Flat panel display having sliding structure

An exemplary flat panel display (1) includes a display body (10) and a stand (12) supporting the display body. The stand includes a base (13), and a slider (14) slidably engaged to the base. The slider is configured for moving the display body upwardly or downwardly relative to the base.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a flat panel display having a display body and a sliding structure, the sliding structure being configured for moving the display body up or down as desired.

GENERAL BACKGROUND

Flat panel displays are commonly used as display devices for compact electronic apparatuses. Referring toFIG. 7, a typical flat panel display7includes a display body72, a neck74, and a base76. The neck74is integrally formed with the base76, and is connected with the display body72by a pivot axis78. The display body72and the neck74are supported by the base76, and can be rotated around the pivot axis78.

It is widely held that a healthy position for a user to view a screen of the display body72is such that a horizontal centerline of the display body72is slightly below a horizontal line of sight of the user. However, the flat panel display7is not configured to be readily adjustable to achieve this desired position. It can be troublesome and time-consuming for the user to try to adjust a working height of the display body72of the flat panel display7.

What is needed, therefore, is a flat panel display that can overcome the above-described deficiencies.

SUMMARY

In an exemplary embodiment, a flat panel display includes a display body and a stand supporting the display body. The stand includes a base, and a slider slidably engaged to the base. The slider is configured (i.e., structured and arranged) for moving the display body upwardly or downwardly relative to the base.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe the preferred embodiments in detail.

Referring toFIG. 1, a flat panel display1according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. The flat panel display1includes a display body10, a pivot axis11, and a stand12. The display body10is connected with the stand12by the pivot axis11, and is supported by the stand12.

Referring also toFIG. 2, the stand12includes a base13and a slider14. The base13includes a first tray132, two vertical arms134, and a horizontal arm136. The vertical arms134are bar-shaped, and upwardly extend in parallel from a top edge (not labeled) of the first tray132. The horizontal arm136integrally interconnects the two vertical arms134, thereby defining an essentially rectangular first opening139. The vertical arms134and the horizontal arm136cooperatively define an essentially U-shaped slide way138therein.

The slider14includes a first shell15, a second shell16located opposite to the first shell15, and a brake17located between the first shell15and the second shell16. The first shell15includes a second tray152, and a main plate154upwardly extending from an edge (not labeled) of the second tray152. A horizontal width of the main plate154is greater than a length of the horizontal arm136. The second tray152has a shape corresponding to that of the first tray132of the base13, and a size thereof is slightly less than a size of the first tray132. In the illustrated embodiment, the main plate154is essentially rectangular. The main plate154defines a second rectangular opening156in a lower portion thereof, and a first notch158at a top edge thereof. Two first location poles (not shown) outwardly extend from a back surface of the main plate154.

The second shell16is essentially rectangular, and has a shape corresponding to that of the main plate154of the first shell15. The second shell16defines a second notch160, a third opening161, and two first through holes162. The second notch160corresponds to the first notch158of the first shell15. The second notch160and the first notch158can cooperatively receive and fix the pivot axis11. The third opening161corresponds to the second opening156of the first shell15. The two first through holes162are horizontally defined in the second shell16, and are located above the third opening161. Two first protrusions163outwardly extend from an inner surface (not labeled) of the second shell16. The first protrusions163are horizontally arranged, and are spaced by one of the first through holes162. The first protrusions163each define a second through hole164therein, and centers of the second through holes164are essentially collinear. The second shell16further includes two second location poles165outwardly extending from the inner surface thereof. The second location poles165correspond to their respective first location poles of the first shell15, and each define a location hole (not labeled) therein. The location hole can fittingly receive one respective first location pole.

The brake17includes a friction bar18, a slide guide19, and a slide stopper20. The friction bar18includes an essentially cylindrical main body182, and two caps184located at two ends of the main body182. The main body182of the friction bar18can extend through the second through holes164of the first protrusions163. Each cap184is a cam mechanical structure. One of the caps184is detachable. In an alternative embodiment, the caps184of the friction bar18are both detachable.

The slide guide19has an essentially semi-cylindrical profile, and has a length substantially equal to that of the friction bar34. The slide guide19defines two first threading holes (not labeled) corresponding to two second threading holes (not shown) defined in the first shell15, so that the slide guide19can be threadingly engaged to the back surface of the first shell15by a thread bolt (not shown). The slide guide19further includes two curved elastic flanges192located at two ends thereof. The flanges192correspond to their respective caps184of the friction bar18, and can be received in the slide way138of the base13.

The slide stopper20is essentially rectangular, and includes two second protrusions202outwardly extending from a main surface thereof. The second protrusions202are horizontally arranged, and each second protrusion202defines a third through hole204therein. Centers of the third through holes204of the second protrusions202are essentially collinear. The second protrusions202correspond to the first through holes162of the second shell16.

The stand12can be assembled as follows. First, the base13is slidably engaged to the second shell16, so that the slide way138faces the first shell15. Second, the second protrusions202of the slide stopper20extend through the first through holes162from a back side of the second shell16, so that the centers of the second through holes164and those of the third through holes204are essentially collinear. Third, one of the caps184is detached, and the main body182of the friction bar18extends through the second through holes164and the third through holes204. Then the detached cap184is mounted to the main body182again. Fourth, the slide guide19is threadingly engaged to the back surface of the first shell15, so that the flanges192of the slide guide19protrude toward the slide way138. Fifth, the flanges192upwardly enter two gaps (not labeled) respectively between the caps184and the slide way138. Finally, the first shell15having the slide guide19is engaged to the second shell16. The first location poles are engaged into the location holes in the second location poles165. The flanges192of the slide guide19are received in the slide way138, and fittingly abut the caps184.

Referring also toFIG. 3andFIG. 4, the flanges192are released from the slide way138after a bottom portion of the slide stopper20is pressed toward first shell15. Thus, the first shell15and the second shell16can upwardly or downwardly slide along the slide way138. That is, a horizontal central line (not shown) of the display body10can be adjusted up or down as desired. InFIG. 5andFIG. 6, the flanges192are arrested by the respective flanges192after the bottom portion of the slide stopper20is pressed back to its original position. Thus, the first shell15and the second shell16are stopped from sliding along the slide way138. That is, the horizontal central line of the display body10can stay in a desired position.

In summary, the horizontal central line of the display body10can be conveniently adjusted by simply pressing the slide stopper20. This makes the flat panel display1suitable for operators with different heights, who can each readily obtain an optimum viewing position for the display body10. Furthermore, a distance between the first tray132and the second tray152can be adjusted so that they can cooperatively function as a clip. This enables the flat panel display1to be conveniently attached to a suitable fixed object.

It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the invention.