Abstract:
A support stand comprises an elevating support; a monitor bracket; and a support member; the elevating support comprising a first and a second chasses, a pluralities of supporting blocks, an elastic member, a first and a second pivot subassemblies, a resisting member, a roller, and a pressing block; the first chassis comprises a resisting wall opposite to the second pivot subassembly; the elastic member is between the resisting wall and the pressing block, two ends of the elastic member resist the resisting wall and the pressing block, the first pivot subassembly is fixed to the plurality of supporting blocks connected to first ends of the chasses, the second pivot subassembly is fixed to the plurality of supporting blocks connected to second ends of the chasses; the resisting member is connected to the plurality of supporting blocks, the roller is assembled with the pressing block and rotatable against the resisting member.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/195,438, filed on Aug. 21, 2008, which claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. §119 from CN 200710203495.8, filed on Dec. 27, 2007, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present disclosure relates generally to support stands and, particularly, to a support stand for a flat-panel display body. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     Flat-panel display bodies, such as liquid crystal display (LCD) monitors, offer advantages, over cathode ray tubes (CRTs) such as a greatly reduced size, and better image quality. Furthermore, because of the light weight of the flat-panel display body, the viewing angle and the height of the flat-panel display body can be adjusted without moving a base of a support stand of the flat-panel display body. 
     A typical support stand generally includes a monitor bracket for attaching to the flat-panel display body, a rotatable bracket for fixing the monitor bracket, an elevating support, a support member, and a base member for mounting the support member. The rotatable bracket is rotatably hinged to an end of the elevating support by a first hinge assembly. The support member is hinged to another end of the elevating support by a second hinge assembly. 
     A viewing angle of the flat-panel display body mounted on the typical elevating support can be adjusted by rotating the rotatable bracket relative to the elevating support. A height of the flat-panel display body can be adjusted by rotating the elevating support relative to the support member. A frictional force between components of the elevating support balances a gravitational force of the flat-panel display body, thus the flat-panel display body may be retained at a desired position. However, the components of the elevating support may become loose when the elevating support is used for a long period of time. As a result, the flat-panel display body may not remain stable at the height selected by a user. Therefore, the typical elevating support may have a relatively short usage life. 
     Therefore, an improved support stand for a flat-panel display body is desired to overcome the above-described shortcomings. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect, a support stand for a flat-panel display body includes an elevating support, a monitor bracket, and a support member. The elevating support includes a first chassis, a second chassis, a plurality of supporting blocks for connecting end portions of the first chassis and the second chassis, an elastic member, a first pivot subassembly, and a second pivot subassembly. The monitor bracket is rotatably connected to the first pivot subassembly. The support member is rotatably connected to the second pivot subassembly. The elastic member is capable of exerting a rebound force on two of the first chassis, the second chassis, and the supporting blocks. The first and second pivot subassembly are fixed to the supporting blocks. The monitor bracket and the support member are rotatably connected to the first and second pivot subassembly correspondingly. 
     In another aspect, an elevating support, used for a support stand of a flat-panel display body, includes a first chassis including end portions, a second chassis including end portions, a plurality of supporting blocks, an elastic member, a first pivot subassembly, a second pivot subassembly, two rotatable brackets, and a connecting base. The supporting blocks are configured for connecting end portions of the end portions of the first chassis and the second chassis. The elastic member is capable of exerting a rebound force on two of the first chassis, the second chassis, and the supporting blocks to make the first chassis and the second chassis tend to elevate. The first pivot subassembly is fixed to the supporting blocks connected to a first end portion of the first chassis and the second chassis. The second pivot subassembly is fixed to the supporting blocks connected to a second end portion of the first chassis and the second chassis opposite to the first end portions. The rotatable brackets are rotatably connected to the first pivot subassembly. The connecting base is rotatably connected to the second pivot subassembly. 
     Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present support stand for a flat-panel display body. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a flat-panel display body having a support stand in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present application. 
         FIG. 2  is a partially disassembled, isometric view of an elevating support of the support stand in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded, isometric view of a pair of rotatable brackets and a first pivot subassembly in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded, isometric view of an elastic subassembly, a roller, a shaft, a resisting portion of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is an assembled, isometric view of the elevating support of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 6  is an assembled view of the stand support in  FIG. 1 , and showing the elevating support of the stand support rotated to a first utmost position (lowest position). 
