Abstract:
A conductive buffer material ( 11 ) is one surface of a display panel ( 29 ) sandwiched between a first member (BZ 1 ) and a second member (CS), and is interposed between a first panel surface facing the metallic first member (BZ 1 ) and the first member (BZ 1 ). The conductive buffer material ( 11 ) includes an inclusion material ( 15 ) and a conductive envelope material ( 14 ) that wraps the inclusion material ( 15 ), and the conductive buffer material ( 11 ) includes a main portion in which part of the envelope material ( 14 ) is brought closer to the first panel surface and the first member (BZ 1 ) by the inclusion material ( 15 ) having a given thickness or more.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention is related to a conductive buffer material such as a gasket, and a display device (for example, a liquid crystal display device) incorporating the conductive buffer material. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     It is known that static electricity flows on the display surface of a liquid crystal display panel (a display panel) incorporated in a liquid crystal display device. It is also known that such static electricity degrades the quality of images displayed on the liquid crystal display panel. To cope with this problem, for example, in the display device disclosed in Patent Literature 1, as shown in FIG. 7, an elastic member 111 having conductivity is disposed between a liquid crystal display panel 129 and a front bezel bz1 which is made of metal and presses the liquid crystal display panel 129. 
     With this structure, even when static electricity e appears on the liquid crystal display panel 129, the static electricity e flows to the front bezel bz1. This helps prevent malfunction attributable to the static electricity e, such as degradation of display quality of the liquid crystal display panel 129. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     
         
         Patent Literature 1: JP-A-2004-93718 
       
    
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     However, the elastic member 111 is merely held by and between the front bezel bz1 and the liquid crystal display panel 129. Thus, for example, if the liquid crystal display device receives vibration and thereby the liquid crystal display panel 129 is displaced with respect to the front bezel bz1, the elastic member 111 may come off from between the front bezel bz1 and the liquid crystal display panel 129. 
     And, if the elastic member 111 comes off and moves around freely inside the liquid crystal display device, undesired electricity may be supplied to electronic components in the liquid crystal display device via the freely moving-around elastic member 111 (that is, a short circuit may occur in the electronic components). 
     The present invention has been made to solve the above problems. And, an object of the present invention is to provide a conductive buffer material or the like which securely prevents static electricity that flows on the display panel of a display device from flowing to the inside of the device. 
     Solution to Problem 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, a conductive buffer material is disposed between a first panel surface and a first member, the first panel surface being one surface of a display panel which is held between the first member and a second member, the first panel surface facing the first member which is made of metal. The conductive buffer material includes a filling member and an outer coat member which is conductive and wraps the filling member. The conductive buffer material includes a primary portion where part of the outer coat member is supported close to the first panel surface and the first member by the filling member having a thickness of a certain magnitude or greater. 
     Such a conductive buffer material is not a flat structure but includes a portion (the primary portion) having an increased thickness. Even when static electricity flows on the first panel surface, the provision of the primary portion between the first panel surface and the first member, which is made of metal, makes it possible to let the static electricity escape to the first member. Moreover, even if the outer coat member itself does not have a thickness of a certain magnitude or greater (for example, even if the outer coat member is formed as a comparatively thin sheet), the conductive buffer material can acquire a thickness of a certain magnitude or greater (for example, a thickness sufficient to fill the space between the first panel surface and the first member) merely by including the filling member. Thus, the production cost of the conductive buffer material is comparatively low. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a display device includes: the above-described conductive buffer material; a housing as the first member; a built-in chassis as the second member; and the display panel, the display panel being held between the built-in chassis and the housing which is made of metal. 
     In such a display device, the conductive buffer material includes a secondary portion which is formed of rest of the outer coat member that is out of contact with the filling member, the secondary portion having a smaller thickness than the primary portion. And preferably, the primary portion of the conductive buffer material is disposed between the display panel and the housing, and the secondary portion of the conductive buffer material is pressed against the housing by a boss protruding from the built-in chassis. 
     With this structure, the conductive buffer material is pressed by the boss against the housing, and thus is easily made stationary with respect to the housing. As a result, for example, the conductive member is less likely to come off and move. 
     It is preferable that the boss be fastened by a fixing member that is put therein from outside the housing. 
     With this structure, the secondary portion of the conductive buffer material is held between the housing and the boss with a greater force. As a result, the conductive member is further less likely to come off and move. 
