Abstract:
An exemplary liquid crystal display device ( 100 ) includes a first frame ( 11 ), a liquid crystal panel ( 12 ), a backlight unit ( 13 ) for providing uniform light for the liquid crystal panel, and a second frame ( 14 ) cooperating with the first frame to define a space receiving the liquid crystal panel and the backlight unit. The backlight unit includes a reflector ( 17 ) and a lamp ( 16 ) received in the reflector. The reflector includes a hook ( 175 ). The second frame includes a through hole ( 145 ). The hook engages in the through hole, thereby facilitating the fixing of the reflector to the second frame.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to liquid crystal display (LCD) devices, and particularly to an LCD device in which a lamp reflector is fixed by means of a hook engaging in a hole. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    A typical LCD has the advantages of portability, low power consumption, and low radiation, and has been widely used in various portable information products such as notebooks, personal digital assistants (PDAs), video cameras and the like. 
         [0003]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , this shows a conventional LCD device. The LCD device  700  includes a metal top bezel  71 , an LCD panel  72 , a backlight unit  73  for providing uniform light for the LCD panel  72 , and a metal bottom frame  74 . The top bezel  71  and the bottom frame  74  cooperatively form a space to accommodate the LCD panel  72  and the backlight unit  73 . 
         [0004]    The bottom frame  74  includes a rectangular bottom plate  741 , a first side plate  742 , and a second side plate  743  opposite to the first side plate  742 . The side plates  742 ,  743  perpendicularly extend from the bottom plate  741 . The bottom plate  741  has two first screw holes  744  formed in two corners thereof adjacent to the first side plate  742 . 
         [0005]    The backlight unit  73  includes a light guide plate  75 , a linear lamp  76  adjacent to the light guide plate  75 , a metal reflector  77 , a pair of rubber stoppers  78 , and a plastic frame  79 . The reflector  77  essentially surrounds three sides of the lamp  76 , and reflects light emitted from the lamp  76  toward the light guide plate  75 . The light guide plate  75  receives the light from the lamp  76  and the reflector  77 , and guides the light to emit from a top surface of the light guide plate  75 . The rubber stoppers  78  are engaged around two ends of the lamp  76  to protect and fix the lamp  76 . The plastic frame  79  is used to accommodate the light guide plate  75 , the lamp  76 , the reflector  77 , and the rubber stoppers  78 . 
         [0006]    The reflector  77  includes two second screw holes  774  corresponding to the first screw holes  744 , respectively. 
         [0007]    Referring also to  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 , when the LCD device  700  is assembled, the rubber stoppers  78  are engaged around the ends of the lamp  76  respectively. The rubber stoppers  78  together with the lamp  76  are received in the reflector  77 . The reflector  77  is placed on the bottom plate  741  adjacent to the first side plate  742 . The first screw holes  744  are aligned with the second screw holes  774  respectively. The reflector  77  is fixed to the bottom frame  74  by means of engagement of two screws (only one shown, not labeled) in the corresponding first screw holes  741  and the corresponding second screw holes  774 . 
         [0008]    The need for the screws contributes to making the process of assembly of the LCD device  700  somewhat complicated. It is desired to provide a new LCD device which can overcome this above-described deficiency. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    In one embodiment, a liquid crystal display device includes a first frame, a liquid crystal panel, a backlight unit, and a second frame cooperating with the first frame to define a space receiving the liquid crystal panel and the backlight unit. The backlight unit includes a reflector and a lamp received in the reflector. The reflector includes a hook. The second frame includes a through hole. The hook engages in the through hole and thereby facilitating fixing of the reflector to the second frame. 
         [0010]    Other novel features and advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of a liquid crystal display (LCD) device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the LCD device including a reflector and a bottom frame. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of a circled portion II of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of a circled portion IV of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is an assembled view of the reflector and the bottom frame of the LCD device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of a circled portion VI of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is an exploded, isometric view of a conventional LCD device, the LCD device including a reflector and a bottom frame. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is an assembled view of the reflector and the bottom frame of the LCD device of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged view of a circled portion IX of  FIG. 8 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0020]    Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe preferred and exemplary embodiments of the present invention in detail. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an LCD device  100  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. The LCD device  100  includes a top bezel  11 , an LCD panel  12 , a backlight unit  13 , and a bottom frame  14 . The top bezel  11  and the bottom frame  14  cooperatively form a space to accommodate the LCD panel  12  and the backlight unit  13 . 
