Patent Publication Number: US-2002000505-A1

Title: Flat panel display device having a wide adjusting range of a visual angle

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
     [0001] This application makes reference to, incorporates the same herein, and claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. §119 from my utility model application entitled Connection Device for Stand Cap of Flat Panel Display filed with the Korean Industrial Property Office on Dec. 31, 1997 and duly assigned Ser. No. 97-44775 by that Office. 
    
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0003] The present invention relates to a flat panel display device, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a flat panel display device having a stand cap which can be easily connected to and disconnected from the display device, and which does not become separated from the display device when the display device is rotated in a horizontal direction to adjust a visual angle of the display device.  
       [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art  
       [0005] As shown in FIG. 1, generally, a conventional flat panel display device is pivotally supported by a stand to adjust a visual angle of the display device in horizontal and vertical directions. The conventional flat panel display device includes a display unit  1  that has a flat panel (not shown) to display an image, and a stand  2  that rotatably supports the display unit  1 . A hinge member  3  installed at an upper portion of the stand  20  connects the display unit  1  to the stand  2 . As a result, the display unit  1  is rotatably supported by the stand  2  through the hinge member  3 .  
       [0006] The hinge member  3  includes a tilting shaft  5  which is supported by the hinge member  3  in a vertical direction. The display unit  1  is connected to the tilting shaft  5  through hinge brackets  6  which are pivotally supported at both ends of the tilting shaft  5 , respectively. In this way, the display unit  1  is rotated by the hinge member  3  in a horizontal direction and pivoted by the tilting shaft  5  in a vertical direction. When rotatably mounted to the stand  3 , the hinge member  3  is covered by a stand cap  4  to prevent foreign substances, such as dust, etc., from entering into the hinge member  3 . The stand cap  4  also prevents an exterior of the display device from falling off due to exposure of the hinge member  3 .  
       [0007] Snap-recesses or snap-projections (not shown) located inside the hinge member  3  are snap-fitted with snap-recesses or snap-projections (not shown) located within the stand cap  4 , so that the stand cap  4  is snap-fittingly fixed to the hinge member  3 . As a result, the stand cap  4  can be easily engaged with and separated from the hinge member  3 .  
       [0008] Since the stand cap  4  is snap-fittingly fixed to the hinge member  3  as described above, the stand cap  4  remains in a stationary state when the display unit  1  is pivoted in a vertical direction, but is rotated along with the hinge member  3  when the display unit  1  is rotated in a horizontal direction.  
       [0009] In the conventional flat panel display device, however, when the stand cap  4  is rotated horizontally with the hinge member  3 , the snap-fitting between the hinge member  3  and the stand cap  4  eventually is released, so that the stand cap  4  becomes separated from the hinge member  3 . When the hinge member  3  and the stand cap  4  become separated, foreign substances such as dust, etc., enter into the hinge member  3 , corrupting the functional capabilities of the hinge member  3  and the display unit  1 .  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a flat panel display device having a stand cap which can be easily connected to and disconnected from the display device, and is prevented from being separated from the display device when the display device is rotated in a horizontal direction to adjust a visual angle of the display device.  
       [0011] The above and other objects of the present invention are achieved by providing a flat panel display device that includes a display unit to display an image, and a stand that has a circular recess, to support the display unit. The flat panel display device also includes a hinge member that has a ring-shaped rotation member rotatably fixed to the circular recess of the stand, and a holder, fixed to the circular recess of the stand, to secure the rotation member in the stand. A bracket case is fixed to the rotation member and the display unit, and a fastener fixes a stand cap to the hinge member to cover the hinge member.  
       [0012] The stand cap has a boss that extends toward the hinge member and is connected to the hinge member by the fastener.  
       [0013] The above and other objects of the present invention are also achieved by providing a flat panel display device that includes a display unit to display an image, and a stand, that has a circular recess, to support the display unit. The flat panel display device also includes a hinge member that has a ring shaped rotation member that is rotatably fixed to the circular recess of the stand, and a holder fixed to the circular recess of the stand to fix the rotation member in the stand. A bracket case is fixed to the rotation member and the display unit, and a stand cap is fixed to the hinge member by a fastener to cover the hinge member. The stand cap has a boss which extends toward the hinge member and is connected to the hinge member by the fastener.  
