Abstract:
An exemplary frame includes sidewalls and rims extending substantially perpendicularly from the sidewalls, respectively. The rims are arranged end to end in turn, thereby defining an opening therebetween. The sidewalls are portions of a single bent metallic strip with two ends thereof connected together. A liquid crystal display employing the frame and a method for manufacturing the frame are also provided.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure generally relates to display technology, and particularly to a frame employed in a liquid crystal display (LCD) and a method for manufacturing the frame. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    A typical LCD has the advantages of portability, low power consumption and low radiation, and has been widely used in various portable information products such as notebooks, personal digital assistants (PDAs), video cameras and the like. Conventionally, an LCD includes a display panel and a backlight module providing light to the display panel. The display panel and the backlight module are received and fixed by a metallic frame and a plastic frame which are attached to each other. 
         [0005]    Referring to  FIGS. 8-10 , in a frequently used method for manufacturing a metallic frame, coiled metallic sheet stock is cut to form a rectangular metallic sheet (not shown). Four corners of the rectangular metallic sheet are punched and trimmed to form four outer sides  12  around a rectangular plane portion  11 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . The four outer sides  12  are then bent perpendicular to the rectangular plane portion  11 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . A center portion of the rectangular plane portion  11  is then punched to form a display view window  14 , as shown in  FIG. 10 . Finally, each two adjacent outer sides  12  are joined together by laser welding. Thereby, the metallic frame  10  is formed, as seen in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0006]    In the above-described process, the center portion of the rectangular plane portion  11  is removed by punching and trimming to form the display view window  14 . The removed portion of the rectangular plane portion  11  is about two-thirds the size of the entire rectangular metallic sheet, and the removed portion needs to be discarded or recycled for use. Thus, the process involves considerable waste material. Accordingly, the metallic frame  10  and the LCD employing the metallic frame  10  are somewhat costly. 
         [0007]    What are needed, therefore, are a frame, an LCD employing the frame, and a method for manufacturing the frame, which can overcome the described limitations. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and all the views are schematic. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is an isometric, exploded view of a first embodiment of an LCD, the LCD including a frame. 
           [0010]      FIGS. 2-4  are isometric views showing steps of an exemplary method for manufacturing a frame such as, for example, that of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view of part of a precursor of a frame of an alternative embodiment of the first embodiment, the precursor not yet folded to form the frame. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is an isometric view of part of a precursor of a frame of a second embodiment of an LCD, the precursor not yet folded to form the frame. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is an isometric view of part of a precursor of a frame of a third embodiment of an LCD, the precursor not yet folded to form the frame. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 8-10  are isometric views showing steps of a commonly used method for manufacturing a frame of an LCD. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe various embodiments in detail. 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an LCD  20  includes a first frame  21 , a display panel  22 , a second frame  23 , and a backlight module  27 . The first frame  21  and the second frame  23  cooperatively receive and fix the display panel  22  and the backlight module  27 . The first frame  21  may be made of metallic material, and the second frame  23  may be made of plastic material. The first frame  21  includes four beams continuously arranged end to end. The four beams define a rectangular opening  24 . The opening  24  may act as a display view window of the LCD  20 . Each beam may include a sidewall  29  and a rim  25  extending perpendicularly from the sidewall  29 . 
         [0017]    Referring also to  FIGS. 2-4 , these show steps of an exemplary method for manufacturing a frame, such as, for example, the first frame  21 . The method is as follows: 
         [0018]    In step S 1 , a rectangular metallic strip  2  is formed. The metallic strip  2  may be cut from coiled metallic sheet stock (not shown). Referring to  FIG. 2 , the rectangular metallic strip  2  is substantially the same length as a sum of lengths of the four sidewalls  29 . The rectangular metallic strip  2  has a uniform transverse width substantially the same as a sum of a height of one of the sidewalls  29  and a transverse width of one of the rims  25 . 
         [0019]    In step S 2 , an elongated first plate  201  and an elongated second plate  28  are formed by rolling the metallic strip  2 . The second plate  28  perpendicularly adjoins the first plate  201 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . The second plate  28  has a uniform transverse width which is the same as a height of one of the sidewalls  29 . Put another way, the second plate  28  has a uniform transverse width substantially the same as a thickness of the display panel  22 . 
         [0020]    In step S 3 , the rims  25  are formed by punching, cutting and/or stamping the first plate  201 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , each rim  25  includes a first portion  251 , and a second portion  252  projecting from the first portion  251 . The first portion  251  is isosceles trapezoidal, and a longer inner edge of the first portion  251  adjoins the second plate  28 . The second portion  252  is isosceles triangular, and an inmost, oblique edge of the second portion  252  adjoins one of the two equal end edges of the first portion  251 . The second portion  252  is offset slightly down from the first portion  251 , and substantially parallel to the first portion  251 . Thus, the first portion  251  and the second portion  252  cooperatively define what is substantially a right trapezoid. The second portion  252  is formed by stamping a precursor of the corresponding rim  25  in a vertically downward direction perpendicular to the first portion  251 . The first portions  251  and the second portions  252  of the rims  25  are arranged alternately along a length of the combined first and second plates  201 ,  28 . Thus, an isosceles triangular cutout is defined between each two adjacent rims  25 . 
         [0021]    In step S 4 , the sidewalls  29  are formed by bending the second plate  28  where each two adjacent rims  25  meet, and then joining each two adjacent rims  25  together by laser welding. A height of each sidewall  29  substantially equals a thickness of the display panel  22 . A length of each sidewall  29  equals a length of the longer inner edge of the first portion  251  of the corresponding rim  25 . Due to the projection of each second portion  252  from the corresponding first portion  251 , when the second plate  28  is bent, the second portion  252  of each rim  25  closely overlaps a part of the first portion  251  of the adjacent rim  25 . The overlapping portions of each two adjacent rims  25  are then connected by laser welding. The rectangular opening  24  is thus formed, surrounded by the four rims  25 . 
