Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US6816213?ie=ISO-8859-1
Timestamp: 2015-07-28 16:38:25
Document Index: 517762075

Matched Legal Cases: ['arts 28', 'arts 28', 'art 28', 'art 28', 'art 28', 'art 28', 'arts 28', 'arts 28', 'arts 28']

Patent US6816213 - Liquid crystal module mounting structure and mobile terminal mounted with ... - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsThe present invention provides a mounting structure for mounting a liquid crystal module to a cover of a mobile terminal. The mounting structure comprises: at least a pair of first and second engagement parts, wherein the first engagement part is provided on a side portion of the liquid crystal module,...http://www.google.com/patents/US6816213?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US6816213 - Liquid crystal module mounting structure and mobile terminal mounted with the sameAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS6816213 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 10/314,243Publication dateNov 9, 2004Filing dateDec 9, 2002Priority dateFeb 18, 1999Fee statusPaidAlso published asUS6654078, US20030063230Publication number10314243, 314243, US 6816213 B2, US 6816213B2, US-B2-6816213, US6816213 B2, US6816213B2InventorsKasuhiro Kato, Masatake Baba, Michiaki Nishiyama, Fumihiko Fujishiro, Takakazu Yano, Toshihisa Ogawa, Tomoo Miwa, Yasuhiro SatoOriginal AssigneeNec Lcd Technologies, Ltd.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (12), Referenced by (15), Classifications (13), Legal Events (5) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetLiquid crystal module mounting structure and mobile terminal mounted with the same
US 6816213 B2Abstract
The present invention provides a mounting structure for mounting a liquid crystal module to a cover of a mobile terminal. The mounting structure comprises: at least a pair of first and second engagement parts, wherein the first engagement part is provided on a side portion of the liquid crystal module, while the second engagement part is provided on a side portion of a structural member of the cover, so that the paired first and second engagement parts are engaged with each other only by fitting the liquid crystal module into the structural member of the cover.
What is claimed: 1. A mounting structure for mounting a liquid crystal module to an exterior frame of a mobile terminal, the mounting structure comprising double-sided adhesive tape between and directly adhering a back face of the liquid crystal module to an interior surface of a bottom-most plate portion of the exterior frame.
2. The mounting structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein plural adhesive tape are provided symmetrically.
3. A mobile terminal comprising the mounting structure of claim 1.
4. A mounting structure for mounting a liquid crystal module to a cover of a mobile terminal, the mounting structure comprising double-sided adhesive tape between a back face of the liquid crystal module and a bottom plate portion of the cover that adheres the liquid crystal module to the bottom plate portion of the cover,
wherein said liquid crystal module comprises a liquid crystal display panel and a back-light unit mounted on a back frame, and wherein adhesive tape is between said back frame of said liquid crystal module and said bottom plate portion of the cover and attaches said back frame of said liquid crystal module to said bottom plate portion of the cover. 5. A cover of a mobile computer terminal, comprising:
a bottom plate; an outside frame that has a display area and that is attached to said bottom plate; a liquid crystal module that is between said bottom plate and said outside frame, said liquid crystal module having a liquid crystal display panel and a back-light unit on a back frame, wherein a display face of said liquid crystal display panel is viewable in said display area of said outside frame and said back frame of said liquid crystal module is adjacent to said bottom plate; and double-sided adhesive tape between said back frame of said liquid crystal module and said bottom plate that attaches said back frame of said liquid crystal module to said bottom plate. 6. The cover of claim 5, further comprising fasteners spaced from said display area that attach said outside frame to said bottom plate.
7. The cover of claim 6, where the fasteners are screws.
This application is a division of application Ser. No. 09/505,965, filed on Feb. 17, 2000 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,654,078, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
In order to have solved the above problems with the conventional liquid crystal module mounting structure of FIG. 1, a side mount type liquid crystal module has been proposed. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrative of decomposed side mount type liquid crystal module mounting structure. A liquid crystal module 1 has two opposite side faces which are vertical to a display surface 1 a of the liquid crystal module 1. Each of the two opposite side faces has two screw holes 4 which axes are parallel to the display surface 1 a. The liquid crystal module 1 is engaged within inside walls of a bottom frame 5. The bottom frame 5 has two opposite side faces, each of which has two screw holes 5 a at positions corresponding to the screw holes 4 of the liquid crystal module 1. The liquid crystal module 1 is engaged within the bottom frame 5, whereby the screw holes 4 of the liquid crystal module 1 are aligned to the corresponding screw holes 5 a of the bottom frame 5. Screws 6 are driven tightly into the screw holes 5 a and the screw holes 4, so as to tightly fix the liquid crystal module 1 to the bottom frame 5. A top frame 7 is placed on the bottom frame 5.
