Abstract:
In an LCD assembly, a foldable support frame includes an upright stand member with one end pivoted to a base member and another end pivoted to a rear side wall of an LCD unit. A positioning unit is mounted on the stand member, and engages releasably the base member for positioning the base member at an unfolded position relative to the stand member. The positioning unit is operable for disengaging from the base member so as to permit turning of the base member for folding on the stand member. The stand member is turnable forwardly for folding on the LCD unit.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
         [0001]    This application claims priority of Taiwanese application No. 091202878, filed on Mar. 12, 2002.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to a liquid crystal displayer (LCD) assembly with a foldable support frame for reducing the storage space and packaging volume of the LCD assembly to facilitate storage and transport of the LCD assembly.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0005]    [0005]FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional liquid crystal displayer (LCD) assembly  100  which includes an LCD unit  11  and a support frame  13  for supporting the LCD unit  11 . The support frame  13  includes a base plate  15  to be disposed on a table top (not shown), and an upright post  16  with one end secured to the base plate  15  and another end pivoted to a rear side wall of a casing of the LCD unit  11  to permit adjustment in angular orientation of the LCD unit  11  relative to the support frame  13 . Since the post  16  is secured to the base plate  15 , and since the base plate  15  has a size which is large enough to support the LCD unit  11  on the table top, the LCD assembly  100  occupies a relatively large volume when it is packed for the purpose of transport or storage. This undesirably increases the packaging and transport costs.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal displayer assembly with a foldable support frame for reducing the storage space and packaging volume of the LCD assembly to facilitate storage and transport of the same.  
           [0007]    Accordingly, the liquid crystal displayer assembly of the present invention includes a liquid crystal displayer (LCD) unit having a casing with a rear side wall, and a support frame for supporting the LCD unit. The support frame includes a base member, an upright stand member, and a positioning unit. The base member has front and rear ends and top and bottom surfaces. The stand member has a lower end connected pivotally to the rear end of the base member such that the base member is pivotable relative to the stand member about a horizontal lower pivot axis. The stand member further has an upper end mounted pivotally on the rear side wall of the LCD unit so as to be pivotable about a horizontal upper pivot axis relative to the LCD unit. The stand member has a front side surface and a rear side surface opposite to the front side surface. The positioning unit is mounted on the stand member, and engages releasably the base member for positioning the base member at an unfolded position relative to the stand member. The base member and the stand member define a predetermined angle when the base member is in the unfolded position. The positioning unit is operable for disengaging from the base member so as to permit the base member to turn about the lower pivot axis in a first direction, in which the base member is moved away from the front side surface of the stand member and proximate to the rear side surface of the stand member so as to be folded on the rear side surface of the stand member. The stand member is turnable about the upper pivot axis for moving proximate to the rear side wall of the LCD unit so as to be folded on the LCD unit. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a side view of a conventional liquid crystal displaying assembly;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the LCD assembly of the present invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2A is a magnified perspective view of an engaging block of the preferred embodiment;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment, viewed from a rear side;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a base member, a stand member and a first mounting plate of a support frame of the preferred embodiment;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating how the support frame is mounted on an LCD unit;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is a side view of the preferred embodiment, where the support frame is shown to be in an unfolded state;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view, showing a positioning unit which engages a base member for positioning the support frame at the unfolded state;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view, showing how the positioning unit can be operated for disengaging from the base member;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 9 is another side view, showing the preferred embodiment during folding operation of the support frame; and  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 10 is another side view of the preferred embodiment, where the support frame is shown to be in a folded state. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0020]    Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the preferred embodiment of the liquid crystal displayer (LCD) assembly of this invention is shown to include a liquid crystal displayer (LCD) unit  900  and a support frame  300  for supporting the LCD unit  900 , such as on a table top (not shown). The support frame  300  is shown to generally include a base member  4 , an upright stand member  5 , first and second mounting plates  7 ,  9 , and a retaining plate  94 .  
         [0021]    Referring to FIG. 4, the base member  4  is in the form of a generally rectangular curved plate with a convex top surface  41 , a concave bottom surface  42 , a front end  46 , and a rear end  40  which is formed with a rectangular first notch  43  so as to define a pair of first pivot lobes  405  on opposite sides of the first notch  43 . The first pivot lobes  405  are formed with aligned pivot holes  401  which extend along a common horizontal lower pivot axis.  
