Abstract:
An exemplary liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal panel, and a one-piece frame accommodating the liquid crystal panel. The frame includes a surrounding wall defining a notch in the surrounding wall, a supporting board extending inward from an inner surface of the surrounding wall, and a fixing member received in the notch. The surrounding wall and the supporting board cooperatively define a space for accommodating the liquid crystal panel. The fixing member is inclined toward the space in a free state, and is outwardly pressed by application of an external force in a direction away from the space to allow the liquid crystal panel to be placed in the space and on the supporting board, and elastically holds the liquid crystal panel in position against the supporting board after releasing of the external force.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/978,452, filed Oct. 29, 2007 and entitled “LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY WITH FRAME HAVING LIQUID CRYSTAL PANEL FIXING MEMBER.” The disclosure of such parent application is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display (LCD) that includes a frame, a liquid crystal panel accommodated in the frame and fixed in the framed by at least one liquid crystal panel fixing member. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Liquid crystal displays are commonly used as display devices for compact electronic apparatuses, because they not only provide good quality images but are also very thin. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , a typical liquid crystal display includes a top bezel  80 , a liquid crystal panel  81 , a frame-shaped piece of double-sided adhesive tape  82 , a plastic frame  83 , a backlight module  84 , and a bottom tray  85 , arranged in that order from top to bottom. The plastic frame  83  includes four side walls  832  connected end to end, and an annular supporting board  834  inwardly extending from inner surfaces (not labeled) of the side walls  832 . 
     When the liquid crystal display  8  is assembled, the adhesive tape  82  is adhered to top edge surfaces (not labeled) of the supporting board  834  and bottom peripheral regions (not labeled) of the liquid crystal panel  81 . Thereby, the liquid crystal panel  81  is fixed to the plastic frame  83 . 
     However, the expensive adhesive tape  82  generally adds to the cost of the liquid crystal display  8 . Further, the chemical stability of the adhesive tape  82  is liable to be harmed under different conditions, particularly high temperatures; and relative movements may occur between the liquid crystal panel  81  and the plastic frame  83 . When this happens, some adhesive material of the adhesive tape  82  may contaminate non-peripheral regions of liquid crystal panel  81 , and the optical performance of the liquid crystal panel  81  may be seriously impaired. Moreover, the need of carefully adhering the adhesive tape  82  to the liquid crystal panel  81  further contributes to the cost of manufacturing the liquid crystal display  8 . 
     What is needed, therefore, is a liquid crystal display that can overcome the above-described deficiencies. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one preferred embodiment, a liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal panel, and a one-piece frame accommodating the liquid crystal panel. The frame includes a surrounding wall defining at least one notch in an upper side of the surrounding wall, a supporting board extending inward from an inner surface of the surrounding wall, and at least one liquid crystal panel fixing member. The surrounding wall and the supporting board cooperatively define a space for accommodating the liquid crystal panel. The at least one liquid crystal panel fixing member is upwardly extending from bottom of the at least one notch, the at least one liquid crystal panel fixing member is deformable and inclined towards the space in a free state, and is capable of being outwardly pressed by application of an external force in a direction away from the space to allow the liquid crystal panel to be placed in the space, and elastically pressing the liquid crystal panel toward the supporting board after releasing of the external force. 
     Other aspects, 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 
       The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of at least one embodiment of the present invention. In the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout various views, and all the views are schematic. 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of a liquid crystal display according to a first embodiment of the present invention, the liquid crystal display including a frame. 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the frame of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of a circled portion III of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is an isometric view of a frame of a liquid crystal display according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of a circled portion VI of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is similar to  FIG. 6 , but showing a configuration of an alternative embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded, isometric view of a conventional liquid crystal display. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe preferred and exemplary embodiments of the present invention in detail. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a liquid crystal display  1  according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. The liquid crystal display  1  includes a top bezel  10 , a liquid crystal panel  11 , a frame  12 , a backlight module  13 , and a bottom tray  14 , arranged in that order from top to bottom. 
     The top bezel  10  includes a frame-shaped top plate  102 , and a pair of first side plates  104  downwardly extending from two opposite short sides of the top plate  102 . Each of the first side plates  104  has two first notches  106  defined therein. The top bezel  10  is preferably made from iron, steel, aluminum, magnesium, or a material containing any suitable alloy thereof. 