FIG. 8A is a fragmentary cross sectional elevation view illustrative of a modified engagement structure between the flexible projecting member provided on the bottom plate and the recessed portion provided on the liquid crystal module.
Thus, the screw-free mounting structure in accordance with the present invention is free from the conventional problem with the conventional side mount type liquid crystal module mounting structure. No use of screws nor formations of screw holes do need no margin on the side portions for driving the screws, resulting in narrowing the width of the liquid crystal module Further, no space is formed between the outside frame and the back-light portion. No space makes it possible to increase a ratio in area of a display surface to the entire part of the liquid crystal module, even the area of the liquid crystal module is limited by the cover to which the liquid crystal module is mounted.
It is also preferable that the second engagement part is provided on a reinforcement member attached along the side face of the structural member of the cover. In order to increase the mechanical strength of the liquid crystal module, it is effective that the liquid crystal module is attached to the reinforcement member attached along the side face of the structural member of the cover. Since the second engagement part is provided on the reinforcement member, it is not necessary to provide the second engagement part on the structural member of the cover. The structural member of the cover may be made of a plastic. The provision of the metal reinforcement members which increase the mechanical strength allows a reduction of the mechanical strengths of the structural members of the cover. This means it possible to reduce the weights of the structural members of the cover, whereby the weight of the cover can be reduced. Further, the reinforcement members with the engagement parts are attached to the structural members of the cover, for which reason the structural members made of the plastic is free of any engagement portions for allowing the liquid crystal module to be mounted to the structural members of the cover, whereby the number of the necessary molding processes for forming the structural members of the cover made of the plastic can be reduced. The reduction in the number of the necessary molding processes for forming the structural members of the cover allows a reduction of the manufacturing cost. Further, the structural members of the cover may be common to various changes in positions and sizes of the engagement parts provided on the liquid crystal module, because the engagement pants provided on the reinforcement members are adjusted to the changes in positions and sizes of the engagement parts. This can respond to the requirement for various changes in design with keeping the reduction in the manufacturing cost. In addition, this mounting structure does not use the screws, for which reason the above described advantages caused by no use of the screws can be obtained.
It is also preferable that the second engagement part comprises a projecting portion whilst the first engagement part comprises a guide groove for guiding and receiving the projecting portion. In this case, it is also preferable that the guide groove comprises: a first groove portion having an opening for introducing the projecting portion; and a second groove portion being connected with the first groove portion for guiding the projecting portion, and wherein the first groove portion, extends in a first direction along a thickness direction of the liquid crystal module, whilst the second groove portion extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and also extends along a longitudinal axis of the side face of the liquid crystal module. This mounting structure does not use the screws, for which reason the above described advantages caused by no use of the screws can be obtained.
It is also preferable that the first engagement part comprises a rotational module holder for holding one side face of the liquid crystal module whilst the second engagement part comprises a holder supporter for mechanically and pivotally supporting the rotational module supporter so as to allow the rotational module holder to rotate around a longitudinal axis of the rotational module holder and also for fixing the rotational module holder at a predetermined angle. The liquid crystal module is supported by the separate positions. This structure relaxes the mechanical stress or prevents the mechanical stress concentration to points when the liquid crystal module receives the external stress such as the external shock. The relaxation to the mechanical stress or prevention of the mechanical stress concentration may prevent the liquid crystal module and the cover from being broken. The rotational module holder serves as a reinforcement member to increase the mechanical strength of the liquid crystal module. No need to form the engagement parts on the liquid crystal module simplifies the manufacturing process, whereby the manufacturing cost can be reduced and a freedom in design of the liquid crystal module can also be increased. This mounting structure does not use the screws, for which reason the above described advantages caused by no use of the screws can be obtained. This mounting structure does not use the screws, for which reason the above described advantages caused by no use of the screws can be obtained.
