Abstract:
Disclosed are an apparatus for adjusting an angle of a display means, which easily controls the view angle of the display so as to comply with a user&#39;s wishes, and a connection bracket of the apparatus. The apparatus for adjusting a angle of a display means includes a fixing bracket fixed to a wall or a supporter; two guide brackets; connection brackets; a flap-fixing bracket being attached to a designated area of the fixing bracket; a flap comprising two pieces crossing each other; a balance shaft for adjusting a angle of the connection bracket; and an angle adjustable shaft being connected to one end of the flap and including means for adjusting the spreading and folding of the flap. The connection bracket includes a product bracket including means for being fixed to one surface of the display means and means for being fixed to a holding-down bracket; and a holding-down bracket including means for being easily attached to and separated from the product bracket. The present invention easily adjusts the angle of the display means so as to comply with a user&#39;s wishes, and finely adjusts the angle of the display means by a small force.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to an apparatus for adjusting an angle of a display means, and more particularly to an apparatus for adjusting an angle of a display means, which easily controls the view angle of the display so as to comply with a user&#39;s wishes, and a connection bracket of the apparatus.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    Typically, thin-type display means such as Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) TVs or Plasma Display Panel (PDP) TVs are fixed to a wall, i.e., in a built-in mode, thereby maximizing space utilization. This built-in mode does not generate an unnecessary gap between the back surface of the display means and the wall, thereby improving installation efficiency.  
           [0005]    However, with this built-in type display means, in case the user wants to adjust a view angle of the display means fixed to the wall, the display means must be entirely detached from the wall. Then, after adjusting the view angle of the display means, the display means must be again attached to the wall. Therefore, this procedure is very inconvenient to the user as well as causes damage to the wall.  
           [0006]    Therefore, in order to solve the aforementioned problems, various apparatuses for supporting the thin-type display means so as to adjust the view angle of the display means have been developed.  
           [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional apparatus for adjusting an angle of a wall-mounted display means.  
           [0008]    With reference to FIG. 1 the conventional apparatus for adjusting the angle of the wall-mounted display means comprises a fixture  1 , a pair of supporters  2 , and link members  3 . The fixture  1  is attached to a wall. One end of each supporter  2  is pivotably connected to the fixture  1 . The link members  3  serve to connect the supporters  2  to the fixture  1 .  
           [0009]    A thin-type display means D is interposed between two supporters  2 , thereby being installed on the conventional apparatus for adjusting the angle of the display means. The supporters  2  provided with the display means D are spread or folded, thereby adjusting the view angle of the display means D.  
           [0010]    Herein, an angle of spreading or folding the supporter  2  is restricted by the link member  3 , which moves along the supporter  2 .  
           [0011]    According to the above-described link system supporting apparatus, the view angle of the display means D is adjusted by spreading and folding the supporters  2 . Then, the adjusted angle of the display means D is fixed by the link members  3 .  
           [0012]    However, since the display means D is very heavy, women or old and feeble persons cannot easily adjust the view angle of the display means D using the above-described link system supporting apparatus.  
           [0013]    Although the view angle of the display means D is adjusted, it is not easy to finely adjust the view angle of the display means D as to comply with the user&#39;s wishes.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0014]    Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for adjusting an angle of a display means, which easily controls the view angle of the display means by the manipulation of a side hand lever so as to comply with a user&#39;s wishes.  
           [0015]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a connection bracket for easily attaching and detaching the angle adjusting apparatus to and from a display means.  
           [0016]    In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of an apparatus for adjusting an angle of a display means, comprising: a fixing bracket fixed to a wall or a supporter; two guide brackets, each being installed on both ends of the fixing bracket; connection brackets, one end of each connection bracket being pivotably connected to one end of the guide bracket and one surface of each connection bracket is connected to a designated surface of a display means; a flap-fixing bracket being attached to a designated area of the fixing bracket; a flap comprising two pieces crossing each other, one end of one piece of the flap being fixed to the flap-fixing bracket and one end of the other piece of the flap being pivotably connected to the flap-fixing bracket; a balance shaft for adjusting a angle of the connection bracket according to the spreading and folding of the flap, each of both ends of the balance shaft being connected to respective connection brackets, and the other end of one piece of the flap being fixed to the balance shaft and the other end of the other piece of the flap is connected to the balance shaft so as to move along the balance shaft; and an angle adjustable shaft being connected to one end of one piece of the flap and including means for adjusting the spreading and folding of the flap.  
