Patent Publication Number: US-8109580-B1

Title: Display housing

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims benefit of U.S. Patent Provisional application Ser. No. 61/130,477 filed May 31, 2008. All subject matter set forth in provisional application Ser. No. 61/130,477 is hereby incorporated by reference into the present application as if fully set forth herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to enclosures and more particularly to an enclosure device for housing a visual display device. 
     2. Background of the Invention 
     Providing information and advertising to the general public in public places such as bus and train stations, public meeting places, and public rest rooms and the like presents security and vandalism problems for the purveyor of such information. Deliberate defacing and destruction of the equipment used to provide such information by vandals has challenged the designers and manufacturers to produce vandal proof, or at least vandal resistant equipment. Although the devices of the prior art have addressed the problems of defacing and destruction, none have completely solved these problems associated with the malicious behavior of vandals. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,070,074 to Rohme discloses a cabinet in which the closure or door thereof is rendered less vulnerable to unauthorized tampering which seeks to bypass the lock thereof as a result of the door being latched behind an edge of the cabinet front opening. Thus, opening of the door contemplates a compound movement, i.e. an initial unlatching sliding movement, and then the usual pivotal traverse from its closed into its open position. As a significant improvement, the construction of the within cabinet effectively masks the presence of the structural features which contribute to the door compound movement, whereas this is not the case with prior art cabinet doors and, as a result, such omission in an obvious way, detracts from the effectiveness of the security intended to be gained by the compound door movement. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,296,331 to Tramontina discloses an improved vandal-resistant paper towel dispenser for public washrooms including a mechanism for storing and dispensing paper towels and an outer housing for encasing the mechanism. The outer housing includes a rear mounting surface that is adapted to be secured to a wall, and a shell-like forward surface, connected to the rear mounting surface, for protecting the mechanism from individuals who might have destructive intent. Advantageously, the shell-like forward surface is softly rounded to an extent that it is practically impossible to obtain a handhold on the top or sides of the outer housing, whereby a vandal will be pre-vented from grabbing the dispenser and pulling it off the wall. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,422,671 to Lodge et al. discloses a key cabinet having a frame that defines an interior chamber with at least one panel attached within the interior chamber as well as a door attached to and overlying the frame. The door pivots away from the frame in an opposite direction than the panels to provide the user with simultaneously access to multiple panels as well as the door. In addition, a rail having grooves is provided that may be manufactured in a cost effective manner with a key releasably engaged with a corresponding groove. 
     U.S. Pat. No. D289,873 to Gemmell et al. discloses an ornamental design for a flat panel display for personal computer. 
     U.S. Pat. No. D306,720 to Flies discloses an ornamental design for a computer display terminal. 
     U.S. Pat. No. D357,495 to Skaggs et al. discloses an ornamental design for a point of sale touch screen display. 
     U.S. Pat. No. D359,727 to Wilson discloses an ornamental design for a computerized information system. 
     U.S. Pat. No. D454,565 to Harriman discloses an ornamental design for a display housing. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 414,473 to Kummel et al. discloses an ornamental design for a monitor. 
     U.S. Pat. No. D480,961 to Deadman discloses an ornamental design for a screen case, as shown and described. 
     US Patent Application 2005/0017610 to Mistry et al. discloses a wall-mounted cabinet having two components. The first, a back portion, is fixedly connected to a wall, and the second, a cover portion, is pivotally and detachably connected to the second. A vent is formed in the top of the cover portion, but in a manner that does not permit water to enter but does permit heated air generated from with the cabinet to exit. In order to accomplish this, a water-diverting plate is provided on the back portion. The plate is oriented to extend across the width of the vent at an angle, so that water entering the vent is directed towards a gap formed between the wall and the outer surface of the back portion. 
     Although the devices of the prior art have partially solved the problems associated with malicious vandalism of devices in public places, none has totally solved the problem. 
     Therefore it is an object of this invention to provide a tamper proof, vandal resistant housing for a computer or display device. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a housing for a computer or display device having fluid resistance, whereby water and the like splashed upon the device will not impair the operation of the computer or display device within the housing. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a lockably removable housing for a computer or display device wherein the computer or display device may be readily accessible by unlocking the housing. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a housing for a computer or display device having a transparent protective face for allowing unrestricted viewing of the display screen while providing the screen protection from malicious mechanical damage. 
