WO2012089477A1

WO2012089477A1 - A display device comprising a housing

Info

Publication number: WO2012089477A1
Application number: PCT/EP2011/072132
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mustafa Ozgur BAYDAROL; Derya Hamarat
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2010-12-30
Filing date: 2011-12-07
Publication date: 2012-07-05
Also published as: EP2659664A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a display device (1) comprising a screen (2), at least one connection unit (3) enabling the external storage means (H) to be connected and a housing (4) wherein the external storage means (H) is placed.

Description

A DISPLAY DEVICE COMPRISING A HOUSING

The present invention relates to a display device comprising a housing that enables the external storage means to be placed therein.

Data display process through external storage means is becoming increasingly widespread in display devices, particularly in televisions. When devices like external disc, music player, video player are connected to the display device by means of the connection units, they are placed on the floor or on the display device for lack of space. This sometimes causes the external storage means to be damaged. Furthermore, a disorganized appearance is formed around the display device which disturbs the user.

Additionally, short cables are supplied generally together with the external storage means by the producer taking into consideration the decrease in data speed when these devices are used with long cables. The external storage means hang in the air and swing when they are connected with short cables to the particularly big sized display devices where the connection unit is disposed at the upper side of the rear cover. This not only results in an unfavorable appearance but also causes some safety problems.

In order to solve this problem, in the state of the art, housings are used that are disposed on the display device and wherein the external storage means are placed. In the state of the art embodiments, the external storage means emit light or sound while operating. This disturbs the user especially in dark surroundings and causes customer dissatisfaction.

In the state of the art United States Patent Application No. US2009086105, a display device is described that comprises a housing enabling the media players to be placed thereon. In this document, embodiments wherein the housing is disposed on the upper side or on the foot of the display device are described.

The aim of the present invention is the realization of a display device wherein the external storage means are placed so as not to disturb the user.

In the display device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, a housing is included wherein the external storage means is placed. The housing is at a position that cannot be seen by the user when the user is watching the image on the display device. The housing is preferably located at the back of the display device. Thus, the user is prevented from being disturbed by the light emitted from the external storage means while operating and the esthetic appearance of the display device is not distorted.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the display device comprises a support member providing it to be seated on a flat surface. In this embodiment, the housing is disposed on the portion of the support member corresponding to the rear of the display device.

In another embodiment of the present invention, in the support member, a foot that is seated on the ground and a leg, extending vertical to the foot, whereon the body of the display device is mounted are situated. In this embodiment, the leg, when mounted to the body, projects from the lower side of the body in order to raise the display device from the ground. Therefore, when the leg is mounted to the foot, a gap remains between the lower surface of the body and the ground. The housing is placed on the support member so as to correspond to the back of the leg and is prevented from being seen from the gap therebetween.

In a variation of this embodiment, the housing is located on the foot. In this embodiment, the base of the housing is disposed on the surface of the foot. The housing comprises at least two upright members and at least two stoppers, both extending upwards from above the foot and providing the external storage means to be supported in two different directions. The external storage means is placed between the upright members and the stoppers. In an embodiment of the present invention, two opposite upright members, extending transversely and in another embodiment, four upright members are provided, disposed so that a gap therebetween in quadrangular shape is formed.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the housing is formed as a recess on the foot, extending inwards from the surface of the foot.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the housing is configured as a recess, formed on the leg and extending from the rear surface towards the front surface of the leg. The housing is located at the portion of the leg between the lower surface of the body and the ground.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the display device comprises a cover that covers the rear side of the body. In this embodiment, the housing is located on the cover. When the display device is desired to be hung on the wall, the support member is dismounted from the display device. In this case, the external storage means can be placed into the housing on the cover.

In a variation of this embodiment, the housing comprises at least one protrusion disposed on the cover and extending outwards like a hook from the cover, and at least two stoppers. The external storage means is placed in the space between the protrusion and the cover and is supported by the stoppers from both sides.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the connection unit is provided on the base of the housing and positioned such that the connection unit of the external storage means can be placed thereon. The connection unit of the external storage means is connected with the connection unit on the housing without any cables. In the preferred variation of this embodiment, the connection unit of the displaying device is configured as protrusion and the connection unit of the external storage means as recess.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the dimensions of the housing can be changed.

