US20080078898A1

US20080078898A1 - Removable device and display device with the removable device

Info

Publication number: US20080078898A1
Application number: US11/862,439
Authority: US
Inventors: Wei-Shin She; Chun-Jung Tsuo
Original assignee: BenQ Corp; Qisda Corp
Current assignee: BenQ Corp; Qisda Corp
Priority date: 2006-09-29
Filing date: 2007-09-27
Publication date: 2008-04-03
Also published as: TWI333785B; TW200816808A

Abstract

A removable device and a display device with the removable device are provided. The removable device is removably connected to a frame having a surface. The surface has an opening formed therein. The device includes a receiving member, a cover, an elastic member, and a plate. The receiving member is disposed in the opening and connected to the frame. The receiving member provides a receiving space for accommodating the elastic member. The plate is detachably mounted on the frame. When the plate is mounted on the frame, the cover presses the elastic member so as to be received within the receiving space. When the plate is detached from the frame, the elastic member provides an elastic force pushing the cover to be substantially coplanar with the surface of the frame.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to a receiving device and a display device having the receiving device, and more particularly to a removable receiving device and a display device having the removable receiving device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The traditional displays, such as vacuum tube televisions and vacuum tube computer displays, are large, and generally, there is a flat top of the display, on which the user can put some decorations, such as pictures, or other auxiliary electronic products, such as an antenna, a remote controller, a web-cam, and a microphone. However, the thin display devices, such as LCD displays and plasma displays, are getting popular recently, and are replacing the traditional displays gradually. While LCD displays are thinner than the traditional displays, it is difficult for users to put things above the frame of them.
Therefore, there is a need to provide a removable device and a display device having the removable device, to allow users to put several things above the top of the thin display device, and also allow users to detach the removable device from the display without affecting of the appearance of the display device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention is to provide a display device having a removable device. The display device is assembled with the removable device, on which decorations or other auxiliary electronic products can be placed. The removable device can be detached from the display device without affecting of the appearance of the display device.
In one embodiment, a display device includes a casing, a receiving member, a cover, and a plate. The casing has a surface. The receiving member is connected to the casing and has a receiving space. The cover movably connects to the receiving member. And the plate is detachably mounted on the casing. When the plate is mounted on the casing, the cover is moved to a first end of the receiving member within the receiving space. When the plate is detached from the casing, the cover is moved to a second end of the receiving member and is substantially coplanar with the surface of the casing.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a removable device for connecting to a frame. The size and the shape of the removable device may be changed according to the practical usage, and can be assembled in all kinds of equipment and furniture having frames, so as to provide additional space for placing personal items.
In another embodiment, the frame has a surface, and the surface has an opening. The removable device includes a receiving member, a cover, an elastic member, a receiving member, and a plate. The receiving member has a receiving space and is mounted on the frame in the opening. The cover movably connects to the receiving member. The elastic member is accommodated in the receiving space. And the plate is detachably mounted on the frame. When the plate is mounted on the frame, the cover presses the elastic member to be accommodated within the receiving space. When the plate is detached from the frame, the elastic member provides an elastic force pushing the cover to be substantially coplanar with the surface of the frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A illustrates a schematic view in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1B illustrates an exploded view in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1C illustrates a partial view of FIG. 1B;

FIG. 1D illustrates a schematic view of the frame, the receiving member, the elastic member, and the cover when the cover moves to a second end of the receiving member;

FIG. 1E illustrates a schematic view of the frame, the receiving member, the elastic member, and the cover when the cover moves to a first end of the receiving member;