It is also preferable that the rotational module holder comprises a body extending along the one side face of the liquid crystal module; a pair of first cylindrically shaped projections projecting outwardly from opposite side faces of the body; and a pair of second cylindrically shaped projections projecting outwardly from opposite side faces of the body, whilst the holder supporter comprises a pair of plate members confronting with the opposite side faces of the body, and the pair of the plate members also have: a pair of first circular shaped holes receiving the first cylindrically shaped projections for pivotally supporting the body of the rotational module holder and allowing the rotational module holder to rotate around the longitudinal axis of the rotational module holder; and a pair of second circular shaped holes receiving the second cylindrically shaped projections for allowing the second cylindrically shaped projections to snap into the second circular shaped holes thereby to fix the rotational module holder. The liquid crystal module is supported by the separate positions. This structure relaxes the mechanical stress or prevents the mechanical stress concentration to points when the liquid crystal module receives the external stress such as the external shock. The relaxation to the mechanical stress or prevention of the mechanical stress concentration may prevent the liquid crystal module and the cover from being broken. This mounting structure does not use the screws, for which reason the above described advantages caused by no use of the screws can be obtained. The rotational module holder serves as a reinforcement member to increase the mechanical strength of the liquid crystal module. No need to form the engagement parts on the liquid crystal module simplifies the manufacturing process, whereby the manufacturing cost can be reduced and a freedom in design of the liquid crystal module can also be increased. This mounting structure does not use the screws, for which reason the above described advantages caused by no use of the screws can be obtained. In this cause, it is further preferable that the second engagement part further comprises a fix module holder for holding an opposite side of the liquid crystal module to the one side face of the liquid crystal module. It is further more preferable that the fix module holder further has a pushing member for pushing the opposite side of the liquid crystal module toward the rotational module holder in order to securely position the liquid crystal module without clattering.
The seventh present invention provides a mounting structure for mounting a display module to a cover of a mobile terminal. The mounting structure comprises: at least a pair of first and second engagement parts, wherein the first engagement part is provided on the display module, whilst the second engagement part is provided on a structural member of the cover, so that the paired first and second engagement parts are engaged with each other only by fitting the display module into the structural member of the cover. It is preferable that plural pairs of the first and second engagement parts are provided, so that a plurality of the first engagement parts are provided on side faces of the display module whilst a plurality of the second engagement parts are provided on side faces of the structural member of the cover. The plural pairs of the first and second engagement parts are preferable to secure the mounting of the display module to the cover.
It is also preferable that the second engagement part comprises a projecting portion whilst the first engagement part comprises a recessed portion for receiving the projecting portion. This structure is extremely simple so that the projecting portion as the second engagement part provided on the side face of the structural frame of the cover is engaged or fitted to the recessed portion provided on the side face of the display module when the display module is fitted into the structural frame of the cover In this case, it is further preferable that the projecting portion is flexible to allow the projecting portion to snap into the recessed portion This mounting structure does not use the screws, for which reason the above described advantages caused by no use of the screws can be obtained.
It is also preferable that the second engagement part comprises a projecting portion whilst the first engagement part comprises a guide groove for guiding and receiving the projecting portion. In this case, it is also preferable that the guide groove comprises: a first groove portion having an opening for introducing the projecting portion; and a second groove portion being connected with the first groove portion for guiding the projecting portion, and wherein the first groove portion extends in a first direction along a thickness direction of the display module, whilst the second groove portion extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and also extends along a longitudinal axis of the side face of the display module. This mounting structure does not use the screws, for which reason the above described advantages caused by no use of the screws can be obtained.
It is also preferable that the side face of the display module has a holder for holding the projecting portion. The holder prevents a relative notion between the first and second engagement parts, thereby preventing the relative motion between the display module and the structural frame of the cover. This structure may increase the strength of connection between the first and second engagement parts, thereby increasing the strength of mounting the display module to the structural frame of the cover. This mounting structure does not use the screws, for which reason the above described advantages caused by no use of the screws can be obtained.
