Abstract:
An exemplary display device includes a support member, a pair of displays slidably attached to the support member, and positioning members disposed between the displays and the support member. The support member includes a straight slideway, and a curved slideway defined therein. The curved slideway includes a slanting portion, and a first straight portion and a second straight portion extending out from opposite ends of the slanting portion. The straight slideway is parallel to the first straight portion of the curved slideway and in line with the second straight portion of the curved slideway. The displays are slidably received in the straight slideway and the curved slideway respectively. The displays may be positioned to form a large screen, or slid to overlap leaving a single display visible.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a display device. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Most personal computers (PCs) employ a single, flat screen to display graphics and/or data thereon. The single screen is adequate for use by one person sitting nearby. 
         [0005]    However, usually, a typical display can only be rotated horizontally and with a fixed size in the frame, and it can&#39;t satisfy the user if the user needs to sit further away from the screen. 
         [0006]    Consequently, what is required is a display device with an expandable screen. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    In one embodiment, a display device includes a support member, a pair of displays slidably attached to the support member, and positioning members disposed between the displays and the support member. The support member includes a straight slideway, and a curved slideway defined therein. The curved slideway includes a slanting portion, and a first straight portion and a second straight portion extending out from opposite ends of the slanting portion. The straight slideway is parallel to the first straight portion of the curved slideway and in line with the second straight portion of the curved slideway. The displays are slidably received in the straight slideway and the curved slideway respectively. The displays may be positioned to form a large screen, or slid to overlap leaving a single display visible. 
     
    
     
         [0008]    Other advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention, the display device includes a support member, a first fixing board, a second fixing board, a pair of locating pins, and a pair of displays; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is an inverted view of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a partially assembled view of  FIG. 1 , showing the first fixing board, the second fixing board, and the locating pins attached to the support member; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is an inverted view of  FIG. 3 ; and 
           [0013]      FIGS. 5 and 6  are assembled, isometric views of the display device of  FIG. 1 , respectively showing the displays of the display device in an overlapped state and an extended state. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in a preferred embodiment of the invention, a display device includes a support member  10 , a first fixing board  20 , a second fixing board  30 , a first display  40 , a second display  50 , a fixing bar  60 , a pair of pins  70 , a pair of resilient members  80 , a slide member  91 , a first guide member  92 , a second guide member  93 , and a third guide member  94 . 
         [0015]    The support member  10  includes a pedestal  12 , a first frame  14 , and a second frame  16 . The first frame  14  has an L-shaped configuration and includes a horizontal plate  142 , and a vertical plate  144 . The second frame  16  also has an L-shaped configuration and includes a horizontal plate  162 , and a vertical plate  164 . The vertical plate  164  of the second frame  16  is attached to an upper portion of the vertical portion  144  of the first fixing frame  14 , and the horizontal plate  142  of the first frame  14  is attached to a top of the pedestal  12 . The first frame  14  and the second frame  16  cooperatively define a U-shaped receiving space to receive the first display  40  and the second display  50 . 
         [0016]    The horizontal plate  142  of the first frame  14  includes a curved slideway  143  defined in a right portion thereof along an inside edge thereof, a straight slideway  145  defined therein along an outside edge thereof, a pair of receiving holes  146  respectively defined in two ends thereof, and a plurality of fixing holes  148  defined therein. The curved slideway  143  includes a long straight portion  1434  parallel to the inner edge of the horizontal plate  142 , a slanting portion  1432  extending from a right end of the long straight portion  1434  toward the outer edge of the horizontal plate  142 , and a short straight portion  1436  extending from a right end of the slanting portion  1432  along the outer edge of the horizontal plate  142 . The long straight portion  1434  is offset from the short straight portion  1436 . The slanting portion  1432  is connected between the right end of the long straight portion  1434  and the left end of the short straight portion. The straight slideway  145  is parallel to the long straight portion  1434  of the curved slideway  143  and is in end-to-end alignment with the short straight portion  1436  of the curved slideway  143 . The receiving holes  146  are configured for receiving the resilient members  80  and the pins  70  therein. 