     It is preferable that the conductive buffer material be provided corresponding to at least one of sides of the first panel surface. 
     This is for the following reason: even if static electricity flows on the first panel surface, it is possible to let the static electricity escape to the first member by merely providing the conductive buffer material along at least one side of the first panel surface. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     With the conductive buffer member of the present invention, even if, for example, static electricity flows on the display panel of the display device, it is possible to prevent the static electricity from flowing to the inside of the display device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  sectional view taken along line A-A′ in  FIG. 4  and viewed from a direction indicated by an arrow in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 2  A sectional view taken along line B-B′ in  FIG. 4  and viewed from a direction indicated by an arrow in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 3  A perspective view extracting and showing a gasket, etc.; 
         FIG. 4  An exploded perspective view showing a liquid crystal display device; 
         FIG. 5  An exploded perspective view showing a backlight unit having an LED as a light source; 
         FIG. 6  An exploded perspective view showing a backlight unit having a fluorescent tube as a light source; and 
         FIG. 7  A sectional view showing part of a conventional liquid crystal display device. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiment 1 
     Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. Hatching, reference signs for members and the like may sometimes be omitted in a drawing for ease of description, and in such a case, a different drawing is to be referred to. A black dot in a drawing indicates a direction perpendicular to the sheet on which the drawing is drawn. 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view showing a backlight type liquid crystal display device  69 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the liquid crystal display device  69  includes a liquid crystal display panel  29  and a backlight unit  59  that supplies light to the liquid crystal display panel  29 . Here, the liquid crystal display panel  29  and the backlight unit  59  are accommodated in a bezel BZ (a front bezel BZ 1  and a rear bezel BZ 2 ) that serves as an outer package. 
     The liquid crystal display panel  29  adopts an active matrix method. Thus, in the liquid crystal display panel  29 , liquid crystal (not shown) is held between an active matrix substrate  21  to which active elements (unillustrated) such as TFTs (thin film transistors) are attached and a counter substrate  22  that faces the active matrix substrate  21 . That is, the active matrix substrate  21  and the counter substrate  22  are substrates for holding the liquid crystal therebetween (here, a polarization film  23  is attached to a front surface  21 U of the active matrix substrate  21  and a polarization film  24  is attached to a front surface  22 U of the counter substrate  22 ). 
     To edges of a substrate surface of the active matrix substrate  21  that are not covered with the counter substrate  22 , there are attached flexible substrates (for example, SOF; system on film)  27  having drivers (source drivers  25  and gate drivers  26 ) for controlling the TFTs mounted thereon. 
     Specifically, as the flexible substrate  27 , for example, a plurality of flexible substrates  27  are coupled to one of long sides of the active matrix substrate  21  and to one of short sides of the active matrix substrate  21  (here, one end of each of the flexible substrates  27  having the source drivers  25  mounted thereon, the one end not being connected to the active matrix substrate  21 , may be fitted to a rigid substrate  28 ). 
     Next, a description will be given of the backlight unit  59  that supplies light to the liquid crystal display panel  29 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the backlight unit  59  includes an LED module MJ, a light guide plate  31 , a reflecting sheet  32 , an optical sheet group  33  (a diffusion sheet  34 , lens sheets  35 ,  36 ), and a built-in chassis CS. 
     The LED module MJ is a light emitting module and includes LEDs (light emitting diodes)  41  and an FPC (flexible printed circuits) substrate  42  on which the LEDs  41  are mounted. 
     The LEDs  41  are mounted on an electrode (unillustrated) formed on a mounting surface of the FPC substrate  42 , and thereby receive electric current and emit light. It is preferable that the LEDs (light emitting elements, point light sources)  41  be mounted in line on the FPC substrate  42  (here, for the sake of convenience, just part of the LEDs  41  are illustrated in the figure, and the direction in which the LEDs  41  are aligned will be referred to as an alignment direction P). 
     The light guide plate  31  is a plate-shaped member having side surfaces  31 S, a top surface  31 U, and a bottom surface  31 B, the top and bottom surfaces  31 U and  31 B being so positioned as to hold the side surfaces  31 S therebetween. One of the side surfaces  31 S (which functions as a light receiving surface) faces light emitting surfaces of the LEDs  41  and thereby receives light from the LEDs  41 . The thus received light is repeatedly reflected inside the light guide plate  31 , to be outputted through the top surface  31 U as planar light. 