           [0017]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connection bracket comprising a product bracket including means for being fixed to one surface of the display means and means for being fixed to a holding-down bracket; and a holding-down bracket including means for being easily attached to and separated from the product bracket. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]    The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional apparatus for adjusting an angle of a display means;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an apparatus for adjusting an angle of a display means in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the apparatus for adjusting the angle of the display means in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 4 is a side view of the apparatus for adjusting the angle of the display means in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the connection between a display means and connection brackets of the apparatus for adjusting the angle of the display means in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the connection between the connection brackets and the apparatus for adjusting the angle of the display means in accordance with the present invention; and  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing the separation of the display means from the apparatus for adjusting the angle of the display means in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0026]    Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an apparatus for adjusting a angle of a display means in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0028]    With reference to FIG. 2, the apparatus for adjusting the angle of the display means of the present invention comprises a fixing bracket  1 , two guide brackets  2 , connection brackets  40 , a flap-fixing bracket  13 , a flap  16 , a balance shaft  15 , and an angle adjustable shaft  11 . The fixing bracket  1  is fixed to a wall or a supporter. Each guide bracket  2  is installed on both ends of the fixing bracket  1 . One end of the connection bracket  40  is pivotably connected to one end of the guide bracket  12 , and the other end of the connection bracket  40  is connected to a designated surface of a display means. The flap-fixing bracket  13  is attached to a designated area of the fixing bracket  1 . The flap  16  comprises two pieces crossing each other. One end of one piece of the flap  16  is fixed to the flap-fixing bracket  13  and one end of the other piece of the flap  16  is pivotably connected to the flap-fixing bracket  13 . Both ends of the balance shaft  15  are connected to each connection bracket  40 . The other end of one piece of the flap  16  is fixed to the balance shaft  15 , and the other end of the other piece of the flap  16  is connected to the balance shaft  15  so as to move along the balance shaft  15 . The balance shaft  15  serves to adjust the angle of the connection bracket  40  according to the spreading and folding of the flap  16 . One end of the flap  16  is connected to the angle adjustable shaft  11 . The angle adjustable shaft  11  includes a means for modulating the spreading and folding of the flap  16 .  
         [0029]    In more detail, the fixing bracket  1  includes a plurality of holes, thereby being fixed to the wall or the supporter using screws, or bolts and nuts.  
         [0030]    The guide brackets  2  and the flap-fixing bracket  13  are fixed to the fixing bracket  1 .  
         [0031]    A hinge hole is formed on one end of the guide bracket  2 , thereby coupling the guide bracket  2  with the corresponding connection bracket  40  by a hinge pin  6  inserted into the hinge hole.  
         [0032]    A link bracket  4  is connected to the guide bracket  2  by a connection pin  3 . The link bracket  4  serves to spread the connection bracket  40  within a designated angle range and to support the connection bracket  40 .  
         [0033]    A U-groove is formed on both side surfaces of the guide bracket  2 , thereby easily folding the connection bracket  40  into the guide bracket  2 .  
         [0034]    Preferably, a through hole  3   a  for moving the link bracket  4  according to the modulation of the angle of the connection bracket  40  is formed on both side surfaces of the guide bracket  2 .  
         [0035]    Further, in order to fix and rotate the angle adjustable shaft  11 , a hole or a groove is formed on both side surfaces of the guide bracket  2 .  
         [0036]    Preferably, the connection bracket  40  comprises a product bracket  20 , which is connected to a designated surface of the display means and includes a buckle  21 , and a holding-down bracket  9  with a fixing stopper  10 . Elasticity of an elastic means is applied to the fixing stopper  10 .  
         [0037]    Herein, the elastic means may be a spring.  
         [0038]    The product bracket  20  comprises a plurality of screw holes  22 , which are connected to the display means using screws, and the buckle  21 , which is engaged with the fixing stopper  10  of the holding-down bracket  9 .  
         [0039]    One end of the product bracket  20  is bent, thereby hanging the product bracket  20  on the holding-down bracket  9 . The other end of the product bracket  20  is fixed to the fixing stopper  10  of the holding-down bracket  9 .  
         [0040]    Alternatively, the product bracket  20  and the holding-down bracket  9  may be integrally formed to form the connection bracket  40 .  
         [0041]    The connection bracket  40  is connected to the corresponding link bracket  4  by a stationary pin  5 .  
         [0042]    The connection bracket  40  is connected to the balance shaft  15 .  
         [0043]    The flap-fixing bracket  13  is attached to a designated area of the fixing bracket  1  and comprises a groove for easily folding the flap  16 .  
