Abstract:
A tubular attachment for a video monitor frame which encloses an LCD screen by insertion of the frame through an entry opening in the attachment to be located within an internal chamber of the attachment. The function of the attachment is to reduce glare when observing an LCD screen and also to provide an element of privacy and decrease sun damage to the LCD screen. The attachment is to be constructed of a rubberized fabric sheet material which not only permits the attachment to be stretched to accommodate to different sizes of video monitor frames but also permits the attachment to be collapsed when not in use facilitating its stowage.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The subject matter of this invention relates to an attachment for a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen housed in portable electronic devices such as a video monitor and in particular an attachment that is easily connected and disconnected to the screen or frame with the attachment being readily collapsible to assume a compact position for stowage when not in use.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    When using an LCD screen in a video monitor of electronic devices in an outdoor environment, and possibly within certain indoor environments, ambient light can cause the creation of glare on the screen. This glare makes it very difficult to observe the screen. It is not only desirable, but generally necessary, to preclude as much of the ambient light as possible from being subjected to the LCD screen so that viewing of the image on the screen is easily accomplished by the image being clearly shown.  
           [0005]    Previously, there have been constructed hoods for video monitors which are designed to be mounted in conjunction with the video monitor. Typically, these hoods are constructed of a plurality of planar panels with these panels to be mounted in some manner on the video monitor frame surrounding and enclosing the video monitor screen. However, these prior art devices constructed of the plurality of panels, though collapsible, are not easily portable. Portability is a big factor especially in conjunction with video camcorders and other portable personal electronic devices (e.g. DVD players, laptop computers, etc.). Also, the prior art hoods do not readily accommodate to video monitor screens or LCD screens of different sizes as not all video monitor frames or LCD screens are of the same size. There is a need for a device that is durable, lightweight, portable and easily attachable to an LCD or video monitor frame and is capable of accommodating to slight variance in sizes of the actual display screen or video monitor frame.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    An attachment for an LCD screen frame which is basically of tubular construction having an encompassing sidewall on which is mounted a back wall. Opposite the back wall is a front which is entirely open forming an access opening. The body of the attachment is constructed of a rubberized fabric material. The body, in an at-rest position, assumes its tubular configuration with the access opening being of maximum size. An LCD screen frame is to be inserted through an entry opening formed within the sidewall with the attachment assuming a snug configuration with the LCD screen frame with the only light that is permitted to enter the internal chamber of the body is through the access opening. When the video monitor frame is extracted from the entry opening, the body is collapsible to occupy a small amount of space facilitating its stowage within small confinements, such as a pocket. The sidewall may also include a button access opening to provide access to activating buttons formed on the LCD screen frame. The body of the attachment resembles a square or rectangular box.  
           [0007]    One of the objectives of the present invention is to provide an attachment for an LCD screen frame that is to reduce glare while observing the LCD screen that is contained within the LCD screen frame.  
           [0008]    Another objective of the present invention is to construct an attachment for an LCD screen frame which when placed on the frame provides an element of privacy for the authorized observer(s) of the screen making it difficult for unauthorized individuals to observe the screen.  
           [0009]    Another objective of the present invention is to construct an attachment for an LCD screen frame that decreases the possibility of sun damage to the screen.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0010]    For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is to be made to the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the precise arrangement shown in the drawings.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the attachment of the present invention shown in conjunction with a typical video camcorder which has mounted thereon a video monitor frame which includes an LCD screen with the attachment shown separate from the video camcorder;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the attachment of the present invention showing such mounted in conjunction with the video camcorder;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view through the attachment taken along line  3 - 3  of FIG. 2;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a modified form of attachment depicted being mounted in conjunction with a video camcorder; and  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  of FIG. 4.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]    The primary goal of the present invention is to increase visual clarity in brightly lit conditions of an LCD screen housed in portable electronic devices. Although it is possible that glare could be produced within indoor conditions, it is most likely to occur when using an LCD screen in an outdoor environment wherein the screen is subjected to bright sunlight. The attachment of this invention could be used on a video camcorders, digital cameras, digital picture frames, portable digital video disc players, video playback devices, fish finders, navigational devices such as global positioning satellite devices, laptop computers, portable televisions, personal computer organizers, calculators and computer monitors.  
         [0017]    Most of the above mentioned devices, at the present time, include a video monitor. The video monitor constitutes a video monitor screen comprised of an LCD screen which is enclosed within a frame. This frame is mounted on the electronic device and may be pivotable from a retracted position to an extended position. When in the extended position, the screen is capable of being observed.  
         [0018]    Referring particularly to the drawing, there is shown the attachment  10  of this invention which is basically in a box-like configuration. Although the attachment  10  is shown to be box-like, it is understood that the attachment  10  need not be constructed to be in a box-like configuration but could be round, ellipsoidal or any other tubular configuration. The attachment  10  has a sidewall which comprises a top  12 , and a bottom  14  which is located parallel to the top  12 . The sidewall also includes a right side  16  and a left side  18  which are also parallel. The bottom  14  is of the same size as the top  12 . The right side  16  is also the same as the left side  18 . The top  12 , bottom  14 , right side  16  and left side  18  are all constructed of the same sheet material with the preferable material being a rubberized fabric material. Neoprene would be a preferable type of material. Also, a nylon plus neoprene material would be satisfactory. Also, a nylon rubberized waterproof fabric would be satisfactory. The rubberized material of construction for the attachment  10  is desired as it provides a certain amount of stretchability thereby facilitating attachment to slightly different sizes of video monitors  20 , and also when the attachment  10  is mounted in conjunction with the video monitor frame  36  that it assumes a snug fit therebetween. Typically, the attachment  10  will have a length in the range of two to three inches with the access opening  22  of the attachment  10  being in the range of three to four inches square or rectangular. Typically, the thickness of the top wall  12 , bottom wall  14 , right sidewall  16  and left sidewall  18  will be one-eighth to one-quarter of an inch.  
