Patent Publication Number: US-7216448-B2

Title: Display frame for a flat panel device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application No. 092203002, filed on Feb. 26, 2003. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to a display frame, more particularly to a display frame adapted to be mounted on a support, such as an upright wall, a display stand, or the like for holding a flat panel device and a picture. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Conventional picture frames are suspended on a wall for displaying photographs or paintings received therein. On the other hand, the recent development of flat panel systems, such as tablet PCs, has made presentation of multimedia data more convenient. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a display frame in the form of a picture frame for holding a flat panel electronic device in an upright state for presentation of multimedia data to an audience. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The object of the present invention is to provide a display frame which can hold a framed picture or a flat panel electronic device and which can be mounted on a support for presentation of multimedia data to an audience. 
   According to this invention, the display frame is adapted for holding a framed picture and a flat panel device and for mounting to a support. The display frame includes a frame body including a rear wall, and right and left walls which extend in an upright direction and which are disposed opposite to each other in a longitudinal direction transverse to the upright direction to define a receiving space therebetween. The receiving space has an access opening which is opposite to the rear wall in the transverse direction and which faces forwardly and in a transverse direction relative to the upright and longitudinal directions. A backing member is adapted for holding the flat panel device, is received in the receiving space, and is movable relative to the rear wall of the frame body in the transverse direction. A front profile frame has a viewing window, and is disposed to be movable relative to the frame body between an open position, where the viewing window is remote from the access opening to permit placement of the flat panel device to the backing member, and a closed position, where the viewing window is close to the access opening so as to cover the access opening. A biasing member is disposed to bias the backing member away from the rear wall. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of a display frame according to this invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment in an opened state; 
       FIG. 3  is a sectional side view of the first preferred embodiment in the opened state; 
       FIG. 4  is a sectional side view of the first preferred embodiment in the opened state, with a flat panel device placed thereon; 
       FIG. 5  is a top view of a backing member of the display frame of the first preferred embodiment; 
       FIG. 6  is a sectional side view of the first preferred embodiment in a closed state; 
       FIG. 7  is a side view of the first preferred embodiment in the closed state; 
       FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the first preferred embodiment in the closed state; 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a fastening unit of the display frame of the first preferred embodiment; 
       FIG. 10  is a side view of the first preferred embodiment in a first tilted state; 
       FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the first preferred embodiment in a second tilted state; 
       FIG. 12  is a schematic view illustrating how the first preferred embodiment can be turned to an angle of 90; 
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment held on a display stand; 
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of a display frame according to this invention; 
       FIGS. 15 and 16  are fragmentary exploded perspective views of the second preferred embodiment; 
       FIG. 17  is a sectional side view of a third preferred embodiment of a display frame according to this invention; 
       FIG. 18  is a sectional side view of the third preferred embodiment in a tilted state; 
       FIG. 19  is a sectional side view of a fourth preferred embodiment of a display frame according to this invention in a closed state; and 
       FIGS. 20 and 21  are sectional side views of the fourth preferred embodiment in an opened state. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that same reference numerals have been used to denote like elements throughout the specification. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 4 , the first preferred embodiment of a display frame according to the present invention is adapted to hold a framed picture  11  and a flat panel device  12 , such as a tablet PC (see  FIGS. 4 and 5 ), and to be mounted to a support, such as an upright wall, a display stand, and the like. The display frame of this embodiment is shown to comprise a frame body  2 , a front profile frame  23 , a pair of linking units  25 , a holding unit  3 , a locking unit  5 , and a fastening unit  4 . 
   The frame body  2  includes a rear wall  21  with four through holes  211  therein, a surrounding wall  22  which extends from the rear wall  21  in a transverse direction and which includes right and left walls  222 , 221  opposite to each other in a longitudinal direction transverse to the transverse direction, and upper and lower walls  223 , 224  opposite to each other in an upright direction transverse to the longitudinal and transverse directions so as to define a receiving space  24  with an access opening which is opposite to the rear wall  21  and which faces forwardly and in the transverse direction. 
   The front profile frame  23  has a proximate end  232  which is mounted pivotally on the lower wall  224  about a first pivoting axis (X) such that a distal end  233  thereof is turnable about the first pivoting axis (X) between an open position, where a viewing window  231  of the front profile frame  23  that is disposed between the proximate and distal ends  232 , 233  is remote from the access opening to permit placement of the flat panel device  12  in the receiving space  24 , and a closed position, where the viewing window  231  is close to the access opening so as to cover the access opening (see  FIG. 6 ). A decorative frame  26  is detachably mounted on a front surface of the front profile frame  23 . 
