Patent Publication Number: US-2007115402-A1

Title: Liquid crystal display device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to liquid crystal display (LCD) devices, and particularly to an adjustable LCD device able to receive LCD panels of different sizes.  
      2. Description of Related Art  
      A typically folded electronic device, such as a notebook computer, includes a main system, and an LCD unit pivotably mounted to the main system. The LCD unit includes a bracket, and an LCD panel. A plurality of screw holes is defined in opposite sides of the LCD panel. A plurality of through-holes is defined in opposite sides of the bracket. Screws are inserted through the through-holes to engage in the corresponding screw holes to secure the LCD panel to the bracket.  
      In Taiwan Patent No. 478603, an LCD unit of a notebook computer includes a cover, a bezel, an LCD panel, a pair of elastic members, and a plurality of screws. In assembling the LCD panel, the elastic members are mounted to opposite sides of the LCD panel via a plurality of screws. The elastic members are mounted to opposite sides of the cover via a plurality of screws, too. Then, the bezel is mounted to the cover via a plurality of screws. However, the LCD panels may vary in dimension because of imprecise manufacturing techniques, and assembly workers may try to force a fit of the LCD panel in the device thereby risking damage in the securing process. Further, if an LCD panel is not within spec for the fit it may be wasted.  
      What is desired, therefore, is an LCD device with a greater range of tolerance in receiving LCD panels of different sizes.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      An exemplary liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes a bracket, an LCD panel, and a mounting member. The bracket includes a bezel, and a cover mounted to the bezel. One of the bezel and the cover includes a first side, and a second side opposite to the first side. A side of the LCD panel is mounted to the first side of the one of the bezel and the cover. The mounting member secures to an opposite side of the LCD panel. The mounting member includes a mounting tab being capable of mounting to the positioning portion at different positions relative to the positioning portion.  
      Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of an LCD device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the LCD device includes a bezel, a cover, a mounting member, and an LCD panel;  
       FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of the mounting member of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is an assembled view of the cover, the mounting member and the LCD panel of  FIG. 1 ; and  
       FIG. 4  is an assembled view of  FIG. 1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      Referring to  FIG. 1 , a liquid crystal display (LCD) device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a bracket, a mounting member  40 , and an LCD panel  60  defining a plurality of locking holes  62  in two opposite sides thereof. The bracket includes a bezel  20 , and a cover  80 .  
      The bezel  20  defines an opening  21  therein. The bezel  20  includes a first side  22 , a second side  24  opposite to the first side  22 , a third side  26 , and a fourth side  28  opposite to the third side  26 , cooperatively defining the opening  21  therebetween. A plurality of positioning posts  30  each defining a screw hole protrudes up from the first side  22 . A mounting plate  32  extends up from the second side  24 . A plurality of through-holes  34  is defined in the mounting plate  32 . A flange  242  parallel to the mounting plate  32  extends up from an edge of the second side  24 . A plurality of cutouts  244  is defined in the flange  242 . The cutouts  244  of the flange  242  align with the corresponding through-holes  34  of the mounting plate  32 . A plurality of restriction tabs  36  extends up from the third side  26  and the fourth side  28 , and a plurality of mounting holes  38  is defined in the third side  26  and the fourth side  28  near to the first and second sides  22 ,  24 .  
      The cover  80  includes two flanges  82  bent down from two opposite sides thereof respectively. A plurality of covering tabs (not shown), configured for covering the cutouts  244  to prevent dust and/or debris entering thereby, extends from one of the two flanges  82 . Each covering tab corresponds to a cutout  244  of the flange  242 . A plurality of poles (not shown) extends down from an inner surface of the cover  80 . Each pole defines a threaded hole in a distal end for receiving a screw (not shown) extending from the bezel  20 .  
      Referring also to  FIG. 2 , the mounting member  40  includes a thin fixing plate  42  defining a plurality of through holes  44 , corresponding to the locking holes  62  of one side of the LCD panel  60 . A plurality of mounting tabs  46  perpendicularly extends from an upper edge of the fixing plate  42  of the mounting member  40 , corresponding to the positioning posts  30  of the bezel  20 . Each mounting tab  46  defines an elongate slide hole  48  having a long axis perpendicular to the fixing plate  42  of the mounting member  40 .  
      Referring also to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , in assembly, a plurality of screws  49  are inserted through the through holes  44  of the mounting member  40  to engage in the corresponding locking holes  62  of one side of the LCD panel  60 . Thus, the mounting member  40  is mounted to the LCD panel  60 . The LCD panel  60  is accommodated among the restriction tabs  36 , the mounting plate  32 , and the positioning posts  30 , of the bezel  20 . A plurality of screws (not shown) is inserted through the through-holes  34  of the mounting plate  32  to engage in the corresponding locking holes  62  of an opposite side of the LCD panel  60 . The cutouts  244  of the flange  242  define accesses for extension of a tool such as a screwdriver therein. A plurality of screws  50  is inserted through the slide holes  48  of the corresponding mounting tabs  46  to engage in the screw holes of the corresponding positioning posts  30 . Thus, the LCD panel  60  is mounted to the bezel  20 . Most of the LCD panel  60  is exposed from the opening  21  of the bezel  20  for being viewed by a user. A plurality of screws (not shown) is inserted through the mounting holes  38  of the bezel  20  to engage in the corresponding screw holes of the cover  80 , for assembling the bezel  20  to the cover  80 .  
      In another method of assembly, the mounting member  40  may be movably mounted to the bezel  20  by screws  50  which are partly threaded into the corresponding screw holes of the positioning posts  30 . The LCD panel  60  is accommodated among the restriction tabs  36 , the mounting plate  32 , and the mounting member  30 . Two opposite sides of the LCD panel  60  are mounted to the mounting plate  32  of the bezel  20  and the mounting member  40 , respectively. The screws  50  are threaded fully into the positioning posts  30  for tightly engage the mounting tabs  46  with the positioning posts  30 , so that the mounting member  40  will not move any more. Thus, the LCD panel  60  is mounted to the bezel  20 . The cover  80  is then mounted to the bezel  60  by screws.  
      Because each of the slide holes  48  is an elongate hole, a greater margin of error can be allowed for in dimensions of the LCD during manufacturing thus reducing waste.  
      In other embodiments of the present invention, the positioning posts  30 , the mounting plate  32 , and the restriction tabs  36  may be formed at the cover  80 . Then, the cutouts  244  may be defined in one of the flanges  82  of the cover  80 , and the covering tabs may extend from the flange  242  of the bezel  20 . The cover  80  may be mounted to the bezel  20  by other ways, such as latches formed on one of the cover  80  and the bezel  20 , and corresponding holes or latches formed on the other one of the cover  80  and the bezel  20 .  
      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 and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the invention.