WO2006100178A1

WO2006100178A1 - Flat screen display device comprising points for fixing said screen to a cabinet

Info

Publication number: WO2006100178A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/060546
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christian Yves Allaire; Roger Restif; Jacques Dezille
Original assignee: Thomson Licensing
Priority date: 2005-03-23
Filing date: 2006-03-08
Publication date: 2006-09-28
Also published as: CN101147112A; CN101147112B; JP5000634B2; KR101225030B1; FR2883657A1; EP1866726A1; KR20070112790A; JP2008538144A

Abstract

The invention relates to a display device comprising a flat screen (11), a cabinet (10, 12) and points for fixing the screen to the cabinet, each of said points comprising a monolithic damper (18). According to the invention, the screen is connected to the cabinet by means of dampers, such that the screen can move in relation to the cabinet in all directions.

Description

Flat screen display device with points for attaching the screen to a cabinet.

1. Field of the invention The present invention relates to the field of screens and more specifically the fixing of flat screens, for example of LCD or liquid crystal display type.

2. State of the art

According to the state of the art, the flat screens are fixed rigidly to a box. This technique does not allow good impact resistance.

In order to improve the mechanical strength of these screens, the patent document US 2004/01182979 filed by the company Siemens® discloses a screen fixing system to a box which comprises four units each associated with a corner of the screen. According to this technique, each of the units comprises an elastic positioning element and an antivibration element. The positioning element is composed of a nut and a piece ensuring a spacing between the screen and the box. The antivibration element comprises a damper, filled with gel plated on one side against the box and on the other side against a pusher piece which, itself, is pressed against the LCD screen. The damper consists of two separate parts is held in place by a retaining ring and a nut. This technique has the disadvantage of being relatively complex to implement. 3. Summary of the invention.

The invention aims to overcome these disadvantages of the prior art.

More particularly, the invention aims to allow a flat screen fixation on a box that has good resistance to shock and / or vibration while remaining relatively simple to implement.

For this purpose, the invention proposes a display device comprising a flat screen, a box and fixing points of the screen to the box, each of the points comprising a damper. The device is remarkable in that each of the dampers is monolithic and that the screen is connected to the cabinet via the dampers so as to allow relative movement of the screen relative to the cabinet in all directions.

According to a preferred characteristic, each damper comprises at least one groove and the box comprises guide means of the box relative to each of the dampers.

Thus, the positioning of the screen in the box is facilitated, while allowing a simple implementation.

Preferably, each damper comprises a recess in which is positioned a rod fixed to the screen and providing a mechanical connection between the damper and the screen.

Advantageously, the rod comprises a cylindrical portion and a head of diameter greater than the cylindrical portion.

According to a preferred characteristic, the head is housed in the damper. According to an advantageous characteristic, the device comprises a part at least partially tubular and rigid, the tubular and rigid portion being inserted between the cylindrical portion of the rod and the damper to limit the stroke of the rod, the head of the rod being applied against one end of the tubular and rigid part. According to a particular characteristic, the piece is a rivet whose head opposite the end is pressed against the screen.

According to another characteristic, the stem does not include a head.

Preferably, each damper is cylindrical.

Advantageously, each damper has one or more smooth peripheral faces.

According to an advantageous characteristic, the box comprises at least one stop applying against the peripheral face or faces of the damper associated with each of the attachment points.

Preferably, the box comprises a front face and a rear face integral and, for each of the attachment points, at least one of the front and rear faces comprises at least one stop applying against one or more peripheral faces of the damper associated with each fixing point and / or guide means for positioning the damper. Advantageously, each of the dampers is made of an elastomeric material or natural rubber. Preferably, each of the dampers has a hardness greater than or equal to 50 Shore A and less than or equal to 70 Shore A.

According to a particular characteristic, the screen is a liquid crystal screen. 4. List of figures.

The invention will be better understood, and other features and advantages will appear on reading the description which follows, the description referring to the appended drawings among which:

- Figure 1 illustrates a very schematic front view of a display device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows an overall view of a point of attachment of a flat screen to the box of the device of FIG. 1;

- Figure 3 shows in more detail the fixing point of Figure 2;

- Figure 4 is a section of the fixing point of Figure 2; - Figure 5 is a side view of the attachment point of Figure 2;

FIG. 6 illustrates a guide lug associated with the box in the point of attachment of FIG. 2;

- Figure 7 schematically illustrates a top view of a display device according to a variant of the invention; and FIG. 8 shows a section of a point of attachment of the device of FIG. 7.