         [0022]    The bottom frame  14  is typically made of iron or another kind of metal. The bottom frame  14  includes a rectangular bottom plate  141 , a first side plate  142 , a second side plate  143 , and a third side plate  144 . The three side plates  142 ,  143 ,  144  respectively extend up from the bottom plate  141 . The first side plate  142  is opposite to the second side plate  143 . The third side plate  144  connects with both the first side plate  142  and the second side plate  143 . The bottom plate  141  has a rectangular through hole  145  at a corner thereof adjacent to the first side plate  142  and far from the third side plate  144 . 
         [0023]    Referring also to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , a horizontal area of a middle portion of the through hole  145  is less than a horizontal area of each of an upper portion of the through hole  145  and a lower portion of the through hole  145 . 
         [0024]    The backlight unit  13  includes a light guide plate (LGP)  15  for guiding light, a linear lamp  16  adjacent to the light guide plate  15 , a metal reflector  17 , a pair of rubber stoppers  18 , and a plastic frame  19 . 
         [0025]    The lamp  16  can for example be a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL). The reflector  17  essentially surrounds three sides of the lamp  16 , and reflects light radiating from the lamp  16  toward the light guide plate  15 . The rubber stoppers  18  are engaged around two ends of the lamp  16  respectively, to protect and fix the lamp  16 . The plastic frame  19  is used to accommodate the light guide plate  15 , the lamp  16 , the reflector  17 , and the rubber stoppers  18 . 
         [0026]    Referring also to  FIG. 4 , the reflector  17  includes an upper wall  171 , a lower wall  172  opposite to the upper wall  171 , a lateral wall  173  perpendicularly interconnecting the upper wall  171  and the lower wall  172 , and a hook  175  formed at an end of the lower wall  172 . 
         [0027]    The hook  175  corresponds to the through hole  145 . A transverse cross-section of the hook  175 , taken at any part of the hook  175  from a base portion thereof to a free end thereof, is rectangular. A thickness of the hook  175  is substantially the same as or slightly greater than the horizontal area of the middle portion of the through hole  145 , and is less than each of the horizontal area of the upper portion of the through hole  145  and the horizontal area of the lower portion of the through hole  145 . Thereby, the through hole  145  can interferentially receive the hook  175  therein such that the hook  175  is firmly engaged in the through hole  145 . 
         [0028]    Referring also to  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , assembly of the LCD device  100  is as follows. The two rubber stoppers  18  are engaged around the two ends of the lamp  16  respectively. The lamp  16  with the rubber stoppers  18  is received in the reflector  17 , with the rubber stoppers  18  being deformably and interferentially received between the upper and lower walls  171 ,  172  of the reflector  17 . An end of the reflector  17  without the hook  175  is placed against an inner surface of the third side plate  144 . The hook  175  is pushed into the through hole  145  and is interferentially fixed in the through hole  145 . Thus, the reflector  17  having the lamp  16  and the rubber stoppers  18  is fixed to the bottom frame  14 . Next, the LGP  15  and the plastic frame  19  are received in the bottom frame  14 , with a long edge of the LGP  15  facing the lamp  16 . Detents (not labeled) of the plastic frame  19  are engaged in slots (not labeled) of the first and second side plates  142 ,  143  of the bottom frame  14 . Thus, a bottom cavity (not labeled) of the plastic frame  19  accommodates the LGP  15  and the reflector  17 . Then the LCD panel  12  is fitted on top of the plastic frame  19 . Finally, the top bezel  11  is attached to the plastic frame  19 , with other detents (not labeled) of the plastic frame  19  engaging in slots (not labeled) of the top bezel  11 . Thus, the LCD device  100  is assembled. 
         [0029]    Unlike conventional LCD devices, the reflector  17  of the LCD device  100  is fixed in position by means of the engagement of the hook  175  in the through hole  145 . The process of assembly of the LCD device  100  is simple and convenient. 
         [0030]    Further or alternative embodiments may include the following. In one example, the hook  175  can be formed at any suitable position of the lower wall  172  or of the lateral wall  173 . Correspondingly, the through hole  145  can be formed in the bottom plate  141  or the first side plate  142  according to the position of the hook  175 . 
         [0031]    In another example, the bottom frame  14  can include two or more through holes  145 , and the reflector  17  can include two or more hooks  175  formed thereat according to the positions of the through holes  145 . 
         [0032]    In a further example, the through hole  145  can be triangular, round, or have another suitable shape. Correspondingly, the transverse cross-section of the hook  175  can be triangular, round, or have another suitable shape. 
         [0033]    In a still further example, the through hole  145  can be formed in the lower wall  172  or the lateral wall  173  of the reflector  17 . Correspondingly, the hook  175  can be formed at the bottom plate  141  or the first side plate  142  of the bottom frame  14 . 
         [0034]    It is to be further understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of preferred and exemplary embodiments have been set out in the foregoing description, together with details of structures and functions associated with the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail (including in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts) within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.