         FIG. 7  is similar to  FIG. 6 , but showing the elevating support of the stand support rotated to a second utmost position (highest position). 
         FIG. 8  is a partially assembled, isometric view of an elevating support in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a partially assembled isometric view of an elevating support in accordance with a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe the embodiments of the present support stand and elevating support in detail. Referring to  FIG. 1 , a flat-panel display body  100  includes a display body  10  and a stand support  102 . The stand support  102  includes a support member  20 , an elevating support  30 , and a monitor bracket  50  for holding the flat-panel display body. An end of the elevating support  30  is connected to the support member  20  and another end of the elevating support  30  opposite to the support member  20  is rotatably attached to the monitor bracket  50 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the elevating support  30  includes a pair of rotatable brackets  301 , a bracket subassembly  302 , a connecting base  303 , a first pivot subassembly  305 , a second pivot subassembly  306 , a roller  307 , a resisting member  308 , and an elastic subassembly  309 . A first end of the bracket subassembly  302  is rotatably connected to the rotatable brackets  301  via the first pivot subassembly  305 . A second end opposite to the first end of the bracket subassembly  302  is rotatably connected to the connecting base  303  via the second pivot subassembly  306 . 
     Referring also to  FIG. 3 , each of the pair of rotatable brackets  301  forms a restricting block  3012  and a notch  3013 . Each of the pair of rotatable brackets  301  is rotatably connected to the first pivot subassembly  305 . The monitor bracket  50  is fixed to each of the pair or rotatable brackets  301 . The rotatable brackets  301  may be integrally formed. The number of the rotatable brackets  301  may be more than two. 
     The bracket subassembly  302  includes a first chassis  321 , a second chassis  322 , and four supporting assemblies  323  (a first supporting assembly, a second supporting assembly, a third supporting assembly, and a fourth supporting assembly). The first chassis  321  includes a flat base  3211 , two side walls  3212  extending perpendicularly from opposite sides of the flat base  3211 , and a resisting wall  3213  defining a through hole  3214 . The resisting wall  3213  extends perpendicularly from a top end of the flat base  3211  and perpendicularly relative to the side walls  3212 . Each of the side walls  3212  defines a guiding slot  3215 . 
     The second chassis  322  is similar to the first chassis  321  except that the second chassis  322  does not include a resisting wall, and side walls  3222  of the second chassis  322  does not define guiding slots. 
     Each of the supporting subassemblies  323  includes a pair of supporting blocks  3231 , a pair of pivot shafts  3232 , four tab washers  3233 , a pair of resilient rings  3235 . 
     Each of the supporting blocks  3231  defines two pivot holes (not labeled) adjacent to two end portions and a fixing hole (not labeled) in a middle portion. Each of the supporting subassemblies  323  is rotatably attached to ends of the first chassis  321  and the second chassis  322  via the two pivot holes of the supporting blocks  323  and the pair of pivot shafts  3232 . Two supporting subassemblies  323  are fixed to the first pivot subassembly  305  via each of the fixing hole of the two supporting blocks  3231 . Remaining two supporting subassemblies  323  are fixed to the second pivot subassembly  306  via each of the fixing hole of the remaining two supporting blocks  3231 . 
     The connecting base  303  is substantially U-shaped. The connecting base  303  includes two parallel side walls (not labeled). Each side wall of the connecting base  303  defines a through hole (not shown). 
     The first pivot subassembly  305  includes a first pivot shaft  351 , a sleeve  352  sleeved on the first pivot shaft  351 , a torsion spring  353  sleeved on the sleeve  352 , and two first hinge subassemblies (not labeled). The sleeve  352  is sleeved on a middle portion of the first pivot shaft  351 . The torsion spring  353  is sleeved on the sleeve  352 . The first hinge subassemblies are attached to opposite shaft portions of the first pivot shaft  351  correspondingly. Each of the first hinge subassemblies includes a limiting washer  354 , a first pressing washer  355 , a first protecting washer  356 , a second protecting washer  357 , two first resilient rings  358 , a first washer  359 , a adjustable nut  3050 , a second resilient ring  3051 , a second pressing washer  3052 , a second washer  3053 , and a nut  3055 . 
