Display box

Abstract: A display box contains a display device having a display screen and comprises a transparent panel at the position opposed to the display screen. An ultrasonic oscillator for driving the transparent panel is provided with the box.

Description: The present invention relates to a display box, forming at least part of the front wall of said display box, which part of said front wall faces a display screen contained in said box. In case of varied display devices having display screens such as a television set in a bathroom, the display device has been put in the display box and has been set in order to protect the display device from the moisture. The display box contains a transparent panel with which the display screen of the display device faces. In such kind of a display box, condensation is generated on the outer surface to the transparent panel, so that the display screen becomes difficult to visualize. JP-A-5770754 discloses a window glass of an automobile or the like vehicle provided with an ultrasonic oscillator. This arrangement is made in order to prevent water droplets or water film which are splashed on the window glass from attaching to said window glass. Unfortunately, this window glass gets in touch with the water droplets or the water film so that it has contstantly to be cleaned by the ultrasonic wave vibration provided by the ultrasonic oscillator. The transparency of the window glass can be unsatisfactory due to the constant fluid water film on the screen. US-A-4768256 discloses an ultrasonic wiper for conveying fluid off the windshield glass of a vehicle by comprising ultrasonic oscillators which excite progressive waves in the glass in a predetermined directional movement. By this movement, rain and snow adhered to the outer surface of the windshield glass are caused to follow this movement downwardly or upwardly on the window glass. This device serves as a substitution for a conventional mechanical wiper with wiper blades. Unfortunately, the windshield glass gets in touch with the rain droplets or the snow so that the transparency of the windshield glass is unsatisfactory due to a constant water film. The object of the present invention is to provide an improved display box, wherein condensation of the transparent panel is prevented and the display screen is always visualized clearly. According to the invention this object is attained by the features cited in the characterizing clause of claim 1. Advantageously, a micro water droplet adhered or going to be adhered to the transparent panel surface is diverged by that the transparent panel is driven by the ultrasonic wave. Thereby, the transparent panel is prevented from moisture condensation of water or adhering of water droplets on its surface when exposed to high humidity environment. Thus, the transparent panel is clear and transparent at all times. In the display box, the transparent panel is easily oscillated as a whole, thereby realizing excellent effect of preventing condensation securely over the whole surface of the screen. Brief Description of the Drawings: Fig. 1 is a plane view of the display box according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view according to II-II line of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plane view of the display box according to another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 is a sectional view according to IV-IV line of Fig. 3. Preferred Embodiments: Hereinafter, the reference is made to the explanation of the embodiments based on Figs. 1 to 4. Fig. 1 is a plane view of the display box according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a sectional view according to II-II line of Fig. 1. A display box 1 has an opening at the front surface thereof and a transparent panel 2 is attached to the opening. A step is provided at the back side of a margin of the opening and is engaged with the step of the margin of the panel. A display device 4 is set at the back side of the transparent panel 2 in which a display screen 4a is faced with the transparent panel 2. The reference numeral 3 shows a bracket for supporting the display device 4. A circuit board 5 is provided at the back surface of the display device 4 within the display box 1, and the circuit board 5 is coupled to the display device 4 by means of a lead line 6. The circuit board 5 is coupled to a ultrasonic oscillator 11 through a lead line 7. The ultrasonic oscillator 11 is adjacent to the back surface of the transparent panel 2 and is supported in the state of being pressed to the back surface of the transparent panel 2 by means of a support angle 12. A switch 9 for controlling sound volume and for switching channel is provided at side portion of the transparent panel 2 as shown in Fig. 1, and the switch 9 is coupled to the circuit board 5 by means of the lead line (not shown). A reference numeral 10 of Fig. 2 shows a power cable. According to the display box as mentioned above, the ultrasonic oscillator 11 is actuated to vibrate the transparent panel 2 with fine and high frequency. So, the micro water droplet adhered or is going to adhere to the outer surface of the transparent panel 2 is diverged, thereby preventing condensation on the transparent panel 2. Therefore, even if such display box is set in the place where it includes high humidity such like the bath room, the display screen 4a can be visualized clearly at all times. Fig. 3 is a plane view of the display box according to another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 is a sectional view according to IV-IV line of Fig. 3. A frame 2a is fixed at the margin of the transparent panel 2, and the ultrasonic oscillator 11 is adjacent to the back surface of the frame 2a. As shown in Fig. 3, the ultrasonic oscillator 11 in this embodiment has a long shape extending along each edge of the transparent panel 2. The other structure is same as that in Figs. 1 and 2, and the same mark shows the same portion respectively. In the display box as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, moisture condensation on the transparent panel 2 is prevented so that it is possible to visualize the display screen 4a clearly at all times. Further, in the display box as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the transparent panel 2 is easy to be oscillated as a whole, thereby realizing excellent effect of preventing condensation securely over whole surface of the screen. The above mentioned embodiment is one example of the present invention, and the present invention can use other shaped box than that as shown in Figs. 1 to 4. Further, the switch 9 can be provided at other position than that as shown in the drawings. Furthermore, the display box can be composed of the transparent material at the portion other than the transparent panel, and the whole of the box can be composed of the transparent material.

Claims: A display box comprising a transparent panel (2) forming at least part of the front wall of the display box (1) which part of said front wall faces a display screen (4a) contained in the box, characterized in that the transparent panel (2) is equipped with an ultrasonic oscillator (11) capable of imparting ultrasonic oscillations to the panel in order to prevent moisture condensation on the panel surface when exposed to high humidity environment. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said transparent panel (2) is a separated body from the other portion of the box (1). The display box as claimed in claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the ultrasonic oscillator (11) is provided within the box (1) and is pressed to the transparent panel (2). The display box as claimed in one of the afore-mentioned claims, characterized in that wherein a frame (2a) is fixed on the transparent panel (2). The display box as claimed in one of the afore-mentioned claims, characterized in that the ultrasonic oscillator (11) is provided within the box (1) and is pressed to the frame (2a). The display box as claimed in one of the afore-mentioned claims, characterized in that an opening is provided at least at one face of the box (1), the transparent panel (2) is attached to said opening, a step is provided at the back side of a margin of said opening, said step is engaged with the margin of the transparent panel (2), and the ultrasonic oscillator is pressed to the back side of the panel (2).

Inventors: YASUO TAKASHI, YASUO, TAKASHI
Applicants: INAX CORP, INAX CORPORATION
Application year: 1990
Main classification: G09F19
IPC codes: G09F7, H04N5, H05K5, B06B1, G09F9