     The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent objects of the present invention. These objects should be construed as being merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the invention. Many other beneficial results can be obtained by modifying the invention within the scope of the invention. Accordingly other objects in a full understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the summary of the invention, the detailed description describing the preferred embodiment in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is defined by the appended claims with specific embodiments being shown in the attached drawings. For the purpose of summarizing the invention, the invention an relates to an improved enclosure for housing a visual display device adjacent to a surface. The visual display device includes a monitor for displaying a viewable image. The monitor is electrically coupled to a memory device. The memory device provides electronic signals to the monitor. The enclosure comprises a cabinet including a base panel, a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel and a second side panel for defining a cabinet chamber. The cabinet defines a continuous cabinet depth. A face plate including a top elongated plate, a bottom elongated plate, a first side elongated plate and a second side elongated plate defines a continuous frame. The top elongated plate, the bottom elongated plate, the first side elongated plate and the second side elongated plate defines an interior frame aperture. A pyramid body including a top pyramid shield, a bottom pyramid shield, a first side pyramid shield and a second side pyramid shield defines a cover chamber. The face plate and the pyramid body are an integral one piece unit. The face plate and the pyramid body define a continuous cover depth. A fastener secures the cabinet to the surface and the cabinet chamber receives the visual display device. The continuous cabinet depth is less than the continuous cover depth for positioning the cabinet within the cover chamber of the pyramid body. The top elongated plate, the bottom elongated plate, the first side elongated plate and the second side elongated plate compress against the top panel, the bottom panel, the first side panel and the second side panel respectively, for simultaneously positioning the interior frame aperture over the monitor and positioning the pyramid body adjacent to the wall. A coupling extends between the pyramid body and the cabinet for retaining the pyramid body adjacent to the wall. 
     In a more specific embodiment of the invention, a foam layer is positioned between the base panel of the cabinet and the memory device for compression between the base panel of the cabinet and the memory device. The foam layer provides an expansion force between the base panel of the cabinet and the memory device for maintaining the monitor adjacent to the face plate. 
     The base panel, the top panel, the bottom panel, the first side panel and the second side panel include a top elastic polymer strip, a bottom elastic polymer strip, a first elastic polymer strip and a second elastic polymer strip respectively, for compression between the cabinet and the face plate. The top elastic polymer strip, the bottom elastic polymer strip, the first elastic polymer strip and the second elastic polymer strip provide an expansion force between the cabinet and the face plate for maintaining engagement of the coupling between the pyramid body and the cabinet. 
     In a more specific embodiment of the invention, a transparent protective layer is positioned between the monitor and the face plate for protecting the monitor. The coupler includes a cam lever receiver on the cabinet. A cam lock traverses the pyramid body. A cam lever is pivotally secured to the cam lock within the cover chamber of the pyramid body. The cam lever engages the cam lever receiver for locking the pyramid body to the cabinet. The face plate and the top pyramid shield, the bottom pyramid shield, the first side pyramid shield and the second side pyramid shield define an obtuse angle. 
     The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the more pertinent and important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description that follows may be better understood so that the present contribution to the art can be more fully appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a plurality of visual display devices for housing a monitor incorporating the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the visual display device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom view of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a left side view of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a right side view of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view along line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is an isometric and exploded view of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is an isometric view of a cabinet as shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a view similar to  FIG. 9  including a foam layer positioned within the cabinet; 
         FIG. 11  is a view similar to  FIG. 10  including the visual display device positioned within the cabinet; 
         FIG. 12  is an isometric view of a transparent protective layer as shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 13  is an enlarged view of  FIG. 1  illustrating a compressive force being applied to the visual display device; 
         FIG. 14  is a sectional view along line  14 - 14  in  FIG. 13 ; 
         FIG. 15  is a view similar to  FIG. 14  illustrating a first coupler engaging the cabinet; 
         FIG. 16  is a sectional view along line  16 - 16  in  FIG. 13 ; 
         FIG. 17  is a view similar to  FIG. 16  illustrating a second coupler engaging the cabinet; and 
         FIG. 18  is an enlarged view of  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several Figures of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DISCUSSION 
       FIGS. 1-18  are various views of an enclosure  10  for housing a visual display device  12  adjacent to a surface  14 . The visual display device  12  includes a monitor  16  for displaying a viewable image. He monitor  16  may include but is not limited to a thin film transistor liquid crystal display. The monitor  16  is electrically coupled to a memory device  18 . The memory device  18  provides electronic signals to the monitor  16 . The memory device  18  may include but is not limited to, optical discs, magnetic storage, or static memory devices. The memory device  18  is coupled to a central processing unit for controlling the iconic signals between the monitor  16  and the memory device  18 . The monitor has a first edge  20 , a second edge  22 , a third edge  24  and a fourth edge  26  for defining a display area  28 . 
     The visual display device  12  provides information regarding advertisements, promotional information, and/or other data. The enclosure  10  may be positioned on a vertical surface, a horizontal surface or any inclined surface. The enclosure  10  may be located in an exterior environment, war and terror environment. Furthermore, the enclosure  10  may be located at many different locations including but not limited to public places, transportation terminals or public bathrooms. 