     The first pivot shaft  351  is substantially cylindrical, and includes two shaft portions  3511  at opposite ends. Each of the two shaft portions  3511  defines a thread (not labeled) on a distal end portion. Each of the two shaft portions  3511  is non-circular. In this embodiment, a cross-section taken perpendicular to a central axis of each of the two shaft portions  3511  is double D-shaped, thereby forming two flat surfaces. Thus, the thread is discontinuous. 
     The torsion spring  353  includes two torsion portions (not labeled), an n-shaped connecting portion  3532  for connecting each of the two torsion portions. Each of the two torsion portions of the torsion spring  353  includes a latching end  3533 . 
     The limiting washer  354  defines a deformed hole (not labeled) in a middle portion of the limiting washer  354 . A shape and a size of the deformed hole correspond to a cross-section of each of the two shaft portions  3511 . The limiting washer  354  defines a restricting groove  3541  and a latching groove  3542  on a periphery. 
     The second pivot subassembly  306  includes a second pivot shaft  361  and two second hinge subassemblies (not labeled). The resisting member  308  is sleeved on a middle portion of the second pivot shaft  361 . The second hinge subassemblies are attached to opposite shaft portions of the second pivot shaft  361 . Each of the second hinge subassembly includes a block  362 , two resilient rings  363 ,  364 , a resilient washer  365 , a washer  366 , and a nut  367 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 4 , the roller  307  is substantially a hollow cylinder. The roller  307  is rotatably disposed between the two guiding slots  3215  of the first chassis  321  via a shaft  370 . The shaft  370  is substantially cylindrical, and includes two latching ends  3701  at opposite ends. The latching end  3701  forms a restricting pole  3702  on a distal end portion. The latching end  3701  is non-circular, and in a preferred embodiment has a double D shape. The roller  307  is sleeved on a middle portion of the shaft  370 . Each end of the shaft  370  is configured to extend through a bearing  371 , a first washer  372 , a holding groove  3931  of a pressing block  393 , a second washer  373 , and the guiding slot  3215  of the first chassis  321  in that order. A clip ring  374  is configured to engage in a latching groove of the restricting pole  3702  so as to prevent the shaft  370  from being detached from the first chassis  321 . 
     The resisting member  308  includes a cylindrical portion  3081  and a fixing portion (not labeled) extending from the cylindrical portion  3081 . The resisting member  308  is fixed to a surface of the connecting base  303 . The resisting member  308  is configured to resist the roller  307 . 
     The elastic subassembly  309  includes a spring  391 , a guiding shaft  392 , and the pressing block  393 . The spring  391  is sleeved on the guiding shaft  392 . Two ends of the guiding shaft  392  are connected to the pressing block  393  and the resisting wall  3213  of the first chassis  321  correspondingly. The pressing block  393  is substantially U-shaped. Each end of the pressing block  393  defines the holding groove  3931 . The holding grooves  3931  are configured to non-rotatably latch on to each of the two latching ends  3701  of the shaft  370 . 
     Alternatively, the guiding slots  3215  of the first chassis  321  may be replaced by a pair of guiding rails. In such cases, the restricting pole  3702  of the shaft  370  is slidably connected to the guiding rails. The pressing block  393  may be other shapes, such as a cuboid defining a holding groove. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 through 5 , in assembly of the elevating support  30 , the roller  307  and the elastic subassembly  309  are attached to the first chassis  321  via the shaft  370  and the guiding shaft  392  of the elastic subassembly  309 . The restricting pole  3702  of the shaft  370  is slidably received in each of the guiding slot  3215  of the first chassis  321 . Then, ends of each side wall  3212  of the first chassis  321  and ends of each side wall  3222  of the second chassis  322  are rotatably connected to the supporting subassemblies  323 . 