       [0014] The boss has an end face that makes contact with the rotation member when the stand cap is fixed to the hinge member. The preferred embodiment of the present invention may also include a projection formed at a rear portion of the rotation member and a locking member located on the stand cap that locks to the projection. In addition, a plurality of grooves may be formed at inner sides of the bracket case in which a plurality of ribs located on the stand cap are respectively inserted, with the grooves and the ribs extending vertically and parallel to each other. Furthermore, a pair of convex portions may be included at an inner circumference of the rotation member, and a pair of hooks located on the stand cap are hooked to respective ones of the convex portions.  
       [0015] The above and other objects of the present invention are still further achieved by providing a flat panel display device that includes a stand that has a circular recess to support a display unit, and a hinge member, having a ring-shaped rotation member rotatably fixed to the circular recess of the stand. A stand cap is fixed to the rotation member to cover the hinge member, to rotate with the rotation member, and is prevented from being separated from the hinge member as the display unit is rotated. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0016] These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, of which:  
     [0017]FIG. 1 is a side view of a flat panel display device according to the conventional art.  
     [0018]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a flat panel display device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0019]FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a stand, a hinge member, and a stand cap according to the flat panel display device of the present invention.  
     [0020]FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the stand, the hinge member, and the stand cap according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0021]FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the flat panel display device according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, taken along section lines V-V′ of FIG. 4.  
     [0022]FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the flat panel display device according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, taken along the line VI-VI′ of FIG. 5. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     [0023] Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiment of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiment is described below in order to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.  
     [0024] As illustrated in FIG. 2, a flat panel display device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a display unit  10  to display an image, and a stand  20  to support the display unit  10 . A hinge member  30  is secured to the display unit  10  and is rotatably mounted to the stand  20  to adjust a visual angle of the display unit  10 . A stand cap  40  is fixed to the hinge member  30  by a fastener  29 , such as a bolt for example. The stand cap  40  covers the hinge member  30  so that the hinge member  30  is not exposed. As a result, the stand cap  40  prevents foreign substances, such as dust, etc., from entering into the hinge member  30 .  
     [0025] The display unit  10  includes a front case  12 , a rear case  13 , and a flat panel  11  disposed between the front case  12  and the rear case  13  to display the image. The stand  20  supports the display unit  10  and a circular recess  21  is formed at a top portion of the stand  20 . An opening  21   c  is formed at a center of the circular recess  22  and a plurality of cylindrical bodies  21   a  are arranged in the circular recess  21  at regular intervals around the opening  21   c.  The stand  20  also includes two or more pins  21   b,  with each of the pins  21   b  being positioned between the cylindrical bodies  21   a.    
     [0026] The hinge member  30  includes a ring-shaped rotation member  22  that is rotatably mounted to the circular recess  21  of the stand  20 . A holder  23  is secured to the circular recess  21  of the stand  20  to hold the rotation member  22  within the stand  20 . A bracket case  26  has a hinge bracket assembly  25  which is secured to the display unit  10  by fasteners, such as screws for example. As illustrated in FIG. 3, a plurality of grooves  26   a  are formed along inner sides of the bracket case  26 . The grooves  26   a  extend vertically and are parallel to each other.  
     [0027] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the rotation member  22  is rotatably mounted to the circular recess  21  of the stand  20 , and is connected to the bracket case  26  through a pair of connecting pieces  25   b.  As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the fastener  29  passes through a hole  22   a  located along the rotation member  22 , and a projection  28  is formed along a rear side of the rotation member  22 . As illustrated in FIG. 5, a pair of convex portions  27  are located along an inner circumference of the rotation member  22 .  
     [0028] As illustrated in FIGS.  3 - 5 , the hinge bracket assembly  25  includes a pair of bracket pieces  25   c  that are pivotally positioned at respective one ends of tilting shafts  25   a.  The tilting shafts  25   a  extend transversely within the bracket case  26  in opposite directions about one axis, and are fixed, respectively, to the bracket case  26  by the pair of connecting pieces  25   b.  Since the bracket pieces  25   c  are pivotally supported by the respective one ends of the tilting shafts  25   a,  the display unit  10 , which is connected to the bracket pieces  25   c  of the hinge bracket assembly  25 , can be rotated about the tilting shafts  25   a.    
