Abstract:
A display swivel is described. The display swivel has a rotational portion, a pedestal, a fixed washer, a lubricating washer, and a fixing device. The rotational portion utilizes a rotational shaft to couple to a rotational ring of the pedestal. The fixed washer is fixed on the rotational shaft, and the lubricating washer is fixed on the rotational ring and is configured between the fixed washer and the rotational ring. The fixing device couples to the rotational shaft through central holes of the fixed washer and the lubricating washer.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   The present application is based on, and claims priority from, Taiwan Application Serial Number 93209789, filed Jun. 21, 2004, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
   FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
   The present invention generally relates to a display swivel. More particular, the present invention relates to a flat panel display swivel. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
   Conventional cathode ray tube (CRT) displays are inappropriate for use in multimedia applications because of their large volume. Therefore, many flat panel display techniques such as liquid crystal display (LCD), plasma display panel (PDP), and field emission display (FED) have been recently developed. These display techniques can manufacture a thin, light, short and small display, and thus these techniques are and will be the mainstream technology. 
   Flat panel displays possess advantages of high quality, small volume, and light weight, and are widely applied to various electronic products. Particularly in personal computers, notebook computers, and multimedia audio-video household appliances, flat panel displays gradually occupy a major part of the market. The flat panel display has to rotate horizontally to display the image for users at different positions. 
   Although a conventional display swivel normally provides a horizontal rotation function, the display may sometimes become loose on the display swivel due to looseness of fixing devices caused by frequent rotations. More seriously, the display may fall from the swivel so as to damage the display. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a display swivel with fixing washers that effectively and safely configures a fixing device of the display swivel thereon. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a display swivel with a fixed lubricating washer for rotating the display swivel smoothly. 
   It is further object of the present invention to provide a display swivel utilizing a rotational shaft inserted into a rotational ring and forming two sliding surfaces on both sides of the rotational ring to provide a smooth, safe rotation for the swivel. 
   To accomplish the above objectives, the present invention provides a display swivel suitable for application to a flat panel display for adjusting the display panel angle or to any other electronic device for adjusting working angle thereof The display swivel includes a rotational portion, a pedestal, a rotational shaft washer, a lubricating washer and a fixing device. The rotational portion further includes a rotational shaft protruding from the rotational portion to couple rotatably to a rotational ring of the pedestal. The rotational shaft washer is fixed on the rotational shaft and the lubricating washer is disposed between the rotational shaft washer and the rotational ring. The fixing device, e.g. a bolt, passes through central holes of the rotational shaft washer and the lubricating washer to couple to the rotational shaft. 
   The rotational portion further includes a rotational disc. The rotational disc and the pedestal construct a first sliding surface therebetween. The first sliding surface further has a lubricant thereon for reducing a rotation friction of the display swivel and can include a plurality of hollows to store the lubricant therein. A second sliding surface is constructed between the rotational shaft washer and the lubricating washer. In the same manner, the second sliding surface can include a plurality of hollows or holes to store the lubricant therein. The first sliding surface and the second sliding surface are respectively disposed on both sides of the rotational ring to reduce the friction for rotating the rotational portion. 
   The rotational ring further includes a lubricating washer fixing device inserted into one of the holes of the lubricating washer to fix the lubricating washer on the rotational ring. The rotational disc further includes an angle restrictor and the pedestal further includes an angle-restricting trench corresponding to the angle restrictor to limit a rotational angle of the rotational portion. 
   The rotational ring further includes two fixing planes to couple to two fixing comer of the lubricating washer so as to fix the lubricating washer on the rotational ring. The rotational shaft further utilizes a washer fixing device to couple to a washer fixing hole of the rotational shaft washer to fix the rotational shaft washer on the rotational shaft. 
   The display swivel according to the present invention utilizes the rotational shaft washer to prevent the fixing device of the display swivel from falling off, and the fixing device of the display swivel can be therefore firmly secured on the rotational shaft. The display swivel according to the present invention further utilizes the first sliding surface and the second sliding surface disposed on both sides of the rotational ring to reduce a friction for rotating the rotational portion so that the rotational portion can rotate smoother. The angle restrictor and the angle-restricting trench coupling together can further provide a suitable angle protection for the display swivel. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention are more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a preferred embodiment of a display swivel according to the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The following description is of the best presently contemplated mode of carrying out the present invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of describing the general principles of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined by referencing the appended claims. 
     FIG. 1  is a preferred embodiment of a display swivel according to the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the display swivel  100  includes a display supporting plate  110 , a rotational portion  120 , and a pedestal  130 . The display supporting plate  110  is fixed to the rotational portion  120  for rotating on the pedestal  130 . A flat display panel is fixed on the display supporting plate  110  by way of display fixing hole  112  and corresponding fixing devices (not shown) to increase an effective fixing area between the flat display panel and the display swivel  100 . 
   A rotational shaft  122  of the rotational portion  120  rotatably couples to a rotational ring  132  of the pedestal  130  so that the rotational portion  120  can smoothly rotate on the pedestal  130 . The rotational shaft  122  is inserted into the rotational ring  132  so as to provide a stable and safe connection therebetween. 
   The rotational portion  120  further includes a rotational disc  124  with angle restrictors  126  thereon. The rotational disc  124  effectively increases a contact area and a length of a supporting moment arm therebetween to stabilize further the rotational portion  120  rotating on the pedestal  130 . Additionally, a lubricant, e.g. grease, can be added between the rotational disc  124  and the pedestal  130  to form a first sliding surface therebetween so as to further enhance a slippage performance thereof. The angle restrictors  126  couple to corresponding angle-restricting trenches  136  of the pedestal  130  to limit a rotational angle of the rotational portion  120  so as to limit the rotational angle of the flat display panel and prevent an unexpected rotation. 
   A rotational shaft washer  150  is disposed at one end of the rotational shaft  122 , and a rotational disc is disposed at another end of the rotational shaft  122 . The rotational shaft  122  further includes washer fixing devices  128  to couple to washer fixing holes  158  of the rotational shaft washer  150 . The washer fixing devices  128 , e.g. protrusions, couple to the washer fixing holes  158  to fix the rotational shaft washer  150  on the rotational shaft  122  so as to prevent the fixing device  160  from becoming loose when the rotational portion  120  is rotated. The fixing device  160  couples the rotational portion  120  to the pedestal  130  to provide a fixing force for avoiding a separation of the rotating portion  120  and the pedestal  130  when the rotational portion  120  is rotated on the pedestal  130 . When the fixing device  160  is fixed in a corresponding fixing hole  146  of the rotational shaft  122 , the pedestal  130  is effectively clamped by the fixing device  160  and the rotational portion  120 . The fixing device  160  is a bolt or any other kind of fixing device. The fixing hole  146  is a screw hole or any other kind of corresponding fixing holes. 
   When the display swivel is rotated, the flat panel display may fall off if the fixing device  160  is loose. After the washer fixing holes  158  of the rotational shaft washer  150  are coupled to the washer fixing devices  128  of the rotational shaft  122 , the rotational shaft washer  150 , the rotational shaft  122 , and the fixing device  160  can synchronally rotate to avoid relative motion between the fixing device  160  and the rotational shaft  122 . Therefore, the display swivel  100  can be operated more safely and reliably because the fixing device  160  is prevented from becoming loose. 
   Between the rotational shaft washer  150  and the rotational ring  132 , the display swivel  100  further utilizes a lubricating washer  140  to increase a rotation performance of the rotational portion  120 . The lubricating washer  140  further includes a plurality of holes  144  or hollows to store lubricant therein. The lubricating washer  140  and the rotational shaft washer  150  form a second sliding surface therebetween to reduce a friction thereof for smoothly rotating the rotational portion  120 . The first sliding surface can also include a plurality of holes or hollows to store the lubricant therein to reduce the friction force between the rotational portion  120  and the pedestal  130  for smoothly rotating the rotational portion  120 . 
   The display swivel according to the present application utilizes the first sliding surface and the second sliding surface and configures the rotational ring  132  therebetween so as to reduce the friction and enhance the safety performance when the display swivel is rotated. The lubricating washer  140  further includes holes  144  to couple to lubricating washer fixing devices  134  of the rotational ring  132  to fix the lubricating washer  140  on the rotational ring  132 . The lubricating washer fixing device  134  can be a protrusion inserting into the hole  144  or hollows for fixing the lubricating washer  140  on the rotational ring  132 . The lubricating washer  140  further includes fixing corners  142  on two ends of the lubricating washer  140  to couple to corresponding fixing planes  138  of the rotational ring  132  so that the lubricating washer  140  can be effectively fixed on the rotational ring  132 . 
   The present invention utilizes the rotational shaft washer to protect the fixing device on the rotational portion from the relative motion so as to enhance the safety performance and reliability of the display swivel. The present invention further utilizes the fixed lubricating washer so as to rotate the display swivel smoothly. The two sliding surfaces can further allow rotating the rotational portion more smoothly. Therefore, the display swivel according to the present invention can enhance the safety performance of the flat panel display under a convenient operation for users. 
   As is understood by a person skilled in the art, the foregoing preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrative of the present invention rather than limiting of the present invention. It is intended that various modifications and similar arrangements be included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.