     Referring also to  FIG. 2 , the frame  12  includes a four-sided frame-shaped supporting board  120 , a first side wall  121 , a second side wall  122 , a third side wall  123 , and a fourth side wall  124 . The first, second, third, and fourth side walls  121 ,  122 ,  123 ,  124  are consecutively arranged end to end in that order. The supporting board  120  inwardly extends from inner surfaces (not labeled) of the first, second, third, and fourth side walls  121 ,  122 ,  123 ,  124 ; thereby, the frame  12  defines a generally rectangular space (not labeled) for accommodating the liquid crystal panel  11  and the backlight module  13 . The frame  12  is preferably made from polycarbonate, another kind of plastic, or another suitable material. 
     The first and third side walls  121 ,  123  each include two first ears  125  outwardly extending from outer surfaces (not labeled) thereof. The first ears  125  of the first and third side walls  121 ,  123  respectively correspond to the first notches  106  of the first side plates  104  of the top bezel  10 . The second and fourth side walls  122 ,  124  each include three second ears  126  outwardly extending from outer surfaces (not labeled) thereof. 
     The first side wall  121  further includes a second notch  1210  in an upper side (not labeled) thereof, and a first elastic member  127  upwardly extending from bottom of the second notch  1212 . The first elastic member  127  are located adjacent to an edge portion (not labeled) of the first side wall  121 . The second side wall  122  includes a pair of third notches  1220  in an upper side (not labeled) thereof, and a pair of second elastic members  128  respectively upwardly extending from bottoms of the pair of second notches  1210 . The pair of second elastic members  128  are located at two opposite edge portions (not labeled) of the second side wall  122 . The first and second elastic members  127 ,  128  are arranged at points of an imaginary triangle. In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second elastic members  127 ,  128  are inseparably formed with the frame  12 , and are elastically deformable. For example, the frame  12  and the first and second elastic members  127 ,  128  can be formed as a single body in a molding process. 
     Referring also to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , each of the first, second, third, and fourth side walls  121 ,  122 ,  123 ,  124  defines a first groove  1222  at a top portion thereof. The supporting board  120  defines a second groove  1202  at a top portion thereof. A third groove  1224  is defined where the first, second, third, and fourth side walls  121 ,  122 ,  123 ,  124  adjoin the supporting board  120 , and the third groove  1224  is parallel to the first, second, third, and fourth side walls  121 ,  122 ,  123 ,  124 . The first, third, and second grooves  1222 ,  1224 ,  1202  are defined in that order from top to bottom, and communicate with the rectangular space. 
     Each of the first and second elastic members  127 ,  128  defines a fourth groove  1284 , a fifth groove  1286 , and a sixth groove  1288  in that order from top to bottom. The fourth, fifth, and sixth grooves  1284 ,  1286 ,  1288  communicate with the rectangular space. The fourth groove  1284  corresponds to the first groove  1224 , the fifth groove  1286  corresponds to the third groove  1224 , and the sixth groove  1288  corresponds to the second groove  1202 . The first and second elastic members  127 ,  128  are inclined toward the rectangular space in a free state. Horizontal surfaces (not labeled) defining the fourth, fifth, and sixth grooves  1284 ,  1286 ,  1288  of the first and second elastic members  127 ,  128  are below respective horizontal surfaces (not labeled) defining the first, third, and second grooves  1222 ,  1224 ,  1202 . Each of the first and second elastic members  127 ,  128  includes an outer surface  1282  inwardly inclined toward the rectangular space. 
     The backlight module  13  includes a first brightness enhancement film (BEF)  130 , a second BEF  131 , a light guide plate (LGP)  132 , a reflective film  133 , and a light source  134 . The first BEF  130 , the second BEF  131 , the light guide plate  132 , and the reflective film  134  are arranged in that order from top to bottom. The light source  134  is located adjacent to the light guide plate  132 . 
