Abstract:
The disclosed embodiments relate to a display device with a speaker grill. More specifically, there is provided a display device ( 10 ) comprising a display screen ( 16 ), a frame ( 14 ) disposed around the display screen ( 16 ), and a speaker grill ( 18 ) coupled to the frame ( 14 ) and the display screen ( 16 ), wherein the display screen ( 16 ) is lodged between a support bracket ( 22 ) of the speaker grill ( 18 ) and an edge portion ( 23 ) of the speaker grill ( 18 ).

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to provisional U.S. Application No. 60/641,825 filed on Jan. 5, 2005. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to video and audio systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to a display device with an improved speaker grill.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art which may be related to various aspects of the present invention that are described below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.  
         [0004]     Display devices such as televisions and computer monitors may incorporate speakers. Accordingly, such devices may incorporate speaker grills. Some display devices may comprise a metal frame in which plastic speaker grills are mounted. Alignment of the speaker grills with the frame may be desirable to achieve specific design goals related to the appearance of the display device. A cost effective manner of mounting a speaker grill on a display device is desirable.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     Certain aspects commensurate in scope with the disclosed embodiments are set forth below. It should be understood that these aspects are presented merely to provide the reader with a brief summary of certain forms the invention might take and that these aspects are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Indeed, the invention may encompass a variety of aspects that may not be set forth below.  
         [0006]     The disclosed embodiments relate to a display device with a speaker grill. More specifically, there is provided a display device comprising a display screen, a frame disposed around the display screen, and a speaker grill coupled to the frame and the display screen, wherein the display screen is lodged between a support bracket of the speaker grill and an edge portion of the speaker grill. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]     Advantages of the invention may become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a display device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a front view of a display device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of a speaker grill assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a speaker grill assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is another perspective view of a speaker grill assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 ; and  
         [0014]      FIG. 7  is a speaker grill in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0015]     One or more specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below. In an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, not all features of an actual implementation are described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions may be made to achieve the developers&#39; specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure.  
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a display device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The display device is generally referred to by a reference numeral  10 . The display device  10  comprises two speaker grills  18 , which cover separate speakers (not shown). While two speaker grills  18  are shown in  FIG. 1 , those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that any number of speaker grills may be employed in embodiments of the invention. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the two speaker grills  18  are disposed on each side of the display device  10 . The display device  10  includes a display screen  16 . A frame  14 , which may comprise metal such as aluminum, is disposed around the display screen  16  and the speaker grills  18 . A frame side member  15  is disposed adjacent to each of the speaker grills  18 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a front view of a display device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The display device is generally indicated by the reference numeral  20 . The display device  20  may comprise any type of display device known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Exemplary display devices include a television (such as a Digital Light Processing System (DLP)), a flat panel display (such as a plasma screen or an LCD panel), a computer monitor, or the like.  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of a speaker grill assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The speaker grill assembly is generally referred to by the reference numeral  30 . A speaker grill  18 , which may comprise plastic, is disposed for slidable engagement with the frame  14 . An end assembly  25  is disposed for slidable engagement with the speaker grill and the frame  14 . One frame side member  15  is coupled to the end assembly  25  so that the frame side member  15  abuts the frame  14  when the end assembly  25  is engaged therein. The end assembly  25  is adapted to engage the speaker grill  18  via slidable motion as indicated by an arrow  19 . The speaker grill  18  is adapted to engage the frame  14  via slidable motion as indicated by an arrow  21 . The speaker grill  18  comprises an edge portion  23 , which is adapted to overlap the display screen  16 , as will be fully described below.  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a speaker grill assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The speaker grill assembly is generally referred to by a reference numeral  40 . The speaker grill assembly  40  comprises a grill support bracket  22 . Additional details regarding the grill support bracket  22  are shown below with reference to  FIG. 5 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  is another perspective view of a speaker grill assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The speaker grill assembly is generally referred to by a reference numeral  50 . When assembled, the speaker grill  18  is engaged and secured by the frame  14  and the frame side member  15 . The speaker grill  18  is attached to the grill support bracket  22 . The grill support bracket  22  may be secured to the frame  14  via a fastening mechanism  25 , such as a screw or the like. The grill support bracket  22  may include a horizontal centering member  24 . The horizontal centering member  24  provides for horizontal centering of the grill support bracket  22  with respect to the speaker grill  18 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the grill support bracket  22  acts to support the display screen  16  in position.  FIG. 5  also includes the lines G- 6  that illustrate a cross-sectional area further illustrated in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 . The speaker grill assembly is generally referred to with the reference numeral  60 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the display screen  16  is sandwiched between the grill support bracket  22  and the edge portion  23  of the speaker grill  18 . In other words, the display screen  16  is lodged or disposed between the support bracket  22  and the edge portion  23 . In one embodiment, the display screen  16  is lodged in a guide slot or channel formed by a cantilevered support bracket  22  and a cantilevered edge portion  23 . In alternate embodiments, the support bracket  223  and the edge portion  23  may be partially or fully recessed with the speaker grill  18 . The securing mechanism  23  of the grill support bracket  22  is secured to the speaker grill  18  by a screw  28 . Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other appropriate devices may be employed to secure the grill support bracket  22  to the speaker grill  18 .  
         [0022]     The other end of the speaker grill  18  is secured by the frame side member  15 . The frame side member  15  abuts a cabinet  26  of the display device  10  (See  FIG. 1 ).  
         [0023]      FIG. 7  is a speaker grill in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The speaker grill  18  comprises a biasing portion or “preload”  30 , which is adapted to bias the speaker grill  18  towards the front of the frame  14 . Two biasing portions  30  are illustrated in  FIG. 7 ; however, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that fewer or more biasing portions  30  may be employed. A biasing portion or “preload”  32  is adapted to bias the speaker grill  18  towards the center of the display screen  16 . The speaker grill  18  further comprises a biasing portion or “preload”  34  which operates to center the speaker grill  18 .  
         [0024]     The speaker grill  18  comprises a registration member  35 . The registration member  35  acts to register the speaker grill  18  with respect to the metal frame  14 . The speaker grill  18  may also include one or more bosses  36 . The bosses  36  provide support for attachment of the speaker grill  18  to the grill support bracket  22  (See  FIG. 5 ).  
         [0025]     While the invention may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following appended claims.