It is preferable that the first engagement part comprises an L-shaped flexible plate which further comprises: a first flexible plate part extending in a thickness direction of the display module from an edge of the side face of the display module; and a second flexible plate part extending perpendicular to the first flexible plate part and in parallel to a surface of the display module, so that the second flexible plate part is separated from the surface of the display module by a space, and further an inside surface of the second flexible plate part facing to the space has a projection which projects into the space and toward the surface of the display module, and wherein the second engagement part comprises a plate member which further has an opening for introducing the second flexible plate part; a guide groove connected with the opening for guiding the first flexible plate part to allow the second flexible plate part to slide on an opposite surface of the plate member to the surface of the display module; and a hole for allowing the projection provided on the second flexible plate part to snap into the hole when the first flexible plate part is guided along the guide groove and the second flexible plate part slides on the opposite surface of the plate member. The display module is supported by the line segments comprising the grooves. This structure relaxes the mechanical stress or prevents the mechanical stress concentration to points when the display module receives the external stress such as the external shock. The relaxation to the mechanical stress or prevention of the mechanical stress concentration may prevent the display module and the cover from being broken. This mounting structure does not use the screws, for which reason the above described advantages caused by no use of the screws can be obtained.
It is also preferable that the second engagement part comprises an L-shaped flexible plate which further comprises: a first flexible plate part extending in a thickness direction of the cover from an edge of the side face of the structural member of the cover; and a second flexible plate part extending perpendicular to the first flexible plate part and in parallel to a surface of the cover, so that the second flexible plate part is separated from the surface of the cover by a space, and further an inside surface of the second flexible plate part facing to the space has a projection which projects into the space and toward the surface of the cover, and wherein the first engagement part comprises a plate member which further has: an opening for introducing the second flexible plate part; a guide groove connected with the opening for guiding the first flexible plate part to allow the second flexible plate part to slide on an opposite surface of the plate member to the surface of the cover; and a hole for allowing the projection provided on the second flexible plate part to snap into the hole when the first flexible plate part is guided along the guide groove and the second flexible plate part slides on the opposite surface of the plate member. The display module is supported by the line segments comprising the grooves. This structure relaxes the mechanical stress or prevents the mechanical stress concentration to points when the display module receives the external stress such as the external shock The relaxation to the mechanical stress or prevention of the mechanical stress concentration may prevent the display module and the cover from being broken. This mounting structure does not use the screws, for which reason the above described advantages caused by no use of the screws can be obtained.
It is also preferable that the first engagement part comprises a rotational module holder for holding one side face of the display module whilst the second engagement part comprises a holder supporter for mechanically and pivotally supporting the rotational module supporter so as to allow the rotational module holder to rotate around a longitudinal axis of the rotational module holder and also for fixing the rotational module. holder at a predetermined angle. The display module is supported by the separate positions. This structure relaxes the mechanical stress or prevents the mechanical stress concentration to points when the display module receives the external stress such as the external shock. The relaxation to the mechanical stress or prevention of the mechanical stress concentration may prevent the display module and the cover from being broken. The rotational module holder serves as a reinforcement member to increase the mechanical strength of the display module. No need to form the engagement parts on the display module simplifies the manufacturing process, whereby the manufacturing cost can be reduced and a freedom in design of the display module can also be increased. This mounting structure does not use the screws, for which reason the above described advantages caused by no use of the screws can be obtained. This mounting structure does not use the screws, for which reason the above described advantages caused by no use of the screws can be obtained.
A first embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrative of a liquid crystal module mounting structure for mounting a liquid crystal module to a structural frame of a cover of a personal computer in a first embodiment in accordance with the present invention. A liquid crystal module 10 is mounted to a bottom plate 20 of a cover of a personal computer. An outside frame 30 is attached to the bottom plate 20. The bottom plate 20 and the outside frame 30 are made of a plastic. The bottom plate 20 faces to the back face of the liquid crystal module 10. The liquid crystal module 10 has a display face 10 a which is opposite to the back face. The liquid crystal module 10 is disposed between the bottom plate 20 and the outside frame 30 of the cover. The liquid crystal module 10 is mounted to the bottom plate 20 of the cover by the following novel liquid crystal mounting structure. The outside frame 30 is attached to the bottom plate 20 of the cover by the following attachment tools.
