Support stand

A support stand includes a base, a supporting bracket, a first hinge assembly positioned between the base and the bracket, a second hinge assembly, and a third hinge assembly. The second hinge assembly and the third hinge assembly are positioned between the supporting bracket and a display body of the electronic device. The second hinge assembly includes a connecting bracket. The third hinge assembly includes a pivot shaft and a sleeve member. The sleeve member includes a leaf and a sleeve extending from an end of the leaf. The pivot shaft is firmly engaged in the sleeve of the sleeve member.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to support stands and, more particularly, to a support stand used for supporting a display body.

2. Description of the Related Art

A typical support stand for flat-panel displays, such as liquid crystal display (LCD) monitors, generally includes a base, a monitor bracket, a first hinge assembly positioned between the base and the monitor bracket, a second hinge assembly, and a third hinge assembly positioned between the monitor bracket and a display body. The first, second, and third hinge assemblies provide rotation around three rotational axes.

However, the monitor bracket is generally made of magnesium alloy and zinc alloy. Therefore, a material cost of the monitor bracket is high. In addition, each of the first, second, and third hinge assemblies includes a plurality of resilient washers and a plurality of friction washers, to provide frictional forces. Thus, the first, second, and third hinge assemblies include many components, causing high production costs. Furthermore, the frictional forces applied on components of the support stand are unequal. Thus, a usage life of the support stand is shortened.

Therefore, a support stand to solve the aforementioned problem is desired.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The present disclosure may be applied in electronic device having a display body. In the illustrated embodiment, the electronic device is a liquid crystal display. Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, a liquid crystal display100includes a display body10and a support stand20to support the display body10. The support stand20includes a base22, a supporting assembly24, a first hinge assembly26, a second hinge assembly28, and a third hinge assembly30.

The first hinge assembly26may be rotatably connected between the base22and the supporting assembly24, such that the supporting assembly24is rotatable relative to the base22around a first axis A-A. The second hinge assembly28and the third hinge assembly30may be rotatably connected between the supporting assembly24and the display body10, such that the display body10may be rotatable relative to the supporting assembly24around the second axis B-B and the third axis C-C, respectively.

The base22may be substantially rectangular shaped. The base22is configured to support other components of the liquid crystal display100. Alternatively, the base22may be other shapes, such as circular.

Referring toFIG. 3, the supporting assembly24includes a supporting bracket242, a first casing244, a second casing246, and a third casing248. A cross-section of the supporting bracket242may be substantially U-shaped. The supporting bracket242may be made of a steel plate coated with a zincous layer or other protecting layers, to keep the material cost of the supporting bracket242low. In addition, the supporting bracket242may be made by punching to keep the manufacturing cost of the supporting bracket242low.

The first, second, and third casings244,246,248may be made of plastic. The first, second, and third casings244,246,248cover the supporting bracket242, so that the supporting assembly24has a good appearance.

Referring toFIG. 4, the supporting bracket242includes a base plate (not labeled) and a pair of side plates (not labeled) extending substantially perpendicularly from the base plate. Each of the side plates defines a substantially circular connecting hole2422and a substantially rectangular inserting hole2424. The supporting bracket242has a resisting surface2428adjacent to the first hinge assembly26. An abutting portion2426extends substantially perpendicularly from an end of the base plate of the supporting bracket242.

The first hinge assembly26includes two first hinge subassemblies262. Each of the first hinge subassemblies262includes a pivot shaft264, a pair of friction washers266, a tab washer268, a base bracket270, a pair of resilient washers272, a fixing member274, and a torsion spring276.

The pivot shaft264includes a flange (not labeled) and a non-circular shaft portion (not labeled) extending from an end surface of the flange. The flange of the pivot shaft264is configured to resist a corresponding washer266. The pivot shaft264forms a threaded portion (not labeled) on a distal end opposite to the flange. The threaded portion of the pivot shaft264is configured to engage with the fixing member274.

The friction washer266defines a non-circular hole in a center portion. The friction washer266follows the rotation of the pivot shaft264.

The tab washer268may be substantially ring shaped. A tab2682extends from a periphery of the tab washer268along a direction substantially parallel to an axis of the tab washer268. The tab2682is configured for engaging in the inserting hole2424of the supporting bracket242, such that the tab washer268follows the rotation of the supporting bracket242.

The base bracket270includes a connecting portion278and a fixing portion280extending substantially perpendicularly from the connecting portion278. The connecting portion278defines an assembly hole2782. A limiting surface2784is formed on the connecting portion278. The limiting surface2784includes a slanted surface and a flat surface. The limiting surface2784is configured for abutting the resisting surface2428of the supporting bracket242, thereby restricting a rotation range of the supporting bracket242relative to the base bracket270.

