Patent Publication Number: US-2012033362-A1

Title: Flat-panel display monitor

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to flat-panel display monitors, and more particularly to a flat-panel display having a support stand and an elevating support mechanism having adjustable angles and height. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Flat-panel display monitors often employ an elevating support mechanism to connect a support stand and a display, such that the viewing angle and the height of the display can be adjusted without moving the support stand. 
     However, this adjustment cannot alter the angle of the display relative to the user. To share the display between users, the support stand must be moved correspondingly, which is an inconvenient requirement. 
     Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art. 
    
    
     
       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 the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the views. 
         FIG. 1  is an assembled, isometric view of one embodiment of a flat-panel display monitor including a support stand, a connecting member, an elevating support mechanism, a fixing member, a mounting member, and a display. 
         FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another aspect. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded, isometric view of the supporting member, the connecting member, the elevating support mechanism, the fixing member, and the mounting member of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is similar to  FIG. 3 , but viewed from another aspect. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , an embodiment of a flat-panel display monitor  100  includes a support stand  10 , a connecting member  30 , an elevating support mechanism  50 , a fixing member  70  (not shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ), a mounting member  80 , and a display  90 . The connecting member  30  is rotatably connected to the support stand  10 . The connecting member  30  and the fixing member  70  are fixed to the elevating support mechanism  50 , respectively. The fixing member  70  is rotatably connected to the mounting member  80 . The display  90  is mounted onto the mounting member  80 . 
     The support stand  10  includes a base  12  and a supporting member  14 . In the illustrated embodiment, the base  12  is substantially a circular plate. The supporting member  14  includes a main body  142 , a resisting portion  144  and a rotary portion  146 . The main body  142  is substantially cylindrical, and extends from a middle portion of the base  12 . The resisting portion  144  is substantially rectangular, and extends from an end of the main body  142  away from the base  12 . The rotary portion  146  is substantially cylindrical, and extends from an end of the resisting portion  144  away from the main body  142 . 
     Referring also to  FIG. 4 , the connecting member  30  is substantially a rectangular rod, and defines a shaft hole  32  corresponding to the rotary portion  146 , and a through hole  34 . Axis of the through hole  34  is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the shaft hole  32 . 
     The elevating support mechanism  50  includes a first link bar  52 , a second link bar  54 , a pair of third link brackets  56 , a pair of fourth link brackets  58 , and a pair of adjustable positioning members  59 . 
     The first link bar  52  is substantially a rod with a square cross section. Each end of the first link bar  52  defines a hinged hole  521 . Axis of each hinged hole  521  is substantially perpendicular to a length direction of the first link bar  52 . Shape and length of the second link bar  54  are the same as that of the first link bar  52 . Each end of the second link bar  54  defines a hinged hole  541 . The second link bar  54  forms at least one connecting portion  543  at the middle portion thereof. In the illustrated embodiment, the second link bar  54  forms a pair of connecting portions  543 ; the connecting portions  543  are a plurality of protrusions which protrude from two opposite side surfaces of the second link bar  54 . It should be pointed out that the connecting portion  543  is not limited to a protrusion, and may alternatively be a hook or latching groove. 
     The third link bracket  56  is substantially a triangular plate. Each third link bracket  56  defines two hinged holes  562  and a connecting hole  564 . Two hinged holes  562  are defined at two corners of the third link bracket  56  respectively. The connecting hole  564  is defined at the other remaining corner of the third link bracket  56 . Each third link bracket  56  includes a latching portion  566 . In the illustrated embodiment, the latching portion  566  is a protrusion extending from the middle portion of the third link bracket  56 . It should be pointed out that the latching portion  566  is not limited to a protrusion, and may alternatively be a hook or latching groove. 
     The fourth link bracket  58  is substantially a triangular plate. Each of the fourth link brackets  58  defines two hinged holes  582  and a fixing hole  584 . Two hinged holes  582  are defined at two corners of the fourth link bracket  58  respectively. The fixing hole  584  is defined at the other remaining corner of the fourth link bracket  58 . 
     Each adjustable positioning member  59  includes a first locking portion  592  and a second locking portion  594 . The first locking portion  592  and the second locking portion  594  are formed at two opposite ends of the adjustable positioning member  59  respectively. In the illustrated embodiment, the adjustable positioning member  59  is a spring, and the first locking portion  592  and the second locking portion  594  are a plurality of hooks. It should be pointed out that the adjustable positioning member  59  is not limited to a spring, and may alternatively be a telescopic rod, as long as the adjustable positioning member  59  has an adjustable length. 