   Each of the linking units  25  includes a pivot mount  252  which is mounted on the front profile frame  23  proximate to the proximate end  232  and which extends to terminate at an anchor end distal from the viewing window  231 . A linkage  251 , in the form of a lever, has a pivot end  2511  which is pivotally mounted on the anchor end of the pivot mount  252  about a pivot axis, and a connecting end  2512  which is opposite to the pivot end in a radial direction relative to the pivot axis and which is turnable between first and second positions that correspond to the open and closed positions of the front profile frame  23 , respectively. 
   The holding unit  3  includes a holding tray  32 , a backing member  31 , and two biasing members  33 . The holding tray  32  is adapted to be disposed underneath a bottom wall of the flat panel device  12 , and is disposed to be movable relative to the frame body  2  in the transverse direction between an extending position, where the holding tray  32  extends forwardly and outwardly of the access opening, and a retreat position, where the holding tray  32  retreats into the receiving space  24 . In particular, a keyway  226 , in the form of a slot, is formed in each of the right and left walls  222 , 221 , and is elongated in the transverse direction. A key  253  is disposed on the holding tray  32 , and has an intermediate portion extending from the holding tray  32  in the longitudinal direction to terminate at a coupling end. The intermediate portion of the key  253  is inserted into and is slidable relative to the keyway  226  so as to move the holding tray  32  between the extending and retreat positions. Preferably, lower right and left sliding pins  254  are respectively disposed on right and left sides of the holding tray  32 , and extend respectively towards the right-and left walls  222 , 221  so as to be slidable along lower sliding slots  225  formed respectively in the right and left walls  222 , 221  and extending in the transverse direction, thereby stabilizing the movement of the holding tray  32 . In addition, the holding tray  32  includes a front barrier wall  321  which confronts and which is disposed distal from the rear wall  21 . An electrical connecting unit  324  is disposed under the holding tray  32  for electrical connection with the flat panel device  12 . 
   Moreover, the connecting end  2512  of the linkage  251  has an inner peripheral bearing wall which defines a hole and which has the coupling end of the key  253  journalled thereon so as to serve as a coupling member. As such, when the connecting end  2512  of the linkage  251  is moved between the first and second positions, the holding tray  32  is moved between the extending and retreat positions, respectively. Besides, pivotal connection of the proximate end  232  of the front profile frame  23  with the lower wall  224  of the frame body  2  about the first pivoting axis (X) enables stabilized angular movement of the connecting end  2512  of the linkage  251 . 
   The backing member  31  includes a lower abutment portion  313  which is spaced apart from the front barrier wall  321  of the holding tray  32  in the transverse direction and which is slidable on the holding tray  32  to adjust the distance between the lower abutment portion  313  and the front barrier wall  321  so as to accommodate the thickness of the bottom wall of the flat panel device  12  and so as to permit abutment of the flat panel device  12  thereagainst (see  FIG. 4 ). With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 5 , the backing member  31  defines an inserting space  317  for insertion of the framed picture  11  therein, and two sliding slots  318  extending in the upright direction. 
   Furthermore, two upper right and left sliding plates  34  are disposed pivotally and respectively on right and left sides of the backing member  31 , and extend respectively towards the right and left walls  222 , 221  so as to be slidable along upper sliding slots  227  formed respectively in the right and left walls  222 , 221  and extending in the transverse direction, thereby stabilizing the movement of the backing member  31 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 5 , each of the biasing members  33  includes two leaf springs  331 , each of which has two ends secured on the rear wall  21 , and respectively provided with sliding blocks  332 . The sliding blocks  332  are slidably inserted into the sliding slots  318  in the backing member  31  such that the backing member  31  is biased by the biasing members  33  towards the front barrier wall  321  of the holding tray  32 , thereby retaining the bottom wall of the flat panel device  12  between the lower abutment portion  313  of the backing member  31  and the front barrier wall  321 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 6 , the locking unit  5  includes locking and locked portions  51 , 52  which are respectively disposed on the distal end  233  of the front profile frame  23  and the upper wall  223  of the frame body  2 , and which are engaged with each other so as to fasten the front profile frame  23  to the frame body  2  in the closed position. 
