Patent Publication Number: US-2007102596-A1

Title: Tension adjusting device of support assembly for liquid crystal display

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to a support assembly. More particularly, the present invention relates to a support assembly for a liquid crystal display.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      Due to the coming of the digital era, popularization of the Internet, and the change in the digital transmission signals, liquid crystal displays are widely used as the monitors for computers and televisions in the digital era, for the liquid crystal displays are lightweight, power-saving, and free of radiation. Generally, a liquid crystal display is placed on a table or the like and supported by a support assembly allowing or not allowing adjustment of the position of the liquid crystal display. Support assemblies allowing adjustment of the position of the liquid crystal display are more commonly used.  
      Since there are various types of liquid crystal displays with different weights, the support assembly might be subject to different loads resulting from the weight and/or position of the liquid crystal display. More specifically, the support assembly is subject to a greater load when the liquid crystal display is heavier or in an inclined position. The larger the inclination angle of the liquid crystal display, the greater the load imparted to the support assembly. Conventional support assemblies could not be adjusted to provide different tension for supporting the liquid crystal display with different weights and/or at different inclined states.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      A support assembly for a liquid crystal display in accordance with the present invention comprises a main frame including a first end and a second end adapted to be pivotally mounted an object, a connecting seat mounted to the first end of the main frame, a coupler mounted to the connecting seat, a liquid crystal display mounting member mounted to the connecting seat, and a tension adjusting device. The tension adjusting device comprises an adjusting block, at least one elastic element including a first end attached to the adjusting block to move therewith and a second end fixed to the main frame, and means for moving the adjusting block for altering tension of the at least one elastic element for supporting a liquid crystal display adapted to be mounted to the liquid crystal display mounting member.  
      Preferably, the connecting seat is pivotally connected to the first end of the main frame.  
      Preferably, the coupler is pivotally connected to the connecting seat.  
      Preferably, the liquid crystal display mounting member is pivotally connected to the connecting seat.  
      In an embodiment of the invention, the main frame comprises a first bracket having a hole and a second bracket having a hole aligned with the hole of the first bracket. The adjusting block comprises a screw hole. A screw rod extends through the holes of the first bracket and the second bracket and the screw hole of the adjusting block. The screw rod is turnable to cause the adjusting block to move relative to the main frame.  
      Preferably, at least one guide rod is fixed to the main frame and the at least one elastic element is mounted around the at least one guide rod.  
      Preferably, the at least one guide rod is fixed between the first bracket and the second bracket and extends through the adjusting block.  
      Preferably, the support assembly further comprises means for indicating the tension of the at least one elastic element.  
      Preferably, the adjusting block comprises an indicator visible from outside of the main frame.  
      Preferably, the main frame comprises a window through which the indicator of the adjusting block is visible.  
      Preferably, the adjusting block comprises a bar having at least one groove into which the first end of the at least one elastic element is mounted.  
      Other objectives, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a support assembly for a liquid crystal display in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the support assembly for a liquid crystal display in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of a tension adjusting device of the support assembly in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of a main portion of the tension adjusting device of the support assembly in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the support assembly in accordance with the present invention.  
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of a portion of the support assembly in  FIG. 5 .  
       FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 6 , illustrating adjustment of a position of an adjusting block of the tension adjusting device.  
       FIG. 8  is a view similar to  FIG. 5 , wherein the support assembly is an inclined state.  
       FIG. 9  is a view similar to  FIG. 8 , wherein the support assembly is in a further inclined state. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , a support assembly for a liquid crystal display in accordance with the present invention comprises a main frame, a connecting seat  3 , a coupler  6 , and a liquid crystal display mounting member  8 . The connecting seat  3  is pivotally connected by pins  34  and  35  to an end (the upper one in  FIGS. 1 through 3 ) of the main frame. The coupler  6  is pivotally connected by a vertical pin  61  to the connecting seat  3 . The liquid crystal display mounting member  8  is pivotally connected by a transverse pin  71  to the coupler  6 . A liquid crystal display (not shown) is mounted to the liquid crystal display mounting member  8 . The other end of the main frame is fixed to an object such as a fixing seat  4 , which, in turn, is mounted on a table or the like. Thus, the overall support assembly is mounted on the table or the like together with the liquid crystal display.  
