Patent Abstract:
Provided is a display apparatus including an intermediate frame and a lower container which can be easily joined to or disjoined from each other without being deformed. The display apparatus includes: a display panel which displays images; an intermediate frame on which the display panel is placed and which is split into two or more frames; and a container which is split into two or more containers, is coupled to the intermediate frame, and includes a light source cover integrally formed on at least a side thereof, wherein a light source is inserted into the light source cover.

Full Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2008-0035656 filed on Apr. 17, 2008 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a display apparatus, and more particularly, to a display apparatus including an intermediate frame and a lower container which can be easily joined to or disjoined from each other without being deformed. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    As modern society becomes more dependent on sophisticated information and communication technologies, the market needs for larger and thinner displays are growing. In particular, since conventional cathode ray tubes (CRTs) have failed to fully satisfy these market needs, the demand for flat panel displays (FPDs), such as plasma display panels (PDPs), plasma address liquid crystal display panels (PALCs), liquid crystal displays (LCDs), and organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), is exploding. 
         [0006]    Being low in power-consumption, light and compact, FPDs are widely applied in computer, electronics, and information technology (IT) industries. A conventional FPD includes a liquid crystal panel assembly having a liquid crystal panel which displays image information, a backlight assembly having lamps which emit light and a light guide plate (LGP) which guides light emitted from the lamps toward the liquid crystal panel, and a container receiving the liquid crystal panel assembly and the backlight assembly therein. 
         [0007]    As the design of FPDs becomes optimized, the sizes of an intermediate frame and a container included in a FPD are gradually being reduced. However, as the intermediate frame and the container become slimmer, they are often broken or deformed when they are disjoined from each other, thereby reducing productivity. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    Aspects of the present invention provide a display apparatus including an intermediate frame and a lower container which can be easily joined to or disjoined from each other without being deformed. 
         [0009]    However, aspects of the present invention are not restricted to the one set forth herein. The above and other aspects of the present invention will become more apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains by referencing the detailed description of the present invention given below. 
         [0010]    According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display apparatus including: a display panel which displays images; an intermediate frame on which the display panel is placed and which is split into two or more frames; and a container which is split into two or more containers, is coupled to the intermediate frame, and includes a light source cover integrally formed on at least a side thereof, wherein a light source is inserted into the light source cover. 
         [0011]    According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display apparatus including: a display panel which displays images; a first frame which includes first sidewalls, first flanges protruding respectively from the first sidewalls toward the center of the first frame and having the display panel placed thereon, and first extension portions extending from respective top ends of the first sidewalls; a second frame which includes second sidewalls, second flanges and second extension portions coupled to the first sidewalls, the first flanges and the first extension portions, respectively, and which is coupled to the first frame; and a container which is split into two or more containers and coupled to the first and second frames. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The above and other aspects and features of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings, in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a display apparatus according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the display apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the display apparatus taken along a line III-III′ of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the display apparatus taken along a line VI-VI′ of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a partial exploded perspective view of an intermediate frame and a lower container included in the display apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the intermediate frame and the lower container of  FIG. 5  which are coupled to each other; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7A  is a partial plan view of the intermediate frame included in the display apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7B  is a partial plan view illustrating a modified version of the intermediate frame of  FIG. 7A ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7C  is a partial plan view illustrating another modified version of the intermediate frame of  FIG. 7A ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a partial exploded perspective view of an intermediate frame included in a display apparatus according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the intermediate frame of  FIG. 8  which has first and second frames coupled to each other; 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  is a partial exploded perspective view of an intermediate frame included in a display apparatus according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the intermediate frame of  FIG. 10  which has first and second frames coupled to each other; 
           [0026]      FIG. 12  is a partial exploded perspective view of an intermediate frame included in a display apparatus according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the intermediate frame of  FIG. 12  which has first and second frames coupled to each other. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0028]    Advantages and features of the present invention and methods of accomplishing the same may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments as set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art, and the present invention will only be defined by the appended claims. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the specification. 
