Patent Abstract:
A supporting structure applied in a display device is provided. The display device includes a casing and a display panel. The supporting structure comprises a fastening component and a sustaining component. The fastening component including a hook set is used for supporting the display panel. The sustaining component having a plurality of slot sets is disposed on the casing. The hook set separately presses against the slots for forming different distances between the display panel and the casing.

Full Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of Taiwan application Serial No. 095106664, filed Feb. 27, 2006, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The invention relates in general to a supporting structure, and more particularly to a height-adjustable supporting structure applied in a display device. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Liquid crystal display (LCD) device, having the features of light weight, slimness, small size, low power consumption, low radiation and low pollution, has gradually replaced conventional cathode ray tube (CRT) display device and become a standard item of equipment to a new generation computer. 
         [0006]    Normally, a liquid crystal display device at least includes a casing and a panel. A plurality of supporting structures are disposed on the casing to support the panel. However, different panels manufactured by different manufacturers have different measures of thickness. In order to correspond to the panels with different measures of thickness, different sets of charge cores are developed to match the supporting structures with different measures of height, not only increasing the production cost but also reducing the production efficiency. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The invention is directed to a height-adjustable supporting structure. The height-adjustable supporting structure, when disposed in a display device, is able to support various display panels with different measures of thickness. Consequently, there is no need to develop different sets of charge cores to correspond to the display panels with different measures of thickness, not only reducing the production cost but also increasing the production efficiency of the display device. 
         [0008]    According to a first aspect of the present invention, a supporting structure applied in a display device is provided. The display device includes a casing and a display panel. The supporting structure includes a fastening component and a sustaining component. The fastening component including a hook set is used for supporting the display panel. The sustaining component having a plurality of slot sets is disposed on the casing. 
         [0009]    According to a second aspect of the present invention, a display device including a display panel, a casing and a supporting structure is provided. The supporting structure includes a fastening component and a sustaining component. The fastening component having a hook set is for supporting the display panel. The sustaining component having a plurality of slot sets is disposed on the casing. 
         [0010]    The invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred but non-limiting embodiments. The following description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective of a display device according to a first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective of a supporting structure with a first height according to the first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2B  is a perspective of a supporting structure with a second height according to the first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective of a supporting structure being disposed on a casing according to the first embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a perspective of a supporting structure being disposed on a casing according to a second embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     First Embodiment 
       [0016]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a perspective of a display device according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown. Referring to both  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B .  FIG. 2A  is a perspective of a supporting structure with a first height according to the first embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 2B  is a perspective of a supporting structure with a second height according to the first embodiment of the invention. In  FIG. 1 , the display device  100  includes a display panel  120 , a casing  130  and a supporting structure  200 . The supporting structure  200  used for supporting the display panel  120  is disposed on a bottom surface  132  of the casing  130 . 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 2A , the supporting structure  200  includes a sustaining component  150  and a fastening component  101 . The sustaining component  150  at least includes two slot sets each including an upper slot and a lower slot. In the present embodiment of the invention, the sustaining component  150  includes a first slot set  1501  and a second slot set  1502 . The first slot set  1501  includes a first upper slot  1501   a  and a first lower slot  1501   b , wherein the first upper slot  1501   a  is slightly higher than the first lower slot  150   b . The second slot set  1502  includes a second upper slot  1502   a  and a second lower slot  1502   b , wherein the second upper slot  1502   a  is slightly higher than the second lower slot  1502   b . In addition, the sustaining component  150  further includs a fixing part  156  connected to one end of the sustaining component  150 , and the fixing part  156  has a top surface  157  and a bottom surface  159 , wherein the top surface  157  of the fixing part  156  is connected to the sustaining component  150 . Besides, the fixing part  156  includes at least two through slots  158   a  and  158   b , which penetrate through the top surface  157  and the bottom surface  159  of the fixing part  156 . 
         [0018]    The fastening component  101  includes a hook set  102 , a pressing part  104 , a column  106  and an elastic element  107 . A hook set  102  includes a first hook  102   a  and a second hook  102   b . The second hook  102   b  is slightly longer than the first hook  102   a , wherein the first hook  102   a  and the second hook  102   b  respectively have a first engaging surface  108   a  and a second engaging surface  108   b . The pressing part  104  is connected to the hook set  102 . The hook set  102  is extended along a direction D. The column  106  is connected to the pressing part  104  and extended along the same direction D. Examples of the elastic element  107  is a spring which is fitted over the column  106  at the action of which the column  106  can move up and down. Preferably, one end of the spring is connected to the column  106  and the other end is supported by the top surface  157  of the fixing part  156 . 
         [0019]    Referring to both  FIG. 1  and  FIGS. 2A˜2B . The fastening component  101  is used for supporting the display panel  120 . The sustaining component  150  is disposed on the bottom surface  132  of the casing  130 . When the display panel  120  and the casing  130  are divided by a first height H 1 , the hook set  102  pass through the first slot set  1501 , such that the supporting structure  200  has the first height H 1 . In other words, the first hook  102   a  of the hook set  102  passes through the first upper slot  1501   a , and the second hook  102   b  of the hook set  102  passes through the first lower slot  1501   b  as indicated in  FIG. 2A . Despite the present embodiment of the invention is exemplified by passing the hook set  102  through the first upper slot  1501 , however, in practical application, the present embodiment of the invention can also be achieved by pressing the first slot set  1501  against the hook set  102  to support the hooks  102 . 
