Abstract:
The present invention relates to a hinge assembly that enables the adjustment of viewing angles of liquid crystal display monitor mounted thereon and has multiple structural features to enhance its loading performance when it carries large-size liquid crystal display. The hinge assembly is also easy to handle for users.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a hinge assembly, featuring multiple structural functions to enhance its load bearing capacity and easy handling by users. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The dawning of digital age, prevalence of Internet, and changes of digital broadcast signals have fueled the significant evolvement of display technology. Liquid crystal display (LCD) monitors offer the advantages of lightweight, thin form, power saving and free of radiation. It is expected to become the mainstream choice for computer monitor and home television. Generally a stand is needed for the placement of LCD monitor on a desk for support or adjustment of monitor angle. 
         [0003]    In recent years, LCD monitor stand and LCD are commonly separately fabricated and then assembled. When a stand-included LCD monitor is placed on a desk, it is also easy to adjust the tilting angles of the LCD. 
         [0004]    The recent trend is that LCD monitors marketed by different markers are increasing in size. More and more large-size and heavier LCD monitors are in mass production. When large-size LCD monitor is assembled to the stand, it puts the stand under greater loading. For example, when the LCD monitor stand is in a smaller forward-tilt angle, the stand structure bears less weight load. Conversely when the stand is adjusted to bigger forward-tilt angle, the entire stand structure is subject to greater weight load. Conventional LCD monitor stands are not designed to adapt to varying loading, therefore not having a structure to respond to different weight loads and unable to provide sturdy support when screen size and tilting angle change. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The primary object of the invention is to provide a hinge assembly with increased load bearing capacity to meet the needs of large-size liquid crystal display. 
         [0006]    The objects, features and effects of the invention are described in detail below with embodiments in reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a partial exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a partial perspective view of the first bracket element of the invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view of the second bracket element of the invention; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a diagram showing the second elastic means and regulating device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention. The present invention discloses a hinge assembly comprising a first bracket element  1  and a second bracket element  2 , wherein the other end of the first bracket element  1  opposing the end where it is linked to the second bracket element  2  is provided with a connecting device A for connecting a LCD monitor not shown in the figure, and the other end of the second bracket element  2  opposing to the end where it is linked to the first bracket element  1  is arranged with a base B. Further details of the invention are described below. 
         [0013]    As shown in  FIG. 2  which is a partial exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first bracket element  1  has a first compartment  10  see  FIG. 3 , and the end of the first bracket element  1  where it is linked to the second bracket element  2  is provided with a second compartment  11  and a third compartment  12 . The first compartment  10  communicates with the second compartment  11  and the third compartment  12 , and an axle hole  13  passes through the second compartment  11  and the third compartment  12 . A first positioning member  14  is provided on the surface on both sides of axle hole  13 . The inner surface on one side of the second compartment  11  is disposed with a plurality of annularly distributed first gear blocks  110 . The second compartment  11  next to the first gear blocks  110  is constricted into a rib-shape member  112  having a plurality of concavities  114  on its side surface for the arrangement of a plurality of first elastic means  116  thereon. The end of the second bracket element  2  see  FIG. 4  where it is linked to the first bracket element  1  is provided with a fourth compartment  20  formed by two side flange members  21 ,  22 . The space between the two side flange members  21 ,  22  can accommodate the end of the first bracket element  1  having the axle hole  13 . On top of the two side flanges  21 ,  22  there provides respectively a fifth compartment  210  and a sixth compartment  220 , which show circular hollow-through patterns. The inner surface of the fifth compartment  210  is disposed with a plurality of annularly distributed second gear blocks  212  and third gear blocks  214 , wherein a plurality of the third gear blocks  214  are situated between every two gear blocks  212 . The inner surface of the sixth compartment  220  is disposed with a plurality of first notches  222 , two damping blocks  30 ,  31 , where each damping block  30 ,  31  is made of two damping sheets in annular shape and hollow-through pattern. The surface of damping sheet other than the surface adjoining the other damping sheet is disposed with a plurality of protruding dots  300 ,  310 . The protruding dots on the side surface of one damping sheet of each damping block  30 ,  31  match the first positioning member  14  on the side surface of axle hole  13 . A wheel gear  4  in hollow-through pattern is able to move between the second compartment  11  and the fifth compartment  210 , and engage the first gear blocks  110  disposed in the second compartment  11  and the second gear blocks  212  and the third gear blocks  214  disposed in the fifth compartment  210 . One side plane of the wheel gear  4  is set against the first elastic means  116 . A radial collar  5  in hollow-through pattern has one side plane set against the wheel gear  4  and the other side plane disposed with a plurality of protruding posts  50 . A positioning annular block  6  is arranged