     The sleeve  352  is sleeved on the middle portion of the first pivot shaft  351 . The torsion spring  353  is sleeved on the sleeve  352 . Then, each opposite shaft portions of the first pivot shaft  351  is passed through the components of each first hinge subassembly such as the limiting washer  354 , the first pressing washer  355 , the first protecting washer  356 , each of the pair of rotatable brackets  301 , the second protecting washer  357 , two first resilient rings  358 , the first washer  359 , the adjustable nut  3050 , and each of the two supporting assemblies  323 , in that order. The n-shaped connecting portion  3532  of the torsion spring  353  engages in the notch  3013  of each of the pair of rotatable brackets  301 . The latching end  3533  of the torsion spring  353  is inserted into the latching groove  3542  of the limiting washer  354 . Thus, the first pivot subassembly  305  is connected to the supporting subassemblies  323 . After that, each opposite shaft portions of the first pivot shaft  351  is passed through the components of each first hinge subassembly such as the second resilient ring  3051 , the second pressing washer  3052 , and the second washer  3053 , in that order. The nut  3055  then engages with each end of the first pivot shaft  351  correspondingly. 
     The resisting member  308  is sleeved on the middle portion of the second pivot shaft  361  of the second pivot subassembly  306 . Then, each opposite portions of the second pivot shaft  361  is passed through the components of each second hinge subassembly such as the block  362 , the side wall of the connecting base  303 , a resilient ring  363 , each of the two remaining supporting subassemblies  323 , the resilient ring  364 , the resilient washer  365 , and the washer  366 , in that order. The nut  367  engages with each of the distal ends of the second pivot shaft  361 . As such, the other end of the bracket subassembly  302  is rotatably connected to the connecting base  303  via the second pivot subassembly  306 . The resisting member  308  is fixed to the connecting base  303 . The cylindrical portion  3081  of the resisting member  308  resists the roller  307 . 
     When the stand support  102  is used for supporting a flat-panel display body, an end of the monitor bracket  50  of the stand support  102  is fixed to a display body  10  of the flat-panel display body  100 , and an opposite end is fixed to the pair of rotatable brackets  301  of the elevating support  30 . The connecting base  303  is fixed to the support member  20 . In use, a force is applied on the display body  10  for rotating the display body  10  with the pair of rotatable brackets  301  relative to the bracket subassembly  302  along an axis of the first pivot shaft  351  of the first pivot subassembly  305 , thereby adjusting the viewing angle of the flat-panel display body  100 . A frictional force between the pair of rotatable brackets  301  and other components of the first pivot subassembly  305  enables the display body  10  to maintain at a desired position. An external force for rotating the pair of rotatable brackets  301  may be changed by adjusting the adjustable nuts  3050  of the first pivot subassembly  305 . The restricting block  3012  of each of the rotatable brackets  301  and the restricting groove  3542  of the limiting washers  354  cooperatively restrict each of the rotatable brackets  301  in limited adjusting range. A torsion force of the torsion spring  353  either increases or decreases according to the rotation of each of the rotatable brackets  301 , thereby preventing an excessive force from damaging the first pivot subassembly  305 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 6 , the elevating support  30  is in a first utmost position (lowest position), the restricting poles  3702  of the shaft  370  abut against the restricting holes  3215  and the restricting blocks  3012  of the rotatable bracket  301  abut against the restricting groove  3541  of the limiting washers  354 , thereby restricting the rotatable bracket  301  together with the monitor bracket  50  in a minimum height. The monitor bracket  50 , the elevating support  30 , and the support member  20  are substantially parallel to each other, so that the package volume of the stand support  102  is decreased. 
     Referring also to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , when the height of the rotatable bracket  301  together with the display body  10  needs to increase, the display body  10  is pushed upwards so that the elevating support  30  is moved up to increase the height of the display body. During the moving of the bracket subassembly  302  of the elevating support  30 , the spring  391  of the elastic subassembly  309  resists the resisting wall  3213  and the pressing block  393 . A resisting force applied on the pressing block  393  indirectly acts on the connecting base  303  via the shaft  370 , the roller  307 , and the resisting member  308 . A rebound force of the spring  391  indirectly applies on the bracket subassembly  302 , so that an angle between the side walls  3212  of the first chassis  321  and the supporting subassemblies  323  connected to the connecting base  303  has a tendency of becoming larger. In other words, a distance between the first chassis  321  and the second chassis  322  has a tendency of becoming smaller. The bracket subassembly  302  always has a tendency of elevating. In addition, the rebound force of the spring  391  indirectly acted on the bracket subassembly  302  partially balances a gravitational force acting on the display body  10 . When the display body  10  is lifted to a predetermined height, the display body  10  can be stably maintained at the predetermined height by frictional forces created by the first chassis  321 , the second chassis  322 , the supporting assemblies  323 , and the second pivot subassembly  306 . 