     The enclosure  10  comprises a cabinet  30  including a base panel  32 , a top panel  34 , a bottom panel  36 , a first side panel  38  and a second side panel  40  for defining a cabinet chamber  42 . The top panel  34 , the bottom panel  36 , the first side panel  38  and the second side panel  40  defining a top edge  44 , a bottom edge  46 , a first edge  48  and a second edge  50 , respectively. The top edge  44 , the bottom edge  46 , the first edge  48  and second edge  50  define a cabinet aperture  52 . The cabinet  30  defines a continuous cabinet depth  54 . The cabinet  30  may be constructed from a metallic, polymeric or other rigid material. 
     A face plate  60  includes a top elongated plate  62 , a bottom elongated plate  64 , a first side elongated plate  66  and a second side elongated plate  68  for defining a continuous frame  70 . The top elongated plate  62 , the bottom elongated plate  64 , the first side elongated plate  66  and the second side elongated plate  68  define a first interior edge  72 , a second interior edge  74 , a third interior edge  76  and a fourth interior edge  78 , respectively. The first interior edge  72 , the second interior edge  74 , the third interior edge  76  and the fourth interior edge  78  defines an interior frame aperture  80 . 
     A pyramid body  82  includes a top pyramid shield  84 , a bottom pyramid shield  86 , a first side pyramid shield  88  and a second side pyramid shield  90  for defining a cover chamber  92 . The top elongated plate  62 , the bottom elongated plate  64 , the first side elongated plate  66  and the second side elongated plate  68  are integral with the top pyramid shield  84 , the bottom pyramid shield  86 , the first side pyramid shield  88  and the second side pyramid shield  90 , respectively. The face plate  60  and the top pyramid shield  84 , the bottom pyramid shield  86 , the first side pyramid shield  88  and the second side pyramid shield  90  define an obtuse angle  91 . The face plate  60  and the pyramid body  82  may be constructed from a metallic, polymeric or other rigid material. The face plate  60  and the pyramid body  82  define a continuous cover depth  94 . 
     The base panel  32  may include one or more bores  96  for receiving a fastener  98 . The fastener  98  engages with the surface  14  for securing the cabinet  30  to the surface  14 . The fastener  98  may include screws, bolts or other fastening devices. The first side panel  38  may include a first opening  116  for accessing the memory device. Furthermore, the second side panel may include a second opening  118  for accessing the memory device. The first opening  116  and the second opening  118  may be utilized for permitting a wire  129  traversing the first and second openings  116  and  118 . The wire  129  may be electrically coupled to a power source  131 , an auxiliary computer  133 , and/or a wireless device  135 . 
     The cabinet chamber  42  receives the visual display device  12 . The continuous cabinet depth  54  of the cabinet  30  is less than the continuous cover depth  94  of the face plate  60  and the pyramid body  82  for positioning the cabinet  30  within the cover chamber  92  of the pyramid body  82 . The top elongated plate  62 , the bottom elongated plate  64 , the first side elongated plate  66  and the second side elongated plate  68  compresses against the top edge  44 , the bottom edge  46 , the first edge  48  and the second edge  50  respectively, for simultaneously positioning the interior frame aperture  80  over the monitor  16  and positioning the top pyramid shield  84 , the bottom pyramid shield  86 , the first side pyramid shield  88  and the second side pyramid shield  90  adjacent to the surface  14 . 
     A first coupling  100  extends between the pyramid body  82  and the cabinet  30  for retaining the top pyramid shield  84 , the bottom pyramid shield  86 , the first side pyramid shield  88  and the second side pyramid shield  90  adjacent to the surface  14 . A second coupling  102  extends between the pyramid body  82  and the cabinet  30  for retaining said top pyramid shield  84 , the bottom pyramid shield  86 , the first side pyramid shield  88  and the second side pyramid shield  90  adjacent to the surface  14 . 
     More specifically, the first coupling  100  may include a first cam lever receiver  104  on the top panel  34 . A first cam lock  106  traverses the top pyramid shield  84 . A first cam lever  108  is pivotally secured to the first cam lock  106  within the cover chamber  92  of the pyramid body  82 . The first cam lever  108  engages the first cam lever receiver  104  for locking the pyramid body  82  to the cabinet  30 . 