         [0044]    A stationary bracket  18  for supporting the angle adjustable shaft  11  is connected to the flap-fixing bracket  13  by an shaft fixing pin  13   b.    
         [0045]    A sliding hole  13   a  is formed on both side surfaces of the flap-fixing bracket  13 . The sliding hole  13   a  serves to move the shifting boss  17 . The shifting boss  17  moves along a screw thread  11   b  formed on the outer surface of one end of the angle adjustable shaft  11 .  
         [0046]    One end of one piece of the flap  16  is connected to the shifting boss  17  and one end of the other piece of the flap  16  is fixed to the flap-fixing bracket  13  by the shaft fixing pin  13   b . Two pieces of the flap  16  cross each other on a connection pin  19 .  
         [0047]    The other end of one piece of the flap  16  is fixed to the balance shaft  15  by an shaft fixing pin  15   a , and the other end of the other piece of the flap  16  is connected to a sliding bracket  14  so as to move along the balance shaft  15 .  
         [0048]    Preferably, two pieces of the flap  16  may be spread and folded centering on a X-shaped crossing point.  
         [0049]    The balance shaft  15  is connected to the flap  16  by the shaft fixing pin  15   a  and the sliding bracket  14 . Both ends of the balance shaft  15  are combined with each holding-down bracket  9 .  
         [0050]    The screw thread  11   b  is formed on the outer surface of one end of the angle adjustable shaft  11 . The other end of the angle adjustable shaft  11  is connected to an angle adjustable extension shaft  11   a  for easily adjusting the angle of the connection bracket  40 .  
         [0051]    Preferably, in order to easily rotate the angle adjustable shaft  11 , the other end of the angle adjustable shaft  11  is connected to an angle adjustable extension shaft  11   a  by a universal joint.  
         [0052]    Further, preferably, an angle adjustable hand lever  12  for easily rotating the angle adjustable shaft  11  is formed on one end of the angle adjustable extension shaft  11   a.    
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the apparatus for adjusting the angle of the display means in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0054]    With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, both ends of the fixing bracket  1  are respectively connected to each of a pair of the guide brackets  2 .  
         [0055]    The through hole  3   a  for moving the link bracket  4  and other plural holes are formed on the guide bracket  2 . Further, the hinge hole for inserting the hinge pin is formed on one end of the guide bracket  2 .  
         [0056]    As described above, the connection bracket  40  comprises the product bracket  20  and the holding-down bracket  9 .  
         [0057]    The holding-down bracket  9  is connected to the link bracket  4  and comprises the fixing stopper  10  and a spring  10   a.    
         [0058]    In order to be firmly combined with the product bracket  20 , a plurality of holes are formed on the holding-down bracket  9 .  
         [0059]    The product bracket  20  comprises a plurality of the screw holes  22 , which are connected to the display means by screws, and the buckle  21 , which is engaged with the fixing stopper  10  of the holding-down bracket  9 .  
         [0060]    The stationary bracket  18  for inserting and fixing the angle adjustable shaft  11  is connected to the flap-fixing bracket  13 . The sliding hole  13   a  is formed on both side surfaces of the flap-fixing bracket  13 .  
         [0061]    [0061]FIG. 4 is a side view of the apparatus for adjusting the angle of the display means in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0062]    With reference FIGS. 2, 3, and  4 , the operation of the apparatus for adjusting the angle of the display means in accordance with the present invention is described in detail.  
         [0063]    The connection bracket  40  comprises the product bracket  20  and the holding-down bracket  9 . The product bracket  20  comprises a means for being connected to the display means and a means for being fixed to the holding-down bracket  9 . The holding-down bracket  9  comprises a means for being easily connected to and separated from the product bracket  20 .  
         [0064]    The above-described connection bracket  40  can be easily connected to and separated from the display means. Therefore, the connection bracket  40  may be used in an apparatus for simply fixing the display means as well as an apparatus for adjusting the angle of the display means.  
         [0065]    The product brackets  20  screw-jointed with the display means are coupled to the corresponding holding-down brackets  9 , thereby fixing the display means to the connection brackets  40 .  
         [0066]    The angle adjustable shaft  11  connected to the angle adjustable hand lever  12  by the angle adjustable extension shaft  11   a  is rotated by turning the angle adjustable hand lever  12  in the clockwise direction.  
         [0067]    The shifting boss  17 , in which the angle adjustable shaft  11  with the screw thread  11   b  is inserted, is pulled along the screw thread  11   b , and the flap  16  connected to the shifting boss  17  is spread centering on the connection pin  19  of the crossing point.  