         [0029]    Hereinafter, a display apparatus according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 through 4 .  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a display apparatus  1  according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the display apparatus  1  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the display apparatus  1  taken along a line III-III′ of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the display apparatus  1  taken along a line VI-VI′ of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the display apparatus  1  according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a display panel assembly  30 , an upper container  20 , and a backlight assembly  10 . 
         [0031]    The display panel assembly  30  includes a display panel  31  which has a lower display substrate  32  and an upper display substrate  33 , liquid crystals (not shown), gate chip film packages  35 , data chip film packages  34 , and a printed circuit board (PCB)  36 . 
         [0032]    The display panel  31  includes the lower display substrate  32  and the upper display substrate  33  which faces the lower display substrate  32 . The lower display substrate  32  includes gate lines (not shown), data lines (not shown), a thin-film transistor (TFT) array, and pixel electrodes. The upper display substrate  33  includes color filters, black matrices and common electrodes. The color filters and the common electrodes may also be formed on the lower display substrate  32 . 
         [0033]    The gate chip film packages  35  are connected to the gate lines (not shown) formed on the lower display substrate  32 , and the data chip film packages  34  are connected to the data lines (not shown) formed on the lower display substrate  32 . Each of the gate chip film package  35  and the data chip film package  34  includes a tape automated bonding (TAB) tape which includes wiring patterns formed on a base film and a semiconductor chip bonded to the wiring patterns by a TAB technique. Examples of the chip film package according to the present invention includes, but are not limited to, a tape carrier package (TCP) and a chip on film (COF), which are, however, mere examples. 
         [0034]    A plurality of driving parts are mounted on the PCB  36  to transmit gate-driving signals to the gate chip film packages  35  and data-driving signals to the data chip film packages  34 . 
         [0035]    The upper container  20  forms the exterior of the display apparatus  1  and has space in which the display panel assembly  30  is accommodated. An open window is formed in the center of the upper container  20  to expose the display panel  31 . The upper container  20  is coupled to a lower container  500  with an intermediate frame  100  interposed therebetween. 
         [0036]    The backlight assembly  10  includes the intermediate frame  100 , an optical sheet  200 , a light guide plate (LGP)  300 , a light source  350 , and a reflective sheet  400 . 
         [0037]    The light source  350  includes one or more light sources which emit light. The light sources may be line light sources, such as cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs), hot cathode fluorescent lamps (HCFLs) and external electrode fluorescent lamps (EEFLs), or point light sources such as light emitting diodes (LEDs). If the backlight assembly  10  is an edge-type backlight assembly as shown in  FIG. 2 , the light source  350  may be installed on one or more side surfaces of the LGP  300 . That is, the light source  350  may be installed on a side surface of the LGP  300  or, when necessary, on both side surfaces of the LGP  300 . 
         [0038]    The LGP  300  guides light emitted from the light source  350  toward the display panel assembly  30 . The LGP  300  is made of a transparent plastic material, such as acryl, and guides light emitted from the light sources toward the display panel  31  which is disposed above the LGP  300 . Therefore, various patterns may be printed on a bottom surface of the LGP  300  in order to guide light, which is input into the LGP  300 , toward the display panel  31 . 
         [0039]    The optical sheet  200  is disposed on the LGP  300  and diffuses and concentrates light from the LGP  300 . The optical sheet  200  may include at least one of a diffusion sheet, a prism sheet and a protective sheet. Alternatively, the optical sheet  200  may be a single optical sheet having the functions of the diffusion sheet, the prism sheet and the protective sheet. That is, the optical sheet  200  may include a lower portion having a diffusion function, a prism pattern (not shown) formed on the lower portion, and a protective layer (not shown) formed on the prism pattern. In this container, since the single optical sheet  200  has the diffusion and prism functions, the number of elements included in the display apparatus  1  can be reduced. Consequently, the display apparatus  1  can become slimmer. 