With reference back to FIG. 5, the liquid crystal module 10 has right and left sides, each of which is provided with two recessed portions 18 as engagement parts. The two recessed portions 18 are distanced from each other and are positioned close to the opposite corners at opposite ends of each of the right and left sides of the liquid crystal module 10. In more detail, the four recessed portions 18 may be provided on either the front or back frame 13 or 14. The bottom plate 20 has right and left rims which have inside right and left rim faces 20 b and 20 c. Each of the inside right and left rim faces 20 b and 20 c has two flexible projecting members 21 at corresponding positions to the above two recessed portions 18, so that the four flexible projecting members 21 are engaged with the four recessed portions 18. Each of the flexible projecting members 21 has a flexible crew portion 22 which projects inwardly so that the flexible crew portion 22 may snap into the recessed portion 18. Each of the flexible crew portions 22 has a guide face 23 which is sloped from inwardly, so that when the liquid crystal module 10 is made closer to the bottom plate 20, then the guide faces 23 of the flexible projecting members 21 are made into contact with and pressed with the right and left sides 10 b and 10 c of the liquid crystal module 10, so that the flexible projecting members 21 are made tilted and then when the recessed portions 18 come corresponding in positions to the flexible projecting members 21, the flexible projecting members 21 are made turned to the originals so that the flexible crew portions 22 are snapped into the recessed portions 18, whereby the recessed portions 18 as the first engagement parts are engaged with the flexible projecting members 21 as the second engagement parts.
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross sectional elevation view illustrative of an engagement structure between the flexible projecting member provided on the bottom plate and the recessed portion provided on the liquid crystal module. As described above, the flexible crew portion 22 of the flexible projecting member 21 snaps into the recessed portion 18. Each of the flexible crew portions 22 has a guide face 23 which is sloped from inwardly, so that when the liquid crystal module 10 is made closer to the bottom plate 20, then the guide faces 23 of the flexible projecting members 21 are made into contact with and pressed with the right and left sides 10 b and 10 c of the liquid crystal module 10, so that the flexible projecting members 21 are made tilted and then when the recessed portions 18 come corresponding in positions to the flexible projecting members 21, the flexible projecting members 21 are made turned to the originals so that the flexible crew portions 22 are snapped into the recessed portions 18, whereby the recessed portions 18 as the first engagement parts arc engaged with the flexible projecting members 21 as the second engagement parts. As a result, the liquid crystal module 10 is mounted to the bottom plate 20 by the engagements between the flexible projecting members 21 and the recessed portions 18. The outside frame 30 is further attached to the bottom plate 20 by the screws 40 so that the peripheral portion of the liquid crystal module 10 is sandwiched between the outside frame 30 and the bottom plate 20, whereby the liquid crystal module 10 is accommodated in the cover.
No use of the screws further provide the following advantages No use of the screws needs no formation of the screw hole formation portion which should have to be made of a metal material, which is heavy more than a resin of a body of the outside frame. No use of the metal material for the outside frame results in reduction in weight of the mobile terminal.
Furthers no use of the screw results in no screw hole formation portion extending in a thickness direction of the liquid crystal module 10. No screw hole formation portion does not need any margins. No margins make it possible to further reduce the thickness of the liquid crystal module.
The engagement structure may also be modified as follows. FIG. 8B is a fragmentary cross sectional elevation view illustrative of another modified engagement structure between the flexible projecting member provided on the bottom plate and the recessed portion provided on the liquid crystal module. In place of the recessed portions 18, crews 18 a are provided which extend from the side faces 10 b of the liquid crystal module 10. The crews 18 a comprise outwardly projecting bent portions extending from the side faces 10 b of the liquid crystal module 10 Further, in place of the flexible projecting members 21 with the crew portions 22, the crew portions 22 are directly formed on the inside faces of the right and left rims of the bottom plate 20 so that when the liquid crystal module 10 is fitted to the bottom plate 20, then the crew portions 22 are engaged with the crews 18 a as shown in FIG. 8B. No provision of the flexible projecting members 21 reduces the space between the side portions of the liquid crystal module 10 and the side portions of the cover.
In this embodiment, the flexible projecting members 21 are provided on the inside faces of the right and left rim portions of the bottom plate 20 of the cover. As a still further modification, it is possible that the flexible projecting members 21 are provided on the inside faces of the night and left rim portions of the outside frame 30.
In this embodiment, the recessed portions 18 are provided on the right and left side faces of the liquid crystal module 10 whilst the flexible projecting members 21 are provided on the inside faces of the right and left rim portions of the bottom plate 20 of the cover As a further more modification, it is possible that the flexible projecting members 21 are provided on the top and bottom side faces of the liquid crystal module 10 whilst the recessed portions 18 are provided on the inside faces of the top and bottom rim portions of the bottom plate 20 of the cover.