In a variation of this embodiment, the housing comprises two upright members, disposed oppositely in the same direction as each other, a vertical channel wherein the upright members move, two stoppers disposed oppositely in the same direction as each other and at least one horizontal channel wherein the stoppers move. The horizontal channel and the vertical channel are configured as grooves located on the foot. The stoppers can move forwards/backwards on the horizontal channel and the upright members on the vertical channel. The distances between the upright members and the stoppers are adjusted depending on the dimensions of the external storage means to be placed into the housing and the housing is accommodated to receive the respective external storage means.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the housing comprises two stoppers and at least one horizontal channel wherein the stoppers move linearly. The horizontal channel is configured like a groove on the cover. The distance between the stoppers is adjusted depending on the width of the external storage means seated between the protrusions and the cover, and the housing is accommodated to receive the respective external storage means.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the connection unit is selected from the group of universal serial bus (USB), high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), e-SATA, IEEE 1394. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the connection unit is universal serial bus (USB).

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the external storage means selected from the group of external hard disk, music player, video player, cell phone is connected to the connection unit. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the external storage means connected to the connection unit is an external hard disk.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the display device is selected from the group of television, monitor, computer.

By means of the present invention, the external storage means placed into the housing located on the display device cannot be seen by the user and thus a disorganized appearance around the display device is prevented. Furthermore, no matter how short the length of the cable supplied with the display device is, it poses no problem since the housing is close to the connection unit and the short cabled external storage means are prevented from forming an unfavorable sight by hanging from the display device. Furthermore, the loss of data that occurs when using long cables is also avoided.

The display device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 – is the sideways view of the display device related to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 – is the view of detail A in Figure 1.

Figure 3 – is the perspective view of the display device related to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 – is the view of detail B in Figure 3.

Figure 5 – is the rear view of the display device related to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 – is the sideways view of the display device related to another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 – is the view of detail C in Figure 6.

Figure 8 – is the perspective view of the display device related to another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 9 – is the view of detail D in Figure 8.

Figure 10 – is the rear view of the display device related to another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 11 – is the perspective view of the support member related to another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 12 – is the top view of the support member related to another embodiment of the present invention.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

Display device
Screen
Connection unit
Housing
Support member
Foot
Leg
Upright member
Stopper
Protrusion
Vertical channel
Horizontal channel
Cover
Body

The abbreviation relating to the supplementary element used in explicating the present invention is given below:

H. External storage means

The display device (1) comprises a screen (2), at least one connection unit (3) enabling the external storage means (H) to be connected and at least one housing (4) wherein the external storage means (H) is placed.

The external storage means (H), when connected to the display device (1), is placed into the said housing (4) in order to prevent visual pollution.

In the display device (1) of the present invention, the housing (4) enables the external storage means (H) to be placed therein such that the user cannot see the external storage means (H) while the user looks at the screen (2) almost oppositely. The housing (4) is positioned to be at the back of the screen (2) so that the external storage means (H) placed therein remains almost entirely behind the screen (2). Thus, the external storage means (H) is provided to be closer to the connection unit (3) which is generally at the rear side of the display device (1). Consequently, a shorter cable is sufficient for connecting the external storage means (H) to the display device (1) and the data loss originating from the use of long cable is prevented. Furthermore, the visual unity is prevented from being distorted since the external storage means (H) cannot be seen by the user when looking at the screen (2) oppositely. Besides, the light emitted by the external storage means (H) while operating is prevented from reaching the user and disturbing the user.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the display device (1) comprises a support member (5) providing it to stand on a ground and the housing (4) that is disposed on the support member (5). In this embodiment, the housing (4) is disposed at the rear of the support member (5) which cannot be seen by the user.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the display device (1) comprises a body (14), the support member (5) having a foot (6) contacting with the ground and a leg (7) that holds the body (14) by extending vertically to the foot (6) and the housing (4) that is positioned so as to remain behind the leg (7). The body (14) is mounted to the leg (7) and the leg (7) to the planar shaped foot (6) that is seated on the ground. In this embodiment, a gap remains between the lower surface of the body (14) and the ground. The housing (4) is disposed on the foot (6) and/or the leg (7) so as to correspond to the back of the leg (7) so that the external storage means (H) is not seen from this gap.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the housing (4) is positioned on the foot (6) so as to remain behind the leg (7). In this embodiment, the housing (4) comprises;

at least two upright members (8) with a gap therebetween at least as much as the thickness of the external storage means (H) to be placed therein and providing the external storage means (H) to be supported from the front and back and
at least two stoppers (9) with a gap therebetween at least as much as the width of the external storage means (H) and providing the external storage means (H) to be supported from the lateral sides.