5. Detailed description of the invention.

The general principle of the invention is therefore based on a floating flat screen assembly, the connection between the cabinet and the screen being made by monolithic dampers. Thus, the invention is relatively simple to implement (simple components and relatively easy assembly) while allowing good mechanical strength of the assembly.

Each damper is preferably connected by a rod to the screen, the rod being positioned in a recess of the damper, which has the advantage of being relatively simple to implement and mechanically solid. Here we call rod any elongated mechanical element; it may be, for example, a screw or a rod comprising a threaded portion screwed (and possibly glued) to the screen and a non-threaded portion or not, with a uniform section or not positioned in the recess of the shock absorber. Figure 1 schematically illustrates a rear view of a display device 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The display device 1 comprises: a front panel face 10;

a rear panel 12 of a box;

a flat screen 11, preferably with a thickness of between 30 and 50 mm, for example of the LCD type marketed by SAMSUNG®; and

four fixing points 13 to 16 positioned near the angles of the screen 11.

Figure 2 shows the attachment point 13, in a perspective view (from the rear). The attachment point 13 comprises:

a fixing and guiding lug 100 associated with the front face 10;

a rear stop 120 associated with the rear face 12;

a fixing screw 17 (rod comprising a partially or totally threaded portion and a head of greater diameter);

a damper 18 fixed to the screen 11 by means of the screw 17 and held in place with the tab 100 and the rear stopper 120. The attachment points 14 to 16 are similar to the point of attachment

13 and will not be described further.

The rear stop 120 is preferably made of sheet metal or plastic. It may in particular be part of the rear face 12 during its manufacture (by molding, ...) or added to this rear face 12 (by screwing, gluing, welding, ...).

FIG. 3 illustrates in detail the point of attachment 13. The front face 10 comprises the fixing lug 100 associated with the attachment point 13 and several screwing points 101. The rear face 12 comprises the rear stop 120 associated with the attachment point 13 and a plurality of screw tabs 121 (preferably there are two screw points 101 and two screw tabs 121 associated with each corner of the box, including a screw point and a tab on each side adjacent to the corner as shown in FIG. Figure 2). The rear face 12 and the front face 10 are integrally rigidly secured by means of the screw tabs 121: in each of the tabs 121, a screw (not shown in FIG. 3 for the sake of clarity) is screwed into the point screwing device 101 against which the screwing lug 121 is applied. Figure 4 shows a section of the attachment point 13. The damper 18 is preferably made of a monolithic single piece, which reduces the cost and facilitates its manufacture and assembly of the attachment point. The damper 18 comprises a damping material, preferably having a hardness of between 50 and 70 Shore A. The material of the damper 18 is for example of the SEBS (styrene ethylene butylene styrene) type and is preferably an elastomer or a natural rubber (non-natural rubber is an elastomer).

The damper 18 comprises a recess allowing its screwing with a screw 17 on the screen 11, the axis of the screw and the recess corresponding to a direction XX '. On the other hand, ZZ 'is noted, the axis perpendicular to the backstop 120 and YY' the direction perpendicular to XX 'and ZZ'. The screw 17 comprises a threaded cylindrical portion 171 and a head 170 of diameter greater than the cylindrical portion. In order to maintain the damper 18 on the screen without compressing it or compressing it weakly, a rivet 19 is provided which limits the stroke of the screw 17 while ensuring that the damper 18 is held correctly, the head 170 with the screw being applied against the headless end of the rivet 19. The body 190 of the rivet is housed in the recess of the damper and its head 191 (or bead) in a slight hollow of the damper 18 close to the screen 11. The damper 18 preferably comprises a recess on the opposite side to the screen 11 to allow a housing for the screw head 170 without the latter protruding from the damper 18; thus, the size of the attachment point is limited (advantageously, the head 170 of the screw 17 is flush with the outer surface of the damper 18 opposite the screen along the axis XX '). According to a variant of the invention, the rivet 19 is replaced by a cylindrical tube (which corresponds to a rivet without head) which is housed in the recess of the damper. In this case, the damper does not include a hollow dedicated to the housing of the rivet head. According to another variant of the invention, the screw 17 comprises a threaded portion allowing its screwing and a non-threaded portion (of a length corresponding to the size of the body of the rivet 19) to limit the stroke of the screw during its screwing .