FIG. 1F illustrates a bottom view of the plate and the connecting member in accordance with the first specific embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic view of the rotateably removable device in accordance with the first specific embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view in accordance with the second specific embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic view in accordance with the second specific embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic view of the display device without the removable device in accordance with the second specific embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention fulfills the need of users by providing a display device, where a removable device for accommodating decorations, auxiliary electronic products, or personal items is optionally mounted on the display device. According to the user, the removable device can be detached from the display device without substantially affecting the appearance of the display device. The present invention may best be understood by reference to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings from FIG. 1A to FIG. 5.
Refer to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B showing a first embodiment of the present invention, where a removable device 100 is detachably mounted on a frame 110 having a surface 116, and an opening 112 is formed on the surface 116. In the embodiment, the frame 110 is a casing or a holder of a display device. However, the frame 110 can be any casing or holder having a removable device 100 disposed in the opening 112, but should not be limited to this embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1B, the removable device 100 includes a receiving member 120, a cover 130, a plate 140, a connecting member 150, and an elastic member 160. Having a receiving space 125, the receiving member 120 is accommodated in the opening 112 and is connected to the frame 110. The elastic member 160 is accommodated in the receiving member 120, and the cover 130 is movably connected to the receiving member 120. The plate 140 is connected to the connecting member 150.
FIG. 1C further shows components shown in FIG. 1B in more detail. The frame 110 has an opening 112 for receiving the receiving member 120. The receiving member 120 includes an upper edge 123 and a body 124. And on one side of the body 124, the receiving member 120 has a mounting structure 121, such as a hook. To be connected to the frame 110, the receiving member 120 is inserted into the opening 112 from the surface 116, and the body 124 is located within the opening 112 of the frame 110 and the upper edge 123 is substantially coplanar with the surface 116 of the frame 110. When the receiving member 120 is assembled with the frame 110, the mounting structure 121 is engaged with the upper edge 114 of the frame 110 to fasten the receiving member 120 to the frame 110, to prevent the receiving member 120 from being detached from the frame 110 too easily.
The receiving member 120 and the body 124 include grooves 122, and the cover 130 has a hook 132, which corresponds to the groove 122 of the receiving member 120. The elastic member 160 is accommodated in the receiving space 125 of the receiving member 120, and the cover 130 is disposed above the elastic member 160 and is movably connected to the receiving member 120. That is, the hook 132 of the cover 130 moves within the groove 122, and stops at the one end of the groove 122 to prevent the cover 130 from being detached from the receiving member 120.
Then refer to FIG. 1D, which illustrates the frame 110, the receiving member 120, the elastic member 160, and the cover 130. The receiving member 120 has a position device 126 for fixing the elastic member 160, so as to avoid mis-alignment when the cover 130 presses the elastic member 160. Besides, the cover 130 further includes a pillar 134 for positioning the elastic member 160. For example, the pillar 134 moves through the elastic member 160 (for example, through the hole of a spring), and is combined with the elastic member 160 so as to avoid mis-alignment when the elastic member 160 is pressed. The receiving member 120 has a through hole 127 on the bottom of the body 124; when the cover 130 is moved, the pillar 134 is allowed to move via the through hole 127.
Refer to FIG. 1D and FIG. 1E, which illustrate the connection relations and operations among the plate 140, the frame 110, the receiving member 120, the elastic member 160, and the cover 130. In FIG. 1D, the receiving member 120 connects to the frame 110, and the mounting structure 121 is engaged with the upper edge 114 of the frame 110. The elastic member 160 is fixed onto the position device 126 within the receiving member 120, and the pillar 134 of the cover 130 is connected to the elastic member 160 as well as to the receiving member 120. At this time, the cover 130 is at the first end of the receiving member 120. The elastic member 160 provides an elastic force to the cover 130, and the hook 132 stops against the top of the groove 122, so as to limit the elastic force of the elastic member 160 pressing on the cover 130. Meanwhile the cover 130 is substantially coplanar with the surface of the frame 116. Accordingly, when the plate 140 is removed from the frame 110, the cover 130 covers substantially the opening of the receiving space 122 (i.e., the opening of the frame) of the receiving member 120. This design provides the appearance of the frame 110 with a smooth surface.