The upright members (8) and the stoppers (9) are disposed so as to be opposite to each other. The base of the housing (4) is on the foot (6). The external storage means (H), when placed into the housing (4), is supported by the upright members (8) and the stoppers (9) in two different directions and stays in the position it is placed. The upright members (8) and the stoppers (9) are disposed such that the external storage means (H) is seated vertically into the housing (4). In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, there are four upright members (8) and two stoppers (9) (Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3, Figure 4, Figure 5).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the housing (4) is configured as a recess formed on the foot (6). The housing (4), located in the portion of the foot (6) remaining behind the leg (7), is as large and deep as to enable the external storage means (H) to be placed therein.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the housing (4) is configured as a recess formed on the leg (7). The housing (4), preferably located in the portion of the leg (7) remaining between the lower surface of the body (14) and the ground, is as large and deep so as to enable the external storage means (H) to be placed therein. In this embodiment, the external storage means (H) is in vertical position to the leg (7) when placed into the housing (4).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the display device (1) comprises a cover (13) that covers the backside of the body (14) and the housing (4) that is disposed on the cover (13). When the display device (1) is desired to be hung on the wall, the support member (5) is dismounted from the body (14) and the body (14) is hung on the wall by using additional apparatuses. The external storage means (H) is placed to the display device (1) by means of the housing (4) disposed in the cover (13) without distorting visual unity. Furthermore, when the display device (1) is hung to places higher than the ground, the external storage means (H) is prevented from staying in the air by hanging from the display device (1).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the housing (4) is disposed on the cover (13), and comprises

at least one protrusion (10), extending like a hook from the cover (13) outwards, having a distance between its end and the cover (13) at least as much as the thickness of the external storage means (H) to be placed therein and
at least two stoppers (9) with a gap therebetween at least as much as the width of the external storage means (H) and providing the external storage means (H) to be supported from the lateral sides.

The protrusions (10) extending outwards from the cover (13) support the external storage means (H) placed between the protrusions (10) and the cover (13) from one side and the cover (13) supports the external storage means (H) from the other side. The stoppers (9) prevent the external storage means (H) from sliding over the protrusions (10) and falling down. In an embodiment of the present invention, the housing (4) comprises two protrusions (10), with a distance therebetween and in another embodiment, the housing (4) comprises a single groove shaped protrusion (10) that extends in the horizontal direction (Figure 6, Figure 7, Figure 8, Figure 9, Figure 10).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the connection unit (3) is located on the surface whereon the external storage means (H) is seated and provides connection to be established with the external storage means (H) without requiring to use cables when the external storage means (H) is placed into the housing (4). In this embodiment, the projection shaped connection unit (3) on the base of the housing (4) is connected to the recess shaped connection unit (3) on the surface of the external storage means (H) seated on the housing (4) and provides a connection to be established between the display device (1) and the external storage means (H). Ease of use is provided since cable is not used when connecting the display device (1) and the external storage means (H) to each other.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the display device (1) comprises the housing (4) whereof the thickness and width can be adjusted in accordance with dimensions of the external storage means (H). Thus, various external storage means (H) of different sizes and miscellaneous uses are enabled to be placed into the housing (4).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the housing (4) comprises two upright members (8) disposed oppositely in the same direction with each other, at least one vertical channel (11) situated on the foot (6), wherein the upright members (8) move linearly, two stoppers (9) disposed oppositely in the same direction with each other and at least one horizontal channel (12) situated on the foot (6), wherein the stoppers (9) move linearly. The upright members (8) are moved inside the vertical channel (11) and the distance therebetween is widened as much as the external storage means (H) can be placed therein. Similarly, the stoppers (9) can be moved inside the horizontal channel (12) to adjust the distance therebetween (Figure 11, Figure 12).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the housing (4) comprises two stoppers (9) disposed oppositely in the same direction with each other and at least one horizontal channel (12) situated on the cover (13) wherein the stoppers (9) move linearly. In this embodiment, the protrusions (10) have a length and space for allowing any external storage means (H) to be placed therein and the stoppers (9) support the external storage means (H) from the sides by moving on the horizontal channel (12) and prevent it from falling.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the connection unit (3) is selected from the group of universal serial bus (USB), high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), e-SATA, IEEE 1394. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the connection unit (3) is universal serial bus (USB).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the external storage means (H) selected from the group of external disk, music player, video player, cell phone is connected to the connection unit (3). In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the external storage means (H) connected to the connection unit (3) is an external disk.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the display device (1) is selected from the group of television, monitor, computer.