         [0040]    The intermediate frame  100  accommodates the optical sheet  200 , the LGP  300 , and the light source  350  and is firmly fixed to the lower container  50 . An open window is formed in the center of the intermediate frame  100  to allow light that passed through the LGP  300  and the optical sheet  200  to also pass through the intermediate frame  100 . Referring to  FIGS. 3 through 5 , the intermediate frame  100  is split into a first frame  101   a  and a second frame  102   a  such that a parting surface of the intermediate frame  100  is perpendicular to the display panel  31 . 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the first frame  101   a  includes first sidewalls  131   a  which are formed along rectangular edges of the first frame  101   a , first flanges  111   a  which protrude respectively from the first sidewalls  131   a  toward the center of the first frame  101   a , and first extension portions  121   a  which are formed at respective top ends of the first sidewalls  131   a  and contact the upper container  20 . 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the second frame  102   a  includes second sidewalls  132   a  which are formed along rectangular edges of the second frame  102   a  and coupled to the first sidewalls  131   a , respectively, second flanges  112   a  which protrude respectively from the second sidewalls  132   a  toward the center of the second frame  102   a , and second extension portions  122   a  which are formed at respective top ends of the second sidewalls  132   a  and contact the upper container  20 . 
         [0043]    The intermediate frame  100  may be formed by a molding process. Alternatively, the first and second frames  101   a  and  102   a  of the intermediate frame  100  may be formed separately by an injection-molding process. 
         [0044]    The intermediate frame  100  is a rectangular frame having an aperture and is split into the first frame  101   a  and the second frame  102   a . The first and second frames  101   a  and  102   a  are formed by cutting the rectangular intermediate frame  100  in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the display panel  31 . That is, since the parting surface of the intermediate frame  100  is in a vertical direction of the display panel  31 , the intermediate frame  100  is split into the first and second frames  101   a  and  102   a  in a horizontal direction of the display panel  31 . 
         [0045]    The first frame  101   a  and the second frame  102   a  may be coupled to each other by hooks or raised and depressed portions, which will be described in detail later. 
         [0046]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 through 4 , the first frame  101   a  includes the first sidewalls  131   a  which form a rectangle, and the second frame  102   a  includes the second sidewalls  132   a  which form a rectangle. The first and second sidewalls  131   a  and  132   a  form four sidewalls of the intermediate frame  100 . At least one sidewall of the intermediate frame  100  may be split into the first and second sidewalls  131   a  and  132   a . The intermediate frame  100  may be rectangularly shaped, like “□” when viewed from the top, and each of the first and second frames  101   a  and  102   a  into which the intermediate frame  100  is split, may have the shape           when viewed from the top. 
         [0047]    The first and second frames  101   a  and  102   a  include the first and second flanges  111   a  and  112   a , respectively, on which the display panel  31  is placed. The first and second flanges  111   a  and  112   a  protrude respectively from the first and second sidewalls  131   a  and  132   a  toward the center of the intermediate frame  100 . In addition, the first and second flanges  111   a  and  112   a  are disposed on the same plane to form a flat surface with the display panel  31 , thereby allowing the display panel  31  to be securely positioned thereon. The LGP  300  and the optical sheet  200  are placed under the first and second flanges  111   a  and  112   a.    
         [0048]    The first and second frames  101   a  and  102   a  include the first and second extension portions  121   a  and  122   a , respectively, which extend from respective ends of the first and second sidewalls  131   a  and  132   a  in a direction away from center of the intermediate frame  100 . The first and second extension portions  121   a  and  122   a  may provide a coupling surface between the lower container  500  and the intermediate frame  100  and a coupling surface between the first and second frames  101   a  and  102   a . The first and second extension portions  121   a  and  122   a  may extend higher than the first and second flanges  111   a  and  112   a  to form a coupling surface with the upper container  20  (see  FIGS. 3 and 4 ). The first and second frames  101   a  and  102   a  may be coupled to each other by hooks or raised and depressed portions. Each of the first and second frames  101   a  and  102   a  may have a raised and depressed surface which is formed in a direction perpendicular or parallel to the surface of the display panel  31 . 