The damper 18 is preferably cylindrical and comprises on the lateral periphery, a groove 181 which surrounds it. This groove 181 allows the passage of the guide lug 100 and the positioning (or centering) of the damper 18. According to a variant of the invention, the damper has a non-cylindrical (eg cubic) shape and includes a groove on one or more sides.

Furthermore, the rear stop 120 is applied against the peripheral face of the damper 18, thus allowing it to be held. The front faces 10 and rear 12 being fixed to one another, the damper is held between the rear stop 120 and the guide lug 100.

Thus, the damper 18 makes it possible to maintain the screen 11 in an equilibrium position, which therefore does not undergo any stress along the directions XX ', YY' and ZZ '. Furthermore, in the event of shock, pressure on the screen (for example, pressure of a user if the screen is touch) and / or vibration, the damper allows the screen 11 to move slightly following one or more of the directions XX ', YY' and ZZ 'and thus to limit or cancel the constraints on the screen 11. Thus, it reduces the risk of breakage of the screen 11 or deterioration of the quality of display of the screen 11. In general, the invention allows mechanical and / or acoustic insulation between the cabinet and the screen.

As an illustration, the outer diameter of the damper 18 is preferably between 15 and 30 mm and is equal, for example, to 23.1 mm; its thickness is preferably between 6 and 20 mm and is, for example, 12.50 mm. The outer diameter of the groove 181 is preferably between 12 and 20 mm and is, for example, 14.1 mm; its thickness is preferably between 2 and 5 mm and equal, for example, to 3.29 mm (which corresponds to the thickness of the guide lug 100) after installation (advantageously, the damper is, during installation slightly crushed by about 0.5 mm in each direction XX ', YY' and ZZ '). The guide lug 100 has a depth such that its end is pressed against the bottom 182 of the groove 181 leaving a clearance of about 0.5 mm between the screen 11 and the front face 10 when the system is in its position. balance position. The outer length of the guide lug is preferably between 24 and 28 mm and, for example, equal to 26.7 mm as illustrated with reference to Figure 5 in the side view, of the attachment point 13, which allows leave a space of 2.3 mm between the end of the guide lug and the stop 120. The distance between the external parts of the lug 100 is preferably between 20 and 60 mm and is, for example, equal to 30 mm. , 1 mm. In order to prevent the dust from entering the device 1, a strip of felt 40 is placed between the periphery of the screen 11 and the front face 10. This strip is in a manner generally flexible enough not to interfere with the slight lateral movements or depth of the screen 11 vis-à-vis the front. The outer diameter of the screw 17 is 4 mm and corresponds to the inside diameter of the recess of the screen 11. This diameter is determined by the manufacturer of the screen 11 and the screw 17 (no screw and diameter) will be, of course, chosen according to the screen 11 to avoid any modification of a standard screen 11. The inside diameter of the recess of the damper 18 is 5 mm. The space between the inside diameter of this recess and the screw 17 is filled by the rivet 19. The dimensions given for illustrative purposes allow movements of the screen 11 vis-à-vis the box of the device 1 of a value +/- 0.5 mm following ZZ 'or YY' and +/- 1 mm following XX '.

Of course, these dimensions are given purely by way of illustration and, according to the invention, the dimensions of the damper, the stops, the guide tabs, the rivet and the screw can be adapted according to the mechanical constraints, desired damping and maximum tolerances. In general, the larger the shock absorber, the greater the damping and the tolerances on the relative movements of the screen relative to the cabinet. On the other hand, in order to limit the size and the cost of the fixing points, it is preferable to limit the size of their elements.

The screw preferably has a head allowing easy screwing by a suitable tool (screwdriver, Allen key, Torx key, ...). According to a variant of the invention, the damper does not include a recess for housing the screw head. According to this variant, the screw head is unspecified (head adapted for screwdriving with screwdriver or male key but also head, for example, hexagonal adapted for screwing with a female key). According to another variant, the screw is replaced by a rod screwed and / or glued to the screen (possibly with a stop ring for locking the rod and a limitation of the stroke of the rod relative to the screen ), and a nut is screwed on this rod (integrated in a dedicated recess of the damper or screwed against the damper).