         [0019]    Connecting the top wall  12  to the right sidewall  16  is a seam  24 . A seam  26  connects between the top wall  12  and the left side wall  18 . Between the left side wall  18  and the bottom wall  14  is a seam  28 . Also, there is a seam  30  located between the bottom wall  14  and the right sidewall  16 . Each of the seams  24 ,  26 ,  28  and  30  could be achieved by stitching, adhesive or heat fusion. Also, it is considered to be within the scope of this invention that the seams could be constructed in any desirable manner as the attachment  10  could be a molded product.  
         [0020]    Connected also by seams to the top wall  12 , right side wall  16 , bottom wall  14  and left side wall  18  is a back wall  32 . The back wall  32  is of the same material of construction as the top wall  12 , right sidewall  16 , left sidewall  18  and bottom wall  14 . The size of the back wall  32  is essentially identical to the access opening  22  and is located opposite the access opening  22 . Formed within the right sidewall  16  is an entry opening  34 . The entry opening  34  is shown to be rectangular in configuration. However, the shape of the entry opening is deemed to be selectable to any desired shape.  
         [0021]    The video monitor frame  36 , which encloses an LCD screen  38 , is to be insertable through the entry opening  34 . Generally, it would be preferred that the entry opening  34  be just slightly smaller in size than the cross-sectional configuration of the video monitor frame  36 . This is so as to cause the attachment  10  to be expanded slightly to stretch during the insertion of the video monitor  20  within the entry opening  34 . The video monitor  20  is to be inserted within the entry opening  34  until the outer edge  40  is inserted entirely within the internal chamber  42  of the attachment  10 . It is to be noted that the entry opening  34  is located directly adjacent the back wall  32  which provides the greatest distance from the access opening  22  and the screen  38  which decreases the amount of ambient light that is subjected to the screen  38 . Also, the neoprene material, or other suitable material, is dark in color on its inside surface and does not reflect light from the walls of the interior chamber  42  to the screen  38 .  
         [0022]    With the attachment  10  in conjunction with the video monitor  20 , a tunnel is, in essence, provided which blocks out ambient light with the exception of a small amount of ambient light that can pass through the access opening  22 . The result is that glare against the video monitor screen  38  is substantially reduced.  
         [0023]    The video monitor  20  is mounted by a hinge  44  to a video camcorder  46 . The video monitor  44  can be moved by the hinge from the extended position shown in the drawing to a retracted position with the video monitor screen  38  located in abutting contact with the video camcorder  46  and with the screen  38  not being observable. The video monitor screen  38  is to display the images that are being recorded by the video camcorder  46  or to play back recorded images.  
         [0024]    The outer edge  40  may also include a series of operating buttons  48 . Access to these buttons  48  may be obtained directly through the left sidewall  18  since the left sidewall  18  is constructed of a material that is readily flexible therefor by pressing on the sidewall  18  activation of the buttons  48  can be obtained. Note particularly the modified form of attachment  10 ′ shown in FIG. 4 where it may be desirable to include within the sidewall  18  a button access opening  50 . This button access opening  50  is to expose the activating buttons  48  so that the user can select by sight, rather than by feel, which button  48  is to be activated.  
         [0025]    The attachment  10  of this invention when disengaged from the monitor  20  can be readily folded or wadded into a collapsed configuration facilitating stowage within one&#39;s pocket or purse. In that collapsed configuration, the access opening  22  is of minimal size and is of maximum size when in the expanded or usage configuration shown in the drawing. The sheet material of construction of the attachment  10  will cause the at-rest position of the attachment  10  to be as shown in the drawing. Stretching of the attachment  10  over the video monitor  20  causes the attachment  10  to be mounted in a rigid configuration relative to the video monitor  20 . Each of the seams  24 ,  26 ,  28  and  30  become rigid. This rigid appearance is desirable during usage of the attachment  10  in conjunction with the video monitor  20  so the attachment  10  will maintain its established shape during usage.  
         [0026]    It is considered to be within the scope of this invention that the material of construction of the attachment  10  could also be a leather material as well as a plastic, such as a vinyl. It is also considered to be within the scope of this invention that the attachment  10  could be constructed of a paper material although a paper material would generally not be preferred.  
         [0027]    Not only does the use of the attachment  10  help to prevent the glare on the video monitor screen  38 , the attachment  10 •also functions to prevent sun damage to the video monitor screen  38 . Additionally, in some environments where there are a plurality of people present, it may at times be desirable to not display to everybody what images are being recorded or replayed on the video monitor screen  38 . Therefore, the use of the attachment  10 , by its inherent tubular configuration, provides a tunnel that can be observed only by the user with individuals in near proximity not being able to observe the image on the video monitor screen  38 .  
         [0028]    The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential attributes thereof. Reference should be made to the appending claims rather than the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.