         [0068]    When the flap  16  is spread, the sliding bracket  14  connected to the flap  16  is pulled, and the holding-down bracket  9  connected to the balance shaft  15  is guided by the link bracket  4  and spread from the guide bracket  2 .  
         [0069]    Therefore, the display means is caused to lean forward.  
         [0070]    After adjusting the angle of the display means, the angle adjustable extension shaft  11   a  is put aside so as to desirably view the display means.  
         [0071]    On the other hand, the angle adjustable shaft  11  connected to the angle adjustable hand lever  12  by the angle adjustable extension shaft  11   a  is reversibly rotated by turning the angle adjustable hand lever  12  in the counter clockwise direction. Then, the shifting boss  17 , in which the angle adjustable shaft  11  with the screw thread  11   b  is inserted, is pushed along the screw thread  11   b , and the flap  16  connected to the shifting boss  17  is folded centering on the connection pin  19  of the crossing point.  
         [0072]    When the flap  16  is folded, the sliding bracket  14  connected to the flap  16  is pushed into the shaft fixing pin  15   a  of the balance shaft  15 , and the holding-down bracket  9  connected to the balance shaft  15  is guided by the link bracket  4  and folded into the guide bracket  2 .  
         [0073]    Therefore, the angle of the display means is reduced and the display means is caused to stand vertically straight.  
         [0074]    [0074]FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the connection between the display means and the product bracket of the apparatus for adjusting the angle of the display means in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0075]    With reference to FIG. 5, holes for screw-jointing are formed on the back surface of the display means.  
         [0076]    One end of the product bracket  20  is bent, thereby being firmly coupled with the holding-down bracket  9 . The product bracket  20  comprises a plurality of the screw holes  22  for being screw-jointed with the display means.  
         [0077]    Further, the product bracket  20  comprises the buckle  21  to enable it to be hung on and fixed to the fixing stopper  10  of the holding-down bracket  9 .  
         [0078]    As shown in FIG. 5, the connection between the display means and the product bracket  20  is accomplished by connecting screws to the holes of the back surface of the display means and to the screw holes  22  of the product bracket  20 .  
         [0079]    [0079]FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the connection between the connection brackets and the apparatus for adjusting the angle of the display means in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0080]    With reference to FIG. 6, the product brackets  20  screw-connected to the display means are coupled with the corresponding holding-down brackets  9 .  
         [0081]    Herein, the bending portion of the product bracket  20  is inserted into the groove of the holding-down bracket  9  in the direction of a.  
         [0082]    Then, when the display means is pushed in the direction of b, the buckle  21  of the product bracket  20  is engaged with the fixing stopper  10  via the hole of the holding-down bracket  9 .  
         [0083]    Elasticity of the spring  10   a  is applied to the fixing stopper  10 . When the buckle  21  pushes the fixing stopper  10 , the spring  10   a  expands and the fixing stopper  10  moves downward.  
         [0084]    When the buckle  21  is entirely inserted into the fixing stopper  10 , the fixing stopper  10  is again pulled by the elasticity of the spring  10   a.    
         [0085]    Thereby, the product bracket  20  is coupled with the holding-down bracket  9 .  
         [0086]    [0086]FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing the separation of the display means from the apparatus for adjusting the angle of the display means in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0087]    With reference to FIG. 7, when the holding-down bracket  9  pulls the fixing stopper  10  in the direction of c, the spring  10   a  expands and the buckle  21  is disengaged from the fixing stopper  10 .  
         [0088]    Then, when the display means (not shown) is pulled in the direction of d, the lower surface of the product bracket  20  is separated from the holding-down bracket  9 .  
         [0089]    The display means (not shown) is elevated in the direction of e. Then, the bending portion of the product bracket  20  is separated from the holding-down bracket  9 , thereby entirely separating the display means from the holding-down bracket  9 .  
         [0090]    The above-described connection bracket  40  is easily attachable and detachable, thereby being very simply installed on the apparatus for adjusting the angle of the display means.  
         [0091]    As apparent from the above description, the present invention provides an apparatus for adjusting a angle of a display means, in which women or old and feeble persons can easily adjust the view angle of the display means by turning the hand lever.  
         [0092]    Further, with the apparatus for adjusting the angle of the display means of the present invention, a desirable view angle of the display means can be finely adjusted.  
         [0093]    After adjusting the view angle of the display means, the hand lever can be placed behind of the apparatus, thereby keeping its appearance clean.  
         [0094]    A motor and a module for controlling the motor may be used, thereby automatically rotating the angle adjustable shaft without manipulation of the angle adjustable hand lever.  
         [0095]    Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.