     The reflecting sheet  32  is located to be covered with the light guide plate  31 . And, a surface of the reflecting sheet  32  facing the bottom surface  31 B of the light guide plate  31  is a reflecting surface  32 U. With this structure, the reflecting surface  32 U reflects light from the LEDs  41  and light traveling inside the light guide plate  31  back into the light guide plate  31  without allowing leakage of such light. 
     The optical sheet group  33  includes the diffusion sheet  34  and the two lens sheets  35  and  36 . Specifically, it can be said that the optical sheet group  33  is formed of a plurality of sheets, namely, the diffusion sheet  34 , the lens sheet  35 , and the lens sheet  36 , which are stacked in this order. 
     The diffusion sheet  34  is located to cover the top surface  31 U of the light guide plate  31 , and the diffusion sheet  34  diffuses the planar light from the light guide plate  31  to deliver the light all over the liquid crystal display panel  29 . 
     The lens sheets  35  and  36  are each, for example, an optical sheet that has a surface including a prism structure and that deflects radiation property of light, and the lens sheets  35  and  36  are positioned to cover the diffusion sheet  34  (specifically, the diffusion sheet  34  is covered with the lens sheet  35  and the lens sheet  35  is covered with the lens sheet  36 ). With this structure, the lens sheets  35  and  36  collect light beams coming from the diffusion sheet  34 , and thereby improved brightness is achieved. Light beams collected by the lens sheet  35  and light beams collected by the lens sheet  36  are radiated from the lens sheets  35  and  36 , respectively, in directions that cross each other. 
     The built-in chassis CS is a frame-shaped member for holding the above-described various members, and serves as a framework of the liquid crystal display device  69 . Specifically, the built-in chassis CS holds the reflecting sheet  32 , the light guide plate  31 , and the optical sheet group  33  which are stacked in this order (incidentally, the direction in which the reflecting sheet  32 , the light guide plate  31 , and the optical sheet group  33  are stacked will be referred to as a stacking direction Q, and a direction that crosses (for example, at right angles) the alignment direction P and the stacking direction Q will be referred to as a crossing direction R). 
     Next, the bezel (housing) BZ will be described. The front bezel BZ 1  and the rear bezel BZ 2  which form the bezel BZ hold and fix therebetween the above-described backlight unit  59  and the liquid crystal display panel  29  that covers the backlight unit  59  (incidentally, the backlight unit  59  and the liquid crystal display panel  29  may be fixed by any method). That is, the front bezel BZ 1  holds, together with the rear bezel BZ 2 , the backlight unit  59  and the liquid crystal display panel  29  therebetween, and thereby the liquid crystal display device  69  is completed. 
     In the backlight unit  59  structured as described above, light from the LEDs  41  is converted into planar light by the light guide plate  31  to be outputted therefrom, and the planar light travels through the optical sheet group  33  to be outputted as backlight light with improved emission brightness. And, the backlight light reaches the liquid crystal display panel  29 , and by using the backlight light, the liquid crystal display panel  29  displays images. 
     The inner structure of the liquid crystal display device  69  is as shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 .  FIG. 1  is a sectional view taken along line A-A′ in  FIG. 4  and viewed from a direction indicated by an arrow in  FIG. 4 , and  FIG. 2  is a sectional view taken along line B-B′ in  FIG. 4  and viewed from a direction indicated by an arrow in  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 3  is a perspective view extracting and showing a gasket  11 , etc. which will be described later (incidentally, for the sake of convenience, in  FIG. 3 , the built-in chassis CS is not shown, a later-described boss  54  is shown, and the front bezel BZ 1  is not shown, in  FIG. 3 , lines A-A′ and B-B′ are also shown). 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the liquid crystal display panel  29  is disposed between the front bezel (a first member) BZ 1  and the built-in chassis (a second member) CS of the backlight unit  59 . Specifically, the front bezel BZ 1  presses the counter substrate  22  of the liquid crystal display panel  29  via an insulating buffer material  51 , and the built-in chassis CS presses the active matrix substrate  21  of the liquid crystal display panel  29  via an insulating buffer member  51 , and thereby the liquid crystal display panel  29  is held between the front bezel BZ 1  and the built-in chassis CS. 