         [0049]    The lower container  500  is coupled to a lower portion of the intermediate frame  100 . The lower container  500  is split into a first lower container  501  and a second lower container  502  along the parting surface of the intermediate frame  100 . The first and second lower containers  501  and  502  are coupled to each other to enclose the LGP  300 , the optical sheet  200  and the light source  350  in the space formed with the intermediate frame  100 . The lower container  500  may be formed in a sheet-metal working process by using a metal plate. 
         [0050]    The first and second lower containers  501  and  502  include first and second walls  511  and  512 , respectively. The first and second walls  511  and  512  are formed by bending an end of a bottom surface  513  of the lower container  500 . The first and second walls  511  and  512  may be coupled to the first and second sidewalls  131   a  and  132   a  of the first and second frames  101   a  and  102   a , respectively. 
         [0051]    A light source cover  530  is formed at an end of the lower container  500 . That is, the light source cover  530  may be formed by bending an end of the lower container  500 , and the light source  350  is inserted into the light source cover  530 . In an edge-type display apparatus, the light source  350  may be disposed on a side of the LGP  300 , and the light source cover  530  may be formed in the lower container  500  to surround the light source  350 . 
         [0052]    The light source cover  530  may be formed in at least one of the first and second lower containers  501  and  502  and may form a sidewall of the lower container  500 . The light source cover  530  may be surrounded and thus be enclosed by one of the first flanges  111   a  and one of the first sidewalls  131   a . That is, the light source cover  530  may be disposed inside one of the first sidewalls  131   a  and under one of the first flanges  111   a . The light source covers  530  may be formed in the first and second lower containers  501  and  502 , respectively, to face each other. 
         [0053]    The first and second sidewalls  131   a  and  132   a  of the first and second frames  101   a  and  102   a  may be disposed inside the first and second walls  511  and  512  of the lower container  500 , respectively. That is, some sidewalls of the intermediate frame  100  may be disposed inside the lower container  500  while the other sidewalls of the intermediate frame  100  may be disposed outside the lower container  500 . 
         [0054]    The reflective sheet  400  is installed under the LGP  300  and reflects light, which is emitted downward from the LGP  300 , in an upward direction. The reflective sheet  400  is disposed under the LGP  300  and reflects light which has not been reflected by minute dot patterns formed on the bottom surface of the LGP  300  towards an exit surface of the LGP  300 . Therefore, the reflective sheet  400  reduces the loss of light which is incident to the display panel  31  and, at the same time, improves the uniformity of light which passes through the exit surface of the LGP  300 . The reflective sheet  400  may be inserted as a separate sheet. Alternatively, the reflective sheet  400  may be a reflective pattern formed by coating a highly reflective material on the lower container  500 . The reflective sheet  400  may be split in the same manner as the lower container  500  and inserted into the lower container  500 . That is, the reflective sheet  400  may be split into portions which are shaped like the first and second lower containers  501  and  502 , respectively, and the portions of the reflective sheet  400  may be inserted into the first and second lower containers  501  and  502 , respectively. 
         [0055]    The reflective sheet  400  may extend into the light source cover  530  so as to efficiently reflect the light emitted from the light source  350 . An end of the reflective sheet  400  inside the light source cover  530  may be bent such that it has a cross section in the shape           the cross section taken perpendicularly to the length of the light source cover  530 . Thus, the end of the reflective sheet  400  may be shaped like the light source cover  530 . 
         [0056]    Hereinafter, the coupling relationship between the intermediate frame  100  and the lower container  500  will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 .  FIG. 5  is a partial exploded perspective view of the intermediate frame  100  and the lower container  500  included in the display apparatus  1  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the intermediate frame  100  and the lower container  500  of  FIG. 5 , which are coupled to each other. 