Figure 6 shows a side view of the bracket 100 (viewed along the axis XX ').

The fixing lug 100 comprises a hollow portion 1000 pressing against the groove 182 of the groove 181, a chamfer 1001 and a flared portion 1002 facilitating the introduction of the damper 18. It also comprises two edges 1005 and 1006 plus thick than the others parts of the bracket 100 which provide good rigidity of the tab 100. Preferably, the edges 1005 and 1006 are flared (substantially parallel flare that of the portion 1002) and comprise at their free end a slope as visible on the 3 also to facilitate the installation of the damper 18 when it is attached to the screen 11 (the side portion of the damper 18 can slide on this slope during manufacture, when the damper 18 is in instead, it does not touch the edges 1005 and 1006). The fixing lug 100 may be molded to the front face 10 or fixed in any way (gluing, screwing) to the outer portion 103 of the front face 10. It is, for example, plastic or metal material.

The mounting of the screen 11 of the device 1 is thus relatively easy and economical:

during a first step, the damper 18 fitted with the rivet 19 is screwed onto the screen 11 and the felt 40 is put in place;

- Then, it comes to position the screen 11 on the front face 10 (for example horizontal) (this operation being facilitated by the shape of the lug 100); and - it comes to apply and fix the rear face 12 on the front face 10.

Thus, the invention not only allows the use of relatively simple parts to implement but also an easy assembly (and therefore economical) of the display device. Figure 7 shows a display device 7 according to another particular embodiment of the invention.

The device 7 comprises a front face 72, a rear face 70 and a screen 11, the screen being able to move slightly during an impact, pressure and / or vibration along axes ZZ 'axis perpendicular to the screen) , XX '(axis along the width of the screen) and / or YY' (axis along the height of the screen 11, perpendicular to the axes ZZ 'and XX').

The elements common to devices 1 and 7 have the same names and references and will not be described further.

The respectively front 72 and rear 70 faces respectively comprise fixing points 720 to 724 and fastening tabs 702 to 704 distributed on their periphery and allowing the rear face 70 to be fixed on the front face 72. Four dampers 73 and 74 are fixed to the screen 11 and positioned near the corners of the screen 11. The rear face 70 comprises, in front of each damper 73 and 74, a stop 701 or 702 which limits the displacement along the axes. XX 'and YY'. Figure 8 shows in more detail the attachment point associated with the damper 74. The other attachment points associated with a damper of the device 7 are similar and will not be described further.

The damper 74 is monolithic and comprises a damping material, preferably having a hardness of between 50 and 70 Shore A. The material of the damper 18 is for example of the SEBS (styrene ethylene butylene styrene) type and is preferably an elastomer or a natural rubber. It has a cylindrical shape with a longitudinal inner recess, the peripheral face being smooth (that is to say without groove). For example, the inside and outside diameters are 4 mm and 23.1 mm. According to a variant of the invention, the damper has a non-cylindrical shape (for example cubic or hexagonal).

A screw 80 is screwed onto the screen 11. It comprises a threaded portion 800 and a head 801 housed in a recess of the damper 74. The length of the head 801 is about 2 mm less than the depth of the spring. recess. In general, the length of the head 801 is close to the depth of the recess for a good retention of the damper 74 but preferably allows a clearance greater than or equal to 1 mm between the stop 702 to allow a displacement of the screen following the direction XX '. The front face 72 comprises a stop 726 which limits the movement of the damper 74 along the directions ZZ 'and YY'. Preferably, the stop 726 comprises a flat or semi-cylindrical portion 7261 which is applied against the damper 74 thus limiting its displacement along the direction ZZ '. It also comprises a flat portion 7260 (or semi-cylindrical in the continuity of the portion 7261) which limits the movement of the damper 74 along the axis YY '. According to a particular embodiment, the portion 7260 has an outwardly flared profile which facilitates the positioning of the screen 11 on the front face 72 during assembly. The rear face 70 comprises a stop 702 which itself comprises a flat portion 7021 limiting the displacement of the damper 74 in the direction XX 'by combining the effects of the four stops associated with the dampers of the device 7 (the two stops 702 (respectively 701) prevent movement to the right (respectively the left) according to Figure 7) and a flat or semi-cylindrical portion 7020 limiting the displacement of the damper 74 according to the direction ZZ '.

