Abstract:
Structure for fastening a flat Braun tube to a cabinet including a front cabinet portion and a rear cabinet portion, an extension forming an annular flange about a funnel and the panel of the flat Braun tube, a seat formed inside of the front cabinet portion for seating against the annular flange, and a supporting member for supporting a back surface of the annular flange, whereby compression forces are applied between seat and the back surface of the supporting member and are limited to directions orthogonal to the major surfaces of the annular flange, and substantially no compression forces are applied against peripheral edges of the annular flange.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the right of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of Korean Application No. 19285/1988, filed May 27, 1998, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a TV receiver or a monitor and, more particularly, to a structure for fastening a flat Braun tube to a cabinet, the structure being designed for protecting the Braun tube. 
     2. Background of the Related Art 
     In general, Braun tubes (or cathode ray tubes) are used as TV receivers or image displays. In particular, flat Braun tubes are increasing in use because flat Braun tubes can reduce distortion of images to provide images closer to actual images as compared to images on curved surface Braun tubes. As shown in FIG. 1, the flat Braun tube has a flat front face with a flat panel  1  having safety glass  2  bonded on a front surface thereof, and a bulb-shaped funnel section  3  bonded at a rear surface of the panel with frit glass, with an inside space thereof held at high vacuum, approximately 10-7 Torr. The inside space formed by the panel  1  and the funnel section  3  has a rectangular rail-shaped frame  4  bonded on the rear surface of the panel  1 , and a mask  5  fixed to the frame  4 , and having a lot of fine holes therein defining a slit. A neck  3   a  at the rear of the funnel  3  has an electron gun  6  housed therein for emission of electron beams (thermal electrons) according to red, green and blue image signals, and deflection yokes  7  are mounted outside the neck  3   a  for forming vertical/horizontal uniform magnetic fields for deflecting the electron beams. 
     In the aforementioned flat Braun tube, upon application of a color image signal to cathodes in the electron gun  6 , electron beams for the red, green and blue colors are emitted toward fluorescent material  1   a  coated on an inside surface of the panel  1 . Unnecessary emitted electron beams are shielded by the mask  5  in electron paths, while electron beams required for reproduction of an image pass through the fine holes and finally collide onto the red, green, and blue fluorescent material  1   a  to reproduce a color image. 
     Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the flat Braun tube is housed in front and rear cabinet portions, and a compression band  9  is fitted to a rim of the panel  1  for fastening with the front cabinet portion  8 . The compression band  9  takes the form of a rectangular frame and is fixed to an outer circumference of the outside edges of the panel  1  by a compression force. Lugs  9   a  are disposed at corners of the compression band  9  for fastening the compression band to the front cabinet portion  8 . The compression band  9  is fastened to the panel  1 , first by winding adhesive tape  10  along an outer circumference of the outside edges of the panel  1 . The compression band  9  is then heated to elongate an inner circumference length of the compression band so that it is at least greater than an outer circumference length of the panel  1  and to enable insertion of the compression band  9  onto the rim of the panel  1  having the adhesive tape  10  attached thereto. Upon rapid cooling of the compression band  9 , the compression band is fixed to the rim of the panel  1  due to shrinking of the compression band and adhesive bonding of the adhesive tape  10 . 
     Referring to FIG. 3, fastening bosses  8   a  are affixed on a back surface of the front cabinet portion  8  which is fitted to the rim of the panel  1 , so that the Braun tube  11  and the front cabinet portion  8  can be fastened by fastening the lugs  9   a  of the compression band  9  fixed on the rim of the panel  1  of the Braun tube  11  to the fastening bosses  8   a  with fastening means, such as screws  12 . 
     Thus, the related art compression band  9  used as fastening means of the panel  1  to the front cabinet portion  8  is compressed onto the outer circumference of the outer edge of the panel  1 . Eventually, there is a problem caused in that the compression force in the plane of the panel compresses the panel  1 , which is relatively weak, inward at the inside of the Braun tube  11 . This affects the flat Braun tube landing or explosion proof characteristics. 