         [0057]    The first frame  101   a  [In  FIG. 6 , first frame  101   a  is marked “ 101 ”—please correct the “ 101 ” in  FIG. 6  and replace it with “ 101   a ”] and the second frame  102   a  may be hooked to each other. Specifically, the first and second frames  101   a  and  102   a  may include first and second coupling portions  151  and  152 , respectively. The first and second coupling portions  151  and  152  may hook the first and second frames  101   a  and  102   a  to each other. The first and second coupling portions  151  and  152  may be formed at the first and second extension portions  121   a  and  122   a , respectively. The first and second coupling portions  151  and  152  may be integrated with the first and second extension portions  121   a  and  122   a , respectively, and may be formed on the same plane as the first and second extension portions  121   a  and  122   a , respectively. 
         [0058]    The intermediate frame  100  and the lower container  500  may be hooked to each other. Specifically, the first and second frames  101   a  and  102   a  may include first and second coupling protrusions  141  and  142 , respectively. In addition, the first and second lower containers  501  and  502  may include first and second coupling grooves  521  and  522 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , which are coupled to the first and second coupling protrusions  141  and  142 , respectively. 
         [0059]    In order to couple the intermediate frame  100  to the lower container  500 , the first and second lower containers  501  and  502  are coupled to each other with the light source  350 , the reflective sheet  400  and the LGP  300  interposed therebetween such that the first and second walls  511  and  512  are aligned with each other. 
         [0060]    Then, the first flanges  111   a , the first sidewalls  131   a  and the first extension portions  121   a  are coupled to the second flanges  112   a , the second sidewalls  132   a  (as shown in  FIG. 5 ) and the second extension portions  122   a , respectively, thereby coupling the first and second frames  101   a  and  102   a  to each other. The first and second coupling portions  151  and  152  of the first and second extension portions  121   a  and  122   a  are hooked to each other, thereby fixing the first frame  101   a  to the second frame  102   a.    
         [0061]    Next, the intermediate frame  100  is coupled to the lower container  500 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , some sidewalls of the intermediate frame  100  are disposed inside the lower container  500  while the other sidewalls of the intermediate frame  100  are disposed outside the lower container  500 . 
         [0062]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , the lower container  500  includes the bottom surface  513  (shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 ) and the first and second walls  511  and  512  and the light source covers  530  which extend from the bottom surface  513  and form the sidewalls of the lower container  500 . The light source covers  530  and the first walls  511  extend from the bottom surface  513 , and openings  540  are formed between one of the light source covers  530  and the first walls  511 . Part of the intermediate frame  100  may pass through the openings  540  such that some sidewalls of the intermediate frame  100  are disposed inside the lower container  500  while the other sidewalls of the intermediate frame  100  are disposed outside the lower container  500 . 
         [0063]    The intermediate frame  100  is not necessarily coupled to the lower container  500  after the first and second frames  101   a  and  102   a  are coupled to each other. For example, the first and second frames  101   a  and  102   a  may be separately coupled to the lower container  500 . 
         [0064]    The intermediate frame  100  and the lower container  500  may be disjoined from each other in the reverse order with respect to the order in which they were joined to each other. In order to prevent the lower container  500  from being deformed when the intermediate frame  100  is disjoined from the lower container  500 , the first and second frames  101   a  and  102   a  may first be disjoined from each other. Then, the first and second frames  101   a  and  102   a  may be disjoined from the lower container  500  one by one. That is, if the first and second coupling portions  151  and  152  of the first and second frames  101   a  and  102   a  are disjoined from each other first, the first and second sidewalls  131   a  and  132   a  are elastically deformed. Thus, the first and second sidewalls  131   a  and  132   a  can be disjoined from the lower container  500  without deforming the first and second walls  511  and  512  of the lower container  500 . 
         [0065]    Coupling portions of the intermediate frame  100  will now be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 7A through 7C .  FIG. 7A  is a partial plan view of the intermediate frame  100  included in the display apparatus  1  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 7B  illustrates a modified version of the intermediate frame  100  of  FIG. 7A .  FIG. 7C  illustrates another modified version of the intermediate frame  100  of  FIG. 7A . 
