Patent Publication Number: US-2016223135-A1

Title: Support frame device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority of Taiwanese Patent Application No. 104201733, filed on Feb. 3, 2015. 
     FIELD 
     The disclosure relates to a support frame device, more particularly to a support frame device adapted for supporting a plurality of back plates thereon. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A number of connection devices for connecting boards or plates have been disclosed. For example, Taiwanese Utility Model Patent No. M447617 discloses a connection seat for connecting two light-emitting diode (LED) lamp boards, which includes two connection units that are mounted on the LED lamp boards, respectively. Each of the connection units has male and female connecting members. The LED lamp boards are connected with each other through a plug-socket engagement of the male and female connecting members of the connection units mounted thereon. 
     Furthermore, Taiwanese Utility Model Patent No. M494335 discloses an assembly of multiple display back plates, which includes two interengageable structures respectively formed on two adjacent display back plates to be connected. The two adjacent display back plates are connected by an engagement of the interengageable structures, followed by welding. 
     However, a gap may be formed between the boards or between the back plates due to dimensional tolerances of the boards or the back plates. When the boards or the back plates are mounted on a frame unit composed of a plurality of support frames, dimensional tolerances of the support frames may widen the gap between the boards or between the back plates, and adversely affect proper fitting between the boards or between the back plates. 
     SUMMARY 
     Therefore, the object of the disclosure is to provide a support frame device that can alleviate the drawback of the conventional connection devices for boards or plates. 
     According to the disclosure, a support frame device includes a stationary frame unit that is adapted for supporting two back plates thereon, and a plurality of magnetic units. Each of the magnetic units includes a magnetic component connected fixedly to the stationary frame unit, and a magnetic ring. The magnetic ring is adapted to be connected fixedly to a corresponding one of the back plates, surrounds the magnetic component, and is magnetically repulsed from the magnetic component. As a result, the back plates are driven by the magnetic rings of the magnetic units to be orderly arranged. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a support frame device according to the disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a structure of a magnetic unit of the embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view illustrating one magnetic pole arrangement of the magnetic unit of the embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view illustrating another magnetic pole arrangement of the magnetic unit of the embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a fragmentary schematic view of the embodiment; and 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 , an embodiment of a support frame device according to the disclosure is illustrated. The support frame device includes a stationary frame unit  2  that supports two back plates  11  thereon, and eight magnetic units  3  that interconnect the back plates  11  and the stationary frame unit  2 . 
     In this embodiment, the number of the back plates  11  is exemplified to be four. The four back plates  11  are connected to each other and arranged in a two-by-two matrix. Connection between the back plates  11  may be a plug-socket or anchor-hole engagement, etc. The back plates  11  can be used for installing light sources, such as lamps  4 , or displays (not shown). 
     The stationary frame unit  2  includes four frame members  21  that are connected in pairs so as to respectively support the four back plates  11 . 
     Each of the magnetic units  3  includes a magnetic component  31  and a magnetic ring  32 . The magnetic component  31  is connected fixedly to the stationary frame unit  2  and has s an extension hole  311 . The magnetic ring  32  surrounds the magnetic component  31 , and is magnetically repulsed from the magnetic component  31 . 
     In this embodiment, each of the magnetic units  3  further includes a retaining seat  33 , a lid  34  and a pin  35 . The retaining seat  33  receives the magnetic component  31  and the magnetic ring  32  therein, is connected fixedly to a corresponding one of the back plates  11 , and has an opening  331  opened toward a corresponding one of the frame members  21  of the stationary frame unit  2 . The lid  34  covers the opening  331  and has a lid hole  341 . The pin  35  sequentially extends fittingly through the corresponding one of the frame members  21 , movably through the lid hole  341  and fittingly through the extension hole  311  for connecting fixedly the magnetic component  31  to the stationary frame unit  2 . In this embodiment, the magnetic ring  32  is fitted in the retaining seat  33 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , the magnetic component  31  and the magnetic ring  32  of each of the magnetic units  3  cooperatively define a gap  320  therebetween. The gap  320  has a width ranging between 0.5 millimeters and 1.5 millimeters, and preferably, the gap  320  has a width of 1 millimeter. 
     Furthermore, the magnetic ring  32  of each of the magnetic units  3  has a central axis (L), and is magnetically repulsed from the respective magnetic component  31 . To be more specific, opposite magnetic poles of each of the magnetic component  31  and the magnetic ring  32  of each of the magnetic units  3  can be arranged in a radial direction of the magnetic ring  32 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , or in an axial direction parallel to the central axis (L), as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , on each frame member  21 , the corresponding magnetic components  31  and pins  35  are aligned in an alignment direction (X) perpendicular to the central axis (L) (see  FIG. 5 ), and in an ordered manner. Alternatively, in other variations of this embodiment, the alignment of the magnetic components  31  and the respective pins  35  may be arranged in other suitable manners. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 3 , the lid hole  341  of the lid  34  has a diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the magnetic component  31  to prevent fallout of the magnetic component  31  from the retaining seat  33  therethrough. With the pin  35  movably extending through the lid hole  341 , and with the presence of the gap  320  between the magnetic component  31  and the magnetic ring  32 , movement of the magnetic ring  32  and the retaining seat  33  relative to the magnetic component  31  is permitted. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 , when the support frame device of the disclosure is used to support multiple back plates  11 , the connected back plates  11  are first connected fixedly and individually to the retaining seats  33  of the corresponding magnetic units  3 . Since the retaining seat  33  of each of the magnetic units  3  receives fittingly the magnetic ring  32  therein, and is connected to corresponding one of the back plates  11 , magnetic repulsion between the magnetic components  31  and the corresponding magnetic rings  32  of the magnetic units  3  enables the back plates  11  to move in a restrictive manner relative to the magnetic components  31  and the frame members  21  so that angles and positions of the back plates  11  can be adjusted. That is, the back plates  11  can be driven by the magnetic rings  32  to be orderly arranged, thereby ensuring proper arrangement among the back plates  11  in a simple and cost-effective manner. 
     While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the exemplary embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.