      In the illustrated embodiment, the main frame comprises a first frame  1  and a second frame  2 . Each of the first frame  1  and the second frame  2  is substantially U-shaped and comprises two sidewalls  11 ,  21 . The pin  35  is extended through aligned holes  22  in an upper end of the second frame  2  and holes  33  in an end of the connecting seat  3 , and the pin  34  is extended through aligned holes  12  in an upper end of the first frame  1  and holes  32  in the end of the connecting seat  3 . A retainer clip  36  is provided to retain each of the pins  34  and  35  in place. A lower, second end of the first frame  1  includes aligned holes  13 . Similarly, a lower, second end of the second frame  2  includes aligned holes  23 . A pin  44  is extended through the holes  13  of the first frame  1  and aligned holes  42  of the fixing seat  4 . Another pin  45  is extended through the holes  23  of the second frame  2  and aligned holes  43  of the fixing seat  4 . A retainer clip  46  is provided to retain each of the pins  34  and  35  in place. Thus, the four pins  34 ,  35 ,  44  and  45  provide a parallelogram linkage.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 3 through 6 , the support assembly further comprises a tension adjusting device for adjusting the tension for supporting the liquid crystal display. In the illustrated embodiment, the first frame  1  comprises a first bracket  14  and a second bracket  15  formed thereon or mounted thereto. The first bracket  14  may be formed by punching the first frame  1  inward, and the second bracket  15  may be fixed by extending screws  154  through screw holes  153  of the second bracket  15  and holes  16  in the first frame  1 . Preferably, the first bracket  14  and the second bracket  15  are spaced along a longitudinal direction of the main frame.  
      The first bracket  14  comprises a hole  141  and the second bracket  15  comprises a hole  151  aligned with the hole  141  of the first bracket  14 . The tension adjusting device comprises a screw rod  18  extending through the holes  141  and  151  of the first and second brackets  14  and  15 . Mounted on the screw rod  18  is an adjusting block  5  including a screw hole  51  through which the screw rod  18  is extended. As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , a lower end  182  of the screw rod  18  is fixed below the second bracket  15 , allowing free rotation of the screw rod  18 . An upper end  181  of the screw rod  18  extends beyond the first plate  14  to allow manual operation or driving by a tool such as a wrench or the like. Thus, by turning the screw rod  18 , the adjusting block  5  is movable along the screw rod  18  relative to the main frame.  
      At least one elastic element  54  (two in this embodiment) includes a first end  55  attached to the adjusting block to move therewith and a second end  56  attached to the main frame. In the illustrated embodiment, the second end  56  of each elastic element  54  is attached to a bracket  24  on the second frame  2 . The adjusting block  5  includes a bar  53  having two grooves  58  into which the first ends  55  of the elastic elements  54  are mounted. By such an arrangement, when the screw rod  18  is turned and thus moves the adjusting block  5  relative to the main frame, the first end  55  of each elastic element  54  moves together with the adjusting block  5 , thereby adjusting the tension of the elastic elements  54  for supporting the liquid crystal display (see  FIGS. 6 and 7 ). Preferably, the elastic elements  54  are tension springs.  
      Each of the first plate  14  and the second plate  15  may further include at least one guiding hole  142 ,  152  (two in this embodiment) and the adjusting block  5  may further include at least one guiding hole  52  (two in this embodiment) aligned with the guiding holes  142  and  152 . A corresponding number of guide rod  19  (two in this embodiment) are extended through the guiding holes  142 ,  152 , and  52  of the first and second brackets  14  and  15  and the adjusting block  5 , with each elastic element  54  extending around an associated guide rod  19 . The guide rods  19  avoid undesired twist, bending, or deformation of the elastic elements  54 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 8 , the screw rod  18  can be turned to alter the tension of the elastic elements  54  before moving the liquid crystal display to the desired position. The main frame and the connecting seat  3  are pivoted to the desired position after adjusting the screw rod  18 . A large tension is provided for supporting the liquid crystal display in this inclined state.  
      In a case that the liquid crystal display is moved to a further inclined state shown in  FIG. 9 , the elastic elements  54  are further stretched in response to the change of the position of the main frame and the connecting seat  3 . Of course, the user may turn the screw rod  18  further to provide a larger tension of the elastic elements  54  when moving the liquid crystal display to the further inclined state in  FIG. 9 .  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1, 6 , and  7 , the tension adjusting device may further comprise means for indicating the tension of the elastic elements  54 . In the illustrated embodiment, the first frame  1  comprises a slot, opening or window  17  extending along a longitudinal direction, and the adjusting block  5  comprises an indicator  57  that is visible through the window  17 . Thus, the user may see the position of the indicator  57  and thus be aware of the tension of the elastic elements  54 . In this embodiment, the indicator  57  is movably received in the window  17  of the first frame  1 .  
      Further, the support assembly with the tension adjusting device in accordance with the present invention can be used with liquid crystal displays of various types and weights. The tension adjusting device can be adjusted to alter the tension for supporting liquid crystal displays of different weights.  
      Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications and variations are still possible without departing from the essence of the invention. The scope of the invention is limited by the accompanying claims.