The resilient washers272may be substantially ring shaped, and configured for providing an axial force.

The fixing member274may be a nut. The fixing member274is configured for engaging with the threaded portion of the pivot shaft264to press the resilient washers272on the pivot shaft264.

The torsion spring276includes a spring coil (not labeled), a first assembling portion2762and a second assembling portion2764extending from two ends of the spring coil. The first assembly portion2762is inserted into the assembly hole2782of the base bracket270, and the second assembly portion2764is latched to the abutting portion2426of the supporting bracket242.

Referring toFIG. 5, the second hinge assembly28includes a pivot shaft282, a washer284, a frictional washer286, a rotating bracket288, a washer member290, a washer follower292, a connecting bracket294, a resilient ring296, and a fixing member298. The second hinge assembly28further includes a limiting member2882fixed to the rotating bracket288. A distal end of the limiting member2882may be smooth.

The pivot shaft282includes a flange (not labeled) and a non-circular shaft portion (not labeled) extending from an end surface of the flange. The flange of the pivot shaft282is configured to abut the washer284.

The frictional washer286may be substantially ring shaped. Two tabs2862extend from a periphery of the frictional washer286along a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the frictional washer286.

The rotating bracket288may be a circular plate. The rotating bracket288defines a through hole2880in a central portion therein. The rotating bracket288further defines a plurality of latching holes2884and a plurality of circular assembly holes2886. The latching holes2884and the assembly holes2886may be evenly arranged on a periphery of the through hole2880.

The washer member290may be a circular plate, and defines a through hole2902in a center portion therein. A plurality of positioning protrusions2904may be evenly arranged at a periphery of the through hole2902. Two tabs (not labeled) extend from a periphery of the washer member290. The tabs2862of the frictional washer286and the tabs of the washer member290are configured to engage in the latching holes2884of the rotating bracket288, so that the frictional washer286and the washer member290follow the rotation of the rotating bracket288.

The washer follower292may be a circular plate, and defines a through hole (not labeled) in a central portion therein. The washer follower292further defines a plurality of positioning holes2922corresponding to the positioning protrusions2904of the washer member290. A plurality of tabs2924extend from a periphery of the washer follower292along a direction substantially parallel to an axis of the washer follower292.

Alternatively, the washer member290may define a plurality of positioning holes, and accordingly, a plurality of positioning protrusions corresponding to the positioning holes may be formed on the washer follower292.

The connecting bracket294includes a main portion2942and two connecting portions2944extending substantially perpendicularly from opposite sides of the main portion2942. Each of the main portion2942and the connecting portions2944defines a non-circular hole therein. The main portion2942further defines a plurality of latching holes (not labeled) configured for receiving the tabs2924of the washer follower292. A top surface of the main portion2942may be a curved surface2946, in which two ends of the curved surface2946are depressed portions (not labeled). The curved surface2946is configured for resisting the limiting member2882.

The resilient ring296may be a circular plate. The resilient ring296is configured to provide an axial force.

The third hinge assembly30includes a pivot shaft302, a sleeve member304, and a clip ring306. The pivot shaft302includes a flange3022and a non-circular shaft portion3024extending from an end surface of the flange3022. The shaft portion3024defines a latching groove3026in a distal end.

The sleeve member304includes a leaf3042and a sleeve3044extending from an end of the leaf3042. The leaf3042is fixed to the supporting bracket242. The sleeve3044is formed by bending a flat plate. A cross-section of the sleeve3044may be substantially C-shaped. The sleeve3044defines a sleeve hole3046having a diameter slightly smaller than a diameter of the shaft portion3024of the pivot shaft302. The sleeve3044further defines a plurality of lubricant holes3048extending through a sidewall of the sleeve3044.

The clip ring306may be substantially a C-shaped clip. The clip ring306is configured to engage into the latching groove3026of the pivot shaft302, thereby preventing the sleeve member304from being detached from the pivot shaft302.

Referring toFIGS. 4 through 6, in assembly, the pivot shaft264of each first hinge assembly26is passed through the friction washer266, the connecting hole2422of the supporting bracket242, the tab washer268, the other friction washer266, the connecting portion278of the base bracket270, and the resilient washers272, in that order. The tab2682of the tab washer268is inserted into the inserting hole2424of the supporting bracket242. The fixing member274engages with the threaded portion of the pivot shaft264. The torsion spring276is sleeved on the resilient washers272and the fixing member274. The first assembling portion2762of the torsion spring276is inserted into the assembly hole2782of the base bracket270, and the second assembling portion2764of the torsion spring276is latched to the abutting portion2426of the supporting bracket242. The torsion spring276is deflected. The base bracket270is fixed to the base22. Thus, the first hinge assembly26is assembled. The washer266and the resilient washers272follow the rotation of the pivot shaft264. The supporting bracket242and the tab washer268are rotatable relative to the pivot shaft264. The torsion spring provides an elastic force.

