extend from the back wall11perpendicular to the first rails111. The second blocking bar117is located below the flange131. The back wall11includes a third railway (not shown) longwise defined thereon and located below the flange132. A block118extends from the back wall11near a right end of the first rails111.

Referring also toFIG. 3, the frame30includes a main body31, a first sliding member33, and a second sliding member35. The main body31has a curved end, corresponding to the curved portion112of the bracket10. The main body31includes a first part311, and a second part315juxtaposed with the first part311. A pair of recesses312is defined in two ends of the first part311, corresponding to the hooks72of the covering plate70. A pair of seats313defining threaded holes extends from the first part311. The second part315includes a pair of hems316,317extending from two ends thereof, slidably engaging with the flanges131,132of the bracket10. The first sliding member33is a board extending from the main body31, corresponding to the first rails111of the bracket10. A first notch331and a second notch332are defined in an edge portion of the first sliding member33. A half cylinder333extends from a fore portion of the first sliding member33, and cooperates with the first sliding member33to define a cylindrical shaped hole (not shown), to receive a first resilient member62therein. The second sliding member35is a pole extending from the main body31parallel to the first sliding member33, corresponding to the third railway of the bracket10.

Referring toFIGS. 4 and 5, the actuator50includes a base52, and a wedged block54standing on the base52, and a handling tab56standing on the wedged block54. The base52includes a pair of channels522defined in side portions thereof, and an extension board524horizontally extending from a top of the base52. A post526depends from a lower surface of the extension board524. The wedged block54has a sloped wall542formed on a rear portion thereof, corresponding to the curved portion112of the bracket10. An opening544is defined in the sloped wall542. A shaft546extends from the base52toward the opening544, together with the curved portion112of the bracket10to hold a second resilient member64therebetween.

Referring also toFIG. 6, in assembly, only the left portion of the mounting apparatus is introduced. The frame30is attached to the bracket10, with the first sliding member33sliding along the first rails111and the second sliding member35sliding along the third railway. The hems316,317of the frame30slide along lower surfaces of the flanges131,132of the bracket10, respectively. The first resilient member62is received in the hole of the half cylinder333and the first sliding member33of the frame30and movably abuts against the block118of the back wall11of the bracket10. The frame30is moved rightward until a right edge of the second part315of the main body31contacts the first blocking bar115and the second blocking bar117. The actuator50is attached to the bracket10, with the second rails113slidably engaging in the channels522and the extension board524presses against the first sliding member33of the frame30. The handling tab56extends out of the slot133of the first flange131of the bracket10. The second resilient member64is fixed around the shaft546and through the opening544to movably abut against the curved portion112of the bracket10. The post526engages in the second notch332of the frame30.

Referring also toFIG. 7, the mounting apparatus is assembled to a base member80of a notebook computer (not labeled). A first LCD panel82is attached to the mounting apparatus, with fasteners (not shown) engaging with the seats313of the frames30. Then the covering plates70are attached to the frames30with the hooks72engaging in the recesses312.

Referring also toFIG. 8, a second larger LCD panel84is attached to the mounting apparatus. The handling tab56of the actuator50is moved to release the post526from the second notch332and the second resilient member64is depressed. The frame30is moved leftward, with the first sliding member33sliding along the first rails111of the bracket10and the second sliding member35sliding in the third railway of the bracket10. The hems316,317of the frame30slide along lower surfaces of the flanges131,132of the bracket10, respectively. When the post526aligns with the first notch331of the frame30, the handling tab56is released so that the post526is located in the first notch331. The second LCD panel84is attached to the mounting apparatus, with fasteners engaging with the seats313of the frame30. Then the covering plates70are attached to the frames30with the hooks72engaging in the recesses312.