     When an external force is applied on the display  10  to make the rotatable brackets  301  rotate relative to the first pivot shaft  351  of the first pivot subassembly  305 , the viewing angle of the display body  10  is adjusted. When the external force is released, frictional forces between the rotatable bracket  301  and components of the first pivot subassembly  305  enable the display body  10  to retain in a desired position. 
     In alternative embodiments, the elastic subassembly  309  may be omitted. In such cases, a torsion spring is disposed between the side wall  3212  of the first chassis  321  and the supporting subassembly  323 . The torsion spring is sleeved on the second pivot shaft  361 . Two ends of the torsion spring are fixed to the side wall  3212  of the first chassis  321  and the supporting subassembly  323  correspondingly, and the torsion spring is compressed between the first chassis  321  and the supporting subassembly  323  connected to the connecting base  303 . The torsion spring is capable of exerting a rebound force on the side wall  3212  of the first chassis  321  and the supporting subassembly  323 . The angle between the side walls  3212  of the first chassis  321  and the supporting subassemblies  323  has a tendency of becoming larger. Therefore, the distance between the first chassis  321  and the second chassis  322  has a tendency of becoming smaller. The rebound force of the torsion spring partially balances the gravitational force acting on the display body  10 . Alternatively, the torsion spring may be replaced by a compression spring with two rings formed at distal ends. The two rings of the compression spring are fixed to the side wall  3222  of the second chassis  322  and the supporting subassembly  323  correspondingly. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 7 , the elevating support  30  is in a second utmost position (highest position), the restricting poles  3702  of the shaft  370  abut against the restricting holes  3215  and the restricting blocks  3012  of the rotatable bracket  301  abut against the restricting groove  3541  of the limiting washers  354 , thereby restricting the rotatable bracket  301  together with the monitor bracket  50  in a maximum height. 
     A torsion force of the tension spring  353  either increases or decreases according to the motion of the elevating support  30 , thereby further preventing an excessive force from damaging the elevating support  30 . Therefore, the usage life of the elevating support  30  is prolonged. Further, the first and second utmost positions are restricted by the restricting poles  3702  abutting against the restricting grooves  3215  and the restricting blocks  3012  abutting against the restricting groove  3541 , thus the elevating support  30  is effectively restricting between the first utmost position to the second utmost position. In other words, the display body can be adjusted between the minimum height and the maximum height. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , in a second exemplary embodiment, an elevating support  60  is similar in principle to the elevating support  30  except the following differences. Firstly, a resisting wall  6213  of a first chassis  621  is a cuboid block. Secondly, an elastic subassembly  609  includes a spring  691 , a guiding shaft  692 , and a pressing block  693 . Each end of the pressing block  693  defines a shaft hole (not labeled) for inserting a shaft  670 . A roller  607  is rotatably disposed between two ends of the pressing block  693  via the shaft  670 . In such conditions, two side walls of the first chassis  621  do not define guiding slots. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , an elevating support  90  in accordance with a third exemplary embodiment is shown. The elevating support  90  is similar in principle to the elevating support  30  except the following differences. Firstly, an elastic subassembly  909  of the elevating support  90  includes a spring  991 , a guiding shaft  992 , and a shaft sleeve  993 . The spring  991  is sleeved on the guiding shaft  992 . Two ends of the spring  991  resist a resisting wall  9213  of a first chassis  921  and the shaft sleeve  993  respectively. Two ends of the guiding shaft  992  are connected to the shaft sleeve  993  and the resisting wall  9213  of the first chassis  921 . Secondly, the shaft sleeve  993  is sleeved on a second pivot shaft  961  of a second pivot subassembly. The elevating support  90  does not include a roller, a shaft extending through the roller, a resisting member, and two guiding slots defined in the first chassis  921 . 
     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 and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the invention.