     The fixing member  70  is substantially a block, and defines a receiving hole  72  and a pivot hole  74 . The receiving hole  72  and the pivot hole  74  are both through holes. Axis of the receiving hole  72  is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the pivot hole  74 . 
     The mounting member  80  includes a mounting portion  82  and a rotation shaft  84 . The mounting portion  82  is substantially a rectangular plate. The rotation shaft  84  extends from a middle portion of the mounting portion  82 . The rotation shaft  84  defines a pin hole  86  at an end at the side thereof away from the mounting portion  82 . 
     During assembly, a shaft (not shown) passes through the hinged hole  562  defined at a corner of one of the third link brackets  56 , the hinged hole  521  defined at one end of the first link bar  52 , and the hinged hole  562  defined at a corner of the other third link bracket  56  in that order, such that one end of the first link bar  52  is hinged with and positioned between two third link brackets  56 . The other end of the first link bar  52  is hinged with one corner of each fourth link bracket  58  defining the hinged hole  582 , one end of the second link bar  54  is hinged with another corner of another third link bracket  56  defining the hinged hole  562 , and the other end of the second link bracket  54  is hinged with another corner of one fourth link bracket  58  defining the hinged hole  582 , in the same way. The first link bar  52  and the second link bar  54  are spaced apart and parallel to each other. The first locking portion  592  and the second locking portion  594  of each adjustable positioning member  59  are latched with one of the connecting portions  543  and one of the latching portions  566 . 
     A fastener (not shown) passes through the connecting hole  564  of one of the third link bracket  56 , the through hole  34  of the connecting member  30 , and the connecting hole  564  of the other third link bracket  56 , such that the connecting member  30  is securely positioned between the two third link brackets  56 . The fixing member  70  is securely positioned between the two fourth link brackets  58  in the same way. The rotary portion  146  is received in the shaft hole  32  of the connecting member  30 , and an end of the connecting member  30  defining the shaft hole  32  resists the resisting portion  144  of the supporting member  14 . The rotation shaft  84  passes through the pivot hole  74 , and a pin (not shown) is received in the pin hole  86 . The display  90  is mounted on the mounting portion  82  of the mounting member  80 . 
     When the height of the display  90  is to be adjusted, external force elevates or depresses the display  90 , and the first link bar  52  and the second link bar  54  rotate relative to the third link brackets  56  and the fourth link brackets  58 , whereby a plurality of angles of the first link bracket  52  and the second link bracket  54  relative to the third link bracket  56  and the fourth link bracket  58  are changed, such that the height of the display  90  is adjusted. The positions of the third link brackets  56  fixed to the connecting member  30  are fixed, and the angles of the third link brackets  56  and the fourth link brackets  58  relative to the gravity direction remain unchanged, and the viewing angle of the display is not changed. Adjustment of the angle of the display  90  relative to the user requires only an external force applied on the display  90  whereby the connecting member  30  rotates relative to the rotary portion  146 , and the display  90  and the elevating support mechanism  50  rotate relative to the support stand  10 . 
     Two ends of each adjustable positioning member  59  are connected to the second link bar  54  and one of the third link bracket  56 , and a triangular configuration is formed by the adjustable positioning member  59 , the second link bar  54 , and the third link bracket  56 , thereby stably maintaining the display  90  in a desired position. 
     The rotation shaft  84  is rotatably received in the pivot hole  74  of the fixing member  70 , such that the display  90  is capable of rotating relative to the axis of the pivot hole  74 , thus allowing the display  90  to be positioned on two axes. 
     The third link brackets  56  and the fourth link brackets  58  are triangular plates, and can be formed by punching. The flat-panel display monitor  100  employs only a few members, thus simplifying the structure and, accordingly, manufacture and assembly, while lowering costs. 
     The adjustable positioning member  59  may be omitted, whereby a plurality of resilient members and friction members may keep or maintain the elevating support mechanism  50  in a desired position. The connecting member  30  may be hinged with one of the third link brackets  56 , and the fixing member  70  may be hinged with one of the fourth link brackets  58 . 
     Alternatively, the flat-panel display monitor  100  may employ only one third link bracket  56  and one fourth link bracket  58 . The third link bracket  56  and the fourth link bracket  58  are not limited to triangular plates, and they may be rods alternatively, as long as the connecting hole  564  and the fixing hole  584  are defined at the middle portions of the third link bracket  56  and the fourth link bracket  58 . 
     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 disclosure or sacrificing all of its material advantages.