     The insulating buffer members  51  are, for example, blocks of urethane such as PORON (product by Rogers Inoac Corporation), and as shown in  FIG. 4 , arranged along the two long sides and the two short sides of the edges (the four sides) of the rectangle-shaped liquid crystal display panel  29 . 
     With this structure, even if part of the front bezel BZ 1  and part of the built-in chassis CS that face the edges of the counter substrate  22  and the edges of the active matrix substrate  21  have been processed with relatively low accuracy (specifically, for example, even if part of the front bezel BZ 1  and part of the built-in chasses CS are wavy), the provision of the insulating buffer materials  51  allows the front bezel BZ 1  and the built-in chassis CS to stably hold the liquid crystal display panel  29  therebetween. 
     Also, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in the case where the rigid substrate  28  is located in the space formed by the front bezel BZ 1  and the built-in chassis CS, the rigid substrate  28  may also be held between the front bezel BZ 1  and the built-in chassis CS via an insulating buffer material  51 . 
     For the liquid crystal display panel  29  to be mounted in the liquid crystal display device  69  in a more stable manner, it is necessary for the liquid crystal display panel  29  and the built-in chassis CS to be tightly engaged with each other (in other words, the liquid crystal display panel  29  and the built-in chassis CS need to hold the liquid crystal display panel  29  therebetween with a comparatively strong force). Hence, the front bezel BZ 1  and the built-in chassis CS are fastened together with screws  52  (for convenience&#39; sake, a ridge of each of the screws  52  and a groove formed in each of screw holes  53 , which will be described later, are omitted in the figures). 
     Specifically, in part of the built-in chassis CS covered with the front bezel BZ 1 , for example, as shown in  FIG. 1 , in a counter surface CSu of the built-in chassis CS that faces an interior surface BZ 1   n  of the front bezel BZ 1 , a boss  54  including the screw hole  53  is formed to protrude from the counter surface CSu (here, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the boss  54  is formed away from the flexible substrates  27 ). In the front bezel BZ 1  facing the boss  54  (specifically, the screw hole  53 ), an aperture BZ 1   p  is formed for the screw  52  to be put therethrough. 
     With this structure, in which, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the screws (fixing members)  52  are formed to be put through the apertures BZ 1   p  from outside to be fitted into the screw holes  53  of the bosses  54 , the front bezel BZ 1  and the built-in chassis CS can be fastened together by the screws  52 . That is, the screws  52  fasten the front bezel BZ 1  and the built-in chassis CS to each other (here, preferably, a cylindrical cushion rubber  55  covers the outer circumference surface of each of the bosses  54  so as to prevent damage or the like which may result from the counter substrate  22  and the bosses  54  excessively coming into contact with each other). 
     Here, a detailed description will be given of how the gasket  11  is fixed to the liquid crystal display device  69  by using the bosses  54 . First, a description will be given of the gasket  11 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the gasket (a conductive buffer material)  11  is a member formed by covering a sponge (a filling member)  15  with a conductive cloth member (an outer coat member)  14 , and it lets static electricity E flowing on the liquid crystal display panel  29  escape to the front bezel BZ 1 , which is made of metal. Specifically, part of the cloth member  14  is wound around, to thereby wrap, the rod-shaped sponge  15 , and facing parts of the cloth member  14  that are close to ends of the cloth member  14  and that are out of contact with the sponge  15  are brought into close contact with each other, and thereby the gasket  11  is completed. 
     Consequently, the gasket  11  includes a thick portion having a large thickness attributable to the thickness of the sponge  15  and a comparatively thin portion formed such that the parts of the cloth member  14  close to the ends thereof (the rest of the outer coat member) and facing each other are in close contact with each other. Thus, hereinafter, the part having the large thickness attributable to the thickness of the sponge  15  will be referred to as a primary portion  11 M, and the portion formed only of the facing parts of the cloth member  14  close to the ends thereof, the portion thus having a thickness smaller than the thickness of the primary portion  11 M, will be referred to as a secondary portion  11 S (incidentally, a thickness direction of the sponge  15 , which is a thickness direction of the gasket  11 , is a direction along a surface perpendicular to an extension direction of the rod-shaped sponge  15  (that is, equivalent to the stacking direction Q). 