A second embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrative of a liquid crystal module mounting structure for mounting a liquid crystal module to a structural frame of a cover of a personal computer in a second embodiment in accordance with the present invention. In this embodiment, a pair of right and left metal reinforcement members 50 are provided both for increasing the mechanical strength of the cover accommodating the liquid crystal module 10 and for mounting the liquid crystal module 10.
The structure of the liquid crystal module 10 is the same as in the first embodiment and shown in FIG, 6, for which reason descriptions of the structure of the liquid crystal module 10 will be omitted to prevent the exactly duplicate descriptions.
The liquid crystal module 10 has right and left sides, each of which is provided with two recessed portions 18 as engagement parts. The two recessed portions 18 are distanced from each other and are positioned close to the opposite corners at opposite ends of each of the right and left sides of the liquid crystal module 10. The right and left metal reinforcement members 50 have inside faces, each of which has two convex portions 52 at corresponding positions to the above two recessed portions 18, so that the four convex portions 52 are engaged with the four recessed portions 18. The right and left metal reinforcement members 50 are attached to the bottom plate 20, so that the right and left metal reinforcement members 50 extend along the right and left rim portions of the bottom plate 20, whereby when the liquid crystal module 10 is fitted to the bottom plate 20, the right and left side faces 10 b and 10 c of the liquid crystal module 10 come together with the inside faces of the right and left metal reinforcement members 50. As a result, the convex portions 52 formed on the inside faces of the right and left metal reinforcement members 50 are snapped into the recessed portions 18 formed on the right and left side faces 10 b and 10 c of the liquid crystal module 10.
The recessed portions 18 are provided on the side faces of the liquid crystal module 10 whilst the convex portions 52 are provided on the inside faces of the right and left metal reinforcement members 50 which are attached to the night and left rims of the bottom plate 20 of the cover respectively, so that only fitting the liquid crystal module 10 into the right and left metal reinforcement members 50 causes the convex portions 52 to be engaged with the recessed portions 18, thereby to mount the liquid crystal module 10 through the right and left metal reinforcement members 50 to the bottom plate 20 as the structural member of the cover. This novel mounting structure for mounting the liquid crystal module 10 to the bottom plate 20 as the structural member of the cover does never need to provide a screw formation region of the conventional mounting structure described above. Namely, the novel mounting structure for mounting the liquid crystal module 10 to the bottom plate 20 as the structural member of the cover does never utilizes the screw.
Thus, the screw-free mounting structure in accordance with the present invention is free from the conventional problem with the conventional side mount type liquid crystal module mounting structure. No use of screws nor formations of screw boles do need no margin on the side portions for driving the screws, resulting in narrowing the width of the liquid crystal module 10. Further, no space is formed between the outside frame and the back-light portion. No space makes it possible to increase a ratio in area of a display surface to the entire part of the liquid crystal module 10, even the area of the liquid crystal module 10 is limited by the cover to which the liquid crystal module 10 is mounted.