     Similarly, the second coupling  102  includes a second cam lever receiver  110  on the bottom panel  36 . A second cam lock  112  traverses the bottom pyramid shield  86 . A second cam lever  114  is pivotally secured to the second cam lock  112  within the cover chamber  92  of the pyramid body  82 . The second cam lever  114  engages the second cam lever receiver  110  for locking the pyramid body  82  to the cabinet  30 . Preferably a single key engages both the first cam lock  106  and the second cam lock  112  for permitting the rotation of the first cam lever  108  and the second cam lever  114  respectively. Since the top pyramid shield  84 , the bottom pyramid shield  86 , the first side pyramid shield  88  and the second side pyramid shield  90  are immediately adjacent to the surface  14 , it is very difficult for a person to wedge an object between the pyramid body  82  and the surface  14  in an attempt to remove the enclosure  10  from the surface  14 . Furthermore, the overall configuration of both the face plate  60  and the pyramid body  82  makes it difficult for an individual to grasp the enclosure  10 . 
     A foam layer  120  may be positioned between the base panel  32  of the cabinet  30  and the memory device  18  for compression between the base panel  32  of the cabinet  30  and the memory device  18 . The foam layer  120  provides an expansion force between the base panel  32  of the cabinet  30  and the memory device  18  for maintaining the monitor  16  adjacent to the face plate  60 . 
     The top edge  44 , the bottom edge  46 , the first edge  48  and the second edge  50  of the cabinet  30  include a top elastic polymer strip  122 , a bottom elastic polymer strip  124 , a first elastic polymer strip  126  and a second elastic polymer strip  128  respectively, for compression between the top edge  44 , the bottom edge  46 , the first edge  48  and the second edge  50  with the face plate  60 . The top elastic polymer strip  122 , the bottom elastic polymer strip  124 , the first elastic polymer strip  126  and the second elastic polymer strip  128  providing an expansion force between the top edge  44 , the bottom edge  46 , the first edge  48 , and the second edge  50 , respectively and the face plate  60  for maintaining engagement of the first coupling  100  and the second coupling  102  between the pyramid body  82  and the cabinet  30 . 
     A transparent protective layer  130  may be positioned between the monitor  16  and the face plate  60  for protecting the monitor  16 . The transparent protective layer  130  may further include a first layer edge  132 , a second layer edge  134 , a third layer edge  136  and a four layer edge  138  for defining a layer area  140 . The layer area  140  of the transparent protective layer  130  is greater than the cabinet aperture  52  and less than the face plate  60 . The first layer edge  132 , the second layer edge  134 , the third layer edge  136  and the four layer edge  138  includes a continuous groove engaging  142  the top edge  44 , the bottom edge  46 , the first edge  48  and the second edge  50  respectively for interlocking the transparent protective layer  130  to the cabinet  30 . 
       FIGS. 9-18  illustrates a process of installing the enclosure  10  to a surface  14 .  FIG. 9 , illustrates the cabinet  30  being secured to a wall surface  15  by a plurality of fasteners  98 .  FIG. 10 , illustrates the foam layer  120  being next positioned adjacent to the base panel  32 . A minute amount of adhesive may be utilized to retain the foam layer  120  against the base panel  32 . In  FIG. 11 , the visual display device  12  is then installed in to the cabinet chamber  42 . The visual display device  12  will then be electrically coupled to the power source  131 , auxiliary computer  133  and/or the wireless device  135 . 
       FIG. 12  illustrates an adhesive  144  being positioned adjacent to the first layer edge  132 , the second layer edge  134 , the third layer edge  136 , and the fourth layer edge  138  of the transparent protective layer  133 . The transparent protective layer  130  is then depressed against the base plate  160 . The cured adhesive  144  prevents displacement of the transparent protective layer  130  relative to the base plate  60 . 
       FIGS. 13-17  illustrate a force being applied against the face plate  60  in order to compress the foam layer  120  between the base panel  32  and the memory device  18 . The compression of the foam layer  120  further provides clearance for the first and second cam levers  108  and  114 , to be pivoted into alignment with the first and second cam lever receivers  104  and  110 , respectively. Upon removal of the force applied to the face plate  60 , the foam layer  120  expands to bring the first and second cam levers  108  and  114  into contact with the first and second cam lever receivers  104  and  110 . During engagement between the first and second cam levers  108  and  114  with the first and second cam lever receivers  104  and  110 , the foam layer  120  continues to provide expansion force between the base panel  32  and the memory device  18  for preventing displacement of the cabinet  30  relative to the pyramid body  82 . Furthermore, during engagement between the first and second cam levers  108  and  114  with the first and second cam lever receivers  104  and  110 , the top elastic polymer strip  122 , the bottom elastic polymer strip  124 , the first elastic polymer strip  126  and the second elastic polymer strip  128  remaining in a compressed state. The compressed state between the top elastic polymer strip  122 , the bottom elastic polymer strip  124 , the first elastic polymer strip  126  and the second elastic polymer strip  128  in the transparent protective layer  130  further prevents displacement of the cabinet  30  relative to the pyramid body  82 . 
     The present disclosure includes that contained in the appended claims as well as that of the foregoing description. Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.