Abstract:
A portable, sturdy LCD TV is disclosed. The LCD TV is further constructed as a waterproof device and is equipped with an antenna so that the LCD TV, in addition to be used indoors as a computer monitor or TV, is also suitable for outdoor use.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0002]    The invention relates to LCDs (liquid crystal displays) and more particularly to a portable LCD TV for indoor or outdoor use. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Liquid crystal displays (LCD&#39;s) have grown increasingly popular as substitutes for cathode ray tubes in electronic appliances. LCD&#39;s can be driven by large scale ICs (integrated circuits) because of their low-voltage and low-power consumption characteristics. Accordingly, LCDs have been widely produced on a commercial scale for use in desktop computers, laptop computers, color televisions, etc. 
         [0005]    Conventionally, LCD display devices are subject to breakage due to collision or damage in a humid working environment. It is typical for an LCD display or TV having a plurality of projecting knobs or keys as controls (e.g., brightness control, etc.) However, these knobs or keys are not waterproof. Hence, such types of LCD display or TV are not suitable to operate in an outdoor environment. 
         [0006]    There is a type of waterproof LCD display commercially available. The waterproof LCD display is equipped with a plastic strip sealingly mounted around a peripheral gap of the LCD body. However, such waterproof LCD displays are not structurally strong to even withstand a mild collision. 
         [0007]    There is a type of LCD TV commercially available. Typically, an LCD TV is installed in a room and is adapted to receive TV signals via cable, an indoor antenna, or an outdoor antenna. However, such LCD TVs are not designed to operate in an outdoor environment. Thus, a need for improvement exists. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a portable, sturdy LCD TV having waterproof means so that the LCD TV, in addition to be used indoors as a computer monitor or TV, is also suitable for outdoor use. 
         [0009]    The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of LCD TV according to the invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the frame assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the panel assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of some components at left of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of some components at central part of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of some components at right of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a schematic plan view of the circuit board of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the assembled LCD TV viewed from front where the LCD TV is in a nonoperating position; 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the assembled LCD TV but viewed from rear where the LCD TV is also in a nonoperating position; 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged view of the protective cover of  FIG. 1  but viewed from rear; 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  is an enlarged view of the protective cover of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the LCD TV where it is in an outdoor operating position by physically disengaging the protective cover from the body but electrically connecting thereto by hanging same on the seat in the rear of the body; 
           [0022]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the LCD TV rested upon a desk with the protective cover being removed in an indoor environment; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the LCD TV mounted on a ceiling. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 14 , an LCD TV in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a protective cover  1 , a body  2 , and a seat  3 . Each component is discussed in detail below. 
         [0025]    The rectangular protective cover  1  comprises an antenna  11  on the back, a rear ring-shaped member  12 , and a connector  13  on the bottom edge, the connector  13  being electrically connected to the antenna  11 . 
         [0026]    The body  2  comprises a frame assembly  21 , a panel assembly  22 , a shell  23 , a waterproof strip  24 , and a frame  25 . 
         [0027]    The frame assembly  21  comprises a rectangular screen frame  211  and a protective glass  212 . The panel assembly  22  comprises an LCD panel  221 , a mounting plate  222 , four elongated mounting members  223 , and a circuit board  224 . 
         [0028]    The protective glass  212  is secured by the screen frame  211 . The mounting plate  222  is secured to the back of the LCD panel  221 . The four elongated mounting members  223  are secured to four sides of the LCD panel  221 . The circuit board  224  is mounted onto the back of the mounting plate  222 . The panel assembly  22  is secured onto the shell  23  by the mounting members  223 . The frame assembly  21  is secured to the front surface of the panel assembly  22 . Thus, the frame assembly  21  and the shell  23  are secured together with the panel assembly  22  being sandwiched therebetween. The rectangular waterproof strip  24  is mounted around the secured frame assembly  21  and shell  23 . The rectangular, closed frame  25  is formed of rubber and is snugly put on the waterproof strip  24  so that foreign water is prevented from entering into the LCD TV through gaps between the frame assembly  21  and the shell  23 . The provision of the frame  25  can prevent the body  2  from being damaged due to collision. The protective glass  212  can prevent the LCD panel  221  from being damaged due to scratch and serves as a waterproof means. 