     Also, the many steps of the fabrication process, such as heating the compression band  9  for elongation, cooling down of the compression band for fitting on the rim of the panel  1 , attaching the adhesive tape  10  on the rim of the panel  1  and the like, require much work, and there is a problem with the Braun tube separating from the front cabinet portion  8  when the compression band  9  has a weak shrinking force, thus providing a poor fastening connection to the panel  1 . 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a structure for fastening a flat Braun tube to a cabinet that substantially obviates one or more of the foregoing problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a structure for fastening a flat Braun tube to a cabinet which can fix the Braun tube to a cabinet directly. 
     Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims herein, as well as the appended drawings. 
     To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, the structure for fastening a flat Braun tube having a longitudinal axis to a cabinet which includes a front cabinet portion and a rear cabinet portion, an extension on an outer rim of a panel forming a flange about the panel of the flat Braun tube, a seat formed inside the front cabinet portion for seating the flange, and a supporting member for supporting a back surface of the extension to thereby direct all compression forces against the flange in directions parallel to the longitudinal axis. 
     In other aspects of the present invention, a structure is provided for fastening a flat Braun tube to a cabinet including a front cabinet portion and a rear cabinet portion, an extension on an outer rim of a panel forming a flange about a funnel and the panel  1  of the flat Braun tube, a seat formed in a first portion inside the front cabinet portion for seating the first portion of the extension, a groove formed in a second portion inside the front cabinet portion for inserting the second portion of the flange, and a supporting member for supporting a back surface of the flange against the seat. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a structure is provided for fastening a flat Braun tube to a cabinet including a front cabinet portion and a rear cabinet portion, an extension on an outer rim of a panel forming a flange about the flat Braun tube, a seat formed inside the front cabinet for seating the flange, and a supporting portion extending from the rear cabinet portion for supporting a back surface of the flange. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention, and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a section of a conventional flat Braun tube; 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a disassembled perspective view of a related art compression band surrounding a flat panel of a flat Braun tube; 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a section showing a related art fastening of a flat Braun tube and a cabinet portion; 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a section showing a fastening assembly of a flat Braun tube and a cabinet portion in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 illustrates the fastening of a flat Braun tube and a cabinet portion in FIG. 4 seen from ‘A’; 
     FIG. 6 illustrates a section showing a fastening of a flat Braun tube and a cabinet portion in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 illustrates the fastening of a flat Braun tube and a cabinet in FIG. 6 seen from ‘B’; 
     FIG. 8 illustrates a section showing a fastening of a flat Braun tube and a cabinet in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 9 illustrates an enlarged view of key parts showing lever-type clips for fastening a support plate to a front cabinet portion in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     The structure for fastening a flat Braun tube to a cabinet of the present invention includes front and rear cabinet portions  13  and  14 , a flange  1   b  on an outer rim of a panel  1  forming a flange about the flat Braun tube, a seat  13   a  formed inside the front cabinet portion  13  for seating the flange  1   b , and a supporting member  15  for supporting a back surface of the flange  1   b.    
     In general, the flat Braun tube has an outer rim of the panel  1  that extends beyond an outer circumference surface of the funnel  3 , and is mounted so as to prevent explosion of the flat Braun tube. This extended portion is the flange  1   b . The flange  1   b  is of special use in related art fastening devices which use a compression band. In the present invention, the flange  1   b  and separate fastening means are used to obtain a fastening force which does not place stresses on the fragile central portion of a flat screen. The fastening means of the present invention differ depending on different embodiments of fastening systems, which will be explained with reference to the attached drawings. 
     Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the structure for fastening a flat Braun tube to a cabinet portion in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a seat  13   a  inside a front cabinet portion  13  for seating a flange  1   b  of the panel  1 , a space  19  formed between the flange  1   b  and a top and bottom portions of the seat  13   a , and a supporting member  15  for supporting a back surface of the flange  1   b  seated on the seat  13   a . The seat  13   a  is shaped so as to support a front surface of the flange  1   b  to prevent the panel  1  from separating orthogonally of the longitudinal axis of the Braun tube. The supporting member  15  is preferably a supporting plate and, more particularly, as shown in FIG. 5, the supporting member  15  is shaped as a rectangular frame for supporting either an entire back surface of the flange  1   b  or required portions only (not shown). 
     Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the structure for fastening a flat Braun tube to a cabinet portion in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a groove  13   b  formed inside a first side of a front cabinet portion  13  for inserting and holding a portion of the flange  1   b  of the panel  1 , a seat  13   a  formed inside a second side of the front cabinet portion  13  for seating another portion of the flange  1   b  of the panel  1 , and a supporting member  15  for supporting a back surface of the flange  1   b  orthogonally of the tube axis. The second embodiment is a hybrid in which one portion of the flange  1   b  is held by the groove  13   b , and the other portion of the flange  1   b  is supported by the supporting member  15 . 
     Referring to FIG. 8, the structure for fastening a flat Braun tube to a cabinet in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a seat  13   a  formed inside of a front cabinet portion  13  for seating the flange  1   b  of the panel  1 , a space  19  formed between the flange  1   b  and a top and bottom portions of the seat  13   a , and a supporting portion  14   a  formed extended from a panel side end of a rear cabinet portion  14  for supporting the flange  1   b , for holding the flange  1   b  by inserting the flange  1   b  between the front cabinet portion  13  and the rear cabinet portion  14 . 
     The different embodiments of the present invention will be explained in more detail hereinafter. 
     In the first embodiment, fastening of the Braun tube  11  inclusive of the panel  1  to the front cabinet portion  13  is finished by seating the flange  1   b  of the panel  1  on the seat  13   a  of the front cabinet portion  13 , forming the space  19  between the flange  1   b  and the top and bottom portions of the seat  13   a , and placing and fastening the supporting member  15  onto the back surface of the seated flange  1   b  with fastening members. The entire back surface of the flange  1   b  is supported by supporting member  15 , which has a rectangular frame shape and firmly fastens the Braun tube  11  to the front cabinet  13 . The space  19  causes compression forces to be limited to directions orthogonal to the tube axis. Opposite to this, localized support of the flange  1   b  at corners with the supporting member  15  can save material cost and reduce product weight, and more efficiently than in the first embodiment. 
     In the second embodiment, fastening of the Braun tube  11  to the front cabinet portion  13  can be done by inserting a first portion of the flange  1   b  of the panel  1  into the groove  13   b  in the front cabinet portion  13 , and placing and fastening the supporting member  15  onto a second portion of the flange  1   b  of the panel  1  which is not provided with fastening members at a back surface thereof in the same manner as in the first embodiment. The first portion of the panel  1  is held as it is inserted in the groove  13   b , and the second portion of the panel  1  is held by the supporting member  15 . Accordingly, the size of the portions fastened by the supporting member  15  can be reduced from the first embodiment, since the portion inserted in the groove  13   b  requires no localized fasteners with the supporting member  15 . 
     In the third embodiment, fastening of the Braun tube  11  to the front cabinet portion  13  can be done by seating the flange  1   b  of the panel  1  onto the seat  13   a  in the front cabinet portion  13 , and placing the supporting portion  14   a  extending from a panel side end of a rear cabinet  14  to support the flange  1   b . As the third embodiment fastening structure can dispense with the localized, discrete fastening members used in the first and second embodiment fastening structures, the fastening process is simple and easy to use compared to other embodiments. 
     The discrete fastening members in the first and second embodiments may be screws, bolts, or lever-type clips  17   a , as shown in FIG.  9 . 
     As has been explained, the provision of the simple fastening means for fastening a flat Braun tube to a cabinet portion of the present invention instead of a circumferential compression band can simplify the assembly, improve fastening force and reduce stresses on the fragile central portion of the screen. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the structure for fastening a flat Braun tube to a cabinet of the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.