The engagement structure shown in FIG. 12 may further be modified as follows. FIG. 14 is a fragmentary cross sectional elevation view illustrative of another modified engagement structure between the projecting portions provided on the liquid crystal module and the guide grooves provided on the bottom plate. The liquid crystal module 10 has right and left sides, each of which is provided with two projecting portions 16 as engagement parts. The two projecting portions 16 are distanced from each other and are positioned close to the opposite corners at opposite ends of each of the right and left sides of the liquid crystal module 10. The bottom plate 20 has right and left rims which have inside right and left rim faces 20 b and 20 c. Each of the inside right and left rim faces 20 b and 20 c has two guide grooves 26 at corresponding positions to the above two projecting portions 16, so that the four guide grooves 26 are engaged with the four projecting portions 16. Each of the guide grooves 26 comprises a first guide groove portion 26 a and a second guide groove portion 26 b connected with the first guide groove portion 26 a. The first guide groove portion 26 a extends in the thickness direction of the bottom plate 20. The second guide groove portion 26 b extends in a longitudinal direction of the right and left rim portions of the bottom plate 20. Namely, the second guide groove portion 26 b extends perpendicular to the first guide groove portion 26 a, so as to form a L-shape of the guide groove 26. Further, each of the guide grooves 26 has elastic members 26 c to form a pinch in the second guide groove portion 26 b in the vicinity of the corner of the L-shape of the guide groove 26. When the liquid crystal module 10 is pushed into the bottom plate 20, then the projecting portions 16 are inserted through the first guide groove portion 26 a of the guide groove 26. Further the liquid crystal module 10 slides onto the bottom plate 20, so that the projecting portions 16 are moved along the second guide groove portion 26 b of the guide groove 26, wherein the projecting portions 16 are made into contact with the narrowed portions of the elastic members 26 c whereby the narrowed portions of the elastic members 26 c are opened and widen to allow the projecting portions 16 to enter into the second guide groove portion 26 b of the guide groove 26. The liquid crystal module 10 slides onto the bottom plate 20 until the projecting portions 16 are made into contact with the ends of the elastic members 26 c accommodated in the second guide groove portion 26 b of the guide groove 26, and further the opened elastic members 26 c are returned to the original form to have the narrowed or pinched portions, whereby the projecting portions 16 are engaged with the guide groove 26 and the narrowed or pinched portions of the elastic members 26 c prevent the projecting portions 16 from returning to the first guide groove portion 26 a. The engagement structure shown in FIG. 12 may further be modified as follows. FIG. 15 is a fragmentary cross sectional elevation view illustrative of still another modified engagement structure between the L-shaped projecting pieces provided on the liquid crystal module and a box-shaped engagement portions provided on the bottom plate. FIG. 16 is a fragmentary cross sectional elevation view illustrative of an engagement structure of FIG. 15. The liquid crystal module 10 has right and left sides, each of which is provided with two L-shaped projecting pieces 19 as engagement parts. The two L-shaped projecting pieces 19 are distanced from each other and are positioned close to the opposite corners at opposite ends of each of the right and left sides of the liquid crystal module 10. Each of the L-shaped projecting pieces 19 has a projected front portion which is parallel to the display surface of the liquid crystal module. The projected front portion of the each of the L-shaped projecting pieces 19 has a convex portion 19 a. The bottom plate 20 has four box-shaped engagement parts 28 at corresponding positions to the above four L-shaped projecting pieces 19. Each of the box-shaped engagement parts 28 has a square-shaped opening portion 28 a, a guide groove 28 b connected with the square-shaped opening Portion 28 a, a holding wall 28 c adjacent to the square-shaped opening portion 28 a and to the guide groove 28 b, and a hole 28 d formed in the holding wall 28 c. The square-shaped opening portion 28 a has a corresponding size to the projected front portion of the L-shaped projecting piece 19 so as to allow the projected front portion of the L-shaped projecting piece 19 to enter through the square-shaped opening portion 28 a into the box-shaped engagement part 28. The L-shaped projecting piece 19 comprises a projecting base portion and the projected front portion which is supported by the projecting base portion. The projecting base portion extends in the thickness direction of the liquid crystal module 10, so that the projecting base portion is vertical to the projected front portion. The guide groove 28 b has such a width as allowing a projecting base portion of the L-shaped projecting piece 19 to move along the guide groove 28 b when the liquid crystal module 10 slides onto the bottom plate 20 after the projected front portion of the L-shaped projecting piece 19 has entered through the square-shaped opening portion 28 a into the box-shaped engagement part 28. As the projecting base portion of the L-shaped projecting piece 19 moves along the guide groove 28 b by moving the liquid crystal module 10 to slide onto the bottom plate 20, the projected front portion of the L-shaped projecting piece 19 comes corresponding in position to an inside face of the holding wall 28 c of the box-shaped engagement part 28, whereby the convex portion 19 a on the projected front portion is snapped into the hole 28 d of the box-shaped engagement part 28, so that the four box-shaped engagement parts 28 are engaged with the four L-shaped projecting pieces 19.
In this embodiment, the L-shaped projecting pieces 19 are provided on the right and left side faces of the liquid crystal module 10 whilst the box-shaped engagement parts 28 are provided on the bottom plate 20 of the cover As a further modification, it is possible that the L-shaped projecting pieces 19 are provided on the top and bottom side faces of the liquid crystal module 10 whilst the box-shaped engagement parts 28 are provided on the bottom plate 20 of the cover.
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