The pivot shaft282of the second hinge assembly28is passed through the washer284, the frictional washer286, the through hole2880of the rotating bracket288, the through hole2902of the washer member290, the washer follower292, the main portion2942of the connecting bracket294, and the resilient ring296, in that order. The fixing member298engages with a distal end of the pivot shaft282. The tabs2862of the frictional washer286and the tabs of the washer member290are inserted into the latching holes2884of the rotating bracket288. The tabs2924of the washer follower292are inserted into the latching holes of the connecting bracket294. The washer284, the washer follower292, the connecting bracket294, and the resilient ring296follow the rotation of the pivot shaft282. The frictional washer286, the rotating bracket288, and the washer member290are rotatable relative to the pivot shaft282.

The limiting member2882is fixed to the rotating bracket288. A periphery surface of the distal end of the limiting member2882abuts the curved surface2946of the connecting bracket294, thereby restricting the rotational range of the connecting bracket294. The rotating bracket288is fixed to the display body10of the liquid crystal display100. Thus, the second hinge assembly28is assembled.

The shaft portion3024of the pivot shaft302of the third hinge assembly30is passed through one of the connecting portions2944of the connecting bracket294, the sleeve hole3046of the sleeve member304, and the other connecting portions2944of the connecting bracket294, in that order. The shaft portion3024of the pivot shaft302is firmly engaged in the sleeve hole3046of the sleeve member304. The clip ring306is engaged into the latching groove3026of the pivot shaft302. The leaf3042of the sleeve member304is fixed to the supporting bracket242. Thus, the third hinge assembly30is assembled.

The first, second, and third casings244,246,248cooperatively cover the supporting bracket242. Thus, the liquid crystal display100is assembled.

Referring also toFIG. 2, the first, second, and third axes A-A, B-B, C-C respectively correspond to the axis of the pivot shaft264of the first hinge assembly26, the axis of the pivot shaft282of the second hinge assembly28, and the axis of the pivot shaft302of the third hinge assembly30. In use, when a force is applied on the display body10to drive the display body10to rotate around the first axis A-A, the display body10drives the supporting bracket242to rotate around the first axis A-A. An end of the supporting bracket242connected to the display body10is moved away from the base22. The torsion spring276creates an elastic force, thereby reducing the force enabling the display body10to rotate. The display body10rotates around the first axis A-A until the resisting surface2428of the supporting bracket242abuts the limiting surface2784of the base bracket270. In the illustrated embodiment, a rotation range of the supporting bracket242rotating around the first axis A-A is about 0 degrees to about 90 degrees. The rotational range may be varied.

When a force is applied on the display body10to drive the display body10to rotate around the second axis B-B, the display body10drives the rotating bracket288to rotate around the second axis B-B. The washer member290rotates relative to the washer follower292. When the display body10rotates through predetermined positions, the positioning protrusions2904of the washer member290engage in the positioning holes2922of the washer follower292. As such, it is more difficult to rotate the display body10in the predetermined positions than in other positions. The limiting member2882abuts the curved surface2946of the connecting bracket294and slides along the curved surface2946. The force enabling the display body10to rotate is substantially stable. The display body10stops rotating when the limiting member2882fits into the depressed portions of the curved surface2946. In the illustrated embodiment, a rotational range of the display body10rotating around the second axis B-B is about 0 degrees to about 90 degrees.

When a force is applied on the display body10to drive the display body10to rotate around the third axis C-C, the display body10drives the connecting bracket294to rotate around the third axis C-C. The pivot shaft302of the third hinge assembly30rotates relative to the sleeve member304. The display body10may remain in any desired position due to the friction force between the pivot shaft302and the sleeve member304. In the illustrated embodiment, a rotatable range of the display body10around the third axis C-C is about 0 degrees to about 180 degrees.

When the support stand20is adopted in the liquid crystal display100, the liquid crystal display100may be folded to a shape as shown inFIG. 7. The display body10, the supporting assembly24, and the base22substantially parallel to one another, thereby decreasing an occupying space of the liquid crystal display100.

In the illustrated embodiment, the number of components of the third hinge assembly30is small, so that the third hinge assembly30may be easily assembled and disassembled. The gravitational force of the display body10acts on the third hinge assembly30. An engaging surface between the pivot shaft302and the sleeve member304is large, thereby preventing the gravitational force from concentrating on a portion of the hinge assembly30. Thus, a work life of the hinge assembly30is prolonged.