     Incidentally, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the gasket  11  formed of the continuous primary and secondary portions  11 M and  11 S is shaped like alphabetic character “P” as viewed in a section taken perpendicular to an extension direction (a rod direction) of the sponge  15 . And, a double-stick tape  16  is attached to the portion of the gasket  11  corresponding to the straight line of the “P” shape, that is, a flush surface (a stepless surface  11 U; see  FIG. 3 ) formed of a surface of the primary portion  11 M and a surface of the secondary portion  11 S that are continuous with each other. That is, the double-stick tape  16 , which is disposed in a space between the stepless surface  11 U and the front bezel BZ 1  (specifically, the interior surface BZ 1   n ), keeps the gasket  11  attached (bonded) to the front bezel BZ 1 . 
     The gasket  11 , which is attached to the front bezel BZ 1 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , maintains the primary portion  11 M thereof in close contact with the insulating buffer material  51  held between the front surface  22 U (specifically, the polarization film  24  on the front surface  22 U) of the counter substrate  22  and the front bezel BZ 1 , the primary portion  11 M filling a space between the front surface  22 U of the counter substrate  22  and the interior surface BZ 1   n  of the front bezel BZ 1  (the point is that the primary portion  11 M is thick enough to be in contact with both the front surface (a first panel surface)  22 U of the counter substrate  22  and the interior surface BZ 1   n  of the front bezel BZ 1 ). 
     That is, in the gasket  11 , the sponge  15  is formed to have a thickness of a certain magnitude or greater, and this allows the cloth member  14  to be supported close to the front surface  22 U of the counter substrate  22  and the front bezel BZ 1 , which is made of metal. With this structure, if static electricity E flows on the polarization film  24  on the front surface  22 U of the counter substrate  22 , the static electricity E tends to flow along the polarization film  24  and further along the counter substrate  22  toward the inside of the liquid crystal display device  69 , but actually, the static electricity E is led, as indicated by a very thick solid-line arrow, to flow to the gasket  11  which is located on the counter substrate  22  (incidentally, typically, the static electricity E is not very likely to flow through the insulating buffer material  51  disposed on the counter substrate  22 ). 
     Thus, since the gasket  11  is located close to the front bezel BZ 1  which is made of metal, the static electricity E flows via the gasket  11  to the front bezel BZ 1 . As a result, the static electricity E is prevented from flowing to, for example, the flexible substrates  27 , and thus no damage is caused by the static electricity E on various elements (a driver and the like) mounted on the flexible substrates  27 . 
     Moreover, even if the cloth member  14  itself does not have a thickness of a certain magnitude or greater (for example, even if the cloth member  24  is formed as a comparatively thin sheet of cloth), the gasket  11  can acquire a thickness of a certain magnitude or greater (for example, a thickness sufficient to fill the space between the front surface  22 U of the counter substrate  22  and the interior surface BZ 1   n  of the front bezel BZ 1 ) just by including the sponge  15 . This makes it possible to produce the gasket  11  at comparatively low cost. 
     Now, in the case where the gasket  11  is bonded to the front bezel BZ 1  only with the double-stick tape  16 , degradation of adhesive strength of the double-stick tape  16  may cause the gasket  11  to come off (drop off) from the front bezel BZ 1 . Thus, to prevent the gasket  11  from coming off from the front bezel BZ 1 , the bosses  54  of the built-in chassis CS press the secondary portion  11 S of the gasket  11  against the front bezel BZ 1 . 
     Specifically, between the built-in chassis CS and the front bezel BZ 1  facing each other, the bosses  54  protrude from the counter surface CSu of the built-in chassis CS to such an extent that they almost reach the interior surface BZ 1   n  of the front bezel BZ 1 . The point is that the bosses  54  have a length that is slightly shorter than the distance between the counter substrate CSu and the interior surface BZ 1   n . And between tips  54 T of the bosses  54  and the interior surface BZ 1   n  of the front bezel BZ 1 , the secondary portion  11 S of the gasket  11  is disposed and thus is pressed by the bosses  54  against the front bezel BZ 1  (the design here is such that the secondary portion  11 S and the bosses  54  overlap with each other, with the primary portion  11 M of the gasket  11  in close contact with the insulating buffer material  51 ). 