The mounting of the screen 11 of the device 7 is also relatively easy and economical:

during a first step, the screw 80 and then the damper 74 are positioned on the screen 11 and the felt 40 is put in place;

- Then, it comes to position the screen 11 on the front face 72; and

- It comes to apply and fix the rear face 70 on the front face 72 (and the rear and front faces are integral). According to a variant of the invention, the portion 7260 of the stop 726 is reduced (to retain a guiding function) or replaced by a stop attached to the stop 702 to limit the displacement of the damper 74 along the axis YY ' and guide the positioning of the back face during assembly. According to a variant of the invention, the abutments 702 and 706 are associated with only one of the front faces 72 or rear 70. In this case, they can form two separate pieces or a single monolithic piece (U-shaped). According to this variant, the abutments are preferably fixed (for example, by screwing, gluing or welding) to the corresponding face after positioning on a damper already attached to the screen and before fixing this face on the other side of the box.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above.

In particular, the skilled person may implement a device with a number of screen attachment points not necessarily equal to four, but for example equal to three, five or more (depending in particular on the size of the screen. screen, of its type, of the manufacturer, ...) and / or a position not necessarily lateral (for example on the top or the bottom of the screen). Moreover, the invention does not limit the fixing of LCD type screens but concerns all flat screens, which have a thickness in particular between 30 and 50 mm. The invention also relates to flat screen display devices, in which the damper is fixed to the box (front and / or rear face), a stop and / or a guide being screwed on the screen to limit the movements. along the directions XX ', YY' and ZZ '(guide or stop to limit the displacements perpendicular to the screen, stop to limit the displacements according to the other directions, possibly, by combination of the effects of several dampers).

The invention also relates to devices where the damper is not connected to the screen by a rod or a stop but by any other means, for example, by mechanical means (including several rods) or by gluing.

Claims

1. Display device (1) comprising a flat screen (11), a box (10, 12, 70, 72) and attachment points (13, 14, 15, 16) of said screen to the box, each of the points comprising a damper, characterized in that each of the dampers (18, 80) is monolithic and said screen is connected to said cabinet via said dampers so as to allow relative movement of said screen relative to said cabinet in all directions and in that each damper (18) comprises at least one groove (181) and that said box comprises means (100) for guiding the box relative to each of said dampers.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that each damper comprises a recess in which is positioned a rod (17,80) fixed to said screen and providing a mechanical connection between said damper and said screen.

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that said rod (17, 80) comprises a cylindrical portion (171, 800) and a head (170, 801) of greater diameter than the cylindrical portion.

4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that said head is housed in said damper.

5. Device according to any one of claims 3 and 4, characterized in that said device comprises a part (19) at least partly tubular and rigid, the tubular and rigid portion (190) interposed between said cylindrical portion of said rod and said damper for limiting the stroke of said rod, the head (170) of said rod being applied against one end of the tubular and rigid portion.

6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that said piece is a rivet (19) whose head (191) opposite said end is pressed against said screen.

7. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that said rod does not include a head.

8. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that each damper is cylindrical.

9. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that each damper (74) has one or more smooth peripheral faces.

10. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said cabinet comprises at least one stop (120, 7020, 7021, 726) applying against the peripheral face or faces of the damper associated with each of said attachment points.

11. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that said box comprises a front face (10, 72) and a rear face (12, 70) integral and in that for each of the attachment points and in that at least one of the front or rear faces comprises at least one stop applying against one or more peripheral faces of the associated damper each of said attachment points.

12. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that said box comprises a front face (10, 72) and a rear face (12, 70) integral and in that, for each of the attachment points at least one of the front or rear faces comprises guiding means for positioning said damper.

13. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, each of said dampers is made of an elastomeric material or natural rubber.

14. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, each of said dampers has a hardness greater than or equal to 50 shore A and less than or equal to 70 shore A.

15. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that said screen (11) is a liquid crystal screen.