         [0020]    Meanwhile, the first engaging surface  108   a  of the first hook  102   a  is pressed against a lower edge of the first upper slot  1501   a  to provide the fastening component  101  with an upward force to support the display panel  120 . As the elastic element  107  is compressed, the second engaging surface  108   b  of the second hook  102   b  is pressed against the upper edge of the first lower slot  1501   b  to provide the fastening component  101  with a downward force to match the force produced by the compressed elastic element  107 . The upward force and downward force enable the supporting structure  200  to support the display panel  120  even firmly. 
         [0021]    When the display panel  120  and the casing  130  are divided by a second height H 2 , the hook set  102  passes through the second slot set  1502 , such that the supporting structure  200  has a second height H 2  as indicated in  FIG. 2B . Meanwhile, the first engaging surface  108   a  of the first hook  102   a  is pressed against the lower edge of the second upper slot  1502   a  to provide the fastening component  101  with an upward force to support the display panel  120 . The second engaging surface  108   b  of the second hook  102   b  is pressed against the upper edge of the second lower slot  1502   b  to provide the fastening component  101  with a downward force to match the force of the elastic element  107 . The upward force and the downward force enable the supporting structure  200  to support the display panel  120  even firmly. 
         [0022]    As indicated in the above disclosure, the supporting structure  200  of the present embodiment of the invention is a height-adjustable supporting structure. The height-adjustable supporting structure, when disposed in a display device, is able to support various display panels with different measures of thickness. Consequently, there is no need to develop different sets of charge cores to correspond to the display panels with different measures of thickness, not only reducing the production cost but also increasing the production efficiency of the display device. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a perspective of a supporting structure being disposed on a casing according to the first embodiment of the invention is shown. In  FIG. 3 , the casing  130  comprises at least two connecting columns  180   a  and  180   b . The two connecting columns  180   a  and  180   b  are respectively melted to pass through the two through slots  158   a  and  158   b , such that the bottom surface  159  of the fixing part  156  is connected to the casing  130 . The connecting columns  180   a  and  180   b  are preferably melted and infused into the through slots  158   a  and  158   b . However, anyone who is skilled in the technology will understand that the way of connection exemplified here is not for limiting the scope of the technology of the invention. 
         [0024]    To summarize, the supporting structure  200  of the present embodiment of the invention is a height-adjustable supporting structure, which, when disposed in a display device, is able to support various display panels with different measures of thickness. Consequently, there is no need to develop different sets of charge cores to correspond to the display panels with different measures of thickness, not only reducing the production cost but also increasing the production efficiency of the display device. 
       Second Embodiment 
       [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a perspective of a supporting structure being disposed on a casing according to a second embodiment of the invention is shown. The sustaining component  450  of the present embodiment of the invention differs with the sustaining component  150  of the first embodiment in the connecting mechanism between the sustaining component and the casing. As for other similar elements, the same reference numbers are used and are not repeated here. As indicated in  FIG. 4 , the sustaining component  450  further includes at least a positioning part  400  and an anti-slip bump  460 . The positioning part  400  is disposed at the peripheral of the sustaining component  450 , and the anti-slip bump  460  is disposed on one side of the sustaining component  450 . The casing  130  includes an opening  462  and an anti-slip hole  464 . When the sustaining component  450  is placed into the opening  462 , the positioning part  400  is engaged with the opening  462 . The anti-slip bump  460  is received in the anti-slip hole  464  for preventing the sustaining component  450  from rotating with respect to the casing  130 . 
         [0026]    There is an alternative connecting mechanism in addition to the connecting mechanism between the sustaining component and the casing as disclosed in the first embodiment and the present embodiment of the invention. The alternative mechanism is achieved by disposing a metal piece (not illustrated in the diagrams) between the casing  130  and the liquid crystal the display panel (as indicated in the display panel  120  of  FIG. 1 ) and further disposing an opening and an anti-slip hole on the metal piece for receiving the sustaining component  450 . In other words, the positioning part  400  of the sustaining component  450  is engaged with the opening disposed on the metal piece. Meanwhile, the anti-slip bump  460  is received in the anti-slip hole disposed on the metal piece for preventing the sustaining component  450  from rotating with respect to the metal piece. 
         [0027]    According to the supporting structure and display device using the same disclosed in the above embodiments of the invention, the supporting structure is a height-adjustable supporting structure. The height-adjustable supporting structure, when disposed in a display device, is able to support various display panels with different measures of thickness. Consequently, there is no need to develop different sets of charge cores to correspond to the display panels with different measures of thickness, not only reducing the production cost but also increasing the production efficiency of the display device. 
         [0028]    While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements and procedures, and the scope of the appended claims therefore should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements and procedures.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6