     With this structure, even if the adhesive strength of the double-stick tape  16  with which the gasket  11  is bonded to the front bezel BZ 1  is degraded, the degradation does not cause the secondary portion  11 S of the gasket  11 , and thus the entire gasket  11 , to come off from the front bezel BZ 1 . Thus, for example, even if vibration is applied to the liquid crystal display device  69  and thereby the liquid crystal display panel  29  is displaced with respect to the front bezel BZ 1 , the gasket  11 , which has conductivity, does not move around inside the liquid crystal display device  69 , and thus does not come into contact with the various electronic components incorporated in the liquid crystal display device  69 . Thus, the static electricity E flowing to the gasket  11  does not further flow to any of the electronic components (the point is that the electronic components do not suffer damage attributable to electric current flowing via the gasket  11 ). 
     Incidentally, if the gasket  11  is in contact with both the counter substrate  22  and the front bezel BZ 1  (specifically, if the gasket  11  is in (indirect) contact with the counter substrate  22  via the polarization film  24 , and is also in contact with the front bezel  11 ), the static electricity E flowing on the counter substrate  22  flows via the gasket  11  to the front bezel BZ 1 . Thus, it is preferable that the primary portion  11 M of the gasket  11  have a thickness of the same order of magnitude as the width of the space between the counter substrate  22  and the front bezel BZ 1 . 
     However, as long as at least one part of the gasket  11  (for example, at least the primary portion  11 M) has a thickness of the same order of magnitude as the width of the space between the counter substrate  22  and the front bezel BZ 1 , there is no particular limitation to the thickness of the other parts of the gasket  11 . However, if the secondary portion  11 S, which is part of the gasket  11  but does not fill the space between the counter substrate  22  and the front bezel BZ 1 , is formed as thick as the primary portion  11 M, the secondary portion  11 S is likely to come into contact with the various electronic components inside the liquid crystal display device  69 . To prevent this, it is preferable that the secondary portion  115  be less thick than the primary portion  11 M. 
     Even if the secondary portion  115  is formed thin, as long as the bosses  54  are designed to have an appropriate length, the secondary portion  11 S is securely held between the tips  54 T of the bosses  54  and the interior surface BZ 1   n  of the front bezel BZ 1 . Moreover, in the secondary portion  11 S, apertures  11 Sp are formed to each overlap a corresponding one of the screw holes  53  of the bosses  54 , and further, in the double-stick tape  16  as well, apertures  16   p  are formed to each overlap a corresponding one of the screw holes  53  of the bosses  54  (here, note that the secondary portion  11 S and the double-stick tape  16  are pressed by the bosses  54  against the front bezel BZ 1 , and thus the apertures  11 Sp and  16   p  have an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the bosses  54  (see  FIG. 1 )). 
     With this structure, the screws  52  are each fitted into the screw hole  53  of a corresponding one of the bosses  54  through a corresponding one of the apertures BZ 1   p  of the front bezel BZ 1 , and further through a corresponding one of the apertures  16   p  of the double-stick tape  16  and a corresponding one of the apertures  11 Sp of the secondary portion  11 S. And, when the screws  52  are each screwed into a corresponding one of the bosses  54 , the secondary portion  11 S of the gasket  11  is held between the tips  54 T of the bosses  54  and the interior surface BZ 1   n  of the front bezel BZ 1  further firmly. As a result, the gasket  11  is made securely stationary with respect to the front bezel BZ 1 . 
     Other Embodiments 
     It should be understood that the embodiments specifically described above are not meant to limit the present invention, and that many variations and modifications can be made within the spirit of the present invention. 
     For example, the above descriptions, which have been given based on  FIGS. 1 to 3 , have dealt with areas in the vicinity of the long side of the active matrix substrate  21  along which the flexible substrates  27  each having the source driver  25  mounted thereon are arranged. However, the gasket  11  fixed by the bosses  54  is not limited to be arranged close to the long side of the active matrix substrate  21 . 
     For example, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the bosses  54  may be formed in the vicinity of the short side of the active matrix substrate  21  along which the flexible substrates  27  each having the gate driver  26  mounted thereon are arranged, and the gasket  11  may be pressed by the bosses  54  against the front bezel BZ 1 . 
     The bosses  54  may of course be provided corresponding to all the sides (the two long sides and the two short sides) of the active matrix substrate  21 , and by thus provided bosses  54 , the gasket  11  may be pressed against the front bezel BZ 1  (the point is that the linear gasket  11  is arranged along at least one of the four sides of the active matrix substrate  21  (and thus the liquid crystal display panel  29 ), and the gasket  11  is pressed by the bosses  54  of the built-in chassis CS against the interior surface BZ 1   n  of the front bezel BZ 1 ). 