In FIG. 1E, the plate 140 is assembled with the frame 110. The cover 130 is at the first end of the receiving member 120, and the connecting member 150 presses down the cover 130. When the plate 140 is assembled with the frame 110, the cover 130 presses the elastic member 160 by inserting the receiving member 150 into the frame 110, and the hook 132 is moved along the groove 122. The pillar 134 moves through the opening 127 of the receiving member 120, and meanwhile, portions of the hook 132 and the pillar 134 are exposed to the outside of the receiving member 120 and the space of the opening 112. Thus the opening 112 needs space for receiving the pillar 134 and the hook 132. When the plate 140 is mounted on the frames 110, users can put decorations, note paper, and electric apparatuses (for example, webcam, microphone) etc., on the plate 140. When the users doesn't need the plate 140 for putting things, he can detach the plate 140 from the frame 110, and the cover 130 is moved to the second end of the receiving member 120 of FIG. 1D.
Referring back to FIG. 1C, the receiving member 150 includes a protrusion 152 and a hole corresponding to the protrusion 152 in the receiving member 120 to engage with the protrusion 152. In an embodiment, the groove 122 of the receiving member 120 can replace the hole for being engaged with the protrusion 152. Thus there is no need to provide an additional hole. Alternatively, the receiving member 120 can have a corresponding hole in the place corresponding to the location of the protrusion 152. Note that the shape, the size, and the location of the protrusion 152 should not be limited to the illustrated embodiments of the present invention. The protrusion 152 is expected to help the combination of the plate 140 and the frame 110, but should not hinder the user from detaching the plate 140.
In addition, the connecting member 150 further includes a first connecting opening 154, and the plate 140 has a second connecting opening 142, as shown in FIG. 1F, to correspond to the opening 154. Thus a screw 170 or other connecting means is able to connect the plate 140 and the connecting member 150 via two connecting openings. In an embodiment, to simplify the design and the manufacture, the plate 140 and the connecting member 150 are integrally formed by an injection mold, so the first connecting opening 154 and the second connecting opening 142 do not need to be formed additionally. Meanwhile the screw 170 can be saved.
Referring back to FIG. 1A, the removable device 100 is disposed on a frame 110. Then FIG. 1B shows the receiving member 150 connected to the plate 140. The receiving member 150 is inserted into the receiving space 125 of the receiving member 120 of the frame 10 to form a frame with a removable device 100. When the plate 140 is disposed on the frame 110, the connecting member 120 touches against the cover 130, and the connecting member 120 is received in the receiving space 125. The cover 130 is pressed down by the receiving member 150, and is at the first end of the receiving member 120 as described above, as shown in FIG. 1E. The protrusion 152 of the connecting member 150 is engaged with the groove 122 so as to prevent the plate 140 from shocks and detachment from the receiving member 120.
When the plate 140 is removed, the protrusion 152 is detached from the groove 122 by providing a force. Now the connecting member 150 doesn't touch against the cover 130. The elastic member 160 provides an elastic force pushing the cover 130 to be substantially coplanar with the surface 116 of the frame 110, as shown in FIG. 1D, and the cover 130 is at the second end of the receiving member 120 as described above.
In another embodiment, the removable device 200 is rotatably connected to the frame 210, as shown in FIG. 2. The connecting member (not show) is mounted on the plate 240 with a rotating axis, and the user can adjust the direction of the plate.
Referring to FIG.3, the present invention provides another embodiment of the display device 300 having a removable device. The display device 300 includes a casing 310, a receiving member 320, a cover 330, a plate 340, a connecting member 350, and a elastic member 360. The casing 310 connects to the receiving member 320, and the plate 340 is mounted on the connecting member 350 and is detachably connected to the casing 310.
The features and the operations of the receiving member 320, the cover 330, the plate 340, the connecting member 350, and the elastic member 360 can be understood via the first embodiment described above. The casing 310 and the receiving member 320 are integrally formed by an injection mold, and the plate and the connecting member 350 are also integrally formed by an injection mold. The size and the shape of the plate 340 are not limited to the illustrated embodiments, and can be modified according to the practical usage. For example, the length of the plate can be elongated or shortened, or can be a concave plate. As shown in FIG. 4, when the display device connects to the removable device, the cover 330 is located at the first end of the receiving member 120, similar to the first embodiment. Also shown in FIG. 5, when the removable device is detached, the cover 330 is located at the second end of the receiving member 120, similar to the first embodiment.
By means of the detailed descriptions of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments of the subject invention, it is expected that the features and the gist thereof be clearly described. Nevertheless, these embodiments are not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Instead, it will be well understood that any analogous variations and equivalent arrangements will fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A display device, comprising:

a casing having a surface;

a receiving member having a receiving space, the receiving member connecting to the casing;

a cover movably connecting to the receiving member; and

a plate detachably mounted on the casing;

wherein the cover moves to a first end of the receiving member within the receiving space when the plate is mounted on the casing, and the cover moves to a second end of the receiving member and is substantially coplanar with the surface of the casing when the plate is detached from the casing.

2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the casing comprises an opening formed on the surface, the receiving member comprises an upper edge and a body, and wherein when the receiving member connects to the casing, the receiving member is inserted into the opening with the body being disposed in the opening and the upper edge being substantially coplanar with the surface.

3. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the plate comprises a connecting member, and wherein when the plate is mounted on the casing, the connecting member touches against the cover, and the connecting member is received in the receiving space.

4. The display device according to claim 3, wherein the plate is detachably connected to the connecting member.

5. The display device according to claim 3, wherein the plate is rotateably connected to the connecting member.

6. The display device according to claim 3, wherein the connecting member comprises a protrusion, the receiving member comprises a hole, and wherein the protrusion is engaged with the hole when the plate is mounted on the casing.

7. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a hook, the receiving member comprises a groove corresponding to the hook, and wherein the hook moves along the groove when the plate is mounted on or detached from the casing.

8. The display device according to claim 7 wherein the hook stops at one end of the groove when the plate is detached from the casing.

9. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising an elastic member accommodated in the receiving space, wherein the cover presses the elastic member when the plate is mounted on the casing, and the elastic member provides an elastic force pushing the cover to the second end when the plate is detached from the casing.

10. The display device according to claim 9, wherein the cover comprises a pillar for coupling with the elastic member so as to position the elastic member.

11. The display device according to claim 10, wherein the receiving member comprises a through hole, and the pillar moves in the through hole when the cover moves to press the elastic member.

12. The display device according to claim 9, wherein the receiving member comprises two protrusions for coupling with the elastic member.

13. A removable device for connecting to a frame, the frame having a surface, and the surface having an opening, the removable device comprising:

a receiving member mounted on the frame in the opening, the receiving member having a receiving space;

a cover movably connecting to the receiving member;

an elastic member accommodated in the receiving space; and

a plate detachably mounted on the frame;

wherein the cover presses the elastic member to be accommodated within the receiving space when the plate is mounted on the frame, and the elastic member provides an elastic force pushing the cover to be substantially coplanar with the surface of the frame when the plate is detached from the frame.

14. The removable device according to claim 13, wherein the receiving member comprises an upper edge and a body, and when the receiving member is connected to the frame, the body is disposed in the opening, and the upper edge is substantially coplanar with the surface of the frame.

15. The removable device according to claim 13, wherein the plate comprises a connecting member, and wherein when the plate is mounted on the frame, the connecting member touches against the cover, and the connecting member is received in the receiving space.

16. The removable device according to claim 15, wherein the connecting member comprises a protrusion, the receiving member comprises a hole, and the protrusion is engaged with the hole when the plate is mounted on the frame.

17. The removable device according to claim 13, wherein the cover comprises a hook, the receiving member comprises a groove corresponding to the hook, and the hook moves along the groove when the plate is mounted on or detached from the frame.

18. The removable device according to claim 13, wherein the cover comprises a pillar for coupling with the elastic member so as to position the elastic member.

19. The removable device according to claim 18, wherein the receiving member comprises a through hole, and the pillar moves in the through hole when the cover moves to press the elastic member.

20. The removable device according to claim 15, wherein the receiving member comprises two protrusions for coupling with the elastic member.