         [0017]    Referring also to  FIG. 2 , the horizontal plate  162  of the second frame  16  includes a curved slideway  163  defined in a left portion thereof, a threaded hole  165  defined therein along an outside edge thereof, and a plurality of fixing holes  167 . The curved slideway  163  includes a slanting portion  1632 , a long straight portion  1634  extending from a left end of the slanting portion  1632 , and a short straight portion  1636  extending from a right end of the slanting portion  1632 . The long straight portion  1634  of the curved slideway  163  is parallel to the straight slideway  145 . The short straight portion  1636  of the curved slideway  163  is in line with the straight slideway  145 . 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the first fixing board  20  has a similar configuration as the horizontal plate  142  of the first frame  14  and includes a curved slideway  24 , a straight slideway  22 , a pair of through holes  26  corresponding to the receiving holes  146  of the first frame  14 , and a plurality of through holes  28  corresponding to the fixing holes  148  of the first frame  14 , defined therein. The curved slideway  24  has a similar shape as, but is narrower than, the curved slideway  143  of the first frame  14  of the support member  10 . The straight slideway  22  has a similar shape as, but is narrower than, the straight slideway  145  of the first frame  14  of the support member  10 . An entrance is formed at each end of the curved slideway  24  and the straight slideway  22 , to allow one of the guide members  92 ,  93 ,  94  entering thereinto. 
         [0019]    The second fixing board  30  has a similar configuration as the horizontal plate  162  of the second frame  16  and includes a curved slideway  32  in a left portion thereof, a through hole  34  corresponding to the threaded holes  165  of the second frame  16 , and a plurality of through holes  36 , corresponding to the fixing holes  167  of the second frame  16 . The curved slideway  32  has a similar shape as, but is narrower than, the curved slideway  163  of the second frame  16  of the support member  10 . Similarly, an entrance is formed at each end of the curved slideway  32 . 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the first display  40  includes a lengthwise recessed portion  42  in a top wall thereof. The recessed portion  42  is for receiving the fixing bar  60  therein and includes a long slot  44  defined therein, and a pair of fixing holes  46  defined beside two ends of the long slot  44 . The first display  40  includes a threaded hole  47 , a first positioning hole  48 , and a second positioning hole  49  defined in a bottom wall thereof. The first positioning hole  48  and the second positioning hole  49  are located beside two sides of the threaded hole  47 . The second positioning hole  49  is at a left end of the bottom wall of the first display  40 . 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the second display  50  includes a threaded hole  52  defined in a left end of a top portion thereof. The second display  50  includes a positioning hole  56  defined in a middle portion of a bottom wall thereof, and a threaded hole  54  beside a left side of the positioning hole  56  in the bottom wall thereof. 
         [0022]    The fixing bar  60  has a similar configuration with the recessed portion  42  of the first display  40  and includes a straight slideway  62 , and a pair of through holes  64  defined therein beside the straight slideway  62 . The straight slideway  62  has a similar shape as, but is narrower than, the slot  44  of the first display  40 . An entrance is formed at each end of the straight slideway  62 . 
         [0023]    In this preferred embodiment, the resilient members  80  are coil springs. 
         [0024]    Referring also to  FIG. 3 , each of the pins  70  has a hemispherical head for facilitating entering into the positioning holes  48 ,  49  of the first display  40  or the positioning hole  56  of the second display  50 . 
         [0025]    In this preferred embodiment, the slide member  91 , the first guide member  92 , the second guide member  93 , and the third guide member  94  are thumb screws. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 to 5 , in assembly, the first fixing board  20  is attached to the horizontal plate  142  of the first frame  14  of the support member  10 , with a plurality of rivets (not shown) extending through the through holes  28  of the first fixing board  20  and the fixing holes  148  of the horizontal plate  142  of the first frame  14 . The pins  70  are fixed with the resilient members  80  therearound and extend through the through holes  26  of the first fixing board  20  and engage in the receiving holes  146  of the horizontal plate  142  of the first frame  14 , respectively, with the heads thereof located above the first fixing board  20 . The second fixing board  30  is attached to the horizontal plate  162  of the second frame  16  of the support member  10 , with a plurality of rivets (not shown) extending through the through holes  36  of the second fixing board  30  and the fixing holes  167  of the horizontal plate  162  of the second frame  16 . The slide member  91  extends through the through hole  34  of the second fixing board  30  and engages in the threaded hole  165  of the second frame  16 . 
         [0027]    The first guide member  92  engages in the threaded hole  47  of the bottom wall of the first display  40 . The fixing bar  60  is retained in the recessed portion  42  of the first display  40 , with a pair of rivets extending through the through holes  64  of the fixing bars  60  and engaging in the fixing holes  46  of the first display  40 . The straight slideway  62  of the fixing bar  60  aligns with the slot  44  of the first display  40 . 