     In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the gasket  11  is in contact with the counter substrate  22  (specifically, the polarization film  24 ) and the front bezel BZ 1 , but this is not meant as a limitation. For example, as long as the static electricity E coming from the counter substrate  22  is allowed to flow to the gasket  11  to further flow to the front bezel BZ 1  from the gasket  11 , the gasket  11  may be in close contact with, or away from, the counter substrate  22  and the front bezel BZ 1 . 
     Preferably, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the insulating buffer material  51  and the gasket  11 , which are arranged on the front surface  22 U of the counter substrate  22 , are in close contact with each other. With this structure, by arranging the gasket  11  such that the length thereof extends along the length of the insulating buffer material  51 , the gasket  11  can be located more accurately, and further, the gasket  11  can be easily fitted to the front bezel BZ 1  (the point is that the insulating buffer material  51  functions as a positioning member for the gasket  11 ). This helps improve the production efficiency of the liquid crystal display device  69 . However, it is not essential for the insulating buffer material  51  and the gasket  11  to be in close contact with each other. 
     In  FIG. 1 , the aperture  16   p  and the aperture  11 Sp are formed in the double-stick tape  16  and the secondary portion  11 S of the gasket  11 , respectively, for the screw  52  to pass therethrough. This, however, is not meant as a limitation. For example, if, in the course of the screw  52  being tightened, the screw  52  opens a hole in the double-stick tape  16  and the secondary portion  11 S as it is screwed into the double-stick tape  16  and the secondary portion  11 S to be fitted into the screw hole  53  of the boss  54 , the apertures  16   p  and  11 Sp of the double-stick tape  16  and the secondary portion  11 S, respectively, are not necessary. 
     The above descriptions have dealt with the LEDs  41  as an example of the light source of the backlight unit  59 , but this is not meant as a limitation; for example, as shown in  FIG. 6 , fluorescent tubes  44  may be adopted as the light source (in  FIG. 6 , however, for the sake of convenience, the fluorescent tubes  44  are shown only partially). The backlight unit  59  shown in  FIG. 6 , in which a plurality of fluorescent tubes  44  are arranged side by side like columns between the diffusion sheet  34  and the reflection sheet  32 , is called a direct backlight unit  59 . 
     The direct backlight unit  59  emits a comparatively large amount of light (backlight light), and thus it is often adopted in comparatively large liquid crystal display devices  69 . Incidentally, there is no particular limitation to the kind of the fluorescent tubes  44 , and they may be cold cathode tubes or hot cathode tubes. The backlight unit  59  incorporating the fluorescent tubes  44  is not limited to be of direct type, and it may be a side-light type in which the fluorescent tubes  44  are arranged at a side surface  31 S of the light guide plate  31 . 
     The liquid crystal display device  69  has been dealt with above as an example of the display device, but this is not meant as a limitation; for example, an organic EL (electro-luminescence) display device or a plasma display device maybe used instead. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS 
     
         
         
           
               11  gasket (conductive buffer material) 
               11 M primary portion of gasket 
               11 S secondary portion of gasket 
               11 Sp aperture formed in secondary portion for screw 
               14  cloth member (outer coat member) 
               15  sponge (filling member) 
               16  double-stick tape 
               16   p  aperture formed in the double-stick tape for screw 
               21  active matrix substrate 
               21 U front surface of active matrix substrate 
               22  counter substrate 
               22 U front surface of counter substrate (first panel surface) 
               23  polarization film 
               24  polarization film 
               25  source driver 
               26  gate driver 
               27  flexible substrate 
               28  rigid substrate 
               29  liquid crystal display panel 
               31  light guide plate 
               33  optical sheet group 
             MJ LED module 
               41  LED (light source) 
               44  fluorescent tube (light source) 
               49  liquid crystal display panel (display panel) 
               51  insulating buffer material 
               52  screw (fixing member) 
               53  screw hole 
               54  boss 
               54 T tip of boss 
               59  backlight unit (illuminating device) 
             CS built-in chassis (second member) 
             CSu counter surface of built-in chassis 
             BZ 1  front bezel (housing, first member) 
             BZ 1   n  interior surface of the front bezel 
             BZ 2  rear bezel (housing) 
               69  liquid crystal display device (display device)