         [0066]    Referring to  FIGS. 6 ,  7 A and  7 B, first and second coupling portions  151  or  151   a  and  152  or  152   a  may be formed at first and second extension portions  121   a  or  121   a ′ and  122   a  or  122   a ′, respectively. The first and second coupling portions  151  or  151   a  and  152  or  152   a  may be formed as raised and depressed couplers as shown in  FIG. 7A  or formed as hooking elements, which are symmetrical to each other, as shown in  FIG. 7B . 
         [0067]    Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7C , first and second coupling portions  151   b  and  152   b  may be formed in first and second flanges  111   a ,  111   a ′ or  111   a ″ and  112   a ,  112   a ′ or  112   a ″, respectively. Specifically, the first and second coupling portions  151   b  and  152   b  which couple the first and second frames  101   a  and  102   a  to each other may be formed in the first flanges  111   a ″ and  112   a ″, respectively. In addition, first and second raised and depressed portions  123  and  124  may be formed in first and second extension portions  121   a ″ and  122   a ″, respectively, in order to prevent respective coupling surfaces of the first and second frames  101   a  and  102   a  from being misaligned with each other. 
         [0068]    Hereinafter, a display apparatus according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be descried in detail with reference to  FIGS. 8 and 9 .  FIG. 8  is a partial exploded perspective view of an intermediate frame  100  included in the display apparatus according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the intermediate frame  100  of  FIG. 8  which has first and second frames  101   b  and  102   b  coupled to each other. Elements having the same functions as those illustrated in the drawings of the first exemplary embodiment are indicated by like reference numerals, and thus their description will be omitted. 
         [0069]    In the display apparatus according to the second exemplary embodiment, first and second flanges  111   b  and  112   b  are coupled to each other by hooks, and first and second sidewalls  131   b  and  132   b  are coupled to each other by raised and depressed portions, thereby coupling the first frame  101   b  to the second frame  102   b.    
         [0070]    The first and second flanges  111   b  and  112   b  include first and second coupling portions  151   b  and  152   b , respectively. As described above, the first and second coupling portions  151   b  and  152   b  may hook the first and second frames  101   b  and  102   b  to each other. The first and second coupling portions  151   b  and  152   b  may be integrated with the first and second flanges  111   b  and  112   b , respectively. 
         [0071]    The first and second flanges  111   b  and  112   b  are where a display panel  31  is placed. In order to protect the display panel  31 , the first and second coupling portions  151   b  and  152   b  must be formed on the same plane as or under the first and second flanges  111   b  and  112   b , respectively. 
         [0072]    The first and second sidewalls  131   b  and  132   b  include first and second raised and depressed portions  133  and  134 , respectively, in order to prevent the first and second sidewalls  131   b  and  132   b  from being misaligned with each other. The first and second frames  101   b  and  102   b  also include first and second coupling protrusions  141  and  142 , and first and second extension portions  121   b  and  122   b , as described above. 
         [0073]    Hereinafter, a display apparatus according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 10 and 11 .  FIG. 10  is a partial exploded perspective view of an intermediate frame  100  included in the display apparatus according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the intermediate frame  100  of  FIG. 10  which has first and second frames  101   c  and  102   c  coupled to each other. Elements having the same functions as those illustrated in the drawings of the first exemplary embodiment are indicated by like reference numerals, and thus their description will be omitted. 
         [0074]    In the display apparatus according to the third exemplary embodiment, first and second flanges  111   c  and  112   c  are coupled to each other by raised and depressed portions, and first and second sidewalls  131   c  and  132   c  are also coupled to each other by raised and depressed portions in order to couple the first frame  101   c  to the second frame  102   c.    