         [0022]    The stand member  5  includes a curved plate portion  50  with a convex rear side surface  51 , and a concave front side surface  52 , and has a curvature generally corresponding with that of the base member  4 . An abutment projection  56  projects forwardly from a lower end  54  and from the front side surface  52  of the curved plate portion  50 . The abutment projection  56  has a bottom surface  561 . The stand member  5  further has an upper end  53  formed with a generally rectangular second notch  55  so as to define a pair of second pivot lobes  505  on opposite sides of the second notch  55  at the upper end  53 . The second pivot lobes  505  are formed with aligned pin slots  507  which open forwardly. The stand member  5  has a cable hole  59  formed through the curved plate portion  50  to permit extension of the LCD cable unit (not shown) therethrough. The lower end  54  of the curved plate portion  50  extends into the first notch  43  in the rear end  40  of the base member  4  and is formed with a pivot hole  541  that extends between left and right edges of the curved plate portion  50  and that is aligned with the pivot holes  401  in the base member  4  along a horizontal lower pivot axis. A pivot axle  47  extends along the lower pivot axis and through the pivot holes  401 ,  541  for connecting the base member  4  pivotally to the stand member  5 . The abutment projection  56  has a size larger than that of the first notch  43  such that the abutment projection  56  cannot be received in the first notch  43  and such that the bottom surface  561  of a front edge portion of the abutment projection  56  abuts against the top surface  41  of the base member  4 .  
         [0023]    The positioning unit  6  includes an elongated slide rail  61  secured to the bottom surface  561  of the abutment projection  56 . The slide rail  61  has a length not longer than that of the first notch  43  in a direction parallel to the pivot axle  47 , and is extendible through the first notch  43 . The slide rail  61  is formed with a downwardly opening slide channel  610  which is parallel to the pivot axle  47  and which has two opposite open ends that are disposed respectively adjacent to the pivot lobes  405  of the base member  4  when the slide rail  61  extends into the first notch  43 . The slide channel  610  receives a pair of engaging blocks  63 , a pair of biasing springs  64  and a spring seat  62  therein. The engaging blocks  63  are disposed adjacent to the open ends of the slide channel  610 . Each of the engaging blocks  63  has a tapered wall  633  formed at an outer end thereof, and a pin projection  631  formed at an inner end and extending generally along an axis of the slide channel  610 , as best shown in FIG. 2A. The spring seat  62  generally includes a rectangular block with two opposite ends, each formed with a pin projection  621 . Each of the biasing springs  64  is in the form of a coiled compression spring, and is disposed between the spring seat  62  and a respective one of the engaging blocks  63 . Each of the biasing springs  64  is sleeved on a respective one of the pin projections  621  on the spring seat  62  and on the pin projection  631  of an adjacent one of the engaging blocks  63 . The biasing springs  64  bias the engaging blocks  63  to move outwardly of the slide channel  610  such that the engaging blocks  63  project from the open ends of the slide channel  610 . Retaining means are provided on the slide rail  61  to prevent removal of the engaging blocks  63  from the open ends of the slide rail  61 .  
         [0024]    The first mounting plate  7  is slightly curved, and has a slightly convex rear side surface  73 , a slightly concave front side surface  74 , a hooked upper end  72  formed with a forward hook projection  721 , a hooked lower end  71  formed with a forward hook projection  711 , and a pivot portion  731  projecting from the rear side surface  73  and formed with a horizontally extending pivot groove  76  that opens on the front side surface  74 . The pivot portion  731  extends into the second notch  55  in the stand member  5  such that the pivot groove  76  is aligned with the pivot slots  507  along a horizontal upper pivot axis parallel to the lower pivot axis. A pivot pin unit includes a pair of pivot pins  77  which extend along the upper pivot axis. Each of the pivot pins  77  has a flat section  771  received fittingly and non-rotatably in the pin slot  705  in a respective one of the second pivot lobes  505  of the stand member  5 , and a rounded section  772  connected to the flat section  771  and extending rotatably into the pivot groove  76  for mounting the stand member  5  pivotally on the first mounting plate  7 . The rounded sections  772  of the pivot pins  77  engage frictionally an inner wall surface of the pivot groove  76  such that the stand member  5  can be retained frictionally at a selected angular position relative to the first mounting plate  7 . An access hole  79 , which will be described later, is formed through the first mounting plate  7  above the pivot portion  731 .  
         [0025]    Referring to FIG. 5, a second mounting plate  9  is attached securely to a rear side wall  901  of a casing of the LCD unit  900 . The second mounting plate  9  is configured to form a pair of slide grooves  912  at left and right end portions thereof, and a bulging portion  913  between the left and right end portions. Each of the slide grooves  912  extends from an upper end to a lower end  916  of the second mounting plate  9 , and has a top opening. The bulging portion  913  is formed with a limiting slot  917 , and a pair of spring retaining bores  915  below the limiting slot  917 .  