in the fifth compartment  210  and has a plurality of second notches  60  on its annular surface, which can engage the second gear blocks  214 . The positioning annular block  6  is disposed with a plurality of positioning through-holes  62  on its side surface to match the protruding posts of the radial collar  5  and configured with a through seventh compartment  64 . The inner surface of the seventh compartment  64  is arranged with a plurality of third notches  640 . A first axial block  70  is provided with a first hollow member  700  that is axially hollow through, and consists of a first columnar member  702  and a first cap member  704 . The first columnar member  702  can pass through the wheel gear  4 , the radial collar  5  and positioning annular block  6 . Its bottom surface is disposed with a plurality of second positioning members  706 , which match the protruding dots  300  on a side surface of another damping sheet of damping block  30 . The first cap member  704  is arranged with a plurality of first positioning ribs  708  along its circumference which engage the third notches  640 , and arranged with a first stop hole  709  on the side surface. A second axial block  71  is provided with a second hollow member  710  that is axially hollow through, and consists of a second columnar member  712  and a second cap member  714 . The second columnar member  712  can be penetratively disposed in the sixth compartment  220 . Its bottom surface is disposed with a plurality of third positioning members  716 , which match the protruding dots  310  on a side surface of another damping sheet of another damping block  31 . The second cap member  714  is arranged with a plurality of second positioning ribs  718  along its circumference which engage the first notches  222  disposed in the sixth compartment  220 , and arranged with a second stop hole  719  on the side surface. Two second elastic means  80 ,  81  respectively sleeve over the first columnar member  702  and the second columnar member  712 . One end of the two elastic means  80 ,  81  is disposed through the first stop hole  709  and the second stop hole  719  respectively, while the other end extends into the first compartment  10 . The other end of the two second elastic means  80 ,  81  is disposed with a regulating device  82  as shown in  FIG. 5 . The regulating device  82  comprises an adjusting element  820  and a rotary element  822 . The adjusting element  820  is disposed inside the first compartment  10  and set against the two second elastic means  80 ,  81 . The rotary element  822  is composed of a screw member  824  and a knob member  826 . The screw member passes through the adjusting element  820  and the first bracket element  1  to enable the knob member  826  to be disposed outside the first bracket element  1  in such a manner that when the knob member  826  is turned, the screw member  824  drives the displacement of the adjusting element  820 , thereby changing the relative position of the second elastic means  80 ,  81  to the first compartment  10 , and at the same time, changing the initial load bearing state of the second elastic means  80 ,  81 . A rotary disc element  9  has one side surface in contact with a side surface of the positioning annular block  6 , on which a plurality of inclined guide members  90  are disposed. The inclined guide members  90  are set against the protruding posts  50  disposed on the radial collar  5  in such a manner that when the rotary disc element  9  turns, it changes the load bearing state against the protruding post  50 , thereby changing the relative position of wheel gear  4 . After the assembly, the hinge assembly can be secured by passing a fixation set C through the first hollow member  700  of the first axial block  70 , the second hollow member  710  of the second axial block  71 , and the axle hole  13 , or it can use a positioning pin D to render the assembly convenient this is a not feature of the invention and will not be elaborated here. Lastly for aesthetic sake, a first outer cover E and a second outer cover F are disposed on each side of the hinge assembly. 
         [0014]    When the first bracket element  1  and the second bracket element  2  turn against each other, the resistance that prevents the relative rotation comes from the friction between the damping sheets of the damping blocks  31 ,  31  and the elasticity provided by the second elastic members  80 ,  81 . The second elastic members  80 ,  81  can have their initial load-bearing state changed through the working of regulating device  82 . As such, its load bearing capacity can be adjusted. When it is desired to completely stop the rotation of first bracket element  1  against the second bracket element  2 , turning the rotary disc element  9  causes the protruding posts  50  to displace along the inclined guide members  90  through the recoil force of the first elastic means  116 , and positions the wheel gear  4  between the second compartment  11  and the fifth compartment  210 , while the wheel gear  4  engages the first gear blocks  110 , the second gear blocks  212 , and the third gear blocks  214  simultaneously. As such, the first bracket element  1  and the second bracket element  2  cannot turn against each other. Conversely, rotating the rotary disc element  9  to exert force on the protruding posts  50  will cause the wheel gear  4  to move and compress the first elastic means  116 . As such, the first bracket element  1  and the second bracket element  2  are allowed to rotate against each other. 
         [0015]    The hinge assembly according to the present invention provides multiple structures to enhance its load-bearing capacity, enable it to carry large-size LCD monitors, and make it easy and convenient for user to operate. Thus the present invention possesses inventive step and meets the essential criteria for patent. 
         [0016]    The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed in the examples. However the examples should not be construed as a limitation on the actual applicable scope of the invention, and as such, all modifications and alterations without departing from the spirits of the invention and appended claims shall remain within the protected scope and claims of the invention.