         [0028]    The second guide member  93  engages in the threaded hole  54  of the bottom wall of the second display  50 . The third guide member  94  engages in the threaded hole  52  of the top wall of the second display  50 . 
         [0029]    The first display  40  is attached to the support member  10 , with the first guiding member  92  attached to the first display  40  selectively extending through one of the entrances of the straight way  22  of the first fixing board  20  to be slidably received in the straight slideway  145  of the first frame  14 . The bottom wall of the first display  40  depresses a left one resilient member  80  and forces a corresponding left one pin  70  into a corresponding left one receiving hole  146  of the first frame  14 . 
         [0030]    The second display  50  is attached to the support member  10 , with the second guide member  93  attached to the second display  50  selectively extending through one of the entrances of the curved slideway  24  of the first fixing board  24  to be slidably received in the curved slideway  143  of the first frame  14 . The assembled second frame  16  and the second fixing board  30  are attached to the first frame  14 , with the vertical plate  164  of the second frame fixed with a top portion of the vertical plate  144  of the first frame by conventional fasteners. The exposed portion of the slide member  91  selectively extends through one of the entrances of the straight slideway  62  of the fixing bar  60  attached to the top wall of the first display  40  and is slidably received in the slot  44  of the first display  40 . The third guide member  94  selectively extends through one of the entrances of the curved slideway  32  of the second fixing board  30  and is slidably received in the curved slideway  163  of the horizontal plate  162  of the second frame  16 . The bottom wall of the first display  50  depresses a right one of the resilient members  80  and abuts against a right one of the pins  70  into a right one of the receiving holes  146  of the first frame  14 . 
         [0031]    Referring also to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , to extend the display device, the first display  40  is drawn leftward. The first guide member  92  slides leftward in the straight slideway  145  of the first frame  14 . The slot  44  of the first display  40  slides leftward relative to the slide member  91 . When the first positioning hole  48  defined in the bottom wall of the first display  40  aligns with the left one of the pins  70 , so that, the corresponding spring  80  rebounds. The head of the left pin  70  snaps into the first positioning hole  48  to position the first display  40  in the left-and-right direction. At the same time, the second display  50  is drawn rightward. The second guide member  93  attached to the bottom wall of the second display  50  slides rightward in the curved slideway  143  of the first frame  14  and the third guide member  94  attached to the top wall of the second display  50  slides rightward in the curved slideway  163  of the second frame  16 . The second and third guide members  93 ,  94  pass the long straight portions  1434 ,  1634 , the slanting portions  1432 ,  1632  and the short straight portions  1436 ,  1636  of the curved slideways  143  and  163  in that order. When the positioning hole  56  of the second display  50  aligns with the right one of the pins  70 , the head of the right pin  70  extends outward into the positioning hole  56  to position the second display  50  in the left-and-right direction and the corresponding spring  80  rebounds. In this position, a right side of the first display  40  closely contacts with a left side of the second display  50  and the first display  40  and the second display  50  are in coplanar, as a result, cooperatively forming a large screen. 
         [0032]    Referring also to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , to retract the display device, the second display  50  is snappingly pushed leftward. An edge of the positioning hole  56  of the bottom wall of the second display  50  urges the head of the right pin  70  into the right receiving hole  146  of the first frame  14  and depresses the right spring  80 . Then, the second guide member  93  of the second display  50  slides leftward in the curved slideway  143  of the first frame  14 , and the third guide member  94  of the second display  50  slides leftward in the curved slideway  163  of the second frame  16 , passing the short straight portions  1436 ,  1636 , the slanting portions  1432 ,  1632  and the long straight portions  1434 ,  1634  of the curved slideways  143  and  163 . After that, the first display  40  is snappingly pushed rightward. Edges of the positioning hole  48  located at the bottom wall thereof urge the head of the left pin  70  to push the left pin  70  into the left receiving hole  146  of the first frame  14  and depresses the left spring  80 . Then the first guide member  92  attached to the bottom wall of the first display  40  slides rightward in the straight slideway  145  of the first frame  14 . The slot  44  of the first display  40  slides rightward relative to the slide member  91  attached to the second fixing board  30  and the second frame  16 . When the locating hole  49  located at the bottom of the first display  40  aligns with the right one of the pins  70 , the head of the right pin  70  extends outward into the second positioning hole  49  to position the first display  40 . In this position, the first display  40  and the second display  50  are overlapped to form a small screen. A right portion of the first display  40  is located in the short straight portion  1436  of the curved slideway  143  to prevent the second display  50  sliding rightward. 
         [0033]    It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially 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.