         [0026]    The retaining plate  94  has a pair of sliding plate portions  941  extending slidably and respectively into the slide grooves  912  via the top openings in the latter, and an intermediate portion  942  between the sliding plate portions  941 . The intermediate portion  942  is disposed posteriorly of the bulging portion  913  of the second mounting plate  9 , and is formed with a limiting protrusion  947  which projects forwardly and which extends into the limiting slot  917  to limit sliding movement of the retaining plate  94  relative to the second mounting plate  9  along the slide grooves  912 .  
         [0027]    A biasing member  92  is disposed between the intermediate portion  942  of the retaining plate  94  and the bulging portion  913  of the second mounting plate  9  and below the limiting protrusion  947 . The biasing member  92  is in the form of a resilient ring that is formed by bending an elongated rod and that has two legs  922  at a lower part, and a ring portion  921  at an upper part and interconnecting the legs  922 . The legs  922  are retained respectively in the spring retaining bores  915  in the second mounting plate  91 . The ring portion  921  abuts against the limiting protrusion  947  to bias the retaining plate  94  upwardly such that an upper edge  945  of the retaining plate  94  projects upwardly relative to the second mounting plate  91 .  
         [0028]    When the first mounting plate  7  is to be mounted on the second mounting plate  9  for mounting on the rear sidewall  901  of the LCD unit  9 , the lower hook projection  711  of the first mounting plate  7  is hooked at the lower end  916  of the second mounting plate  9 . Then, the upper end  72  of first mounting plate  7  is moved proximate to the retaining plate  94  so as to enable a tapered face  722  (see FIG. 6) on the hook projection  721  to slide past the upper edge  945  of the retaining plate  94 . At this time, the retaining plate  94  is pushed downwardly to compress the biasing member  92 , and then springs upwardly to engage the hook projection  721  due to the upward restoring action applied by the biasing member  92 . On the other hand, when it is desired to detach the first mounting plate  7  from the second mounting plate  9 , a tool is extended through the access hole  79  in the first mounting plate  7  and into an operating hole  948  formed in the retaining plate  94 , and is operated to move the retaining plate  94  downwardly so as to disengage the retaining plate  94  from the hooked upper end  72  of the first mounting plate  7 . The first mounting plate  7  can then be removed from the second mounting plate  91 .  
         [0029]    Referring to FIGS. 4, 6 and  7 , in use, the base member  4  is turned pivotally relative to the stand member  5  in a direction for moving the top surface  41  of the base member  4  toward the front side surface  52  of the stand member  5 . Inner edge portions  406  of the first pivot lobes  405  slide past the tapered walls  633  on the engaging blocks  63  and depress the engaging blocks  63  to retract the engaging blocks  63  into the slide channel  610 , thereby compressing the biasing springs  64  and thereby permitting extension of the slide rail  61  into the first notch  43 . The top surface  41  of the base member  4  eventually abuts against the bottom surface  561  of the abutment projection  56 . At this time, the base member  4  reaches an unfolded position relative to the stand member  5 . In the unfolded position, the top surface  41  of the base member  4  confronts the front side surface  52  of the stand member  5 , and cooperates therewith to form a predetermined angle  201  therebetween. Once the base member  4  moves to the unfolded position, the engaging blocks  63  project once again from the open ends of the slide channel  61  due to the biasing action of the biasing springs  64 , and engage the bottom surface  42  of the base member  4 . The base member  4  is thus clamped between the engaging blocks  63  and the abutment projection  56 , and is thus positioned at the unfolded position, where the LCD unit  900  can be supported stably by the support frame  300 .  
         [0030]    Referring to FIGS. 6, 8 and  9 , when it is desired to collapse the support frame  300 , the engaging blocks  63  are moved for retracting into the slide channel  61  so as to disengage from the base member  4 . Then, the base member  4  is turned about the lower pivot axis relative to the stand member  5  in a first direction, shown by arrow  203  in FIG. 6, in which the base member  4  is moved away from the front side surface  52  and is moved proximate to the rear side surface  51  of the stand member  5  so as to be folded on the rear side surface  51  of the stand member  5 , as shown in FIG. 9. Thereafter, the stand member  5  is turned forwardly about the upper pivot axis, together with the base member  4  folded thereon, as shown by arrow  205  in FIG. 9, for folding on the LCD unit  900 . The LCD assembly is thus converted to be in a compact state shown in FIG. 10 to reduce the required storage space and packaging volume of the assembly, thereby facilitating storage and transport of the same.  
         [0031]    While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.