Abstract:
In a screen stand, a flat screen is held in a holder having side bars and crossbars. A faceplate borders on the flat screen. The crossbars are adjustable in their length and their position relative to the side bars. The screen stand has a foot and the holder supports the flat screen on the foot.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Applicant claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of German Application No. 20 2009 015 421.1 filed Nov. 12, 2009. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The invention relates to a screen stand with a flat screen, having a foot and a holder for supporting the flat screen on the foot. 
         [0004]    2. The Prior Art 
         [0005]    Such screen stands with flat screens are frequently used in trade show booths or in sales rooms for presentation of goods and services and are known from practice. For example, the holder in screen stands known from practice is frequently configured as a column. Such screen stands, however, are suitable only in limited manner for directing the observer&#39;s view to the display of the flat screen. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    It is an object of the invention to provide a screen stand of the type stated initially that avoids optical influences on an observer that divert from the display of the flat screen. 
         [0007]    These and other objects are achieved, according to the invention, by providing a screen stand in which the holder has two side bars that enclose the flat screen laterally, the side bars are connected with one another by way of crossbars, and a section between flat screen and foot has a faceplate on a front side. 
         [0008]    Via this configuration, the flat screen is framed by the side bars and the faceplate. As a result, the observer&#39;s view is blocked past the flat screen, underneath and at the sides. Furthermore, possibly disruptive connecting cables are covered up by the faceplate. In this way, the screen stand according to the invention avoids distractions from the display of the flat screen. Thanks to the invention, the observer&#39;s view is directed at the display of the flat screen. The screen stand according to the invention is furthermore suitable as a decorative panel in trade show and sales booths. 
         [0009]    The screen stand according to the invention is able to further illustrate the information displayed on the flat screen or to provide the observer with additional information, if the panel has a display board. In the simplest case, the display board is a poster wall that displays the logo of a company or the product shown on the flat screen. 
         [0010]    The screen stand according to the invention can be put together, in simple manner, from individual parts, if the side bars have at least two side-bar sections that are releasably connected with one another, if one of the side-bar sections extends beyond the height of the flat screen, and the other one of the side-bar sections is connected with the foot. This configuration furthermore allows space-saving storage of the screen stand according to the invention. 
         [0011]    The screen stand according to the invention can be used in particularly multi-faceted manner if an intermediate element is inserted between the side-bar sections and separates the flat screen from the faceplate that lies underneath. This intermediate element can have a shelf for brochures or documents, for example. Furthermore, the intermediate element allows adaptation of the height of the flat screen to the intended purpose of use. 
         [0012]    It contributes to a further increase in the multi-faceted nature of the screen stand according to the invention if a head element is attached on the ends of the side bars that face away from the foot and ends flush with the flat screen. A camera can be inserted into this head element, for example, or another faceplate can be attached. 
         [0013]    The screen stand according to the invention can be equipped with different flat screens if the crossbars are adjustable in their length and/or in their position relative to the side bars. Via this configuration, different flat screens can be set so that the front side of the flat screen, in each instance, ends with the side bars. 
         [0014]    Assembly of the screen stand according to the invention can be configured in particularly simple manner if the side bars have pockets for accommodating edges of the faceplate, a back wall and/or the frame of the flat screen. 
         [0015]    It contributes to further simplification of the assembly of the screen stand according to the invention if the side bars have longitudinal guides that face one another and if the crossbars are attached in the longitudinal guides. 
         [0016]    The screen stand according to the invention can be put together, in simple manner, in multiple desired sizes, if the side-bar sections are attached in the longitudinal guides and/or second longitudinal guides of the adjacent side-bar section. As a result, the screen stand according to the invention furthermore has particularly great stability. 
         [0017]    It contributes to a further increase in the stability of the screen stand according to the invention if the side bars have a closed box profile. 
         [0018]    The screen stand according to the invention has a smooth surface if the second longitudinal guides are disposed on the inside of the box profile of the side bars. 
         [0019]    The side bars are able to make a clear contribution to the appearance of the screen stand according to the invention if the side bars have a longitudinal groove for accommodating a light strip on their outside. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]    Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention. 