     [0029] The holder  23  includes a plurality of bosses  23   a,  a plurality of holes  23   b,  and a pair of claws  38  (only one is shown) located at a lower surface of the holder  23 . The pair of claws  38  are parallel to each other, extend downward toward the rotation member  22 , and pass through an opening  22   b  of the rotation member  22 . The bosses  23   a  are positioned above the cylindrical bodies  21  a that are arranged at regular intervals in the circular recess  21 , and each of the pins  21   b  located about the circular recess  21  are inserted into respective holes  23   b  of the holder  23  when the holder  23  is assembled to the circular recess  21 . Thereafter, fasteners  24 , such as bolts, for example, are fastened to the bosses  23   a  through the cylindrical bodies  21   a.  The claws  38  are hooked under and come in contact with a lower portion of the rotation member  22  to prevent the holder  23  from being separated from the rotation member  22  when an upward force is extended on the holder  23 .  
     [0030] As illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, and  6 , when the hinge member  30  is mounted to the stand  20 , the display unit  10  is pivotally supported vertically and horizontally by the stand  20 , and the stand cap  40  is assembled to the hinge member  30  to prevent foreign substances such as dust, etc., from entering into the hinge member  30 . In addition, the stand cap  40  covers and prevents the hinge member  30  from outside exposure. The stand cap  40  is preferably made of a plastic material, and includes a boss  34  with an end face that extends downward, toward the hinge member  30 . As illustrated in FIG. 6, the boss  34  is connected to the hinge member  30  by the fastener  29 . The boss  34  preferably has a length that enables the end face of the boss  34  to be in direct contact with an upper surface of the lower portion of the rotation member  22 , so that the stand cap  40  firmly engages the hinge member  30  when the stand cap  40  is fixed to the hinge member  30 .  
     [0031] The stand cap  40  is rotated with the rotation member  22  during rotation of the display unit  20  when adjusting a visual angle of the display unit  20 . Accordingly, the stand cap  40  is prevented from being separated from the hinge member  30  due to the direct contact of the boss  34  of the stand cap  40  with the hinge member  30  during rotation of the display unit  10 .  
     [0032] In addition, as illustrated in FIGS.  3 - 5 , the preferred embodiment of the present invention may also include a locking member  33  that is formed along a rear side of the stand cap  40  to enable the fastener  29  to be more easily fastened to the boss  34  of the stand cap  40  when the stand cap  40  is assembled to the hinge member  30 . That is, the locking member  33  is locked to the projection  28  prior to the fastener  29  being fastened to the boss  34 , so that the boss  34  can be more precisely positioned above the holes  22   a  located in the rotation member  22 , through which the fastener  29  passes when being fastened to the boss  34 .  
     [0033] In addition, the stand cap  40  also includes a plurality of parallel, vertically extending ribs  31 . The ribs  31  are engaged with the grooves  26   a  formed along the inner sides of the bracket case  26 , respectively, when the stand cap  40  is assembled to the hinge member  30 . Since the ribs  31  are engaged with the grooves  26   a,  the stand cap  40  is prevented from moving back and forth when the stand cap  40  is assembled to the hinge member  30  or when the display unit  10  is rotated.  
     [0034] The stand cap  40  also includes a pair of hooks  32  formed at the inner portion of the stand cap  40  that come in contact with respective convex portions  27  of the rotation member  22 . Since the hooks  32  are in contact with the convex portions  27  of the rotation member  22 , the stand cap  40  can be maintained in position when the fastener  29  is fastened to the boss  34  during assembly of the stand cap  40  to the hinge member  30 , i.e., the rotation member  22 . As a result, the fastener  29  can be more easily fastened to the boss  34 .  
     [0035] As described above, in the flat panel display device according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the stand cap  40  is prevented from being separated from the hinge member  30  when the display unit  10  is rotated, since the stand cap  40  is firmly assembled to the rotation member  22  by the fastener  29 .  
     [0036] Furthermore, in the flat panel display device according to the present invention, the stand cap  40  can be more easily assembled to the hinge member  30  since various means are provided to keep the stand cap  40  in place before the stand cap  40  is assembled to the hinge member  30  by the fastener  29 .  
     [0037] Accordingly, the flat panel display device according to the present invention is prevented from being separated from the hinge member and prevents foreign substances, such as dust, etc., from entering into the hinge member.  
     [0038] Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in the embodiment without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.