   In use, referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , when the front profile frame  23  is in the open position, the flat panel device  12  is placed on the holding tray  32 , and the bottom wall thereof is retained between the front barrier wall  321  and the lower abutment portion  313  of the backing member  31 , such that the backing member  31  is inclined rearwardly towards the rear wall  21 . Referring to  FIG. 6 , the front profile frame  23  is then moved from the open position to the closed position such that the holding tray  32  is moved to the retreat position, where the holding tray  32  retreats into the receiving space  24  by means of the linking units  25 . The front profile frame  23  is subsequently fastened to the frame body  2  by the locking unit  5 . Thus, the flat panel device  12  can be held in the display frame for presentation of multimedia data through the viewing window  231 . Besides, when the locking unit  5  is released, and the front profile frame  23  is moved from the closed position to the open position, the holding tray  32  can be moved to the extending position by the biasing members  33  for facilitating removal of the flat panel device  12  from the receiving space  24 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 7 to 9 , the fastening unit  4  includes a baseplate  41 , a connecting frame  42 , and right and left interengaging members  43 . The baseplate  41  is adapted to be secured to the support, such as a wall, by screw bolts  410 , and has right and left ends which are disposed proximate to the right and left walls  222 , 221 , respectively. The connecting frame  42  includes right and left arms  422  which extend in the transverse direction opposite to the baseplate  41 , and which confront the right and left walls  222 , 221  in the longitudinal direction, respectively, and an intermediate plate  421  which extends in the longitudinal direction and which interconnects the right and left arms  422 . The intermediate plate  421  is disposed forwardly of and is mounted pivotally on the baseplate  41  about a rotating axis in the transverse direction such that the right and left arms  422  are turnable about the rotating axis relative to the baseplate  41 . Each of the right and left interengaging members  43  includes two latch holes  423  which are formed in a respective one of the right and left arms  422 , two latches  424 , each of which has a retained portion retainingly slidable relative to a respective one of the latch holes  423 , and a joining portion extending outwardly of the respective latch hole  423 , and two ball joints, each of which includes a male piece  431  formed on the joining portion of the respective latch  424 , and a female piece  432  formed on a respective one of the right and left walls  222 , 221  so as to permit turning of the frame body  2  relative to the baseplate  41 . 
   In view of the foregoing, adjustment of inclination of the frame body  2  relative to the support so as to adjust the viewing angle of the flat panel device  12  can be performed as follows: 
   1. Referring to  FIG. 10 , when the latches  424  on one of the right and left arms  422  are operated, the frame body  2  can be tilted upward or downward. 
   2. Referring to  FIG. 11 , when the latches  424  on both the right and left arms  422  are moved, the frame body  2  can be rotated leftward or rightward. 
   3. Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 12 , when the connecting frame  42  is turned relative to the baseplate  41 , the frame body  2  can be rotated. 
   As shown in  FIG. 13 , the display frame of this invention can also be held on a display stand  6 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 14 to 16 , the second preferred embodiment of a display frame according to this invention is shown to be similar to the previous embodiment. In this embodiment, the decorative frame  26  has an inner peripheral edge  261  for shielding an outer periphery of the flat panel device (not shown). The rear wall  21  of the frame body  2  has upper and lower wall portions  210 , 212  which are spaced apart from each other to define an opening  213  therebetween. The fastening unit  4  includes a baseplate  44  which is adapted to be secured to an upright wall and which is disposed in the opening  213 , and right and left arms  45  which extend integrally and respectively from two sides of the baseplate  44 , and which are respectively engaged with the right and left walls  222 , 221  of the frame body  2  through an interengaging member which is in the form of a latch-and-latch hole assembly  46 . In addition, a plastic transparent sheet  35  is disposed forwardly of and is spaced apart from the backing member  31  to confine an inserting space therebetween for receiving a framed picture (not shown). The biasing members  33  are in the form of two springs. Two pairs of right and left sliding shafts  315  are respectively disposed on the right and left sides of the backing member  31 , and are respectively slidable along two pairs of right and left rails  316  which are respectively disposed on the right and left walls  222 , 221  to permit movement of the backing member  31  relative to the holding tray  32 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 17 and 18 , the third preferred embodiment of a display frame according to this invention is shown to be similar to the second embodiment, except that each of the right and left interengaging members includes a telescopic shaft  47  which is mounted on a respective one of the right and left arms  45 , and a friction rotary member  48  including two friction plates which are respectively disposed on the telescopic shaft  47  and the respective one of the right and left walls of the surrounding wall  22  and which are frictionally retained to each other by a screw fastener  49  so as to permit frictional turning of the frame body  2  relative to the baseplate  44 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 19 to 21 , the fourth preferred embodiment of a display frame according to this invention is shown to be similar to the previous embodiments, except that the linkage  27  of each linking units includes two levers pivoted to each other. One of the levers has a connecting end  273  which is formed with an arcuate slot  272  to engage the coupling end of the key  253  that is inserted slidably into the keyway  226 . As such, the key  253  is slidable along the arcuate slot  272  when the connecting end  273  is angularly moved between the first and second positions, thereby shifting the holding tray  32  between the extending and retreat positions. This lever further has a joint end  271  which is mounted pivotally on the lower wall of the frame body  2  about a second pivoting axis and which is angularly displaced from the arcuate slot  272  so as to stabilize the angular movement of the connecting end  273 . Preferably, another key  255  is disposed on the holding tray  32  and is slidable along an outside of the arcuate slot  272 . 
   While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretations and equivalent arrangements.