         [0029]    The seat  3  comprises a plurality of threaded holes  31  on its base so that the seat  3  can be mounted on the ceiling  6  by driving a plurality of fasteners (e.g., screws) through the holes  31  into the ceiling  6  (see  FIG. 14 ). The seat  3  further comprises an L-shaped tab  32  on the top of its upright arm. It is obvious that the LCD TV supported by the seat  3  can be placed on the surface of a desk  5  (see  FIG. 13 ). 
         [0030]    The screen frame  211  comprises an opening  2111  on a center of its lower portion, first, second plurality of apertures  2112  on both sides of the opening  2111 , a touch sensitive member  2113  mounted in the opening  2111 , an optical film  2114  sealingly fitted onto the touch sensitive member  2113 , and two speakers  2115  mounted to the rear of the first, second plurality of apertures  2112  respectively. Both the touch sensitive member  2113  and the speakers  2115  are electrically connected to the circuit board  224 . A user can point to one of the keys on the touch sensitive member  2113  by touching the touch sensitive member  2113 . Thereafter, a corresponding action (e.g., brightness adjustment) is done by the circuit board  224 . This has the benefit of having an aesthetic appearance. Moreover, the speakers  2115  are waterproof. 
         [0031]    The shell  23  comprises first, second and third receptacles  231 ,  232 ,  233  each having a cover  2311 ,  2321 , or  2331 . The first receptacle  231  is for mounting an adapter  2312 . The second receptacle  232  is for receiving a remote control  2322  so that the remote control  2322  can be prevented from being lost when carrying the LCD TV to an outdoor location, and the third receptacle  233  is for receiving wires and cables. 
         [0032]    The third receptacle  233  has a receiving space  2332  and an L-shaped mounting element  2333  fitted on the mouth of the receiving space  2332 . The rear of the mounting element  2333  is threadedly secured to the mounting plate  222 . Two openings  234  are provided proximate both sides of a lower portion of the shell  23 . A holed plate  2341  is provided on the top of each opening  234 . A fan  2342  is mounted on each holed plate  2341 . A louver  2343  is provided on the mouth of each opening  234 . A rectangular plate  2221  is mounted on the rear of the mounting plate  222 . The shell  23  further comprises a handle  235  proximate its rear top. The handle  235  is threadedly secured to the plate  2221 . 
         [0033]    The circuit board  224  comprises a control unit  2241 , a panel drive unit  2242 , a harmonic circuit unit  2243 , an audio unit  2244 , a voltage lowering unit  2245 , and a plurality of parallel connectors  2246  on the edge. The connectors  2246  are electrically connected to the LCD panel  221  by wires and are secured to the mounting element  2333 . Also, the connectors  2246  are electrically connected to the connector  13  by wire. 
         [0034]    The circuit board  224  is adapted to receive VGA (Video Graphics Adapter) signals, RGB (red-green-blue) signals, AV (audio/video) signals, S-video signals, HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) signals, etc. Thus, the LCD TV also can be used as a computer monitor with multimedia features. 
         [0035]    The control unit  2241  is adapted to process AV signals and other control signals. The panel drive unit  2242  is adapted to drive the LCD panel  221 . The harmonic circuit unit  2243  is adapted to receive signals sent from the antenna  11  or TV signals sent from cable. The audio unit  2244  is adapted to amplify audio signals and drive a load (e.g., speaker). The voltage lowering unit  2245  is adapted to transfer power from the transformer  2312  into a plurality of different low voltages required for the operation of other components of the LCD TV. 
         [0036]    An additional antenna is not required since the LCD TV is equipped with the antenna  11 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , the LCD TV is used in an outdoor operating position. The protective cover  1  is physically disengaged from the body  2  but is still electrically connecting thereto with the ring-shaped member  12  hung on the tab  32  of the seat  3 . Thereafter, it is possible of watching TV programs by wireless. 
         [0037]    While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.