         [0022]    In step S 5 , the two ends of the second plate  28  are connected, by laser welding for example. Thereby, the first frame  21  is formed. 
         [0023]    In summary, the first frame  21  is formed from the rectangular metallic strip  2 . Compared with metallic frames manufactured by other methods, providing the rectangular opening  24  of the first frame  21  requires no significant removal of metallic material from a base piece of metallic material. That is, a great majority of the rectangular metallic strip  2  is utilized, reducing or eliminating waste of the metallic material. Accordingly, the cost of manufacturing the first frame  21  and the LCD  20  can be lowered. 
         [0024]    Furthermore, referring to  FIG. 5 , in an alternative embodiment of the first embodiment, each of rims  25 ′ of a first frame (not shown) can include a first portion  251 ′ and two second portions  252 ′ respectively extending from two ends of the first portion  251 ′. A thickness of each of the second portions  252 ′ is less than that of the first portion  251 ′, and preferably half of that of the first portion  251 ′. One second portion  252 ′ of each rim  25  overlaps one second portion  252 ′ of an adjacent rim  25 . Thus, when two adjacent second portions  252 ′ of adjacent rims  25  overlap and are jointed together, the combination of the overlapped second portions  252 ′ is substantially coplanar with each of the corresponding first portions  251 ′. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , this shows part of a precursor of a first frame  31  of a second embodiment of an LCD, the precursor not yet folded to form the first frame  31 . The LCD of the second embodiment differs from the LCD  20  only in that the first frame  31  of the LCD of the second embodiment further includes a plurality of locking units  353 . 
         [0026]    Each locking unit  353  includes a positioning hole  354  and a protrusion  355 . The positioning hole  354  is a circular through hole defined in a second portion  352  of each of rims  35  of the first frame  31 , and is formed by punching the second portion  352 . In this embodiment, the protrusion  355  is in the form of a cylindrical collar, corresponding to the positioning hole  354 . The protrusion  355  is formed at a first portion  351  of an adjacent rim  35  by punching the first portion  351  of the adjacent rim  35 . An axis of the protrusion  355  is parallel to an axis of the positioning hole  354 . Each two adjacent rims  35  are fixed to each other by the protrusion  355  of one rim  35  being engagingly received in the positioning hole  354  of the other rim  35 . Thus, connecting each two adjacent rims  35  via the locking unit  353  is simple, and assembling the LCD of the second embodiment is convenient. 
         [0027]    In alternative embodiments, the positioning hole  354  can instead be a blind hole or a depressed portion corresponding to the respective protrusion  355 . In such case, a height of the corresponding protrusion  355  is less than or equal to a depth of the blind hole or depressed portion. Furthermore, the positions of the positioning hole  354  and the protrusion  355  in each locking unit  353  can be exchanged. That is, the positioning hole  354  can be disposed at the first portion  351  of one of the rims  35 , and the protrusion  355  can be disposed at the second portion  352  of the adjacent rim  35 . 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , this shows part of a precursor of a first frame  41  of a third embodiment of an LCD, the precursor not yet folded to form the first frame  41 . The LCD of the third embodiment differs from the LCD of the second embodiment only in that each of rims  45  of the first frame  41  of the LCD is generally isosceles trapezoidal, all portions of all the rims  45  are coplanar with one another, and a generally isosceles triangular cutout (not labeled) is defined between each two adjacent rims  45 . Two generally symmetrically opposite end edges of each two adjacent rims  45  define each cutout. The two end edges correspond to the two equal-length sides of the cutout, respectively. A locking unit (not labeled) of each two adjacent rims  45  includes a buckle  454  and a socket  455 . 
         [0029]    The socket  455  has a shape of a “T”, and is formed at a center portion of one end edge of each rim  45 , from the end edge to the inside of the rim  45 . The socket  455  includes a first part (not labeled) and a second part (not labeled) which cooperatively form the “T” shape. The first part is the crossbar part of the “T” shape, and is parallel to the end edge of the rim  45 . The second part is the stem part of the “T” shape, and spans from the first part to the cutout at the end edge. The buckle  454  of one rim  45  corresponds to the socket  455  of the adjacent rim  45 , and perpendicularly extends from a center portion of the end edge of the rim  45 . The buckle  454  includes two parallel, symmetrically opposite elastic elements  456 . Each elastic element  456  includes a straight part  458  and a hook  457  integrated with the straight part  458 . A bending direction of the hook  457  of one elastic element  456  is symmetrically opposite to a bending direction of the hook  457  of the other elastic element  456 . Each two adjacent rims  45  are fixed to each other by latching the buckle  454  of one rim  45  in the socket  455  of the other rim  45 . The rims  45  of the first frame  41  have simple structures and can be made conveniently. 
         [0030]    It should be pointed out that in alternative embodiments, the first frame is not limited to having four rims. For example, the first frame can include five, six or more rims arranged end to end. Accordingly, the first frame can include five, six or more sidewalls corresponding to the rims  25 ,  25 ′,  35 ,  45 , respectively. Furthermore, the rims  25 ,  25 ′,  35 ,  45  can instead have other regular shapes, such as rectangular shapes, or irregular shapes, or a combination of regular shapes and irregular shapes. 
         [0031]    It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments or sacrificing all of their material advantages.