     The light guide plate  132  is substantially rectangular. The light guide plate  132  includes a light incident surface  135 , a top light emitting surface  136  perpendicular to the light incident surface  135 , and a bottom surface  137 . The light source  134  is adjacent to the light incident surface  135  of the light guide plate  132  for providing light beams to the light guide plate  132 . The second BEF  131  is adjacent to the light emitting surface  136  of the light guide plate  132 . The reflective film  133  is adjacent to the bottom surface  137  of the light guide plate  132 . The light source  134  includes a linear illuminator (not shown). In the illustrated embodiment, the light source  134  includes a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL). The light guide plate  132  can for example be made from polycarbonate (PC) or polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), and can be manufactured by an injection molding method. 
     The bottom tray  14  includes a bottom plate  142 , and a pair of second side plates  144  upwardly extending from two opposite long sides of the bottom plate  142 . Each of the second side plates  144  has three fourth notches  146  defined therein. The fourth notches  146  respectively correspond to the second ears  126  of the frame  12 . The bottom tray  14  can for example be made from iron, aluminum, magnesium, any suitable material that includes an alloy of these, or another suitable material. 
     The liquid crystal panel  11  can be secured to the frame  12  by the following steps. First, one corner (not labeled) corresponding to the first elastic member  127  of the liquid crystal panel  11  is pre-localized. The first elastic member  127  is outwardly pressed in a direction away from the rectangular space such that the horizontal and vertical surfaces (not labeled) defining the fifth groove  1286  of the first elastic member  127  are substantially coplanar with the horizontal and vertical surfaces (not labeled) defining the third groove  1224 , respectively. The corner of the liquid crystal panel  11  corresponding to the first elastic member  127  is positioned at the supporting board  120 . When the first elastic member  127  is released, the corner of the liquid crystal panel  11  is pressed toward the third side wall  123  and slightly toward the supporting board  120  by the first elastic member  127 . Second, the liquid crystal panel  11  is elastically secured at the supporting board  120 . Similar to the above-described steps, the second elastic members  128  are outwardly pressed until bottom peripheral regions (not labeled) of the liquid crystal panel  11  fully abut the supporting board  120 . When the second elastic members  128  are released, the other two corners (not labeled) of the liquid crystal panel  11  are respectively pressed toward the fourth side wall  124  and slightly toward the supporting board  120  by the second elastic members  128 . The outer surface  1282  of the first elastic member  127  is substantially coplanar with the outer surface (not labeled) of the first side wall  121 , and the outer surfaces  1282  of the second elastic members  128  are substantially coplanar with the outer surface (not labeled) the second side wall  122 . Thus, the liquid crystal panel  11  is conveniently secured to the frame  12 . Detachment of the liquid crystal panel  11  is essentially the reverse of the above-described installation procedure. 
     The liquid crystal panel  11  can be conveniently secured to the frame  12  or be detached from the frame  12  without any adhesive tape and without the need for carefully adhering the adhesive tape to the liquid crystal panel  11 . Thus, the liquid crystal display  1  can be efficiently manufactured with a reduced cost. Further, the stability of the first and second elastic members  127 ,  128  is high, so that the assembly resists relative movement between the liquid crystal panel  11  and the frame  12 . Therefore, the optical performance of the liquid crystal panel  11  can be reliably maintained. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , a liquid crystal display  2  according to a second embodiment of the present invention is similar to the liquid crystal display  1 . However, the liquid crystal display  2  includes a frame  22 . The frame  22  includes a first side wall  221 , a second side wall  222 , a third side wall  223 , and a fourth side wall  224  consecutively arranged end to end. The frame  22  further includes a pair of elastic members  227  respectively located at a joint between the first and second side walls  221 ,  222 , and at a joint between the second and third side walls  222 ,  223 . Each of the elastic members  227  is inseparably integrated with a base  229 , which is inseparably formed with the frame  22 . The base  229  has a substantially cubic (rectangular) structure. When the liquid crystal panel  11  is assembled to the frame  22 , horizontal and vertical surfaces defining a third groove (not labeled) are substantially coplanar with horizontal and vertical surfaces defining the corresponding fifth groove (not labeled). In an alternative embodiment, the base  229  has a substantially cylindrical structure, as is shown in  FIG. 7 . In other respects, the liquid crystal display  2  has features and advantages similar to those described above in relation to the liquid crystal display  1 . 
     It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the invention.