By means of the present invention, the external storage means (H) connected to the display device (1) is prevented from creating visual pollution. When the user watches an image through the external storage means (H) in a dark surrounding, the light emitted by the external storage means (H) is prevented from reaching the user. Furthermore, the problem of being short on cable is eliminated by means of the housing (4) being close to the connection unit (3) and data loss is minimized since connection can be established with shorter cables.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited by the embodiments disclosed above and a person skilled in the art can easily introduce different embodiments. These should be considered within the scope of the protection postulated by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

A display device (1) comprising a screen (2), at least one connection unit (3) enabling the external storage means (H) to be connected and at least one housing (4) wherein the external storage means (H) is placed, characterized by the housing (4) that enables the external storage means (H) to be placed therein such that the user cannot see the external storage means (H) while the user looks at the screen (2) almost oppositely.
A display device (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by a support member (5) providing the display device (1) to stand on a ground and the housing (4) disposed on the support member (5).
A display device (1) as in Claim 2, characterized by a body (14), the support member (5) having a foot (6) contacting with the ground and a leg (7) that holds the body (14) by extending vertically to the foot (6) and the housing (4) that is placed so as to remain behind the leg (7).
A display device (1) as in Claim 3, characterized by the housing (4) that is positioned on the foot (6) so as to be behind the leg (7), comprising

- at least two upright members (8) with a gap therebetween at least as much as the thickness of the external storage means (H) to be placed therein and providing the external storage means (H) to be supported from the front and back and

- at least two stoppers (9) with a gap therebetween at least as much as the width of the external storage means (H) and providing the external storage means (H) to be supported from the lateral sides.
A display device (1) as in Claim 3, characterized by the recess shaped housing (4) that is formed on the foot (6).
A display device (1) as in Claim 3, characterized by the recess shaped housing (4) that is formed on the leg (7).
A display device (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by a cover (13) that covers the backside of the body (14) and the housing (4) that is disposed on the cover (13).
A display device (1) as in Claim 7, characterized by the housing (4) disposed on the cover (13), comprising

- at least one protrusion (10), extending like a hook from the cover (13) outwards, having a distance between its end and the cover (13) at least as much as the thickness of the external storage means (H) to be placed therein and

- at least two stoppers (9) with a gap therebetween at least as much as the width of the external storage means (H) and providing the external storage means (H) to be supported from the lateral sides.
A display device (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the connection unit (3) disposed on the surface whereon the external storage means (H) is seated and provides a connection to be established with the external storage means (H) without requiring to use cables when the external storage means (H) is placed into the housing (4).
A display device (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the housing (4), the thickness and width of which can be adjusted in accordance with the dimensions of the external storage means (H).
A display device (1) as in Claim 4 or 10, characterized by the housing (4) comprising two upright members (8) disposed oppositely in the same direction with each other, at least one vertical channel (11) located on the foot (6), wherein the upright members (8) move linearly, two stoppers (9) disposed oppositely in the same direction with each other and at least one horizontal channel (12) located on the foot (6), wherein the stoppers (9) move linearly.
A display device (1) as in Claim 8 or 10, characterized by the housing (4) comprising two stoppers (9) disposed oppositely in the same direction with each other and at least one horizontal channel (12) located on the cover (13) wherein the stoppers (9) move linearly.
A display device (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the connection unit (3) that is selected from the group of universal serial bus (USB), high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), e-SATA, IEEE 1394.
A display device (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the connection unit (3) whereto the external storage means (H) selected from the group of external disk, music player, video player, cell phone is connected.
A display device (1) as in any one of the above Claims, that is selected from the group of television, monitor, computer.