         [0075]    The first and second flanges  111   c  and  112   c  include first and second raised and depressed portions  113  and  114 , respectively, and the first and second raised and depressed portions  113  and  114  engage each other. The first and second raised and depressed portions  113  and  114  may be integrated with the first and second flanges  111   c  and  112   c , respectively. 
         [0076]    The first and second flanges  111   c  and  112   c  are where a display panel  31  is placed. In order to protect the display panel  31 , the first and second raised and depressed portions  113  and  114  must be formed on the same plane as or under the first and second flanges  111   c  and  112   c , respectively. 
         [0077]    The first and second raised and depressed portions  113  and  114  may engage each other to form a flat surface. Thus, the first and second raised and depressed portions  113  and  114  can prevent the first and second frames  101   c  and  102   c  from being misaligned with each other in a horizontal direction. 
         [0078]    The first and second sidewalls  131   c  and  132   c  include third and fourth raised and depressed portions  133   a  and  134   a , respectively, and the third and fourth raised and depressed portions  133   a  and  134   a  may engage each other. The third and fourth raised and depressed portions  133   a  and  134   a  may be integrated with the first and second sidewalls  131   c  and  132   c  to prevent the first and second frames  101   c  and  102   c  from being misaligned with each other in a vertical direction. Here, respective surfaces of the third and fourth raised and depressed portions  133   a  and  134   a  may have various shapes. That is, the respective surfaces of the third and fourth raised and depressed portions  133   a  and  134   a  may have any shape as long as they can engage each other to couple the first frame  101   c  to the second frame  102   c . The first and second frames  101   c  and  102   c  also include first and second coupling protrusions  141  and  142  and first and second extension portions  121   c  and  122   c , respectively, as described above. 
         [0079]    Hereinafter, a display apparatus according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 12 and 13 .  FIG. 12  is a partial exploded perspective view of an intermediate frame  100 ′ included in the display apparatus according to the fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the intermediate frame  100 ′ of  FIG. 12  which has first and second frames  101   d  and  102   d  coupled to each other. Elements having the same functions as those illustrated in the drawings of the first exemplary embodiment are indicated by like reference numerals, and thus their description will be omitted. 
         [0080]    In the display apparatus according to the fourth exemplary embodiment, a coupling surface between the first and second frames  101   d  and  102   d  may be misaligned with a coupling surface between first and second lower containers  501  and  502 . That is, respective lengths of the first and second sidewalls  131   d  and  132   d  of the first frame  101   d  may be different from those of first and second walls  511  and  512  of the first lower container  501 , respectively. 
         [0081]    If the coupling surface between the first and second frames  101   d  and  102   d  is misaligned with that between the first and second lower containers  501  and  502 , a location where the first and second frames  101   d  and  102   d  are separated from each other may be different from a location where the first and second lower containers  501  and  502  are separated from each other. Therefore, the first and second frames  101   d  and  102   d  can be coupled to each other in a more stable manner. 
         [0082]    If the coupling surface between the first and second frames  101   d  and  102   d  is misaligned with that between the first and second lower containers  501  and  502  as described above, first and second coupling protrusions  141   a  and  142   a  may all be formed on the first sidewalls  131   d.    
         [0083]    On the other hand, first and second coupling grooves  521  and  522  corresponding respectively to the first and second coupling protrusions  141   a  and  142   a  may be formed in the first and second walls  511  and  512 , respectively. 
         [0084]    In order to disassemble a lower container  500 , the first and second frames  101   d  and  102   d  may first be disjoined from each other. Then, the first and second coupling protrusions  141   a  and  142   a  of the first sidewalls  131   d  may be disjoined from the first and second coupling grooves  521  and  522  of the first lower container  501 . After the first and second frames  101   d  and  102   d  are disjoined from each other as described above, the first and second lower containers  501  and  502  may be disjoined from each other. First and second frames  101   d  and  102   d  also include first and second flanges  111   d  and  112   d , first and second extension portions  121   d  and  122   d , and first and second coupling portions  151   c  and  152   c , as described above. 
         [0085]    While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims. The exemplary embodiments should be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6