           [0021]    In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  is a perspective representation of a screen stand according to the invention, with a flat screen; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  shows a holder of the screen stand from  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is an extended representation of a connection of crossbars to side bars of the holder of the screen stand; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the holder of the screen stand with the flat screen; 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  shows another embodiment of the holder of the screen stand; 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  shows an embodiment of the screen stand according to the invention with an intermediate element; 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  shows another embodiment of the screen stand according to the invention with an intermediate element; 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  shows an embodiment of the screen stand according to the invention with a head element; 
           [0030]      FIG. 9  shows another embodiment of the holder of the screen stand; 
           [0031]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged representation of the connection of two side-bar sections of the holder of the screen stand from  FIG. 9 ; and 
           [0032]      FIG. 11  is a sectional representation of a side bar of the holder from  FIG. 9 , with adjacent regions of a metal sheet and a back wall of the screen stand. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0033]    Referring now in detail to the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows a front side of a screen stand, with a foot  1  and a flat screen  2 . The screen stand has side bars  3 ,  4  that extend over its entire height, and a faceplate  5  disposed between flat screen  2  and foot  1 . Side bars  3 ,  4  end flush with faceplate  5  and a frame  6  that encloses flat screen  2 . A frameless flat screen, not shown, could, of course, end flush with side bars  3 ,  4 . Faceplate  5  can be configured as a display board and display additional information. 
         [0034]      FIG. 2  shows the screen stand from  FIG. 1  without a faceplate  5  and flat screen  2 . Here, it can be seen that the side bars are connected with one another by way of crossbars  7 . Side bars  3 ,  4  and crossbars  7  form a holder  8  for flat screen  2  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0035]    The connection of crossbars  7  to one of side bars  3  from  FIG. 2  is shown in  FIG. 3 , in an enlarged representation. To simplify the drawing, the connection of crossbar  7  is shown in an extended representation, so that the side of the one side bar  3  that faces crossbar  7  can be seen. In this connection, it can be seen that side bar  3  has a longitudinal guide  9  in which crossbar  7  is attached. Crossbar  7  furthermore has adjustment means  10  for its adjustment in length. 
         [0036]      FIG. 4  shows a top view of the connection of crossbar  7  to side bars  3 ,  4  with flat screen  2 . In this connection, it can be seen that crossbar  7  holds flat screen  2  in such a manner that it is disposed precisely between side bars  3 ,  4 . The back of the screen stand, and thus the sides of crossbars  7  that face away from flat screen  2 , can be covered with a faceplate, not shown. 
         [0037]      FIG. 5  shows another embodiment of a holder  11  of the screen stand. This holder  11  has subdivided side bars  12 ,  13 , and thus side-bar sections  14 ,  15  that lie close to foot  1 , and side-bar sections  16 ,  17  disposed at the level of flat screen  2  shown in  FIG. 1 . This holder  11  furthermore has another crossbar  18 , in comparison with the holder from  FIG. 4 , which crossbar connects the lower side-bar sections  14 ,  15  with one another. Foot  1  has rollers  23 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 6  shows another embodiment of the screen stand, which has a planar intermediate element  19  between faceplate  5  disposed close to the foot and flat screen  2 . With this intermediate element  19 , it is possible to produce another function of the screen stand, for example, or to adjust the height of flat screen  2 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 7  shows another embodiment of the screen stand, in which an intermediate element  20  configured as a shelf is disposed between flat screen  2  and faceplate  5  close to foot  1 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 8  shows another embodiment of the screen stand, in which a head element  21  is disposed on the top of flat screen  2 . Head element  21  has a camera  22 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 9  shows another embodiment of a holder  24  of the screen stand, with two side bars  25 ,  26  and two crossbars  27 ,  28 . Side bars  25 ,  26  have side-bar sections  29 - 31 , in each instance. 
         [0042]      FIG. 10  shows two of the side-bar sections  29 ,  30  at their connection. Side-bar sections  29 ,  30  have first longitudinal guides  32  that face crossbar  27 , and second longitudinal guides  33  disposed in a box profile. Crossbars  27  are attached in first longitudinal guides  32 . Side-bar sections  29 ,  30  furthermore have pins  34 ,  35  with which they are connected with one another, by way of first and second longitudinal guides  32 ,  33 . Furthermore,  FIG. 10  shows that side bars  25  have a longitudinal groove  36  on the outside, to accommodate a light strip, not shown. 
         [0043]      FIG. 11  shows a cross-section of the profile of one of side bars  25  of holder  24  from  FIG. 9 , with the two longitudinal guides  32 ,  33  and longitudinal groove  36 . Side bar  25  has pockets  37 ,  38  for accommodating edges of faceplate  5  of frame  6  and a back wall  39  of the screen stand. 
         [0044]    Although several embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims.